Everyone and their boyfriend crowded around the bulletin board on the hallway of Marvel High, even though the warning bell for the end of lunch had already rang. From the pretty girls who could not even keep a beat, to the loners who pretended not to care, everyone had shown. Natasha hung back, not allowing herself to get lost in the crush. The results of cheer squad try outs hadn't even been posted yet. Of course, football, baseball and soccer results would go up at the same time, but the only results that mattered were for cheer. That was where the power was. Marvel's sports teams were a joke, but the cheer squad had been repeatedly ranked among the best in the country.
Visible through the small pane of glass in his office door, Principal Fury was speaking earnestly with two students—Steve Rogers and Janet van Dyne. Janet would be Captain, everyone knew that, but Natasha didn't know why the transfer boy would be there. Maybe he was the football Captain. He looked big enough for it. Regardless, as soon as they finished, Natasha knew, the results would be posted. It was worth risking detention for. With so many late to class, she might even be pardoned.
Squeals started near the front of the crowd as Fury stood. He looked stern as always, but Natasha took no note of it. Counting the moments that Principal Fury looked pleased, that would be something worth doing. The noise died when he opened the door and looked around. His one eye sent a chill down even Natasha's spine. The ever-nebulous "they" said that he had lost it battling a tiger at the zoo, or fighting a bear in the nude, or perhaps it simply combusted from the force of his glare.
She could believe it.
Students shoved to get out of his way as he made his way to the bulletin board with a handful of sheets. One by one, he posted them up in neat rows. Then, glaring around once more, he returned to his office. The bulletin board shuddered as he slammed the door.
The gathered student held their collective breath, waiting to see if he would return. Natasha used the pause, slipping through tiny spaces to make her way to the front. Too many bodies pressed together made it difficult. She managed, twisting and turning to squeeze through even the smallest of gaps.
Then, the crush began again. Natasha stumbledas she was forced forward. Someone's elbow dug into her ribs, trying to force her back. She retaliated with a shove and a kick to the shins. The collective force of the pushing students slammed her forward, until her knees knocked against the wall. There were more sheets than last year — a new team? — but she could clearly make out the first-string roster.
Janet van Dyne — Co-Captain
Steve Rogers — Co-Captain
Wanda Lehnsherr
Pietro Lehnsherr
Natasha Romanov
Jean Grey
Jessica Drew
Sharon Carter
Ororo Munroe
Betsy Ross
She was in!
Wait. Her eyes skimmed down the list again.
Steve Rogers? Co-Captain? Natasha frowned, then jammed her fist backwards when someone shoved her. Time to worry about it after she was free. Squirming, she fought her way out of the crowd, using her elbows and knees as needed. Groans and whoops of delight filled the air. Stifling heat gave way to a breath of something slightly-less fetid. She straightened her skirt, brushing off imaginary dirt that had gotten on it.
"You look happy," a sour voice said behind her. "Guess you got in, huh?"
She turned, raising her eyebrows at the boy lurking along the edge of the mob. "Hello, Tony."
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2010-07-26 07:33 pm (UTC)Visible through the small pane of glass in his office door, Principal Fury was speaking earnestly with two students—Steve Rogers and Janet van Dyne. Janet would be Captain, everyone knew that, but Natasha didn't know why the transfer boy would be there. Maybe he was the football Captain. He looked big enough for it. Regardless, as soon as they finished, Natasha knew, the results would be posted. It was worth risking detention for. With so many late to class, she might even be pardoned.
Squeals started near the front of the crowd as Fury stood. He looked stern as always, but Natasha took no note of it. Counting the moments that Principal Fury looked pleased, that would be something worth doing. The noise died when he opened the door and looked around. His one eye sent a chill down even Natasha's spine. The ever-nebulous "they" said that he had lost it battling a tiger at the zoo, or fighting a bear in the nude, or perhaps it simply combusted from the force of his glare.
She could believe it.
Students shoved to get out of his way as he made his way to the bulletin board with a handful of sheets. One by one, he posted them up in neat rows. Then, glaring around once more, he returned to his office. The bulletin board shuddered as he slammed the door.
The gathered student held their collective breath, waiting to see if he would return. Natasha used the pause, slipping through tiny spaces to make her way to the front. Too many bodies pressed together made it difficult. She managed, twisting and turning to squeeze through even the smallest of gaps.
Then, the crush began again. Natasha stumbledas she was forced forward. Someone's elbow dug into her ribs, trying to force her back. She retaliated with a shove and a kick to the shins. The collective force of the pushing students slammed her forward, until her knees knocked against the wall. There were more sheets than last year — a new team? — but she could clearly make out the first-string roster.
She was in!
Wait. Her eyes skimmed down the list again.
Steve Rogers? Co-Captain? Natasha frowned, then jammed her fist backwards when someone shoved her. Time to worry about it after she was free. Squirming, she fought her way out of the crowd, using her elbows and knees as needed. Groans and whoops of delight filled the air. Stifling heat gave way to a breath of something slightly-less fetid. She straightened her skirt, brushing off imaginary dirt that had gotten on it.
"You look happy," a sour voice said behind her. "Guess you got in, huh?"
She turned, raising her eyebrows at the boy lurking along the edge of the mob. "Hello, Tony."