I put my hand on the cold metal long knob, and pushed open the door, sighing softly.
Inside, everyone had already gotten out their instruments, and were situated in their proper seats. The woodwinds were at the front, with the flutes furthest right, with the piccolo player at the head, then the clarinets, oboes, bassoons, and other reed instruments, with the saxophonists furthest left.
In the second row, were the tubas furthest right, then the baritones, then the trombones, and furthuest left were the trumpets and the french horns.
In the very last row were the percussion.
Dr Saltweather laid his baton down on the music stand, and turned to look at me. He had a scowl on his face, and a look of disappointment in his eyes. "You're late Miss Gunn," he said.
"Yes, I'm sorry, it won't happen again," I looked down at my feet, and scuffed them on the carpet. I couldn't believe that it was only my second day here, and I was already getting reprimanded, this week did not seem to be going well for me at all.
"Very well," Dr Saltweather sighed, "get your instrument, and sit down."
I gave a small nod, and walked over to where the instruments were kept. I reached my hand in the cubby, and pulled out a square black leather case. I gripped it by the handle, and walked over to my section, to sit beside the other oboe player.
I sat down on the soft chair, and laid the case over my lap, and I flicked the metal things upwards, and the lid sprung open.
I smiled and ran my fingers across the inner black velvet of the case, and let out a happy sigh. It felt so soft, like petting a Rex rabbit.
I reached in, and grabbed the different pieces of my oboe, being careful not to cause any damage to them, and put them together.
"Alright, today we are going to be playing our Halloween song for the Halloween concert that is coming up," Dr Saltweather said.
I pulled out my music folder, and found the song, it was called The Pumpkin March.
Dr Saltweather raised his baton, and focused on the band, his eyes were mainly focused on the flutes, because they would be starting. Just as a shrill tune sounded out, the door flung open, and a fowl, yet familiar, stench filled the room.
Sounds of gagging, and the clattering filled the room, as nearly everyone dropped their instruments. I held tightly to mine though, and just used it to cover my nose.
I peered up, and found myself looking at the really attractive boy. My heart thudded in my chest, and I swallowed the lump in my throat that was beginning to form.
"Sorry for the intrusion, I'm here for music," the boy said in a voice that sounded like the rolling waves of the sea. He held up a square case, and I went light headed, and it wasn't because of the smell. It was the same exact case as mine!
"What is your name?" Dr Saltweather asked, pulling out a clip board, and running his pen over it, clicking his tongue as he did so.
"Dalton Endless," the boy replied.
"Alright Mr Endless, thank you, sit beside Miss Gunn," Dr Saltweather said, flicking his pen in my direction.
I gripped my oboe tightly with my fingers, and tried to slow down my heart as Dalton made his way over to me.
"Ugh, why does he have to sit here?" Cassie, the other oboe player, groaned with her nose over her shirt.
If Dalton had heard her, he showed no indication of it. In fact, he seemed not to notice how everyone was either clenching their noses shut with their fingers, or covering them up with their shirts.
"Hello, I'm Dalton," he said with a smile, reaching his hand out.
"I'm Desdamona." I gripped his hand tightly with my own and a shiver went down my spine. His hand was cold, and wet feeling, but it did not deter away from his starking beauty.
"Alright, now that's over, let's get to playing the song," Dr Saltweather barked.
Dalton raised his hand in the air, and chewed his bottom lip, as he looked from myself, to Caleb, the bassonist, who was sitting next to him on his other side.
"Yes Mr Endless?"
"I don't have the music," Dalton said with a slight tremble in his voice, and his eyes glistened with tears.
I softly put my hand on his shoulder, and he jumped slightly, and looked wide-eyed at me.
"It's okay, you can share with me," I told him. I understood what it was like to forget my supplies on my first day. When I went to my old school, I had to borrow paper and a pencil from this girl in Science class.
"Really?" he asked. I looked over at Dr Saltweather, and he nodded.
"Really," I smiled.
He scooted his chair closer to mine, and butterflies started to swirl around in my stomach. You need to stop this, I scowled internally to myself, Dalton has a girlfriend! Stop getting flustered over someone who you barely know, especially since he is taken.
I shook my head, and put my oboe into position, I would have to deal with the whole Dalton thing at a later time. I had other things to focus on right now.
Once again, the flutes let out a shrill noise, that sounded a bit like a whistling howl. Then, the tubas joined in along with the bass drums, which slowly pounded, like footsteps in an empty house.
When it was time for the reed instruments to play, I took a deep breath, and blew into my oboe.
It let out a horrible squeak! I nearly died. My face heated, and I felt like sinking down to the bottom of the floor, and never rising up again. This had never happened to me before, I had played songs that were much more complicated than the The Pumpkin March, and never before had I screwed up so horribly.
Everyone was looking at me with their eyes wide, and their mouths gaped open. Even Dr Saltweather was looking at me with that exact same expression on his face.
After about thirty seconds of everyone staring, I couldn't take it anymore, I let out a strangled sob, and tore out of the music room, ignoring the sounds of Dr Saltweather telling me to stop.
I fled down the hall, wiping the tears away with the sleeve of my cape. I ran, and ran, my legs began to feel like leaded jelly, and my heart was pounding in my chest. I felt sick to my stomach, so I sat down to take a break, and I brought my knees up to my chest, and laid my face down on them.
Was I cursed? I wondered as a tear slid down my cheek, and landed on the knee of my jeans, causing a small dark spot to appear.
I let out another sob, and I felt a firm, yet soft, hand on my shoulder. I peered up, and through my teary gaze, I saw Oliver Bloor looking at me with compassion in his dark brown eyes.
"Are you alright?" he asked with concern, sitting down beside me on the floor. I smiled lightly at him, and nodded, wiping my tears away.
"Positive?" he asked. He lifted his brow and tilted his head like a dog. He looked so amusing, that I couldn't help but to chuckle.
"Ah, there's a smile," he grinned, poking the corner of my mouth.
"Stop you buffoon," I snorted out, slapping his hand away gently.
He put his hands up in a surrender, and grinned at me. The door next to us flung open, and the Maths teacher stepped out with a scowl.
"What is the meaning of this? Get to your classrooms!" She barked, putting her hands on her hips, and glaring at us through her coke bottle glasses.
"Come on," Oliver said reaching his hand out for me. I smiled at him, and grasped his hand tightly. It wasn't cold like Dalton's, but it didn't send a certain feeling through my body as Dalton's had.
"Well, I better get back to music class now," I gazed down the hallway to where the music room was. I was surprised that no one had run after me. I wasn't all that bothered though.
"See you around," Oliver waved with a smile. I gave him a small wave in return, and when I got back to the music room, everyone stood silently, just gaping at me.
"What are you looking at?" I snapped, feeling my temperature rise.
"Everyone stop staring, so she made a mistake, we've all made mistakes. In fact, Chance, you made your clarinet squawk yesterday," Gabrielle said, flicking her eyes over to a boy with black hair and blue eyes. He turned a slight shade of red, and looked down at his clarinet.
I smiled at Gabrielle, once again, she had come to my rescue.
"She's right, just because Desdamona is the daughter of THE Fidelio Gunn, doesn't mean we should put all that pressure on her," Cassie said. She turned her eyes away from me, and picked up her music book.
One by one, the students turned their focus from me to their music.
I instantly felt better, and I no longer wanted to escape into nothingness. I pulled out my oboe, and took a deep breath as I prepared for the reed section part to come up. I really hoped that I wouldn't mess up again.
My heart thudded in times with the bass drums as they began their part.
It's getting close, I thought to myself, nervously licking my lips that had dried out.
When it was my turn, I took a deep breath, and blew into my instrument, pouring my heart and soul into it. I felt the music course through my veins, and it sent a tingle down my spine. I closed my eyes, imagining myself dancing in a field of pumpkins as I played my heart out.
I blew one last final note, and opened my eyes. I looked up at Dr Saltweather, and he flashed me a smile, as he continued to conduct the band. I couldn't help but to smile. My heart tightened, and this time it was for a different reason, but only did I not make my instrument squawk, but I had played in a way that made me feel like I had never felt before. I felt so free, I felt as though I could float. It was one of the best feelings that I had ever felt, and I never wanted it to end.