This is my first band fan fic... it is the sophomore year of high school in the book that my friend and I have named "For the Love of Music." The freshman and junior years are coming soon, hopefully...
Anyway, this is chappie one... My friend and I co-wrote the beginning and I have her permission to post this and the rest of the story, as well. The characters are based off real people, but the names are made up. Nearly all the events are real. I will say exactly what has happened and what has not as the chapters come one by one! I don't own real life...
Chapter One: Changes
Elissa slammed her locker door shut. The end of the first day of her second year of high school. She already wished it was over. She knew that with Allie gone this year would be a lot different, but this was ridiculous. Today was the day she met the new band director. His name was Mr. Marah, and he'd already caused a fight between she and Arianna. So now she had one best friend an hour away, one who was pissed off at her and one who would tell her to apologize to Ari. The dispute had started in homeroom when Arianna had begun trash talking Mr. Marah. Elissa jumped to his defense, demanding that Ari give up on the idea of her "lover," Mr. Berringer ever coming back and come to terms with the fact that Mr. Marah wasn't going anywhere. Arianna accused Elissa of having a crush on the new teacher and stormed off to Kasey's homeroom to vent to her. Lissa, likewise, stalked off in the other director to the music rooms. She found herself at Mr. Marah's office door.
"Hello Mr. Marah," she said with fake enthusiasm.
"Oh, hello—Bryce, right?" he said, leaning back in his chair.
"Elissa, yeah," she nodded.
"How was your first day back?"
"Great. What do you think of Albany so far?"
"Not too bad. The students are great. This band has potential. I plan to use it."
Elissa nodded skeptically. "You know what?" she scoffed, "That's what they all said." She shook her head and left the room, realizing that Mr. Marah would no doubt be just like the last three teachers. They all made their empty promises. She had believed that this year would be different. But why get attached? Look at poor Ari. Mr. Berringer promised that he wouldn't leave the very first day. Yet, within months, he had put in his resignation. Arianna's heart was broken, her hopes crushed. Mr. Berringer had faith in her. He understood her when no one else had. Both of them were envied by their peers. Their talent had turned them, not into people who were looked up to, but people who were hated. Arianna had always been teacher's pet in band. Her talent surpassed all others. Her dedication could never be matched. Even Elissa envied her. She felt as if she was always competing with Arianna. She envied the relationship she had with Mr. Berringer. How the two could have a conversation without saying a word. And she hated Mr. Berringer for leaving. Just like Mr. Ward had done. Just like Mr. Martin had done. Just like Mr. Marah would do, she bet.
"Elissa!" Jackie's voice pulled her from her thoughts as the school bus screeched to a halt in front of the tiny gas station where Elissa worked. "You have to work today, don't you?"
"What? Oh. Yeah. Thanks." Elissa stood up and grabbed her backpack. Walking up the narrow aisle, she was careful not to trip over the bags and limbs of the kindergarten through seventh graders in the front of the bus.
"Hello Lissa." Sherry greeted her cheerfully when she walked through the door. "How was the first day of school?"
"It was fine." Elissa had lied, hanging up her backpack on the hook behind the counter. Two blurs whizzed past her as two of Sherry's children chased each other down the candy aisle.
"By the way, Elissa, thanks for coming in on such short notice. You're a lifesaver," Sherry said. "John should be here to pick up the kids in a few minutes."
"No problem," Elissa said with a smile. She always looked forward to coming in to work when Sherry was there. Sherry and John were a younger couple in their late twenties. They had owned the gas station for nearly five years, and Elissa couldn't ask for a better boss than Sherry. The woman always had a smile on her face, even when she was frazzled from the bundles of energy she called her children. The hours were on the long end, but Elissa didn't mind: She got half off everything and free ice cream.
Yeah, as you can tell, my friend "Elissa" wrote most of the first chapter... I just threw in a few word suggestions, but she said she didn't care if I posted it, like I said before. Don't worry, everything starts to pick up! Just wait and see and review! Please review... its one of the only ways I get to grow as a writer: through what other people say!
