The Fear
Majandra

Torrance couldn't ever remember feeling so scared. The girls from East Compton were all lined up, glaring at her and Missy, and she had a sinking feeling that they were going to pound them both into the ground.

Isis, the captain of the East Compton Clovers, seemed really angry at Big Red stealing their routines, and Torrance couldn't blame her. "God, it's like every time we get something, here y'all come trying to steal it, pin some blonde hair on it, calling it something different. We've had the best squad around for years, but no one's been able to see what we can do. Oh, but you better believe all that's going to change this year. I'm captain, and I guarantee you we're going to make it to nationals. So hand over the tape you made tonight, and we'll call it even."

"We don't have any tape." Torrance was beyond scared now. She tried to pacify the girls, hoping that if push came to shove, Missy would stick up for her.

"No, we just came to see the show." Missy, unexpectedly, backed her up.

Jenelope, a feisty little cheerleader, was not to be fobbed off this easily. "What?! Come on, Ice, lemme do this." Missy reached out and touched Torrance's arm, stroking it gently, offering what little comfort she could, given the situation.

"You know what? Let's go." Luckily, Isis was feeling benevolent. Jenelope was aghast.

"Wait a minute. that's it? We're just gonna let them go?"

"Yeah. Because unlike them, we have class."

Torrance tried once more to make amends. "I swear, I had no idea."

"Well, now you do." Isis and most of the Clovers turned to leave.

"You been touched by an ANGEL, girl." Jenelope obviously thought they'd gotten off easily.

"Jenelope, let's go!"

Torrance and Missy got into the car, both breathing hard. They could feel their hearts thumping, pounding almost as hard as Jenelope would have.

"We just SO almost got our asses kicked!" Missy crowed, the adrenaline kicking in. Torrance was just scared. Scared that they had almost been beaten, scared that they'd only got away by the skin of their teeth. She knew, had Isis been in a different mood, things would have turned out very different. She started to cry.

Missy pulled off the road and shut off the engine. "Torrance, it's okay, we got away."

Torrance managed to sob, "But look, everything, all our trophies, everything I AM, it's all a lie." She trailed off as the excitement and the fear caught up with her. Burying her face in her hands, she cried.

Missy reached out and stroked Torrance's arm again. "Look, it's going to be okay," she offered, feeling a little bewildered at the depth of the blonde girl's woe. Torrance sniffled and shifted, leaning into the gentle touch. Before either of them knew it, Missy had her arms around Torrance and was letting her cry on her shoulder.

"Missy," Torrance said at last.

"Yeah?" Missy said softly, brushing the last of the tears from Torrance's face with the pad of her thumb. Whatever Torrance was about to say was swallowed up by another sniffle, and then Torrance leaned in and kissed Missy.

Missy responded, but she had to say she was shocked. However, since she'd been dreaming of kissing Torrance every night since they'd met, she certainly wasn't complaining.

Missy's blue Bug sat on the side of the road and in the front seat the two cheerleaders sat and kissed gently. Wrapping their arms around each other, they grew more and more adventurous, until the honking of a car passing by reminded them where they were. Missy straightened up and drove them home.

"Look, Missy. I'm sorry about before."

"I'm not. I enjoyed it, and I think you did too. Can. Can I kiss you goodnight?"

"Okay."

And there, outside Torrance's front door Missy leaned and brushed her lips against Torrance's one last time. "I love you, blondie."

And with that she left.