Julie gently knocked on the door to the gym teacher's office. "Mr. Cooper? I'm here for my cheerleading tryout."
"Come in," said Mr. Cooper, looking up from his desk. He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and an old t-shirt that had once been white. His hair was mussed and there were bags under his eyes. He looked like he hadn't slept in days.
Julie came into the room and stood next to him. There was a large poster on the wall behind him with a bunch of pictures of the cheerleaders. Looking at the poster with a deep longing, Julie thought about how good it would feel to be one of them. To have everyone look at you as if you were the most beautiful thing in the world.
Mr. Cooper looked over at her. Julie was an 18 year old who looked like she should still be in high school. Her dark brown hair hung limply around her shoulders. She was petite and thin, with big, sad brown eyes. The only thing that made her stand out was the fact that her entire body shook with a nervous energy that seemed to vibrate through her. Her hands, hips and breasts looked like they were vibrating.
"I'm sorry, Miss...?" Mr. Cooper asked.
"Oh, uh, Julie. Julie Laughlin."
"And why do you want to be a cheerleader, Julie?"
"Well, I guess because..." Julie stammered. "Because they're really pretty and they make me feel good about myself. And I've always wanted to be a cheerleader!"
Mr. Cooper nodded sympathetically. "Do you think you can handle the physical demands of being a cheerleader?"
Julie paused for a moment. She knew that this was what people called the 'truth' question. She didn't know how to answer it.
"Uhh... Like...?"
"Cheerleaders should be able to do a perfect split, handstand, and cartwheel," Mr. Cooper said.
"Yes sir! Yes, I can do those things!"
"Are you sure? Because it's not just the physical stuff that we need. We also need to be team players, and to work well with others."
"Yes sir! I can do that too!"
"All right then. I'd love to see you next year."
"What?!"
"Unfortunately, we are out of uniforms, you see. The leotards especially are rare, and a vital part of the uniform. But we'll see you next year. Don't worry."
"But... but..."
Julie felt like she was going to cry. Tears began streaming down her cheeks. "No! No, I can't wait that long!"
"It's okay, Julie," Mr. Cooper said kindly. "It's just that the leotards are so hard to come by. Some of the girls even wear them by themselves, without the skirt and top. They call it a 'leo.' It's a very popular fashion trend these days."
Julie's heart sank. "What if I get a replacement? Maybe someone will donate one?"
Mr. Cooper shook his head. "I'm afraid not. The cheerleaders don't usually ever give up their own uniforms. But if you can find one, I'll love to see you try out this year.
Mr. Cooper gave Julie a spare top. The top looked incredibly small, even though it was supposed to be for a D Cup like Julie. It had a scoop neck and the sides were cut low enough to show off her ample cleavage. The bottom was a simple halter-style, but the material was so sheer that Julie could see the color of her finger poking through.
Biting her lip, Julie got an idea. She HAD to be on the cheer team this year.
***
Julie walked into school the following day wearing what looked like a perfect copy of the cheerleader's outfit. Her top was official, but her skirt was just one she found in her closet. The leotard she wore underneath was a stunning blue, and looked thin enough to melt into her skin.
However, nobody knew that Julie wasn't wearing a leotard.
Julie couldn't find a leotard that fit like the official one, but she did own a tub of body paint. Using a brush, she painted her body. She started with the bottoms, painting the ankles, calves, thighs, and hips. Then the rest of her body was covered in a shimmering silver-blue pattern that resembled a starry sky.
Julie couldn't wear any underwear, but as long as the paint held, it would be ok. Julie put the dread that she was walking into school commando out of her mind. With a breath, she stepped in the building, ready to get through the day and make it to tryouts.