AN: I know this chapter is a bit on the short side, but...you'll just have to deal with it. Hope you enjoy!

The Week After

On Monday Ally came to school, but from the look of her bloodshot eyes, everyone could tell she would have put the day to better use catching up on her sleep. She was so groggy from her sleepless weekend spent by Phoenix's hospital bed that she didn't really remember much of anything that happened that Monday. Looking back, all her classes just seemed like a huge blur in her mind. Luckily, during percussion class Mr. Swotcher let her sleep while he instructed the other drummers; Matt was nowhere to be seen.

When Mr. Swotcher told her to catch some sleep, Ally just blankly nodded and went into the relative peace of the drum room. Seconds later she came back out screaming.

Brad and Cara raced over to her. "What's wrong?" they asked.

Ally's eyes widened even more than they already had. "There's blood on…on…" she couldn't seem to bring herself to say Phoenix's name "her harness!"

Brad muttered something along the lines of "Dan's fault, stupid jerk." Then he turned around and yelled, "Dan! Harness!" He jerked his head toward Ally.

"Crap!" Dan mumbled to himself as he ran across the band room toward Ally, Brad, and Cara. He put his arm around Ally's waist to support her; her face was pale with shock. "Ally, I didn't mean for you to just see it like that. I was going to tell you beforehand. I'm-" But Dan didn't get to finish his apology. Ally had fainted from a combination of lack of sleep and the shocking reality check.

Dan and Brad looked at each other, shrugged, and then carried Ally into the drum room to let her sleep.

On Friday Phoenix returned to school. When she gingerly walked into the band room before homeroom that morning, she was immediately engulfed by her fellow drummers in a group hug. Phoenix smiled; she hadn't realized just how much everyone cared about each other within the drumline.

Brad asked her, "So, can we see it? Is it really gross?"

Phoenix sighed happily and hitched up her t-shirt so they could see the damage. There wasn't much to look though; her entire ribcage was wrapped up in a white surgical bandage. The other percussionists just stared at her for a moment. When Phoenix realized why no one was saying anything, she quickly explained, "You don't want to see underneath. It's really nasty. Besides, I'm not allowed to unwrap it at all until tomorrow morning. Doctor's orders."

After a slight pause one of the sophomores asked, "So, what were you up to while you were in the hospital?"

"Not much," Phoenix truthfully replied. "Just listening to a lot of Linkin Park and Papa Roach, watching movies, doing homework…nothing too exciting. Oh yeah, Ally, I need to tell you something, but later."

"Okay." Ally interpreted the look in her best friend's eyes as one that said I can't tell you in front of everyone, it's too personal.

The drummers broke apart when the bell for homeroom rang.

During percussion class later that day, Matt walked over to talk to Phoenix while she set up her tenors on a stand.

"Can you make it to the game tonight?" he asked her.

Phoenix shrugged uncertainly. "I don't know if I can march, but I'm definitely coming." As an afterthought she suggested, "Maybe I could just play in the stands?"

"Whatever you think you can manage is cool with me," Matt told her. "Hmm, I think I have an idea. Trey! C'mere!"

Trey pulled the xylophone he was wheeling out of the drum room off to the side so it would be out of the way of everyone else getting out equipment, and trotted over to Matt and Phoenix. "What's up?" he asked Matt.

"Could you carry Phoenix's tenors when we're marching in and out of the stadium tonight? Then Phoenix won't be completely left out in the stands, and I'm sure she'll carry your cymbals, right Phoenix?" Matt asked.

Phoenix nodded. She liked this idea. She would still be able to play in the stands even though she wouldn't be able to march at halftime. That could work out quite well for her.

Trey, who was delighted at the chance to play tenors, even if it was just on cadences going in and out of the stands, readily agreed.

"Alright, it's settled," Matt said. "Trey do you know the cadences? I've heard you practicing tenors a lot after school."

"I'm pretty sure I know almost all of them," Trey said with confidence. "And Phoenix and Brad can teach me whatever I don't know before the game. I'll be fine."

"Cool," Matt said.

AN: Get ready for Phoenix to spill her secret next chapter!