Yippee! Another chapter! I was thinking of Elissa and Mr. Berringer today and realized I hadn't updated in a while, so I wrote the next chapter in the Freshman year. Arianna really did suffer those two weeks of recording and paperwork and practice after practice alone in the uniform/recording room, but it was all needed, I think. She was stupid, though, I have to admit, to skip out on meals. Food is good.

Anyway, I don't want to babble, I want you to read the story. Here we go!

Chapter Eleven: Working Too Hard

"Arianna, sit down and eat something. You look like you're going to faint."

Arianna refused and Elissa grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the chair next to her, shoving her lunch plate in front of Ari.

"Honestly, Elissa, I don't want to eat anything; I just needed to go to the office for a document that was faxed-"

"Ari, if you don't eat these potatoes, I'm going to shove them down your throat. This not-eating-when-you're-supposed-to thing has really gotten to be too much."

Arianna took the fork and stuck it into the potatoes. Elissa noticed her fingers shaking and how listless her eyes looked. Ari's hair was dull and she had split ends and her skin was pale and dry. Her lips were swollen and Elissa had noticed her voice was raspy.

"Ari, when was the last time you ate?"

"Um, dinner yesterday."

"Don't lie."

"Okay, dinner the day before."

"Arianna! That's not right! That's not healthy! Now, you have to eat the corn, too. I'm keeping you here for lunch."

"But, Mr. Berringer-"

"He'll just have to put up with the fact that you have to eat. How many weeks have you been skipping lunch to go and practice or record? One, two?"

"Two. But, Elissa, I need practice! I have to send in all the paperwork tomorrow and the tape the day after next. I'm already halfway done. I really can't waste time."

Arianna had been in the back room of the band room, recording for an honor band. Elissa remembered Arianna had tried out before for this band, the previous year, but had not made it. The honor band only accepted the top auditions in the state and, this year, there were ten available flute spots. Arianna was going to be one of them. But first she had to win her audition. The concert list was strenuous and consisted of songs Arianna had never heard of, songs the band director himself could barely count out. And the stress of perfecting her audition was slowing hurting Arianna.

"Has Mr. Berringer been pushing you or-"

"No, actually. I have been doing this all myself. Besides the important paperwork, anyway. We had a practice after school the other night."

"What went on?"

"He was so flustered, he left after ten minutes and told me to lock the doors when I was done. I have my own set of keys for the band room now."

"Well, at least you got ten minutes of practice done with him."

"He just erased the white board and picked up the room."

"Oh..."

The bell rang for the end of lunch and Arianna jumped up, gathering the papers she had placed on the table.

"Oh, no! I still need to get those sheets from the office and find the teacher who borrowed the microphone jack for-"

"Arianna!"

But she had already run off, calling a goodbye and thanks to Elissa. Elissa sighed and picked up her lunch tray she had shared with Arianna. She was frustrated to find that not a bite of food had gone from Ari's fork to her mouth.

They were all eating in the band room. The thought of that alone made Arianna's skin crawl. No one was supposed to eat in the band room. But, they were having pastries and juice, watching a movie, the food courtesy of the director himself. It was the same movie the band had watched the previous week, but no one cared. Arianna could almost taste the food and a growl reached her ears from her stomach.

Arianna took her flute from her case and left the band room, closing the door behind her, keys in hand. It was time to record what she had been working on for the past few days. The audition material was due soon and Arianna was not point to miss a deadline because of laziness. She told herself that she would eat later; right now, she had work to do.

Arianna couldn't help but sigh when she sat in the silence of the uniform room that doubled as her recording station. The only sound that came from the band room was the occasional person leaving the band room to get a drink of water or use the restroom.

Arianna practiced and practiced, hoping Mr. Berringer would come visit her or talk with her or at least check on what she was doing. Last she had seen him, he was in his office, the door closing behind him. What was he doing? How was he? There were so many things Arianna wanted to say to him, but she knew the words wouldn't come out, even if he was there.

Finally, the deadline getting closer and her hope falling, Arianna took a deep breath and made a vow: she would show him how much he meant to her, how supportive she was of him, by making these last songs the best she would ever play. If she made this band, the most prestigious honor band in the entire state, maybe he would see her for who Arianna wanted to be. He would put her on a pedestal, he would be so proud of her, he would never forget her, no matter what happened.

Arianna pushed the record button with a shaking finger, announced the title of the song, and raised the flute to her lips.

She was ready.

Poor Ari, I think. What do you say? Please review and tell me what you think of the story so far! I love reviews! Thanks for reading and I'll update soon! Thanks!