Moral support

Who: Gabe and Isabelle
When: After school
Where: Outside the gym

Isabelle's cheerleading tryout was today, along with a few other girls all looking for the same spot. They didn't know yet, but their tryouts were going to be a pointless waste of time, as the spot was going to her - even if she had to break a few arms or legs in order to do it. She doubted it would come to that, however, as she was good enough to get it on her own. She did, however, have to warm up first. She'd stretched, run through the cheer and little cheer-dance they'd been taught at the workshop the day prior, and was working on jumps and tumbling. She didn't have room for a big pass, so she was mostly amusing herself with toe-touch back handspring tucks and the like. Easy things that were mostly done in one place. Sure, she could've been warming up in the gym with the other girls, but she didn't want to go in until just before her audition. It made the looks of despair on their faces when they saw her that much sweeter.

Gabe was on his way to hockey practice, his footsteps slowing as he caught sight of Isabelle warming up. He'd always had a thing for cheerleaders, even when they weren't in uniform. Maybe it was because they were so limber. He watched her do a couple of jumps before slowly strolling over, realizing belatedly that he knew her. He'd been a bit entranced by the way she managed to jump all over the place a moment before. If that was him, he'd have at least two broken bones, he was sure. "Cheerleading practice?" he guessed, already assuming she'd made the team. She was good enough, that was for sure.

Isabelle jumped slightly, pretending to be surprised. She'd caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye, but hadn't let on. "No," she said with a slightly embarrassed smile, tightening her ponytail. "Well, tryouts. So hopefully practice soon, but I don't know. I suppose I should be in there with the rest of the girls, but I kind of want to stay out here as long as I can." She smiled again. "Hi, by the way."

"Hi," Gabe smiled. "You'll make it. You have to make it. You're better than half the girls on the squad." He'd reckon even the whole squad, but saying something like that could get him in trouble. Saying half meant that he could always tell a girl she was on the good half. He preferred not to piss off the cheerleaders, if possible. "Nervous?" he asked, figuring that was why she'd distanced herself from the other girls, unless... "Or just don't want the competition to have a clue until you blow them away?"

"I hope so," Isabelle said, sensing an opportunity to get a little closer - or at least a chance to drum up some support she could use later for something interesting. "There's only like, one spot, though, and well, even if I was the best, which I don't know because I haven't really seen the other girls, sometimes it's not enough in my case." She smiled again. "Kind of nervous, yeah," she said. "Don't tell anyone, though, it'll ruin my rep." She winked a bit there. "I don't want to watch anyone and get intimidated. This is like, my focus-time and all."

"I really don't think you'll have a problem," Gabe said. "Some of those girls can't even tumble. And if you're up against the locals, they don't have anything new to offer or they'd have made the squad in the first place." He was all for new blood on the cheerleading squad, just as he supported the new girls taking over the dance team. "I won't tell anyone," he chuckled softly. "Nothing wrong with a little nerves, though, so long as you don't let it get to you. I'm sure you'll rock."

"Thanks," Isabelle said, taking a deep breath as if to steady herself. "I... well, you probably know the girls on the squad better than I do. How likely is it that they'd pick new blood over old favorites? My old squad at first decided they wanted a girl who wasn't as good over a girl who was better but..." She let a faintly bitter expression cross her face. "But who was kind of a freak. I just hope that doesn't happen here." She forced a smile. "I'm sure it won't," she said immediately as if to convince herself as well as him. "Never mind. How are you?"

"You might be new blood, but you're up against girls that probably didn't make the cut the first time around. Plus, it feels like we've got a lot of newbies all over the school. I won't worry too much about it. I got your back," he smiled. "Course, I can try and put in a good word with Chrissy. I just don't know if that'll backfire or not." Chrissy could listen to him, or she could be volatile and cut Isabelle just for Gabe mentioning her. He had no idea. It might actually be better for her to go it alone. "I'm good," he said, deciding not to mention how stressed he'd been lately. Hopefully she wouldn't ask about his split lip or the bruise on his face, though if she did, he'd just hand out the same lie he'd given to everyone else. "We've got our first game tomorrow night. Pumped about that."

"No thanks, but I appreciate the offer," Isabelle said to the offer to put in a good word. "I'd always wonder, you know? If I'm going to make it, I want to do it myself." She smiled, looking excited. "I've got it written in red on my calendar," she joked. "I'll definitely be there to cheer you on. Unofficially, that is." Her grin widened momentarily, then faded. She stepped forward as if just noticing that he looked beat up. Reaching out, she laid her fingertips lightly against the side of his mouth, near the cut but not close enough to hurt. "What happened?" she asked, frowning slightly. "I can't believe I just now noticed. Are you all right?" She was, of course, listening with more than just her ears for his answer.

"Good for you," Gabe smiled. He liked that answer better anyways. He would have felt the same way. "I'll be looking for you in the crowd then. On my breaks, at least. When I'm skating I've got too many other things to keep track of, unfortunately." If he was looking for her in the middle of the game, he'd probably end up getting thrown out. When her fingertips brushed close to his split lip, Gabe almost jumped, not expecting it. "I'm okay. Just a case of high sticking," he said with a shrug, internally sighing as the memory flashed in his mind. "Hockey can get rough sometimes."

Isabelle was getting such interesting information from him - and frustrating at the same time - that she almost forgot to react. A secret, hm? One he didn't want to give up and betray someone's trust - was that Dean she was seeing? Guilt, and Gabe had started it... hm. She remembered her reaction just before it would be too late, jerking her hand back as if she'd felt him almost jump and was hurt by the reaction. "Sorry," she said, pulling her sweatshirt sleeves over her hands to hide her missing fingers. "I forget it freaks people out sometimes. I'm glad you're okay, though. Hockey's rough."

Gabe was so busy worrying over the lie that he hadn't even noticed her fingers, only catching it when she called attention to it. Even then, he felt a little off balance. "No-- It's okay. I just... It's been a long week, you know? And it's only Wednesday." God, this week was going on forever. "I'll be fine in a couple of days, plus I love the sport." He wanted to ask what had happened to her hands, but it felt a little too personal to question. Maybe once they got to know each other better, but until then, he'd just have to wonder. "So, you think you're ready?" he grinned, reminding her that she had an audition to attend to. And he had hockey practice.

"Yeah, I've had weeks like that," Isabelle said, rallying a smile though looking like she didn't quite believe him. "Anything I can do to help?" She glanced inside, listening to the name they called. "God, I don't know," she said, pulling her head back out. "I'm next. I don't suppose you have time to stick around for a few minutes?" she asked with a hopeful smile. "It'd be nice to have someone in there rooting for me."

Even if she didn't believe him, Gabe wasn't going to go into detail. As far as weeks from hell went, this was close to the top, at least for him. At least it seemed to be getting better as the week moved on. "No, but thanks," he smiled, thinking it was sweet of her to offer. He waited as she poked her head in, his hands sliding into his pockets. "I can probably come in for just a minute," Gabe said, "Maybe just stand in the back and watch. Then I've gotta run to practice or coach'll have my ass."

"Thank you," Isabelle said with a grin, making a move as if she'd been about to hug him but pulling back before actually doing so, as though remembering how he'd jumped when she'd touched him. "You're my hero and... holy crap, they're calling me. It's a short tryout, but don't stick around if you're going to be late, I don't want to get you into any trouble." She ducked through the gym door, pulling off her sweatshirt to reveal a t-shirt beneath, and shorts under the sweatpants.

Gabe didn't know how to handle the almost-hug, since saying something would only draw attention to it. He didn't have an issue with it at all, and so instead, he moved to hug her instead-- which he hoped communicated that he was just fine with her hugging him. "You'll do great," he said, releasing her to let her hurry into the gym. He followed in behind her, keeping to the back, though his presence naturally drew attention. A few of the girls looked and whispered, a coupled giggled, but Gabe's attention was on the stripping cheerleader taking the floor.

Isabelle took notice that he didn't mind hugs, giving him a bright smile before scurrying out to take her place on the tryout floor. It was a pretty short tryout - their squad wasn't terribly fantastic by most standards. The cheer was short, Isabelle's movements sharp and crisp, voice surprisingly loud to have come out of a tiny girl like her, the dance was a piece of cake, and she sealed the deal by throwing some of the bigger gymnastic tricks she hadn't been able to do outside. When finished, she bounced off towards Gabe with a bright smile on her face.

Attempting to contain his look of awe, Gabe watched her audition from the sidelines. Her only issue, as far as Gabe could tell, would be that she was better than even the captain. If they didn't take her, it would be cause they didn't want to be shown up, not because she wasn't good enough. "What in the world were you worried about?" he asked with a laugh when she came back over towards him. "That was awesome," he grinned, then lowered his voice so the other girls wouldn't hear. "I think you've got it in the bag."

"Shhh, don't jinx me," Isabelle said quietly with a soft laugh, bumping his arm with her shoulder as she reached his side. "Like I said, it's happened before. Sometimes it's more looks than ability. But I've got a good feeling about this one, so I'm not going to think about that." She did notice a couple jealous looks being thrown her way, though whether it was because of her skill or the guy she was talking to, she couldn't determine. "Thanks for being my moral support, though," she added, grinning.

Gabe didn't think she'd have a problems if it was either, since she had the skills and definitely had the looks. Isabelle needed to look in the mirror if she thought it was her appearance holding her back. "Anytime," he said. "I've gotta run, but let me know if you make it. We'll have to go out and celebrate." He considered inviting her to the bonfire, but since he technically had a date, that might be bad form. It didn't mean they couldn't do something some other time though.

"I will," Isabelle said happily. "Have fun at practice - I guess I'll see you at the game tomorrow if anything. Should I make, like, a bright pink glittery sign to show my support?" She winked.

"Sure," Gabe laughed, waving as he headed towards the door. "Then I'll know how to spot you." He might be teased by the team, but it'd only be because they were jealous. Any one of them would love to have her there cheering for them, but he'd be the one with the sign, pink or not.

"I was just kidding!" Isabelle called after him, laughing. "I'm terrible at arts and crafts!" She waved him out the door, shaking her head with a grin, and took a seat to wait out the end of tryouts.