Chapter One – Ava Prescott

Chapter One – Ava Prescott

Smack!

I watch as one of my teammates slaps the new girl, Rita, in her face so hard her neck twists unnaturally to the other direction. My fingers shake a little as I pretend to be uninterested and scroll on my phone. My perfectly manicured fingers tapped away at the screen. I didn’t want to get involved.

“How dare a nobody scholarship trash like you try to flirt with the cheer captain’s boyfriend ?” My vice captain and bff, Ashley Hall, demands from Rita.

“I didn’t flirt with him, please, Ava, I swear,” Rita says, looking at me, her lips quivering and her eyes looking at me pleadingly.

“We accepted you into the team and made you one of us. A ‘scholarship nobody’ like you. We treated you equally. We made sure you were untouchable in this school. You’d have been a doormat if not for the uniform you’re wearing.” Ashley says, backing Rita into the lockers and out of my view.

“Ava, please. I’m sorry. I would never betray you. Trust me.” She pleads, knowing that I’m the only one with enough authority to stop Ashley.

I sigh, annoyed that she’d mention my name when Ashley and the girls were the ones giving her a tough time. I don’t want to be here anymore, so I turn to leave, heading back to the classrooms. I hadn’t asked them to bully her, but then again, I didn’t stop them either. In fact, a tiny part of me felt satisfied that the social climbing slut was getting what she deserved, and i didn’t even have to lift a finger. That was just a perk of being queen bee and having people who worshipped you.

I turn the corner only to nearly walk into Maddox Callahan, golden boy, star player and the captain of our school hockey team. My boyfriend.

I wrap my hands around his neck immediately, my face lighting up. Maybe it was to mark my territory as others were watching us. It was expected. I was Ava Prescott, captain of the East Rivers University cheer team, Pretty, popular, stinking rich and dating Maddox. Everyone wants to either fuck me or be me.

A frown forms on Maddox’s face, and he puts me at arm's length.

“Um, what’s wrong?” I asked hesitantly, tucking strands of golden blonde hair behind my ears.

‘What’s going on with you, Ava ?” Maddox lashes out at me, causing more heads to snap at us.

“What do you mean ?” I asked in a composed manner, schooling my features just as my parents had always taught me, masking my emotions from the public eye.

I was going to keep being perfect despite everything.

“I heard you and your cheer girls took Rita away from class.” He says in a tone that is already accusatory.

“What? Can’t we pull a member of our own team out of class without you badging in? I didn’t know your captaincy of the hockey team extended to the cheer team also .” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“Ava, don’t give me that bull shit. You know you didn’t just pull her out of class for some cheer meeting.”

“So what did I pull her out for then ?” I jutted out my chin confidently, hoping he’d let it go. Did he not care that people were watching and listening?

“Let's find out.” He grabbed my arm painfully, leading me back towards the lockeroom.. Or more likely the drama.

“Ah- Let go of me.” I try to pry his fingers off, but it doesn’t work. This is a six foot well built hockey player.

People followed us, wanting to see more. The golden couple were having a disagreement.. Cameras were clicking away at us.

“Are they fighting ?” Someone asks.

“Yes, over the new girl. The cheer team is bullying her. I’m glad someone can finally stand up to those snobs.” Another responds, adding more fuel to the fire.

This was embarrassing for me. Why was I getting blamed when I didn’t even do anything? My own boyfriend couldn’t even trust me?

Rita had been giving my boyfriend, Maddox, googly eyes and literally throwing herself at him, given every opportunity. She’d run to him with water during games, wear his jersey number and cheer for him the loudest. It was plain disrespectful and against girl code. The girls had noticed and decided to do something about it.

Maddox opens the door into the girls' locker room and barges in, stunning everyone.

The girls are standing around Rita, who is seated on the floor now in just her bra and panties, her cheer uniform on the floor, and her phone in her hand, recording herself. She has tears all over her face. It was obvious the girls had made her do it.

Maddox turns to me with a murderous look in his eyes, his hand squeezing me painfully.

“Ava Prescott, you make me sick to my stomach. I don’t ever want to see your fake ass face anywhere near me. We are over!” He shoves me off, and I fall to the ground. Tears blur my vision at the way he just treated me in front of everyone.

He runs off to Rita and yanks the phone from her hands, smashing it into the floor at Ashley’s feet. She squeals, backing up in fear. The mocking smile on her face was wiped off. The room turns dead silent as the rest of the cheerleaders back away, too. No one dared to say a word.

“I’m sorry, baby girl. I won’t ever let this happen to you again.” He says to Rita before scooping her into his arms, kissing away her tears and taking her out.

I was sick to my stomach. Were they always this close and affectionate? Was I the only one blind to see it? Maddox was my first and only boyfriend. We had been told we were perfect for each other, and our relationship was encouraged from high school. We were the perfect golden couple. I trusted him.

I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. I just got dumped publicly. Another girl who couldn’t even hold a candle to me was chosen over me. I get a metallic taste in my mouth. I get up from the floor and run out. I don’t even know where I’m going. I just want to be away. I’m going to fucking throw up. Everywhere I turn, everyone is watching their phones and pointing at me.

Just like that, I had quickly become the new topic and ridicule of the school I once reigned over.