Yay! Fast update! Long chapter, too! =D
Just to let you all know, I won't be updating this again until around June, due to my upcoming exams. Keep on reviewing, though. ^_^ The story is ending soon. As for a Reed 3… well, we'll see.
The Reed II: Chapter 12Ian was greeted by David as he re-entered the school building.
"So… did you do it?"
"Uh… yeah," Ian lied, feeling his pocket to make sure the box was still there.
"Great." David grinned, then walked off to get ready for the morning band practice.
Ian sprinted to the band room, which was deserted. He took out his instrument, and after a quick glance to make sure no one was watching, he placed the reed box into his trombone case and closed it, heaving a sigh of relief. The rules of the band would protect his secret for the time being, as the penalty for touching someone else's instrument was well known.
With a final mutter of, "I'll finish you off tomorrow," Ian then went to rejoin the rest of the band.
He was late.
In other words, he received a punishment of 80 pushups from the acting band major, considered by the band to be much less strict than the previous.
~-~-~
That night, the last in band camp, Ian couldn't sleep. His conscience was keeping him awake to an extent he did not like.
Over and over again his thoughts returned to the box which contained The Reed, now placed inside the bell of his trombone in the case.
He couldn't help it. He HAD to do something.
Lying face up in his sleeping bag, he began to formulate some sort of plan. He would get up now, go to the next-door band room and force The Reed to repair his DVDs. Then, he would destroy it… somehow. Or bury it.
It wasn't as easy as it sounded, and he knew that.
But he had to do something. He would figuratively die if he just lay there doing nothing and knowing of the presence of an evil murderer in his instrument case.
Everyone else in the room was snoring away. Someone was talking in his or her sleep, though the exact words could not exactly be heard.
Getting out of his sleeping bag, Ian crept cautiously towards his luggage where he took out his eight broken DVDs. Then, he ventured on to the door. The self-appointed night guard was lost somewhere in Dreamland. Ian made his way around him, opened the door and walked out.
The place was silent. Silent and empty and dark. Ian felt his way next-door and entered the room where the band major had met his demise the night before.
He opened the instrument cupboards, left unlocked as usual, and took out his trombone. The box was still inside. Removing it, he laid it on the floor and spoke to it.
"Okay, so I saved you. Now it's your turn. Repair the DVDs as you said you would."
Take me out first.
"How stupid do you think I am to fall for that? If I take you out, you'd probably just kill me or something."
I could kill you anyway while inside here.
"Then you'll probably escape or something. Oh no. After all the trouble it took to get you in there, I'm not going to just release you like that."
I need to be outside to do what you want.
Ian did not reply. Quietly, he moved over to the cupboard and paused over the clarinet section. Nah, he needed something bigger…
Ian walked over to the saxophone cupboard instead. Someone would probably have his head if they knew what he was going to do – touch an instrument from another section, and in doing so breaking one of the golden rules of band.
He couldn't help it. If he were to let The Reed out, he needed some form of defense in the form of a reed instrument. Reaching out, he lifted up the tenor saxophone case and removed the shiny instrument inside. Then, he walked back to the box, ready.
Ian was about to open the box… when a sudden sound startled him.
The door had opened.
He whipped around to face Jamie, staring at him with a rather angry look on her face.
"What are you doing with that saxophone?"
"Uh…" Ian racked his brains for some sort of excuse but could come up with none. He shot a question back in reply.
"What are YOU doing here?"
"I couldn't go to sleep so I decided to come and practise for a while." Jamie stared at him. "You still haven't answered my question. WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THAT SAXOP…"
She had seen the box.
"Is that…" Jamie turned to face him with a look of disbelief. "I thought you said you'd destroyed it!"
"Well, so I lied, okay?"
"Do you KNOW what you've just done? The Reed could be buried right this moment, safe and sound, but thanks to YOU its still here!"
"I…"
Suddenly, Jamie's hand clawed towards the box, trying to grab it.
Ian struck out with the only weapon he had… the saxophone. He hit Jamie on the head… hard… and the percussionist was out for the count.
He could only stare, wondering at what he had done.
TO BE CONTINUED…
Answer for Quiz 4: Chariots of Fire. Tan_mx got it right.
Quiz 5 will be up next chapter. I've got no ideas at the moment.
Wildmage42: Thanks for reviewing! ^_^
NoLife: Yeah, this is what I was writing before Oral. As well as the oh so inspirational quote, "Mock all the bluejays you want, but remember… it is pointless to mock a mockingbird." =D
ChibiSkunkSaria: I have no comments to that. Almost all my reeds have coloured strings.
Sarai: ANT'S AREN'T EVIL! There are lots in my house. I play with them all the time, i.e. I squish them.
Irish Bug: Are you sure your mental health is in good state?
Perc Mad Hatter: I didn't go for the first marching session. I had Oral. *decides to go look for the hole in the timpani skin* I don't have any juniors this year.
Tan_mx: TCHS?????? O.O What the… I am NOT in TCHS. *coughs* Oh no. No no no. *goes into another coughing fit* Ahem. *stares in shock* Okay, actually I'm in NYGH. So… yeah. I am NOT in TCHS. So you're from RGS? *feels superior* Do you know Jasmine? She plays clarinet in RGSSB, and was my classmate for 3 years in RGPS. Force her to read and review.
Lady Lorien: Thanks for your review! It was funny. ^_^ Splinter in her forehead? Okay…
Jennifer: I'm sorry if I offended you or anything. Yes, I AM a real oboe player, but my band is a concert band so we don't march much. When we DO march we don't bring our instruments along, so… Actually, the first two chapters of this story ARE kinda gross. I admit it. But after that it gets quite okay. Especially in Part 2.
Kathryn Vousetes: Thanks for your review! ^_^