Here we go!

Chapter Twelve: A Great Birthday Gift.

"And now, fourth place, division A..."

The announcer droned on and on, much to Elissa's annoyance. She was sitting next to a sulky Arianna. Who cares, she thought bitterly. Its my birthday, we got yelled at by Marah for a mid season slump and now he's leaving and Arianna is going to start crying again the moment Marah looks at her.

A sigh came from Arianna as the majorette from the band announced fourth place strode to the award table and saluted the host band. To be up there. That was her dream. To accept an award, to hold it in her hands... Arianna sniffled lightly. After she had a good cry alone on the bus, she had walked to the stadium, her pale face and red eyes startling some onlookers. Elissa and Arianna decided to stick together that night. Arianna would have held a grudge against Elissa for such a long time in any other circumstances, but, being that it would solve nothing, both decided to let it go. Elissa didn't feel guilty for being so harsh with Arianna, though, and Arianna had no regrets for being so emotional.

"Now, fourth place, division AA..."

"What is our division again, Ari?"

"AA. This is probably ours."

The two girls shifted their weight on the uncomfortable bleachers as fourth place was announced. There were five bands in their division. Someone would go home without an award that night. The school announced, however, was not them and the girls realized they had been holding their breath. The next time an award for division AA came around, third place, it was the same thing. Their school was not called.

"Look who decided to arrive," snarled Arianna. Elissa followed her gaze down the bleachers to where Mr. Marah was walking. He sat two rows down from where Arianna and Elissa were sitting. Rolling her eyes, Arianna poked Elissa. They were announcing second place, AA. Not them.

"You know what, I'm outta here." Arianna stood up and tried to move past Elissa.

"Don't leave yet! We might win!" Elissa sounded nervous, as if she doubted what she said as truth, but there was a gleam in her eyes. "What an awesome birthday gift that would be."

Elissa stood up to join Arianna, who felt frozen, as the announcer started to speak again. "And now, first place, division AA..."

If Elissa was wrong, Arianna would feel so stupid having faith in the band. But, they had done well that night. Marah didn't know what he was talking about. That was all Arianna thought, over and over, as the pause was almost too long to bear.

The announcer called out the name of the first place band.

It was them.

The stadium was silent long enough for the news to register that the underdog band, who won second last week, had now won first.

Arianna screamed, jumping onto the bleacher seat, Elissa punching the air, yelling so loud her throat hurt. Their whole school was screaming, the noise deafening. The shock was clear on the faces of the majors on the field as the majorettes from their school marched up to the table and accepted their trophy.

As Arianna hugged Elissa and after both of them burst into tears, Arianna looked down at the majorettes, holding the first place trophy, and felt her heart bleed in envy. It should have been her accepting the trophy. It would be her next year.

"Shut up, you guys, its just first place."

Arianna and Elissa knew Wade felt stupid for saying that the moment the words left his mouth. Other schools were stunned. Hell had frozen over. Marah walked by the bus, brandishing the trophy, and Arianna and Elisa, too happy at the moment to care about Marah, screamed their heads off.

"Arianna, you gotta sleep over and celebrate! What a birthday gift! First place!"

Aren't you so happy for them? Well, even if you are not, it's still nice, right? I realize as I am typing this that Ari is really emotional. Hum... Gotta think about that one. Anyway, review please! I thank you! Onward to the next chappie. This next one is really good, I think... let me go and look...