Is This Supposed to Be a Good Luck Charm?

 

 

By the time Wednesday's practice arrived, I felt much more confident about the routines. I felt like I was finally settling in somewhere for the first time. It was nice to have friends and make plans for the future. At lunch, I always sat with Brooke and the others. Drake had started walking me to my classes. Nothing old fashioned like offering to carry my books or anything, but he was obviously paying a lot of attention to me.

 

I wondered if any of that would change if I didn't make the squad.

 

The idea of becoming a cheerleader was quickly becoming an obsession with me. I spent my evenings practicing the routines either with Agnes or on my own. Except for calculus, my school work was pretty easy. All I cared about was keeping these new friendships and making it into their elite group.

 

Wednesday, I felt nervous all day. This would be our last chance to practice the routines before the actual auditions on Thursday.

 

“Don't look so nervous,” Brooke said as she walked me to the gym. “It'll show on your face. Just keep your smile turned on at all times and you'll be fine.”

 

“I hope so,” I said. But now, I felt nervous about being too nervous. Ugh.

 

“You've got this in the bag for sure,” Lark said.

 

“You haven't even watched us practice yet,” I said.

 

“Eh, I just have a feeling about you.” She winked at me and linked her arm in mine.

 

Why was everyone saying that lately? Before I moved to Peachville, every family I'd lived with had been dying to get rid of me as fast as possible. But here? People actually thought I was special.

 

She's the Prima.

 

A voice echoed in my head, and I stumbled.

 

“You okay?”

 

“Gosh, Harper. You better get it together by tomorrow. Clumsy up like that at auditions and you're toast.”

 

“Brooke! Don't say something like that to her,” Lark said in my defense. “You'll make her even more nervous than she already is.”

 

I was disoriented and thankful to have Lark's arm to keep me steady as we walked. While in some ways, I had been happier than ever, I also knew that deep in my mind, there was a locked room of secrets I seemed to be keeping from myself. Like I had hidden information and memories away somehow. And every once in a while, like this voice, they would pop to the surface and scare the bejeesus out of me.

 

During practice in the gym, I was off the whole time. I tripped. I forgot the dance choreography. I even yelled out the wrong words on one of the cheers. Mrs. King eyed me suspiciously, but thankfully didn't call attention to my mistakes. I knew that if I didn't get it together, I wouldn't have a chance.

 

When the two hours were up, Mrs. King called us all together to wish us luck for the following day. “Everyone is invited to my house this afternoon, so carpool over together if you want.” I rode with Brooke, Lark and Allison in Brooke's BMW.

 

“Nice car,” I said.

 

The sleek blue car was amazing. All leather interior. Sunroof. All the bells and whistles. I felt uncomfortable sitting in it, wondering how I was supposed to fit in with a group of girls like this. Rich girls. The Mayor's daughter. The cream of the crop. Come to think of it, not one single girl on the cheerleading squad was poor like me. All of them had wealthy, successful parents. My gut churned.

 

I would never be able to match them in clothing and bags and cars. I would always be a hanger-on. Maybe I could get a job or something to help pay for some of the things they all seemed to have. I pushed it from my mind and tried to enjoy the ride.

 

“I can't wait for the party Friday night,” Lark said. “This is definitely the week Andrew is going to kiss me.”

 

“And Drake definitely has his eye on someone in this car,” Allison teased. “Not going to name names.” She pointed at me and everyone laughed.

 

“If I don't make the squad, I'm not too sure I'll feel like partying,” I said. What I meant was that I wasn't sure I would still be invited.

 

“Oh pooh,” Lark said. “You're going to make it.”

 

The three girls exchanged glances. Brooke turned the wheel sharply and pulled over on the side of the road.

 

“Why are we stopping?” The abandoned parking lot we sat in front of was definitely not Mrs. King's house. I swallowed nervously. There was an excited energy in the car I couldn't quite put my finger on.

 

Brooke smiled and reached for something in the glove compartment.

 

“Harper, I have something for you,” she said. A deep blue velvet jewelry box sat in her palm. She held it out to me. “Open it.”

 

My hand shook a little as I took the box from her hand. It squeaked as I opened it. I gasped as I looked inside. A black diamond pendant as big as an acorn sat inside. It was strung onto a beautiful, delicate silver chain.

 

“Don't get too excited,” Brooke said. “I'm not giving it to you to keep forever. But I want you to promise me you'll wear this to the audition tomorrow.”

 

My hand instinctively rose up to my mother's sapphire pendant. “Why?”

 

She smiled and looked at me over her shoulder. “Actually, wear it for this run through at Mrs. King's house.”

 

I ran my finger along the smooth surface of the stone. “Is this a real diamond?”

 

“Yes,” she said. “It's extremely old and extremely powerful.”

 

I'd never heard anyone refer to a diamond as powerful. The word sent a cold shiver down my spine. “What does it do?” “You'll see,” Lark said, raising her eyebrows.

 

Allison, who was sitting next to me in the backseat, reached around my neck and unclasped my mother's silver chain. My hand went to my throat.

 

“Wait,” I said. “I never take that off.”

 

“You can't wear them both,” Allison said. “It won't work.” Work? What exactly was going on with this diamond? “Is this supposed to be a good luck charm or something?” “Something like that,” Brooke said. She took the black diamond necklace out of the box and put it around my neck.

 

Allison put my sapphire necklace into the box and I bit my lip nervously.

 

“We'll give it back to you tomorrow after the tryouts,” Brooke said, seeing my concern. “I promise.”

 

Brooke slipped the box into the glove compartment and closed it tight. I knew it was silly, but for some reason, I felt uneasy without it. Like taking it off meant letting someone down. But that was ridiculous right?

 

I glanced longingly at the glove compartment, then settled back into the leather seat, the cold weight of the diamond heavy against my skin.