Free Crushed by Marie Cole Page B

all that Neil and Justice
have."

    I nodded absently. She was right, I
guess. I didn't need to find a guy. I was fine before I went on
this quest. I'd lose Neil as a friend but I had many other friends.
The ache and emptiness I felt at the thought of letting him go
would go away eventually, I was sure of it. I pat her on the knee
as I stood up, determined to put it behind me and move on. "You're
wise, Merit. Thanks for being such a great friend." When she stood
up I hugged her tight. "I gotta get ready to go to cheer practice.
We're learning a new routine today." She hugged me back and then
took her exit.

    I was a few minutes late to
practice but it didn't seem to matter, Neil and Justice both
arrived ten minutes after me, both looked like they'd just rolled
out of bed; probably the same one. I buried my hatred for Justice
deep and put on my best cheer smile. Neil had waved at me but I
didn't wave back. He couldn't seriously think I'd be okay with what
happened last night, could he?

    We started in on the new cheer
while the football players went through their plays. Halfway
through practice time Justice called a break so they could mingle
with the football players and get hydrated. I made sure I was at
least four bodies away from Neil the whole time. If he tried to get
closer I'd excuse myself and get farther away. I grabbed another
cheerleader, Leah, she was pretty close to me and chatted with her
about homecoming. After she'd finished telling me about her great
time I looked up and saw Neil smiling down at me. "Hey." Leah
grinned and wandered off. I stood up at the exact time he sat
down.

    "Oh hey, I was just going to the
bathroom." I pasted on my cheer smile. "I'll see you later." I made
myself scarce and came back out and went to Chuck, Neil's arch
enemy. They had always been at each other's throats, I think Neil
felt like Chuck was a runner up to him. One time Chuck won at beer
pong and Neil was pissed. He called for a rematch and three games
later he'd declared he was the best, having effectively crushed
Chuck.
     
    "Hey, Chuck. You looked great out
there." I wrapped my hand gently around his bicep and batted my
lashes at him. I saw him eyeing my chest and then my long exposed
legs. He smiled and wrapped his arm around my back.

    "Thanks, Claire. I thought you
looked great over there. I get distracted every time you kick your
leg up," he said.
     
    I smiled sweetly at him. "I guess I
don't have to tell you how flexible I am."

    He chuckled and I felt his hand
move down to my ass. "No, you don't." He slipped his hand under my
skirt and I felt his finger brush my panties. I gasped, and slapped
him across his cheek, my eyes wide at his audacity. I heard him
shout at me as I walked away. "Come on, Claire. Don't pretend like
you didn't like it..." He laughed and high fived another
teammate.

    I rolled my eyes and went back to
the side of the field, break time was over. We ran through the
cheer a couple of times and in the middle of the third run-through
we all stopped to watch as Neil hit Chuck hard in the middle of his
body from the back. Once Chuck was facedown in the dirt Neil
stepped on Chuck's hand in an effort to get the ball to the field
goal. Chuck cried out in agony, holding his hand to his chest as he
rolled over onto his back. A couple of his fingers were hanging
lifelessly and I looked away.

    Chuck was sent to the nurse and
practice resumed. We had the routine down by the time the coach
blew the whistle, signifying the end of practice. I went to the
bleachers and grabbed my water, chugging it down, still dehydrated
from my night of drinking. When I lowered the bottle Neil was
standing in front of me again. "So.... You're mad." He was smiling.
I wanted to smack it from his face.

    "I am." I tried to keep emotion
from my face. I pulled on my sweatshirt and pulled my ponytail from
the collar, letting it swish behind me.

    "Why?" He was watching me. I tried
to pretend like I wasn't watching him and his