It was a hot summer evening. I was sitting on my friend's couch watching a close game between my team 'Liverpool' and my friend's 'Chelsea' It was lucid that my team would win. I was anxious and she was tensed but we both kept our eyes glued on the TV.
We heard Rita's phone ring. As we both were busy doing our most favourite job we missed almost 12 calls. Disturbed like hell Rita's mom yelled from the next room asking her to pick up the phone. With no choice Rita made an angry face and went to pick the call. It was evident from her reactions that something was amiss but I didn't care to ask her. After the game got over with an awesome victory for my team I asked her what the call was about. She stood there numb not uttering a word. Fear crept inside me. I was sure that something was terribly wrong. As I forced her to talk she said..... 'Mrs.Carter is dead'
There I stood frozen. Mixed feelings took over me...I wasn't able to believe what this girl just told. "Miranda Carter..that sweet carefree girl of the class...who used to greet me with the warmest hi everyday..who used to tease me saying 'if I were a boy I would marry you' ,who used to laugh for silly reasons, who cares a lot for me..such a special girl's mom is dead..she is just 17..I knew Mrs.Carter was suffering from cancer..but why? why this soon? why......" 'Dolce are you alright? ' A voice brought me back from my deep thoughts. 'Yes..yes I'm' I lied to Rita's father.
The next day we went to the place which I never wanted to go. "The Cemetery" There stood Miranda. Her face pale...her makeup undid...her beautiful long black hair untied..and her eyes red.. I went to her. She gave me a blank stare. Where did that smile go? That hit me hard. I hugged her tight..and left from that place...Yes I didn't speak a word to her as I was trying hard to hold back my tears.
I came home. All I was thinking was about Miranda. It was terrifying to think about how she will live without her mommy. How she'll react in school from then? Will she greet me with the same hi and laugh the same way? How will she pull herself away when the other girls talk about their mothers.....I DON'T KNOW
After wetting my pillow with tears and worrying a lot about Miranda...I started to worry about myself too. I thought about RILEY. I closed my eyes and the flashback started.
High school was just amazing. Though Rita, my childhood buddy went to a different school I was quite comfortable with my new school. I did a lot of practice and joined the school's CHEERLEADING TEAM...Every girl in high school wanted to be in the "BLACK DIAMONDS" team. But i made it and i felt I was the luckiest. It was my childhood dream and that came true! I was on cloud nine. I hugged everyone in the corridor spreading my success...though the other dizzy black diamonds reacted as if it was a piece of cake..but seriously it wasn't! We had arduous training sessions. They made us scream and dance all day long to cheer the team. But yes! I enjoyed them all and I was happy for what I was doing. I eventually made a lot of friends in school though I had only 3 friends out 9 in my cheer team as I thought they were overreacting ,complaining about little things, rude, attention seeking idiots and as they thought I don't fit in with them. But I didn't give a damn about them.
Whenever we had football matches at school everyone had their eyes fixed on one guy.. "Riley Hart" Just his name is enough for girls to drop their jaw up to their neck.. He was the cutest guy in school.. He was tall and handsome with dark brown eyes. He was greatly talented...he plays the guitar...a quiz wizard.. he would always be the first one to get selected in the school's football team and sometimes he even plays basketball and the B grade type. He was kinda a flirt too. But to me...he was just a good lookin' guy at school. I detested the girls' oohh's and aahh's when they talked about him. But I didn't say a word not wantin' to chalk up new enemies and as Riley Hart's cousin was on my team.
As I was a cheerleader I became friends with almost all the teams' players but not with him. To be honest I was actually afraid of him! It may sound weird but i actually was! Having heard stories of how famous guys in school ruin girls' life I ignored him whenever I was forced to look at him.
One day I was playing football with my school team during a training session. Riley was on the opposite team. The one which started as a game to burn time turned out into a serious one. My team needed one goal to win. Ashton wanted me to make it. Though I wasn't that good at football and stuff I made the winning goal that day. Though it was cent percent pure luck I acted as if I was a 'real' football player. I giggled to myself thinking that Riley would now lock himself in the boys' restroom and cry so badly for losing a match due to an awesome girl as the opponent. But what he did that day astonished me. After finishing our shouting and screaming I looked at him. He said "Good one......."and paused. 'Dolce' I said. "Yeah...good one Dolce..You played great" he said and left. I stood there for a while wondering if he really meant what he said.
From then on we became friends. Before when we shouted "Fiery Cats" for the football team I had only Ashton and Heather..my best buddies on my mind..but then on I shouted for Riley too. I still don't understand how a simple conversation changed my entire opinion on Riley.
Weeks passed and he became my best friend. We had different choices and tastes but we liked each other a lot. I played football and basketball with him and he would sometimes do my cheerleading and make me laugh until my stomach hurts. He helped me with math which I never even dreamt of passing. We would hang out after school hours...he even opted for school bus just because I used it..we spent weekends together...listening to rock and pop in stereos and even made cookies at times (but they never tasted like one!) Behind his popular image I found a funny and sweet Riley too. He had a great sense of humour. He was very caring and over protective of me. Not a single day passed without us talkin' to each other.
I was able to sense that I was falling head over heels for him. But I didn't have the courage to tell him that. One day we sat on his porch munching on the chocolates made by Riley's mom. We were counting the stars and were laughing for no reason. Suddenly he asked me "Do u believe in wishing on stars" I smiled at his childish question and said "No" Then he pointed out to the brightest star and said "So wish now" We always try silly things together. So we closed our eyes. My eyes were closed but I was able to see Riley. It was icy cold outside but all I felt was his warm hands on mine.
Now I seriously wished on the star. I prayed "Give me the courage to tell him that I love him" I opened my eyes and turned to him. He was lookin at me. He asked what I wished for. I looked straight into his eyes and said "I wanted to tell you this...I love you Riley...I don't know if you'll love me back or not...but all I know is I'm madly in love with you.." It was bravery I didn't know I had, strength I owed completly to my heart. He kept quiet still staring at me. I was puzzled at his reaction. I found that I was gonna cry. But I held my tears back and I asked him with my voice as calm as possible "What did you wish for" He smiled a little and said "Well I guess, we both are lucky tonight...we wished the same thing......I love you Dolce"
That night started our fairytale. We were inseparable. The girls got drunk on jealousy. I thought it was cool! Hours passed like seconds when we were together. My new best friends especially Yancy D'Cruz and Rita were happy about what was going on between us.
But then these broken hearted girls started to get me into trouble. They even made complaints to Ms . Brittany Ray, the cheering head that I wasn't dedicated towards my team and that I dont attend training sessions. They started to spread rumours about me, tore my assignments and broke my locker. Suddenly I was feeling left out. The black diamonds reacted with hatred and told me that I don't belong with them. Ms . Brittany called me and said "Chip in with your team or you'll soon find a place on the bleachers" and Mr.Kelvin Richards, Riley's coach called me and said "Better be away from Riley Hart since his focus on matches are dull or else he would be excluded from the team" I knew football meant everything to Riley and I was scared. All that they both said was due to the girls and not because of us. But they didn't care about the point I had to make. I felt helpless. I didn't complain about what I was going through to Riley as I knew he will feel worse.
The fear of finding a place on the bleachers haunted me. Cheerleading was everything to me. I was ready to go to any extent to save what I loved. So I started to act in the way my other team members did. I started to wear girly colours and 6 inch heels, overreacted ,and complained. I was no more the tomboy I used to be. I didn't laugh out loud and stopped eating high calorie foods. Though I wholeheartedly hated what I did I did 'em so that I won't loose Riley at the same time I thought I would please that Brittany bitch.
My friends observed my stupid changes and tried to pull me out from what I was undergoing. But I had no other option. I asked them not to interfere. Riley was way too concerned about me. Before he always used to tell me "Dolce, you are not like the other girls...and thats why I love you" But now I act, talk and walk just like them. He tried to make me laugh, to bring back the real me, to brighten my life again...but I wasn't able to.
I started feeling frustrated. I got into awkward fights with Yancy. I distanced myself from my Riley not wantin to make him feel worried. Minutes seemed like hours without my dear ones. My depression grew and I started to fight with Riley too. I stopped talking with him and he called my silence as weapons I use against him. Whenever Yancy stepped in to control me I would fight with her too. I missed them badly but I hurted them anyway for their own good.
I opened my eyes and the flashback ended. I am sitting on my bed. My room is dark just like my life. I realised what I have done...how I had ruined everything I had. I realised that though I did everything for Riley's good how awful he would have felt. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt like choking. I regretted everything I did. I ran down to the garage.
It was 2 at midnight but all I thought was about Riley. I took my bicycle and went to Riley's home. I saw his room from the street. It was dark. But a feeling inside me told that he would be awake. So I texted him "Open your window" I looked down expecting he would be late but the very next moment I heard the window creak. I looked up. He saw me....surprised and puzzled. He gave me a slight wave. I signalled him asking him to come down.
So he came. Wearing his night suit. His medium long hair covered his forehead. His eyes sparkled like marquise diamond even in the dark. He was impeccable. He looked just perfect...the kind of flawless I wished I could be. It was hard for me to confront him. I expected a stare, maybe a you-hurted-me or just-get-lost look or perhaps a slap. After a few minutes of silence he cleared his throat and said "Okay! Stop staring at my shoes...they are brand new" I couldn't help but smile.
I wanted to tell him a zillion things but not a word came out of my mouth. I looked at him and said "I'm sorr..." but he held my hand...hugged me tight...kissed my forehead and interrupted my apology saying "I know you love me" I have seen his funny, serious, studious, boyfriend and angry faces. But that night I saw an angel in him..."My guardian angel" I didn't tell a word to him but still he understood what I wanted to tell and how sorry I was. Tears started to pour down. He wiped my tears off and said again "That's alright baby..I know you love me" I asked "How?" He smiled and said "Because I love you Dolce...Simple as that! Isn't it? "
That night changed my life all over again. It turned out to be the same fairytale it used to be. I never fought with my Riley again. He is irreplaceable in my life. We becames inseparable just like we used to be. I apologised to Yancy. Though she was stubborn at first I tried hard and we became best friends again. Mr.Kelvin and Ms.Brittany no longer threaten us as they found out about the girls. Once when the girls tried to act mean towards me..I just told 'em.."You just know what..?I don't really hate you guys..but if you were in fire and if I had water...I'd drink it!" and Riley laughed at my sarcasm. Now those sickening, crappy, yucky black demons sit on the bleachers and watch me cheer for Riley who is now Captain Riley Hart, the captain of Fiery Cats.
Yup! Everything is in place right now. Everything seems fine right now. But this realisation of mistakes and saving my true love...all started because of a tragedy. It is Miranda's mom's death. It made me learn a lot of lessons in my life. I've learnt not to go to bed hurting someone...what if I am never gonna see the person ever again...? I've learnt to forgive others for their small mistakes...to not to cut the call without saying I love you to my parents...above all I got Riley back.. So I've learnt to care for him and yeah he knows that I love him!