Page 2 of The Handoff

Tanya giggled. “We’re here to sign up for the team.”

She winked at me as if to say, silly question, but she played along with the girl with the clipboard.

The girl giggled and called for the other two girls’ attention. “Look, we have the freaks ready to sign-up, as usual. What is it with you freshmen? Always wanting to be part of something that you couldn’t be back in high school.” The girl and her friends laughed at us.

For a split-second, I felt as if I was back at high school, when I was captain of the cheerleader team. But seeing a reflection of how I would treat others made me mad. I had changed; I wasn’t that person anymore, so I stood up for myself and my friend.

“We’re not freaks, and I don’t appreciate you calling me or my friend that. We want to try out, and we have as much right as everyone,” I said as a wave of anger grew inside of me.

“Well, this one’s too short. I mean, she’s tiny. Are you sure you’re old enough to be in college?” She pointed to Tanya, who went red.

Tanya backed away as I snarled, “Give me the clipboard or else.” I never realized how short Tanya was or even cared about her height, but she told me she always wore two-inch heels to compensate for it. Her dark eyes filled with tears as humiliation set in.

“And as for you. Don’t you belong at the donut shop,” she snorted.

“Right? Ms. Piggy!”

With that, she stopped laughing, as I’d embarrassed her about her laughter.

Without hesitation, I moved away from her, created some space, and did a mid-back flip. I did it with all the confidence and grace in the world, and when I finished, my hand was up in the air, waiting for her to say something. All I could hear was a round of applause.

“Well, it looks like she showed you, Fiona. And besides, it’s rude to discriminate and stop freshmen from trying out,” the hottest guy I’ve ever seen said. His hazel eyes reflected against the sun, and my eyes dropped to his chiseled jaw and how his shirt hugged his body, leaving nothing to the imagination. I mean, I could see that he was ripped, whoever he was. Instead of her saying that Tanya or I couldn’t try out, Fiona dumped the clipboard on the table, crossed her arms, and pouted as she looked the other way.

Whoever my hero was winked at me, and as casually as he came to the stall, he walked away.

He had a presence—the type that when he walked into a store, all heads turned toward him. Everyone felt the need to bow down to him, not only because of his beauty but also his authority.

“You’re lucky!” Fiona bit back. I did not know what she meant. My heart was beating out of control, and I could still smell the woodsy scent he left behind.

“Dane, the team captain, says that I should give you a chance, so I’m giving it to you, little one. Fill in the deets. Tryouts are tomorrow at nine, don’t be late.”

I turned to Tanya, who was still looking into the space Dane once filled. I wanted to say something to Fiona or even Tanya, but no words would leave my mouth as my mouth went round in a circle.

She laughed. “You can look at him all you want. But guys like Dane aren’t interested in girls like you. He needs a real woman… someone like me.”

With that, she moved us to the side as the next set of recruits—who were mirror versions of her—asked if they could sign up. She was nicer to them, polite even—the same hospitality I would have given everyone who had tried out in high school—and they talked as if they were old friends.

I took Tanya’s hand and we walked away from them.

“Sorry, I just… I don’t know,” she said as she finally broke the silence. No more was she holding back the tears, but they were flowing as if her fight to hold them back had caved in.

“Hey,” I said as I hugged her. “Don’t let anyone take your spirit away, especially the likes of Fiona.”

She pulled back. “I know. It’s just, back in high school, they used to tease me about being short, but since I’ve been here, everyone’s been so nice, you know.”

The idea that people would tease anyone like Tanya flashed through my mind. Kids could be cruel at the worst of times.

“I can’t believe anyone would tease you.”

She laughed without humor. “Yeah. They were kind of cruel about it. Tease isn’t the right word, more like bully.” She pulled a tissue from her purse and wiped her face. “You’re right. I should be used to it… but it still gets to me.”

I knew the feeling too well. “Yeah, like me and my weight.”

“Please! You could flaunt that sexy ass if you wanted to, but you choose not to.”

This time I was the one smiling, as I remembered I was supposed to be cheering her up, not bringing my own insecurities into this.

“Especially with that purse. I could tell she was jealous of it. Shit, we all are.”

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