Jumping In

The brown-eyed boy placed his now-clean glasses back on his face. Noticing the song approaching the end, he decided to make a break for the bathrooms again. After that, he could lie low in the lobby for a while. Anything to keep out of the bullseye of Sienna's questions about her orders being completed.

Walking briskly, Newt emerged from his shadowy hiding spot to cross the necessary section of the ballroom. Unfortunately, his reappearance didn’t go unnoticed.

“I found him!” Kizzy yelled. She signaled to Beatrice, who hurried over to an older brunette.

A startled Newt attempted to speed up his pace, only to find his way blocked.

“Sorry, Newt. Miss Tarver has plans for you,” Zara revealed.

“What, who? Peyton?” Newt questioned in confusion.

“Ah, there you are. Well, c’mon, Newtie,” Keira ordered, grabbing her neighbor’s hand. “You didn’t think you could get away without at least one dance with your favorite babysitter, did you?”

The twenty-four-year-old dragged the **** teen onto the dance floor as a new song began to play. Searching desperately for a way out, Newt found none. Instead, the buxom brunette placed his hands on her sides before throwing her arms around his neck. Immediately, Newt’s eyes zeroed in on the extensive cleavage the dress showcased for her large breasts.

“Um, I, uh, don’t know how to, you know,” Newt muttered, giving it one last attempt.

“Doesn’t matter. It’s New Year’s Eve, Newt, and I expect a dance with one of my old kids. Sean’s injured and now gone, and JoJo’s vanished. That leaves you, buddy,” Keira grinned, patting his cheek. “Besides, Peyton issued an order for you to be found and made to dance.”

Hey, where did we go?
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playin' a new game
Laughin' and a-runnin', hey, hey
Skippin' and a-jumpin'
In the misty morning fog with
Our, our hearts a-thumping and you

“C’mon, Newt, sing!” Keira encouraged.

My brown-eyed girl
And you, my brown-eyed girl

While Newt stared with horror at the suggestion that he not only dance but sing, another brown-eyed girl **** a **** dance partner to let loose. Only this brunette had to dodge a clumsy pair of feet in the process.

"C'mon, Barn, enjoy yourself," Merritt coaxed.

“I’m trying,” Barney responded, concentrating intently on his footwork.

"You'd better. Mrs. Stratton might have left, but we're here to ensure you fulfill her wishes," Merritt revealed.

“But I’ve already danced with three different girls,” Barney pointed out, mentioning the number that Rachel had insisted on. “Poppy even tricked Emily and me.”

“And she was right to. You and Emily make a sweet pair,” Merry declared, flashing a happy smile. “However, that’s for the new year. Tonight, you’re dancing with as many girls as possible. We’re going to triple, if not quintuple Mrs. Stratton’s target number.”

“But why?!” Barney whined.

“Peyton’s orders,” Merritt explained. “Prissy, Harper, AJ, Kiki, Zaylie, and Jamie-Lynn are all lined up. Peyton even plans a dance if she can find the time. Oh, and don’t kill anybody when you and Steph let loose.”

“All of them?” Barney questioned, gulping at the number and Merry’s laugh about a Stephanie and Barney combination.

“All of them…and maybe more,” Merry teased, raising her hand and singing along to the song’s chorus.

My brown-eyed girl
You, my brown-eyed girl

Do you remember when we used to sing?
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la tee-da
Just like that
Sha-la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la, la-la tee-da, la-tee-da

While Keira played marionettist with Newt as her puppet and Merry avoided Barney’s unlucky feet, another girl warily danced with a clumsy guy. Only this girl had blue eyes behind her glasses and fulfilled a promise from earlier in the night.

“Having a good night, Will?” Daisy inquired.

“It’s alright,” Winkie replied, shrugging his shoulders.

The inquisitive people-watcher could tell that her klutzy classmate had more than one thing on his mind, weighing him down. An obvious one came from trying not to trip and fall or trip Daisy. The dirty blonde suspected several other issues.

“Sorry if I’m not Ramsey,” the junior journalist apologized. “Her mom sent her to her room. You get a raincheck.”

She'd offered Will a dance as payment for tailing Daphne Garrow up to her meeting earlier in the night. In case she couldn't meet that obligation, Daisy had offered her fellow reporter as a potential substitute. And Winkie's expression at the possible future hadn't gone unnoticed.

“Wha? I’m fine dancing with you, Daisy. More than fine!” Will reassured hastily. “I just, um, thought that Ramsey was only an option if Evan didn’t want you dancing with another guy. He is okay with this, right?”

The sudden concern from the football team's kicker and punter made Daisy smile slightly. Will always worried about others before himself.

“Let’s just say Evan isn’t thrilled with a lot of things tonight. I’ve been busy all night with Bee business,” Daisy clarified. “And you should really ask Yumi to dance, Will. Tonight is the perfect time.”

“Yumi?! Why would I want to ask her? Hahaha,” Winkie asked, chuckling nervously.

“I’m a reporter, Will. I know.” Daisy omitted that everyone in school knew about his crush on Yumi. Well, everyone except the innocent cheerleader. “Oops, sorry.”

The apology came because talking about Yumi caused Winkie’s coordination to fail, sending him tumbling to the floor.

---

Harley finished washing her hands before checking the reason for all the notifications. Of course, the bulk of the messages came from Kizzy. Her best friend's texts laid out a tale of searching for Newt Denton at the request of Peyton until they found him. Recalling Peyton's order to have fun, Harley exited the bathroom intending to try.

“Are you planning to avoid me all night?”

Momentarily startled, Harley turned to face the older redhead, who’d clearly been waiting outside the bathroom for her.

“Oh, it’s you,” the teenager acknowledged.

“You? This has gone on long enough, Harley. It’s past time to remember that I’m your mother,” Gemma stated, impatience written all over her face. “You’re a Harlow beside a Peel. And I think it’s clear that you’ve suffered without my guidance these last few years.”

“Guidance? Kinda hard to be guided from all the way down in Blackbridge, isn’t it?” the usually shy teen pointed out.

“You could’ve visited if you wanted.”

“I’d say the same, but Dad got granted full custody,” Harley responded.

“That judge was an imbecile! Besides, I’ve attempted to schedule visits, but your father is giving me the run-around,” Gemma explained, already seething about the topic.

“That’s not on Dad. I’m the one who doesn’t want to see you. The same goes for custody. The judge asked who I wanted to be with, and you weren’t even a consideration.”

"And what does my absence lead to? My little girl running around and playing nursemaid to that slut's son. Don't think I haven't noticed where and who you've been with tonight. I never imagined my own daughter would stab me in the back."

“Funny. I wonder if that pain is close to what Dad feels after you stabbed him in the heart,” Harley attacked. However, she wasn’t a fighter like her mother, so she glanced past her in the hopes of help arriving.

“Your little boss isn’t coming to your rescue,” Gemma revealed, understanding the glance fully. “She’s off running lackey errands for Bridget’s daughter and mother. It’s so embarrassing.”

“No, what’s embarrassing is your showing up tonight, Mother. This is about Dr. Tarver’s friend,” Harley noted. “And Kizzy isn’t my boss. She’s my best friend.”

“I wouldn’t count on loyalty from her. Keep in mind that I know her parents,” Gemma reminded. “Kizzy will replace you just like McKenzie did with her husband. Still, trading in one brother for the other is pretty ballsy. Not that I blame her. Brock wasn’t–”

“Eww! I don’t need to hear again about the time you hooked up with Kizzy’s dad. Just stop!”

“Fine. Let’s talk about ‘the doctor.’ So that’s what you’re calling her these days? More like Dr. Whore. I bet she’s already on her knees in front of Harvey,” Gemma speculated.

“Ugh! Why do…You’re just the worst, Mom! Bridget has always been kind to me and Dad. She actually cares about my well-being, unlike you. All you care about is how I look as your daughter.”

“Ah, is that the plan? I see. So, are you planning to play matchmaker for your father and Bridget? Make her your new mommy. Or is it to spread your legs for her kid so she can be your mommy-in-law? The latter is probably the better plan. If your father couldn’t keep me from getting bored, I doubt that bitch will be satisfied,” Gemma declared with a smirk.

“Gawd, just let it go,” Harley said softly. “So Bridget won the star quarterback over you in high school. Big flipping deal. Just move on with your life.”

“You know it’s more than just about Coy, Harley. And that role model you see is the same slut that Coy caught cheating with the basketball team. I wouldn’t have wasted him.”

“No, you’d rather humiliate me and Dad. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to be your daughter in Honey Hollow? I’ve been picked on for years. Ever since puberty, boys think I’m going to be easy because I’m Gemma Harlow’s daughter. If it wasn’t for Kizzy, I don’t think I could’ve–”

“How dare you call me an embarrassment! You should consider yourself lucky for being my daughter. And I think it’s past time that you start showing me respect,” Gemma proclaimed.

“Seems pretty hard to do when you don’t deserve any,” a new voice interrupted.

Spinning around, Gemma didn’t find the teenager she expected. Instead, her gaze settled on another ungrateful daughter in her mind.

“Ah, if it isn’t Valentina’s little black sheep,” Gemma said sarcastically. “Keep moving, turnskirt. This doesn’t concern you.”

Caterina chuckled at the cheer and dance team's term for a turncoat. She’d heard that slur a fair amount over the last few years. Not that she minded at all. If anything, she wore that badge with honor.

"I prefer to stay, as this does concern me," Cat declared, stepping in front of Harley. "Not only do I understand mother and daughter differences of opinions, but Harley is my little cheersister. Us cheersluts do take that role seriously, dance cunt."

“How dare you speak to me that way? Wait until Val hears about her rude, meddling–”

“I couldn’t care less what my mom thinks. I’m not her mini-me. I’m my own person,” Cat proclaimed. She cocked her head to the side as a challenge that she knew Gemma would know. “The same goes for Harley.”

“I must have been a fool to think you’d be a good influence on Harley. I’d hoped you’d loosen her up a bit. Why? Because we both know what kind of a girl you are, Caterina. We recognize our own, don’t we?” Gemma questioned. “We know a girl that gets any man she wants; anyway, she knows how.”

“Oh, I will admit to thinking Harley could be a fun cheersister to introduce to boys. I mainly agreed to mentor her as a favor to my mother. You see? Sometimes, even I can be a sweet daughter. However, I realized that Harley isn’t like me. Helping turn her into a wild girl would be wrong, almost as wrong as doing the same to Yumi. Unlike you, I’m a better person,” Cat declared.

Behind the bottle blonde co-captain, Harley wondered what the hell happened to Caterina. All her big cheersister ever did was bitch about how boring Harley turned out to be. She’d called her frustrating, a disappointment, and a ball and chain burden she’d gotten because of her mother’s request. Yet, Cat stood here saying the opposite.

"Keep dreaming, turnskirt. We both know you're no better than me," Gemma remarked.

“It’s so strange how obsessed you dancers are with the appearance of betrayal. None of us call Delilah a traitor. We all understand that she’s a hell of a dancer and wouldn’t be happy as a cheerleader. Isn’t that a prime example of my being better than you?” Caterina queried.

Caterina could tell she had struck some sort of a nerve as Gemma's face reddened. She also saw the next move coming. So the cheerleader stepped to her left simultaneously to match the older woman.

“Out of my way, brat! My daughter needs some sense talked into her,” Gemma roared.

Rather than follow her elder’s order, Caterina’s palm landed on Gemma’s abundant chest and shoved. The push sent her staggering backward several steps.

"I wouldn't try anything, Ms. Harlow. Patience has run out at this party. The next public display of drama will likely land that person's ass on the sidewalk. And I hear the sidewalks are deadly right now for the combination of high heels and ice," Caterina warned. "And if Mrs. Tarver is banging Mr. Diamond, then I bet his best friend won't have any qualms about tossing your ass out into the storm."

Continuing to seeth, Gemma struggled to come up with a comeback that didn’t sound like one a petulant teenager would make. By the time she’d thought one up, Cat had already pulled her daughter past her.

"C'mon, Harls. Roxie caught a glimpse of the playlist. You're about to witness a mortifying treat," Cat grumbled.

Neither girl noticed Newt scurry past them while fleeing the ballroom.

---

While Gemma's bitterness and undying hatred continued strong past the midnight hour, her fellow Sugarbees and cheerleaders had mellowed as the night wore on. A mixture of earlier fights, sad and happy memories of Cassie, ****, and music livened the atmosphere.

“And next up is a special song that Rachel wanted just for Felicity and Yumi Nakano. Let’s get those feet hopping, ladies,” the DJ announced.

Cordelia swung around in time to see Didi palm her face. Carmella threw her hand up in a what-can-you-do? sort of a way.

“You did start the tradition,” the former dance captain reminded.

“It was supposed to be a punishment and a joke,” Didi sighed.

“Fliss never saw it that way,” Carmella pointed out needlessly.

During their senior year, Carmella had agreed to Didi's suggestion about punishing several of their squadmates with a singing performance. Always obsessed with coming across as a sophisticated, stylish young woman, Danika Huskova hated the punishment. Strangely, Felicity had loved it and continued to love it. She'd even conned Naomi Fitch into taking over Danika's role the following year, sparking a tradition. And now, Felicity's daughter had replaced Naomi.

Maura and Shayla alerted their other ex-cheerleader friends to gather around. Some of the older ones, such as Shelly and Cookie, didn’t quite understand the tradition, but they still found it entertaining. Having become close friends with Naomi since high school, Maura and the ex-Sugarbee had even performed a similar version of the performance but with a different song, much to the cringing embarrassment of their children over in Arbor Corners.

Miranda noticed Maura and Shayla pulling their phones out. “Are you girls calling Tinny?”

“I am,” Shayla confirmed.

“I’m going to record it. Haley and Zita are going to regret having to miss tonight,” Maura said.

“Oh, good call!” Lemon squealed, rushing over. “We should make a compilation of tonight’s greatest hits and send it to them.”

“Ohmigawd!” Kizzy squealed, waving Harley over as Yumi and her mom stood back to back.

You should know, you should know better
Kris Kross is not having anything today
As we stand there totally krossed out

We commence to make ya (Jump jump)
The Mac Dad 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Our Daddy Mac 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Kris Kross 'ill make ya (Jump jump)

"This is so embarrassing, yet so Yumi," Kaitlin laughed as Cat joined her and Roxie. They watched as the mother-and-daughter duo jumped in the air with each "Jump Jump" line in the song. It turned out to be pretty impressive as they did so with their heels still on. The scene felt more surreal as most people wouldn't know they were mother and daughter based on looks, as Yumi took after her father in physical appearance. Yet, when it came to personalities, Felicity's ditzy, bubbly blonde demeanor lived strongly in her daughter.

“Don't try to compare us to another bad little fad,” Yumi began, stepping away from her mom. The sweet, lovable cheerleader could give Rory a run for her money in stage presence as she strutted around with a hardness to her body language. “I'm the Mac and I'm bad, give ya something that you never had.”

I'll make ya rump rump wiggle and shake your rump
'Cause I'll be kicking the flavor that makes you wanna (Jump)
How high? Real high, 'cause I'm just so fly
A young loveable, hugable type of guy
And everything is to the back with a little slack
'Cause inside-out is wiggida wiggida wack

“Are you getting this?” Carmella questioned Cordelia, who’d also pulled out her phone.

“Hell yeah! We are so flooding all of Danika’s social media accounts with this,” Cordelia vowed.

“Serves her right for skipping Cassie’s big night,” Didi said, showing a rare moment of compassion.

“We’re so going to mock Dani for getting shown up by little Yumi,” Carmella laughed.

“Oh, shit! Talissa just sent me a message. She’s watching right now! Naomi’s live streaming it,” Nadia Doig revealed, joining her old dancemates.

“Here comes Fliss’s part,” Cordelia announced.

"I let myself knockin' (knockin'). I love it when a girl is play jockin' (jockin')," Felicity rapped, using a tall glass as a fake microphone. "The D-A-double D-Y-M-A-C (yeah, you know me)."

I got ya jumpin' an' pumpin' and pumpin', movin' all around, G
In the mix I make ya take a step back
They try to step to the Mac, then they got jacked
To the back you'll be sportin' the gears, that coincidental?
And like you know it, so don't be claiming that it's mental

“Two lil' kids with a flow you ain't ever heard,” Felicity continued while her old classmates chanted her name. “And none faking you can understand every word.

As you listen to my cool school melody. The Daddy makes you J-U-M-P (Jump jump)”

The Mac Dad 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Our Daddy Mac 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Kris Kross 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Uh huh, uh huh (Jump jump)

The Mac Dad 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Our Daddy Mac 'ill make ya (Jump jump)
Kris Kross 'ill make ya (Jump jump)

A circle had formed around the Nakanos. As a performance featuring a former Sugarbee and a current cheerleader, every side of the forever feud felt obligated to join. All around them, girls and women took off their heels to jump along with the mother and daughter. Not everyone did, and they found out they'd screwed up the hard way.

“Dammit, don’t break your neck, Jas!” Bianca yelled as Jasmine broke a heel after landing on it awkwardly.

“Now, the formalities of this and that. Is that Kris Kross ain't comin' off wack,” Yumi rapped, taking over the lead again. At first, she crossed her arms while performing.

“And for all ya'll suckers that don't know, check it out.”

Suddenly, Yumi uncrossed her arms before she started high-stepping around while pointing at the crowd members.

Some of them try to rhyme, but they can't rhyme like this (Go go)
Some of them try to rhyme, but they can't rhyme like this (Go go)
Some of them try to rhyme, but they can't rhyme like this (Go go)
Some of them try to rhyme, but they can't (Go go)

"Go, Yumi, go!" chants broke out among the Babybees before spreading among the varsity cheerleaders, then through the Sugarbees.

'Cause I'm the miggida miggida miggida miggida Mac Daddy (Ho ho)
The miggida miggida miggida miggida Mac (Ho ho)
'Cause I'm the miggida miggida miggida miggida Mac Daddy (Ho ho)
The miggida miggida miggida miggida Mac (Ho ho)
I make ya wanna (Jump jump)

An imaginary mic drop ended Yumi's performance. Naomi slid in for old times' sake to help Felicity with the final choruses. At the same time, much of the younger crowd jumped up and down in conjunction with the song.

"This is so going on our vlog," Sanna yelled at her sister.

“Get a shot of Fletcher jumping with his body up against Bianca!” Serinda ordered.

With the song finished, Yumi collapsed onto a chair while her friends rushed over to congratulate her on the boisterous performance.

“We are so coming up with something like that for the Beal and Peel Team!” Kizzy announced, pointing at Harley.

Nearby, Daisy read a message on her phone and rolled her eyes in exasperation. Evan caught up to his girlfriend when she started to leave the ballroom.

“I thought we were going to dance for a while.”

“Sorry, Ev. I gotta go.”

“More Buzzy Bee stuff?” Evan whined.

“More like big sister stuff,” Daisy replied, but she didn’t elaborate before walking away.

Over by the moms’ generation, Felicity got mobbed by dancers and cheerleaders. In the lull between songs, a voice could be heard bitching over a phone.

“Dammit, Ned, I should be there doing shit like that. Cassie deserved an encore of 'It’s Tinny!'”