Wicked Princess - Ashley Jade Page 0,19

of them. I’m not sure why they’re being so mean to me, but the pure hatred in their eyes tells me whatever happened between us is bad.

Real bad.

“I don’t—”

Another sharp punch to my cheek sends my head reeling.

Past…

I clap my hands. “Let’s go, bitches!”

Swear to God, these worthless whores couldn’t dance their way out of a paper bag.

The routine isn’t even that hard.

I press a button on the speaker and music floods the gymnasium. “Again.”

A groan of irritation ripples through my chest as I watch Amber turn and shimmy in the wrong direction, bumping straight into Caitlyn.

Of course, this causes a domino effect and sends the rest of the line teetering and swaying like tree branches in a hurricane.

Only way less graceful.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” My hands clench into fists. “You motherfucking idiots.”

I march over to Amber. “Remind me again why the fuck you’re on my team when you’re too stupid to know your lefts from your rights. You just ruined the entire formation, dumbass.”

“Maybe if you gave her a break it wouldn’t have happened,” Caitlyn snaps. “We’ve been practicing for three hours now without so much as a sip of water.”

I glare at her. “Oh, you want some water?” Snatching my water bottle off the table, I pour the contents over her head. “How’s this?”

Everyone gasps as it soaks her hair and shirt, but I don’t care.

I’m so tired of these assholes expecting handouts and free rides.

These bitches have to learn.

The real world isn’t fair and the sooner they realize that, the better.

Because if they want to keep their spots on my team, they’ll have to continuously work their asses off for it, because being a cheerleader is more than a pretty uniform and pom-poms.

Hands on my hips, I walk down the line, giving each of them their daily critique.

“Renee, do you know how to count?”

Confusion colors her face. “Uh, yeah.”

“Then why are you consistently a second late on your jumps?”

Clearly embarrassed, she looks down. “I don’t know.”

“Well, I suggest you figure it the fuck out. Otherwise you’ll be standing outside school tomorrow morning wearing a t-shirt that reads, ‘I don’t know how to count to three because I’m a dumbass.’”

I move down the line. “Courtney, how many times do I have to tell you to point your toes during a toe touch?”

Her lower lip trembles. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, a sorry excuse for a cheerleader.” I make a karate chop with my hands. “Toe touches are different than holding your legs in the air while your ugly boyfriend screws you in his shitty truck for forty seconds. Your legs need to be straight and your toes need to be pointed at all times. Don’t make me have to tell you again.”

Sighing, I move on to the next girl. Morgan. She’s been a thorn in my side for as long as I’ve known her and doesn’t deserve to be here.

However, she does have a certain talent.

Too bad it doesn’t involve cheerleading.

It’s just one of many reasons why I stole the team captain spot from her.

“I’m not gonna sugarcoat this, heifer. Drop five pounds or I’m dropping your fat ass from the squad.” Leaning over, I hiss, “I don’t care what you offer this time.”

Morgan isn’t actually fat, but she’s not in shape like the rest of us which means her jumps aren’t high enough and it’s noticeable.

She starts to speak, but I hold up my hand, focusing on the next girl.

The one responsible for sending everyone tumbling earlier. “Amber, give me your right hand.”

When she does, I draw the letter R on it with a black Sharpie. Then I draw the letter L on her left.

Maybe this will teach the idiot her rights from her lefts.

Because I’m still so fired up, I write the word stupid on her forehead for good measure.

“Don’t wash these off until you convince me otherwise. Got it?”

Teary-eyed, she nods.

I move to the last girl. Caitlyn.

Last year she actually voted for me to be team captain instead of Morgan, but this year it’s like she’s determined to fight with me every step of the way.

Fortunately for her, I can’t kick her off the squad because she’s good.

Really good.

I can, however, put her in her place.

“And you. I really hope you’re not planning on being a professional cheerleader because the only thing you’ll ever be good at is spreading your legs. Just like your gold-digging mother.”

Fire flashes in her eyes and I dare her with mine to mouth off because I’ll send her packing with her tail between