Chapter One

It's my sophomore year at McKinley High and I've never been more nervous in my life. Which is saying something. My hands are even shaking. I take a look at the sign up sheet, butterflies building up in my stomach.

"You look as nervous as I feel."

I jump a bit at hearing Ben's voice. I turn my head to look at him. "You gave me a mini heart attack there. Is it really that obvious?"

He nods. "It really is. Though I don't see what you're worried about. You're the best marcher in this school. Not to mention your amazing flute, violin, and cello skills. Concert and marching band would be lucky to have you Ella."

"Well, I guess that's one opinion I won't have to worry about at auditions." I sigh.

"You'll be fine. Gosh lady chill." He says in a diva voice.

I laugh. "How can I 'chill' when my chair position in concert band is on the line? I've never not been first chair in the flute section. Except for that one time." I shiver. "Remember that one time in eighth grade when I was in second chair? Ugh, it was humiliating!"

Ben looks at me flatly. "You poor soul." he says dryly. "If concert band is really stressing you out that much why not drop it and join the jazz band with me and Thaddeus? I think Autumn is even doing it this year."

"Ben," I say, "I hate jazz."

"It's only called jazz band. We really just play music by people like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears." He replies enthusiastically.

I give him a skeptical look.

"Okay! There are other artists too but those are my queens." He says dramatically.

"You swear its better than concert band?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"I swear! Jeez! Trust me woman! We play instrumental for the Glee club. It's a lot of fun. And dramatic." He begins to laugh hard, almost to the point where it gets difficult to understand him. "You should see Thadeus! W-when Finn asks to play his drums! He considers Finn his drumming rival but-but he's too awkward to say anything! He just stutters and says 'Sure Finn Hudson. You can play my drum set." By now Ben was laughing so hard he was crying.

"Ha, I'll believe it when I see it." And without further delay I sign my name up for marching band and jazz band, leaving concert band empty. After me, Ben signs his name up for jazz band. I had once been in marching band with Ben but after a week of wearing the uniforms he had a break down. Saying that the hat had demolished his gelled up hair. Always such a drama queen.

"Well, jazz band auditions are after school today and tomorrow. So, you know, you have time to try out for marching band." He finishes in a judgy voice. "Oh, and unlike concert band you can audition with whatever song you want in jazz."

"That sounds great."

The whistle blew into the mic, blasting all our ears. How I missed that sound. Coach Miller's voice rang across the football field. "I want all students in rows of five facing the south field goal!" she yelled.

We all hurried into place. "You all know the drill! But just in case, let's review. There are four steps in between a yard line. You will be taking sixteen steps forward, sixteen steps back, and then start walking in a box. Eight steps to the right, then backward, then to the left, and finally forward. Then repeat. Understood?"

We all yelled "Hut!" to signify our agreement. She blew the whistle three times and started to hit the cowbell so we had a metronome. Slowly she increased the speed. Whenever someone messed up too obviously the drum major would blow a whistle in their face and they had to go sit in the side lines. This usually meant that they wouldn't get in. A couple people who messed up looked as if they were about to cry. Contrary to popular belief marching band was hard core. It consisted of early mornings and constant whistle blowing. Marching band season was probably the most stressful and thrilling part of the school year. If only it lasted more than just a couple months.

The drill lasted for about, I don't know, ten minutes? Oh well, I suppose that part doesn't really matter. What matters is that I rocked it. I was all like 'Heel-toe, heel-toe'. I feel like I can go to bed happy tonight. Is it weird that I'm giving myself mental high fives right now?

After auditions I made my way back to the school. As I get to my locker I see my three best friends standing by it. Ben, Thaddeus, and Autumn. Ben was leaning against my locker facing Thaddeus. Ben was dressed in his usual preppy attire which consisted a thin sweater, stylish pants, and some kind of "fashionable" boots his parents sent him from Paris last summer.

Ben's parents decided to go to the city of love without him. I don't really blame them though. I mean Ben hasn't had a girlfriend since the 6th grade when Lucy asked him to go to Chuck E Cheese's for her brother's 6th birthday. I'm not even sure if it was considered a date but from what I hear they had fun winning one pencil with their 1,200 tickets. I'm pretty sure their relationship ended with a giant tantrum from Lucy in the middle of Chuck E Cheese's insisting it was her pencil. So yeah, there's some unnecessary background.

Thaddeus on the other hand was wearing very hipsterish looking clothing. Let's just say it consisted a beanie and hipster glasses. All the while Autumn was wearing her normal hippie looking clothing. She had on a flower headband and a flowy, pastel floral dress, tied together with some sandals.

Like Ben though, I too had quite the preppy looking style. Button up shirts, sweaters, flats, and skirts are what I'm mainly found wearing. "Hey guys! Sup?"

"OMG! Hey Ella! How'd auditions go?" Autumn asks enthusiastically.

"Oh yeah. Marching band auditions were today." said Thaddeus.

"Good, wait… scratch that, I did great."

"Well as long as you're not overconfident." Ben says, rolling his eyes. I smile. Then he gives me a sly smile back. "If you want, there's still time for jazz band auditions…"

Knowing I'd end up caving in eventually I sigh. "Fine." in the long run there's no use fighting it. And without further delay I put my flute case into my backpack and quickly pull out my violin from my locker. "Lets get this over with."

Just as we were about to walk into the auditorium we almost run into a man exiting. "H-hey Mr. Brad!" Thaddeus blurts out. He never was good at talking to people outside of our friend group.

"Hey kids. Can I help you? I just got done with auditions." Brad said.

"Speaking of auditions. Do you think you have time for two more?" Ben asks, gesturing to me and Autumn.

He smiles, "Of course." We all follow him back into the auditorium.

Autumn went first on her guitar, playing an indie song I didn't recognise at first. Once she got a minute into the song though I realized it was Growing Old on Bleecker Street by AJR. She was rocking it too, sometimes I forget how talented my friends are. It's just that I get so used to it, it slips my mind.

When she finishes Brad claps. "That was fantastic! Thank you so much." Autumn smile brightly at him then exits the stage.

"Autumn that was great!" We all congratulate.

She blushes. "Thanks!"

"Good luck Ella. I know you'll do great." Ben says to me before I walk up on stage.

"Hello, I'm Ella and I'll be playing Coldplay's Viva La Vida." I announce and without further adue I begin to play my violin. I guess you could say I got lost in the music because one second I was playing the intro and the next I was skillfully playing the closing of the song. I always did love Coldplay.

Mr. Brad stood up clapping. "That was fantastic Ella!"

"Thank you Mr. Brad." I say politely.

"Please, call me Brad. Only Theodor calls me Mr. Brad."

"...Don't you mean Thadeous…?" I ask.

"... That's what I said…" He responds.

No, no you did not. I thought to myself. "Umm… Have a nice day." And with that I quickly and awkwardly walk off stage.

Once I reached my friends I turn to Thaddeous. "Does he not know your name?" I question.

"Yeah but he's not the only one… Like all the glee kids, my teachers, half our class, my parents…" He trails off.

I give him a confused look but don't say anything. It's best to just leave it alone.

"So," Ben says, "jazz band will be starting next week, excited?" He asks Autumn and I.

"Absolutely!" says Autumn excitedly.

"Sure, but we haven't even got in yet." I reason.

"Well… two different levels of enthusiasm but I'll take it nonetheless." says Ben.

"What about you Thadeus?" I ask "Are you excited?"

"Yeah."

"Great."

(insert awkward silence here)