BRING IT ON: And By That I Mean Missy and Torrance's Relationship

I’m going to be honest with you all: this is a theory I’ve had in my little queer brain for a long time. A few days ago, I mentioned writing this piece on my Instagram story, and y’all were CLAMORING for this erotic fan fiction I’ve been crafting in my head for years. And well, sometimes, you have to give the people exactly what they want. 

As I always mention with movies from this time period, there are jokes I absolutely don’t condone. There are several homophobic jokes, and Eliza Dushku says the f word (not fuck, obviously). 

Funnily enough, let’s now talk about the staggering evidence towards Missy being in love with Torrance and why Missy and Torrance should have ended up together in Bring It On. 

My first piece of evidence is that Eliza Dushku also played Faith in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you don’t see how this is relevant, I’m so sorry to tell you that you’re more than likely straight. Moving on. 

It’s clear from the beginning that Missy has a giant crush on Torrance. Let’s take the scene where Torrance says she’s gonna kick Missy’s ass, for example. The look Missy gives her is one of THE HOTTEST looks I’ve ever seen one human being give another. You could cut that tension with a spork from Taco Bell - it’s that smooth and plentiful. 

Next up, we have the scene where the Clovers confront Missy and Torrance in the parking lot. What does Missy do? She stands in front of Torrance and not only puts a protective hand on Torrance’s shoulder, but SENSUALLY BRUSHES IT DOWN HER SHOULDER. 

Look it up. That’s a real scene. It’s not just wishful thinking on my part. 

After Torrance finds out the Toros have been stealing from the Clovers the entire time, she holds a team vote on whether or not the Toros should choreograph a new routine for competition. Naturally, the team votes no because there’s not enough time, and Missy and Torrance share a look with one another that you could only share with a lover (or, at the very least, the girl you’re finger blasting after cheer practice), and Missy gives in to going with their regularly scheduled routine. 

Later on, in every queer girl’s nightmare, Torrance begins to like Missy’s brother, Cliff. Missy invites Torrance over to spend the night (c’mon, Tor), and on the way to the bathroom, Torrance walks past Cliff’s room. She stops to watch him jamming out on his guitar (eye roll), and Missy seems genuinely hurt when she goes to find Torrance, only to find Torrance somehow more entranced by Cliff than ELIZA DUSHKU (sorry Jesse Bradford, but I said what I said). 

Torrance and Cliff have a weird moment of flirting in the bathroom where they each take a turn spitting their toothpaste into the sink (Is this normal for the straights?) and Torrance heads back to Missy’s room. Missy is lying in bed, turned away from Torrance, and looks as though Phoebe Bridgers is playing in her mind. She’s clearly upset, and she rolls over to ask Torrance if she’s into Cliff. It’s obvious she’s not okay with it, and we feel for her. 

Okay, now, we’re on to one of the biggest pieces of evidence to support my theory. Torrance and Cliff are about to kiss when…MISSY COMES OUTSIDE. We see earlier that their kitchen windows have a full view of their backyard. Torrance and Cliff are in the backyard. You’re sincerely telling me Missy didn’t come outside on purpose? Sure, Jan. 

As the movie progresses, Missy becomes more and more of a wonderful, supportive girlfriend. While Cliff tries to yell hello to Torrance while she’s trying to find out the fate of the Toros and talking to a member of the goddamn cheer association, Missy tells him to stop it, and she just waits in the wings to give Torrance her space (queen). 

She is continuously supportive while Cliff is continuously more obnoxious, and don’t even get me started on Aaron. JFC. 

However, there comes a time when you realize you have to make the ultimate queer girl who likes a straight girl sacrifice (this honestly goes for anytime you have a crush on someone but know they like someone else), and Missy tells her brother Torrance is into him, and he needs to stop being a jackass. She even comforts Torrance at Nationals, telling her, “My brother is an idiot,” after Cliff and Torrance have their big, quintessential fallout. 

In their hotel room, Torrance goes so far as to tell Missy, “Thank God you were here this season,” and I have never wanted two characters to kiss so badly in my entire life. But alas, Torrance is into Cliff, and Missy knows she has to respect it. Cliff and Torrance end up together (gag), but we all know in our hearts Missy and Torrance should have cheered off into the sunset together. 

Why? Missy challenges Torrance because Torrance needed to grow out of her comfort zone. Missy also is supportive and understands when to just let Torrance work through things on her own. She’s willing to protect Torrance when she needs to, but she also knows when to let her get things done on her own. Would Torrance have probably been a pillow princess? Yes, but Missy wouldn’t have cared. There could’ve even been a whole sequel that crosses over with But I’m a Cheerleader. 

Let me have this queer cheerleader MCU, goddamn it. 

As iconic as Bring It On is in its current iteration, imagine how much better it could’ve been if Missy and Torrance got together. Imagine if this wasn’t just queer, erotic fan fiction I wrote that sounds like something you’d dig up on Tumblr circa 2011, but instead was the actual screenplay. And yes, I realize I’m basically just describing Jennifer’s Body sans succubus, but what’s wrong with that? 

When it comes to fan conspiracy theories, including Missy being in love with Torrance, I have but one mantra: Be aggressive, Be-e aggressive (and I can assure you, Missy would be).