Page 69 of The Cheerleader

“I have a meeting for a class project at eight tomorrow, so I can’t leave for the game until about nine thirty, but Nick and Keith will be leaving at eight to get there in plenty of time for pregame. They’ll call us before we leave to check in and let us know if there’s any traffic or problems.”

“It’s a three-hour drive, so we should be fine,” I say, thinking maybe she should skip her meeting.

“I’m in charge of the project, so I have to be there, but I’ll make sure it goes fast.”

The smell of fresh-baked pizza erases my concerns, and we line up for the buffet.

Shoving the lipstick back in the drawer, I grab my pom-poms and megaphone and lift my bag over my shoulder, ready to go. Liz is right behind me as I step into the hall, and I check my watch. It’s nine forty, but we can still make it.

The phone rings. “Shit,” Liz says, lifting the receiver from the hook on her way to the door.

“Oh no—I’m so sorry about that, Keith. Where are you exactly?” She gets a piece of paper from her desk and starts scribbling as my stomach tenses up.

I’m thinking maybe we shouldn’t bother going to this game since the school’s athletic department doesn’t care if we miss it, but I know better than to suggest that to Liz.

She hangs up and faces me. I know that determined look.

“What happened?”

“Keith’s car broke down, and he’s at a gas station in New Hampshire on Route 125. We’re going to pick him up on our way. We should still be able to make it for kickoff if we hurry.”

“Let’s go then.” Forgetting my previous thought to abandon the game, I decide it’s more exciting and daring to overcome our obstacles and fight on, to get there and show up for the team, unexpected.

She passes me in the hallway, and with our pom-poms and megaphones in hand, we break out in a run to the parking lot.

“They can’t accuse us of not being dedicated,” I say, breathless.

We drive toward UNH and follow Keith’s direction to where they towed his car. I can’t help watching the clock.

“We’ll never make it,” I say like it’s become as important to me as it is to Liz. Maybe it has.

“That’s okay. We’ll be there for the first quarter.”

“I know we have to pick them up because we can’t leave them stranded for who knows how long, but how are we going to get them to the game?” I ask.

Carol says, “I was thinking the same thing. There’ll be eight of us.”

“I know, and it’s not exactly within the rules, but I’m making an executive decision,” Liz says. “We’re stuffing all eight of us into my car and then we’re driving like mad to UNH. Even if we miss the first quarter of the game, at least there are the four cheerleaders in the first car who can represent us until we get there.”

I nod. “It’ll work out.”

When we reach Keith’s car, the four of them pile into Liz’s car, relieved and without complaint. I’m in the front next to Liz, and Keith is on my other side. The other five cram into the back, and poor Josh is buried under two girls.

“Pedal to the metal time,” Liz says. “We can make it.” Keith lets out a whoop from the other side of me, and everyone in the back seat joins in the cheer. I feel the positive energy, and it gives me a lift, making the mishap feel more like an adventure than a problem.

Liz wasn’t kidding when she said she would drive fast. I’m watching the speedometer, and my heart starts pounding. Sixty. Sixty-five. Seventy. Seventy-five. Eighty. Within five minutes, I see flashing lights in the rearview mirror and clutch Liz’s leg next to me.

“Shit.”

“Oh no.” Liz lets off the gas. She whispers, “I can’t get caught speeding again.” She sounds truly alarmed. “Even worse, they’ll throw the book at me with so many people in this car.”

As we come to a stop at the side of the road, she faces me, upset to the point of panic.

“Susie,” she says under her breath, “this is bad. This would be my third speeding ticket and… I have a drunk driving charge. I’ll lose my license.” She takes a deep breath, and I know something big is coming. “Can you trade places with me?”

The instant her words are out, I know what I have to do.

“Slide under me.” She slides under, and I slide over her, trying not to make a scene while the girls in the back block the view of the police car behind us.