Normie Problems

(Cotton’s PoV)

People think cheerleaders are just dumb, bubbly bimbos. Snobby girls using their bodies to enforce social order. They under estimate the work and talent it takes to be beautiful, appear dumb, and enforce order. The iron behind the velvet mask.

Take something as simple as the upcoming tryouts. A naive girl would show up and do her best, hoping the judges like her. That might get her a spot on the team. A queen knows that tryouts are a first-strike opportunity. I don’t want just any spot on the team. They should want me.

Maria's message said. 'A freshman who can tumble and work the crowd could make varsity.' I don’t want to just make Varsity. I want to anchor Varsity.

Daddy always said "Know yourself, know your enemy, know victory." I've been reviewing the teams footage from every game and competition for the last three years. Every lift, every tumble, every dance. Every mistake. Especially the mistakes of the lead seniors.

My routine will not only show how good I am, but specifically how much better I am than Maya, Mariana, and Hannah. Time for some good old fashioned face slapping. It’ll be like those rich young masters from those stupid Cultivation stories Rita had me read. Stupid, but ambitious. Gotta admire their ambition.

5 am means training time. Today, I practice the moves in question. My strength and flexibility feel better than ever. I'm worried about my back flip. It's hard to stick, like I'm spinning slower. Must be my added height and top-heaviness. *Curse you boobies!* Maybe there's a Perk that can help.

Name: Cotton
Surname: Newman
Gender: Female
Age: 18
Level: 5
Class: Big Boob Bully

Perks: Regret I

Reading I
Beauty I
Charisma I
Cunning I
Physical Presence I
Acrobatics I
Fellatio I
Authority

Perk Points: 1

You bought the Acrobatics I perk for 1 point.

Acrobatic I: Become lighter on your feet and better able to balance and navigate when your feet are in the air.

A bit more practice: Flips fixed! I love Life Quest! What's this? A Character Editor?

Character Editor

Height: 177 cm
Weight: 70 kg
B/W/H: 94E/65/98
Hair>
Face >
Skin >
Body Type: Athletic, hourglass
Proportions: Long-Torso
Strength: B
Endurance: B
Flexibility: S
Balance: A
Constitution: B

Well, that's interesting. I have two points to spend. Considering Physical Presence I I need to be 'physically outstanding'. Hmm, taller, stronger or bustier? Before Life Quest, I would worry that any of those would compromise my acrobatic ability. Now, I can depend on the Perk magic to make it all work.

Taller is better to command a room. Stronger will help me perform, but not posture, so that's out. Bustier leans into my class.

How much do they cost?

Height 177 -> 182 = 2 Character Editor Points

B/W/H 94E/65/98 -> 94F/65/98 = 2 Character Editor Points

So expensive! I have to pick one.

Taller first.

You have initiated a Character Editor quest. Choose one:

• Increase caloric intake by 20% for 5 days
• Create 5 high-energy passive-aggressive incidents at tryouts
• Deliver 5 backhanded compliments at tryouts

Reward: 5 cm of height

Create 5 high-energy passive-aggressive incidents

Eating more would be easy, but this seems more fun. I’ll take my Big Cotton Energy to the tryouts and make the other girls struggle to keep up.

“Young Miss, your post/training snack is ready.” Annabelle places a tray on the table set up besides my practice mat. She retreats to stand besides the seat with a towel, ready to massage my sore muscles.

“Thank you, Annabelle.” She always brings more than I can eat. Annabella begins her massage of my thighs. “You’re too good to me.”

“Only the best for the Young Miss.” As it should be.

I relax into her capable hands while enjoying the breakfast burrito. It’s still warm.

Bzzzt! Bzzzt! Bzzt!

Who’s calling me this early? My phone should be on Do Not Disturb. Rita’s goofy pose greets me on the screen. She’s never up this early. If John did something dumb, I’ll poison his lunch.

“Hey Rita girl!”

“Bwwwwaaahaha! Cotton you have to help me! June won’t talk to me!” Rita’s crying. It feels more like drama than distress. Probably not John’s fault. Glad I won’t have to poison him. Mat would be upset with me.

“It’s too early for all this drama. I said leave me out of your riajuu problems.” June’s tired voice can be heard in the background. thwump was that a pillow? “Take your noise outside so I can sleep.”

“Bwahahaha! See? June’s being mean to me!”

“Rita? Do you know what time it is?” I ask.

“It’s Sunday morning! We should be having omlettes and mimosas.”

“One, I’m 18, I can’t drink. Two, it’s 7 am. Brunch is in 4 hours.”

“I’m hungry now! And I need to drown my sorrows!”

“I need to sleep!” Thwump. Another pillow. “Go out to the common room and leave me alone!”

“Let the poor girl sleep, Rita. I’ll be by to pick you up. We can go to my place and talk. Tell June she can come as well. There will be food for her.”

I look over at Annabelle, attentive as always. I tell her call Muriel and head home to prepare breakfast for 3, mimosas for 2.

Time to support my senpai. Uggh I can’t believe I’m using her weeb words.

Rita and June are waiting by the street when I pull up. My driver opens the door to let them in. The two girls are polar opposites. Rita with her makeup done and star shaped glittery stickers on her face. She’s wearing a cropped hoodie that bares her midriff and some dolphin shorts that hugs her wide hips. June is wearing an oversized hoodie and I assume shorts under it.

Rita charges across the car to hug me, babbling something about never drinking again. Not sure how that works considering she asked for mimosas.

June awkwardly sits by the door, looking around uncomfortably. She puts her hood up and looks out the window.

I say nothing, just holding Rita while she spirals. I’ll talk to her once she gets some food in front of her.

During the ride I piece together the story. She was nervous and the wine kept coming. She drank too much and passed out in John’s guest bed. She woke up next to him and ran away. The end.

I have to admire John’s commitment to Rita, he stayed with her when Mat and Maria were upstairs. I’m glad I didn’t poison him.

Some pampering and girl time will have Rita right as rain.