Jon's heart pounded in her throat. Sure, according to this reality, there was nothing to fear. According to this reality she had done this dozens, maybe hundreds of times over the course of the past 4 years. According to this reality she WAS the mascot who could rally the student section like no other. But to Jon, she was just an impostor.
She shivered as she slipped the overstuffed head over her own, and followed along with the foot ball players. She was supposed to run out of a giant inflatable football head in front of the team when they announced the Bruins. She always thought it was cool. She just never expected to do it. And yet, here she stood, half a heartbeat from passing out from the adrenaline.
She was short, and for a moment she had to wonder what possessed the school to let her take on the mantel. Even with the overstuffed head and platformed sneakers she was a half a foot shorter than the average football player. Maybe it made them seem larger than life compared to the heroic mascot. Maybe they just thought the short little girl was endearing. Maybe she...
Her thoughts were cut short as the announcer cheered "...The Blue BRUINSSS!" over the loud speaker.
She ran out and became someone else... That's not entirely fair to say. In her own way, she hadn't changed at all. For Marie, this was as normal as any other game, but for Jon it was the wildest thrill to be taken away by her adrenaline and allow her intensity, her goofiness, her enthusiasm to all flow so freely.
She ran out onto the field with the team, cheerleaders were lined up on either side and the band played the schools rally song. Jon pointed to the other team and slid her finger across her throat. She waved dismissively at their quarterback then crossed her arms and strutted over to the student section with the cheerleaders.
Just like practice the previous day, and the pep rally only a few hours early. It came naturally too her. As she carried on with the persona she began to feel more comfortable and insulated behind that big head. It was dark, and all the sounds were muffled. It was a comfortable place where she could let her spirit run wild, and never have to be face to face with her fellow students. It was liberating. Maybe that's why "Marie" had joined, if in fact Marie had any motives beyond the compulsions of the wish.
As she danced along with one of the band's fight songs she couldn't help but wonder if she had been more effected by Zoe's wish for a good practice than she first realized. Maybe being good at practice carried with it all the nature and enthusiasm of the real Marie? Or was it that Jon had this potential in her the entire time. It didn't really matter to her in the long run. She was having too much fun to care.
The third quarter show came along and she filled her role flawlessly. Her eyes spied Karen at the top back row of the student section and She smiled. She didn't quite notice it, but seeing her friend up there smiling placidly, and offering the occasional cheer inspired her to throw a little more flair into her performance. The mob of highschoolers erupted into a roar at the end of the dance, and one of the baseball players started shouting out a modified chant from the movie 300. The student section knew the words by heart, and Jon mocked shouting herself, adding the blue bears comical enthusiasm to the rallying call.
Again her eyes fell on Karen, and a flutter went through her heart. Karen was smiling, not just a little, but a big beaming smile that shined like a beacon from the top of the bleachers. She cheered along with the other students, then laughed at the end of the final call and response. Jon realized that she'd been still and staring the second half of the chant.
She shook her head. This was ridiculous. There was WAAAAY too much going on for her to be thinking thoughts like that. Besides, if she didn't have the courage to ask Karen out when she was Jon, and everything was perfect, there was no way she'd summon up the courage given how confusing things were now. And yet, as she turned her attention back to the cheerleaders, her heart beat insider her with a little more levity, a little more optimism. She found herself smiling.
What followed was a familiar routine where she thrust her hands far above her head causing a roar from the students section. When she dropped her hands they all went silent. When the students were quiet she turned and stared down the opposing team, tossing her head in mock contempt, and when she threw up her arms again she brought the spirit of victory back home. Like a mad composer she directed the students to raise and lower their cheers again and again until the mob devolved into mindless whoops and shouts. The entire bleachers had been turned into an giant impromptu cymbal as they stomped and jumped and danced. Jon had been the one cheering before plenty of times, but never the one directing it. What a thrill, she laughed to herself. Even Sarah's presence couldn't shake her optimism.
By the end of the night Jon was freezing, sweaty, and exhausted. But she couldn't shake the wide shiny smile from her face. She had too much fun. The team had won a solid victory, assuring a chance at the playoffs, she had slipped into the role of mascot flawlessly, and Sarah had left her completely alone the whole night.
"Are you sure you don't wan't to come spend the night tonight?" Montanna had asked. "We can still go shopping tomorrow. It's about time we get you in a salon and spa."
Jon just shook her head. "Sorry Montanna, maybe next time." And she meant it. She said farewell and was surprised to find the cheerleaders break into a chorus of "Love you Marie!", "Have fun!", "See you next week!"
Jon met up with Karen after drying off and changing and immediately Karen cheered and started laughing as they hugged. When they broke the embrace, their fingers stayed locked together as they faced one another.
"You were great! Where did you learn to do all that? I don't think I've ever seen our mascot do so great."
The mask was off and Jon could only blush brightly and look away. "I... I don't know. I jusht short of cut loshe and did what felt natural."
"Well, whatever you did was brilliant. I've never seen the student section so frenzied. I thought they were going to bring the bleachers down after that one chant!"
"That was easy! They do that anyway." She chuckled."Even Zoe has enough school spirit to lead that chant."
They continue to gaze at one another, and in the spirit of the moment began to lean a little closer. It just felt natural, and after all, Jon had been doing what felt natural the entire night. Karen's eyes fluttered, even as Jon's closed half way. Then, quicker than either of them could think, they kissed.
Before the either could think too much on it, they both stood back up straight and dropped one another's hands. Both were blushing, but both were gazing intensely into each other eyes.
Finally Jon breaks the silence and declares a little too loudly. "Montanna was really eager for tomorrow!"
Karen smirks and foils right off of her. "Of course she is. She finally is going to have a life sized dress up doll to play with." Karen titters. "And I get to see JON dress up in girly clothes." Karen wraps her arms around her in a chummy embrace even as Jon covers her face and softly mutters "Nooooo.".
"I'm never going to let you forget this."
The pair smiles, then join a few other friends for before heading home and going to bed. Yet, for all the fun they had, both felt a little lonelier than they expected sleeping in their own beds.
