Page 19 of Finding Answers For Confused Succubi

I know I should be focusing on how that could have potential answers for me, but that's not where my mind's going.Something about the idea of spending time with him makes me giddy and nervous all at the same time.I certainly don't think of him the same way I think of my other friends.

"Earth to Mandy," Evie sing-songs."You know you can't zone out like that or Zara will make you do star jumps in punishment or something."

"Don't jinx it, she still hasn't forgiven me for the whole wing fiasco.I'm lucky I'm still part of the squad."I grimace as I think about the slip-up in the last round of our cheer competition.I certainly haven't forgiven myself for it yet, even if I know it wasn't totally my fault, so I don't blame Zara for still being mad either.

"You're still part of the squad because you're a good cheerleader," Evie points out."And it wasn't even your fault you nearly fell."

"Yeah, if only my wings had behaved," I mutter.

"At least Grace was there to make sure we didn't lose too many points," Evie responds."I don't know what we'd have done without that."

"Don't remind me."I look over to where the blonde pixie is leaning in to kiss her boyfriend's cheek.

"I swear I should have just asked you if they were sleeping together," Evie says as she follows my gaze.

"They weren't," I answer without thinking."At least not before they announced they were together.Now they are."

"You can tell?"

"Yeah.Don't ask me for a nuanced reading, because I don't think that will work."Especially because I try my bestnotto think about that kind of thing."But I could tell they were physically attracted to each other before our last competition, but it changed after that."

"But you can't tell why?"

I shrug."I assume because they did something about it.That changes the way it feels, and I'd only know if they'd acted on it if it was a recent thing."

"Huh, interesting."

"Maybe."I grab my water bottle from the bench on the side and take a sip."It might surprise you to know that I don't spend much timetryingto tell what's going on."

"Fair."

"I went to the cupid clinic like you suggested," I tell her.

"Fall in line, everyone!"Zara shouts before Evie can respond.

"Guess that's our cue," my best friend murmurs.

I shake my head and make my way into part of the line of other cheerleaders.

"Did they help?"Evie asks as she comes to stand beside me.

"Not yet, but that's partly my fault.I did say I'd meet him for coffee after practice."

Evie raises an eyebrow even as she starts doing the stretches Zara calls out."Coffee?"

"Yeah, so it turns out the guy from my psychology study group is one of the cupids giving the session."

"Chocolate raisin guy?"She gives me a knowing look.

I let out a laugh, though it's cut short by my harsher breathing thanks to the jumps I'm doing."Is that what we're calling him now?"

"I don't know his name," Evie points out."You keep calling him the guy from your study group."

"Oh, right.It's Darius."A small smile tugs at my lips as I say his name.

"Darius the cupid?Sounds intriguing."

Zara continues to shout out stretches, and we move ourselves into the various positions.It's kind of impressive we're able to hold a conversation while doing this, but I guess that's probably just because most of us have years of training behind us.There's no doubt that Zara overworks us, or that she can be harsh, but we're here because we love the sport.