A Little Bit Longer - Page 12

Chapter 4

"We're gonna cheer our team and yell yell yell

Biding the opponents farewell

We'll fight fight fight for every score

Cheer For Roosvelts Bulldogs forever more"

The respective teams cheer girls whooped as they cheered and raised their pom pom's in the air up and down again;

It was a bright sunny day and like every other year, Roosevelt high school was divided in two teams, The Bulldogs and the Hawks. It was the most awaited basketball match.

Standing right in the front row Taani did her steps perfectly, or even better than the rest. Her purple skirt fluttered in the air as she swayed her pom pom towards her left and right. Taani loved cheerleading, she loved the synchronization, the sound of the crowd joyously roaring each time their theme song would play in the background. But more than anything else, she loved the attention she received during and after the performance.

She loved Roosevelt high, it gave her all the attention she was lacking back home. Ever since her Dad, Major Shikhawat passed away and her mother found love again, Taani discovered a new side of her personality. And this side was pretty messed up!

She was a revolt. She was a bully, she liked when she created a hell for others. For the news of all of these would make her mother upset.

And disappointing her mother was her all new favorite hobby.

"We're gonna kill it this time" muttered Hannah as she swayed her hands and legs according to the drum roll.

"As always" whispered Kiara in her sassy voice.

Taani just smiled as she winked at her best friends before she ran infront and mesmerized everyone when she turned head over heels on the ground and landed perfectly on her feet. She smiled as their supporters screamed, yawped and pounded their palms.

Soon the cheergirls ran up in a zig zag motion, quievering their pom pom's in the air, making their way for their team players to march in.

As soon as they sat on the pavilion waiting for their team to score, one of the cheergirls, Leslie, walked up to Taani,

"Nobody does summersault better than you Taani" she complimented enthusiastically.

"Well Leslie, that's why I am in the team, But I always wonder...how did you qualify? You're not even that pretty!? " bragged Taani with a straight face and later rolled her eyes and walked towards Hannah and Kiara.

Leslie stared at the 3 girls despondently as they muttered some joke amongst themselves about her.Taani whispered something once again after which Hannah laughed out loud giving Kiara a high five. All The other cheergirls just patted on Leslie's shoulder sympathetically.

Taani and her friends ,also refereed as 'the plastics' ,were admired and hated by most of their schoolmates. They were adorably pretty but wicked in their own ways.

"We're so mean" joked Hannah.

Kiara's blonde hair dawdled with the faint breeze as she stood staring at the basketball players who were busy dribbling the ball inside the court.

"Where's Rey today??" she nagged,

Hannah sighed with disbelief , "Point guard, as always"

Taani tipped on her toes to take a look at the crowd's favorite, Reyansh Singhania. He was surrounded by opponent team players yet he seemed so calm. It was as if he had it all sorted in his mind. His fluffy hair bounced each time he dribbled the ball. All it did was make Taani smile.

"What will it take to date this guy is still a mystery." Hannah spoke up, "He's perfect, A basketball captain, a true gentleman, teachers favorite. But just wont show interest in me. I'm giving up on him girls"

Before Taani could come up with a wicked reply Rey just shot the ball inside the basket, scoring the first 3 points for his team.

"And that's why he won't date you Han...he's just too good" screeched Kiara as they ran to cheer their team.

Taani had to agree with Kiara, Reyansh was too good for them, or atleast she thought he was. Yet there was some magic she saw in his eye each time he walked passed her. Even thou he was the captain of their team, where each player just waited for an opportunity to speak to Taani, Rey would just pass by with a smile as acknowledgement that he has seen her. He was always a mystery to her!

The match ended with Rey's team, The Bulldogs flags being waved up high as they defeated the Hawks with a small margin! Taani and her girls cheered all the way till the final stunt which ended up with Taani standing on Hannah's shoulder as Hannah grabbed her ankle while Taani victoriously smiled and joyfully shook her pom pom.

As soon as they rushed inside the hallways where supporters and players were cheering and roaring in victory. Taani and her girls joined in too. She was busy jumping with her team and players when suddenly she heard her name amongst all the chaos,

"Hey! Taani"

She quickly turned as she heard someone call out, a voice she didn't recognize yet she knew she had heard it before,

"Rey?" she questioned surprisingly.

He walked towards her as she just stood there stunned, she was surprised in a nice way, Taani wanst ready for this situation, she didn't even know it but she had already dropped her poms on the ground, Rey too was breathing harshly after all the celebration,

"You're so beautiful" he spoke up huskily.

Taani just stared at him blankly, she wasn't sure why she couldn't say a word. Usually she would tell the guy that she is too high for their standards or that they're just not good enough. But here she was, standing numb for the first time ever.

She could see the magic in his eyes again. That pure, innocent eyes.

"I always wanted to say this but just couldn't" he blushed.

Taani didn't even know but she was smiling too. He rubbed his forehead as he licked his lips trying to control his smile

, "I know its not the ideal situation to ask...but..Will you...come on a date with me?"

----

Beep beep beep beep

"Taani wake up!!!!"

Sharon nervously screamed as she jumped down her bunk bed,

"We're so dead Taani...I thought you said you're an early bird who wakes up before sunrise? Look at the time now..Gonna be late on our first day! " Sharon grabbed her towel and toothbrush as she zoomed out from their room.

Taani gulped as heart wasn't ready to accept it that her past looked so beautiful and magical compared to her present. She shut her eyes tighter, trying hard to go back to the past. After several unsuccessful attempts she hesitatingly opened her eyes and stared at the bunk bed above her.

" he needs to leave! "

She sighed and stood up from her bed.

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5:10 am

"45...46...47, come on cadets, Have you never done push ups before???!! Faster!!...48...49"

Captain Fredrick, their gym trainer yelled furiously as all the cadets struggled to hold their body off the floor. The cold foggy weather wasn't helping either.

While everyone else was having a tough time by now, Reyansh was getting pumped up with each passing second. He thought it would be easy, seeing her will give him peace, confronting her would sort out his complicated thoughts.

He was so wrong.

All it did was make him more upset. Upset for the fact that all he thought last night was of how much he missed her, all he remembered last night was of how he had planned of settling with her in a place like Paris or New York. But now here he was, between no where, surrounded by 50 other cadets, preparing to fight a war some day!

"This man's gonna kill us"

Grumbled Nilesh as he pushed himself up with all the might that he had,

"seems like you've been to the gym a lot more than I did", he murmured again to Rey who was deep drowned in his furious thoughts.

"Mahn..You really miss her, don't you?" asked Nil who was assuming Rey is missing her girlfriend who's back home

Rey immediately glanced at Nil, "I have nothing to do with Taani"

Shocked and partially surprised Nil dropped on the ground abruptly, "Taani?? That canteen kung fu girl??" he whisper yelled. "I knew there was some history between you two..."

Rey let out a deep breath as he did his push up ever faster.

"I have nothing to do with her...nothing"

"Cadet Nilesh!!!" A furious blazing eyes were staring at Nil from the top, "50 rounds of the main field now!!"

No one dared to stop their workout.

"Paying the price for your love story dude, you owe me"

Rey found it amusing and so he smiled a bit as he watched grumpy yet freaked out Nil run out to the field. But then again his eyes struck at Taani, who was breathing harshly as she did her push ups, and now he was back again, dragged to his aggressive mode.