Chapter 16
Despite everything weighing on Raquel’s mind, her meeting her father, learning that Mr. Cooper had something to do with his incarceration, and her blooming relationship with Kesley, life at Madison High School still marched on, and that meant that the regional cheer competition loomed ever closer. Thankfully the squad had been practicing their new routine involving four flyers extensively. So despite how Raquel and Kelsey devised the routine only a few weeks ago, the squad was picking it up fast with all of the extensive practice, though Raquel and the other flyers had grown tired of being thrown in the air all day.
Raquel was thankful that most of the squad knew she wore diapers. She had never been as extensively manhandled as she was during these few weeks as her squad mates found numerous leverage points to toss her into the air and many more when they caught her coming down. They never said anything about it, but Raquel could tell from embarrassed faces when they had grabbed her diaper.
Raquel was somewhat relieved to be under this additional stress though. It was taking up so much of her time that she was hardly able to focus on anything else, it consumed all of her time and it was something she liked doing and spending her time on.
Tensions were becoming high as the squad had been practicing rigorously for a little over a month, and it was the last practice before they left for regionals that weekend. Despite the team’s overall good performance, the constant practice was starting to take a toll on the squad. They were either tired or irritable going in to this last practice. Raquel noticed this as she was about to start practice and felt similar herself.
“Let’s take today off guys,” Raquel said sensing the mood. “Rest up.” There was a collective sigh of relief as the squad quickly started filing out of the gym. Brittney approached Raquel who was sitting back going over last minute details.
“Do you think we’re ready?” Brittney asked. “I mean I hope so we’ve been working our asses off.”
“I don’t know,” Raquel said honestly. “I’ve never seen Emerald Beach or any of the other schools perform, but I think we’re looking pretty good.”
“Yeah we are,” Kelsey said sneaking up on Raquel and Brittney. “We’ve got this, don’t worry so much about it,” Kelsey said hugging Raquel and playfully rocking her back and forth. Raquel was thankful that the constant practice had resulted in a temporary truce between Brittney and Kelsey, had the truce not been there Raquel was sure the two of them would be attempting to chew each others heads off.
“You were right to take the day off though,” Brittney commented. “I think everyone is tired.”
“Yeah,” Kelsey said in agreement. “It’s not good to end on that kind of a note.”
“Wow look at you tow agreeing about something,” Raquel said tiredly.
“Don’t count on it lasting,” Brittney said under her breathe though Raquel and Kelsey both heard her clear enough. After a brief silence filled with awkward glares between Kelsey and Brittney, Raquel finished up what she was working on.
“Hey babe change me?” Raquel asked as she was putting her things in her backpack.
“Sure,” Kelsey responded looking around to make sure they were alone.
“I’ll go ahead and leave,” Brittney said not particularly wanting to stick around for that. “See you guys tomorrow.” With that Raquel and Kelsey made their way to the locker room. Raquel began digging through her backpack for her extra diaper she usually brought, but to her surprise Kelsey beat her to it taking one out of her purse.
“I keep one around just in case,” Kelsey said grinning. Raquel was genuinely touched at Kelsey’s consideration.
Kelsey changing Raquel had become something of a regular thing. For one it was practical, Raquel couldn’t tape them on herself very well, or at least not half as well as Kelsey could. Additionally it had become a way for the two of them to spend quality time together, similar to how Jennifer changing Raquel had become quality time for Raquel and her foster mother.
Raquel laid down on one of the benches without saying a word and Kelsey similarly started the changing process.
“Where did you get that?” Raquel asked referring to the pink colored diaper Kelsey had just placed under Raquel.
“I remembered one of the brands you liked and bought some to put in my car,” Kelsey said as she lifted Raquel’s ankles up to clean her with baby wipes that she also kept in her purse.
“So you’re just keeping all this stuff with you now?” Raquel asked cheekily.
“I don’t see you complaining,” Kelsey replied in a similar tone. “Alright up you go,” Kelsey said tapping Raquel’s diaper with her hand.
“I think you like doing this more than you’re letting on,” Raquel teased. Kelsey blushed confirming Raquel’s suspicion.
“It’s just nice spending time with you,” Kelsey said still embarrassed. “We’ve both been so caught up with practice it’s about the only time we have that’s just us.”
“I know how you feel,” Raquel said adjusting her skirt. “Even if other stuff is going on at least we’re together.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right,” Kelsey said throwing Raquel’s used diaper in the trash. The two of them sleepily made their way to Kelsey’s car not saying much else until they got inside of Kelsey’s car. “You know I don’t think I ever took you for ice cream.”
“What?” Raquel asked not knowing what Kelsey was referring to.
“You know that night you first let me change you and then we hung out and you’re closet.” They both blushed heavily at the mention of that.
“Yeah that was fun,” Raquel said with a sigh.
“Well I promised I would take you for ice cream and I never did.”
“So,”
“So let’s go now.”
“I should really get home,” Raquel reasoned.
“Come on you’ve been working hard for a whole month, we both have. We deserve a pick me up before regionals.”
“As long as it’s not too long,” Raquel said giving in. Kelsey giggled as she altered her route to the nearest ice cream parlor.
*****
It was early on a Saturday as Kelsey drove herself and Raquel to the school to meet the other cheer leaders for their drive to Emerald Beach Academy. Raquel was as awake as a high schooler on a Saturday morning, but Kelsey was awake enough for the both of them.
Despite Kelsey’s morning loving nature she was one of the last to arrive at the bus, having spent more time than she thought attempting to rouse Raquel from a deep slumber, and more time packing the last of Raquel’s things as she was too tired to do so competently herself. Kelsey parked her car next to the bus and popped the trunk. She quickly loaded her and Raquel’s bags in to the luggage compartment. In the time it took her to pack all of the bags Raquel had only managed to sheepishly put in one.
“Go lay down on the bus sweetie,” Kelsey whispered in Raquel’s ear. Just judging from the outside of the bus it seems Raquel wasn’t the only sleepy person there and Coach Miles seemed to have done most of the packing herself.
Kelsey parked her car and made her way on to the bus sitting next to Raquel who had already fallen back asleep.
As the trip continued Raquel grew more awake and Kelsey more asleep. Raquel began nervously looking at diagrams of the squads routines as the bus kept making its way toward emerald beach. After what seemed like an eternity, but was more accurately about two hours, the bus arrived at Emerald Beach Academy. The excitement of arrival was enough to stir the sleepy teenagers on the bus awake.
“Ok girls,” Coach Miles said standing up to address everyone. “We’re going to do a quick tour of the gym where we will be performing before we head off to the hotel. We’ve got 10 minutes to do some practice exercises on the court to get a feel for it. We’re not going to let the cat out of the bag during practice though, so keep the routines simple. Alright girls get to it.” With that Coach Miles began ushering the team off of the bus.
Raquel and several of the other new squad members were immediately taken aback by the size of Emerald Beach Academy. Unlike Madison, a public high school, Emerald Beach was a private boarding school, and it showed. The campus was massive and a technological marvel, and it was easy to tell that the students there knew it. They all walked with an air of sophistication and looked down on the cheer teams coming in. It was an intimidating environment, but thankfully Coach Miles kept everyone moving not really giving them time to be intimidated. The group showed up to the gymnasium, which was oddly small compared to everything else on campus. Though small at Emerald beach meant it was about the size of a normal high school gym.
Coach Miles had time it perfectly so that the squad right on time for their practice slot. They were lead to the nearby locker rooms to change. The normally large locker room had been portioned off into small sections so that more than one team could use it at once. This meant that given the small amount of stalls they had to work with the girls would have to partner up. Two or three of them changing in the same booth at the same time. Fortunately for Raquel and Kelsey, being in a relationship eased some of this awkwardness. Raquel and Kelsey found each other among their other squad mates and sneakily found a stall they could occupy together. Without much thought the two started changing quickly, and unlike most of the other girls, did it facing each other not bothered at all by the other seeing them naked.
“How you holding up?” Kelsey asked as she quickly threw her shirt off.
“I’m fine,” Raquel said calmly.
“It’s ok if you’re not,” Kelsey said plainly. “The place is a little intimidating.”
“Yeah it is,” Raquel said as she had just taken off the skirt she was wearing.
“How about this,” Kelsey said tapping Raquel’s diaper with a foot in an attempt to remain discreet so that the other teams wouldn’t find out about Raquel’s diapers.
“I only had one,” Raquel said vague enough that no one could interpret her real meaning. “It can wait until we get to the hotel."
“You’re probably right,” Kelsey agreed. She began dressing into her cheer uniform Raquel followed suit. “We shouldn’t be too long here anyway, just a quick routine and then we’re out of here. Probably won’t even change back.” Kelsey and Raquel packed their street clothes away in their bags and exited. Not being encumbered by awkwardness, they were the first in their squad to finish changing, but the others were not too far behind. They all gathered next to Raquel and Kelsey waiting for instruction.
“Ok guys,” Raquel began. “Let’s do this real quick. Number 27 from our old set and then we’re out of here.” The squad nodded in agreement and they left to perform their quick routine.
After the quick practice they were quickly ushered out so that the next team could have their practice. Raquel happily noted that just from watching the practice routines, she could tell that Madison High was one of the best teams at the competition, and this did a lot to ease her mind.
As they were leaving Raquel and Kelsey, who were bringing up the rear, were approached by a girl that looked to be about Kelsey’s age wearing an Emerald Beach Academy cheer uniform. Raquel couldn’t help but note that their uniform left their mid rift exposed and had a very short mini skirt, a stark contrast to Madison High’s fairly tame outfit.
“Wow what a shock,” One of the girls, spoke up. “I’m surprised you guys even showed up without Sarah Cooper around to carry you in her backpack.”
“Am I supposed to know you?” Raquel asked weirded out that a complete stranger was insulting her.
“That would be Allyson,” Kelsey informed Raquel angrily. “She is Emerald beach Academy’s head slut. Oh sorry I mean cheer leader. Hard to tell the difference with those outfits.”
“The nunnery called they want their 12th century modesty back,” Allyson replied. “Besides I think you should leave the trash talk up to the actual head cheer leaders. Being one for two days doesn’t count, and dating one doesn’t count either.” Kelsey sighed angrily.
“Only you would be vapid enough to pay attention to gossip from other schools,” Kelsey said trying to hide how much Allyson’s insults were getting to her.
“She’s just trying to get in your head,” Raquel whispered at Kelsey.
“What was that?” Allyson said yelling at Raquel. “Speak up I can’t hear you. Or is baby shy,” Allyson said making mocking baby noises at Raquel. Raquel knew this insult was coming. If Alyson somehow knew the details of her becoming captain then she probably knew about Raquel’s diapers as well. The ever familiar baby insult proved this.
“Wow you know I’ve never heard that one before,” Raquel said not following her own advice. “You should write it down its super original.”
“You know maybe it’s a good thing they have you guys dressed as mother Teresa,” Allyson continued. “It’s probably the only way they could keep the big baby’s diaper from flashing everyone.” Raquel and Kelsey both sighed. The constant egging on from Allyson was starting to make them angry and Allyson could tell. Before she could launch another round of verbal assaults at the two of them Brittney stepped in.
“Back off Allyson,” Brittney said fiercely shoving Allyson back from Raquel and Kelsey. Brittney’s mere presence seemed to anger Allyson.
“So you actually showed up,” Allyson said uncharacteristically quiet, she quickly regained her composure however. “Well I’ve beaten you at everything else, so it seems only fitting that I beat you at this too.”
“You can’t beat me at everything captain A cup,” Brittney said pointedly. She clearly knew how to hit Allyson where it hurt as she grew angrier at comment about her breast size.
“Why don’t you take your happy pills and shut up,” Allyson said also attempting to aim below the belt.
“I’m not doing this with you Ally,” Brittney said seriously. “Back off.”
“Fine,” Allyson said spitefully. “Glad to have you back on campus sis. Hopefully you won’t get back in to bad habits.” Brittney chose let that one go as Allyson and her cronies began walking the opposite direction down the hall.
“What the hell was that?” Raquel asked confused.
“That,” Brittney said with a sigh. “Was Allyson Cheng. Captain of Emerald Beach Academy Cheer Squad, and my sister.”
- - - Updated - - -
well here you go another chapter. I'm sorry if this one was a little uneventful, I had to shift gears into this "tournament arc" so I needed a bit to set it up which is what this chapter does. We're going to spend the next few chapters here before moving back to the other stuff. There isn't a lot of difference between this and the original. A minor but important difference is that Raquel and Kelsey changed together, and weren't being awkward about it. A sign of how far their relationship has come. I don't remember if she changed with Kelsey in the last one, but she definitely did it back to back and was awkward about it as you would expect. But here it's a moment to show how comfortable they have become with each other. Next time we'll dive a little deeper, and learn a little bit more about Brittney along the way. Hope you guys enjoyed it.