in threes
Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lottie’s POV

“Anna I can’t wear this!” I sigh, as she holds up the small and revealing cheer practice uniformconsisting of some booty shorts and a bra top…

It was now Thursday afternoon and I had successfully managed to complete a full day at my newschool – and for the first time in my life it was completely hassle free!

The cheer audition was tomorrow, and Anna insisted that we both had to come back to the mall inorder to replace the most perfect outfits for it…

It wasn’t until we got here, that I realised I was truly f**ked when I saw just how revealing the smallsets were as they hung up on the rails – bright and preppy and all organised in colour.

“You’ll look amazing in this are you kidding?! You have the perfect figure for it!” Anna complimentsme, not understanding the real reason why I didn’t want to show off my legs and my stomach…

Those were the areas that usually suffered the abuse from the three boys back home… areas thatthey knew people wouldn’t see I suppose.

My stomach scars weren’t as noticeable, but my thighs were very much still raw and fresh…

From afar, it would maybe look like the marks were self inflicted… which wasn’t true… but the threeof them always knew what they were doing.

I believed that they must have planned each and every attack since they always seemed to be wellexecuted as though they had been following a step by step on how to abuse someone!

“Is there anything else?” I gulp down my triggering thoughts warily, as Anna sighs with a nod.

“Well some girls wear leggings and a sports bra? They don’t usually like it when you cover upcompletely so that might be the best option as opposed to the crop top and booty shorts! What doyou think?” Anna asks aloud as she moves around the shop, knowing where to replace different thingsas I follow behind her.

She shuffles through a rack, replaceing a light blue leggings and sports bra set before holding thecolour up to me.

“Yes this! This would look great on you!” She grins, as I force a smile back – not wanting to look so‘nervous about the outfit.

“Let’s try these on!” She grabs me another similar set in a lime green colour, before grabbing somechoices for herself on the way to the changing rooms.

“Come out and show me once you’re ready!” Anna smiles, as I nod and head into the small mirroredroom–locking the door behind me.

Here it goes…

I take my time stripping out of my current outfit which consisted of a grey tracksuit with light pinkdetailing – comfy yet fresh looking for school.

glance at my exposed stomach, grimacing at the faded marks along my abdomen… thankfully theycould probably pass for stretch marks now… at least I think they can!

I then shimmy out of my joggers, throwing my head back in shame after catching a glimpse of thedeep red slashes painted around the upper parts of my thighs.

They looked dreadful… there was no denying that….

–

I fumble with the blue leggings, rushing to put them on to cover my insicurities pleased to replace thatAnna had also picked out my right size from the rack.

I smile slightly once they are on, seeing that they sat slightly high waisted, making me feel a wholelot better as they covered the majority of the scars across my stomach too.

I pair the set off with the matching sports bra, turning to check myself out in the full length mirror toensure that nothing major could be seen… this one is perfect!

The leggings seemed to leave only a small gap of my stomach as they sat just below the sports brawhich was longer on than I thought it would be!

I unlock the door, to meet Anna who was already out and showing off her lilac shorts and crop topset.

“Oh I love it! That colour will stand out!” She claps on my entrance, allowing for her eyes to studyme over as I squirm under her gaze…

“That one is really nice for you too!” I nod, grinning at how happy she looked in the outfit as shespun around in–front of the mirrors.

“I mean… all of this effort and I probably won’t even get on the damn squad!” She suddenlygrumbles, as I watch her shoulders slump in sudden defeat.

“You never know! Maybe we could trick her into going easy on you until after the trials?” I tell her myidea, as she cocks a brow at me curiously.

“I’m listening…” She encourages me to continue as I giggle slightly.

“Well maybe if you ask Jace… he could pretend to be interested in Brianna… and he could put in agood word for you at the same time… she would have to let you join the team just to make himhappy!” I throw my hands out and state, feeling that the idea was fool proof.

Anna pauses, tapping her chin in thought as her smile slowly grows…

“Oh yes! You are an absolute genius! That would probably work as long as we can get Jace onboard!” She suddenly jumps up and down, clapping excitedly at my plan while laughing.

“We need Jace in on it… and what if Brianna decides to just kick you off the team after realising thatJace isn’t actually interested in her?” I throw out the sudden downside to the plan, realising that itmight only work out for so long…

“No she can’t do that! Once you make the team – you’re contracted for the whole of the school year!As for Jace, if I annoy him enough then surely he will give in right? He knows that if I make it on theteam – I’ll be preoccupied for most of the school year and I won’t annoy him!” She explains with adark laugh, as I can’t control the sincere giggle that leaves my own lips.

“I love it! What a great plan!” I state confidently.

“Let’s change, buy our outfits, and then I’ll call him!” Anna recites our plan of action, as I salute herand head back into the changing

room.

quickly try on the lime green set, showing Anna briefly who insists that we buy both colours, before Ichange back and meet her outside.

1

We head to the till, as I pull out some of the money from my backpack causing Anna to push meaway insisting on paying for my things yet again.

*Please let me pay for one thing! I feel really bad!” I whine, knowing that I didn’t have much butcould hopefully cover our outfits today with there being a 20% off sale on the whole store…

“None sense! I’m the damn reason you’re even trying out for cheer Lottie! The least I can do is payfor yours!” She laughs, tapping

her card on the reader as the lady bags our items.

“Thank you!” I tell her, as she hands me my bag smiling.

“Of course!” She grins back, as we both exit the store – before she fishes for her phone in her bag.

“Let’s call Jace and get him on board shall we?” Anna laughs, as we head towards a bench to sitdown briefly.

Is this how teenagers are supposed to be… was I now considered normal? Worrying over simplethings like making it on a cheer team?

It all felt too good to be true…