This is Us

August 1st, the beginning of band season. The beginning of band camp. I sighed deeply as I packed my sticks into my bag, and I looked at my mother as she hopped into the car. My name is Zane, Zane Evans. I'm fourteen, going on fifteen in October. I'm a drummer, and this year is my first year on quads, or tenors as my Battery Caption Head called it. I only played snare, and knew how to play matched grip, but I played traditional. Apparently they had three snares and four basses, but no one wanted to go to the quad had one quad player, but he wanted someone else to join him.

I never played on "real" tenor drums. Instead, I practiced on pads, a tutor helping me back from where I originally lived. I use to live in Virginia, but now I live in the great state of West Virginia, which was even worse. It was alot bigger, and I knew no one here. My mom was forced to move after she and my father got divorced.

"Tyler, did you pack your clothes and everything?" I sighed as I knocked my long blond hair out of my eyes. I didn't answer vocally, I nodded. I wasn't in a good mood to talk. I was dropped off at the school, Redskin High, I sighed again. Screw my life.

All of a sudden someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned to see a tall guy with short black hair, his eyes a dark green. He had a little beard, and he nodded towards the door. "You're not going through that wait, only veterans can. You're a freshman, aren't you?"

I nodded shyly, I didn't know who this guy wanted with me.

"My name is Dale. I'm the senior section leader of the drumline, and you are...?" He looked as though he was studying me. So this is the guy I was suppose to find! I thanked God.

"My name is Zane, I just moved here from Virginia. I'm suppose to play quints." I answered, and Dale's grin turned into a smirk.

"Really? My new bitch?"

I gulped.

"I'm the senior quint player. Like you, I started out my freshman year on them. Of course, I was already good at it before I really started." Dale said, as he patted my head. He then proceeded to walk to the door as I sat there in silence. He stopped momentarily and waved his hand. "You can come this way, I don't mind. I'll say you're with me."

I scrambled and quickly followed my section leader as we walked through the school. The school was rather large, and had many pictures of sports teams. Their show choir even got up there. I didn't see any pictures of the marching band up there. Dale noticed the curiosity on my face and sighed.

"We get no respect. We're better than all these people and we still don't get any respect. Our drumline is the best in the state, and ranked nationally. But it's whatever, you know?"

I nodded, though he couldn't see the nod. Finally, we made it to the band room, where the whole band was sitting there, listening to the band director speak. The director stopped, and looked at us. He had extremely short black hair, and wore glasses.

"Dale...of course, late as usual. Who is this?" He asked, his look on me now. I then felt as though everyone in the room was looking at me. I looked around to see some girls just eyeing me, and guys studying me. I noticed they were broken into sections. The wind players, the brass, the pit, and finally, in the very back, the drumline.

"This, L, is our new quint player. His name is Zane."

People just kept staring at me, and I looked down. I was a bit embarrassed, and Dale noticed. L, the band director, apparently did as well.

"Well, Zane, we were just talking about band camp and we are now about to go warm up with our sections. Hopefully your parents got the memo?"

I nodded, and L smiled. "Good, now, Dale will help you with your equipment. Now, everyone, go." Everyone got out in a flash, the winds and brass going past Dale and I as we walked in the band room. The colorguard and the pit went out the back door, while the drumline stood inside.

I studied some of the members. There was only one girl out of all of them. She was plump, and had long dark red hair. The other two snares were boys, one had a Italian look, black hair with tan skin. The upper part of his teeth were yellow, I could see that they were from cigarette smoking. The other had brown hair and a goatee, another senior I was guessing. They were picking their snares up and walked over to the middle while Dale was talking to one of them.

The basses were next. The first bass was a boy with short hair, and he had a goofy look on his face. The next had short light brown hair, and was plump. The third was a shorter boy, who had big muscle, but fat around his stomach. The fourth and final was a tall man, who had a goatee and a small mohawk. He wore glasses and looked a little like the second bass.

"Zane, I would like to introduce you to the line." Dale said, walking over to them. He pointed to the first snare, the Italian.

"This is David."

David nodded towards me. "Nice to meet you dude."

Dale pointed at the next one, the boy with the goatee. "This is Richie."

"Sup?" Was all he said, and I nodded.

"This is Catie." Pointing to the girl. She smiled warmly at me.

"How are you hun?"

He then pointed down the bass line. "This is Matt, TJ, Storm, and Woody."

The three basses waved, Matt being estaic. "Nice to meet you bud!"

"You and Storm are the only freshmen, but Storm's been to our practices. I'm sure Tyler sent you the music?" Dale asked.

Tyler was the Battery Caption Head who met my mother a couple of weeks ago. He was a fat man, who wore glasses and had a ten year old's hair cut. He was nice.

"Yea, I did. Alot of warm ups.." I said, pulling my binder of music out of my book bag. Dale nodded, and brought me over to the final closet in the middle of the red band room. I then studied it. It had many trophies, and pictures of previous years.

He opened the door, and there were many weird object on the top shelf. The middle shelf a black case, and on the floor below that was a black case. Two harnesses were on the shelves. Dale handed me one and I put it on the ground. He pointed at the one in the middle. "That's yours."

I pulled mine out. It was so heavy, and I opened the case. The real quads laid there. They had a black shell, their heads were perfectly clear other than the spock drum. The heads were Evans heads, a amazing brand. The stick bag was empty. I picked up the harnesses, putting it on, and I picked up the quints. They were so heavy, making me stumble. Dale caught me, and laughed, as did the rest of the line.

"You'll get use to these." He said, putting them on. I held the quints up against my chest, the weight not affecting me yet. Dale pointed me to a certain spot, and I walked over there. I got out my sticks, a pair of Vic Firth tenor sticks, while Dale got out a different pair. I've never seen them, and Dale noticed my curiousty as he walked over. He seemed use to the weight.

"These are the Vic Firth Tom Augunst Hybrid tenor sticks. Here." Dale gave me a pair, and I dropped my sticks in the bag. I took them and nodded thanks.

"So, are we gonna get started?" David ask, tapping his foot impatiently. Dale nodded, and looked at Richie.

"Legatos!" Richie said, tapping off.

Legatos was a simple exercise, and I prepared myself. We played, and I began playing. Dale was looking at me the whole time, not even watching himself, since he knew this exercise. When we kept speeding up, I noticed Dale was paying more attention. When we ended the exercise, Dale stopped everyone.

"You play the same as me, but a bit more dirty. You'll get the hang of it." Dale said, as he looked at Richie. "Do Sporks."

Richie nodded and tapped off again. We began the exercise, my eyes started to move towards my hands, but Dale hit the rim. "Look straight ahead." He said, and I did. I didn't mess up shockingly, and everyone stopped after it. Dale smirked.

"Well, he's pretty good...look's like we're gonna have a fun year." Dale said, and he patted my back.

"Welcome to our line. Welcome to the Redskin High drumline."

I smiled as everyone started to greet me. It seemed great now that I have a activity to do at school, and maybe it will help me get into a good college. I may even quit after this first year. I don't know. I'll even have some friends before the school year starts!

"So when are we leaving for camp Dale?" Catie asked, while Dale sighed, pulling out his cellphone.

"In about a hour. I say we pack our stuff up now and just get ready to go. I don't feel like warming up right now." Dale said, as he took off his tenor drums with ease. I was pretty shocked by how easy it was for him to take his off. I slowly started to take mine off, hoping that I wouldn't get any attention toward me. Thank God people didn't watch.

"L probably will get pissed, but hey, who cares? We're pretty much the driving force of this damn band." David said, setting his drum down. He then proceeded to take out a cigarette, but Catie slapped him. He jumped and glared at her. "Ow bitch! What the hell was that for?"

"Don't smoke in the band room! L will get pissed!" Catie explained, as David started to snicker.

"Didn't stop YOU from having-" Everyone other than me started to see where he was going, and Catie jumped him. She started to beat on him while everyone laughed, even Dale. I couldn't help but laugh a little bit as well.

"Ow you bitch!!" David finally pushed her off as we continued to laugh. Dale noticed me laughing, and he patted my shoulder. I looked up towards him.

"You're gonna love these people. You'll end up thinking of them as family." Dale said, and I just nodded. Dale chuckled as he patted my head, much to my annoyance.

"These years you'll cherish forever, trust me, it's a great experience. You'll remember every moment. Trust me, cherish these moments, these years go quick." I blinked in confusion as Dale picked up his tenors and mine, carrying them to the cases.

Little did I know that these next four years will change my life like Dale said, and that this will become my life.