Always, Abigail (20 page)

Being in the pom squad yearbook photo was one of the BEST parts about being a pom. None of us would ever be late.

“Abigail's the Queen of Lists! Let's have her write a to do list for our pom squad photo shoot.”

1.
The day before the photo shoot, meet at Jackie's house for manicures.

2.
The morning
of
the photo shoot, meet at McKenzie's at 6 a.m. to get ready.

3.
Take turns doing each other's hair.

4.
Take turns doing each other's makeup.

5.
Put on uniforms.

6.
Head over to school by 10:30.

Gabby and I had switched our practice time to before school so I could go to poms after school. But on Thursday, Gabby couldn't come before school, so we had to do a quick run-through of our latest story for the kindergartners before I went to poms.

I had thought about telling Gabby to forget the whole reading thing, but I knew if I did that, my Gabby Guilt might turn into a permanent pain in the neck that might just last the rest of my life. Besides, I could only imagine the speech I'd get from Old Hawk if I backed out now. I decided it was just easier to stick with it, but that was before Jackie brought it up in front of the whole squad.

When I got to practice, Jackie asked Ms. Jenson in front of everyone, “Won't it be a conflict for Abigail to be on poms
and
be a little storyteller for the kindergartners?”

Thankfully, Ms. Jenson basically told her to mind her own business. She really said, “I'm sure Abigail and I can work that out.”

But as soon as Ms. Jenson went to check on the seventh- and eighth-grade squads, Alli whispered to McKenzie, “Gab-Agail, Gab-Agail, tell me your tale.”

It was Friday, game day, and I was feeling great in my pom uniform. I didn't think it was possible, but I was about to feel even better.

After I paid for my lunch, I headed toward my usual spot next to Jeannie and Marcy. This is when my life changed in an instant. I looked up to see Kip waving me over to sit by him.

At first, I thought he must be waving at someone else, but when he smiled that cute, dimpled smile, there was no mistaking it. He was smiling at me.

I was so nervous, I don't know how I even walked all the way to his table without dropping my tray or tripping or something. I sat down across the table from him, acting as casual as I could, but it wasn't easy because inside my head I was screaming, “I'M EATING LUNCH WITH KIP THOMPSON!!! HOW CAN THIS BE HAPPENING??!! WAIT 'TIL I TELL ALLICAM!!”

Kip didn't talk much. I talked even less. I'd been so busy being geeked about Kip liking me, I'd never even thought about what I might say to him if I actually had the chance to talk to him.

But it was still the best school lunch I'd ever tasted.

Dear AlliCam,

Question of the day:

Which pom-pom girl just ate tuna casserole in the cafeteria with the Kip Thompson?

You get one guess.

Give up?

ME!! ME!! ME!!

Can you believe it?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SPF,

Abigail

Hey Abigail,

How about me tagging along with you and Flabby when you read?

I NEED SERVICE POINTS!!! BAD!!!

Jackson

“NO WAY!!!!!”

“Think of all the great troll stories we could do.”

“Jackson's such a troll he'd scare the kids worse than the child-abusing storyteller that came in first grade. Besides, after all that mean stuff he's done to you? Forget it.”

But as soon as I said it, my stomach tightened up like a ball of aluminum foil. I mean, I was being a little nicer to Gabby now, but I felt like deep down there was an ugly troll inside me too. I didn't make fun of Gabby out loud like Jackson did. But I still didn't want anyone thinking we were friends. And I knew I would never be able to stand up for Gabby if it meant putting my reputation on the line. Did that make me an even
bigger
troll than Jackson Dawber?

ABIGAIL + KIP = TRUE LOVE FOREVER (TLF) with hearts all around it written on the cover of every single one of my spiral notebooks and folders.

AlliCam must've gotten my note.

1.
Even though I was nervous (I thought for sure I would pee my pants), I did the whole routine perfectly.

2.
We used my pose idea at the end of the song, and the crowd went crazy.

3.
Kip was looking at ME the entire time we were out there.

1.
Gabby showed up and sat in the front row of the bleachers.

2.
She kept smiling at me the whole time and giving me the thumbs-up sign.

3.
I'm pretty sure I saw Kip looking at Gabby and giving her the “how-can-you-be-here-when-you're-such-a-loser” look.

1.
Jackie said, “My mom's waiting in the parking lot to drive us all to Chitchat. Let's go!”

We all grabbed our gym bags and poms and headed toward the door. Going to Chitchat in my uniform was like the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae.

2.
Gabby stood at the edge of the bleachers. I know she saw me, and I think she could tell that I saw her. I pretended not to notice her, and it felt like the ice cream on my sundae was melting and the cherry was sliding off, so I hurried out the door before it fell all the way to the floor.

1.
We sat in the corner booth, and
this
time I wasn't sitting on a chair. I had a great spot right next to Jackie.

2.
Jackie said, “I propose a toast to Abigail on her first game. Move over, Alicia Brenton, because Abigail Walters is in the house.”

Everyone cheered, raised their soft drinks, and tapped their straws together.

3.
When the boys came over, Kip slid into the booth
right
next to me. He smelled so good I thought I would faint.