Danielle sat on a metal bench, carefully wrapping athletic tape around her ankle. The white strips crossed over each other in practiced patterns, providing support she knew she'd need. Her hands moved methodically, but her eyes tracked the other cheerleaders' positions. Something felt wrong about today's formation. Nervous about your big moment?
Sierra's voice cut through Danielle's concentration. Just being thorough. Danielle replied, keeping her voice neutral. She finished taping and stood, testing her weight. The bases for the shooting star, Brooke, Ava, and two freshmen named Tara and Jen, kept glancing at Sierra instead of reviewing positions with Danielle.
Normal procedure dictated multiple practice runs before a stunt this complex, but Sierra had scheduled none. Positions in five, Sierra called, scrolling through her phone as if bored. Across the field, Tyler threw another touchdown. The crowd erupted, and he ripped off his helmet. Golden boy smile flashing for the cameras.
His eyes found Danielle briefly before he jogged back to the huddle. He's going to break records today, one of the freshman cheerleaders whispered. My brother says NFL scouts are watching." The halftime buzzer blared. Langford was up by 17 points. Players jogged toward the locker rooms while the cheer squad took center field.
"Remember," Sierra hissed as they moved into formation. "Smile through everything." The band struck up the school fight song. Cheerleaders formed three pyramids with Danielle positioned as top flyer in the center formation. Her bases locked arms below her creating the platform from which she would launch. Danielle felt her heart hammering as they lifted her for the initial pose.
From 15 ft up, she glimpsed the entire stadium. Alumni section, booster seats, coaches boxes. She spotted Dean Holloway entertaining donors in a private section. Coach Daniels stood near the tunnel, arms folded. The music shifted to a dramatic drum sequence.
Her cue. She steadied her breath. Below, her bases prepared for the launch, the complex maneuver they'd supposedly perfected in practice. As Danielle began the count in her head, she caught sight of Tyler. He hadn't gone to the locker room with the others.
Instead, he lingered at the sideline watching intently. A half smile playing across his face. One. The bases tightened their grip. Two.
She felt their muscles tense beneath her. Three. The launch began. But something was wrong. Sierra's count came early.
The right base shifted slightly outward instead of up. The hands supporting Danielle's left foot slipped, too smooth to be accidental. The foundation collapsed before she'd fully launched. For a suspended moment, Danielle was airborne with nothing below her. Training kicked in.
Tuck, protect the head, try to roll. But there wasn't enough time or height. She crashed onto the field shoulder first, then hip. Pain exploded through her body, bright and vicious. The impact knocked the air from her lungs.