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Samanthas Wildcat Cheerleader Practice 240216
At the Spender Arts and Wellness Center gymnasium, the spirited atmosphere was ripe for the rigorous Wildcat cheerleader practice. Under Samantha's leadership, the team tackled their routines with a mix of determination and playful camaraderie. The session was punctuated with moments of banter, particularly about the punctuality of their members, as Sienna joyfully greeted Samantha despite her late arrival. The team then moved into a series of warmups, including laps and jumping jacks, showcasing their dedication and physical fitness. Throughout, the cheerleaders were encouraged by the sideline presence of observers who interjected with playful and occasionally cheeky comments, amidst the team's efforts to nail their routines.
The highlight of the practice involved undertaking complex stunts and formations, testing the squad's coordination and athletic prowess. An attempt at a back vault saw Meridith and Charlene take a tumble, resulting in laughter and a brief pause to ensure everyone was alright. Finally, the team ambitiously formed a pyramid, a stunt that demanded trust and precise coordination among all the members. Despite the high stakes and the heckling from their audience, the Wildcat cheerleaders flawlessly executed the pyramid, holding it steady for a victorious ten seconds before disassembling cleanly. The success was met with elation from the team and a chorus of cheers from their onlookers, concluding the practice on a high note with new members Joel and Meridith warmly welcomed into the squad.
(Samantha's Wildcat Cheerleader Practice:SRSamantha)
[Thu Feb 15 2024]
In the Gymnasium of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak
The resounding echoes of athletic activity reverberate against the high, vaulted ceilings here, underscoring the energetic atmosphere that pulsates through the expansive, well-equipped space. The sleek, modern exercise machines and the polished hardwood floors reflect the soft, diffused lighting that illuminates the various training stations. The rhythmic thud of sneakers against the floor and the distant calls of coaches blend with the determined grunts and breaths of students and athletes.
It is about 35F(1C) degrees.
Samantha checks her phone as it buzzes. "Sienna is on her way, nobody is ever at anything on time." She complains.
Meridith says "...Listen I don't want to figure out the mechanics"
Meridith says "I am! I was here first and I'm not even on the team!"
"I figured you were trying out." Samantha mentions to Meridith, "Or were you just coming to be supportive?"
"I was on time too," Charlene points out and starts some light warmup. "I was just hanging out in the locker room because I was texting Miss Willi--Harris."
Meridith says "Thinking of trying out, Charlie recommended me"
"That's true." Samantha admits to Charlene, raising her hand to greet the other arrivals. "Actually for a Haven thing this is remarkably prompt." She says a little begrudgingly.
"I'm not late am I?" Avi asks as he strolls in, setting his observation donation on the table before heading for the bleachers.
"Yeah, I told her to come by and see if she wants to join," Charlene agrees and continues to limber up. "We are Wildcats, we are fierce! We bring Salem State to tears! Gooo Wildcats!"
"No later than me at least," Sienna supposes toward Avi as she passes him on her way to join up with the rest of her cheermates, skipping across the gym floor to toss her arms around Samantha from behind. "Samaaaaantha!" she sings, off-key.
Joel makes his way into the gym with a faint air of uncertainty, but offers a soft smile to the people present, already stretching his arms out a little.
Samantha is grabbed from behind. "Ah!" She faux-complains, "You're going to make me go deaf." She continues, "Ok lets start warming up with a few laps around the outside of the gymnasium." She says, "People trying out can just join in the practice with everyone else and then we'll take a secret ballot on how cool you are afterwards." She explains.
"It's less chill if you're late, you're actually on the squad, Swann," Avi points out to Sienna as she assaults Samantha from behind. "As long as I haven't missed the part where you all check that each other's bra is offering the correct amount of support, I'm happy."
"We do that in the locker room after practice, and then we soap each other down in the showers," Charlene claims, scrunching her nose wryly at Avi. When laps are called for, she begins to jog around the gymnasium's perimeter, giving Joel a wave in passing. "Hey, Joel. Trying out?"
"No one asked for your judgement, Arkwright," Sienna playfully calls across the gym toward Avi as she lets go of Samantha after a tight squeeze, quickly fishing a hair tie from her wrist to secure her hair into a bun before starting a light jog around the gym.
Meridith nods and joins in with practice, she begins to join the laps without issue. Clearly quite well built for the effort.
Joel gives a wry grin at Charlene "Yeah, guess I got convinced." He glances around "Remains to be seen how convincing I can be."
Silas walks through the gym towards the donation table with a languid pacing and hands in his pockets. When one of them comes out, it is to place a bill in the donation area before retreating back into his hoodie pocket. He looks around with a slow moving glance around the gym before moving over to one of the various places to sit and finding himself a spot.
As the Cheerleaders set off around the gymnasium, Meridith and Samantha keep a solid pace near the front, followed up by Sienna and and Joel, with Charlene pulling up the rear, the other various members of the squad mixed in amongst them all.
"Wouldn't it make sense to check the support before you start bouncing around, literally?" Avi asks Charlene doubtfully, but then the bouncing begins as the cheerleaders start running laps, so he settles back to watch. "Get those knees up, ladies!" he calls out encouragingly. "If you want legs long and lanky, you gotta show some spanky."
Samantha sets off at an easy jog around the outside of the gymasium with the other cheerleaders, throwing Avi her middle finger as they go by the bleachers.
"Yeah, good point," Charlene supposes while her jogging takes her past the bleachers and shrugs distractedly at Avi. She isn't quite as athletic as the others, and after a while she's huffing and puffing a bit.
Joel sets off as the jog is announced. He's conserving his strength mostly, but keeps a steady pace, his open hair flowing behind him a little as he concentrates on his motions, flashing Sienna a brief smile of greeting as he catches sight of her.
Sienna keeps apace with the group, barely smothering a snicker at Avi's encouragement as she picks her feet up, seeming impressed as Joel falls in stride with her. "Hey Joel!" she puffs out, adjusting her pace to be nearer to him. "I'm glad you could make it after all."
Meridith moves alongside jogging easily, contentedly keeping pace. "So, I'm usually more into the field than the sideline. You look like you would be too, what's the pitch?" she asks Samantha.
Caelum cracks a loud whistle as soon as he shows himself, appreciative in how wolfish it is - directed openly at the cheerleaders out there. Before long, he's moving up the bleachers, fiding a seat beside Avi to sit down, and give him an upnod. "Hey, did I miss any upskirts?"
Harriet makes her way into the gymnasium, and heads over to the bleachers to take a seat. She nods to Avi, complaining, "You still are not showing off your legs," in a teasing manner before she nods to Silas and Caelum. "It was my suggestion that our cheerleaders go pantiless to distract the other team on game days so that maybe we could win," is informed to Silas before she looks over at Samantha, watching the woman.
"Yeah but that's why you have to show up on time bro," Avi tells Caelum, extending a fist toward him in greeting. "No, but there are plenty of legs on display for us today," he tells Harriet, nodding toward the cheerleaders running laps. "A leg buffet, really."
"The pitch?" Samantha wonders of Meridith and shakes her head a little. "Not that into sports generally honestly." She says and as the squad complete the second lap around the outside of the Gymnasium she pulls up, already breathing a little heavier. "Ok, lets do ten jumping jacks with a squat at the end so..." She demonstrates, bringing bother arms up over her head together as she jumps her feet apart, then brings her arms back down by her sides and feet together, then squats, then back up, and then jumps her feet out again once more.
"Hmm, fair enough," Meridith replies looking happy with the physical activity and moving immediately into the jumping jacks and squats.
Charlene trudges to a halt near Samantha and embarks on her jumping jacks, panting doggedly while she flails her limbs in place. By the end, she stoops over with her hands on her knees and tells Harriet windedly, "I'll do it if you buy me a new car."
Caelum doesn't skip a beat in giving Avi a bump in his fist - though clicks his tongue, too. "Drat. I overslept, never again." Thereafter, he leans forward, forearms on his knees with his hands hanging as his eyes stare out at the gaggle of cheerleaders running amok - only pause from it is to look aside at Harriet, flash an all too sharp smirk. "You're godsent, that's a really good idea." Then comes another cheer on his part, particularly at Samantha and her demonstration of a squat - with two fingers at his lips erupting in another whistle, only to speak in mock whisper to the side, after. "We'll never win a game when they distract our players too."
Joel comes to a halt, taking a few deep breaths. His gaze flickers briefly over the other cheerleaders, but he focuses on Samantha's instruction, watching her carefully for a few seconds. Straightening up, he starts joining the jumping jacks, moving with precision and a certain grace, but not without starting to flush a little.
Sienna comes around the bend at the completion of her final lap, quickly crowding in with a light pant of exertion as she listens to Samantha's instructions, briefly watching her demonstration before breaking apart and moving off to the side. "You got this, McCormick! Let me see some spunk!" she slaps a hand playfully to Charlene's thigh as she moves by her, starting her ten reps of jumping jacks ending in squats with only minimal jiggle in her shell top.
Silas waves towards Harriet and Caelum upon their arrivals, but he is speaking with Avi at the moment, eyes lazily drifting to watch some of the training routines.
"A leg buffet," Harriet softly repeats after Avi. "Fair," she seems to agree. Lashes flutter about what the Arkwright mentions to Silas, and she murmurs, "...panini presses..." with a curious look over that way, but then Charlene has her attention. Hazel eyes study the younger woman. "Mum Harriet wishes to inform you that she heard that February is a terrible month to start a job, and has decided this also means February is a curse to purchasers of vehicles. Let us see how March treats us." A wink is given to Caelum
"Put your back into it, Swann!" Avi singles Sienna out for heckling. "Your boobs aren't even moving!" He turns to snitch to Samantha, "I don't think Swann is really trying."
Samantha finally comes to the end of the jumping jacks, looking a little out of breath. "Ok, grab water and then we'll stretch." She pants, frowning at Charlene, "That's one, expensive show if you get a car for it." She points out, looking over at Sienna when Avi snitches on her. "I don't think that's like, actually a requirement..."
"Aw, come on. Typical," Charlene remarks and makes a petulant face at Harriet. Having caught her breath, she straightens up and tucks her hair behind her ears. "It was worth a shot."
"I paid fifty bucks, it's a requirement today," Avi tells Samantha insistently.
"I don't have enough boobs to bounce harder, you dick!" Sienna snaps back at Avi when he singles her out. "Pick on somebody else!" She comes down into a deeper squat in her final jumping jack, smiling innocently over at Samantha when she looks her way. "I'm on my best behavior as always, Captain!"
Meridith is looking fresh and content. She stretches out inbetween activities, hopping foot to foot. She's got a bright look in her eyes. She grabs a drink to rehydrate, but never seems to stop moving.
"Typical? Who paid for your makeover yesterday, Charlie?" Harriet calls out to Charlene, arching her left eyebrow.
"I guess you did," Charlene mutters and shrugs noncommittally at Harriet.
"Those nails do look great though." Samantha praises Charlene as she takes a sip of water and steps back out into the center of the gymnasium. "OK, lets try a scorpion stretch so like..." She leans forwards on one leg and bends her other leg as she pushes it back behind herself reaching back behind herself to grab a hold of it with her hand and then wobbling a little in place as she pushes the leg up behind herself until it's almost vertical as her torso lowers, holds for a few seconds, wobbling a little again before bringing it back down. "If you don't think you can do it feel free to lay on your side and do it that way and just get as close as you can."
"Move something that bounces!" Caelum heckles Sienna and entirely lazy in how he grins, though his attention flits to take the sight of all the cheerleaders, leaning back where he is to set his back against the back bleachers, cross his legs in an all too languid pose. Enjoy it all, really. The quiet conversation going about doesn't garner much of his interest at the bleachers while he's doing his patriarchal duty of ogling girls in skirts. As one does.
Joel grabs a water as the squats come to an end, takign a slow swig and grinning to himself a little. "There's advantages to definitely not being the wone people show up to watch" he murmurs, takes a few more deep breaths before he sits down and starts to join in the stretches.
Charlene lowers herself onto the floor and does her best to follow Samantha's example, wincing slightly with the effort. "Shut up, Caelum!" she complains. "Why don't you move something that bounces, if you got any?"
Sienna struggles to hold her laughter in at Charlene's words, biting into the corner of her lower lip. She turns her attention upfront, studying the pose Samantha adopts briefly before shifting her weight to her left leg and tilting her hips forward before pushing her right leg back and attempting to catch her foot to model the scorpion stretch. She winces faintly at the pull of her muscles, letting go of a held breath while settling into the move.
"If you want to be watched, show us something," Avi calls toward Joel, gesturing toward the audience. "We're here to cheer."
There is open mirth at Charlene's struggle, and Caelum doesn't even conceal it. Even his eyes narrow to the point of amusement. But he's got good, because he clearly can't come up with a retort back to that, and only stuffs himself quiet with a bite at the corner of his lips that marrs his perpetual smirk. He does, however, examplify Avi's point by snapping his fingers and pointing at Avi, like he just made a really good point. "Keep bossing him around, he'll cave in."
All the Cheerleaders are notably dexterous and do well at the stretch, except for Charlene who struggles with the more advanced stretches.
Joel does flush faintly at Avi's call, but he focues on his stretches for now, his back bending into a rather graceful curve as he leans back, limbering himself up for any kind of acrobatics that might be required of him.
Looking a bit self-conscious, Charlene sits up and puffs some hair out off her face while she looks around. "I should prolly get a better bed," she tells Samantha. "I've been sleeping on that cot the crazy chick left behind. That's the problem."
Harriet has been sitting there, glancing over at Avi, Silas, and Caelum as they talk more quietly and certainly eavesdropping with amusement glistening in her hazel eyes... but then she's smiling. Those soft lips have their outer corners lifting to present a very sultry smile before she's biting into the plushness of her lower lip. Then she makes a little sound that is an awful lot like a moan.
"And do the other leg." Samantha instructs, moving onto her other foot to repeat the scorpion stretch and holding for ten seconds before bringing her foot back down. "OK, now we'll do bow and arrow so similar but you want to bring your leg up to the side and grab it with your opposite hand." She explains, swinging her right leg up to the side and over her her and then reaching slightly behind and above her head with the opposite side hand, not quite able to bring her leg vertical but holding near there for a few seconds before bringing it down again. "And then do the same with the other leg." She instructs and nods somberly at Charlene, "That's it for sure." She agrees, "Crazy chicks have terrible beds."
Meridith stretches and engaging in the activity. She looks like she's pretty comfortable doing stretching and keeping up the activity. The bow and arrow stretch is entirely natural to her. Seems imagining drawing the bow back is a pretty common movement. She must do the stretch a lot.
Joel grins a little at Charlene "What kinda crazy we talking about?" he asks, just al ittle out of breath as he he shifts to stretching his other leg, keeping breathing steadily as he holds the position for several long seconds.
Charlene plunges into the next stretching routine, which is seemingly a bit easier, fortunately for her. "Did you do archery in high school or something?" she asks Meridith and tugs the back of her skirt down a bit to keep her spankies from being wholly in sight. "Who, Meryl? Some pretty serious levels of crazy," she tells Joel plainly. "This one time, she ran all across campus shouting about killing us all."
"Do you think if crazy chicks got better beds, it'd take their craziness down by a notch or two?" Sienna muses toward Samantha from her spot in the back of the line up, releasing her leg and switching sides. She breathes through her nose and out through her mouth, nose scrunching up with only mild discomfort before she transitions into cupid's bow. "Hanging in alright over there?" she calls over to Joel, not even bothering to ask Charlene as one of the crazies are brought up. "Eugh, please don't bring her up. I still have PTSD from that whole saga."
"No, I just picked it up recently though," Meridith notes with a playful smile. "It's really quite beautiful in a way."
Joel blinks and nods "Ah. I see. Never know when people around here are being metaphorical and when... not." He glances over to Sienna and grins faintly "Doing fine so far--not like we've gotten to the properp art yet."
"Come on Joel, put your back into it," Avi calls down to Joel, keeping up his heckling. "Less gossip, more showing off what those hamstrings do," he suggests.
"You too, girls. You're slacking - less chatter, please." Caelum demands right after Avi, grinning all the same again, sharp as ever in it. "Maybe try to do the next set of squats facing away?"
"If you guys start throwing those dollar bills at us, I'm coming up there to beat you up!" Charlene yells towards the bleachers.
"Sleeping bad always makes me cranky, so it couldn't hurt." Samantha points out to Sienna "Was Meryl on my cot? I thought it was Salem or something?" She ponders and gives a little shake of her head rainbow hair bouncing as she steps froward.
Samantha claps her hands. "Ok great, now we're going to try some stunts, I want to start with one we still haven't been able to really pull off to see if we can get closer to doing it. So need people into two groups, the acrobats and the throwers. The acrobats are going to do a back vault, so go backwards onto your hands and then over back towards your feet but rather than landing on your feet you're going to place your foot into the interlaced hands of the thrower behind you who's going to send you up into the air to vault over them and onto these heavy mats behind. On the field we'll have basket catchers instead." She explains. "So the trick with this is to really throw yourself backwards with the momentum of the back vault so you can keep it up even as you're being lifted for the throw." She explains, glancing over the squad. "Make sense? Let me know if you want me to go over it again or anything."
Avi lifts his phone to his ear as Samantha speaks.
Joel flushes at the heckling but is clearly not about to let it break his stride as he finishes his stretches. As Samantha explains the next move he nods softly, getting to his feet and asking with a wry grin "I'm guessing you'd rather have me throwing than leaping for this?"
"Well it's up to you." Samantha tells Joel. "But yes."
Meridith looks pretty uncertain on this one. "Ummm, should I just watch? I don't wanna uh, hurt anyone."
Joel nods and makes a bit of a face "Right, hope I can get the right leverage.." he murmurs, apparently not quite trusting his sheer strength. "Anyone game?" he asks, looking around the girls.
"Do you want me as thrower or flyer?" Charlene asks Samantha, adjusting her sports bra through the fabric of her top. "I ain't real strong, just so you know."
Meridith says "I can throw, but I'm also pretty good at being airborne."
"If you had to rate your strength and acrobatics on a score from zero to five, which would be higher?" Samantha asks Charlene.
"It was definitely Salem that was on your cot, but wasn't there like one more before that?" Sienna muses toward Samantha, struggling to recall the details before she shifts her attention. When Meridith showcases hesitation, the young Swann slides over to lay a comforting hand over her shoulder with a supportive smile. "Don't let it freak you out. Why don't you try it out, go through the motions to see if you can get it? If not, you can always switch from acrobat to a thrower," she recommends cheerfully before naturally migrating over toward the acrobats as an established flyer. "I'm not catching your ass," she ribs at Charlene, nudging at her ribs.
Avi is on the phone with the local police department requesting an ambulance be on standby in case things go hilariously wrong.
"I guess my acrobatics would be higher," Charlene decides and shrugs minutely at Samantha. The remark from Sienna earns her friend a rude expression. "I ain't that heavy, okay?"
"Ok Sienna and Joel you're first up." Samantha decides when they move into position. "Show us how it's done." She encourages the Swann.
Meridith nods to Sienna, gazing over towards her with a warm smile. 'Alright alright. I mean. Sanctuary covers misadventure right?" She smirks."
Harriet is gawking over at Avi from her place on the bleachers, but she's also having far too good of a time for whatever reason, because her face is simply absolutely beaming.
Harriet smiles even more somehow quite suddenly. She's even giggling like a school girl.
Joel nods easily at Sienna, but nonetheless looks a touch uncertain as he moves into position, lacing his fingers together and preparing to catch her foot on the right moment to give her the best impulse.
"It actually very specifically does not." Samantha informs Meridith with a sideways glance over her direction before she turns back to watch Sienna and Joel, giving them an encouraging round of applause.
Meridith blanches. "Oh."
"But remember Miss Williams' class, Meri. We know when we're gonna die, so we shouldn't be scared of anything," Charlene mentions and gives Meridith an encouraging grin. "I wonder if that's how come there's so many shootings these days."
"We can change our fate, Charlie!" Meridith declares. "Even if just to shorten it with some stupid shit!"
"That's... that's not how any of that works," Avi tells Charlene somewhat incredulously. "Listen to what Granny-hair says," Avi advises, gesturing toward Meridith.
Sienna bounces her brows comically at Meridith. "I wasn't calling you heavy, Char'. Just that I can't catch you," she points out innocently, moving forward and into position in front of Joel. "Alright, you've got this. I have trust in you." With a quick breath, she adjusts her stance and throws herself backwards in an attempt to land her foot into Joel's interlaced fingers for the lifted throw.
"Stop dragging your feet and start throwing! I want to see some blood!" Caelum calls out with a hand rising to the side of his mouth to heckle louder - then it drops, elbows put against the back of his seat.
Meridith fixes the peanut gallery with a firm stare for a moment. "Violence isn't permitted on Campus, right?" she asks the people on the floor curiously.
"That's right. Just sexism," Charlene remarks to Meridith with a grumpy glance at the bleachers. She takes up position amongst the throwers, planting her feet firmly in anticipation.
"A shame we're always on campus and nobody wanders down any dark alleyways ahaha," Meridith smiles mirthlessly at Charlene.
Meridith bites her tongue and giggles quietly.
"Sexism is violence." Samantha opines almost automatically. "Ok Merideth you can fly with Charlie throwing as soon as Joel and Sienna are done." She decides.
Sienna executes the back vault smoothly and plants cleanly into Joel's interlaced fingers who throws her into the air, it isn't a tremendous throw and she doesn't get too much air but for her part the flyer executes the move with skill and grace before arcing towards the heavy mats.
"Damn, you fierce," Charlene whispers to Meridith.
"You don't get to wear a skirt that short and complain about sexism," Avi tells Charlene. "Just do your little flips."
Meridith shrugs to Charlene. "No sense learning how to fight if you can't use it to bully dickheads," she grins.
Harriet counters, "Avi," towards Avi, "There is nothing preventing you from wearing a skirt, other than your own refusal."
Meridith applauds Sienna's and Joel's performance. "Awesome!" she declares.
Joel waits with his feet planted, taking care to find the perfect moment to add his impulse to Sienna's leap. He grimaces faintly as he fails to push it as hard as he was planning, but nonethelesss remains standing straight, head tilted back as he watches Sienna vault over him.
Samantha applauds and whistles enthusiastically for Joel and Sienna as the Swann goes up into the air. "Go Sie!" She cheers.
Sienna manages to stick her landing in the heavy mats, a rush of exhilaration overtaking her with a smile breaking across her lips. She pumps her fist into the air and executes a high kick, subsequently flashing spankies before bounding over toward Joel with her hands stretched up for a high five. "That's what I'm talking about, Joel! Go Wildcats! Raaawr!"
Caelum brings his hand to his lips again to let out another heckling whistle when Sienna manages the land, with perfect grace and a show of spankies. Which makes him yell out in aprpeciation, "Do it again!"
"Who's next? Sammie?" Charlene asks, peering expectantly at Samantha while she laces her fingers together. "I got you, okay? Don't worry."
Meridith tries to use her own strength as well, having seen Sienna and Joel she mimics, waiting for Charlene to be ready. "Don't worry, I'm good, give it your all, okay?" Meridith grins eager.
"Ok next Merideth is going to fly and Charlie is going to throw." Samantha announces.
Joel turns around, returnign Sienna's high fives "Hell of a flying show. Go Wildcats!" He grins broadly, a little high on endorphins despite not having put in the best contribution to that little display.
Nodding, Charlene lowers her posture into a slight squat and presents Meridith with a boosty foothold.
Meridith takes a deep breath, then shifts, throwing herself backwards, she places her foot into Charlene's hand and tries to spring off it with all her might when lifted into the throw.
Samantha applauds. "Alright, lets go Merideth and Charlie!" She calls in encouragement.
Charlene lets out a grunt of effort and does her best to hoist Meridith upwards, but she doesn't get quite as much leverage as she might have expected and almost loses her footing in the process.
Meridith performs a capable backwards vault, although not quite as smooth as Sienna's and puts her foot cleanly into Charlene's interlaced fingers, the thrower in this case isn't able to get the flyer high enough to clear and Meridith's ass goes straight into Charlene's face, causing both girls to fall backwards onto the mats.
Meridithsomeone cackles as she falls back against Charlene. "Ah! Fuck are you okay!?" She pivots to check on her immediately.
Meridith cackles as she falls back against Charlene. "Ah! Fuck are you okay!?" She pivots to check on her immediately.
"Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Caelum calls out as soon as Charlene lets out a scream, and both of the girls fall. "Do -that- again! It'll distract everyone next game!"
Samantha's applause wilts as the girls go down in a tumble. "Oof." She says with a little sympathetic wince. "You might want to put some ice on..." She says to Charlene, motioning towards her own nose.
Once again, Harriet is giggling helplessly, but she's really trying to stop herself from being so inappropriate. Several small coughs are produced as she clears her throat. There is concern in her eyes for Charlene and Meridith, though, despite her otherwise gleeful state.
Sienna winces as Meridith goes ass down into Charlene's face as they crash to the floor, quickly running over to try and lend assistance with checking on her friend. "... You okay, Char?"
Charlene flops head over heels onto the mat with her skirt going all over the place, before ending up on her back in a sprawl of limbs. "Shit," she remarks and feels her nose gingerly. "Yeah, I think I'm okay."
Meridith is on her feet pretty quick, offering Charlene a hand up. "Sorry about that."
Drawing a small dry-erase scorecard from his backpack, Avi writes on it with a marker and holds it up for Charlene to see with a serious expression.
"It's okay. I guess my fingers slipped," Charlene tells Meridith and clambers off the mat. She gives Avi a sour look in the process but otherwise ignores the spectators out of apparent embarrassment.
"Alright you two, clean it up, or fuck off." Meridith declares after seeing Charlene's expression.
"Ok, well good try, good try." Samantha enthuses, "Maybe just need to work on our strength a bit for next time." She decides, she checks on Charlene, "You ok to keep going, or you want to sit for a bit?"
"I'll just sit out for a round," Charlene tells Samantha and scoops her hair out of her face. "It's okay, Meri. They know they aren't even brave enough to try, that's how come they're sitting up there."
"I'd blow the fuck out of you in cheerleading." Caelum bites back at Charlene, though he doesn't move even an inch of his lazy self from where he's lounging at the bleachers, arms drawn up on the backrest of where he sits, extending to the sides for all the comfort he can get. "I just don't look good in a skirt."
"Yeah, what he said," Avi backs Caelum up. "And I'd look good in a skirt, I look good in anything - but I don't want to."
Caelum draws up a hand to fistbump Avi.
Avi fist bumps Caelum without hesitation.
"Guy cheerleaders generally wear shorts." Samantha explains to the bleachers. "You guys are like something out of the fifties or something." She complains, turning back to the squad. "Ok, lets do a pyramid and then we can cool down for this session." She decides, "Joel and I will be on the bottom with some of the others, and I want Charlie and Merideth to go up either side and Sienna to go up in the middle. Then Charlie and Merideth you can kick your legs out to the side and Sienna you grab both their ankles and we hold like that for ten seconds, sound good?"
"This is gonna be good." Caelum can't help but anticipate the total collapse of that pyrmaid when Samantha calls it out, grinning ear to ear while his eyes narrow entirely in expectation and not at all concealed amusement.
"Sometimes you just have to get back up and try again, or start with something smaller," Silas says helpfully from the bleachers in Charlene's direction, "I don't know how many times I've fucked myself up trying to clear a gap on my board, it just happens."
Sienna spares a sympathetic glance over toward Charlene, but turns her attention back to the rest of the cheerleaders attempting their stunts out on the gym floor. "Okay," she calls over toward Samantha, sounding off the affirmative as she jogs over toward the amassing squad. "Practice kind of doesn't feel the same without Lexi. Do you want to facetime her after this to see how she's doing?"
"I've got fifty on Swann going ass over tits to the floor before they even count to seven," Avi bets Caelum.
"We can do this," Charlene decides, donning a stubborn frown as she prepares to clamber onto Joel's back. "Just don't move around too much, Joel."
"I'll call it it, she's got a little stamina." Caelum shrugs towards Avi, "Joel or Meridith is going to topple first." Though those eyes narrow on Sienna, pondering -- lasting only as long until he calls out, "Sie, I'll do any one thing you ask, no questions - last for eight seconds!"
"Sure we can do that." Samantha agrees with Sienna, "What's the timezone over there right now?" She wonders as she starts to form up with with the others. Being the only chick here over five five seems to put her squarely into the position of being on the bottom with the guy cheerleaders while the short queens get lifted. She sets up on the opposite side to Joel where someone will go up.
"Sure we can do that." Samantha agrees with Sienna, "What's the timezone over there right now?" She wonders as she starts to form up with with the others. Being the only chick here over five five seems to put her squarely into the position of being on the bottom with the guy cheerleaders while the short queens get lifted. She sets up on the opposite side to Joel where Meridith will go up.
Joel says "// sorry about that!"
"Okay, if you last eight seconds, I'll give you a thousand if you get Caelum to do a full four-minute strip routine at the Siren," Avi calls toward Sienna when Caelum makes that offer.
Joel lifts his eyebrows at Caelum's call "I'll take that challenge." He moves to stands beside Samantha, squaring his shoulders and keeping them as steady as he can, glashing a grin at Charlene "I'll be the best stepladder I can, promise" even as he stretches out his arm to help the girls clamber up.
"You're not even my real ladder!" Charlene remarks and grins cheekily at Joel. She makes it onto his back without much apparent difficulty and sets about balancing there as Samantha instructed, tentatively extending her leg. It's a precarious pose in a skirt like this, but she ignores any potential remarks from the bleachers.
"Don't do me dirty like that, Sienna.." Caelum changes his mind at the drop of a hat, and draws up one of his arms away from the back of his seat to clutch the cross around his neck. "Shit."
Joel and Samantha work with the others in their squad to smoothly lift Charlene and Merideth up into the air, although neither of the pair seem to be doing most of the heavy lifting. A moment later some others in the squad lift Sienna up smoothly into the sky and then Merideth and Charlene kick their legs out with impressive dexterity, Sienna snatching both as the squad performs the pyramid and starts to hold...
Joel and Samantha work with the others in their squad to smoothly lift Charlene and Merideth up into the air, although neither of the pair seem to be doing most of the heavy lifting. A moment later some others in the squad lift Sienna up smoothly into the sky and then Merideth and Charlene kick their legs out with impressive dexterity, Sienna snatching both as the squad performs the pyramid and starts to hold...
Joel glances up ever so briefly as Charlene climbs up, mumuring wryly "Oh? You got someone that /is/ your ladder?" before focusing his eyes on the crowd, perhaps to avoid distraction, breathing steadily and shallowly to stop himself from moving, keeping his balance as the pyramid is built.
Sienna ignores the shouts drifting down from the spectator bleachers as she catches Meridith and Charlene's feet, core held tight. She plasters a vivacious smile upon her lips and stares straight ahead, arms locking in an attempt to help hold her optimal height.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
"One... two... three... four... five..." Avi counts aloud as the pyramid takes shape. "Now fall! Come on, I've got fifty bucks on this!"
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
"Hell yeah!" Charlene breathes, grimacing slightly with effort.
Nine...
"Shut up and breathe, McCormick! You're going to ruin it!" Sienna hisses over at Charlene, maintaining her smile.
Harriet is really still trying to keep it all together, but her body is shivering some over who knows what.
Samantha breathes heavily through her nose, arms trembling a little as she braces at the bottom of the pyramid.
Meridith is enjoying herself as they begin the ladder. She keeps focused, and is delighted by the exercise. She is definitely struggling somewhat but...
Joel stares straight ahead, perspiration glistening on his skin, teeth set in concentration as he does his best to keep from trembling at the effort.
Joel stares straight ahead, perspiration glistening on his skin, teeth set in concentration as he does his best to keep from trembling at the effort.
And Ten!
The squad finishes the count and Sienna releases Charlene and Merideth's legs, before the three of them let themselves fall to be basket caught by the rest of the squad beneath them.
"Wildcats! Wildcats! Wildcats!" Avi cheers from the stands when the squad pulls off their stunt, clearly not too much of a bad sport about losing his bet.
There is both a mixture of relief, and a sense of unease from Caelum at the endurance of the cheerleaders, and Sienna's smile. Even when Avi passes him the bill he bites the corner of his lips -- it still gets appreciatively slipped in a pocket. "I hope I don't have to turn tricks at th siren for this fifty.." Then quieter, "Lord, please don't let Sienna's intrusive thoughts win."
"Gooo Wildcats!" Charlene shrieks once she gets her feet back on the ground, grinning exuberantly towards the bleachers. "Take that, haters."
Sienna plummets down into a basket catch with the rest of the squad, immediately bouncing her way over to throw her arms around Samantha with a shout of excitement, "Wildcats! Wildcats! Wildcats!" she joins in the chanting emanating off the stands, stretching her hand over to offer highfives to Charlene, Meridith, and Joel along with the rest of the team. "You guys looked so good! I'm so proud!"
Joel exhales in some relief, his arms helping Sienna and Charlene back down, lips spreading in a pleased grin, even though he is perspiring heavily by now. Sienna's high five is returned with a loud call of "Wildcats!"
When the pyramid collapses in an orderly manner Samantha whoops and bounces on her toes, grinning at Sienna when the other woman wraps her up. "Great job guys!" She enthuses, "Alright, stretch and cool down, that's a wrap for today."
"Hell yeah we did," Charlene agrees and meets Sienna's palm with a snappy high-five. She gives Joel a jovial grin and smooths her skirt out with her palms. "Good job, Joel. You better join the squad for real. We need guys who ain't scared."
Joel grins at Charlene, wiping his arm across his forehead "I had fun! Sure, I'll be in the team if you guys will have me..."
Samantha nods and says "Yeah, I think unless anyone has a strenuous objection we'd be happy to have both of you on the squad." She says to Joel and Meridith.
Meridith beams to Samantha. "Ah! Well...I mean sure! Why the hell not." She grins
"That's the spirit," Charlene sings out and goes about stretching a little as the practice session winds down. "Ask Sammie what to get for your uniforms."
Samantha does a few stretches as she cools down and then finally straightens. "Ok, I gotta dash and take care of some stuff, see you guys soon though." She claims as she slips out.
The highlight of the practice involved undertaking complex stunts and formations, testing the squad's coordination and athletic prowess. An attempt at a back vault saw Meridith and Charlene take a tumble, resulting in laughter and a brief pause to ensure everyone was alright. Finally, the team ambitiously formed a pyramid, a stunt that demanded trust and precise coordination among all the members. Despite the high stakes and the heckling from their audience, the Wildcat cheerleaders flawlessly executed the pyramid, holding it steady for a victorious ten seconds before disassembling cleanly. The success was met with elation from the team and a chorus of cheers from their onlookers, concluding the practice on a high note with new members Joel and Meridith warmly welcomed into the squad.
(Samantha's Wildcat Cheerleader Practice:SRSamantha)
[Thu Feb 15 2024]
In the Gymnasium of the Spender Arts and Wellness Center at White Oak
The resounding echoes of athletic activity reverberate against the high, vaulted ceilings here, underscoring the energetic atmosphere that pulsates through the expansive, well-equipped space. The sleek, modern exercise machines and the polished hardwood floors reflect the soft, diffused lighting that illuminates the various training stations. The rhythmic thud of sneakers against the floor and the distant calls of coaches blend with the determined grunts and breaths of students and athletes.
It is about 35F(1C) degrees.
Samantha checks her phone as it buzzes. "Sienna is on her way, nobody is ever at anything on time." She complains.
Meridith says "...Listen I don't want to figure out the mechanics"
Meridith says "I am! I was here first and I'm not even on the team!"
"I figured you were trying out." Samantha mentions to Meridith, "Or were you just coming to be supportive?"
"I was on time too," Charlene points out and starts some light warmup. "I was just hanging out in the locker room because I was texting Miss Willi--Harris."
Meridith says "Thinking of trying out, Charlie recommended me"
"That's true." Samantha admits to Charlene, raising her hand to greet the other arrivals. "Actually for a Haven thing this is remarkably prompt." She says a little begrudgingly.
"I'm not late am I?" Avi asks as he strolls in, setting his observation donation on the table before heading for the bleachers.
"Yeah, I told her to come by and see if she wants to join," Charlene agrees and continues to limber up. "We are Wildcats, we are fierce! We bring Salem State to tears! Gooo Wildcats!"
"No later than me at least," Sienna supposes toward Avi as she passes him on her way to join up with the rest of her cheermates, skipping across the gym floor to toss her arms around Samantha from behind. "Samaaaaantha!" she sings, off-key.
Joel makes his way into the gym with a faint air of uncertainty, but offers a soft smile to the people present, already stretching his arms out a little.
Samantha is grabbed from behind. "Ah!" She faux-complains, "You're going to make me go deaf." She continues, "Ok lets start warming up with a few laps around the outside of the gymnasium." She says, "People trying out can just join in the practice with everyone else and then we'll take a secret ballot on how cool you are afterwards." She explains.
"It's less chill if you're late, you're actually on the squad, Swann," Avi points out to Sienna as she assaults Samantha from behind. "As long as I haven't missed the part where you all check that each other's bra is offering the correct amount of support, I'm happy."
"We do that in the locker room after practice, and then we soap each other down in the showers," Charlene claims, scrunching her nose wryly at Avi. When laps are called for, she begins to jog around the gymnasium's perimeter, giving Joel a wave in passing. "Hey, Joel. Trying out?"
"No one asked for your judgement, Arkwright," Sienna playfully calls across the gym toward Avi as she lets go of Samantha after a tight squeeze, quickly fishing a hair tie from her wrist to secure her hair into a bun before starting a light jog around the gym.
Meridith nods and joins in with practice, she begins to join the laps without issue. Clearly quite well built for the effort.
Joel gives a wry grin at Charlene "Yeah, guess I got convinced." He glances around "Remains to be seen how convincing I can be."
Silas walks through the gym towards the donation table with a languid pacing and hands in his pockets. When one of them comes out, it is to place a bill in the donation area before retreating back into his hoodie pocket. He looks around with a slow moving glance around the gym before moving over to one of the various places to sit and finding himself a spot.
As the Cheerleaders set off around the gymnasium, Meridith and Samantha keep a solid pace near the front, followed up by Sienna and and Joel, with Charlene pulling up the rear, the other various members of the squad mixed in amongst them all.
"Wouldn't it make sense to check the support before you start bouncing around, literally?" Avi asks Charlene doubtfully, but then the bouncing begins as the cheerleaders start running laps, so he settles back to watch. "Get those knees up, ladies!" he calls out encouragingly. "If you want legs long and lanky, you gotta show some spanky."
Samantha sets off at an easy jog around the outside of the gymasium with the other cheerleaders, throwing Avi her middle finger as they go by the bleachers.
"Yeah, good point," Charlene supposes while her jogging takes her past the bleachers and shrugs distractedly at Avi. She isn't quite as athletic as the others, and after a while she's huffing and puffing a bit.
Joel sets off as the jog is announced. He's conserving his strength mostly, but keeps a steady pace, his open hair flowing behind him a little as he concentrates on his motions, flashing Sienna a brief smile of greeting as he catches sight of her.
Sienna keeps apace with the group, barely smothering a snicker at Avi's encouragement as she picks her feet up, seeming impressed as Joel falls in stride with her. "Hey Joel!" she puffs out, adjusting her pace to be nearer to him. "I'm glad you could make it after all."
Meridith moves alongside jogging easily, contentedly keeping pace. "So, I'm usually more into the field than the sideline. You look like you would be too, what's the pitch?" she asks Samantha.
Caelum cracks a loud whistle as soon as he shows himself, appreciative in how wolfish it is - directed openly at the cheerleaders out there. Before long, he's moving up the bleachers, fiding a seat beside Avi to sit down, and give him an upnod. "Hey, did I miss any upskirts?"
Harriet makes her way into the gymnasium, and heads over to the bleachers to take a seat. She nods to Avi, complaining, "You still are not showing off your legs," in a teasing manner before she nods to Silas and Caelum. "It was my suggestion that our cheerleaders go pantiless to distract the other team on game days so that maybe we could win," is informed to Silas before she looks over at Samantha, watching the woman.
"Yeah but that's why you have to show up on time bro," Avi tells Caelum, extending a fist toward him in greeting. "No, but there are plenty of legs on display for us today," he tells Harriet, nodding toward the cheerleaders running laps. "A leg buffet, really."
"The pitch?" Samantha wonders of Meridith and shakes her head a little. "Not that into sports generally honestly." She says and as the squad complete the second lap around the outside of the Gymnasium she pulls up, already breathing a little heavier. "Ok, lets do ten jumping jacks with a squat at the end so..." She demonstrates, bringing bother arms up over her head together as she jumps her feet apart, then brings her arms back down by her sides and feet together, then squats, then back up, and then jumps her feet out again once more.
"Hmm, fair enough," Meridith replies looking happy with the physical activity and moving immediately into the jumping jacks and squats.
Charlene trudges to a halt near Samantha and embarks on her jumping jacks, panting doggedly while she flails her limbs in place. By the end, she stoops over with her hands on her knees and tells Harriet windedly, "I'll do it if you buy me a new car."
Caelum doesn't skip a beat in giving Avi a bump in his fist - though clicks his tongue, too. "Drat. I overslept, never again." Thereafter, he leans forward, forearms on his knees with his hands hanging as his eyes stare out at the gaggle of cheerleaders running amok - only pause from it is to look aside at Harriet, flash an all too sharp smirk. "You're godsent, that's a really good idea." Then comes another cheer on his part, particularly at Samantha and her demonstration of a squat - with two fingers at his lips erupting in another whistle, only to speak in mock whisper to the side, after. "We'll never win a game when they distract our players too."
Joel comes to a halt, taking a few deep breaths. His gaze flickers briefly over the other cheerleaders, but he focuses on Samantha's instruction, watching her carefully for a few seconds. Straightening up, he starts joining the jumping jacks, moving with precision and a certain grace, but not without starting to flush a little.
Sienna comes around the bend at the completion of her final lap, quickly crowding in with a light pant of exertion as she listens to Samantha's instructions, briefly watching her demonstration before breaking apart and moving off to the side. "You got this, McCormick! Let me see some spunk!" she slaps a hand playfully to Charlene's thigh as she moves by her, starting her ten reps of jumping jacks ending in squats with only minimal jiggle in her shell top.
Silas waves towards Harriet and Caelum upon their arrivals, but he is speaking with Avi at the moment, eyes lazily drifting to watch some of the training routines.
"A leg buffet," Harriet softly repeats after Avi. "Fair," she seems to agree. Lashes flutter about what the Arkwright mentions to Silas, and she murmurs, "...panini presses..." with a curious look over that way, but then Charlene has her attention. Hazel eyes study the younger woman. "Mum Harriet wishes to inform you that she heard that February is a terrible month to start a job, and has decided this also means February is a curse to purchasers of vehicles. Let us see how March treats us." A wink is given to Caelum
"Put your back into it, Swann!" Avi singles Sienna out for heckling. "Your boobs aren't even moving!" He turns to snitch to Samantha, "I don't think Swann is really trying."
Samantha finally comes to the end of the jumping jacks, looking a little out of breath. "Ok, grab water and then we'll stretch." She pants, frowning at Charlene, "That's one, expensive show if you get a car for it." She points out, looking over at Sienna when Avi snitches on her. "I don't think that's like, actually a requirement..."
"Aw, come on. Typical," Charlene remarks and makes a petulant face at Harriet. Having caught her breath, she straightens up and tucks her hair behind her ears. "It was worth a shot."
"I paid fifty bucks, it's a requirement today," Avi tells Samantha insistently.
"I don't have enough boobs to bounce harder, you dick!" Sienna snaps back at Avi when he singles her out. "Pick on somebody else!" She comes down into a deeper squat in her final jumping jack, smiling innocently over at Samantha when she looks her way. "I'm on my best behavior as always, Captain!"
Meridith is looking fresh and content. She stretches out inbetween activities, hopping foot to foot. She's got a bright look in her eyes. She grabs a drink to rehydrate, but never seems to stop moving.
"Typical? Who paid for your makeover yesterday, Charlie?" Harriet calls out to Charlene, arching her left eyebrow.
"I guess you did," Charlene mutters and shrugs noncommittally at Harriet.
"Those nails do look great though." Samantha praises Charlene as she takes a sip of water and steps back out into the center of the gymnasium. "OK, lets try a scorpion stretch so like..." She leans forwards on one leg and bends her other leg as she pushes it back behind herself reaching back behind herself to grab a hold of it with her hand and then wobbling a little in place as she pushes the leg up behind herself until it's almost vertical as her torso lowers, holds for a few seconds, wobbling a little again before bringing it back down. "If you don't think you can do it feel free to lay on your side and do it that way and just get as close as you can."
"Move something that bounces!" Caelum heckles Sienna and entirely lazy in how he grins, though his attention flits to take the sight of all the cheerleaders, leaning back where he is to set his back against the back bleachers, cross his legs in an all too languid pose. Enjoy it all, really. The quiet conversation going about doesn't garner much of his interest at the bleachers while he's doing his patriarchal duty of ogling girls in skirts. As one does.
Joel grabs a water as the squats come to an end, takign a slow swig and grinning to himself a little. "There's advantages to definitely not being the wone people show up to watch" he murmurs, takes a few more deep breaths before he sits down and starts to join in the stretches.
Charlene lowers herself onto the floor and does her best to follow Samantha's example, wincing slightly with the effort. "Shut up, Caelum!" she complains. "Why don't you move something that bounces, if you got any?"
Sienna struggles to hold her laughter in at Charlene's words, biting into the corner of her lower lip. She turns her attention upfront, studying the pose Samantha adopts briefly before shifting her weight to her left leg and tilting her hips forward before pushing her right leg back and attempting to catch her foot to model the scorpion stretch. She winces faintly at the pull of her muscles, letting go of a held breath while settling into the move.
"If you want to be watched, show us something," Avi calls toward Joel, gesturing toward the audience. "We're here to cheer."
There is open mirth at Charlene's struggle, and Caelum doesn't even conceal it. Even his eyes narrow to the point of amusement. But he's got good, because he clearly can't come up with a retort back to that, and only stuffs himself quiet with a bite at the corner of his lips that marrs his perpetual smirk. He does, however, examplify Avi's point by snapping his fingers and pointing at Avi, like he just made a really good point. "Keep bossing him around, he'll cave in."
All the Cheerleaders are notably dexterous and do well at the stretch, except for Charlene who struggles with the more advanced stretches.
Joel does flush faintly at Avi's call, but he focues on his stretches for now, his back bending into a rather graceful curve as he leans back, limbering himself up for any kind of acrobatics that might be required of him.
Looking a bit self-conscious, Charlene sits up and puffs some hair out off her face while she looks around. "I should prolly get a better bed," she tells Samantha. "I've been sleeping on that cot the crazy chick left behind. That's the problem."
Harriet has been sitting there, glancing over at Avi, Silas, and Caelum as they talk more quietly and certainly eavesdropping with amusement glistening in her hazel eyes... but then she's smiling. Those soft lips have their outer corners lifting to present a very sultry smile before she's biting into the plushness of her lower lip. Then she makes a little sound that is an awful lot like a moan.
"And do the other leg." Samantha instructs, moving onto her other foot to repeat the scorpion stretch and holding for ten seconds before bringing her foot back down. "OK, now we'll do bow and arrow so similar but you want to bring your leg up to the side and grab it with your opposite hand." She explains, swinging her right leg up to the side and over her her and then reaching slightly behind and above her head with the opposite side hand, not quite able to bring her leg vertical but holding near there for a few seconds before bringing it down again. "And then do the same with the other leg." She instructs and nods somberly at Charlene, "That's it for sure." She agrees, "Crazy chicks have terrible beds."
Meridith stretches and engaging in the activity. She looks like she's pretty comfortable doing stretching and keeping up the activity. The bow and arrow stretch is entirely natural to her. Seems imagining drawing the bow back is a pretty common movement. She must do the stretch a lot.
Joel grins a little at Charlene "What kinda crazy we talking about?" he asks, just al ittle out of breath as he he shifts to stretching his other leg, keeping breathing steadily as he holds the position for several long seconds.
Charlene plunges into the next stretching routine, which is seemingly a bit easier, fortunately for her. "Did you do archery in high school or something?" she asks Meridith and tugs the back of her skirt down a bit to keep her spankies from being wholly in sight. "Who, Meryl? Some pretty serious levels of crazy," she tells Joel plainly. "This one time, she ran all across campus shouting about killing us all."
"Do you think if crazy chicks got better beds, it'd take their craziness down by a notch or two?" Sienna muses toward Samantha from her spot in the back of the line up, releasing her leg and switching sides. She breathes through her nose and out through her mouth, nose scrunching up with only mild discomfort before she transitions into cupid's bow. "Hanging in alright over there?" she calls over to Joel, not even bothering to ask Charlene as one of the crazies are brought up. "Eugh, please don't bring her up. I still have PTSD from that whole saga."
"No, I just picked it up recently though," Meridith notes with a playful smile. "It's really quite beautiful in a way."
Joel blinks and nods "Ah. I see. Never know when people around here are being metaphorical and when... not." He glances over to Sienna and grins faintly "Doing fine so far--not like we've gotten to the properp art yet."
"Come on Joel, put your back into it," Avi calls down to Joel, keeping up his heckling. "Less gossip, more showing off what those hamstrings do," he suggests.
"You too, girls. You're slacking - less chatter, please." Caelum demands right after Avi, grinning all the same again, sharp as ever in it. "Maybe try to do the next set of squats facing away?"
"If you guys start throwing those dollar bills at us, I'm coming up there to beat you up!" Charlene yells towards the bleachers.
"Sleeping bad always makes me cranky, so it couldn't hurt." Samantha points out to Sienna "Was Meryl on my cot? I thought it was Salem or something?" She ponders and gives a little shake of her head rainbow hair bouncing as she steps froward.
Samantha claps her hands. "Ok great, now we're going to try some stunts, I want to start with one we still haven't been able to really pull off to see if we can get closer to doing it. So need people into two groups, the acrobats and the throwers. The acrobats are going to do a back vault, so go backwards onto your hands and then over back towards your feet but rather than landing on your feet you're going to place your foot into the interlaced hands of the thrower behind you who's going to send you up into the air to vault over them and onto these heavy mats behind. On the field we'll have basket catchers instead." She explains. "So the trick with this is to really throw yourself backwards with the momentum of the back vault so you can keep it up even as you're being lifted for the throw." She explains, glancing over the squad. "Make sense? Let me know if you want me to go over it again or anything."
Avi lifts his phone to his ear as Samantha speaks.
Joel flushes at the heckling but is clearly not about to let it break his stride as he finishes his stretches. As Samantha explains the next move he nods softly, getting to his feet and asking with a wry grin "I'm guessing you'd rather have me throwing than leaping for this?"
"Well it's up to you." Samantha tells Joel. "But yes."
Meridith looks pretty uncertain on this one. "Ummm, should I just watch? I don't wanna uh, hurt anyone."
Joel nods and makes a bit of a face "Right, hope I can get the right leverage.." he murmurs, apparently not quite trusting his sheer strength. "Anyone game?" he asks, looking around the girls.
"Do you want me as thrower or flyer?" Charlene asks Samantha, adjusting her sports bra through the fabric of her top. "I ain't real strong, just so you know."
Meridith says "I can throw, but I'm also pretty good at being airborne."
"If you had to rate your strength and acrobatics on a score from zero to five, which would be higher?" Samantha asks Charlene.
"It was definitely Salem that was on your cot, but wasn't there like one more before that?" Sienna muses toward Samantha, struggling to recall the details before she shifts her attention. When Meridith showcases hesitation, the young Swann slides over to lay a comforting hand over her shoulder with a supportive smile. "Don't let it freak you out. Why don't you try it out, go through the motions to see if you can get it? If not, you can always switch from acrobat to a thrower," she recommends cheerfully before naturally migrating over toward the acrobats as an established flyer. "I'm not catching your ass," she ribs at Charlene, nudging at her ribs.
Avi is on the phone with the local police department requesting an ambulance be on standby in case things go hilariously wrong.
"I guess my acrobatics would be higher," Charlene decides and shrugs minutely at Samantha. The remark from Sienna earns her friend a rude expression. "I ain't that heavy, okay?"
"Ok Sienna and Joel you're first up." Samantha decides when they move into position. "Show us how it's done." She encourages the Swann.
Meridith nods to Sienna, gazing over towards her with a warm smile. 'Alright alright. I mean. Sanctuary covers misadventure right?" She smirks."
Harriet is gawking over at Avi from her place on the bleachers, but she's also having far too good of a time for whatever reason, because her face is simply absolutely beaming.
Harriet smiles even more somehow quite suddenly. She's even giggling like a school girl.
Joel nods easily at Sienna, but nonetheless looks a touch uncertain as he moves into position, lacing his fingers together and preparing to catch her foot on the right moment to give her the best impulse.
"It actually very specifically does not." Samantha informs Meridith with a sideways glance over her direction before she turns back to watch Sienna and Joel, giving them an encouraging round of applause.
Meridith blanches. "Oh."
"But remember Miss Williams' class, Meri. We know when we're gonna die, so we shouldn't be scared of anything," Charlene mentions and gives Meridith an encouraging grin. "I wonder if that's how come there's so many shootings these days."
"We can change our fate, Charlie!" Meridith declares. "Even if just to shorten it with some stupid shit!"
"That's... that's not how any of that works," Avi tells Charlene somewhat incredulously. "Listen to what Granny-hair says," Avi advises, gesturing toward Meridith.
Sienna bounces her brows comically at Meridith. "I wasn't calling you heavy, Char'. Just that I can't catch you," she points out innocently, moving forward and into position in front of Joel. "Alright, you've got this. I have trust in you." With a quick breath, she adjusts her stance and throws herself backwards in an attempt to land her foot into Joel's interlaced fingers for the lifted throw.
"Stop dragging your feet and start throwing! I want to see some blood!" Caelum calls out with a hand rising to the side of his mouth to heckle louder - then it drops, elbows put against the back of his seat.
Meridith fixes the peanut gallery with a firm stare for a moment. "Violence isn't permitted on Campus, right?" she asks the people on the floor curiously.
"That's right. Just sexism," Charlene remarks to Meridith with a grumpy glance at the bleachers. She takes up position amongst the throwers, planting her feet firmly in anticipation.
"A shame we're always on campus and nobody wanders down any dark alleyways ahaha," Meridith smiles mirthlessly at Charlene.
Meridith bites her tongue and giggles quietly.
"Sexism is violence." Samantha opines almost automatically. "Ok Merideth you can fly with Charlie throwing as soon as Joel and Sienna are done." She decides.
Sienna executes the back vault smoothly and plants cleanly into Joel's interlaced fingers who throws her into the air, it isn't a tremendous throw and she doesn't get too much air but for her part the flyer executes the move with skill and grace before arcing towards the heavy mats.
"Damn, you fierce," Charlene whispers to Meridith.
"You don't get to wear a skirt that short and complain about sexism," Avi tells Charlene. "Just do your little flips."
Meridith shrugs to Charlene. "No sense learning how to fight if you can't use it to bully dickheads," she grins.
Harriet counters, "Avi," towards Avi, "There is nothing preventing you from wearing a skirt, other than your own refusal."
Meridith applauds Sienna's and Joel's performance. "Awesome!" she declares.
Joel waits with his feet planted, taking care to find the perfect moment to add his impulse to Sienna's leap. He grimaces faintly as he fails to push it as hard as he was planning, but nonethelesss remains standing straight, head tilted back as he watches Sienna vault over him.
Samantha applauds and whistles enthusiastically for Joel and Sienna as the Swann goes up into the air. "Go Sie!" She cheers.
Sienna manages to stick her landing in the heavy mats, a rush of exhilaration overtaking her with a smile breaking across her lips. She pumps her fist into the air and executes a high kick, subsequently flashing spankies before bounding over toward Joel with her hands stretched up for a high five. "That's what I'm talking about, Joel! Go Wildcats! Raaawr!"
Caelum brings his hand to his lips again to let out another heckling whistle when Sienna manages the land, with perfect grace and a show of spankies. Which makes him yell out in aprpeciation, "Do it again!"
"Who's next? Sammie?" Charlene asks, peering expectantly at Samantha while she laces her fingers together. "I got you, okay? Don't worry."
Meridith tries to use her own strength as well, having seen Sienna and Joel she mimics, waiting for Charlene to be ready. "Don't worry, I'm good, give it your all, okay?" Meridith grins eager.
"Ok next Merideth is going to fly and Charlie is going to throw." Samantha announces.
Joel turns around, returnign Sienna's high fives "Hell of a flying show. Go Wildcats!" He grins broadly, a little high on endorphins despite not having put in the best contribution to that little display.
Nodding, Charlene lowers her posture into a slight squat and presents Meridith with a boosty foothold.
Meridith takes a deep breath, then shifts, throwing herself backwards, she places her foot into Charlene's hand and tries to spring off it with all her might when lifted into the throw.
Samantha applauds. "Alright, lets go Merideth and Charlie!" She calls in encouragement.
Charlene lets out a grunt of effort and does her best to hoist Meridith upwards, but she doesn't get quite as much leverage as she might have expected and almost loses her footing in the process.
Meridith performs a capable backwards vault, although not quite as smooth as Sienna's and puts her foot cleanly into Charlene's interlaced fingers, the thrower in this case isn't able to get the flyer high enough to clear and Meridith's ass goes straight into Charlene's face, causing both girls to fall backwards onto the mats.
Meridithsomeone cackles as she falls back against Charlene. "Ah! Fuck are you okay!?" She pivots to check on her immediately.
Meridith cackles as she falls back against Charlene. "Ah! Fuck are you okay!?" She pivots to check on her immediately.
"Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" Caelum calls out as soon as Charlene lets out a scream, and both of the girls fall. "Do -that- again! It'll distract everyone next game!"
Samantha's applause wilts as the girls go down in a tumble. "Oof." She says with a little sympathetic wince. "You might want to put some ice on..." She says to Charlene, motioning towards her own nose.
Once again, Harriet is giggling helplessly, but she's really trying to stop herself from being so inappropriate. Several small coughs are produced as she clears her throat. There is concern in her eyes for Charlene and Meridith, though, despite her otherwise gleeful state.
Sienna winces as Meridith goes ass down into Charlene's face as they crash to the floor, quickly running over to try and lend assistance with checking on her friend. "... You okay, Char?"
Charlene flops head over heels onto the mat with her skirt going all over the place, before ending up on her back in a sprawl of limbs. "Shit," she remarks and feels her nose gingerly. "Yeah, I think I'm okay."
Meridith is on her feet pretty quick, offering Charlene a hand up. "Sorry about that."
Drawing a small dry-erase scorecard from his backpack, Avi writes on it with a marker and holds it up for Charlene to see with a serious expression.
"It's okay. I guess my fingers slipped," Charlene tells Meridith and clambers off the mat. She gives Avi a sour look in the process but otherwise ignores the spectators out of apparent embarrassment.
"Alright you two, clean it up, or fuck off." Meridith declares after seeing Charlene's expression.
"Ok, well good try, good try." Samantha enthuses, "Maybe just need to work on our strength a bit for next time." She decides, she checks on Charlene, "You ok to keep going, or you want to sit for a bit?"
"I'll just sit out for a round," Charlene tells Samantha and scoops her hair out of her face. "It's okay, Meri. They know they aren't even brave enough to try, that's how come they're sitting up there."
"I'd blow the fuck out of you in cheerleading." Caelum bites back at Charlene, though he doesn't move even an inch of his lazy self from where he's lounging at the bleachers, arms drawn up on the backrest of where he sits, extending to the sides for all the comfort he can get. "I just don't look good in a skirt."
"Yeah, what he said," Avi backs Caelum up. "And I'd look good in a skirt, I look good in anything - but I don't want to."
Caelum draws up a hand to fistbump Avi.
Avi fist bumps Caelum without hesitation.
"Guy cheerleaders generally wear shorts." Samantha explains to the bleachers. "You guys are like something out of the fifties or something." She complains, turning back to the squad. "Ok, lets do a pyramid and then we can cool down for this session." She decides, "Joel and I will be on the bottom with some of the others, and I want Charlie and Merideth to go up either side and Sienna to go up in the middle. Then Charlie and Merideth you can kick your legs out to the side and Sienna you grab both their ankles and we hold like that for ten seconds, sound good?"
"This is gonna be good." Caelum can't help but anticipate the total collapse of that pyrmaid when Samantha calls it out, grinning ear to ear while his eyes narrow entirely in expectation and not at all concealed amusement.
"Sometimes you just have to get back up and try again, or start with something smaller," Silas says helpfully from the bleachers in Charlene's direction, "I don't know how many times I've fucked myself up trying to clear a gap on my board, it just happens."
Sienna spares a sympathetic glance over toward Charlene, but turns her attention back to the rest of the cheerleaders attempting their stunts out on the gym floor. "Okay," she calls over toward Samantha, sounding off the affirmative as she jogs over toward the amassing squad. "Practice kind of doesn't feel the same without Lexi. Do you want to facetime her after this to see how she's doing?"
"I've got fifty on Swann going ass over tits to the floor before they even count to seven," Avi bets Caelum.
"We can do this," Charlene decides, donning a stubborn frown as she prepares to clamber onto Joel's back. "Just don't move around too much, Joel."
"I'll call it it, she's got a little stamina." Caelum shrugs towards Avi, "Joel or Meridith is going to topple first." Though those eyes narrow on Sienna, pondering -- lasting only as long until he calls out, "Sie, I'll do any one thing you ask, no questions - last for eight seconds!"
"Sure we can do that." Samantha agrees with Sienna, "What's the timezone over there right now?" She wonders as she starts to form up with with the others. Being the only chick here over five five seems to put her squarely into the position of being on the bottom with the guy cheerleaders while the short queens get lifted. She sets up on the opposite side to Joel where someone will go up.
"Sure we can do that." Samantha agrees with Sienna, "What's the timezone over there right now?" She wonders as she starts to form up with with the others. Being the only chick here over five five seems to put her squarely into the position of being on the bottom with the guy cheerleaders while the short queens get lifted. She sets up on the opposite side to Joel where Meridith will go up.
Joel says "// sorry about that!"
"Okay, if you last eight seconds, I'll give you a thousand if you get Caelum to do a full four-minute strip routine at the Siren," Avi calls toward Sienna when Caelum makes that offer.
Joel lifts his eyebrows at Caelum's call "I'll take that challenge." He moves to stands beside Samantha, squaring his shoulders and keeping them as steady as he can, glashing a grin at Charlene "I'll be the best stepladder I can, promise" even as he stretches out his arm to help the girls clamber up.
"You're not even my real ladder!" Charlene remarks and grins cheekily at Joel. She makes it onto his back without much apparent difficulty and sets about balancing there as Samantha instructed, tentatively extending her leg. It's a precarious pose in a skirt like this, but she ignores any potential remarks from the bleachers.
"Don't do me dirty like that, Sienna.." Caelum changes his mind at the drop of a hat, and draws up one of his arms away from the back of his seat to clutch the cross around his neck. "Shit."
Joel and Samantha work with the others in their squad to smoothly lift Charlene and Merideth up into the air, although neither of the pair seem to be doing most of the heavy lifting. A moment later some others in the squad lift Sienna up smoothly into the sky and then Merideth and Charlene kick their legs out with impressive dexterity, Sienna snatching both as the squad performs the pyramid and starts to hold...
Joel and Samantha work with the others in their squad to smoothly lift Charlene and Merideth up into the air, although neither of the pair seem to be doing most of the heavy lifting. A moment later some others in the squad lift Sienna up smoothly into the sky and then Merideth and Charlene kick their legs out with impressive dexterity, Sienna snatching both as the squad performs the pyramid and starts to hold...
Joel glances up ever so briefly as Charlene climbs up, mumuring wryly "Oh? You got someone that /is/ your ladder?" before focusing his eyes on the crowd, perhaps to avoid distraction, breathing steadily and shallowly to stop himself from moving, keeping his balance as the pyramid is built.
Sienna ignores the shouts drifting down from the spectator bleachers as she catches Meridith and Charlene's feet, core held tight. She plasters a vivacious smile upon her lips and stares straight ahead, arms locking in an attempt to help hold her optimal height.
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
"One... two... three... four... five..." Avi counts aloud as the pyramid takes shape. "Now fall! Come on, I've got fifty bucks on this!"
Six...
Seven...
Eight...
"Hell yeah!" Charlene breathes, grimacing slightly with effort.
Nine...
"Shut up and breathe, McCormick! You're going to ruin it!" Sienna hisses over at Charlene, maintaining her smile.
Harriet is really still trying to keep it all together, but her body is shivering some over who knows what.
Samantha breathes heavily through her nose, arms trembling a little as she braces at the bottom of the pyramid.
Meridith is enjoying herself as they begin the ladder. She keeps focused, and is delighted by the exercise. She is definitely struggling somewhat but...
Joel stares straight ahead, perspiration glistening on his skin, teeth set in concentration as he does his best to keep from trembling at the effort.
Joel stares straight ahead, perspiration glistening on his skin, teeth set in concentration as he does his best to keep from trembling at the effort.
And Ten!
The squad finishes the count and Sienna releases Charlene and Merideth's legs, before the three of them let themselves fall to be basket caught by the rest of the squad beneath them.
"Wildcats! Wildcats! Wildcats!" Avi cheers from the stands when the squad pulls off their stunt, clearly not too much of a bad sport about losing his bet.
There is both a mixture of relief, and a sense of unease from Caelum at the endurance of the cheerleaders, and Sienna's smile. Even when Avi passes him the bill he bites the corner of his lips -- it still gets appreciatively slipped in a pocket. "I hope I don't have to turn tricks at th siren for this fifty.." Then quieter, "Lord, please don't let Sienna's intrusive thoughts win."
"Gooo Wildcats!" Charlene shrieks once she gets her feet back on the ground, grinning exuberantly towards the bleachers. "Take that, haters."
Sienna plummets down into a basket catch with the rest of the squad, immediately bouncing her way over to throw her arms around Samantha with a shout of excitement, "Wildcats! Wildcats! Wildcats!" she joins in the chanting emanating off the stands, stretching her hand over to offer highfives to Charlene, Meridith, and Joel along with the rest of the team. "You guys looked so good! I'm so proud!"
Joel exhales in some relief, his arms helping Sienna and Charlene back down, lips spreading in a pleased grin, even though he is perspiring heavily by now. Sienna's high five is returned with a loud call of "Wildcats!"
When the pyramid collapses in an orderly manner Samantha whoops and bounces on her toes, grinning at Sienna when the other woman wraps her up. "Great job guys!" She enthuses, "Alright, stretch and cool down, that's a wrap for today."
"Hell yeah we did," Charlene agrees and meets Sienna's palm with a snappy high-five. She gives Joel a jovial grin and smooths her skirt out with her palms. "Good job, Joel. You better join the squad for real. We need guys who ain't scared."
Joel grins at Charlene, wiping his arm across his forehead "I had fun! Sure, I'll be in the team if you guys will have me..."
Samantha nods and says "Yeah, I think unless anyone has a strenuous objection we'd be happy to have both of you on the squad." She says to Joel and Meridith.
Meridith beams to Samantha. "Ah! Well...I mean sure! Why the hell not." She grins
"That's the spirit," Charlene sings out and goes about stretching a little as the practice session winds down. "Ask Sammie what to get for your uniforms."
Samantha does a few stretches as she cools down and then finally straightens. "Ok, I gotta dash and take care of some stuff, see you guys soon though." She claims as she slips out.