Here is the next chapter for the Junior year! All of this actually happened (I'll let you know if something did not happen when it comes to this story; assume everything did, because it actually did... happen that is... whatever). Leave me a review and tell me what you think!


Chapter Seven: A Guest Band And A New Nickname.

"So, when do you go down there?"

"Before lunch."

"When are you supposed to go down there?"

"After lunch."

"Arianna, you need to eat!"

"But, I'm too excited!"

Arianna and Elissa sat at their lunch table, Arianna squirming so much it was driving Elissa crazy. It was almost two weeks after the homecoming show and both girls were feeling the emptiness the lack of marching band had. Arianna had honor bands and concerts to go to, like the honor band she was going to perform with tomorrow night and that afternoon; she had things to keep her busy. Elissa had nothing at the moment, her extracurricular activities not starting for a few more weeks. She had work, yeah, but that was no fun.

"Arianna, will ya sit still, for just a second?" Elissa asked, frustrated. "You're giving me a headache. It's before lunch now. Why don't you go down there and start- um, I don't know! Whatever you do before the assembly!"

Arianna's face fell a little.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'll be there when the rest of the school is. In the gym, right?"

"Yes."

"Okay, see you there, then."

Arianna jumped up and ran toward the band room, practically skipping in delight. Arianna always got like this before a special performance, Elissa grumbled, getting into the lunch line after putting her bag on the lunch table. It was just going to be her today, unless she sat with Kassie and her group.

Mr. Vogl's military band had arrived about a half an hour ago, the assembly to be another hour from now. Mr. Vogl had convinced his commander to play at the school in an assembly, a sort of warm up before the band had to travel to be an honor band at the performance Arianna was going to be in the next night. The commander had asked Mr. Vogl to pick a few of his best musicians to perform with the band. Arianna had been one of four to be chosen to play. Ashley, the Head Majorette, was picked as a saxophone player; Brittany, a section leader, on the clarinet; and Peter, on the trumpet, would join Arianna, a flute and piccolo player, and the military band before they went to the honor band the next day.

Elissa groaned as she came out of the lunch line to find freshmen sitting at the table, her bag on the floor. There were too many of them to fight with, and she saw Kassie across the room. Picking up her bag and giving a mean look to the freshman, Elissa joined Kassie.


Arianna didn't stop running until she got to the band room, her heels clanking on the steps, so loud Arianna flinched. She was dressed up, in her concert outfit consisting of a long black skirt and white top. She had pulled her hair back into a simple clip, long hair drifted to her elbows and a smile lit her face. Arianna couldn't wait to meet the band!

"Hey, Arianna," Mr. Vogl called from his office. "Get your music I gave you and your instruments. We'll head down to the gym."

Arianna obeyed and met Mr. Vogl at his office door, flute, piccolo, and music in hand. She was startled as Mr. Vogl emerged from his office in full uniform.

"Looking good, Mr. Vogl."

Mr. Vogl laughed as she locked his office door behind him.

"Standard issue uniform. You're not looking bad yourself. All ready?"

"Yes, I am!"

The two walked down the hallways to the guy, Arianna getting more and more nervous every step of the way.

"Um, Mr. Vogl?"

"Yeah?"

"Is there anything I should know about? Anything that the band does that I need to do?"

"No. Just relax, Ari, everything will be fine. There's nothing I know about that you need to know about. I'm sure everyone will love you and you'll do everything perfectly."

Arianna nodded her head, unable to find the words she wanted to say. Mr. Vogl opened the gym door for her and Arianna stepped inside. There was a sea of bluish-gray uniforms and Arianna walked closer to Mr. Vogl, nearly hiding behind him.

"Sargent Vogl, I see you've brought a lovely guest! Maybe you could introduce her to the band?"

A man carrying a trumpet walked by, a smile on his face. Arianna crunched closer to Mr. Vogl and the director laughed.

"Don't worry, you're safe. Go and make some friends; it looks like we're getting ready for practice."


The concert was amazing, Arianna thought as she joined her friends in the commons, Elissa running up and giving her a hug.

"Arianna! It was brilliant! Oh, my goodness! That was-"

"Thanks, thanks," Arianna said, becoming a little distracted. The commander of the military band had just walked by and Arianna had something left unfinished. Excusing herself, Arianna ran up to the director, asking politely, "Commander Skkab?"

"Yes, Ms. Arianna?"

"I wanted to apologize for not standing at the finale of-"

"You didn't know. I should be sorry, Ms. Arianna. No one noticed, I think. You performed brilliantly. Thank you for joining our band."

"Thank you, Commander Skkab. Are you sure it was alright?"

"Yes, I am, Ms. Arianna."

"Thank you again, sir. I shouldn't keep you waiting."

"I shall see you tomorrow night, Ms. Arianna. Until then?"

"Until then, sir."

As Commander Skkab winked and walked toward the bus that held the rest of the band, all on their way to arrive at the honor event a night early, Arianna sighed. Being so formal was stressing and she was still embarrassed at what she had- or hadn't- done.

At the end of the final song, the military band had stood up for the refrain, the guest musicians not knowing what to do. Everyone else had eventually figured it out that they were supposed to stand: except Arianna. She had been so involved in the music that, by the time she noticed everyone was standing behind her, everyone else had noticed she wasn't. Arianna could have died from embarrassment.

"Okay, so remind everyone we need to be at the school by five tomorrow morning. I'll take the van and everyone needs to remember their medical form."

Mr. Vogl listed what was required for the honor band the next day, Arianna nodding.

"Where are you going, Mr. Vogl?" asked Elissa, coming up behind Arianna, a smirk on her face.

"With the band. We perform tonight and then I'll come back to pick up the honor band students."

"Hey, you're a Sargent?" asked Elissa, Arianna and Elissa sharing the same grin. Vogl shrunk away a little.

"Yeah, why?"

"Have a great trip, Sarg."

"See you tomorrow, Sarg!"


Hahah, and that's how Arianna was embarrassed beyond belief and how Mr. Vogl got his nickname. I know that there should be an "e" after the "g" but there never has been one when it comes to spelling Mr. Vogl's "Sarg." so the "e" doesn't matter here... hah! Please leave me a review and thanks for reading! I'll update soon and tell the chapter of the honor band (which is really fun, actually! I think I'll do it in two parts, maybe three... I don't know...) Please review and thanks for reading (in case you didn't catch it the first time!)