(I am back with another chapter! No need to light the author's ass on fire! Oo; Ahem…anyway…Shawnna, I'm glad you figured it out, and yeah, this will definitely be a bastard of a story, but it will be 4 separate stories, one for each year they're in skool. And two stories might run over…because of after year events and whatnot. No way I'm doing this thing half-assed, even if I tried, I would never give you guys something I wouldn't show my own friends at skool. Geez, I didn't mean for any of that to happen, hope you still got your h/w done in time…I also didn't realize my story was that deep that it needed to be analyzed. Ah, I see what you mean, maybe I should have used something more like 'going ape'…Didn't know it was a military term. Oo; Yes, Zak is cool, but I dun know if I'd really want him as a friend, then again, I have plans for him. Ah, yes, you are very good at the cameo thing. You are correct in your guess, I am Kat…and Katie, when I first started writing this story, I made the error of Basing it on this year, then I remembered the original plan was for my freshman year, so I had to edit it a few chapters in…Really stupid thing on my part…And don't worry about the longness of it all, I like long reviews, in fact, yours is the longest by far! And I told you that I was sorry for the shortness of the chapter. You can find out more of what's going on now…sorta. But, if you want, in between posts that I do for this story, you can read my other ZADR, Another Alter Universe. I have plans for that one later on, plan on doing a sequel or a follow up on it sometime. FallenAngel331, yeah, not much is known about Zak so far…I plan to change that, and I'm glad you found my story so addicting? And I'm updating now. andalitebandit-6, Scratches and stuff will be explained…during the next marching band camp, or during the beginning of the next story. And I'm glad you liked those abbreviations! Though I cannot take credit for making them up…
Uh the quote…Well, there is no quote for this one, I ran out of quote ideas…Oo; So on with the story…)
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The drummers were in the skool parking lot, of their competition. Dib and Zak were helping with some of the pit instruments while Kat and Beth were double and triple checking that they had everything they needed.
"Ok, hand me that bar over there…thanks…" said Katie, as she jammed the bar into place on her Xylo. (Because I is lazy, I will abbreviate instrument names…) Surprisingly enough, she was able to get everything together in under five minuets. The only part she really needed help with was putting the board and keys on. Once done, she moved to the next pit member and helped put the Vibe together.
Unfortunately, there was not so much team work throughout the line. Most of the other drummers had got their stuff and stopped with that. SO they were talking and just ignoring the pits needs. Also, Zak and Dib hadn't been on the best of terms since the beginning of the week…They were always hostile around each other and when they were even in the vicinity of each other, you could cut the tension with a machete…
"Damn it, it's happening again…" murmured Kat to Beth. Beth shook her head sadly.
"I know…up until last week, they'd been fine with each other…What happened?" said Beth, Kat shrugged.
"Let's just hope it's a phase…" said Kat looking on at the entire line. "Because we can't have this kind of thing right before a major competition…"
Dib was helping with the large Marimba when he felt someone tap his shoulder. He turned around to see Professor Membrane, in the flesh, standing right behind him. His eyes widened and he almost dropped the resonators he was carrying. "Dad? You came?" he said, quite startled.
"Of course, son! I wouldn't miss your shining moment! This is the first skool related activity that proves you aren't crazy!" said Professor Membrane. Dib just quirked an eyebrow.
"You haven't seen us in action, have you…" said Dib, knowing his father had no idea what he was talking about.
"Not crazy? Your dad hasn't been on a band trip, has he!" laughed Kat. Professor Membrane narrowed his goggles.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" questioned the Professor.
"Exactly as it sounds, you don't know music kids very well from what you're saying. If you think he isn't crazy by being in the band, you're sadly mistaken, but it's not a bad kind of crazy…more like the fun-loving, hyper kind…" said Kat, proving her point.
"Hm…Never thought of it that way. That might explain some of your actions in the past, son." said the Professor. Dib just rolled his eyes and continued putting the marimba together. Membrane was about to ask about the thing he was putting together, but he was interrupted by a man with dirty blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He held out his hand as he introduced himself.
"Hello, I'm Dan Helm, the drumline instructor."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Professor Membrane," said Membrane, shaking Mr. Helm's hand heartily.
"Ah, yes, curtsies all around. It's a pleasure to have your son in our line this year. He's quite a valuable asset to us already and he's only a freshman!" said Mr. Helm cheerfully, releasing Membrane's hand. "It was very nice to meet you. I have to go rehearse them now. You can watch or continue on into the building and watch other groups before we go on."
Professor Membrane nodded, "I think I'll go on inside and get an idea of what's going on," he then walked off. Funny thing is, on the way in, he ran into Zim's 'uncles'.
"Oh, my god!" squealed Purple, "Are you the legendary Professor Membrane?" He ran up to Professor Membrane like a giddy little skool girl…
"Why yes I am!" said the Professor proudly, puffing out his chest.
"God, Purple, you act like such a girl, honestly…" Red walked over to the two of them, "I apologize for his outburst…he has…ADHD…" Professor Membrane just waved a gloved hand.
"No need, I appreciate the enthusiasm of the younger generation." He said cheerfully.
"Younger generation?" questioned Red, looking at Purple. 'We're probably at least 200 years older than this guy…'
"I am just beside myself here! I actually got to meet you in person! Eeeeeee!" giggled Purple, making Red cover his face in shame.
Professor Membrane just chuckled, "Hey, you seem to have the same skin disease that that boy in my son's class has. Are you in any way related?" he asked.
"Oh, you mean Zim?" asked Red, Professor Membrane nodded, "Why yes! We are his uncles'. I'm Red and this is Purple."
"Pleased to meet you," said the Professor, "Have you been to one of these…indoor competitions before? I'm very lost as to what they are..."
"Eek!OMG!Youhavetocomeseeit'sthebestthingeveryouhavetoseeitssocoolc'monletsgoyou'llbesoamazedyouwon'tbelieveitOMGOMGOMG!" Purple was talking 100 light years a second as he dragged the good Professor at lightning speed towards the skool gym.
Red sighed and shook his head, then followed up in the back, in no hurry to see other drumlines that Zim wasn't in…
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Mr. Helm rehearsed and did as much last minuet fixes as he could with the time allotted, while the pit warmed up in another location. A runner soon came along and said they were on in three, meaning they had three other lines ahead of them. Mr. Helm nodded and rounded everybody up and headed toward the gym.
"This is it, do your best guys, no matter how you do, I'll still be proud." Mr. Helm then headed off to get a good vantage point so he could see everything when they went on.
Professor had been a little pessimistic about the whole drumline thing, but was taken aback at the intensity that each line seemed to have during their shows. The only kind of dedication he ever saw like that was in the labs. It was amazing to see high skool kids that focused and intense. It was almost frightening…
Then, something caught his eye, his son, dressed in a mock tuxedo, came into the gym, helping the pit with the cymbals, setting them up at the side lines. He then rushed to his spot as did everyone else. They then waited for the almighty voice! The AIA director of the competition came over the intercom.
"HF Secondary Skool, is your drumline ready?"
David looked at his watch impatiently and tapped his foot three times.
"HF Secondary Skool, you may now take the floor in Novice group competition."
And thus, Allan started. Every time someone played something difficult or someone was featured as a section, the audience clapped and hollered in approval, especially in the middle with the cymbal fight, they liked that almost as good as the snare section. X3
Once again, Professor Membrane was amazed at the intensity, but even more so at how his son looked. He looked…proud. For the first time, he looked proud and almost ignorant. And the best part was he was marching and playing like he owned the place, something the Professor had never witnessed his son doing before this year.
And in the part where the snares came right up to the front, they all played as one, only because it was Dib and Zak playing. The battle of the snare drums, another highlight of the show. This wasn't planed…it was a last minuet decision made by the snares…without Mr. Helm's knowledge…One snare would play a figure, then the other would play the next and this repeated until the least ten figures. That's when they faced the audience, instead of each other, and played right up to the judges. The confidence was astounding, they played with their heads held high, they're eyes burning a hole right through the judge's box, playing like it was they're last chance to show off, the drums sounding just as clear as automatic weapons fire.
Professor was so impressed with their audacity, that when David was finally struck down, he couldn't help but stand up and clap. It really was worth it to see his no-longer-insane-son and not go to the lab for a while. He might have to play hooky more often…
As the line hauled ass to get off the floor, Purple spoke to the Professor.
"What did you think? D'ya like it?"
The Professor thought for a moment, "Yes, I found it quite inspirational. It was simply amazing to see children of that caliber and that high a focus! They would all make great scientists!" He said right before he made his exit to see his son.
He caught up with them as they were tearing everything down and putting the equipment into the back of cars and vans. The Professor once again pulled Dib's attention away from what he was doing.
"Son, I'd just like to say that was superb! I could really see your focus out there, though I'm afraid I can't stay for the awards ceremony…I have to get back to the lab, but I'll stay for the next one." said the Professor.
Dib nodded, "I understand, thanks for coming, it really means a lot to me…"
The Professor nodded and patted his son on the head before heading onto the lab.
"Alright, that's the last of it, let's go inside, I think we might still be able to see CH High before the awards." said Beth. The entire line funneled into the building and made they're way to the very crowded gym. Mr. Helm had disappeared, most likely to go get the scores…
And Beth was right, they did make it in time to see CH high. And then Beth, Kat, and Chuck want down with all the other leaders of all the other drumlines and waited for their scores. 3rd place went to a local high skool and 2nd went to some skool they had never even heard of before. All the drummers were on the edge of their bleacher row and barely even breathed, waiting for the final announcement to be made.
"And in first place, group Novice, with a score of 74.7…HF Secondary Skool!"
The entire line (And the Tallest) jumped to their feet and made as much noise deemed possible for high skoolers. It was definitely the greatest achievement for the season yet. And in the excitement (luckily no one noticed, or even saw…lucky them) Zak ad Dib hugged, but quickly enough disengaged, so it didn't look like anything other than a 'man hug'.
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Everyone was quite hyped up as they entered the parking lot. Kat and Katie were jumping around cheerfully and singing some random song they both knew.
Beth, Danny, Arthur, Allan, Liz, and Chuck were chatting merrily while Zim stayed close to the Tallest. Leaving the pit paying up money due to lost bets…And the bass drummers were playing their crowd pleasing part on either their own chests or hips.
Zak and Dib walked in silence despite the grins on their faces. Both were quite surprised that Mr. Helm didn't chew them out for their little plot…yet…
As they all fast approached the cars and vans they came in, Mr. Helm was standing next to the Helmobile, looking over the judges papers. When he looked up, his glare was immediately on Zak and Dib. They froze in their tracks when they saw that look. They were really going to get it now…
"Gather 'round drummers, I'm going to go over your scores…" he said, still looking at Zak and Dib with that glare of his. Everyone crowded around the Helm, save for Zak and Dib, who hid in the back. "Everything here, save fore one part, says that we should have gotten 3rd…The visual judge said that our show was only worth 20/30 point, so did the pit and marching judge…So, in other words, we could have gotten a 60 somethin…"
"Then…what happened?" asked Beth.
"I'll tell you what happened…" said Mr. H, "Dib! Zak! Front and center!"
Zak and Dib came to the front of the circle and sulked, they knew what was coming…
"If this were any other time, any other group, any other kids, you would be out of the line in a heartbeat…" said Mr. H, feigning anger, and with him, you could never tell if he was playing with you, or if he was genuinely pissed… "Something like this has never before occurred! When I saw what you had done, I was just about ready to crawl in a hole after I threw something at you! How DARE you change something last minuet! Without my permission no less! Gah! I could just…" he made that 'I'm so disappointed in you' face and smacked his hand on his car to emphasize his point, and both Zak and Dib, not to mention some of the other line members, jumped at the sudden sound. "And you know what? It's what you two hooligans did…" Zak and Dib cringed, waiting for the banshee cry to ring out… "…That have us those extra points…If you hadn't done that, we wouldn't be in suck high spirits right now. Just don't do anything like that again, please. You nearly gave me a heart attack…"
Zak and Dib nervously laughed, wondering if they were going to get in trouble or not. Kat placed a reassuring hand on each of their shoulders.
"Nice one you pulled off there, friends, you almost got killed by the Helminator and got his complements, all at the same time! Congratulations." she said, "Let's go celebrate! To the pool hall!"
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(Some last minuet words, listen to this, it's just so retarded…
"It was a cold and stormy night. She said Rah!"
OMG WTF is that? My father wrote that right in the middle of a sentence while I was writing the damn thing, and I had to go take a piss…honestly what the fuck, I don't get him, it's so bad…
Actually, I do have a quote, though it's really lyrics to the song I'm listening to right now….
"BANANA BANANA BANANA BANANA TERRACOTTA! BANANA TERRACOTTA TERRACOTTA PIE!"
Happy? You should be because I'll probably not update for a while. And no lighting the author's ass on fire!)