Notes: I did a bit of editing when I realized the rest of the chapter wasn't showing up. I'll probably slowly work my way back up to the latest chapters because honestly, I wrote this almost two years ago, and it sounds like crap. It still does, but I'm not in the mood to totally rewrite this. For "veteran readers", you'll notice some changes.
When I decided on this fic, I had a model for Duo's personality, but I'm not going to continue with that anymore because I want to portray Duo as something more than the "original" one. I still need to change the names of the directors -_-;; but I can't think of any yet. This story started in a bad place because I was just trying to hammer out some ideas, so more changes may come! In the distant future! In the meantime, this is it.
I don't own Gundam Wing. Pairings are 1+2+1, 3+4+3, possible implications of R+1 and R+2. And to be bold and experiment, there will be definite R+5 ^_^ Carpe diem, after all . . .
Chapter One
It was another summer day. The sun was shining in all its brilliance, trekking lazily across the cloudless blue skies, and you could hear every so often the passing of cars across the road to the East. An occasional breeze would billow by, bringing a refreshing wind to soothe raw nerves. An assortment of water jugs littered the shady areas, along with a group of students thirstily gulping down the cool liquid. Chatter filled the summer air, and laughter joined the somewhat melodious sound. They sat under the cover of the small, growing trees, fooling around and talking animatedly. Frozen grapes, ice pops, peaches, bananas, oranges—were all present for consumption. Sounds perfect, yes? Hardly . . . Not when all of this was band camp . . .
All of a sudden the water becomes a necessity so students wouldn't pass out. The sun became a never-ending curse that stalked them. The warm weather became the sweltering reason they had all felt like giving up. The melodious sounds of instruments playing only reminded the group of their present location. The chatter was annoying sounds, distracting, taking always the small shard of peace that existed when they received a break. Irritability had risen to dangerous levels. The assortment of fruit only made the fatigued teenagers want more food. Sitting down in the comfort of the shade only made it hurt more to get up and walk again. The smell of sunscreen heavily scented the air. But it did nothing to prevent the severe sunburns patching across their bodies.
The dreaded sound of a whistle pierced the air sharply, and a hundred groans and complaints immediately emerged as well. Duo Maxwell mentally prepared himself for another two hours of marching in those poisonous rays. Outwardly, he had been fluttering about the entire time, indeed the social butterfly, and of course flirting with all the girls (and maybe some guys). He half jogged with his trombone in hand towards the first set of the second song. Unexpectedly, the braided teenager, preoccupied in his own thoughts, crashed into another's body.
He smiled sheepishly, muttering a quick apology to the other person, "Sorry, didn't mean to run into you!" Large cobalt eyes lifted to meet impassive blue. And for an odd reason, the trombone player felt rooted to the spot, trapped by the gaze of intense cerulean.
It was only after the other person had spoken that Duo managed to jog his mind back into working condition, "It's alright," the boy nodded once respectfully. 'Baka.' Then again, he had been engrossed with his own thoughts as well.
"Hey!" Duo's violet eyes brightened in recognition, "You're the new guy that I'm next to!" he grinned broadly, extending a free hand. "I'm Duo Maxwell," the boy shook his hand firmly.
"Heero Yuy," in a comparatively more controlled tone, the other boy introduced himself, an amused smirk twitching at the corners of his otherwise blank expression.
"You're a —" Duo scratched his head in thought before snapping his fingers in enlightenment, "senior!" he proudly announced with a beam.
"Hai."
"I've been meaning to tell you . . . you're a really great marcher, especially for your first year. I've never seen anyone pick up on it so fast." he marveled in admiration. "Way better than my first year."
"Arigatou," Heero returned in his quiet manner. "You are the charmer everyone talks about," he stated monotonously.
The comment brought out another wide grin from the braided boy, and he flushed slightly in embarrassment. "Maxwell! Get your ass here before Niemiec sees! You're a section captain for god's sake!" Barely moving his lips, Wufei hissed quietly at him, eyes flickering momentarily to check that his words met their mark.
'Heero –' Amethyst orbs trailed over to his drill spot, narrowing slightly as he noticed the immaculate "new guy" was exactly where he was supposed to be. His Asian features were set in perfect seriousness, unwavering body, completely still at attention. 'Just like he should be. Just like *I* should be . . .'
"Thanks!" his signature grin firmly set in place, he sprinted the few yards to reach his spot, gritting his teeth at his careless mistake.
He stepped smoothly next to Heero, casting a sideways peek at the Japanese boy who didn't spare him a glance. 'I know he can see me . . . What a weird guy . . . It'll be fun getting to know him.' The trombone player settled for a smirk in his mind and the vow of taking on his new, personal "goal."
More Notes: I hope you like the updated version of chapter one. Things changed; things got fixed; there will be more fixing. Later. The characters and most of the stories and scenerios are based around my experience in marching band (going on year four!). The most recent season has left me – inspired . . . So you can expect some interesting stories out of it. I want to share the life of marching band, my marching band, with everyone, whether they've been in it or not. And that is the main reason I wrote this.
Even though I hope these people NEVER see this (without my explicit permission), I thank them so much for all they've given me and for all the ways they've changed my life. These people are my second family, and we've been through so much. I want to dedicate this to them once it's good enough in my eyes because they were my inspiration.