Hooty-hoo! I just got an awesome job! I'll be working this summer on the American Orient Express. That's right, life on a train!
I really do love band camp, but there's so many things I want to do with this season, I'm going to have to save those ideas for another character.
WARNING: Sappy author's note to follow: Thank you all SO MUCH for the overwhelming support so far of story #3. I'm so glad to hear you all have "The Guy" or in many cases, "The Girl" in all your bands. It got me thinking, who was The Guy in Keeping? Drew, Geoff, or J.D? I certainly can't pick between all of them…but please vote now! (P.S. Just kidding, I will vote for Geoff, because he's based on a Brass Captain I totally had the hots for my freshman year. Something almost got started between us on a band trip, but that's a story for another day…)
AN: I do own the characters.
Chapter 3: Hole-y Bass Drums Batman!
"Fall
is here, hear the yell
Back
to school, ring the bell
Brand
new shoes, walking blues
Climb
the fence, books and pens
I
can tell that we are going to be friends
Yes,
I can tell that we are going to be friends."
-- Whitestripes, We're Going to Be Friends (although, for the record I like the Jack Johnson version just as much)
"Well gals, what do you think about our last band camp?"
Oakley sunglasses down, Lucy was riding home from band camp with her two best friends in the back of Mandy's convertible. They were taking the "scenic route" home because a) no one had really bothered to look at the directions and b) they were completely exhausted from the previous week. A strange mix of both anticipation for the season ahead and sadness that their last band camp had passed had filled the car.
Mandy turned down the radio and replied, "It was great."
Gina caught Lucy's eye in the rearview mirror and winked, "Yeah, why's that?"
"I just never thought of James like that, you know?"
Lucy nudged her friend, "Like what? Is there something you should tell us?"
"We're just sort of dating, that's all."
Gina said, "Well, that makes me and Mandy dating people. So Lucy, well where exactly are you and Brent?"
"I wish I had a good answer to that. It's so complicated."
Mandy asked, "Complicated like long distance relationship complicated? Or complicated like you're not sure if you're actually still dating complicated?"
Lucy spotted a gas station and decided to evade the very question she had been asking herself all week, "Hey, don't we need some gas?"
Gina checked her tank and nodded. They pulled over at a gas station for some refueling. Gina pumped the gas, while Mandy went inside for some supplies. Lucy took the moment to give Brent a call, "What's up?"
She could hear him smiling on the other end, "Hey! Just who I was about to call. How's the show looking?"
"Good. I'm just super tired. How's dorm life?"
"So far, so good. My roommate smells a little, but no complaints. Last night we went to this awesome party and got--"
Lucy, who didn't want to hear about an awesome party that she had not attended, saw Mandy coming out of the Quik Trip, "Hey, I gotta go, I'll call you tonight?"
Brent stopped mid-sentence, "Sounds good."
Lucy waited a beat before saying, "I love you, Brent."
"Love you too, Luce."
Lucy hung up the phone with a sigh. She didn't know if it was mostly in her head or just her overall depressed mood from being done with band camp, but she was completely second guessing her "relationship" with Brent. She wanted him to have an awesome time at school and do all the fun things that were involved in college life. They were in this weird friends but more than friends place. He was still the first person she would call about everything.
What happens when he calls you with girl problems?
I hang up the phone.
Seriously, you're not making things any easier on yourself…
How am I just supposed to shut off feelings that I have for him? Plus, it's not like there's anyone I'm even interested in.
Mandy, no stranger to Lucy's moods, asked, "What's up?"
Lucy fiddled with her phone, "It's Brent. I can't say exactly, you know. I mean we're not exactly together, but we're not exactly broken up either and I don't want to hold him back from anything. It's so complicated!"
To: Nevada0922
From: bassgrl17
Hey B-boy,
I wish I actually had the courage to send this to you. I wish I had a universal remote that I could fast forward our lives and see how it all turns out. It already hurts so much that you're gone. I thought marching and band would fill the void, but no such luck. It's even tougher being around everyone because they're all dating people. Anyways, the reason I'm not sending this is because I don't want you to see me as a whiny annoying high school student. I know college isn't that different, but please don't forget me, ok?
Luce
Lucy sighed, clicked "Save as draft" and turned her computer off. She lay down on her bed and thought about her last first day of school that would begin in less than twelve hours. Feeling strangely inspired for the late hour, she signed back online. Looking at her buddy list, she glimpsed a name that had been there off an on throughout the summer, Cartwright213. Ever since their "break-up" (although it was impossible to technically break-up with someone you had never met) she had simply chose to ignore him. Now, there was something strangely appealing about talking to her online buddy again, even if he did know who she was.
What do you have to lose?
Lucy cracked her knuckles and typed nervously:
bassgirl17: How was your summer?
As soon as she sent it, she felt like an idiot for her complete lack of wit and overall dorky question. An answer came back shortly:
Cartwright213: Decent. I'm about to get some sleep, can we talk soon?
Lucy smiled, in spite of herself and typed:
bassgirl117: I'd like that. Lates.
Lucy stretched before she walked down to the field after the second day of class. She didn't want to get all mushy about her final season, but there was something definitely nostalgic about realizing that each practice was one practice closer to her last. In August, the Tuesdays and Thursdays seemed to stretch out forever, but unfortunately, there was a definite end. She silently crossed her fingers, hoping the football team would make at least semi-finals this year. The other thought in the back of her mind, was as much as she enjoyed drumming, with the universities and majors she was considering, the reality of marching in college was not she would probably see through. Plus, there's that whole, I play oboe thing…
As amazing as the drummers were on her Line, she had to admit to herself that if she had to audition with an entire incoming class of drummers to a large school, there was a very small chance of her making a spot. We'll see…
She had already looked over newcomers and underclassmen at band camp and had found a few cuties, but no one she actually deemed "crush worthy." After with her semi-disastrous and ultimately very confusing season last year combined with her unknown status with Brent, she was going to play things this season with a lot more caution. Plus, since she had packed enough romance and drama into a few shot months last year, she didn't feel the need to rush off into anything. There was nothing wrong with being one of the token girls on the Brookwood Drum Line…and this year, someone to extend the lineage to. Lucy thought about young Bronwyn. The pretty redhead was, at this point, still super shy, however, she was also unbelievably talented. Lucy suspected great things from her and looked forward to building their friendship.
Lucy picked up her bass, carrier, flicked down her Oakleys, and plugged in her iPod (randomly landing on …The Tide is High) and began walking to the field. She was walking alone, enjoying herself and the still unusual stares she was getting from the freshies…which may or may not have had to do with the convincing fake tattoo she had sported during all of band camp. She and Lisa had goofed off one afternoon and ordered matching "barb wire" for their left biceps. It's like they've never seen a girl on the Battery before…
Lucy wasn't sure what stars had aligned for her to be the only girl on the Battery for an unusual second year, but she wasn't complaining. Lost in her thoughts and jamming to Blondie, she didn't notice the shadow that was passing over her and the object that was coming closer and closer to her. As if drawn to an imaginary bullseye in the middle of her bass drum, a football smacked into her drum head with enough intensity to puncture it and render it useless.
Lucy practically threw her drum off and was angrily looking around within seconds. As the school was continually growing, construction had forced the band and football practice fields closer together than usual. Not that the girls of the marching band were complaining…
Lucy picked up the ball and went storming over to the football practice field. She wasn't sure if it was something in the water or that she was just used to wiry guys on the Line, but she suddenly found herself surrounded by some massive football players.
Her power song, the theme to Kill Bill, Battle Without Honor or Humanity, roared in her head and she angrily asked, "Who's responsible for this?"
The guys shrugged. Lucy got even madder.
"Seriously? Whoever it was just broke my bass drum head!" As soon as she said it, she cringed, as something about that statement sounded ridiculously sexual.
A few of the guys snickered. Lucy flushed.
From the back of the group, an accented voice said, "Sorry about that. I think it was me."
The group parted as a guy came forward. Lucy had never seen him before, but thought she had heard a rumor of a British transfer student that was sending palpitations through the females of the student body. She looked him over. In a country that had produced the famous footballer David Beckham, this guy wasn't too far behind. He had his hair cut short like Becks and it appeared to be honey blonde in color. Lucy met his eyes and was surprised to find green ones like her own. She was glad she had her sunglasses pulled down so that he couldn't see her once over. She put a hand on her hip, "Really?"
"Yes, please let me help you."
"I think you've done enough already."
Left-handed Lucy purposely threw the ball at his crotch and walked away, smirking at the whistles coming from the football players.
She got back to her drum and began walking in the opposite direction of the practice field. She passed Barry, and said, "Some dick football punk managed to get his football into my drum. I have to change a head."
Barry shook his head, "Already? This early in the season?"
"Don't blame me. Blame the idiot who did this." Lucy turned so Barry could see the gaping hole in the side of her drum. She then turned and walked up back to the percussion room. So far for a great first practice…
Lucy switched out the head as quickly as possible, but had already missed the warm up and got a number of questioning looks as she made the walk alone back down to the field for the second time.
Across the other practice field, a pair of green eyes watched the brunette with the cute ponytail and "I don't give a damn" walk. She was wearing short khaki shorts that complemented her tan and a white tank top.
He asked one of his new teammates, "Who's that?"
The answer was grunted back, "I don't know, some band geek."
The green-eyed Brit, who had only recently moved to the States, wasn't familiar with many of the aspects of being an American high school student. Across the pond, he had attended, like most people his age, an all boys school. Being around all these girls was already seriously messing with his hormones. Furthermore, even though he wouldn't necessarily classify himself as a "jock" per se, as a member of the football, American football, team, that was where most people lumped him. In such a large school, there was a very formulaic set of cliques in place. He didn't realize that certain things "just weren't done."
During the first break, Lucy was still fuming. Gina asked, "Where were you before practice? Isn't it a little bit early to start being all hard core?"
Lucy burst out, "Someone put a hole in my drum."
Mandy twirled her flag absentmindedly, "Wow. Do you know who it was?"
"Some jock. Had a British accent…"
Gina burst out, "The new guy put a hole in your drum!"
Mandy smiled, "I have AP Bio with him, he is too cute."
Lucy flipped her mallets, "Does he have a name?"
"Wesley Mallinson, but I think he goes by Wes. He's the new kicker."
Gina asked, "Did you ask for some retribution?"
"No. The football team has too much testosterone for even me to handle. Whatever, I'm sure he already has some jockette or cheerleader girlfriend all lined up."
Mandy said, "I don't know, if I were you, I would try and get some distance out of this. Like, I don't know, maybe a date?"
Gina added, "I mean, it's only fair."
Lucy grumbled, "I'll think about it."
AN: For the song randomly selected, Tide is High (by Blondie) I actually just went to my playlist and went to the next random song.
