The cruelty became harder to prove.
It also became more effective.
By Thanksgiving, Aaliyah began dreading cheer practice.
That frightened her more than Erin did.
Cheer had always been the place where her body made sense.
Now every entrance into the gym required calculation.
Who was there.
Where Erin stood.
Whether her bag was safe.
Whether someone was filming.
Sophie noticed.
“You’re quieter.”
“I’m tired.”
“You’re always tired now.”
Aaliyah looked at her.
Sophie lowered her voice.
“She wants you gone.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t give her that.”
Aaliyah smiled weakly.
“Everybody keeps telling me that.”
“Because everybody is apparently very wise.”
That made Aaliyah laugh.
Winter competition season changed the balance of the team.
Coach Harding began assigning roles based almost entirely on performance because Cedar Ridge wanted to return to the state podium. Aaliyah’s tumbling scores were among the strongest on the roster, and her bases were technically cleaner than several seniors’. She earned a front position in two transitions.
One of those positions had belonged to Erin.
The captain remained center flyer.
But for eight counts, Aaliyah became the visual focus.
Erin hated those eight counts.
During December rehearsal, she deliberately entered one transition early and collided with Aaliyah.
Both stayed upright.
Coach Harding stopped the music.
“Erin.”
“What?”
“You were early.”
“I followed the count.”
“No.”
The coach demonstrated.
Erin looked toward Aaliyah.
“She hesitated.”
Aaliyah immediately answered.
“I didn’t.”
Erin laughed.
“Of course.”
Coach Harding stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Practice continued.
Afterward, Erin cornered Aaliyah near the equipment closet.
“You really think she’s replacing me with you.”
Aaliyah stared.
“No.”
“Everybody sees what you’re doing.”
“What am I doing?”
“Trying to make me look bad.”
Aaliyah almost laughed.
“I’m standing where Coach put me.”
“You came here one year ago.”
“Yes.”
“This team existed before you.”
“Yes.”
“You don’t understand what it means.”
Aaliyah became still.
“Say what you actually want to say.”
Erin looked at her.
For a moment, Aaliyah thought she might.
Then Erin smiled.
“You wouldn’t understand.”
She walked away.
Aaliyah wrote the conversation down.
No proof.
Again.
State qualifiers happened in January.