♡ cheryl . 

“Wow, Betty. That’s so incredibly sweet and noble of you to say,” and her words meant it, no matter how much the words truly felt real or not. The smile on her lips briefly was that of sincerity, finally getting to be recognized for what she felt she did best, being the leader. “I mean, I think you’d be great up there-” though she was listening now to her words, a hesitant shrug of her shoulders to the thought. “I mean you’d also make a powerful bottom of the pyramid too now that I think of it. You’re the strongest girl on our squad. An actual warrior princess bad ass, if you ask me - “

           _{At that, Betty couldn’t help but} BLUSH_{, preferring} strong _{to the unflattering and sometimes} downright cruel _{things that had been whispered about her along the years.} “ _{That’s very} KIND _{of you to say, Cheryl. I’m happy wherever, honestly, but I do think I’ll be of better service holding the other girls up. You should ask Veronica if she wants to be on top, or Nancy; she’s been} dying _{to prove herself as a flyer.} ” _{Now that the matter of Thursday’s practice had been resolved, she leaned back against the lockers, and watched Cheryl.} “ _{You know, you’re a better captain than people give you credit for. I just realized you’ve never put yourself as flyer before, even though it’s the most obviously impressive position. You always put the} TEAM _{first. Cheryl Blossom, I do believe you might just have} hidden depths_. ” 

♡ cheryl . 

“We would only be so lucky-” she responded, her posture straightening as a brow rose towards the other girl. Truth be told, Cheryl could almost imagine her life in one of those movies, already having the soundtrack picked out in the back of her mind. “I appreciate your words, Betty. I really do-” her voice was still dry, trying to attempt some sort of sympathy. “Deal. Listen, I don’t mean to be harsh, but you are both the perfect weight and height for the top of the pyramid and that’s not an easy spot to replace no matter how hard I wish it was.”

        _Well. BEGGARS _{can’t be choosers, right? That’s what her mom always said. Breathing in deeply, and exhaling the day’s worth of Cheryl Stress, Betty nodded.} “ _{Great, thank you. Yeah… I know, Cheryl. You have a} Cheerocracy _{to run. Can’t} BLAME _{you for being the leader we need.} ” _{She half considered advising her that loyalty was won with strength} and _{leniency, but… something told her Cheryl might not take too well to well-intentioned critiques. It was better to} RUN _{with her success.} “ _{You want me on the top of the pyramid?} ” _{Her jaw had dropped, just a little.} “ _{Are you… sure about that? I mean… let’s} face _{it Cheryl, I could bench} two _{of you. Wouldn’t you prefer me at the bottom?} ” 

♡ cheryl . 

“See, that’s the issue. Cheer is different than cheerleading. You’re born with cheer, jazz hands are purely second nature later in time,” she replied with her tone ringing in a matter of fact matter. Cheryl’s head tilted to the side, her arms crossing against her chest. “Dramatic, no. Actually, I’m never dramatic. And secondly, sure, family is important, but the squad is a family too, Betty.” 

           _{Betty fought to keep her} composure _{and avoid looking into to the proverbial camera for some idea of what the} HELL _{had just come out of Cheryl’s mouth.} “ _{I didn’t realize we were writing the script here for Bring It On: the small-town sequel} no one asked for_. ” _{She should have known better than to be quippy with Cheryl, but} seriously_{, where did she come up with this stuff?} “ _{Yeah, I know. Look, it won’t happen again. And next time you need to bail, I’ll be on} YOUR SIDE! ”   

♡ cheryl . 

@heartlikegold​ LIKED for a STARTER !

“No, please. I would love to hear how that sentence is going to end, Betty-” the words popped on her lips, bright red lipstick curling into a forced grin. “I know you will never understand the sheer importance of cheer. You can’t learn it, you’re born with it.”

            “ _{You’re telling me you came out of the} WOMB_{, Cheryl, knowing how to cheer?} ” _{Both brows posed} skeptically _{above Betty’s best impression of} friendliness_. “ _{Don’t you think you’re being a little} DRAMATIC_{? I wouldn’t miss practice if I could, but I need to be there for my family first. Wouldn’t you do the same?} ”