Chapter 1 - DO THAT AGAIN
Ava Miller had managed not to cry inside the gym.
That felt important.
She waited until the heavy double doors closed behind her.
Until the other girls started moving toward parents and parked cars.
Until Coach Grant disappeared back into the building with the clipboard that had just rearranged Ava's entire sophomore year.
Then she sat on the wooden bench outside the gym entrance.
The folded tryout sheet stayed in her lap.
She already knew what it said.
Varsity Cheer — Final Roster
Her name wasn't there.
She had checked three times anyway.
Ava lowered her head.
The first tear hit the paper.
Then another.
Within seconds, everything she'd held together inside the gym came apart.
Six months of private tumbling lessons.
Morning conditioning before school.
Learning the same stupid combination until her ankles hurt.
Her mother telling every relative that Ava was “basically varsity already.”
The new uniform Tracy had bookmarked online before tryouts even happened.
Gone.
Ava covered her face.
She heard girls leaving behind her.
Low voices.
A couple of whispers.
Someone said her name.
She hated that.
Then a shadow fell across the pavement in front of her.
Ava looked up.
Her mother was standing there.
Tracy Miller wore white sneakers, fitted jeans, a cream jacket and the gold hoop earrings she always wore when she expected to be photographed.
Phone already in her hand.
Ava's first feeling was relief.
“Mom—”
Tracy lifted the phone directly toward her.
Then crouched slightly.
Not to hug her.
To change the angle.
“Wait.”
Ava blinked through wet lashes.
Tracy shifted left.
“Do that again.”
Ava stared.
Mascara had already smudged beneath one eye.
“What?”
Tracy frowned at the screen.
Ava wiped her cheek.
“Do what?”
“The crying.”
Ava's hand stopped.
Tracy leaned closer.
Phone still aimed straight at her.
“Cry. I wasn’t recording.”
The words took a second to land.
Ava looked at the phone.
Then at her mother.
The sadness didn't disappear.
It changed shape.
Behind Tracy, two girls came out through the gym doors.
Maya Ellison and Brooke Lane.
Both slowed when they heard Tracy.
Ava stood.
The folded roster sheet crumpled in her fist.
Tracy straightened too.
“Okay, just tell me what happened.”
Ava said nothing.
“Start with coming out of the gym.”
Ava looked at the phone again.
“You want me to do it again.”
Tracy's expression tightened.
“Sweetheart, I'm trying to capture the moment.”
“I know what you're trying to do.”
“No, you're upset.”
Ava took one small step backward.
Tracy lowered the phone slightly.
Not all the way.
Ava noticed.
That was new.
Or maybe she had simply never noticed before.
Her eyes moved from Tracy's face to the phone.
A thought came.
Small.
Ugly.
Certain before she understood why.
“You already posted the first one, didn’t you?”
Tracy froze.
Completely.
Her hand dropped another inch.
The phone screen lit up.
One notification.
Then another.
Then five in a row.
Shares.
Comments.
Messages.
The top one contained a thumbnail.
Ava recognized the image instantly.
Herself.
On this bench.
Crying.
Tracy's face drained of color.
May you like
Ava stared at her mother.
And understood.
