Cheerleading practice that day was especially intense, given the importance of that week's game. But Jackie London found that she didn't have to do too much; the seniors mostly ran the show, and she could hang back and watch. She got a very warm feeling in her heart seeing what confident, capable young women Kelly, Kat, Olivia, and Ana had become; and a warm feeling in a different part of her body thinking what intimate knowledge she'd had of all of them.
Lexi was in a different category, of course; though nominally a senior, she was pretty new and so couldn't be expected to take the same kind of leadership role. She still looked kind of lost out there sometimes, and the one time during practice that Jackie really stepped in was to scold a younger girl who gave Lexi a hard time for missing a step.
After practice, Jackie had some paperwork to do, and when she finally left her office everyone was gone except Lexi, who was slouched down near her locker reading a history book with a glum look on her face.
"Hey, Lex," said the coach. "What are you doing still here?"
"Nothing," answered the blonde. "My dad's out of town so I'm in no hurry to get home. It's kind of lonely in the house."
"Oh," said Jackie sympathetically. "That's too bad. Well... do you want a ride home?"
"Sure!" Lexi responded, perking up a little. She put the book in her backpack and followed Jackie to the parking lot. By the time they got to her house Lexi seemed pretty well cheered up, but when they pulled up in front she just sat quietly for a minute. "I hate going in by myself," she finally said. "Would you come in with me?"