Maple Faucher's Arc

Chapter 1 of 3

Maple Faucher had wanted a spot on the varsity cheer squad since she watched them nail a stunt at the fall assembly. The flyer went up, held, and dropped clean into waiting arms. Maple's tail curled around her own ankle. If they saw her balance, they'd want her. But tryouts needed a current squad member to vouch for you, and Maple didn't know a single cheerleader. She had a goal and no door. Then the roster shifted third period. A new girl took the seat beside her: Maya Hartwell, the squad captain. Everyone knew that dark stare. Two freshmen near the pencil sharpener went quiet when Maya sat. Maple decided to make a friend. She smiled and slid her notes across. "You missed the reading. You can copy mine." Maya glanced at the page, then at Maple. "Thanks." She copied three lines and slid it back. Maple tried again. She asked about the weekend. She asked about the teacher. Maya answered in four words or fewer each time, then looked at the board. Maple's tail began to puff. She pressed it flat against her chair. The teacher announced a pop quiz. Groans filled the room. Maple's tail swelled before she could stop it. It fluffed to twice its size and knocked her pencil to the floor. Maya watched the tail. "That's not nerves," she said. "That's a reflex. Fast one." Maple's face went hot. "It does that. It's annoying." "It's balance," Maya said. "You climb?" Maple stared. Nobody had guessed that before. "Fences. Trees. My tail keeps me steady up high." Maya set down her pen. The quiz waited. "Show me at practice. Today. Three-thirty, the gym." She said it flat, like a fact, not a favor. Maple's chest tightened. She had spent the whole period trying to charm a way in. The tail she hid had done it in ten seconds. At three-thirty Maple stood in the gym doorway. The squad ran a pyramid across the floor. Maya broke off and pointed at Maple. "Everyone. This is Maple. She's trying out. I'm vouching." The word landed. A few girls looked Maple over. One asked if she had ever stunted. Maple shook her head. "Doesn't matter yet," Maya said. "Get up on the beam by the wall. Walk it." Maple climbed the low beam. Her tail swept out and settled. She walked the length without a wobble, turned, and walked back. The girls stopped talking. Maya nodded once. "You're in the pool. Tryouts are Thursday." Then her voice went clipped. "But my flyers already drift off the count. I don't need a beam-walker. I need someone who can hit a mark on a beat, in the air, with people watching. Thursday shows me if that's you." Maple's door was open. Behind it stood a harder wall than the one she'd just cleared.