The first time Maya Reynolds heard the laughter, she knew it wasn't about a joke.
It was about her.
She had been standing near the gym doors, adjusting the ribbon in her hair before afternoon practice, when three girls on the varsity squad looked in her direction and burst into laughter.
Maya pretended not to notice.
She had learned that trick years ago.
Sometimes pretending not to hear cruelty was the only way to keep cruelty from becoming the center of your day.
She checked her reflection in the dark glass of the trophy case.
Red-and-white uniform.
White sneakers.
Hair pulled back neatly.
A small silver necklace her father had given her before she left home.
Nothing unusual.
Nothing she could understand.
But she had been at Westbrook High for only eleven days, and already she had learned that being new was enough to make some people uncomfortable.
Being the new Black girl on the varsity cheer squad made it worse.
The gym doors opened behind her.
"Move."
Maya stepped aside.
A tall girl walked past without looking at her.
Her name was Cassidy Lane.
Captain of the cheer squad.
Daughter of the school's athletic director.
Popular.
Confident.
Untouchable.
At least, that's what everyone said.
Maya entered the gym.
The basketball team was practicing on one side.
The cheerleaders were warming up on the other.
Coach Harmon stood near the bleachers with a clipboard.
He glanced at Maya.
"You're late."
Maya checked the clock.
"Practice starts at four."
"It's four-oh-three."
"I was helping Ms. Patel carry the equipment."
Coach Harmon shrugged.
"Next time, be on the floor at four."
"Yes, Coach."
Maya walked toward the squad.
Cassidy turned.
"You heard him."
Maya stopped.
"I heard him."
"Then why are you still standing there?"
Maya looked at her.
"I was just putting my bag down."
Cassidy smiled.
"Right."
One of the other girls laughed.
Maya ignored them.
She joined the warm-up.
For the next hour, she worked harder than anyone.
She knew she had something to prove.
Not because she wasn't good.
Because she was.
That was the problem.
At tryouts, Maya had outperformed almost everyone.
Her jumps were clean.
Her balance was exceptional.
Her timing was nearly perfect.
She could tumble.
She could catch.
She could lead.
The judges had selected her for varsity unanimously.
Cassidy hadn't liked that.
Maya understood why.
Cassidy had been captain for two years.
She had expected the squad to revolve around her.
Then Maya arrived.
And suddenly there was someone else everyone was watching.
During practice, Coach Harmon called for a new routine.
Maya stepped forward.
Cassidy crossed her arms.
"She's doing it?"
Coach Harmon looked at her.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because she earned it."
The gym became quiet.
Maya could feel every pair of eyes on her.
Coach Harmon nodded.
"Positions."