Cheerleading Can Be Murder (Horror High #1) by Carissa Ann Lynch

thankfully. As I watched Monika and Tally walk back to the bench, I realized they were the only two left of the original squad. I honestly couldn’t believe my luck!
    Coach Davis began calling our names one at a time to perform the individual cheer. I was glad not to be first this time. Ashleigh was the first to have a turn. Although I was hoping she would do well because this was her junior year, she did make a few mistakes. Brittani went second and was followed by Tally, Mariella, Amanda, and Monika. Everyone seemed to perform well.
    Then I heard my name. I walked to the center of the floor, facing Coach Davis again. I smiled confidently and performed the cheer without any mistakes. Genevieve and Sydney were the last to go, and their routines were flawless as well. I have absolutely no idea who’s going to make it , I realized.
    “Girls, please take a seat!” Coach Davis called out. Those who were not sitting already quickly made their way to their seats. Coach Davis stood in front of us, her arms clasped behind her back. “I want to congratulate all of you on a job well done. I wish I could choose all of you, but we only have six sets of uniforms and pompoms,” she admitted, sounding nice and apologetic for the first time all week. “I will spend some time thinking about my decision over the weekend. The names of the six girls who make it will be announced over the intercom at some point during the day on Monday. The girls who do make it, please stay after school on Monday and meet me in the gym to pick up your pompoms and get fitted for your cheerleading uniforms. Thanks to all of you for trying out. You are dismissed!”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter
    Twenty-Five
     
     
    I expected the weekend to drag by slowly, because I wanted Monday to get here so badly, but it actually went by rather fast. Mom took me and my little brother out to the movies on Saturday. She was trying to distract me from worrying about making the team, and I loved her for doing so. It was one of those animated movies that were supposed to be for children, but even adults couldn’t help loving them. My dad had to work so he couldn’t join us, but we took baby Vincent. I loved my little brother to death, but he was only a year old, and he was fussy throughout the film. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the family time and distraction from the torture of waiting to find out Coach Davis’s decision.
    On Sunday, Andy called. I was pleased to hear from him. Right off the bat, he asked how the tryouts went. Since I didn’t have many friends to consult with these days, I spilled all of the gossip to him. I told him about Tasha getting kicked out of tryouts for sabotaging her group members, and we discussed my chances of making the team.
    “I have a good feeling you’re going to make it,” he assured me sweetly.
    “Thank you for believing in me.”
    There was a moment of awkward silence, and then he said, “So, I was wondering if you’d like to come over and work on our history project?” His voice was shaky, hesitant. His nervousness was adorable!
    “I’d almost forgotten about Joan of Arc,” I admitted, remembering that it was due in a week. “Let me ask my mom and see if she’ll bring me over,” I offered, setting down my iPhone and calling down to my mom from the top of the stairs. “Mom, can you take me to a friend from school’s house to work on an American History project?” I shouted down to her.
    “Let me get your brother laid down for a nap, and then I’ll take you. Your father will stay here with Vincent,” she offered. I hurried back to my room and told Andy I’d be coming soon. He gave me some simple directions to his house and I wrote them down on a sticky note for my mom.
    I hurriedly changed into jeans and a clean top. I ran a brush through my hair and applied a thin coat of lip gloss. I puckered my lips in the mirror. I’d never been so excited about doing school work on a weekend