And here are my personal thanks to all who reviewed, sorry for it taking so long to update.

To amethyst eyed bass clarinet: Thank you for your support and reviewing again. It means alot.

To Red Hawk K'sani: thanks for the compliment and cool name by the way.

And last by not least, to Squiddie03: thak you so much for your great ideas and ongoing support, your the best friend a girl can have.

Thank you all for your support and reviews.

Disclaimer: I don't own band or any of the names of songs, things, or objects that appear in this story. Names have been changed for privacy.

Chapter 3:

Unexpected Happenings and

Sousie Songs

I walked quickly to the band room and set up my stand, music, and instrument for a song we had been working on for the up-coming Youth Parade. It was a fun kind of circus-y march call Barnum Woods. We were going to work on it inside until we had it near perfect and then start marching and playing it. It was exciting because this was going to be my first marching performance to participate in. Of course we had the football songs like Land of a Thousand Dances and Malaguena, but they weren't all that hard so we spent more time on Barnum Woods.

I took out my silver euphonium and, not for the first time, took a moment to admire its beauty. The clean, shiny silver, and its four pearl-like capped valves. I loved its sound and versitility and just could not imagine chosing to play anything over it. If I lost all else, I would still have him, always. I smiled and put my mouthpiece in place on my instrument. I placed my instrument case back on the shelf and took my seat.

My band director walked up on to the podium and signaled for us to push our stands down an listened.

"I have some more info for you all regarding the parade, and you aren't going to like it. They are moving the day a few days ahead of schedule because of the predicted cold front coming in. Apparently they don't want all the cheerleaders from the other schools freezing in their skirts. So we are going to have to start marching with this song today if we want to be ready on time. Any questions?"

For a few seconds there was silence and then hands shot up in the air.

"Are we going to practice in our uniforms?"

"Why can't they just let the cheerleaders freeze?"

"What about the sousaphones that are still at the shops?"

"Can I use my lyre?"

And several other questions got mixed up in all of that, not all of them concerning the discussion.

"That's enough questions, now, QUIET!" Mr. Geraldo sighed as the banded hushed to a silence.

"Tubas, the sousies got back yesterday." A little victory dance came from Ana, Alex, and Alex, our tuba players( there are two Alexs' so at times we refer to the first one as Gonzales and the second one as Kirby, or Aguilar), "We are not using the uniforms today because number one I don't want you to get them dirty and number two we are running late already. Okay, now everyone out to the football field in a single file line grouped with your section so that we can put you in your lines. Tubas, don't bother with the sousies today because we need to get started and we aren't going to be playing today, anyway, just getting you guys used to marching."

With that, he stepped down off the podium and lead us down to the field behind the band hall(conviently located!).

Vincent, the other euphonium in my section(kind of a lacky at times but not usually, beautiful sound with the high notes) came up to me with his euphonium and we both got in line between the trombones and the tubas.

"The tubas lucked out. They can put their instruments away and just march empty-handed, but WE have to carry our instruments. Why?" He was doing that "oh no you changed my daily schedule so I don't like life at this very second" thing. It was a little annoying at times, but I was too focused on learning to march to care.

"Do they love to torture us? I mean did they have to do this today?" he asked me. We had gotten to the field by now, so I just turned to him and replied with a distant smile,

"Dolondrones, Vincent, dolondrones(see note at the bottom for definition)." Before he had time to react to that, we were placed in position on the field and the learning commenced.

We made our way back to the band hall to put away our instruments and the weenies came out in some people (It is not what some you are thinking, I swear : ). Moans of pain and cries of hurt from muscles that some of us never knew we had emitted from unsuspecting people. I was okay, as were some other people but there were people who seemed to find "rolling" your feet very painful.

I polished off the fingerprints on my instrument and put everything away just in time for the bell to ring. I stuck my hand in the pocket of my sweater and felt my mouthpiece there. I forgot that I had placed it there so that it wouldn't fall off on the field. I had lunch next, so I made my way back into the instrument storage room.

I got about halfway there when I heard two people talking. I stopped when I realized that it was Deven and Danny in there, and way into conversation. I guess Deven comes in at lunch, I figured. They hadn't noticed me yet, so curiosity won over instinct and I slipped next to a shelf outside of the door. Deven was talking at the moment.

"Dude, what was that all about in science, yesterday?"

"What?"

"You hitting on Kat. I thought you said that you liked Ariel."

"I do. Who said that I was hitting on Kaylee?" His voice was trying to sound innocent.

"No one had to say it. It was obvious," There was a hint of aggression in his voice as he said this.

It was getting interesting real fast.

"I don't like Kat! I swear it on my mother's grave!"

Deven responded, his voice dead serious."Your mother isn't dead, Danny. Can't you try and be serious? You know that I like her so why are doing crap like that?"

My breathing stopped when I heard those last few sentences, trying to comprehend them. Deven? I never even guessed! I don't know which struck me harder, than Danny was in love with my best friend, or that Deven was in love with me. It was a little awkward.

My thoughts were then interupted by Danny's response.

"Look, I didn't mean to make you mad. I was hyper and she was sane at the moment, and new to the school, so it seemed like a good idea at the time to tell her the history of the band."

"What about the--"he changed his voice to an imitation of Danny's (not bad if I may add my opinion)--" 'I don't know what I would do without band either' thing?"

" It was harmless. Look, your my best friend. I promise I won't do anything like that with her again, okay? Do that make you happy, Loverboy?"

I decided that I had heard more than I could take without the band room collapsing, and walked into the room.

I stared into their surprised faces from the doorway and tried my best to act as innocent as I could, as though I had just got there and hadn't heard a thing. Apparently they had thought that no one was close enough to hear any of their conversation.

Finally the akward silence was broken.

"Aren't you going to lunch today? Everyone has already left," Deven said to me, with care in his voice.

"I forgot to put my mouthpiece in my instrument case after band today," I tried not to meet his eyes, lest he see that I knew the truth. Who knows what went on behind those green eyes. "I didn't mean to interupt you guys. You can go ahead and continue, I was just about to go."

"Oh no, thats okay, we were just about to head off to lunch, too," Danny said with a glance at Deven. Deven nodded and headed out of the room with Danny in pursuit.

"See you later Kat."

With that, they left me alone, in the room, with nothing the numerous instruments and my thoughts. I let the cover fade and allowed myself a few thoughts. What do you do with that kind of information? Did Ariel have any idea? I mean, she was my best friend, I didn't even know if I should tell her. I guess I'll just leave this one up to time and fate.

When I had collected my bearings, I noticed Ariel's oboe on one of the shelves. A thought sparked into my head as I remember what she did to me yesterday. however, I let it fade. It was not the time or place for it and I was in no state of mind for devious plotting. I was just too tired, and not just physically. Another day, Ariel. Another day.

"Say, what took you so long?" Jackie asked me as soon as I reached the lunch room.

"I forgot something in the band hall," I sat down and pulled out my lunch. "Where is Ariel?"

"She said that she had to get something from her locker that she wanted to show you. Is something wrong? You look a like your hiding a dirty little secret," As she said this with a slight grin. "Got something on your mind? If it has anything to do with the Mavs losing again, I already know and don't need it rubbed in my face." Jackie was a major Mavericks fan. Nobody really knows why.

"I didn't even know they had lost again. Listen, though. What if I were to tell you that I found something, well, wierd, out. And it was a something that I wasn't sure I should have found out," I was a little nervous about trying to tell her. I wasn't quite sure how to voice that I went eavesdropping on two of our friends and didn't even think twice about it. I was beginning to twiddle my thumbs in impatience. I couldn't take it any more. I had to tell someone I trusted. Oh what to do, what to do! I hated these kind of decisions. If only there were something to make this easier...

"Dude, what are you talking about? Did you hear some bad gossip or something? You spaced out on me for a bit," she sounded truly concerned. The heck with it. I'm just going to tell her. I know I can trust her, so, here it goes.

With a deep breath, I told her it all. From the mouthpiece to the oboe on the shelf.

"Damn!" was the first thing out of her mouth. "Do you know what this means?"

"What?"

"You know, double- dating, hands - in- hands, practicing together, walking to band together, on band trips side-by-side, I could on forever on the lovey dovey stuff you four could do! And then there is after those late night 'practices'--"

"It's not like we just got married!" I shouted to get her attention. The lunchroom grew quieter as everyone turned around to see what the yelling was all about. In a quieter voice, "You have to keep this a secret, I wasn't even supposed to find out, and the last thing I want flying around the school is a rumor that I hurt or betrayed either Deven or Danny, especially because Ariel is involved in this." I looked into her face and she nodded to show she would keep it a secret.

"You know you can trust me. I won't blab. Not even to my penguin pal," (penguins were another one of her obsessions. I can't criticize, and won't, 'cuz we all have wierd obsessions like such).

"Thank you so much, Jackie, you are the best friend anyone could have right now," I felt better having got that off my chest.

Jackie put on her cool look," Yeah, I know I'm good." She smiled and we started kidding around with each other and talking like we usually did.

A few minutes later, Ariel came back and Deven and Danny showed up. Surprisingly, It wasn't awkward at all, and we all just had fun at let the past go.

Or did we all?(smile from Jackie)nudge, nudge, wink, wink

So how did you all like it? Sorry if its a crappy chapter, I've had to write a little at a time, so I apologize if it doesn't flow right.

Now, valve oil daquiris to all who review!!!; ) lol, just kidding.

- - - Notice: If you wish to see to awesome power of the combined forces of Squiddie03 and Kikyokat666 in a Harry Potter fanfic, it is coming soon!!

Dolondrones is Spanish for "unanswered questions" or "riddles" (something for you to ask questions about) kind of like saying "the world will never know"