A/N-Thanks to projectfreq91, Silvorfithrade, JacokNortovc, Live.Love.Band, itsmariscul, whoa mor, Lily-Snape-568, Kojin, Jollibee for reviewing!
This chapter was delayed by many things-Championships in Wildwood, make up work, the birth of my niece Emma, band and etcetera.
Check out my new short story, Flip Flop! Special appearances include Rigby and Jude from dutchesscourtney's 'Major Pain'.
I own the plot and the characters.
Chapter Twenty Nine-Not Quite Juliet
Come up on different streets, they both were streets of shame
Both dirty, both mean, yes and the dream was just the same
And I dream your dream for you and now your dream is real
How can you look at me, as if I was just another one of your deals?
Well, you can fall for chains of silver, you can fall for chains of gold
You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold
You promised me everything, you promised me thick and thin
Now you just say, "Oh, Romeo, yeah, you know
I used to have a scene with him"
Romeo and Juliet-The Killers (Dire Straights cover)
Two weeks went by and September became October. The weather started to change from blistering heat to comfortable cool. The show was finally complete. Practices consisted of cleaning and adding little elements to make our visual score rise. Competitions were every weekend now until Championships in the second week of November. The only off Saturday was the weekend of Homecoming. The football game would be on Friday night to be followed by other games and spirit events on Saturday before the most ridiculous event of them all-the Homecoming dance.
Danny, my older brother, would be coming home to watch the game and hang out with his old buddies from his high school lacrosse team. Danny's a junior at up at the State college. He got a full ride there because of his wicked skills with a lacrosse stick. My older brother was exactly like an older brother-annoying, protective and pretty cool. His girlfriend, a petite Japanese girl named Akiko, was also coming down with him. They've been dating since they were seniors. I like my brother's girlfriend a lot-she's a fitness nut and is in ridiculously good shape. Akiko also has the sharp sarcasm to counter my brother's momentary lapses of judgment.
Avery was bouncing off the walls in anticipation for the Big Game, as she called it. She couldn't wait to cheer on the track with the varsity squad and cheer on the "cute football players". Grandpop was excited for the game also. In addition to loving band, he loved the football aspect as well. While he wouldn't watch pro football; he loved college and high school football because he said there was more excitement and better playing. This being my third year of marching band, I should probably know more about football than I do.
My youngest brother Leo was looking forward to seeing the complete show. Leo was a sweet kid who looked up to me. He had an interest in learning and couldn't wait to join the band once he got to fourth grade. My parents were also excited for the Homecoming events, as both were Sycamore alumni.
It seemed that I was the only person in my family not excited for Homecoming. Even the dogs seemed to be excited, but then again, they're always crazy. I wasn't looking forward to Homecoming because I wasn't looking forward to the dance. This year's theme was Midnight Masquerade. Rachelwanted me to go, so I told her I would. She dragged me out dress shopping one Sunday. Missy and I looked at dresses and helped Rachelpick a dress. She finally settled on a grey blue halter that looked really good on her. Once Rachelhad her dress, the pressure was on Missy and myself to find one.
"Find one yet?" I asked Missy as we sifted through racks of dresses.
"If I wanted one to cover my thighs? No. You?"
"Not really. Nothing's really catching my eye. Do you know if you're going with anyone?" I asked. Operation Get Missy and Hayden Together was in full swing. I started planning it during Geometry. First mission is to get a catchier name. At that moment, Rachelran up carrying a small mountain of dresses.
"I found some dresses I think might look good on you guys…go try them on!" Missy and I trudged over to the dressing rooms and began picking through the pile.
"Well I'm not wearing anything pink or sparkly, I know that…" I muttered, tossing a dress matching that description over my shoulder. "So anyway, are you going with anyone?" I asked as casually as I could.
"I don't know…maybe you could go with Hayden and I'll go with Sean?"
"No!" I cried, a little louder than I should have. Missy looked at me funny. My mind was whirling. Bad Missy! You're supposed to follow my plan and march over and jump on him!
"Why not? It's not like Hayden will ask me anytime soon." Good Missy. Now to make you think otherwise and get Hayden to be a man…
"Really? He's been talking about you lately…" I said, pretending to be more interested in the dress I was examining.
"What did he say?" Missy asked, equally as casual, but I could detect the excitement in her voice.
"He said what a cool girl you are and how he really wants you to march snare with him in indoor this season." Missy blushed. Hook, line and sinker.
"What about this one?" She asked. It was a mod little black dress, and looked amazing on her.
"I think you've found your date." I smiled. "I think you've found your dress." I picked up a dark red strapless dress. "Looks like I've found mine too."
The football team was going into Homecoming week undefeated, a feat not seen since my brother's sophomore year at Sycamore. Spirit week was, of course, very odd. I still don't understand what Favorite Band Shirt Day had anything to do with the upcoming game, but that's beyond me. The day of the game dawned bright and sunny; the teachers didn't bother teaching because they all knew our minds were elsewhere. We watched The Patriot in AP U.S. which turned out to be pretty epic when we all raided the vending machines. I got out of class third block for the pep rally and headed down to the band room. Noah had promised face paint, and I wanted warrior lines on my cheeks. With one black stripe and one green I looked like an eco-friendly zebra.
The pep rally consisted of stupidity of higher levels than what is safe for humans. The events that took place included throwing cheese puffs at people wearing blindfolds. The band collectively cringed-after all, we'd be marching on those cheese puffs tonight at half time.
Hayden and I walked over to the nearby Dunkin' Donuts after school to get something to eat and to have a little talk.
"Missy, Racheland I went shopping this weekend. Missy got the cutest dress…" I said over my bagel. Hayden's ears went red.
"Yeah, she told me about that. Do you know what color it is?"
"Black, why?" I untwisted the cap to my iced tea and took a sip.
"Because I wanted to get her flowers to match. And there aren't any black flowers!" Hayden ran his hand through his hair.
"It's a little late to order a corsage." I said. "You could probably get a bouquet made up tomorrow morning though. And Hayden? That's the beauty of black. Everything matches." I took a bite of my bagel. "White would be pretty. Roses are nice. So are lilies."
"Should I write all this down?" He asked, giving a small laugh.
"With you? Word for word. Maybe you should get a recorder so you can play it back later."
"Haha, very funny." Hayden finished his bagel and grabbed the bag with our 'gift' for Perry. The drumline instructor, we learned last season, loved strawberry cream cheese. For some reason this struck a chord with the line, who went and bought as many packages of strawberry cream cheese as we could. Perry ate most of it on the trip and grossed out many of the girls in the pit.
After giving Perry his bagel, we headed outside to run the show twice and practice stand tunes. Once everything had been deemed excellent, the band was released for dinner and pre-Homecoming rituals. My friends and I all went to the Chinese place down the street to honor the tradition as set down by former band members. Dinner was a slightly crazed and hurried affair, as one could expect when mixing band members and fortune cookies. I cracked open my cookie and read my fortune.
'Your heart will always make itself known through your words.' Shrugging at the meaning, I put the slip of paper into my back pocket and ran with my friends to the school to get ready for the game.
I was proud of my young friend as I watched her put on her uniform with confidence. Adrianna was shaping into a fierce and strong girl. While she still had momentary lapses in nervousness, she was constantly growing. I felt like a parent, watching their child ride without training wheels for the first time. Band was shaping Adri to be a fine young woman.
The snap of the kickoff in the cool night air was a refreshing relief from the chatter of the Homecoming dance. Rachelwas trying to engross James in talk about the upcoming dance, which was starting to get on the nerves on my section mates. Brian tapped my arm when we were sitting down after playing the Hey Song.
"I know she's your friend, but will you tell Rachel to shut up? I really don't care about the brand of shoes she's wearing tomorrow." I sighed.
"Yeah, I will." I stood up and handed my trumpet to Brian and scooted down the line of trumpets to where James was conversing with his girlfriend.
"Nat I'm gonna have to ask you to wait a little longer to talk to James. It's distracting some of the other trumpets." I smiled at my friend. She glared at me and swiftly turned around. I rolled my eyes at her childish behavior and stepped over people to get back to my spot at the end of the bleacher.
Half time rolled around and the band made their way onto the field with cheers from the crowd. For once, there were people to see us; a large number of graduated band students always came to the Homecoming game to see us take the field and make an obnoxious amount of noise.
"WHAT'S THAT? A GIRL? GO SYDNEY!" A smile came to my face as the graduated trumpet players who made me the section leader I am today cheered for me. As the write up was read, the trumpets gathered in a huddle, as per tradition.
"Short and sweet guys, that's all I got. Do it up, do what you've been doing all season, all day!" I yelled over the noise of the crowd. I took a deep breath before speaking the lines set before me by past section leaders.
"Whose time is it?!"
"Our time!" The vets yelled. The rookies looked slightly confused.
"I said, whose time is it?!"
"OUR TIME!" They screamed.
"That's what I'm talking about! Hands in, 'our time' on three: one, two, three!"
"OUR TIME!" The circle broke and everyone headed to their opening sets. The show started out perfectly, every note nailed by the trumpets made my heart soar higher and higher. The adrenaline rush I was getting was nothing compared to the collective awesomeness of my section's work. By the end of the show, the trumpets were tired but we were able to pull off the ending solo by basically doing a park and bark. The crowd cheered for us and I could hear the band alums yelling as the band marched off the field.
"Hey guys," I said as the trumpets and mellos walked up to our spots in the bleachers to dump our stuff before the third quarter. "That what's I'm talking about."
Saturday dawned clear and overall a nice day for a dance. I glanced at the dress hanging up in my open closet and groaned. I wasn't really into dancing, but I was going just to hang out and try to make the best of it. Missy, Racheland I had gotten together at Missy's house on Wednesday to make masks to fit in with the theme of the dance. Making a masquerade mask was a lot of fun and it made a huge mess in Missy's room; my red and gold mask was at Missy's house where we'd be taking pictures later today. Hayden had grabbed Missy after the football game and asked her to be his date. Although very last minute, Missy had been thrilled. I had a feeling she suspected my involvement, but I really didn't care as long as she was happy.
I drove over to the florist with Hayden to help him make a bouquet for Missy and to also have one made up for myself (I like flowers like any girl and since I wasn't getting any from a boy, I figured I could get my own). After much shoving on my part, Hayden bought a dozen short stemmed white roses bound together by a sheer black ribbon. It was classic and I was sure Missy would love it. My bouquet was made of tiger lilies and other fall looking flowers to go with my dark red dress. I promised Hayden that I would see him later at Missy's house for pictures (after all, someone had to tell him how to act…) and dropped him off at his house before heading home to get ready.
Avery, bless her preppy little heart, had agreed to help me get ready. Although I never asked her, she barged into the bathroom and grabbed my hands and proceeded to paint my nails. The relentless attack on my physical appearance was so sudden that I had no time to defend myself. My sister however, did alright. My nails were done simply; a French manicure that didn't look overly girly. My hair fell to my collarbone in gentle waves; something I could never do on my own. I actually thought I looked okay. I drove to Missy's house early so I could get my mask and take random pictures with the girls before the boys showed up to ruin our fun.
Taking pictures with the boys was an odd affair for me. I was the fifth wheel and I knew it, so I stood in the background and ruined a few pictures with awkward turtles and bunny ears before letting my friends have decent Homecoming pictures. Missy's mom got a great picture of me shrugging expressively with my Foster Grants on. I laughed as she showed me the shot.
"Well at least I know I'm getting a new profile picture out of this."
Missy's mom drove us in her awesome van and we arrived in high style. I saw Abby wearing a purple dress (if that's what you could call it since it was so short) and immediately heard her lovely voice.
"Ew Roberson you can actually clean up decently! We finally have proof you're a girl!" I rolled my eyes and held Natalie's arm to stop her from jumping her cousin here in the parking lot.
"Just ignore her. I really don't care." I said, keeping a hold on her arm as I walked into the gym where the dance was being held.
The dance itself was brightly colored and decorated to the max. Thank you, student council. I saw most of the drumline already assembled in one of the corners and I waved. They saw Missy and Hayden and immediately began yelling and carrying on like only drummers can. I laughed and joined them in the now deemed 'Reject Corner'. I happily watched my friends talk and mess around while crappy music blared from the DJ's tables. There was a mass exodus of girls who flew solo as the single boys moved to the walls awkwardly while the first slow song of the evening played. I could see James and Racheltightly entwined out of the corner of my eye and tried to keep from looking at them. I was on the hunt for Missy and Hayden. I found them dancing with each other at arms length. Deciding that that could not do, I walked behind Hayden and purposely tripped so I bumped him into Missy.
"Oops sorry guys…these silly heels…" I smiled at them innocently and walked back over to the Reject Corner. Missy was now buried in Hayden's chest and looked to have no intension of leaving. Hayden had a blissful smile on his face and when I caught his eye he nodded his thanks at me.
So what are you the Matchmaker Matchmaker now?
Yep.
Yet you want to break up Racheland James?
I never said that.
But you just thought it.
Shut up.
You don't have to be so rude…
And here I was thinking I was normal.
I let the metaphorical devil and angel on my shoulders duke it out while I went to grab something to drink. I reached out to grab the last Essential vitamin water sitting on the table when another hand bumped mine. I looked up to see James. He looked nice, dressed in all black with a tie that matched Natalie's dress.
"Oh sorry." James said. "I didn't know you liked it too."
"Of course I do-vitamin water is a drumline tradition practically." I was smiling at the memory of the cases of vitamin water we went though last season. James grabbed a Defense bottle and tossed me the Essential.
"You don't have to, I can pick another kind." I said, holding out the bottle in my hand. James shook his head.
"I couldn't take away a lady's vitamin water." James said, smiling at me lightly. "Besides, I could never take one from a girl as lovely as you."
"You have a girlfriend James and she's my best friend. I'd watch it if I were you." I said. "By the way, where is she?"
"Bathroom." He said. I nodded. I knew how long Rachelcould take. Being the perfectionist that she is, she could take forever making sure she looked decent even though I thought she looked fine to begin with.
"So it is just me, or do these dances suck more than they used to?" James asked.
"I've never been a big fan of the Homecoming dance myself. Winter Ball is normally fun, and I've never been to Prom so I can't say what that's like." I said. "But you haven't been at a Sycamore dance since seventh grade." I tried to keep the bitterness out of my voice but I couldn't.
"Sydney…I don't know what to say…I don't know why you were so upset over that…"
"Hm, maybe you were dancing with my least favorite person? Or maybe because you had been ignoring me for weeks beforehand! Or could it have been because I wanted to be in her place?!" I clapped a hand over my mouth. I couldn't believe what I had just said.
"Really? You would have wanted to be there with me instead of Abby?" James' voice was quiet. It was serious. I was thankful for the dimmed lights; I was sure my face could have matched my dress.
"Yes." My heart was forcing my brain to say what I wanted to say almost four years ago.
"'Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.'" James whispered. I gave an involuntary shutter and forgot who I was talking to.
"Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet. Act one, scene five." I stated. "How did you know I love Shakespeare?"
"Facebook." James said simply.
"'Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say how much.'" I replied. "Much Ado About Nothing. Act two, scene one."
"You're scary." James laughed, and he leaned down and kissed me.
He caught me off guard (what girl wouldn't be wooed by Shakespeare?!) and I found myself kissing him back. I realized what I was doing and broke the kiss.
"You're dating my best friend!" I cried, trying to keep calm.
"And I can't stay away from you. 'The course of true love never did run smooth.'" James said. His hands were still on my waist. I stood a few steps away from him.
"Will you stop quoting Shakespeare?!"
"But…you're the Juliet to my Romeo, the Beatrice to my Benedick!"
"Stop with the comparisons!" I said. "Oh what am I going to do?!"
"Well, Juliet never told her parents about Romeo…so maybe this can all be forgotten?"
How could I forget that?
"I don't think I'm quite Juliet…"
"Hey James! Syd!"
"But it'll do for now, come on Natalie's calling!" I grabbed his arm and ran to meet Rachelback in the Reject Corner.
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