Here we go with chapter eleven... I hope you enjoy! My plotbunnies work really hard!

Chapter Eleven: An Announcement

"Ahhh-hhh-hhhhh-hh-ah-"

"Stop it! Elissa, you're being obnoxious!"

Arianna almost laughed as Elissa looked slyly over at her and grimaced while continuing her serenade. She called it: "Mouth Open On A Bumpy Bus."

The band was on their way to another parade, one of the last big parades before the final competition. This parade, the one the band was preparing to march in, was like the parade the band had won second place in just a week ago. That trophy now sat in the front of the bus, propped against the windshield and the dash, hope for those who, as soon as they got into their uniforms and walked off the bus, might need that little bit of hope to go on that night.

There had been such a commotion about the band winning in the marching community that Elissa and Arianna wondered if there would be flaming rolls of toilet paper thrown at them as they got off the bus. Mr. Marah had actually spoken to the girls about their win the week before and his concern over the parade that night.

"I know the host band is gong to try and rig it. Every band in our division is outraged that the underdog got a scrap from the dinner table. We are going to have a tough time tonight if we want to win anything..."

Arianna and Elissa were both recalling these words, hearing Marah say them in their heads as they warmed up on the grass, piccolo and flagpole side by side. Both girls were worried.

"I doubt we are going to place tonight. We made such a scandal the other week."

"Arianna listened to Elissa as she warmed her instrument. There was a cold wind for such a sunny day and Arianna could have made something poetic about this observation, but decided against it. Something else had caught her attention.

There was a man, dressed in another school's director shirt, watching Marah intently as he worked with the drum line. His face was keen and sunglasses hid his prying eyes. Arianna shook Elissa's arm.

"Do you see him, over there?"

"Yeah... Hey, he's spying on the band!"

"There is something wrong about this."

"He's a spy!"

"I recognize the crest on his shirt. He is going to retire, I heard, and a position is going to open up... Why is he spying on our band, though?"

Elissa and Arianna obeyed their command from Marah to come join the band, which was gathering in the grass for group work before the parade.

Arianna caught the look Mr. Marah gave the man with the glasses on the corner of the field. The man lowered his sunglasses and exchanged the same look with Marah before walking away.

"If this is our midsummer's slump, we need to get over it before the final parade next week! It was awful tonight!"

Mr. Marah yelled over the noise of the other bands, his own band gathered around him. Needless to say, the band was not thrilled about being yelled at after marching.

Frustrated and sweaty, Arianna unbuttoned her jacket, peeling off the heavy cloth. She earned a look of disapproval from one of the band moms, but Arianna ignored it. She had never had very much respect for the old biddies who thought their power surpassed the power of the director. Grabbing Elissa's arm, Arianna puller he away from the band and Marah's yelling.

"I'm not listening to this... I know I did well." Arianna was fuming as the two went to the bus, Elissa rolling her eyes.

"I agree with you that he is being unfair. We did well tonight, but you didn't have to pull me away. What if my commander gets mad? It's my birthday, too!"

"Then you can explain that I took you away because I didn't want my best friend to be screamed at, along with myself, because Marah had a problem."

"Yeah, that works..."

"Mid season slump," Arianna muttered, a sneer on her face. "He doesn't know what he sees. We can win this tonight!"

"I thought you stopped biting your fingernails," Arianna stated as the group walked across the parking lot, navigating the bushes and buses and band trailers.

"I did," came Elissa's reply. "I even put hot sauce in my polish."

"And you like that?" asked Jon, Arianna's prom date from the previous year, who had joined them when it was announced the award ceremony would take place in 30 minutes.

"No. I just can't help it when I'm nervous. Besides, it isn't as weird as Arianna's foot tapping thing."

"Elissa!"

Jon, Elissa, and Arianna were stopped suddenly, however, by a boy, the annoying sousaphone player who had sad behind Arianna in the "uh oh, Hot dog" incident.

"What do you want, Wade?" asked Jon, checking his watch. They had ten minutes to get to the stands before the majors and majorettes marched onto the field.

"What did you think about Marah's little speech?" Wade asked, subconsciously falling into step with the rest as they walked toward the sidewalk.

"I think it was unnecessary," said Arianna, quick to speak on the subject. "He needs to lighten up if he is going to keep us around."

"I don't like being yelled at," said Jon, brushing his long dark his out of his eyes.

"Well, we have to get used to it because he will be our director next year," piped in Elissa, spitting out a fingernail. "As you said, Arianna. He'll be here next year, so we need to get used to a little screaming."

There was a moment of silence before Wade, how had never looked more serious in his life with the band, said, "No, he won't."

"What?" asked Jon incredulously. "What do you mean?"

"That's why I found you guys. To tell you what I heard."

"Where did you hear this from?" demanded Elissa, nails forgotten.

"The band moms were talking by the trailer. I was getting water and they were talking really soft, so I listened on the other side of the trailer. Apparently, Marah is leaving."

The group stopped and looked at Wade. There was no lie in his eyes. Elissa looked hesitantly at Jon, who continued to stare at Wade as if he was seeing him for the first time. Time seemed to slow down, the noise of the other schools, all heading toward the stadium, dim and hazy. This spell was broken as a sob reached their ears.

Arianna was sobbing uncontrollably. Jon, unsure what to do, stood silently beside Wade, who looked uncomfortable seeing Arianna crying. Elissa looked at Arianna coldly, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, God, Arianna, get a grip."

Startled by her own weakness, Arianna walked of toward the buses, face buried in her hands.

"This is such a crappy birthday," said Elissa, biting her fingers again, stalking off toward the stadium, leaving Jon and Wade standing there, dumbfounded.

That's how it really happened, too. "Ari" started to cry and "Elissa" snapped, while poor Jon and Wade didn't know what to do! Gah. Anyway, I love reviews, so please review. Thanks!