AN: I was writing this and realized that some of the nicknames might be confusing, since I first refer to them by full first and last name and then switch to whatever the character calls them. So her is a short list of characters in this chapter. I will post any new characters at the beginning of each chapter.

Rini Carvin- The main character, a junior clarinet player and head drum major at Soaring Hills

Kaytlen Sindel(Kayti)- Rini's best friend, an energetic junior alto sax player

Toka Marse- one of the assistant drum majors, a sophomore sousaphone player

Justin Lincoln-the second assistant drum major, a junior trumpet player and Rini's biggest rival

Keshi Lincoln-Justin's step-brother, also a junior trumpet player

Michael Taft(Mr. Taft)- Soaring Hills' band director, favors playing low brass and tends to demonstrate on his euphonium

Aaron Hicks-Senior Drumline Captain, likes to hang around Justin

Isabella Hamton(Isa)-a good friend of Rini who plays bass drum, Lieutenant of the bass line and a sophomore

Candace Hamton(Snickers)-Isa's twin sister, friends with Rini but not as close, sophomore horn

Please, oh please work this time! Rini prayed silently, once again turning the key in the slot. The engine grumbled, but stuttered to silence. Frustrated, Rini let herself fall back into the soft car seat, groaning loudly with a sound similar to that which the car made.

"Why today? Couldn't you have waited until I don't know, the first day of school to die?" She hit her fist against the steering wheel, causing the horn to protest with a loud honk! Rini squinted her ice blue eyes at the piece of useless metal. Great birthday present, Mom.

Rini fished her mobile out of her pocket, dialing the familiar numbers to her one lifeline. The phone rang twice, and a female voice answered, sounding as if she had run a marathon.

"Thanks Rini. I almost left my phone at home! But then I heard it ringing. You're a lifesaver!" The familiar voice exclaimed. Rini declined to mention that cell phones were not recommended accessories to band camp.

"That means you haven't left yet? Mind dropping by and giving a certain drum major a lift?"

"Justin needs a ride? Rini, you know giving rides to trumpets is against the section rules!" The girl spat the word 'trumpet' and giggled. "Just kidding. Of course I can run by."

"Thanks so much Kayti! I owe you!"

"Yeah, just remember this act of kindness when you're barking orders at camp!"

The phone clicked with a giggle from the other side, and Rini returned it to her pocket. Sending one last glare to the dead car, she popped the trunk and removed her suitcase and clarinet case. Although she had been told she wouldn't need her instrument, she found it nearly impossible to go to band camp without. After all, free time was a great chance for some extra practice sessions, and if Rini wanted to make all-state, now would be an excellent time to start.

It wasn't long before the memorable yellow Escort cruised into her driveway. Rini threw her stuff into the back and slid into the front seat. Kaytlen Sindel grinned at her from behind thin rimmed glasses.

"'Bout time you show up." The curly-haired brunette joked.

"I was waiting for you." Rini pointed out with a grin.

"Baby Blue throwing a tantrum?"

"Yeah. It wouldn't start. Tried about fifty times." Rini shook her head in disappointment. "Now drive, girl, before we're late!"

"We have, like, an hour." Nevertheless, Kayti began to pull out.

"Never too early to be early." Rini shrugged. "You know the rule. When you're-"

"Early, you are on time, when you are on time you are late, and when you are late you're out. I know, I know. Its not like you, I don't know, recite it every year."

"Well if you would-"

Kayti turned up the radio to block Rini out. The red-head shot her friend a playful glare, and crossed her arms across her chest. Rini raised a mischievous eyebrow.

"Debt voided."

"Not. Fair."

By the time the pair reached the school, the sun was high enough to require sunglasses. Kayti pulled her car into a parking spot and rubbed her shade-hidden eyes. The sun glared directly through the front window, which explained why every other car, most of which sported "Soaring Hills High School" or music store bumper stickers, was facing the opposite direction.

"Looks like camp is going to be fun." Rini mumbled, unbuckling the seat belt and pretending to take a nap.

"Why, because you can use the Powers of Blinding Sun to lull us into submission, just like the drum majors before you?"

"Yes, exactly that."

As a first year drum major, Rini was highly inexperienced, and, seeing as the past year's drum majors were both seniors, she had nobody to learn from but the director himself. Which, in fact, made the who-wants-to-know inside her bubble up like the lava of Mount Vesuvius. Besides those wonderful notes, Rini was also Head Drum Major, making her The Drum Major, and the other two her Pawns.

The Pawns, a trumpet player named Justin Lincoln and the sousaphone player Toka Marse, had already proven, in just a summer, that they would be difficult to work with. On one side, Toka was an excellent player and a kind heart, but she had very little leadership abilities and could at times be far too nice. Justin, on the other hand, was strict and a self-proclaimed Ruler of the World. He listened to nobody, even the director more often then not. During the numerous student staff meetings over the summer, Justin and Rini had proved polar opposites, while Toka helplessly watched their arguments in hopes the pair would relax before camp.

Rini and Justin, as well as the rest of the band, knew that would never happen. Like Romeo and Juliet, Rini and Justin were separated by an age-old rivalry; the one between the clarinets and the trumpets of Soaring Hills High School. It was highly believed by nearly half the band that, were the sections to ever meet in peace and friendship, the world would end in an abrupt, mind-blowing moment. Which to the girl-dominated clarinet section meant the, although cute, brainless trumpets were low on the list of eligible bachelors. Meanwhile, the male-dominated trumpets believed that the smart, albeit unattractive, ladies of the clarinet section were like the black plague; unwanted and harmless to avoid.

"Wow, five buses this year!" Kayti exclaimed, motioning towards the hidden line of buses across the parking lot. In past years, the band had only required three, four at the most.

"We are supposed to get a lot of freshman this year. I know at least for the clarinets, the cabins will be half freshman half returners, with one cabin more freshman." Rini noted, dragging her fabric clarinet case out of the back seat. Kayti's eyes widened as she reached into her trunk and pulled out a duffle bag and her saxophone case.

"I was talking to Isa yesterday. She said drumline had about the same odds. Apparently, they are expecting almost a full freshman pit this year."

"Speaking of Isa, is she here yet?" Rini asked, scanning the parking lot for the black pick-up truck that belonged to the twins' parents. Sure enough, it sat a few spots away, nest to an unknown silver SUV.

"Look, her and Snickers are by the band room." By the time Rini could respond, Kayti was already heading toward the identical blondes. She shook her head and jogged after her friend.

"Morning!" Isabella Hamton waved with her pair of drum sticks. Sporting a tank top, her muscular arms glowed under the eyes of the on-looking boys. Even from a distance, Rini could see their glances and double-takes. The bass drummer seemed to notice the glares, but did nothing to turn them around. She enjoyed the attention, unlike Rini, who only cared what they thought of her as band kids, not as lustful young men. Which was why her closet held more t-shirts and tank-tops then classy shirts, and her wardrobe or jeans and Bermuda shorts could put any girly-girl into a makeover shopping spree(which Kayti and Isa, to Rini's disgust, had once attempted, and failed).

"What are you looking at?" The voice caused Keshi Lincoln to turn to look his year-long step-brother in the eyes. It wasn't his business at all what he looked at or what he ignored.

"Nothing." Keshi whipped his head around pointedly. Justin Lincoln grabbed him around the neck as if they were old friends. It took all of Keshi's willpower not to turn and punch his face.

The pair had never been friends, or anywhere close. While Justin supported every notion and rule about clarinets, Keshi found the rivalry between the sections pointless. Unlike the others, he found the intelligence of the clarinets more attractive then the lack thereof that the others saw great in the guard. In fact, it depressed him that he was banned to date from the section that contained, in his eyes, the only decent girls in the school.

"Can you believe I have to conduct with that?" Justin spat on the ground and motioned towards just the thing Keshi had been watching; Head Drum Major Rini Carvin.

"Apparently she is better then you, since she got Head." Keshi pointed out, wriggling out of Justin's grasp. The arrogant drum major scoffed.

"By luck. I'll show Taft I deserve it more, you'll see. By the end of this week, Rini will be crying in a deep, cold hole."

"Don't hurt yourself by thinking about her demise too hard."

"I don't have to. It will be easy. She's a clarinet."

"Yeah, and clarinets have brains, unlike you apparently. She'll figure out what you are about to do before even you do."

"Just whose side are you on?"

"Whatever, Justin. But when you come complaining about your failed plans, don't come to me."

Well, that is chapter 1. I hope you guys like it! It would be nice to recieve some reviews telling me how to improve.

Also, for those of you who have read my stories before, I have a question; Do I write better in first or third person?

See, I usually write my stories in first person, because i find it easier to jazz the story up, but I've realized that my diction is extremely different between the two views. While my first person is easier for me to write, third person is easier for me to spice up. I want to start writing some band series, one of which will be 4 books about my personal experiences in high school marching band and will steal the title of this story as the series name, the other is going to be about a clarinet player who goes to a music-based boarding school that will be titled "Stadium Lights" and will also contain 4 books. But, before I start working on typing those up(the first three chapters of book 1 of stadium Lights, as well as complete character lists, are currently in my hard-to-read handwriting in a special writing-related notebook) I want to know which people would rather read; my first person writings or my third person writings. Currently, Eight to Five is written in first person, but I don't mind rewriting it if thats what everyone likes best.

So yeah, please let me know. It is much appreciated! Also, any other non-pov advice is greatly appreciated! I'm also taking character name ideas and requests if you want to have a part in writing this story. Unfortunately, this particular story I plan on continuing to be purely , not publishing or putting up for sale. My other series I do plan on eventually publishing(will probably get Stadium Lights Book 1 out first) and may or may not put tidbits on here.