When I was writing this chapter, I honestly felt a little like Arianna in this chapter. My heartbreak was fast and my throat was tight and I was re-living everything almost. It was sad, but I got over it. Don't worry, this is probably the saddest it will get in this story, so if you don't like it, then good. If you do like it, well, shame on you for getting pleasure from Ari's pain! (Joking, joking, joking! I'm happy you at least are reading!) Onward!

Chapter Four: The Election

Arianna shook with anticipation. She was so nervous, she could hardly stand the tension. Today was the day the band was going to vote for the new majorettes. Arianna had two chances for a position. The odds were in her favor. She squirmed in her chair, her fingers wrapping and unwrapping themselves around the piccolo she held, her flute in her lap. The warm up was useless, Arianna was sharp and, as hard as she tried to fix it, she just couldn't tune. Her mind was set on the elections. The talk she had had the previous night with Mr. Vogl kept running through her head; he knew how bad she wanted this.

Finally, the director sat in his chair and put his baton down, addressing the band.

"Now, since we lost our two drum majors and our show is coming up, we need new majors. I know the people in this band well enough, I think, to pick out the leaders in the group. I need two girls, according to the tradition, the principal told me this morning, to be head majorette and assistant majorette. The responsibility, dedication, and hard work it takes is exactly why I need leaders, not followers, from Concert Band, juniors for assistant, seniors for head. I am opening the floor for nominations."

The room was silent until someone said the name of a senior saxophone player. She had been section leader for years and everyone nodded in agreement. Arianna felt herself nodding her own head, a voice that didn't sound like her own muttering, "Good choice, good choice." Mr. Vogl nodded and said, "Any other seniors for head majorette position?" No one moved and the senior who had been nominated smiled. She had no contest- She won and she knew it.

"I have a problem with Ashley leaving the section. She is a great leader, yes, but the saxophones need her."

The objection came from Peter, the section leader for the trumpets. Several people nodded in agreement, but most of the band was already drifting off, their attention span waning. Arianna was nervous; if people started to not care about head majorette, then they wouldn't care who got assistant majorette.

"I'm going to overrule that, Peter. Ashley is the only nominated senior and no one else is stepping forward."

There was a pause as everyone waited for anyone to speak up from the senior class. No one did.

"I now give you your Head Majorette, Ashley."

Everyone clapped and Arianna felt her fingers go numb as Mr. Vogl asked for nominations for assistant majorette. Arianna glanced around hopefully, but no one seemed interested. Elissa had her mouth clamped shut and Arianna felt the fist silver dagger stab her heart.

"If there are no nominations, I now ask for volunteers. Is anyone interested?"

Arianna tried to keep her hand from shaking as she raised hers. A second chair clarinet player raised her hand a few seconds later, and the third chair flute player raised her hand also, hesitant.

"Will the three juniors leave the band room while we vote?"

Arianna was surprised she could stand, much less walk across the band room and out the door. The two others followed her. As soon as the door closed behind them, Arianna started her pacing. She told herself to calm down, to relax, but it wasn't working. She could feel the veins in her neck throbbing with pressure and her throat closed, making it hard to swallow or breathe regularly. Arianna's heart pumped faster and faster with every second that passed by and the butterflies in her stomach had now been replaced by dragons, sharp claws and fire twisting her insides into knots.

"Ari, settle down. It's no big deal. I'm not even sure why I'm out here," said the third chair flute player, Kassie.

Arianna took in another deep breath. They had to know how much she wanted this. They had to remember how hard she had been working the past few years for this position. Arianna slid down the wall, sitting on the ground, head in her hands. The anticipation was going to make her pass out soon. Mr. Vogl finally opened the band door and told them to come in.

As they walked into the room, the director went to stand on the podium, to make the official announcement. Arianna felt faint and could hardly breathe, her heartbeat beating in her ears, the pressure in the neck almost too much to handle.

"It's been decided. The votes were counted and this year's Assistant Majorette is-"

Arianna felt the ground sway under her feet.

"-Kassie."

The ground fell from Arianna and she couldn't breathe at all. She stumbled and Kassie hugged her after the clarinet player, the other girl just shrugging. The three girls walked back to their seats and Arianna looked to Elissa for help. Elissa wouldn't look her in the eye and Arianna felt another dagger go into her rapidly beating heart. She had not voted for her.

"Now, Ashley is band president and Kassie is vice president."

Arianna's hopes for leadership died, yet another dagger finding it's way to her heart. Arianna tried to calm herself. Don't worry, her mind said, there is always next year: you still have next year.

"And, after Ashley graduates, Kassie will be booted to Head Majorette and another junior will take her old spot."

A golden dagger pierced her should and Arianna felt her heart break in two. There was no more hope for the position of majorette. It was done. Arianna's chances had been wiped away by those simple words that came from the director, the man Arianna had longed to spill her should to, to tell him of this fear, this fear exactly. Arianna felt physically sick and could hardly keep the tears from coming.

No, she told herself. I'm not going to cry. There is no way I am going to cry in front of the band. Not now. I can't be that weak.

Arianna could hardly lift her piccolo to her mouth for the pain in her body, in her mind... in her soul.

Sad! Well, that was a tough chapter. I hope I get some reviews! Please tell me what you think and I hope you enjoyed it enough to keep going! Thanks so much!