I could feel the rush of wind flow through my long brunette locks, a familiar scent, his scent… a Hollister brand cologne…it was hot. Something warm was against my skin, a sensation that seemed to seep through the fabric of my purple laced tank top.
My eyes fluttered open, my surroundings were dark. In the distance I could make out a luminescent light, a window, Where am I? I slowly sat up, when a voice among the shadows startled me.
"Well, look who's finally awake! We were worried you might end up like those three freshmen, which would be a shame…" his voice trailed off, it was Nokia.
I turned quickly as he approached, "Wh- what happened?" I managed to stutter out, his presence was already causing my chest to tighten.
"Well, I was hoping you'd be able to tell me…" he responding while inching closer, "We didn't know what to think when Ash burst in the band room with you in his arms. Then before we could ask, he ran off."
"I was in his ar-?!" I cut myself short and thought for a moment, trying to imagine the feeling of his warm, flexing biceps pressing against my body. "Where is Ash?" I ask.
"Where do you think? Conducting the band…" Nokia retorted, and I felt myself tense as I realized he was only inches away.
"Crap!" I pushed Nokia's face away, a look of defeat flashing across it as he drops his left arm which held a bottle of sunscreen. "I'm late! Is practice already over?! How much have I missed?!" The questions poured out as I panicked, looking around for my trombone before realizing I wasn't even in the band room.
I felt a hand clutch my shoulder, "Ariana! Calm down, lunch ended about 10 minutes ago, you're fine!"
He turned me around, "I just wanted to offer you some sun screen, you're shoulders are super burnt…" Then tossed me the bottle he held before heading out, "I'll be waiting outside, we can head to the field together."
I nodded as he left, Geez, could of just straight up handed me the damn bottle… Soon after he left, I realized I couldn't apply the sunscreen to my burnt back. Sighing, I called out for Nokia who surprisingly returned in a heartbeat. "Can you?" I turned around, moving my hair around my shoulders so he could rub the cold sunscreen against my back.
He was gentle, but firm... such conflicting feelings I beheld...
When he was finished, I took the bottle, setting it down on a desk, wherever the hell we were. I quickly walked around the building to the band room, putting together my instrument skillfully.
With my trombone in hand, Nokia and I made out way to the field. Upon arrival I sighed with relief, they weren't doing anything vitally important, in fact they were in sections, showing the freshmen how to march backwards effectively.
As we approached the gate I could see Ash in the distance, his abs glistened in the sun as he slowly applied his spray on sunscreen. He was beautiful. Unconsciously I raised my hand ahead of me, reaching for him blindly, almost feeling the touch of his skin against my fingertips. Then Nokia's voice snapped me back into reality.
"Uhh… Ariana, are you alright?" he asked, looking at me like I was crazy.
"What…?" I respond dreamily as my focus remains ahead.
Nokia waved a hand in front of my face, "I think you're dehydrated… or hallucinating, perhaps you should go home."
I've never missed a practice, nor gone home, and I wasn't about to start now. I kept walking with my gaze ahead, at the field, at Ash, at Marching Band. "No Nokia… this is where I belong."