Hey all! I technically already had this chapter written when I uploaded the first one, so just saying don't expect for me to upload chapters this quickly :)

Salavibes: Oh my goodness thank you so much! I used to write fanfiction a lot more and I hadn't lately, and I mostly had been writing like school papers so I'm glad you think I write well!

So here's when I start introducing my new characters. There isn't much to them right now but hopefully it gets better.

Love all ya'll,

-mudezami

Marilyn

It was spring time at Clarity Chrisitan University, which meant the bumbling over-caffeinated students could peel off one top layer off of the several other sweaters they still had to wear. Things were looking greener but still seemed to be covered in a slight fog of stuffy death.

Honestly, the students weren't doing much better, because research papers and midterm projects were in full swing.

There was an early morning Clarity Collegiate Band rehearsal, because the concert was next week. Marilyn honestly thought there was no reason to hold an extra rehearsal, because they sounded amazing. But Collegiate Band is supposed to be the bottom rung of the bands: it had no formal audition and was open to students trying to learn new instruments. The grad students and instructor were nervous because it was unnerving that the band was so good this year. They had to make sure it was perfect, and that the ensemble this year wasn't a fluke or a weird dream.

And percussionists, well, they had to get there early to set up.

That's why Marilyn was sitting outside the music hall with her oversized black jacket and her auburn hair half brushed and in a ponytail, waiting for someone to open the building. Rosie wasn't awake when she ran by her room and knocked on the door. Beth had to wake her up, and told Marilyn to go ahead without her and that she'll be there soon.

Martha, the lead percussionist, didn't seem to be there yet. And if she was, she forgot to unlock the doors.

Marilyn laid back against the walls, watching as the sun rose higher in the sky. It had to only be about 7:30 am. Why did rehearsal have to be so early?

The answer of course was the exact reason loads of other students, the student government, the clarity ambassadors, and several social sororities, were bustling about at this ungodly hour, setting up balloons, decorations and signs that say "Welcome to Clarity! Discovery Students" with giant red arrows pointing down certain paths of the campus. Tours weren't uncommon on campus, and there usually happened to be a couple throughout the week for highschoolers trying to get a feel for colleges. However, this weekend was the BIG tour. It was the beginning spring break for almost everyone. And this tour was for people looking to get more than just a feel for Clarity, it was like a camping experience. They had so many activities planned, counseling sessions, skits and games, and the kids got to stay overnight in some of the emptier dorms.

It was too busy to have the rehearsal any later, or the place would be too crowded.

"Sorry I'm late! I got stuck in traffic!" a tall figure in a bright white letter sweater and sweatpants yelled as they approached Marilyn from the parking lot, searching her pocket for the hall keys. "Where's Rosie?" Martha asked.

"She's coming, she's – "

"RIGHT HERE!" Rosie yelled from across the street as she hastily speed-walked towards them, breathing heavily. "I'm – ugh – right here, I'm not late, I'm right on time I swear – "

"It's fine," Martha dismissed, opening the doors and letting them in. "Start pushing all the mallet instruments to HL," She said, referring to the Higgins-Lawrence Auditorium. "Except for the vibraphone."

"Gotcha, chief," Marilyn said.

"Rosie you can get the auxiliary stuff out of 189…" Rosie nodded, tying up her thick dark hair in a bun and pushing her sunglasses on the top of her head. She was much shorter than both Martha and Marilyn.

Slowly the rest of the percussionists showed up and as they moved all of the equipment through the hall, the rest of the band began to show up for 8:00 am call time, which meant they got in the way. Soon everything was set up and the percussionists sat in the back of the stage while the winds warmed up. Soon one of the grad students quieted everyone for announcements.

"Alright everyone, we're going to be rehearsing in concert order, does everyone remember what that is?" Everyone mumbled in agreement.

"Ok. So as you know, the CCU Discovery Tours are going on, and I've granted them permission to quietly allow groups walk through the auditorium to hear us rehearse. This is a good opportunity to recruit students as well as make sure you all have proper rehearsal etiquette, so please no extra talking and no funny business. Got it?"

"Yes Scott." The collective ensemble droned.

"Wonderful! Let's do a B flat scale to warm up…"

By the end of the rehearsal, the director and the grad students were once again assured that the 1985 Clarity Collegiate Band was, once again, not a fluke. They were in the middle of finishing the last piece, Irish Tune from County Derry. The piece itself was rather slow, and although it was beautiful to hear, there were practically no percussion parts except for an eight measure cymbal roll Marilyn happened to play in the middle of the piece. The band began to play the unison part, which was her cue to walk up to the cymbal and prepare to play. In the audience she saw a small tour group watching in the very back. Just as she began to prep her mallets, the lights suddenly all went out. Some people continued to play, but most of the ensemble stopped in confusion. Startled yells and laughing could be heard echoing from the back of the auditorium.

"Alright, alright, don't panic," Scott called from the side of the stage. "Andrew can you go find the power switch? Maybe someone accidentally turned it off? A janitor?"

"Yeah," called the other grad student as he stumbled away through the darkness. The ensemble whispered among themselves in amusement.

"This is like that one time a dog ran onto the field during Marching rehearsal," Rosie commented. "Except less cute, I guess."

"I wouldn't rather have puppies on stage," Marilyn agreed.

"Ok so I tried the lights and nothings working so I think the power just went out," Andrew called.

"Ok well, sorry about that folks, I know we can't really play if we can't see our music," Scott said. "We're going to have to wait until-"

Suddenly the lights came back on, much brighter than before, or so it seemed. Many kids in the band groaned, their eyes shocked from the sudden light.

"Oh, well, wonderful," Scott continued. Except the lights flashed back out once more, than came back on, buzzing. One of the kids in the back of the room started coughing really loudly. Many students turned and looked at him as he ran out the exit, and another kid followed him.

"They look a little young to be going to college," Martha scoffed from the back of the stage.

"Maybe they're family?" Guessed Rosie.

"Or child prodigies," added Marilyn.

"Not all of them, there's too many."

"Please cut the chatter!" Scott hollered from the front, "I know we're having some… technical difficulties, but it's nothing we can't get through. Besides, we only have one more piece, then we can all get out of here. You guys sound really good, by the way. The trumpets are a little flat though. From the unison!"

He counted them back in and Marilyn prepped to play the cymbal roll. As soon as the song was over, all the percussionists immediately jumped up to load everything out.

Once everything was put away, Justin approached Rosie, Beth and Marilyn, who were deciding where to go for breakfast. Justin was also wearing a letter sweater, much like Martha's. He was a tall, big dude with a ginger beard. He held up his camera to try to get a picture of them while offguard. Marilyn noticed and ducked behind Rosie right away. "No fair," he said.

"You know I hate pictures, Justin."

"I know. That's why I take them," he said, holding up his camera next to him and haphazardly taking a picture without looking. It was probably blury and looked awful.

"Anyway, a bunch of TMP people are going to the iHop down the street for brunch. Wanna come? We can walk, I can pay." TMP was a pseudo greek group on campus. It stood for The Music People, but was also officially known as Theta Mu Pi. It wasn't really greek, and it was a co-ed club. That didn't stop people from making the traditional greek letters and wearing them proudly. It functioned as the service and social group for music kids: band, orchestra, jazz, choir... all kinds.

Rosie, Beth and Marilyn had "rushed" TMP last semester and were new actives. IHop happened to be Justin's favorite place to go, and they had gone a few times already.

"Who else is going?" Beth asked, picking up her saxophone case.

"Oh, you know, Martha, Del, David, the other David," Justin recited.

"What does that matter?" Rosie interjected at Beth. "Food is food. Let's go."