The big yellow school bus, dubbed number 34 rolled to a stop at the end of my road. As Kelly and I climbed on, faintly I could hear the Adam Sandler song from Billy Madison.
"I've got my lunch all packed, I got my shoes tied tight, I hope I don't get into a fight. Back to School, back to school…" Memories of standing down at the bus stop on the first day of school came rushing back to me, and all started the same. With Kelly singing, softly under her breath, the Back to School song by Adam Sandler.
After a lengthy bus ride, and many new stops, we reached the school. Tough I had been at that school for almost a whole month, I got butterflies in my stomach as the big high school building was in view. I looked over to Kelly and saw a smile on her face. It was the smile that every kid wore when they knew they were about to see all of their friends again, even though Kelly had been with her friends all through band camp, she still wore the goofy smile of a giddy school girl waiting to hear the latest gossip.
As I walked into the band room, the setup was the same as always. Long rows to seat all the band members, and then chairs set up on the choir risers for the guard. The band directors didn't really have anything new to say to us besides that we really accomplished a lot during those four weeks, and that they'd never worked with such a focused group before, and that this season was going to be great
As we were dismissed I was tempted to just walk right out the double doors and go home, but then the fact that I had more classes to go to dawned on me, and I went to my next class. The rest of my classes seemed boring compared to band, all until my fifth hour came along. Physical Science. Even though the teacher was horrible, and stupid, it worked to my advantage and I got seated next to two of my best friends, Jake and Margie.
The day came to a close, and that meant just a few hours until I got to go and march the show again, but this time, it would only be for one hour instead of six.
THE NEXT DAY
The music boomed and people stared as they walked passed the door the guard room. K-t had put in her Modest Mouse cd, and was dancing about the room, getting ready to go outside and march. All of our flags were stacked in the corners, and everyone was making plans for the football game the next day. We weren't going to be in full uniform, so we wouldn't have to be there early for hair and make-up to be done, we just had to go out and get out leotards for under our uniforms so that we could order them and they'd be in in time for the next game the following Friday.
As the guard huddled before warming up, with 200 drop spins and double time, Jordan made plans for meeting the next day to make a day of going out to order our leotards. Since the next day we had the day off, it would make getting together even more difficult because people tended to make plans for that day off.
"Who all's coming with us tomorrow to get our leotards?" Jordan asked trying to focus everyone.
"Me,"
"Me,"
"I am!" and many other variations of that scattered throughout the guard.
"Ok good, you all know that tomorrow's the last day we can all go to get them to have them in time for next Friday right?" Jordan asked eyeing all the girls who hadn't spoken up.
"Yep." they all chorused.
"Ok then, if that's all then…" Jordan paused for dramatic affect and took a few steps back, "BLOCK UP! 200 drop spins, count every ten!" Everyone jumped to attention and stood at right shoulder (a/n for those of you who don't know what right shoulder is, it's a guard term).
"10!"
"20!"
"30!"
"SARAH LARSON YOU'RE OFF!" Carlee yelled over the ripple sound of our flags and shouts of tens.
"200!" We all finished.
"OPENER!" Mr. Greer was drowned out by the sound of stampeding feet as we all tried to get to our opening set as quick as possible.
"HUT! HUT! HUT! HUT!" Hannah clapped.
"1, 2, 3, DOWN ON KIRA!" Karri called from somewhere behind me.
Class ended and I walked down the hall singing under my breath "Broken" by Seether and Amy Lee.
"And I don't feel right when you're gone away."
"Chloe you ok?" I looked up from my feet to see Madi walking next to me panting a little from catching up to me. See as how I stand at 5' 6" and Madi's only about 5' 2", 5' 3", it takes her a few more steps then me to be walking at the same pace as me.
"Yea I'm fine, just thinking." I mumbled going back to my song.
"Whatever you say." Madi uttered not believing. School seemed to down Madi's lively spirits, and that dampened everyone's day. School always seemed to have a negative affect on everyone in band. Either they were mad that they didn't get to march, or they were mad that they didn't get to see their friends all day like they were used to.
ONE WEEK LATER
"Toomorrow's the bigday you guys! The first game in full uniform!" Katie said excitedly coming up behind Madi and I slinging her arms around our shoulders, which must've been awkward since Katie's in-between my height and Madi's.
'Yep, tomorrow's the day.' I thought glumly to myself.