High School Can Be Cruel (1/?)
Title: High School Can Be Cruel
Author: mak62184
Pairing: Callie/Arizona
Rating: PG-13
Summary: High school, except Callie is a cheerleader and Arizona is a member of the color guard.
Disclaimer: Nothing but my creativity belongs to me and no profit is made either.
A/N: I know, there have been a lot of stories recently where Callie and Arizona meet in high school, but I couldn't resist the urge to write this one.
Part 1
It was just a typical afternoon for Callie. She got herself ready for cheerleading practice. Although the football and basketball seasons, along with the cheering competitions were over, they still met to get prepared for tryouts. This practice was the last one before them and Callie was nervous. She got on the squad that year as a freshman because she was short and they needed a flyer. However, during the season, she went through a growth spurt and soon towered over many of the cheerleaders. She knew she needed to step up her game to keep her spot on the squad.
On her way into the gym, she got a surprise. The color guard was also practicing in there. Callie snickered because she knew their captain, Brenda, would not be pleased. After all, it was known that any activity associated with music made that person a loser. However, Callie did not completely buy into that. She watched the girls warm up and caught her eye on their captain, Arizona Robbins. Although she was a junior and the lab assistant for Callie’s biology class, Callie couldn’t help but secretly like her. She was never rude to anyone and knew how to drill her girls fairly and with patience. That was something Brenda did not have. Callie felt really bad the day some of the other cheerleaders purposely spilled milk on Arizona and one of her friends in the cafeteria. While they all laughed, Callie and another cheerleader, Courtney, just sat and watched how hurt the two girls were and was ashamed to be associated with the cheerleaders at that moment. But, she wanted to keep her popularity, so she sat back and did nothing.
"Hey, earth to Callie," Brenda yelled. "Why are you watching those losers?"
"I thought we could make fun of them later," Callie responded, secretly wishing she could tell Brenda the truth.
"Well, get your ass over here. We have important things to do and discuss."
Callie went over to join her squad. The same stuff was discussed. How tryouts would work with the middle school girls coming over, what they were required to do, etc…
"Just so some of you know, you may not be guaranteed a spot next year," Brenda said. "We can only have so many flyers, and I know some of us are too tall for that now," she continued, glaring directly at Callie.
Callie knew she was mad, but there was nothing she could do about it. Soon they were warming up for practicing a couple of routines that never changed. However, that day was different.
"We’re practicing back handsprings," Taylor, the other captain said.
Callie sighed. She was good at them, but she knew some of the other girls could only do a few at a time. The first few girls went and only were able to do 3 each. Callie kept watching the guard girls with their flags and music and decided they were probably having a better time than she was. Soon, the guard took a break, and was casually sitting around. Arizona was watching the cheerleaders. Callie’s turn came up, and she kind of looked at Arizona and smiled before she took her place.
Trying to impress Arizona, Callie got into full force and speed and realized her height was a disadvantage. It was more difficult for her to flip. She made it to five back handsprings, and went into a sixth, when instead of landing on her feet, she slipped and fell forward on her face and arms. The entire room burst out laughing. Callie was
humiliated, so she didn’t get up for a moment.
"Are you okay?" Callie sat up because she did not recognize the voice as another cheerleader. It was Arizona.
"She’s fine," Brenda came storming over. "You can just go back to your loser squad now."
However, Callie had blood dripping from her nose and her right arm really hurt.
"Here, tilt your nose down," Arizona directed her, as she handed her a tissue.
"Go to the nurse, Callie," Brenda nastily said while frowning at Arizona.
"Carmen, take over practice for me," Arizona instructed one of her girls. She helped Callie get to her feet and walked with her, since Brenda was being so nasty.
"Thank you," Callie said, on the short walk.
"No problem," Arizona said smiling.
"Why are you helping me?" Callie asked. "We’re always so mean to you and Carmen."
Arizona sighed. "You remember the day that Brenda and Taylor spilled milk on me? I noticed you and that other girl, Courtney were the only ones not laughing and looked guilty for their actions. Well, I remembered that today after you took that spill and everyone, including my girls laughed at you. I’m sorry, I will talk to them later and tell them that is unacceptable behavior, regardless of what group it happens with."
"Well, thank you again," Callie said smiling.
Before Arizona left, she tore a little piece of paper out of a notebook she was carrying. She wrote her phone number on it.
"Call me later. I want to make sure you’re okay." And soon she was gone, leaving Callie with a stunned look on her face.
Callie missed the next day of school because she broke her wrist in the fall. She had a huge bruise on her nose as well. When she returned to school, Courtney and Arizona were the first people to greet her. Courtney talked to her first.
"How are you?" she asked.
"I’m fine. Thank you for helping me bring my stuff out to my dad’s car the other day. And you didn’t have to call me last night."
"But I wanted to," Courtney said, sounding sincere. "Besides, I knew Brenda would not be so considerate."
Callie giggled. "Well, thank you." She walked away when Arizona found her. However, Brenda soon interrupted them.
"If you can’t do tryouts today, you are off the squad," Brenda said. "I didn’t make the rules."
Callie was frowning. "So, I guess that means I have free time from now on?
Brenda laughed. "Oh no. You are still a representative to the cheerleading squad until the end of the school year, so you will attend tryouts and give me dirt on who you like and don’t like. If you refuse, I’ll make sure all the geek squads know what you did and then nobody will accept you into their group."
Brenda walked away and Arizona came closer again.
"Why do you let Brenda boss you around like that?"
"Because she’s my friend and I know she would help me if I were in trouble."
"Right, if she was such a good friend, how come I had to bring you to the nurse? How come I wanted you to call me to update me on your injuries? Did Brenda or any of your cheerleader friends do that?"
Callie sunk her head. "No," she responded. "Well, Courtney kind of did. She helped me carry my stuff out to my dad’s car when he picked me up to go to the doctor, and she called me last night."
Arizona could see that Callie was a little hurt.
"Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. I guess it just makes me mad that Brenda and her little friends are so popular and get away with being mean. I know I’m not popular or a cheerleader, but that behavior is not tolerated in band or with the guard."
Callie started smiling a little. "I know. While listening to Brenda’s wrath at practice, I sort of took notice to what you were doing on the other side of the gym."
This gave Arizona an idea. "Hey, since you are practically kicked off the cheerleading squad anyway, would you be interested in joining the color guard? We do go to a camp in July for a week, and practice almost every day after that, but it’s fun. I bet if your wrist isn’t good enough to spin flags, Tina can teach you how to baton twirl with your left hand and we can incorporate some dance in the field show. Our tryouts are just to see what people know and
if they like it. We do not deny membership."
Callie was not sure what to think. Cheerleading had been fun, but she was sick of Brenda and most of the other girls. And spinning flags with Arizona seemed like a better idea at the moment.
"I’ll have to think about it," she said. "I guess I’ll see you later with the 8th grade invasion of tryouts."
The end of school came and Callie was once again in the gym with the cheerleaders. Brenda was mad once again that the color guard was taking over half the gym and the 8th grade girls were there as well. Callie gave Brenda a dirty look as she took her spot on the bleachers.
"Come down here, Callie," Brenda said. "I need you to sit by me to judge the tryouts."
Reluctantly, Callie did as she was told, in fear that her popularity would go down.
Brenda and Taylor taught a routine to the girls and then gave them group numbers to come in by. The first group was all 8th graders. None of them stood out in Callie’s mind, so she was honest. Then, the group Courtney was in came in. Callie thought she was doing really well, but Brenda started whispering to her.
"Courtney has a really big ass. I can’t believe she’s been allowed to cheer for 2 years now. Am I right?"
Callie was about to agree with Brenda to get her to shut up, but instead, she couldn’t.
"What the hell is your problem?" Callie yelled, standing up. "You are so rude. Courtney is an amazing cheerleader and you know it."
With that, Courtney and the other girls stopped and stood there watching Callie take on Brenda, as did the guard girls.
"You know what. I quit and will not associate myself with this squad anymore. You and Taylor suck as captains and nobody deserves the crap you two pull."
With that, Callie walked away to Arizona and her girls. "Can I still join the color guard?" She asked politely.
Arizona looked a little shocked. "Sure," she said.