AN: Thanks for all the support so far awesome readers! I will get back to Lucy's story soon…I just had to get some of The Line Up out of me.
Happy birthday to me! (And Happy St. Patrick's Day to the rest of you!)
3.22.06 - slight change to Bronwyn and Spence's conversation.
5.15.06 - The perfect song lyrics to start the chapter.
I do own the characters.
Chapter 2: O Captain, My Captain
"I am vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
Swear I knew it all along
And I am flawed
But I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now
The things you swore you saw yourself."
-- Dashboard Confessional, Vindicated
To: bassgirl17
From: BHSsnaregrl
Lucy,
So, just to update you on my life:
1. I'm going to Prom.
2. Spence hasn't decided about Captain yet.
3. I made (duh) Snare.
Can you guess which one I care the most about? If you guessed Captain, then you'd be right!
Not that it won't be good (?) going with Tony…yes, I did say Tony, but I kind of pictured Prom as this really romantic occasion and not just some way of passing time with a friend. Oh well, in the long run I would much prefer to be Captain than go to some silly dance anyway. What's up with you?
B
To: BHSsnaregrl
From: bassgirl117
Bronwyn,
Awww, I was looking forward to seeing you next weekend, but I guess I can't compare with cheesy DJ's! (j/k) Anyway, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you about the whole Captain thing. I hope Spence chooses well…and chooses you! Let me know as soon as you hear anything!
Luce
The week following the auditions was Warm up Week. From behind her Bono shades, Bronwyn wondered if she had the same wide-eyed and wondering stare that the upcoming 8th graders had. Auditions hadn't shaken out any surprises and the senior snare was relieved to see that Dana would remain an Auxiliary member. Bronwyn suspected that Dana had auditioned for the simple reason of wanting to piss Bronwyn off. It had worked. Bronwyn didn't think it was possible she could dislike Dana any more, but she was wrong and now hated Dana that much more.
With the Line technically in place for the next season, Bronwyn was exited to see the potential that was forming in the upcoming generations of Brookwood girls. Maggie, now an upcoming junior, had taken up the long line of girls to be Pit Lieutenant and Valerie, with some extra private lessons and help from Bronwyn, had made bass. The upcoming 8th grade class had produced another two girls, Angela (in the Pit) and Kylie (on cymbals). Bronwyn smiled, knowing that Lucy would be proud to see the tradition of Brookwood Drum Line girls would exist after they had both graduated. Of course there was still a long way to go and didn't help that Angela and Kylie went googly eyed every time Tony or Spence came near them.
Joshy, the former trumpet and upcoming senior, was made bass Lieutenant and Steve, Tony's good friend and also classmate, was made quint Lieutenant. Jason, now a sophomore, would be leading the cymbals.
Throughout the week, Bronwyn lived and breathed the dream of being Drum Line Captain. She was glad she wasn't Spence. This was an almost impossible decision. The differences between her and Tony's leadership techniques was subtle at the beginning of the week, but became more pronounced as both became comfortable in the position. Bronwyn got the same rush she had during her sophomore season when J.D., her then Captain, hadn't been able to make the game and she had Captained the Line. Knowing that even though her fellow rising seniors respected her, many of them were Tony's friends first and were therefore cutting up more when she was in charge. Bronwyn wasn't about to let something like that slide. She wasn't as bad as J.D. "The Dictator" Strauss, as he was now referred to, but she was strict…probably stricter than a lot of people were realizing I would be.
On Friday morning, Bronwyn was surprised at the outpouring of emotion from her friends. She visited her locker and was surprised to see a number of good luck cards and wishes for the afternoon. She actually had to blink back a tear or two. I won't let them down! She wasn't the only one going after a leadership position. Megan was determined to get the Woodwind Lieutenant position and Meredith was seeking to become one of the Guard Co-Captains. Basically, since the emergency trip to the mall last week, they had barely seen each other.
Finally, Mr. Izzo was blowing his whistle and the last practice for Warm Up Week had ended. After everyone put their instruments away and the entire Line had exited except Tony and Bronwyn, Spence pulled close the doors to the percussion room.
How fitting that it will be here…
Bronwyn looked around the room that held all their equipment, had been the birthplace of so many inside jokes, and had witnessed a lot of the history of the Line. Although it smelled vaguely of sweat and aftershave, it was one of Bronwyn's favorite places in the entire school. She took it as a good luck sign. She resisted the urge to bite her fingernails.
This is worse than the results to American Idol. I wonder how Tony feels.
Bronwyn looked over, but Tony wouldn't look her in the eye.
Spence coughed and said simply, "Bronwyn. You are the Captain. The Line is yours."
With that he walked out of the room.
Bronwyn was in complete and total shock. It was hers. The moment she had been waiting for over the past four years was finally here. Looking at the sheer disappointment on Tony's face, it wasn't exactly what she thought it was going to be. Bronwyn opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
Tony walked out without saying a word.
Bronwyn said to the empty room, "Thanks for the congratulations."
Bronwyn walked around in a daze around the percussion room for a few minutes before she walked out to her car and started dialing everyone she knew. Her parents were enthusiastic and Megan and Meredith had some great news of their own – they had both gotten the leadership positions they were trying for!
Bronwyn said, "Espresso Royale – stat!"
The girls were glowing as they piled into their favorite booth. Now that everyone had their driver's license, it made life a lot easier.
Bronwyn slurped on her frappucino, "So Mere, you said that your Captainship wasn't all that you thought it was going to be?"
Meredith nodded, "I have to co-Captain with Dana."
Bronwyn made an ugly face, "That sucks."
"Tell me about it. I can hardly wait," Meredith said sarcastically.
The girls speculated how the next season would go and already started plotting pranks to try at Band Camp until the café closed. In the parking lot, Megan said, "So, I guess we'll all see each other tomorrow night at Prom?"
Meredith nodded, "It seems weird, but yes."
Megan asked, "And you're still going with Tony?"
Bronwyn replied, "Not sure. I mean…just cause I got Captain doesn't mean we shouldn't be able to be friends. Right?"
Meredith and Megan both shrugged. Meredith said, "You're on unchartered territory, kid. Let us know how it goes."
Bronwyn woke up the next morning and gazed at her dress, still not believing the surreal events that had conspired in the past 48 hours. Just a day ago she was Bronwyn Flueger, rising senior. Now she was Bronwyn Flueger, Captain. It had a nice ring to it. She chewed her lip for a moment, debating whether or not to call Tony. Bronwyn had decided that it would be too soon to call him last night in light of her recent "promotion." However, they still had a date and Bronwyn hoped that Tony was enough of a gentleman (?) to put the Captain thing behind him and enjoy the night ahead.
I think you're expecting too much…
What do you mean?
I don't know. Let's say Tony had become Captain, would you want to see him today?
Umm, I don't know.
Right. He would be THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH you would want to come in contact with, let alone slow dance with.
Are you saying I should break our date?
I'm saying you should at least give him the option. It's the humane thing to do.
Bronwyn looked at her phone for a long time. Instead of her Prom date, she dialed Lucy.
"S'up girlie?"
"Not much."
"Are you calling to remind me that you are now the Captain of the Brookwood Drum Line?"
Bronwyn smiled. Hearing other people call her Captain sounded even cooler than it did in her head. She replied, "No. I'm wondering about Tony."
"What about him?"
"Should I still want to go to Prom with him?"
"Do you think he's going to be hung up about the Captain thing?"
"Considering how he basically just left without saying a word after Spence awarded me the Captainship…I'm pretty sure I'm not his favorite person. I mean, he is a drummer after all."
Lucy understood. Tony had a lot of pride at stake and other people on the Line would be looking at him to see how he was taking things. The former bass drummer responded, "Actually, I think the best thing would be for people to see you together tonight. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Tony had a lot of support on the Line and if people see that you are cool together that they'll probably be that much more supportive of you as Captain. You dig?"
"I dig. Ok, well, then all I have to do is wait and have a good time tonight."
"Don't forget to take some pictures!"
"Will do."
"Later B."
"Take it easy, Luce."
Bronwyn hung up the phone and looked at her dress again.
She and Tony had opted to go dinner with some of the other Drum Line members, since Megan and Meredith had already made their reservations weeks in advance. Bronwyn got ready way too early and primped in front of the mirror. Her sister, Elizabeth, watched her older sister entranced. The younger Flueger was an upcoming freshman and unlike her sister, not obsessed with drumming. Bronwyn vaguely heard a knock on the door downstairs. Her mascaraed eyes flicked to the clock, noting that is was still way too early to be Tony.
She heard her mom's voice calling up, "Bronwyn. It's for you!"
Bronwyn looked down at her dress and smiled.
Whoever is down there is definitely in for a surprise.
The redhead descended her family's stairs and was confused to see Spence sitting in her living room.
"What are you doing here?"
Spence turned around and his blue eyes went soft, "Wow, Flueger. You clean up nice."
Bronwyn smiled at the compliment, "Thanks. What's up?"
"Umm…can I see you outside?"
"Sure."
The oddly matched pair made their way outside.
Spence began, "Now that you're Captain, I want to include you in a tradition."
"Does it have to be tonight? I mean, does it have to do with Prom?"
Spence rolled his eyes, "No. I just want you to start mentally preparing yourself."
Bronwyn squinted her eyes and asked cautiously, "Why would I need 'prepare' myself?"
"There might be some pain involved."
Tony sat in his car around the block from the Flueger household.
What am I doing?
Going to Prom. All the kids are doing it these days.
I'm surprised she still wants to go with me. I acted like a complete dick yesterday.
And she would've done the same if it had been her.
This is going to be weird.
Why? Because in spite of everything, you still actually like her?
Tony hated to admit that his feelings towards his redheaded classmate had grown increasingly romantic in nature over the Spring. And now, even though she had taken the one thing he had really wanted, he was still sitting in his car, in a tuxedo with a corsage in his lap, and was unbelievably excited about being Bronwyn's date to Prom.
There's no better time.
Tony put the car into drive and drove around the corner. He was about to get out of his car when he saw Bronwyn, looking incredible, on her porch, talking to some guy. He squinted his eyes and recognized that guy. It was Spence. Tony's hand clenched into a fist. He watched Bronwyn hug Spence with a big smile on her face.
As silently as possible, he restarted his car and peeled away from the house.
How could I have been so stupid? She got Captain because she's involved with Spence. It makes perfect sense. Why else would she have gotten it?
Because she deserved it?
Whatever. I bet they're having a great laugh about me now.
"Spence, well, thanks I think."
"I'm not sure if you're going to be thanking me..."
"What do you mean?"
"Uh, nothing, you'd better finish getting ready."
"I will."
"See you soon."
Bronwyn went inside and checked her make up. Seven came and went. The time grew later and later. Bronwyn supposed she couldn't blame Tony, but she felt strangely let down. There was some part of her that had really wanted to go to Prom, and not with just anyone, but actually with Tony...? Could that be possible?
Where is he?
Bronwyn tried calling his phone, but it went to voicemail each time. Frustrated she left a number of messages before finally saying; "Tony, hey, it's Bronwyn. You know, your Prom date? Anyway, way to be a man and get over the whole LOSING Captain thing to me. I hope you're going to get over this and act normal this season. Finally, from a girl to a guy, it's in EXCEEDINGLY poor taste to stand someone up!"
Bronwyn hung up the phone, miserable. She went upstairs to take off her dress, calling out, "Hey Elizabeth, fire up some popcorn and pick out a movie!"
AN: O drama. All's I want for my birthday is a review!
