Does Practice Make Perfect?

It’s Friday night at the football field.

Standing against the fence, I cheer as Zach scores again. I love watching him play, but so do the preppy cheerleaders with their Colgate smiles. I’ve never understood the appeal of becoming a cheerleader. Why dance to get attention when you can play on the field? Or be in a musical? Or paint a mural? Something with a purpose!

Lindsey walks swiftly towards me. She is by far the best dancer on the cheer squad.

She’s also the most scheming snake in the entire school.

“Hey Paige, have you heard the amazing news?”

“Heard what?”

“Zach and I got a scholarship to the same college!” Lindsey squints at me and smiles. She’s clearly pleased with herself.

“Congrats, they must’ve accepted your request to be Zach’s mascot.”

“Excuse me?”

“Forget it…” I say and glance up at the game clock: 10 seconds left.

I walk away from Lindsey, heading to the parking lot, while cheers and shouting erupt as the game ends. Another win for Zach.

20 minutes later:

“Paige! Paige! I can’t believe it!” Zach runs euphorically toward me, “They want me, they really want me!”

He got a full-ride athletic scholarship to his #1 college. It elates him exactly the opposite of how I feel.

“That’s great… congratulations.” I smile, but it isn’t genuine.

“Paige? What’s up with you?”

Zach must’ve noticed my fake smile.

“It’s just that I’m not coming with you. I received a rejection letter today.”

“Oh no, Paige, I’m so sorry!”

“I won’t be going to college with you, Lindsey is!” I say while tears roll down my cheeks.

“You’re moving to the other end of the country to play football. Pictures of you with Lindsey will be all over Snapchat.”

“Really, Paige? Don’t be ridiculous. You know me.”

“And I know Lindsey! You can’t deny that you’ve changed.”

“What are you even talking about?” asks Zack.

“When you got bumped up to varsity from JV. You became the star, on and off the field.”

“Paige, you’re the one who encouraged me to get better. You’re the one who came to all my practices. You’re the one who told me to pursue an athletic scholarship.”

“Zach, I’ve loved cheering you on every step of the way…”

“But?” He looks confused.

“Until now, it’s been us against the world. Now it’ll be you and your team.”

“Uh, yes, that’s how college football works.”

“You don’t understand what I mean, Zach. Your priorities are changing, even outside the football field. Cheerleaders and screaming fans will replace me.”

“Paige, you’re being dramatic.”

“Am I? Really?” I roll my eyes and hand my phone to Zach.

The screen is full of Zach’s adoring cheerleaders and fans. Every time he scrolls, similar photos pop up.

“Zach, this is just high school. Imagine how it will be in college when you’re the top scorer.”

I take my phone back, glancing down at my feed. A picture of Zach with Lindsey glares back at me. I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Paige, this is part of the game.”

“I didn’t actually think you were the jealous type,” Zach nudges me, trying to make light of the situation. “I never would’ve gotten this opportunity if it wasn’t for you. You support me more than anyone else! Of course, my parents are proud of me, but…”

“They want you to get a ‘real’ education.” I finish his sentence, as I always do.

“Exactly. Because of you, Paige, I wasn’t afraid to follow my dreams, and now they are coming true.”

“Great for you. But I don’t know what to do. I didn’t get accepted.”

“Paige, listen, I think the distance will be good for us.”

I push away from him. Is he serious?

“We’ve been inseparable since we were kids. I don’t really know who I am without you. You need to find out who you are without me, too.”

“Are you breaking up with me?!” I’m in shock.

“No! Of course not. Please stop crying. We can stay together and set each other free at the same time.”

“Trust what we have.”

“How am I supposed to do that? It still sounds like you’re breaking up with me.” I turn to walk away.

Zach grabs my arm and holds onto me. “Do you think this is easy for me?! You’re afraid I’m going to forget about you, but I’m afraid we’re holding each other back. We need to learn to be together from a distance.”

“It just sounds horrible.”

“Think about it, Paige. Have you taken some time to think about yourself? Do you even know what you want to study? You’ve been so busy supporting me, but what about YOU? You are brilliant at drawing and painting.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” I ask.

“Paige, have you thought about going to Europe to take art lessons?”

“Now you’re trying to put an ocean between us.”

“I never said that. I just want you to do something you love. Explore your passions with no distractions.”

“While you’re having fun with your new cheerleader friends. And ‘no distractions,’ AKA me...”

“You’re misunderstanding me, Paige.”

“They say if you love someone, set them free.” I look up at Zach, shrugging my shoulders. “If they come back, they’re yours. If they don’t, they never were…”

“Setting each other free isn’t such a bad thing. You are creative, imaginative, and strong. Facing this next step on your own might be scary, but I am always just a text or call away.”

In my heart, I know he’s right.

“It’s like I’m holding onto you with an invisible string. If I let go, you’ll drift away.”

“I’ll always find my way back,” he says.

“You know, I wish the best for you, right?”

“With all my heart.” Zach takes my hand and squeezes it.

“You better believe I’ll fly out to see your games. If I’m not hanging out with gorgeous models in Italy…”

“Ha, ha, hilarious, Paige.”

“Sure, I’ll be there whenever I can… Next to Lindsey.”

“Be nice to her. She is a great cheerleader.”

“I know she is.”

“You have nothing to be afraid of. Lindsey can never take your place.”

Zach hugs me. “I can’t wait to wave to you in the stands.”

“Okay, but I refuse to dance in a miniskirt with pom-poms.”

“It’s a deal.”

“Maybe my rejection letter is actually an opportunity.”

“Yes, to explore everything this world offers you. No one knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, Paige.”

“But today we are together. And we will also be together, even if we are 1,000 miles apart. They have invented planes and the internet, you know…”

We both laugh.

This story originally appeared on Medium