squadânot the wrestling team.â
Bobbi glanced at Jennifer, who had backed up nearly to the wall. Jennifer flashed Bobbi an encouraging smile.
âIâm sorry,â Kimmy said sullenly, and extended her hand.
Bobbi took her hand. It felt hot and wet. âIâm sorry too,â she said softly.
âThatâs better,â Miss Green said, more than a little relieved. âIâm sure you girls can find a more civilized way to work out your differences.â
Bobbi and Kimmy both nodded.
Bobbi let go of Kimmyâs hand. The two eyed each other warily.
Kimmy will never be my friend, Bobbi realized.
Her next thought: Will she always be my enemy?
âThis new routine is so tricky,â Miss Green was saying, âso complicated. The timing is split-second. You two girls have to be able to rely on each other. You have to have confidence in each other.â She called the other cheerleaders over to begin the practice.
Bobbi wasnât in the mood to work on anything new. She still felt strange, out of sorts. How could Kimmy have attacked her like that? Didnât she have any pride?
âLetâs try the last part of the routine first,â Miss Green suggested. âWhy donât you explain it again, Bobbi.â
âActually, Corky should explain it,â Bobbi replied, turning to her sister. âCorky invented it. We used it at the state finals last year, and it really got a big reaction.â
Bobbi saw Kimmy mutter something to Debra. Both girls snickered quietly to themselves.
âItâs easier to demonstrate it,â Corky said. âBobbiâdo a shoulder stand. Weâll do this now without the rest of the pyramid. But in the real routine, sheâd be up much higher. Weâll show you how the pike works. Miss Green, will you catch Bobbi when she dives?â
Bobbi and Miss Green obediently moved into place as the other girls watched intently. âYouâll be doing this pike, Kimmy,â Miss Green said, âso watch carefully. If you have any questionsââ
âIâm watching,â Kimmy said sharply.
Bobbi stepped behind Corky and grabbed Corkyâs hands. Then she placed one sneaker on Corkyâs bent knee and, with a boost from Heather, who was standing behind her, raised her other sneaker toCorkyâs shoulder, and pulled herself up until she was standing on Corkyâs shoulders. Corky brought her hands up to Bobbiâs ankles, gripping them tightly, locking her in place.
Miss Green moved in front of Corky and readied herself to catch Bobbi as she dove. âReady, Bobbi?â Corky asked, keeping her shoulders steady, bracing herself.
âHere goes,â Bobbi said. She leapt up off Corkyâs shoulders, bringing her feet up, folding her body into a perfect V , and dropped in a sitting position right into Miss Greenâs waiting arms.
Some of the girls burst into enthusiastic applause. âExcellent!â Miss Green cried as Bobbi lowered her feet to the floor. âYou really made it look easy.â
âWeâve practiced it a lot,â Bobbi said modestly.
âKimmyâare you ready to try it?â Miss Green asked.
âI guess so,â Kimmy said reluctantly, eyeing Bobbi.
âBobbi will catch you. Run through it slowly,â Miss Green instructed as Kimmy stepped behind Corky. âTake as long as it takes. Donât worry about the number of beats. Weâll practice the timing later.â
The girls who were not involved in this part of the routine stepped back to make room. Ronnie was talking excitedly to two of them, shaking her head, glancing at Bobbi.
âI really donât believe this. My life is in your hands,â Kimmy told Bobbi dryly.
âNo problem,â Bobbi replied. âI havenât dropped anyone in weeks.â
Kimmy didnât smile at Bobbiâs joke. Corky braced herself. Kimmy pulled herself up quickly into a standingposition on
June Stevens, DJ Westerfield