Yeah… so this isn't a legit update. Sorry. I just wanted to explain why the story hasn't updated since May 23rd, especially considering I was planning on finishing it up over the summer so that I could then write one shots about the characters. Unfortunately, I got a new laptop at graduation in June and I wasn't able to install Word on it until late August, so there went my plans of writing during the summer. In August, I started my first semester as a freshman at a state university (and I'm loving it), so not only did I lose a lot of my free time, but a lot of my inspiration – most of the events of the story were based on my observations of various dramas in the band (such as lesbian color guard members, sudden breakups and hookups, and making out with best friends, all of which I can gladly say did not happen to me).
I've been working on quick one-shots though, and have one written from Noah's point of view… well it's mostly finished. I also have one that has absolutely nothing to do with the characters from this story, but I thought it was pretty good, that I wrote in Intro to Fiction when we were discussing the modern gothic fiction genre and its emphasis on uncertainty. (I know, it sounds heady to me too!) If you guys want, I can post the random one this weekend. Then, when my finals are done on Friday night, I'll take the weekend to chillax and finish the Noah one shot before Christmas and post it then as a present to you all. After that, I'll have very precious little to do until January 12, when I'll be starting an internship at Walt Disney World (squee!), so I'll try and knock out a little bit more of this week that never seems to end.
Thanks in advance,
Band Geek Authoress
ETA (December 05 at 2:11 AM EST)
So, since it turns out I have even less free time than expected tomorrow, I figured I'd just post the random story here for now. Later I'll find somewhere it might actually fit. The ending is a little... eh. Doesn't quite read like the same person from the beginning, so... yup. But I think it's pretty good for being written in under an hour. Enjoy!
Seven months, two weeks, and three days ago, I met him. It's hard to miss him once you've met him. He towered over everyone. He dwarfed me by a foot, at least. His ice blue eyes made him even more menacing. Not very many people got to know him. He told us his name was Lucas. I didn't know his last name. I don't think anybody ever got close enough to know that much about him.
Seven months and six days ago, he showed up at my front door. I don't know how he found the house. I guess he looked me up in the student roster or something. He said he needed help. I asked him what he needed help with. He hesitated before saying "math". I tutored him in math, even though we both knew he didn't need my help with any of it. I figured he was just trying to hit on me.
Five months, one week, and five days ago, he asked me out. Most everybody seemed surprised that the ice king had melted enough to let me in. It seemed I was the one person closest to him in the world, yet I didn't know anything about him, even where he lived. I still believed everybody was wrong to be shocked.
Five months, one week, and four days ago, I bought a pair of heels so that I could match his height a little more. It was my first pair. I wore them almost every day.
Two months and three days ago, he dumped me. He didn't say why. I stopped wearing my heels.
Two weeks ago, he showed up at my front door again, for the first time in nearly a month and a half. He said he was sorry. I asked if he meant about the breakup. He said no and left. For the past two weeks, I tried to figure out what he meant. It nearly drove me insane.
Yesterday, I put my heels on again. I had missed them. I still knew his number by heart, so I called him. He answered. "Hello?" his once familiar voice said. "What are you sorry about?" I spit out. He sighed. He said "you'll know soon enough", a distant chill taking over his voice. Then he hung up.
Today, even though I wouldn't find out about it until after lunch, he died. His first period teacher was taking attendance and he appeared to be asleep. His classmates thought nothing of it until they noticed he wasn't waking up. They say he was as icy cold to the touch as his gaze always seemed to be. I thought that was a poetic way to describe an awkward corpse, slumped over a textbook.
Two hours ago, the coroner's report came in. He said that Lucas had a rare disease. He said it might have been contagious. He said Lucas must have contracted it about two and a half months ago. He asked me if Lucas had known about the disease. I said no, even though I had the feeling I was lying. He asked if I'd been in physical contact with Lucas during that time period. I said yes.
Tomorrow, the newspaper won't write a thing, except maybe a half-hearted obituary on page 12. Our classmates will be studying, obsessing over old presidents, modern science, and new crushes. Lucas will still be a mystery to everybody. I will be in quarantine, in case I caught whatever killed my first love. I hope they let me bring my heels.
