By the time practice started, Roxie had already been stared at in three hallways, whispered about near two bathrooms, and asked by one freshman if Bianca was "actually bald now."

Karen had answered that one.

"We can only hope."

Roxie had dragged her away before the freshman could decide whether to laugh or report them.

The football field was already busy when they reached practice. Red and black banners were stacked near the bleachers for the pep rally.

The football team was on the far side of the field, running drills under Coach Hayes’ whistle.

The cheer squad was on the track stretching.

The second Roxie and Karen walked over, half the girls reacted.

Maya clapped once. "Finally."

Tessa grinned. "Practice was weird without you."

"Coach Miller almost cried," another girl said.

"He was furious," Kendall snapped from the front.

Tessa stretched one leg out and grinned. "Kendall was actually scary this week."

Kendall rolled her eyes. "I was not scary."

"You made Maya repeat counts until she started bargaining with God."

Maya lifted a hand. "It was terrifying but I got it thanks to her."

Kendall gave her a look.

Tessa laughed. "See? Scary."

Kendall went back to stretching like she was above the conversation. "Someone had to keep practice because one of the captains was too selfish."

Roxie dropped her bag near the bench. "Well, she’s the co-captain. You all survived one week."

Kendall’s mouth twitched. "Start stretching, Jones."

Karen laughed and bent to retie her shoe. "That was too sweet."

Roxie rolled her eyes, looked around the squad and felt something loosen in her chest.

Coach Miller blew his whistle before Roxie even finished stretching.

"Roxxane. Karen. Over here."

Karen froze with one hand on her sneaker. "That sounds bad."

Roxie straightened. "It is bad."

Angela’s eyes widened. "Don’t make it worse."

"That’s usually not intentional."

Coach Miller stood near the sideline with his clipboard under one arm and the face of a man who had spent one week trying not to quit his own job.

Roxie and Karen walked over.

He looked at them for a second without speaking.

"Are you two done?" Coach Miller asked.

Karen blinked. "With stretching?"

Roxie stepped on her shoe.

Karen shut her mouth.

"With fighting," Coach Miller said.

"Yes, Coach," Roxie said.

Karen nodded. "Yes."

Coach Miller pointed his clipboard at them. "No more fights."

"Yes, Coach."

"No more revenge."

Karen’s silence lasted too long.

Coach Miller turned to her. "Karen."

Karen sighed. "No more revenge."

"No more parking lot incidents."

"Technically," Karen said, then stopped when Roxie stepped on her shoe again.

Coach Miller’s eyes narrowed. "Technically nothing. I do not want to hear the words Bianca, Lily, hair, parking lot, or viral video for the rest of the week. Am I clear?"

"Yes, Coach," Roxie said.

"Yes," Karen said.

Coach Miller stared at them for one more second, then rubbed the bridge of his nose. "I need you both focused. Homecoming pep rally is Friday. We have two girls out. Half the school is watching this squad."

Karen opened her mouth.

Coach Miller lifted a finger. "Do not."

Karen closed it.

Roxie pressed her lips together.

Coach Miller looked at her. "And you, Jones. Be careful."

Roxie’s smile faded. "I am."

Coach Miller gave her a look.

She looked down. "I’m trying."

"That is closer to believable."

Karen snorted.

Roxie glared at her.

Coach Miller sighed. "I mean it. You’ve had enough attention this month."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"Yes, Coach."

He looked at her like he was not fully convinced, which was rude because he was right.

"Not that you listen," he muttered.

Roxie swallowed a smile. "Sorry."

"You say that like a hobby."

"I’ve had opportunities."

His mouth twitched, but he shut it down fast. "Do not make me laugh when I’m mad at you."

"Yes, Coach."

He glanced across the field.

The football team was on the far side doing drills. Zac stood near the water cooler with his helmet in one hand, looking straight over.

Of course he was.

Coach Miller followed Roxie’s eyes, then gave a tired sigh. "And I better not see you with that Prescott boy after practice."

Roxie’s head snapped back. "What?"

"You heard me."

"We go to the same school."

"Yes, and somehow you two keep meeting like it’s magnets."

Karen made a choking sound.

Roxie’s face heated. "We’re not doing anything."

Coach Miller stared at her.

Roxie crossed her arms. "We’re not."

"I have eyes, Jones."

Karen turned her face away, shoulders shaking.

Roxie kicked her lightly.

Coach Miller tapped his clipboard against his thigh. "No slacking. No distractions. The pep rally is Friday, and regional contest is coming."

Roxie’s attention sharpened.

Coach Miller kept talking, eyes moving between both of them. "Regionals matter. State matters. If any of you are serious about cheer after high school, this is when you start acting like it. College coaches look at more than trophies. They look at consistency. Leadership. Discipline. Who performs under pressure and who becomes a liability when things get messy."

Roxie went quiet.

College coaches.

Scholarships.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

Karen stood beside her, too close.

Roxie kept her face still.

Do not say anything else.

Do not look at me.

Do not mention mine.

Coach Miller glanced at her for half a second.

Roxie’s heart kicked hard.

Karen could not find out like this.

Not from him.

Not in the middle of practice.

Coach Miller looked away before Karen could notice.

"That means both of you need to act like athletes," he said. "You came back today. Good. Now prove you can stay."

Roxie breathed again.

Barely.

"Yes, Coach," she said.

Karen nodded. "Yes, Coach."

Coach Miller studied Roxie for one more second. "Go warm up."

Roxie turned too fast.

Karen fell into step beside her. "That was cheerful."

"Very inspiring."

Coach Miller blew the whistle. "Positions in two minutes."

The squad moved faster.

Roxie took her place beside Angela, stretching her arms across her chest while the field stayed loud around them. Football whistles from the other side. Cheer shoes scraping the track. Student council dragging pep rally banners near the bleachers. Homecoming week making everything louder than necessary.

It felt normal.

Almost.

Then Roxie looked across the field and saw Zac still watching her.

He lifted his phone slightly.

Hers buzzed in her bag a second later.

Roxie looked away before she could smile.

Practice first.

Parking lot later.