“Maybe they’ll be famous actors. They obviously don’t need to be tall,” Hayley said.

“Good point.” We watched the cheer team divide into groups.

“I love that Missy’s about to lose her shit with them.” Hayley pointed to the head cheerleader who stood with her hands on her hips barking at the scared squad in front of her. “How important are cheerleaders? Do you even hear them out on the field?”

“Their job is to get the crowd into the game, not us. We’re already there. You know how rude teenagers can be. Also, no, I can’t hear them. I have Coach yelling at me and the opposing team yelling at me. I hope to God when I’m older, people stop yelling at me.”

Hayley patted my leg. “You’ll be yelling at them. I promise you that.” She wiped off the dirt on my knee. “You probably should’ve changed. And let your hair down. Some of the cheerleaders don’t know who you are.” She turned to me and squeezed my arm. Her body language screamed excitement and I groaned before she even said anything. “You should go down there like ‘Oh, hey, I’m the quarterback. Anyone interested in dating the quarterback?”

“Yeah, that sounds like it’ll work.” I rolled my eyes and was rewarded with a gentle shove.

“Would you date any of them? I know you like sporty girls, but some of the cheerleaders are super cute,” Hayley said.

“Excuse me. Are you watching them? They are sporty, too. They tumble, do backflips, forward rolls, get tossed in the air, and land on their feet like cats,” I said.

“We should go down there and parade you in front of them.”

I looked at her in disbelief. “Why? Why are you pushing this?”

She shrugged. “Because I love you and the quarterback should get to date a cheerleader. I think it’s a rule.”

I laughed. “It’s not a rule. And don’t worry. I’ll find somebody.”

She took my hand. “But it’s high school and I want you to be happy and have fun with all of us. Going out in groups is fun, but alone time is funner.”

“More fun. Alone time is more fun.”

Rolling her eyes, she huffed. “Whatever. You know what I mean. Surely, one of those cheerleaders is gay.”

I ignored the JV team because they were too young for me. “We know Missy and Amberlynn aren’t. I’m clueless about the rest.” I didn’t have gaydar yet. Maybe it was something I would gain once I spent more time with lesbians and gays, but for now, everyone was straight. I sat up when Missy waved me over. “Does she mean me?” I pointed to myself. She nodded. I stood and marched down the bleachers and out onto the field.