Al Fine
By African Water Lily
A/N: This is just a little something that popped into my head while I was listening to the judges' tapes from our last performance. Please tell me what you think so I can decide whether or not to continue.
Disclaimer: All characters and situations are completely works of fiction. Any resemblance to real people, places, or situations is completely coincidental.
One by one the band members trickled in, seating themselves on the floor or on wayward chairs or some hardy piece of equipment, conversing in hushed murmurs about the purpose of this mass meeting. Once in a while, someone would glance at the closed door behind which the powers-that-be were hidden. What was so important and so top-secret that somehow the band rumor mill had not gotten hold of it?
Most of them remembered a similar meeting, not even six months ago, called all of a sudden just before the end of school. Then, the director had informed them tearfully that she would be taking a position at another school. What now? Some of them hoped the situation was the same, that this new director would be leaving as well, for there was no love lost between the band and this… replacement. Just as people had begun to discuss that particular possibility, the door opened. The drum major and assistant came out together, followed by the band director, who was content to let the two students take the floor.
Joel and Kat. The Dream Team, as people sometimes referred to them. Partnered for over a year now, they were totally in sync with each other, Kat anticipating Joel's every need, supporting him unconditionally, while he constantly looked out for her. Now they were no different, walking out together, standing side by side, ignoring the director and surveying the group that was gathered to silently await their next move. Fifty pairs of eyes, friends, classmates, section mates, all watching, fully expecting Joel to step forward and make whatever announcement he intended to make. And all of them were more than a bit surprised when, instead, the younger assistant took the floor, still close to her superior, but far enough away to convey her intent. A couple of them recognized the look on her face, familiar from those days long ago when she was inexperienced and unsure of herself. It was fear.
"Is everyone here?" she asked, finally breaking the prolonged silence. There were a few glances around the room, a few "yeah"s, and then the room again faded into quiet. "Good. I want to thank all you guys for showing up on such short notice. It makes my life a whole lot easier." There she paused and took a deep breath, as though in preparation for something. "This… this isn't really a band thing. That's not why you're here. This is… um… this is personal for me, and let's face it- all the people I really care about are in this room right now." This drew a few smiles, but any chance at mirth was smothered by the growing apprehension in the atmosphere. "I-" her voice faltered, and she looked down at the ground. Then Joel was there by her side, a hand on her shoulder in a show of support. His presence seemed to bolster her failing resolve, and once again she looked out at the assembled group.
"Guys… I'm sick."
There were assorted gasps and furrowed brows throughout the crowd, which sensed that gravity in her voice, and knew she wasn't talking about the stomach flu.
"I… I have acute lymphocytic leukemia. And I wanted you to know, because… I need you guys. Every one of you. I need your support. You know my parents are getting divorced. My entire family is falling apart. You're all I have left. I hope I'm not freaking anyone out, but it's true, This band is the closest thing I've had to a family in a long time."
There was a pause and once again it was silent, the band members too stunned to speak.
"I need to apologize as well. Not an I'm-dying-I-don't-want-to-have-any-regrets apology. I need to apologize in advance for not being able to fulfill my duties as assistant drum major. I'm supposed to start chemotherapy next week, and I'm going to be in the hospital for a while. I'll try to be here as much as I can… but…" All of a sudden she trailed off, out of things to say, or maybe just out of breath from the disease.
Without warning, Kat's best friend broke the spell, stepping forward and enfolding her in his arms. The rest of the band melted as well, turning to discuss this mildly terrifying development, the general emotions being some mixture of shock and bewilderment. As people began to break off into their own small groups or go to embrace their sick drum major, one person did not move. He sat unnoticed through the commotion, preferring his private thoughts to the wonderings of his peers. But it was not shock, or worry, or sadness, or even some strange combination thereof that kept Tony Aiello motionless in his seat.
It was guilt.
So... yes? No? Yo? What?
I can almost kind of promise that it will get better. That is, if you want it to.
So... yeah. You should review it. Really. You should.