Run In: CLEO POV
“Okay girls! Good run! See you tomorrow!” I called out, waving goodbye to my teammates. Cheerleading practice had been brutal, especially in this heat. Every lift in the new routine felt like a marathon. I practically dragged myself toward my Jeep, still sweating in my uniform. The AC was a necessity.
I glanced down at my phone as I walked, and collided with someone.
“I’m so sorry!” I blurted out, bracing for a scolding. I felt like I’d hit them pretty hard. Stupid phone. I met the gaze of the person I’d bumped into. Damn those eyes… startlingly blue, framed by a shock of blue hair. Oversized clothes hung loose on a slender frame, and her lips were turned in a perfect pout.
“Keep your eyes on where you’re going, Princess,” she snapped, her voice sharp. “You could have walked into a car, you know.” She was right, of course. I was in the parking lot, and my carelessness could have been dangerous. I nodded, feeling a flush of embarrassment.
I looked up again, intending to apologize and head for the cool air, but I found myself captivated by her stare. It wasn’t hostile, but intense, and… undeniably attractive. She was beautiful. A curiosity bloomed within me.
I’d always been drawn to girls, but it was a secret I guarded fiercely. I’d played the part of the popular girl, dated the boys, gone through the motions. I hadn’t touched anyone, but I'd explored my attraction to girls in private. The thought of revealing this side of myself terrified me. If I told my friends, I knew I'd be kicked off the squad. I could imagine the whispers, the side-eye. My parents… even thinking about it sent a shiver down my spine.
The girl with blue hair took me by surprise, placing one hand on my face, grasping my cheeks with a firm grip. I jumped, startled by the sudden contact. She smirked, a flicker of amusement in her eyes.
“I want you,” she said, her voice low and demanding. “Name?”
“Cleo.”
“You’re coming with me tonight.”
“I—I have a curfew,” I stammered, “and a game tomorrow. I need to sleep.”
She didn’t even blink. “Your parents will get over it, Princess.”