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Authors: Paula Chase

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And the Winner Is ...

“I am number one. No matter if you like it.”

âNelly, “Number One”

M
ina felt like she was underwater. Everything around her was happening slower. Even the cacophony of music, people cheering, talking, laughing and screaming seemed dulled. Since her mother had unceremoniously sent her and Sara back to the front of the arena with a simple, teeth-clenched “Go sit with your squad, girls,” Mina had been hopelessly trying to tread to the surface.

She risked a glance back and to her right, where her parents sat in the second row. Lizzie, Jacinta and Kelly now shared the two seats her parents had occupied, while Jackson and Mariah Mooney stood guard at the end of the row. Mariah's eyes bore laser beams in the girls' general direction as she spoke to her husband, no doubt bringinghim up to speed. Jackson Mooney nodded along, his brown face looking weary.

Mina's shoulders sagged. She didn't have to know what her mom was saying to know it was all bad. She and Sara had been sent away before her mom broke into a lecture, but as they walked off Mina could hear Mariah going totally parental on each and every one of her friends.

Sara gave Mina's knee a reassuring pat. But her eyes drooped with sadness that said both “I feel for you,” and “Better you than me.”

Around them the squad buzzed excitedly.

The final squad ended their performance and the house lights went up, washing the arena in bright, fluorescent lighting. The DJ, on cue, switched to line-dance music and the obedient mob of cheerleaders rushed the open floor in front of the stage and began the cha-cha slide.

Kim pulled at Mina. “Let's go try our new moves.”

Mina reluctantly followed along. Her squad mates giggled and bumbled their way through a version of the dance they'd made up just last night. Every squad added their own touch to the line dances and the Blue Devil squad had chosen an ambitious drop-it-like-it'shotsquat and turn, in place of the usual step.

“Mina, if you guys are gonna get in trouble, you worrying won't change that,” Sara said in her ear as they cha-cha'd to the right. “May as well have some fun.”

Sara linked arms with her and they cha-cha'd left before doing the squat and falling on their butts. Laughing maniacally, they scrambledup to avoid being trampled by the squad.

“Just consider it like your last meal before the sentencing,” Sara chuckled dryly.

Mina groaned. Sara's description was way closer than she knew.

After two more line dances and a random free-style to “Cotton-EyedJoe,” the MC popped from behind the curtain and teased the crowd, asking if they were ready to hear the winners. Despite the crowd's roar, it wasn't enough. The MC pretended to step back offstageuntil the noise was deafening.

The Blue Devil squad sat on the floor, cross-legged, knee-to-knee,holding hands. Sara and Kim had a death grip on Mina's hands. The slight pain forced her attention away from the MC's rambling about winners of the Jump and Tumble event.

She'd worked hard to get here. Sara was right, she needed to savor this moment. Later would be another story.

As the MC moved closer and closer to her team's division, Mina felt the adrenaline kick in again. Her blood seemed to sprint through her veins as she hoped against hope to hear their names called for the top spot.

“Ladies,” Coach Em's voice came from beside them. “Good sportsmanship, remember?”

The girls nodded absently, focused on the stage.

“And in the medium Varsity division ...” the MC said.

It was Mina's turn to squeeze hands as she prayed their names would be nowhere near the honorable mention spots. She gripped Kim and Sara's hands until the announcement of the four hon men spots, places eight through five, were finished.

Kim squeezed back insanely hard until the fourth place was mentioned.

They smiled at one another when their name wasn't called.

Third would be respectable based on the tough competition, Mina told herself. But she wasn't kidding anyone. They'd already beaten out five teams. She didn't want third.

“God, please, please not third,” Sara chanted under her breath, echoing Mina's sentiments.

“And in third, those sassy ladies ...” The MC, an obvious expert in torture, held the answer to herself just a beat before announcing gleefully, “The Oliver Whelan Wahoos!”

Mina and Sara both let out a huge breath, then laughed at their twin reactions. They shushed themselves before Coach Em caught wind of their celebration. It was unsportsmanlike to celebrate avoidingbeing placed lower in the ranks.

“We might do this, guys. We might take first,” Kim whispered, awestruck by the possibility.

Mina couldn't stand it anymore. Her hands gripped tight with her squad mates', she took a deep breath and lowered her head, hopingthey'd dodge one last bullet and avoid being called second.

It didn't matter that second for them would be a huge victory.

When you've come this far, you can't help itâyou want first,
Mina thought.

“Alright,” the MC said, frustratingly teasing. “Who's our second place winners? Who do you guys think?”

The crowd's answers were unintelligible. The MC smiled anyway,as if they'd just shared a secret with her. “Well, let's see.” She peeked down at the five-by-six index card in her hand. “In second place ... the feisty Blue Devils of Del Rio Bay High!”

Instant emotions of joy and slight disappointment slammed Mina's head up. She was pulled standing by the force of the squad. They jumped up squealing and hugging.

Kim and Sara had her in a bear hug. They all jumped up and down in sync until Renee, the co-captain, pulled Kim away. They ran up to the stage to collect the huge silver trophy.

Coach Em hugged the huddle. She praised the girls, openly relievedand clearly ecstatic with second.

“Oh my God we did it!” Sara yelled, embracing Mina tight.

“I can't believe it. We beat six teams,” Mina said, dazed.

“And three of them are Extreme vets,” Joss said.

“And there was no way we could have beat the Hornets,” Cassidysaid. “They were the grand champs last year.”

“Oh my God, we almost beat the grand champs,” Joss squealed, sending off a new round of hugs and jumping.

During their celebration the girls missed the Hornets being called first. Coach Em would probably reprimand them a bit about that later. It was disrespectful to celebrate so long. But it felt so good.

The girls flocked to the trophy, like bees to honey, when Kim and Renee returned.

Soon they were surrounded by parents taking photos of them beside it, cheesing.

Somehow Coach Em shooed them away from their floor spot and back toward the walls, far away from the stage where the Large division announcements rang out. The picture-taking and mugging went on for another ten minutes.

Parents and classmates hugged, congratulated the girls and squeezed into a couple photos with the four-foot-tall trophy.

Every now and then Mina randomly hugged a squad mate. Funny how seconds ago she'd hoped against second place. Now, she and everyone else were already bragging. After all, six other teams were going away with nothing more than a memory and a certificate. They were second place National champs.

“So we'll catch up at the beach later, right?” Kim said.

The question shoved Mina back into the present.

Before she could answer, her parents, with Lizzie, Kelly and Jacintain tow, were in front of her. It was like the question had brought them there.

The anger in their eyes from earlier was replaced with smiles.

Mina squeezed in, cheesing, as her mom waved some of the girls standing by in for a photo with the trophy.

“We're so proud of you, boo,” her mom said.

Jackson hugged Mina tight. “Good job, baby girl.”

“Tonight, okay,” Kim whispered before being pulled off into anotherphoto.

Mina nodded.

Tonight.

Right.

Are You Stupid or Just Dumb?

“What don't kill me, makes me stronger than be-fo'.”

âJay-Z, “American Gangster”

O
nce Jackson Mooney had gotten them out of the arena's snarled parking lot, it was smooth sailing. He rolled his Navigator along O.C.'s four-lane strip. The car was dead silent. He looked into his rearview mirror at the pensive girls in the backseat.

Mina and Lizzie sat in the second row, faces somber. Lizzie's was pale except for two splotches of color on her cheeks. Mina met his gaze then quickly looked straight ahead.

Jacinta and Kelly were in the third seat, shadows to him from the front.

There was more than enough room for three girls to sit in the second row, but they were taking the safety in numbers approach, coupling off for support.

Smart girls,
he thought.

They were going to need one another's support. His wife was on fire tonight. She broke his thoughts, her clipped voice penetrating the silent car.

“Let me ask you girls something,” Mariah said. She flipped open her passenger-side mirror and gazed into it, making eye contact with Mina and Lizzie. “Are you stupid or just dumb?”

She paused. But the girls weren't that stupid. They knew it was a rhetorical question. Mariah proved them right by jumping feet-first into her lecture. Her eyes blazed. “What in the world was going through your minds to come all the way down here with the boys like that?”

She looked directly at Lizzie, this time expecting an answer.

The splotches on Lizzie's face went from dull crimson to bright red. She cleared her throat. “We ...” She turned, hoping Jacinta would jump in. But Jacinta remained, smartly, quiet. “We didn't feel like sitting home,” Lizzie finished lamely.

Mariah's voice was shrill. “And so you drove two hours away from home with not one single adult knowing where you were going?” She shook her head. “What if something had happened to you? Where in the world do Marybeth and Patrick think you are, Lizzie?”

“At Cinny's,” Lizzie whispered.

Mariah turned in her seat and looked at what she knew was Jacinta'sshadow. “And where does Jacqi think you are?”

“Home,” Jacinta said, equally meek.

“Home?” Jackson asked, confused. “How can she think you're home?”

“She's in New York,” Jacinta said.

Mariah threw her hands in the air. When they came down and smacked her thighs, Mina flinched. “What? She's not even home? Does your father know?”

Jacinta shook her head, then, realizing Mrs. Mooney couldn't see that, said quietly, “No. I mean he knows Aunt Jacqi is gone ... but ...”

“Kelly, I suppose your grandmother also thinks you're over at Jacinta's?”Mariah's voice was weary. Her head tick tocked back and forth, incredulous, with each new detail.

“Yes ... yes, ma'am,” Kelly said.

“I would ask you girls what you would have done if there had been a car accident, but I know you have no idea how to answer,” Jackson said. “It's obvious you weren't thinking at all to pull a stunt like this.”

“Mina, did you know they were going to do this?” Mariah asked, her voice sharp.

Mina wanted to lie so badly.

Lizzie reached for her hand and squeezed softly.

Save yourself,
the squeeze said.
Just say no.

But Mina couldn't lie.

“Yes,” she said softly. “I found out yesterday. They were at Individualslast night.”

“Did you know they were
planning
this?” Jackson asked. He took his eyes off the road long enough to watch for Mina's response.

Relief was in her eyes as she answered no.

She didn't know why she felt relief. The hole was dug and it was mad deep. Still, the fact that she wasn't a part of the original planningwas the only pro in a long list of cons and she held on to it for dear life.

There was sweet relief from the inquisition as Jackson pulled the car into the hotel parking garage. The girls filed out of the truck, silently. The truck doors echoed loudly in the empty garage. They were among the first people back from the competition, adding to the desolation closing in around the girls.

No one spoke a word as they rode the elevator to the fifth floor room.

The girls walked the hall, littered with blue and gold streamers, posters and other Blue Devil paraphernalia, reminded of the fun they'd be missing out on.

Her father stuck his plastic key into the door's lock. The light click of the lock, the sound of the girls' freedom dissolving, roared in Mina's ears.

They filed into the room and bunched into a corner, unsure what to do.

“Sit down, girls,” Mariah directed.

They sat, hip-to-hip, on the double bed.

Mina's mom stood in front of them. Her face was tight, but the anger in her eyes had subsided. Mina's dad took a seat on the dresser, happy to let his wife do the talking.

“There are a million reasons why what you girls did was dumb as dirt,” Mariah said, then sighed. “Lizzie, I'm especially surprised that you'd pull something like this.”

Tears streamed down Lizzie's face. Mina put her arm around her.

Jackson chuckled. “Are those tears because you got caught?”

Lizzie sniffled. “Yes.”

An involuntary nervous giggle escaped Mina's throat. Lizzie was too honest for her own good.

“I'm going to call your parents and let them know you're here, safe with me,” Mariah said.

“Can't you just call them tomorrow?” Lizzie begged.

Mariah rolled her eyes and gave Lizzie a “what do you think” smirk.

“How girls who are usually very bright and responsible get themselvesinto this kind of mess is beyond me,” Mariah said. She folded her arms and took inventory of the small huddle on the bed. “Anyonecare to enlighten me?”

“We're sorry,” Jacinta said.

“For getting caught,” Jackson quipped. The whole thing now seemed to amuse him.

“If we had asked for permission to ride down with JZ and stay with you guys, our parents would have said no,” Lizzie said.

Mariah frowned. “How do you know that, Lizzie?”

Lizzie's mouth moved wordlessly.

“Exactly. You don't know that,” Mariah said. “If you had asked, you know your mom would have called me. We would have debated how safe it was to drive with Brian and then made a decision. And you know what? I think she would have let you.”

Lizzie slumped against Mina.

“Well, I have some calls to make.” Mariah walked out of the room with her cell phone in hand and Jackson followed.

“Could we be in any more trouble?” Lizzie asked miserably.

“What did my mom say after me and Sara left?” Mina whispered.

“She looked around and asked where was Michael,” Kelly said.

“Yeah, and when we told her he was home she said he had more sense than all of us put together,” Lizzie said.

She and Mina exchanged a knowing nod and eye roll. It wasn't that Michael was any more sensible. He'd done his fair share of crazy things with the clique. Heck, he was even the best liar of the four of them. But you couldn't tell Mariah that. She always called Michael the responsible one.

“She went off when she found out that we'd stayed at Brian's condo last night,” Jacinta said.

Mina's heart skipped a beat. She had forgotten about that tidbit.

“Why didn't you guys lie and say you just came down today?” Mina asked.

“Phhh, okay, lie,” Jacinta said. “We were already caught wrong. Besides, didn't your mother know the guys were coming on Friday?”

Mina nodded.

Jacinta eyebrows raised as if to say, “well then.”

They hushed when the door opened. Mariah motioned for Lizzie.

Lizzie stood, composed herself and walked over to the phone Mariah held out.

She and Mariah walked out to the hallway for privacy and the girls only caught Lizzie's voice as it began to quiver an apology.

When Lizzie returned, Mariah was already on the phone with Jacinta's father. “Hi Jamal, it's Mariah Mooney,” she said, as she stood in front of the girls. “Yeah, it's pretty nice down here. Nearly seventy-five,earlier.” The steely look she leveled at the girls clashed with the light laugh in her voice. “Well, look, I wish I was calling just to tell you the squad won.” She laughed again. “But, these girls of ours have been busy scheming. Jacinta is down here with me.” She paused as Mr. Phillips reacted, then nodded along. “Nobody was more surprisedthan me to see them at the arena, Jamal. Un-huh. But look, they're going to stay with me tonight.” She paused again, scowled. “Oh no, don't do that. Don't come all the way down here.” She snapped her fingers at Jacinta, signaling her to come get the phone. “No, it's not a problem at all. I'll bring her home tomorrow. Un-huh.”She laughed. “Tell me about it. Okay, well look, here's Jacinta. Okay. No problem, Jamal.”

She handed the phone over and pointed to the hallway, directing Jacinta out for privacy. By the time she'd called Mae Bell Lopez and explained once more it was no problem for the girls to stay with them for the night, an hour had passed.

The last call, to Kelly's grandmother, had ended right on time. The hallways were now full of chattering cheerleaders, families and slamming doors.

Now that the girls' secret had been shared with every parent, the tension in the room had dwindled to an uncomfortable uncertainty.

What now?
Mina thought, growing antsy at the growing hallway noise.

Jackson Mooney answered without being asked. “Well, I'm not the one punished.” He winked at the girls. “The Final Four is on tonight. I'm heading to the lounge to watch the game.”

He kissed his wife on the cheek then opened his arms for a hug from Mina.

“You stuck your foot in it this time, baby girl,” he whispered good-naturedly.

Mina nodded. A lump grew in her throat. Without her dad to play good cop, they were at the mercy of her mom.

“See you in a few hours,” Jackson said, before slipping out the door.

The noise from the hall filtered through like a sliver of freedom, emboldening Mina.

“Mom, can we still go to the beach party tonight?” she asked, and almost flinched away from her mother's glare.

“No you didn't just ask me that.”

“Mommy, please,” Mina begged. She didn't care if she lost this battle. It had to be fought. She was fighting for her life ... well, her social life. And right now they felt like the same thing. “We know we're in the world's worst pot of boiling water. But ... I mean, don't you want to watch the game with Daddy?”

“Amina, have you lost your mind?” Mariah sat on the bed oppositethe girls. Her brown eyes pierced each girl. “What you girls did was ...”

“They just wanted to come support me,” Mina said, joining her mom on the bed. “If we had left Thursday instead of Wednesday, they could have come.”

Mariah scowled, cocking her head as if she'd misheard. “Are you saying this is me and Daddy's fault because we wanted to leave a day early?”

“No, I ... I didn't mean that,” Mina backpedaled. “I just ... the only reason Lizzie couldn't come was because we left too early. It wasn't that Mr. and Mrs. O'Reilly were against her coming.”

“Lord, that makes total sense in Mina land, doesn't it?” Mariah chuckled in spite of her annoyance. She shook her head, eyeing the girls who sat pensive, and ramrod straight on the edge of the other bed, then looked into Mina's hopeful eyes.

“They just wanted to show me some love, Ma,” Mina pleaded. “Can't we go for a little while? The squad's expecting me.”

“What if I let you go and not the girls?” Mariah smirked.

Mina blanched.

“Okay, I don't mean any harm y'all ...” Mina twisted her mouth as she thought about it. “But ... you're about to get left.”

Mariah surprised them by laughing out loud. She smacked Mina's leg.

“See how your girl does you after you came all this way to see her?”

“Thanks a lot, Princess,” Jacinta grumbled.

But the scent of hope was in the air for the first time since they'd been busted.