Cheerleading Can Be Murder (Horror High #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

the numbers, it was pretty close to what I’d expected, except for the addition of Amanda, who totally threw me for a loop by showing up today. I wasn’t even sure if she knew a thing about cheering, dance, or gymnastics. I guess I’ll find out soon enough , I thought, swallowing down a lump in my throat.
    Six of us would make it, and five of us would not. I just had to make sure that I fell into the first group.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
     
    When Coach Dolly Davis walked through the door, the gym was so silent you could have heard a pin drop. Even though these girls were my competition, some of them were my friends, and all of us were undeniably nervous. Somehow, I felt a sense of camaraderie with these girls, considering the fact that we were all in the same boat.
    Coach Davis was a former NFL cheerleader, with the cheerleading skills to prove it. She’s past the age of forty now, but her age didn’t put a damper on her beauty. She had soft, auburn curls that hung in ringlets to her chest, bold blue eyes, and a small but athletic figure. When she wasn’t coaching, she was busy teaching Western Literature to sophomores. I’d heard she was a nice teacher, considered “easy” by most of her students. Unfortunately, her reputation as a coach differed greatly. She was serious when it came to cheerleading, and rumor had it she was tough, and sometimes cruel, to her squad.
    This was her fifth year coaching, and I knew she was more than a little familiar with the Triple Ts and Monika, as well as Ashleigh, who tried out every year. I still didn’t think it was fair, but I reminded myself that nothing ever is, and held my breath as Coach began talking.
    “Welcome, girls. Cheerleading tryouts are never easy, as I’m sure those of you who’ve tried out with me before can attest to. The process usually involves one full day of learning the routine, and then the next day I announce the names of those who have made the team. But…this year, I’m going to do things a little differently. There will still be six girls who make it, but I will also choose a seventh girl to serve as an alternate. If someone is out sick, or God forbid someone sustains an injury, we will have someone as a back-up to fill in when necessary, or as a permanent replacement if need be. I would also like to inform everyone that just because you were on the team last year does not mean you will necessarily make it again. I am a strong believer in fairness, and I want everyone to have a fair shot at making the squad.”
    She went on, “However, in order to be eligible for the team, all members are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA. If any of you girls don’t think you can handle that, please feel free to leave now.”
    Again, the gym was filled with silence. Everyone stayed put in their seats. “Okay,” Coach continued, “I also want to discuss my attendance policy. I will expect each and every girl who makes the team to attend all practices, games, and competitions, unless you have a doctor’s note. Each member of the squad is a representative of this school. That means that I expect all of you to be on your best behavior at all times. No drinking, smoking, or drugs. If you get detention, or somehow wind up suspended, believe me when I say this—you will be gone from the team.”
    “No piercings,” she added, staring directly at Amanda’s eyebrow piercing. “No tattoos, either.”
    “Now as far as practice is concerned, I will be dividing all of you into three groups to learn a group routine. I will make sure that at least one of our veterans is in each group, as they will be helping to lead you,” she said, glancing at Monika and the Triple Ts fondly. Already, I sensed her favoritism for the veterans, but I bit my tongue.
    “We’ll spend today and tomorrow learning the group cheer. On Wednesday, I’ll teach each of you an individual cheer. On Thursday, we will review our individual and group cheers. Friday will be the