Page 19 of Hold ‘Em Tight (Solidarity Academy #4)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

W e’ve only been back for a week, and life has been beyond hectic.

The little bit of peace we managed to find over the summer is now gone, replaced with a cold, hard dose of reality.

After Donny’s fight with Lennox, the dreary cloud has made its way over our heads again.

I’m trying not to let it get me down. I have too much going on between school, prepping for cheer tryouts, and trying to figure out what to do about my mother.

She’s still calling me, leaving me voice messages, begging me to come see her, so we can talk. I know she wants forgiveness, so she can heal and move on, but I’m still not there.

While I feel guilty for ignoring her, I have too much going on in my own life to help fix hers, when that's all I’ve been trying to do for years now.

“How are you feeling today?” I ask Rylee, nudging her with my shoulder. We’re sitting side by side behind a table, since tryouts begin in a few minutes.

“I’m feeling good.” She smiles. “Excited to see who’s coming today. I hope we get some good ones.”

A smile twitches at my lips and I give her a kiss on the temple.

Rylee’s mood has been up and down since coming back, but I don’t blame her.

I know she’s set on us not letting what's going on with Lennox bring us down, but I know with the article about Lennox and Missi, then the fight with Donny and Len, she’s back to being stressed again.

I hate seeing her like this. She looks tired all of the time, and it seems almost impossible to get a smile on her face these days.

That's why it’s hard to take my eyes off her beautiful face right now.

“What?” She laughs, giving me an odd look while still smiling. The sound makes me grin. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Can’t I just stare at my girlfriend?” I ask, pushing my glasses up my nose.

“Sure. But people are going to think you're creepy.” She laughs again. Win.

“But do you think I’m creepy?” I ask playfully.

“No.”

“Then that's all that matters.” I widen my eyes and move in closer, making her burst into laughter some more.

“Stop it.” She pushes my shoulder. “Pay attention. We have people to judge.”

Gripping her chin, I tilt her head up, so she’s looking at me. “I love you,” I murmur, before leaning down and kissing her soft smile.

“I love you too.” She sighs contentedly before hugging my arm and leaning her head against my shoulder.

“Okay, it’s time,” Donny says, walking over to the table as he rubs his hands together in excitement. “We’ve got a lot of people out there waiting for us.”

“If we can’t find anyone to replace that bitch, then I say we just redo the choreography,” Mateo grumbles.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” I glare over at where he’s sitting on Rylee’s other side. “Let’s not write these people off just yet. There has to be someone good enough out there. Also, I really like our routine, and I know it will win us Nationals. I really don’t want to have to change it.”

“I guess,” Mateo mutters. “Not like it’s going to take much to replace Missi. She was average at best.”

He’s not wrong. While she isn’t the worst dancer, the only reason why she lasted this long on the team was because of her connections. I'm sure we could have won more competitions if I was able to replace her a while ago.

Rylee snorts and leans forward. “Alright, Donny, let them in.”

Donny jogs over to the gym door with a whoop, before throwing it open. “First person, you're on.”

“Oh, my God!” A tiny blonde squeals after busting through the door and doing a front flip, and are those spirit fingers?

“I can't believe I am actually here! I have been dreaming of this day!” she starts babbling, and Teo looks like he wants to slam his head into the table. He better keep it together, this is just the start.

“Yes, glad to have you. Tell us your name and where you are currently attending college, or what team you are on,” I say, pulling the notepad closer to me, so I can jot down some notes.

“Hi, I’m Kirsten, That’s with an e, not an i. I am currently a senior in high school, but that doesn’t matter, right? I’m really flexible, and used to be a gymnast, so I can nail the flips and splits.”

She takes a breath and I frown. “How did you hear about us needing a replacement? We didn’t reach out to any high schools.”

Her lower lip wobbles and she looks like she’s about to cry. Shit ! “I have been a huge fan for years, and I saw it on the Widows’ fan page,” she says, then sniffles. “Can I please just try out for you?” She drops onto her knees and gives us prayer hands.

“Aww, sure,” Donny caves, and she gives him a huge smile. I look at him and he just shrugs.

“Thank you!” she squeals, then nods her head and music starts playing. As her routine starts, my eyes get wider, and I have to place the notepad over my mouth to hide my laughter.

“Oh, God, she’s awful,” Donny says quietly, and I nod.

“Thank you, sweetie,” Rylee shouts and the music is cut off. “Next.”

Kirsten glares at Rylee for interrupting, and Teo stands, making her squeak and run out the door.

“What the fuck was that?” Teo mutters, and I shake my head, sighing.

“I don’t know, but Donny, go out there and make sure they are all in college,” I tell him, and he pushes his chair away and stands, then walks over and opens the door.

“Who here is in high school?” He waits a minute, then laughs. “Leave. This is not a joke. We take our team seriously. Only try out if you are dedicated.”

He returns and calls for the next person. The door opens and the scent of buffalo sauce is strong. What the hell?

“Well, hey there, cuties. I heard there were big, strong men on this team, and thought maybe y'all were hungry.”

Donny leans forward and Rylee snorts, taking in the tall, busty brunette wearing a Hooters uniform. The orange shorts are a lot smaller than they probably should be, showing off her mile-long, tanned legs.

“I'm Darla, and I'm so excited to be here.” She places a platter of wings on the table in front of us and Donny groans. He goes for the lid, and Rylee smacks his hand.

“Ouch,” he yelps. Teo laughs and Rylee sighs.

“Darla, is it?” She nods and looks around the gym, confused. “Don’t take this the wrong way, sweetie, but there is no way in hell I am letting you on this team, but thanks for the snacks. Next!”

“Wait, what? Why?” She looks at Donny and licks her lips. “What about you, Sugar? You want me to shake my pom-poms for you, right?” Donny snorts and I sigh.

“Oh, babe, you just fucked up,” Serenity says with a giggle. Rylee stands and leans over the table. Her face is turning red, and Teo grabs her arm.

“Listen here, Hooter Barbie. I have had enough of bitches trying to steal my men! Mine. He’s mine,” she says, pointing at me, then at Donny, then Teo. “They are all mine! So take your fake tits and get the fuck away from my team!”

Darla looks pissed, and I know this is going to escalate, so I stand and shout, “Next!” The doors open and a tiny blonde enters, almost getting knocked over by Darla as she runs out.

Rylee opens the wings and snorts. “Hey, bitch, you forgot the ranch,” she snaps, then sits down and crosses her arms.

“That was so hot, babe,” Teo mutters, kissing her neck as the blonde woman gets in position.

“Um, hi, I’m Sabrina. I’m sorry I didn’t know to bring snacks,” she mumbles, wringing her hands together nervously.

Rylee laughs and gives her a genuine smile. “I’m glad you didn’t,” she says, before waving her hand for her to begin.

“Oh, right, okay,” she mutters, then nods to the person handling the music and starts.

Immediately, I know she’s our new Widow. Her technique is flawless. She has rhythm and grace, and is entertaining to watch. Plus, she’s small, so she will be easy to toss in the air. I look at the others, and they are as entranced as I am.

Rylee gives me a big grin, and nods her approval.

Sabrina stops and she thanks us before running back out to the hall.

“Wow, she’s perfect,” Rylee murmurs, and Teo grunts.

“Do we need to see more?” he grumbles and I sigh.

“Yeah, we have to let everyone try out. Next,” I shout, and then groan when Rachel, Missi’s friend, enters. She didn’t make the cut last time, and she’s not any better today.

Another two hours of mediocre auditions pass by, and only a handful of them yield an ounce of the talent we are looking for.

“I don't know how much more I can take,” Rylee grumbles, shifting side to side in her seat with a sigh.

“We have two people left, Cherry, then I can take you home and show you how much I’m yours,” Donny says, as he wiggles his eyebrows at her.

She rolls her eyes and shoves him away, but she has a small smile on her face.

We suffer through two more people, and I am about to smash my face into this table. I have a pounding headache. I don’t know why people think cheer needs to be accompanied with techno music.

“Make it stop,” Rylee whines, and I have to agree. My eyes hurt. Those were some of the worst tryouts I have ever seen.

“That's the last one,” Donny says, and I let out a heavy sigh of relief.

“Thank God,” I groan, scrubbing my face with my hands. “That was brutal.”

“It wasn’t a complete waste of time,” Rylee says. “There were a few good potential candidates.”

“Please,” a voice we all know and hate sounds from the entrance. “That was fucking awful.” Missi laughs. “You all are so fucked without me.” She smiles an evil grin, placing her hand on her belly.

“What are you doing here?” Rylee asks, irritation in her voice.

“These tryouts are to replace me,” Missi says, as if it’s obvious. “You don’t think I’m not going to make sure my replacement can live up to my standards, do you?”

“If that's the case, why didn’t we do the auditions at the animal rescue?” Rylee asks me.

I roll my lips together, trying not to laugh.

“Why the fuck would you do them there?” Missi asks with a huff.