After the cheerleaders walked away, Max turned to Andrew and said, “You are so busted.”
Johnny laughed hard and said, “I can’t believe you said that to them.”
“I didn’t know they were standing there,” Andrew attested. “Honestly.”
Shawn shook his head. “Oh, that’s just embarrassing.”
“You sure know how to talk to the ladies,” Max teased.
Andrew could not get over his feelings of guilt and embarrassment, and knew he had to do something. “I’ll catch up with you guys on the parking lot.”
“Running off to throw up?” Johnny asked with a grin.
Andrew just shook his head and took off down the stairs and towards the school building. He weaved past many groups of fans hanging out on the sidewalks, and through openings in between people crossing the path.
“Wait,” he called at someone up ahead.
As Angela turned around, Andrew gently put his hand on her shoulder and led her to the side. After a few paces, she brushed his hand away.
“How dare you,” Angela said while poking a finger into his chest. “How can you talk about girls like that? Show some respect.”
Andrew saw the hurt in her eyes, yet he fired back. “Are you kidding me? You’re a cheerleader?”
“Yes,” Angela admitted, “I am. And, I’m very disappointed in you.”
“How can you go out there on the football field in front of the whole school,” Andrew began, “wearing a skimpy uniform like that and dancing to a trashy song like Spotlight? And you want respect?”
Angela glanced away while trying to think of a response. “There is nothing wrong with cheerleading,” she said. “Jessica and the rest of the girls are extremely talented dancers. This is just the type of dancing that they love. Besides, months ago when Jessica wanted me to try out for the team, I tried to ask your opinion. But, you just ignored me and walked away.”
Andrew raised an eyebrow and thought back to when that could have been. Then, he recalled the small argument in the hallway when he left her there and went home alone.
“Well, I can make decisions on my own now,” Angela continued. “I don’t need your opinion anymore. I love dancing.”
Andrew held out his hands and asked, “But, cheerleading? It’s so…so trashy.”
“How can you love the performance,” Angela said clearly upset and hurt, “but then condemn me for being a part of it?”
Andrew noticed that some of the groups nearby were watching them. He put his hand on her shoulder to try and led her aside again, but she did not budge.
“It’s okay if the cheerleaders want to dance for the crowd,” he said slowly trying to help her understand. “That’s what they’re there for. Our entertainment.”
“Then why bash me for cheerleading?” Angela asked, trying to get him to approve of her actions to give her more assurance that it was okay.
“Because,” Andrew said as though stating the obvious, “you’re my sister.”
“You hypocrite,” she shouted as her eyes began to water. “You only care about yourself. You just want whatever makes you happy, but you want to ruin my happiness.”
“It’s not like that,” Andrew said, angry at how impossible she was behaving.
“Hey,” Kayla said as she emerged from the sea of spectators watching them. “Is this guy giving you trouble? Want me to take care of him?”
Angela smiled when she saw her friend, but she did not want to explain the situation. “No need,” she said looking pointedly at Andrew, “he’s just leaving.”
Kayla gave him a dirty look until he turned and walked away. As Andrew glanced back, he saw Angela and Kayla enter the building.
Great, Andrew thought sarcastically. I’ve really messed things up now.
When he reached the parking lot, he saw his friends hanging out beside the car.
“Get it all out of your system, Romeo?” Max teased.
Andrew was in no mood for joking, “Lay off, okay.”
“We’re just kidding,” Johnny said throwing his arm around Andrew’s shoulder. “No hard feelings?”
“Whatever,” Andrew replied shrugging his arm off.
Andrew was relieved when the rest of the boys changed the subject and began to chat about the game and all the exciting plays. Finally, they spotted two guys exiting the gymnasium and heading their way.
“Great game,” Max shouted.
Johnny added, “You two really made those Weasels look like rookies.”
“Yeah,” Carson said smugly, “Tackling them was as easy as tackling a dummy.”
Darren laughed and said, “Sprinting past them was a breeze too.”
“Tonight was amazing,” Carson said. He turned away, “Well guys, it’s been great, but I need to head back home. We have family visiting this weekend. I’ll see you all on Monday.”
His friends waved as he walked to his car and soon drove off.
To break the silence, Shawn then said, “And how about those cheerleaders?”
Johnny and Max snickered while staring at Andrew, watching him squirm.
“I missed most of the halftime show,” Darren admitted, “but from what I saw, they were very hot.”
Darren’s comment made Andrew felt a little sick inside. He had thought the same thing about the cheerleaders until he realized that Angela was one of them. He knew what his thoughts were about the girls, but he did not like other guys thinking those things about his sister.
Andrew felt faint, so he opened the car door and sat in the back with the door still open so he could feel the breeze.
Shawn walked over to him. “Are you okay?”
“I just have a lot on my mind,” Andrew admitted.
The boys huddled around the open door.
Max knowingly replied, “Oh, with your uncle.”
Andrew had thought the guys giving him trouble about the cheerleader incident made him feel lousy, but the mention of his uncle made it worse.
“That’s right,” Darren said perking up, “You were going to demand a new television and some stuff for all of us. What did he say when you asked him?”
Andrew knew he could not hide the truth from them any longer. He avoided the subject the last few days, but now he had no choice. “Well, I confronted him and got a new TV in my room.”
“Alright,” Johnny said with feeling. “Way to go, bro.”
“That’s great,” Darren said as he gazed hard at Andrew, “and our stuff?”
Andrew looked away for a moment, trying to think of how to phrase his response. “I don’t think it was right to accept the TV, and I can’t ask for anything else.”
“What?” Darren shouted, clearly livid. “I don’t get it.”
Shawn quickly said, “His uncle thinks that Andrew knows the truth. He could easily squeeze more things out of him if he really wanted to.”
Andrew stared at him with narrowed eyes, but Shawn continued anyways. “I guess he just doesn’t want to hook us up.”
Johnny threw his hands in the air. “Man, I thought we were friends.”
“What a waste,” Max huffed.
Darren had his hands on his hips and shook his head in disapproval. He then appeared to be thinking for a moment.
“Hey, guys,” Darren said excitedly, “I just got a great idea. Who wants to celebrate our victory tonight?”
Andrew was relieved that Darren dropped the subject. He figured that he was still too happy from winning the game and that nothing was going to take that away from him.
Johnny gave him a questioning look and then quickly said, “Count me in.”
“Me too,” Max chimed in. “What exactly do you have in mind?”
“You’ll see,” Darren said as he threw another look at Andrew. “It’ll be a surprise.”
“Sounds good to me,” Shawn said noting the byplay.
Andrew hesitated to answer. It was a Friday night and he had nothing better
to do. He really did not want to go home yet and face Angela again. There was a chance she would be out with the other cheerleaders, but he did not want to risk going home and having another argument. Especially not in front of Uncle Billy, if he was back from his date. And, if he declined the invitation, someone would either have to drop him off at home, which would be out of their way, or he would have to walk a few miles. He also wanted to prove himself to the boys and make them forget about the whole ‘Uncle Billy Drama’.
“Alright,” Andrew said, “I’m in.”
Darren smiled slyly, “Awesome. Johnny, follow my car and I’ll lead you guys there.”
As Darren got into his red sports car, the rest of the guys went into Johnny’s sedan. When Darren headed off the parking lot, Johnny followed close behind. After a few miles, Darren pulled onto the nearly empty parking lot of a small hardware store. Johnny was a bit confused, but he parked alongside his friend.
“I just have to pick up some supplies,” Darren told Johnny with a wink.
Darren walked into Daniel’s Hardware Store and left the other guys on the lot.
“I gotta say,” Johnny began, “whatever he’s up to, it must be epic.”
“Yeah,” Max agreed. “I can’t wait to find out.”
Shawn eagerly leaned forward. “I love surprises.”
Andrew stayed silent, lost in his thoughts and wondering what Darren had planned for them.
Five minutes later, Darren came out of the store holding two shopping bags in his hands. He went straight to his car, started it up, and exited the parking lot. Johnny once again followed him down the street, and after several miles and a few stoplights, they pulled off the main road.
“No way,” Johnny began excitedly, “We’re at Westview High School.”
Max laughed. “Oh, man, this is going to be great.”
Andrew looked out the window and saw the school building coming into view. Johnny followed Darren’s car around the school and they parked in the shadows behind a few dumpsters.
Moments later, everyone got out of the cars and gathered around Darren. Johnny and Max tried to take a peek through the shopping bags.
“Hey,” Max said, “are those cans in there?”
Darren motioned for the guys to be silent, and then he whispered, “Tonight we are going to congratulate the Weasels on their loss.” He reached into one bag and pulled out a blue can of spray paint. He then asked, “Who’s up for tagging their school?”
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