Time seemed to slow down as Allie rose higher and higher, her jump taking her to just the right point. Her hand raised to make the spike, moving through the air as though through syrup. As she contacted the volleyball, time returned to normal and surrendered the whoosh-spang sound of another perfect delivery.

The coach's whistle tweeted and she shouted, "Great! Just like that tonight, girls! Remember, tonight's our last game and the tryouts for both Basketball and Cheerleaders are Friday! Get showered, get dressed, and get outta here!"

The scattered giggles as the practice ended was normal, and the girls moved toward the locker room.

"Wilson! Hold up a second..." asked the coach. Allie waited a moment while Coach Byers tossed the last of the balls back across the court.

"So, I still don't have your sister's physical. No luck convincing her to try out for the squad?"

Allie bit her lip and sheepishly looked up at the coach as she responded, "She doesn't think she has the ability. I'll still try out though --"

Coach Byers waved her hand dismissively, "Yes, and you'll make it, but do you realize what kind of routines we could do this year with a set of twins like you? Look, I know she has the ability, I've seen her playing around with you and your friends before practices. I'm actually kind of offended that she didn't come out for volleyball. As a personal favor for me, c'mon. It's Monday, get your sister into the doctor for that physical this week. I wanna see both of you here on Friday."

Allie glanced quickly over to the bleachers where Annie sat chatting with a couple of their friends.

"I'll try. I will, really. But I can't promise anything. Annie's kind of... shy, y'know? Look, I gotta shower. Last time I came home smelling like sweat, Mom nearly had a seizure and I got a lecture on how 'unladylike' even playing a sport is. See you tonight, Coach," she once again made the excuse for Annie and ran off to shower.

Over on the bleachers, Mary (the tall, blonde girl), asked the others, "When they get out here, you all up for showing the guys up over at the Skate Park?"

Suzy and Jenni murmured assent, and Annie looked guilty.

She brushed her dark auburn hair back behind her ear and asked, "If we do, will there be time after? I mean I gotta change and then get home so I can get to the game with our parents..."

Jenni (the other blonde), mock-smacked her forehead, "Oh! The game tonight. Yeah, how about we just grab some cones in the courtyard, then? Plenty of time that way, and Bridgette, Allie, and Lisa can get back for the game easy enough."

Nods went around the circle as a latina girl you could only describe as 'lanky' joined them from the locker room, followed by a girl-faced freckle with bright red hair. Bridgette and Lisa were filled in on the plans as the foursome of practice spectators packed away their homework. When they finished and Allie still wasn't out yet, Brigette mumbled under her breath in Spanish as she trotted back to the locker room looking for her.

Annie looked at her friends and meekly reminded them, "You know, none of you should let me stop you from hitting the Skate Park. I can make it home alone. There's no reason you should have to give up fun stuff just because of me."

"Martyr much?" came Allie's voice as she and Bridgette returned.

"I wouldn't be able to hit the Skate Park anyway -- Coach is letting me start tonight," she added while beaming proudly.

The quiet catcalls and giggles traveled out the door as the seven moved around the school to the front where there was still an ice cream kiosk set up in the student courtyard. They got their cones, and moved down the street to a public restroom on the edge of one of the city's parks.

The seven filed into the restroom, hair was fussed with, backpacks re-shouldered, and after being sure they were the only ones inside, six filed back out and casually blocked access inside. About ten minutes later there was a light tapping from inside. They glanced around and assured themselves that no one was watching and knocked on the door in response.

As the door opened and the slight figure slipped out to join them, Allie nodded in approval and they moved again, this time along the sidewalk toward the Wilson home a few blocks away. Anyone looking at the group now would see a young boy walking with his sister and her friends. Allie reached up and ruffled her brother's hair, now tied back in a ponytail.

They were always quiet between the Change House (as they'd come to refer to the public restroom) and Allie and Andy's house, and today was no exception.

About a block short, the six girls stopped and Allie gave her brother a hug.

"We've gotta figure something out, sis. I almost asked you if I could borrow your blue tights last night at dinner," she said, "And Coach severely wants us both on the Cheer Squad."

Andy had a sad look in his eyes as he returned the hug, "I know... And sure, by the way, you can borrow them. They're in your dresser, after all," he tried to quip to brighten the mood.

All the girls felt like one of their best friends had to die every night.

"I'll see you at the game, in about an hour. I've got to think of a reason to give Dad for how I 'forgot' to turn in the JROTC application last week. They published the new members in the paper today," he told them as he shouldered his backpack and walked toward home.

After a few steps correcting his walk into one a bit less 'girly' than Annie's, he kept his eyes on the ground in front of his feet.

The remaining six girls turned as one and walked back toward the school, but it was several minutes later when Allie finally broke the silence and spoke.

"Alright, girls. Here's our new project. We have to figure a way to get Annie a girls' thumbs-up physical so she can tryout for Cheerleading on Friday. We have three days. Any ideas?"

She looked at them all and was exceedingly happy they had deigned to befriend her and Annie over the Summer.