Chapter Text
Gwen’s beaten up car earned another scratch as she hit the parking stop outside of her least favorite place, her high school. She shifted gears into park as she turned the radio off, finally able to hear what her two friends in the backseat were saying.
“...actually won for once! Gwen!” The blonde in the backseat stuck her head between the two seats in the front to gain her friend’s attention.
“The one time our football team didn't embarrass themselves and you were moping at home.” She flashed Gwen a smile.
“You know the reason why she doesn’t go to games.” The dark haired black girl pulled the blonde back into her seat as she winked at Gwen.
Gwen sighed.
“I don’t go to games because I see no point in sitting in the cold and watching boys from my school get slammed into the ground.” Gwen started to grab her bookbag as she unbuckled her seatbelt. As she opened the door to let herself out, she heard a faint whisper of Courtney Barlow’s name and laughs following it. She swiftly opened the back door and sarcastically getured for them to exit.
Gwen carried her pale pink lunch tray to the table in the back of the cafeteria being careful not to trip and drop the mozzarella sticks she’d never admit that she liked.
She settled down between Leshawna and Noah, leaving Bridgette, Geoff and DJ on the other side of the table. Once again, the football team’s victory was brought up. DJ and Geoff were shouting sports terms at each other as Gwen twisted the cap off of her water bottle.
“Wow, I guess our team really does suck.” She spoke before taking a sip.
DJ turned towards her before asking. “You didn’t know? Do you not go to the games?”
“She doesn’t go because she's scared she’ll see Courtney!” Leshawna blurted before Gwen could process the question.
Gwen groaned.
Noah looked up from his book for once to join the conversation. “Who? That cheerleader chick?” He spoke while smirking.
“Can we talk about something else?”
Gwen was now hiding in her hands so no one could see that she was blushing.
“That’s how you know she likes her.” Leshawna whispered.
“I don’t.”
“Is that her? Outside the lunchroom?” Geoff added, pointing to the nearest doors.
“Gwen, you should talk to her!” Brigette laughed.
“Fine!”
Before Gwen could stop herself, she stood up from the table and left in the direction of Geoff’s finger. She stomped her way out of the doors to find Courtney standing near a small bulletin board pinning a black sheet of paper to the corkboard.
She froze.
Maybe she could walk past her without Courtney noticing. Or she could lie to her friends and say she left before she left the lunch room.
While she was going back and forth between the options, Courtney had turned around to face Gwen.
“Oh! Hey, Gwen!” Courtney smiled and waved at the goth as Gwen slowly joined her near the board.
“H-hey Courtney.” She answered quietly. She leaned on the wall and started to play with her hair, avoiding the cheerleader’s eyes.
“Are you here to sign up?” Gwen tried hard to focus on Courtney’s words but she couldn’t stop staring at her lips.
She nodded her head too quickly.
“Uh.. yeah!” Gwen read the sign.
THS CHEER TRYOUTS OCT 29TH
IF YOU THINK YOU WON’T MAKE IT THEN DON’T COME.
Gwen looked back at Courtney trying to find a way out of her answer.
“Uh.. sorry, I don’t have a pen. Maybe next time!” She awkwardly laughed.
“I have one right here.” Courtney pulled a blue pen from her bookbag and placed it in Gwen’s clammy hand.
“Perfect!”
She reluctantly signed her name on the third line and said bye to Courtney forgetting to return the pen.
She walked back into the lunch room avoidinging her friend’s eyes.
“Guess who’s trying out for cheer.”