miranbajrami59

"The Light Between Us"
In a town full of memories, the past is never really gone.

When 15-year-old Ryan Whitmore moves to Rosehill with his mom, he’s not just starting over—he’s running from everything he used to be. But small towns have long shadows, and Ryan quickly finds himself caught in something bigger than he expected. A girl who feels too familiar. A team he wasn’t supposed to lead. A truth that could ruin everything.

Between cheerleading tryouts, basketball tournaments, and late-night talks under the stars, Ryan, Anna, Ben, and Savannah are just trying to figure it all out. But secrets have a way of showing up—especially when you're finally starting to feel at home.

Basketball isn’t just a game here.
It’s where friendships are tested, futures are shaped, and second chances are earned.

THe Light Between us

Anna stood in front of the mirror in the gym's side room, adjusting the hem of her shirt for the third time. It wasn't nerves exactly—it was more like anticipation. Cheerleading hadn't been part of the plan, but when Savannah had said "Let's do it together," she couldn't say no. And truthfully, a part of her was excited to be doing something new.

Savannah bounced beside her, tying her hair up. "Okay, this is gonna be fun. Right?"

Anna smiled. "You say that now. Wait until we're sore tomorrow."

They walked out to the gym where the rest of the new cheer squad had gathered. A few returning girls were already practicing flips and stretches. One of them—Avery—stood near the front, arms crossed, clearly watching everyone like she was the coach. She was tall, with perfectly styled blonde hair and a face that had "mean girl" written all over it.

When Coach Carter—Savannah's aunt—blew the whistle, the girls lined up. "Alright, ladies! First practice. We're building a new team, and I want energy, spirit, and trust. Got it?"

They started with stretches and warm-ups. Anna did her best to keep up, even when her legs began to burn. Savannah gave her a quick thumbs-up from the other end of the line.

But during a routine walk-through, Avery purposely moved closer to Anna, brushing past her with an annoyed sigh.

"Maybe try not to mess up the formation next time," she muttered under her breath, loud enough for Anna to hear.

"You were out of place," Avery snapped.

Before Anna could respond, Savannah stepped in, voice sharp and clear. "She was exactly in place. You just didn't like that she nailed it better than you."

Avery rolled her eyes. "Relax. Some of us actually know what we're doing."

Coach Carter's voice rang out before it could escalate. "Ladies! Focus. If you've got something to prove, do it through your moves, not your mouths."

Practice resumed, but Anna could feel the weight of Avery's eyes on her the entire time. She tried to shake it off, focusing on the routine, on the steps and counts. But something about being the new girl, the one who hadn't earned her place in their world yet, was eating at her.

After practice, she collapsed next to Savannah on the bleachers.

"She hates me," Anna muttered, pulling her hair out of its ponytail.

"She's jealous," Savannah said flatly. "You've got presence, and she knows it."

Anna frowned. "I don't even want drama. I just want to be good at this."

Savannah leaned back and grinned. "Then be good at it. And let me handle Avery if she tries anything."

Anna laughed softly. "You're kind of terrifying when you want to be."

The two of them walked out of the gym, the late afternoon sun glowing outside the glass doors. Despite the tension, Anna felt lighter than she had all day. Maybe cheerleading wasn't just about pyramids and pom-poms—maybe it was about having someone in your corner, too.

Chapter forty – First Cheer Practice