"Bailey Baker is in the band?" Laney stopped dead in her tracks and stared at Logan. There was an awkward silence as they stood outside the band room door; the only sound was the muffled resonance of instruments coming from inside. Logan nodded.

"She's in pit with us, so you'll have to get used to it. And be nice to her- she's really nervous." Logan pushed open the band room door with one hand, and led Laney in with the other. The sound of instruments was no longer muffled now, and the music engulfed them. The two girls shut the door behind them and made their way over to the back of the band room where all the percussion stuff was. Right in the middle of it all was Bailey, looking unsure of herself.

"Logan!" Bailey cried, looking a bit relieved, and gave Logan a big hug. Laney rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, looking perhaps a bit envious. "I'm so glad you made it."

"Um, of course I made it. I come to the band room three times a day, it's not like I forget where it is." Logan pulled away from Bailey and stood back. "So, where's your triangle?"

Bailey looked around, suddenly looking nervous again. "I have no clue. I want to play the snares so bad, though." She stared thoughtfully over at the snares, which were occupied by a red haired girl named Claire. Claire was doing some diddles.

"Well, you're triangle is right behind you. And I'll leave you to it, because class is starting." Logan grabbed Laney's hand and started to head over to their equipment. Bailey called after them,

"Wait! I don't even know how to use one of these!"

Mr.Rickman clicked his baton against his music stand and the class became hushed. There was anticipation in the air; everyone was anxious to see who this new student was. "Band, today I want all on your best behavior. We have a new student in here who needs to see what class is like. Her name is Bailey Baker, and she will be with us for the rest of the marching band season."

There was one movement as everyone turned their heads in unison. It almost looked as if they were all one animal, acting together. All their evaluating eyes burned into her. Bailey gulped and stared back.

"That's not Bailey Baker, she'd never join band. She's with the A & B's." said a voice out of the blue. A few people turned from Bailey to look at him. It was a boy who had a saxophone in his lap and big, round, green eyes concealed behind messy bangs. He would have looked more appealing to Bailey if he hadn't just said what he said.

"Actually, I am Bailey, jerk. And I'm with your stupid band because I'm no longer able to cheer. This was a last resort." The band became even more still. The boy stared at her,

"Um..no name calling, Bailey. ..everyone get out your rhythm books." Mr.Rickman said awkwardly. The clamor started up again as everyone fanned through their folders and papers. Bailey caught the boy give her once last fleeting look before turning to his music.

---

"What were you thinking, Bailey? That was Jack. And if he doesn't like you, the band doesn't like you. He's our number one sax, playing-wise." The three girls were sauntering outside to the practice field together. It was a warm day and the sun beat down on their faces. Laney was starting to freckle; she had very fair skin. Bailey frowned.

"You know what, Logan? I don't care who he is. He's still a jerk, and needs a good kick in the-"

"Hey, new girl!" Bailey turned around and Jack was sprinting towards them. She rolled her eyes and kept walking. But Laney and Logan had stopped, so Bailey sighed and did too.

"Don't give her a hard time, jack-" Logan supplicated.

"Aw, don't worry. I was going to apologize for the way I ran my mouth in class today. I shouldn't have said those things, and I'm sorry. Will you forgive me, new girl?" He made a pleading look with his big eyes, and even though Bailey was so mad at him, she couldn't help but feel a bit swooned.

"If you stop calling me 'new girl'. I have a name, you know." She started walking away, but he grabbed her arm.

"Can I talk to you?"

Logan, Laney, and Bailey all looked alarmed. Bailey gulped and nodded her head.

"Okay."

---

"Aren't we supposed to be down there?" Bailey asked quietly. The two were sitting on the bleachers together. Jack raised an eyebrow.

"No, we always have this free time before practice."

'God, he looks so good in the sunlight.' Bailey reflected to herself, staring at the boy who was bent over tying his shoe at the moment. But she snapped out of it. "So why did you bring me up here, again?"

He laughed and she blissfully noticed he had dimples. "I wanted to get to know you, and I want you to get to know the real me, not the tyrant who you met in class today." He patted her on the shoulder much like a little boy would do. Bailey stared at him.

"You're not a….a tyrant." Bailey made a face.

"Well you said I was a jerk. It's pretty much the same thing." Jack sighed and stretched his legs out in front of him. He was very lean and had long legs.

"I'm sorry about that. I have to admit even I realize how bitchy I can be sometimes."

"My dog had puppies last night."

Bailey blinked. "Congratulations."

"Do you know who likes me? I mean, take a guess. I can't believe it."

"Um, I don't know everyone in the band-"

"Oliver Swanson." Jack screwed his face up after he had said it, and shook his head as if he were trying to get something out of his mind. Bailey shrugged.

"Is she pretty?"

"She kind of looks like a boy."

"Oh-"

"That's because she is a boy. Oliver is a guy's name."

Bailey stared at him for a minute before it hit her. "Ah!" But she could see why anybody would like him, even it were a guy. He was gorgeous, and already seemed..interesting.

"Yeah, the thing is, me and Oliver have been best friends since we were in the ninth grade. He's like a brother to me. Can you imagine your brother having a crush on you?"

"I don't have a brother-"

"I mean, I can't talk to him anymore. I don't know how to act around him. Who's your best friend?" He had sprung the big one on her. Bailey sighed and looked down.

"I don't have one."

"Oh. I'll be your friend. No one can ever have enough friends. Why do you play the triangle?"

"Why do you ask so many questions?" Bailey barked, then felt bad about it. "Sorry.."

"Oh don't worry about it, I get that all the time. I have ADD. It's no big deal. Really. So, the triangle? Why do you play the triangle?" Jack grinned like it was something pathetic and funny, but Bailey narrowed her eyes at him.

"Is there something wrong with the triangle?"

"No, it's just we didn't really need a triangle player. All the pit members know how to play it. Logan used to play it, before you came along. Do you like Logan? You and her seem to be quite chummy."

"Logan?"

"I used to go out with her. We went out for about a year and a half last year." His face changed suddenly, and he began to pick at a scab on his arm.

"Why did-"

"I can't wait to get home to see those puppies. They're French poodles. I personally would rather have a pit bull, but my mom thinks French poodles are cute."

Before Bailey could even think of a reply to this one, she noticed Mr.Rickman signal to them from the bottom of the bleachers to come down. Practice was about to start.

"Well, it looks like we need to get down there. Mr.Rickman might get sassy with us."

Bailey stared at Jack. "Sassy?"

"Yeah, let's go I guess." He stood up, stretched out his back, then held out a hand to Bailey. Bailey stared up at him then slowly placed her hand in his. She felt an emotion she had never felt ; something her stomach was trying to tell her as it flopped. She didn't know what it was quite yet; Bailey had never had a crush on anyone before.

--