Saint Joseph School

Francis sat at the small fold-out table in the gym with her clipboard, pencils, and attitude. Cheersquad try-outs...she grumbled...

She felt like one of those irritating blonde girls one sees in after-school specials who's sickenly popular, giggles alot, and you want nothing more than for her to get molested by someone in the school band.

Then again, very few of those "cheerleader-type" girls had pink hair, goth make-up, and had recently signed up for a Suicide Girls account. She felt a smile creep up her face as a crash in the hallway, followed by a blast of impossibly hot air, and alot of swearing heralded Jasmine's arrival.

As the gym doors burst open and she saw her fellow "cheer-libertine" take her folding chair, contemplate smashing a window with it, and then sit down, she knew try-outs were going to be awesome.

She looked down at the sign-up roster.

"Ok Jas, now be nice. No going Simon Cowell meets Satan on me ok? Let's get this party started...first up we have...."

The door to the gym slowly creaked open and in stepped a green haired girl with her hair pulled up in a ponytail wearing sweats. She slowly glanced around until she saw Frankie and Jasmine. Almost without effort, she leaped across the distance from the doorway to the table with one bound. Tara smiled at the two other girls and asked,"Did I miss the try-outs?".

((OOC:Not all of you may know this but Thunder Cricket's name is Tara...and it alway has been, lol))

Simon entered the gym. He felt a little embarassed, but at the same time, he felt it was a challenge. He wouldn't let perceived gender roles stand in his way. And, why should he? He had nothing to worry about! He was neither looking for a relationship, nor was he gay. He was just a cheerful guy, and admired the athletic ability of the cheerleaders, as well as had a little of his own.

A girl had arrived before him, so he watched. It was amazing how many people at the school looked beyond the norm. For Simon it was a wonderful and beautiful thing to have the privilege to attend the school. He just hoped he could inspire that in others.

Boy can she jump! I hope I make it... Hell! I hope she makes it! Look at her go!!!

Francis slyly kicked Jasmine's shin from under the table, stifling the snicker.

"Hi Cricket." She smiled, a gesture Francis never managed well.

"OK, the floor is yours...let's see what you got!"

Barrier whooped. "Go, Cricket!"

She sat on the bleachers at the far end of the gym: Francis had been pretty clear that she and the others keep their distance from the auctual try-outs, so they had been shifted down towards the fire exits. They could still see okay, and, of course, they could shout out their encouragement-- or derision-- as they saw fit.

"She's got nice legs," Biff said from the riser behind Barrier. Tolliver mumbled his agreement. Jack sat apart, still trying to find his place amongst them.

Barrier turned her head and grinned at Biff. "Damn, Hanny. What happened to Maureen?"

Biff raised his eyebrows and spread his hands. "Nothin'! I'm just saying," he explained, and turned to Tolliver. "How come every time I talk about a girl, B thinks I'm single?"

Tolliver chuckled. "Wishful thinking," he replied. Biff laughed.

"In your dreams, Hanny," Barrier said, turning away. She felt her face flush.

Tolliver kept chuckling. "Seems more like in yours, B."

"Okay, shove it, Stripes," Biff said sternly. Tolliver fell silent, a good soldier. Barrier felt Biff lean down towards her. "Don't worry about it, B," he said quietly.

She nodded, feeling ashamed of her own embarrassment. She focused on watching Cricket jump and spin, the calls of the girl's voice in a cheer.

Jack and Tolliver exchanged glances: Jack's face was confused, while Tolliver's was full of mischief. Tolliver raised his hands, one balled into a fist, the other with his pointer finger extended. As Jack watched, Tolliver made a scrunched-up face and slipped his extended finger into his fist, sliding it in and out. Jack couldn't contain himself, and burst out laughing. Biff turned his head to look.

Tolliver quickly dropped his hands, but not quick enough. Biff had seen. Tolliver expected a shove or a balled fist, but instead, none came. Biff was smirking, almost proudly. Tolliver lowered his eyebrows and gave Biff and inquisitive look. Did you? Tolliver mouthed, silently.

Biff just grinned and turned away.

Michael worried at his lip with his teeth, palm in chin.

He sait in the bleachers by the door; no one had seen him enter the room, which was fine by himm thankyouverymuch.

Stasi had promised to show up, which was good. She had yet to show up, which was bad. He was, in all actuality, pretty excited. Butterflies and all. Michael had actually found time to do some normal kid stuff, for once. He'd missed so much.

He plucked at his track pants absently, retied his shoes for the twelfth time. They felt tight across the top of his feet. He wiggled his toes, and glanced about the room.

Well, there was Barrier, sitting over with...Biff. Well, he figured the guy would be here, especially since he owed Michael one. Or two. Or as many as he could get in before Michael escaped. Saskia HAD mentioned they were pretty tight, but...from the quick exchange behind her back, apparently he wasn't aware HOW close...

...ah well, another fact for the file. He desperately tried not to have an opinion, but their attitude still made him...angry? He filed that away for later, too.

Ah, delightful. Apparently Biff had noticed him looking over the bleachers at them. Hannigan made some "kissy" faces at him, then made as though to start towards Michael. The bully laughed, then leaned back into the bleachers to watch Cricket finish her tryout.

Michael felt small, despite himself. He hung his head, and worried at his lip once more.

"This was a mistake..." he sighed.

Michael felt a hand clap down on his shoulder. He turned, unsure whether to bolt or smile.

"I cyah believe yuh actually goin' t'rough wit dis," said Jai, smiling down at him.

Michael smiled uncertainly. "Well, I want to. And I have my reasons."

The carib boy nodded. "Fuh certain," he said, glancing accross the gym at Biff and his crew. "I gotta suspect yuh got good ones, too."

Michael followed Jai's gaze and sighed. "Yeah, I wasn't really expecting them to be here."

Jai seemed done with the subject. "Where Tara at?"

Aha, thought Michael. "She hasn't showed. Maybe she won't."

Jai shook his head. "Dat ain' much like sometimey. If she say she gon' be hyuh, she gon' be hyuh."

Cricket finished her routine with a flourish. Francis and the other girls exchanged looks, until Francis smiled and said, "Thanks, Cricket. We will totally let you know."

The green-haired girl nodded, breathing hard. She collected her things and skipped over to the two boys. She threw her duffel down and took a seat. "Hey guys," she said, though her eyes were glued to the next girl, just starting her try-out.

The sound of the doors opening made Michael and Jai look, expectantly. But to their surprise, it was Simon. Michael waved him over. Simon sauntered over, a swing to his step.

Jai looked him up and down, a slight grin on his face. "Yuh gon' ta try out?"

"Yessir," Simon said easily, sitting down. "Ah figger ah got at least as much a chance as Mike."

Jai shook his head and chuckled. "Yuh guys is goin' orf," he said quietly. "But I get de quad back all ta meself aftuh yuh bot' get planted, so I guess dere's de upside."

Michael made a face. Cricket laughed.

And the girl on the floor cheered.

The far door creaks open, and Siren pops her head inside the gymnasuim. Brushing a few strands of green hair out of her face, she hovers into the room, looking determined, but unsure of exactly what to do or where to go. Wearing a wife-beater and spankies (seemingly trying to show off as mich skin as possible) she twiddles her thumbs, waiting for some sort of direction.

Michael waved Siren over to their side of the bleachers. No sense letting her end up over next to the "Meat Locker" and his sides of beef on the bleachers across the way. The girl was busting out all over the place.

"Criminy, Siren, you better get those puppies on a leash!" Jai laughed in spite of himself, then gave Michael a playful shove.

Siren blinked at him, confused. "What? I don't have any dogs!"

The three boys laughed...and Tara laughed harder. "What's so funny?" Siren pouted. "It's ok, Siren...it's just a joke. I'll explain later...besides, you're up after Simon!" She nodded, but she didn't stop pouting. Michael suspected she knew exactly what he'd meant. She was good at what she did, he had to give her that.

"Yuh got no respec' fo' da gyuls, Mi-chael." Jai shook his head. "Yuh jus' not right." Michael flashed him a grin and finished it with a quick sigh.

The girl on the floor was quite good. Michael didn't really know her, but she was doing pretty well. Not as good as Cricket, but hey. She finished, stumbling slightly at her finish. It still looked really sharp, and she pulled it off, but he noticed the girl limping slightly as she made her way to the bleachers.

Michael nudged Simon with his elbow.

"You're up, bro."

Simon looked at him quizically. "Ah thought you was heah fust, Michael?" He tried really hard to control that drawl, but the nervousness brought it out. Michael punched him in the shoulder lightly.

"I'm waiting on Stasi. I made her promise to try out with me, so I at least need to wait 'til she gets here, bro." He smiled. "Besides, I have faith in you. Go..." he looked around for any Sisters.

"...go kick some ass!"

Simon nodded.

"Ah got this one down, fellahs! Good like, Mahkey!"

*Coughs and concentrates on his voice*

"I got some cheering to do, guys," he said, striking a pose then bounding dow with cd in hand.

"Heya," Simon said to the two girls at the table. I'm Simon, and I believe I can help you out!"

As the cd started, Simon let the rest of the world fade out, just a little, and started on his routine. He used very modern dancing, as well as latin moves, and coupled his gymnastic ability to make for something he hoped the ladies liked, and the guys could see was still masculine. For him it was almost done as soon as it started. Not quite singing, but this had its rewards, too he felt.

Somehow he was aware of the jeers coming from Hannigan's section, but he transformed them into a cheering crowd. A few others seemed to be actually cheering him on. Maybe that was how he managed to think of it as a crowd cheering.? Either way, this was his moment to be more than the southern kid. He might not be ready for heroics, but he was sure ready to help fire the school up on game night!

Kali stood quietly just inside the doorway.
She watched as Cricket went through her routine. Her jumps and twirls perfect. The sound of her voice as she cheered almost like a song.

Kali smiled as Cricket finnished. She would definatly make it she thought to herself.

Slipping quietly back out of the doorway she headed out to get a few things done.

"Look at the Memphis Belle go!" snarled Tolliver, watching Simon start his routine.

Jack nodded vaguely. "I'm supposed to room with all three of them," he said.

Biff and Tolliver looked at one another and started to laugh. "God damn," said Biff, between laughs.

Jack frowned. "They're not bad guys, really."

"Yeah, for fags," said Tolliver, giving a limp-wristed salute.

Biff said, "the Jamaican kid always has money, though. His parents are loaded from what I hear."

"And I seriously doubt he's gay," mumbled Barrier.

"Oh, yeah," sneered Tolliver. "He's banging the ice princess, isn't he?"

Jack shrugged, but Biff nodded with a grin. "That's a fact. Hey, B: she's been crashing with you this past week, yeah? You ever get to see any action?"

Barrier looked back over her shoulder, smirking. "Not the kind of action you're talkng about, Hanny," she said smugly. She made a kissy-face at him, and he dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

Tolliver started laughing at his own joke even before he made it. All three of the others watched him laugh with an impatient air. Finally, Tolliver calmed down enough to speak. "Probably because she froze his pecker off!" He managed to say.

No one found it as funny as Tolliver had, and Barrier scowled. "You leave Stasis out of this," she growled. Tolliver gave her a funny look. Seeking higher authority, Barrier turned to Biff. "She's my friend, Hanny."

Biff considered it a moment, then nodded. A compromise had been reached. Stasis was off-limits to them, at least in Barrier's presence. She had found it necessary to reach a few such accords lately. Eventually, Biff was going to ask for something in return.

Tolliver folded his arms and frowned. "Jeez," he grumbled. "What about the Southern Belle?"

Barrier turned her head and chuckled. "I don't know him."

"Awesome," Tolliver mused. Then, with a shout: "shake it, baby!"

Francis shook her head at the Peanut Gallery and smiled, eyeing Jasmine to quell yet another snarky response. She lifted the clip board as she shifted in her seat, demurly trying to obfuscate making adjustments to the tight cheer outfit.

"Right!...That was awesome. Next up....."

Michael stands on the bleachers with the rest, clapping for Simon. Not bad. Not bad at all.

"Go Simon!" he yells. "I knew you could do it, bro!"

Michael nudges Siren carefully with the toe of his sneaker and a grin.

"Go on!"

November strolled down the hall past the gymnasium doors with a basket full of foiled eggs. She unwrapped one and stuffed the whole egg into her (not so)suprisingly large orifice of a mouth when she paused, hearing the muffled energetic tunes streaming from the gym. She peeked through the narrow windows on one of the gymnasium doors and nearly choked on a hunk of milk chocolate.

"Ay, mon dieu!"

She pressed her face against the glass, straining to see more. She saw Francis sitting behind a small desk, the fuchsia-haired girl leaned forward to jot things down, revealing Jasmine's apathetic face. November blinked. She saw the motley crew that had gathered by the bleachers. She blinked again. She caught Simon finishing off his act. His bouncy act. His clappy-bouncy act.

November dropped her basket and its fragile contents. She jumped back and gathered her chocolates while shaking her head. She tipped her head back, guffawing, "Americains!"