Cheerleader Kait Dredd Here

Kait leaned against the bleachers, chewing a piece of gum with the slow, deliberate menace of a predator sizing up a herd. Her ponytail was high and sharp, not a single strand out of place. Her uniform—a vintage, slightly-too-small black and crimson squad issue—was pressed within an inch of its life. She didn't smile. Cheerleaders were supposed to smile. That was the first rule Kait Dredd had decided to break.

"What?"

"Miss Dredd," the coach whispered, her voice hoarse. "That was... not a standard cheer routine." cheerleader kait dredd

The music started. A bubblegum pop anthem blared through the speakers. The other candidates—Jessica, Amy, Becca—leaped into motion. They were perfect. Bouncy. Bright. Their smiles were blinding white picket fences. They shimmied and shook, their voices a high-pitched chorus of "Go, team, go!" Kait leaned against the bleachers, chewing a piece

"You heard me." Kait's voice was low, a quiet rumble that cut through the pop song. "This bubblegum crap doesn't fit. You want a cheerleader? Fine. But I don't cheer for the team. The team cheers for me." She didn't smile