Here is another chappie! (Sorry about the length of this chapter in particular; I want to keep this one short so I have a longer chapter next time!)

Chapter Thirteen: Hard Work Pays Off

Ariana walked down the hallway, heading for her locker. She was exhausted, but eager for another day. School had blended into the same thing, over and over again, nothing changing. Monotony. Utter monotony.

"Hi, Mr. Schmidt," Arianna said as the junior high director passed by. Mr. Schmidt was a slightly older man who had been Arianna's idol for nearly two years, the director who had taught her everything she knew about music. Mr. Schmidt smiled at Arianna like he usually did and then a flicker of realization came over his face. He turned around and kept pace with Arianna, putting an arm around her shoulder.

"Arianna, Mr. Berringer and I would like to talk with you about something."

Arianna was surprised as Mr. Schmidt steered her away from her locker and guided her down the steps to the band room, right into Mr. Berringer's office. She was slightly confused until she saw the large envelope Mr. Berringer held in his hands.

It was from the honor band committee.

"Congratulations," Mr. Schmidt said, excited. "We had in service yesterday and we got it in the mail. We were going to call you or wait until band today, but I couldn't resist."

Arianna felt Mr. Schmidt hug her and she hugged him back.

"Well, good job, Ari," he said again, leaving Mr. Berringer's office, several students looking for him. Arianna turned to face Mr. Berringer, who still sat in his webbed chair, smiling uncomfortably. Arianna's smile faded and she shuffled her feet. Mr. Berringer turned his head and shifted nervously in his chair.

"Thanks, Mr. Berringer," Arianna said softly, looking over the papers form the honor band.

"For what?"

"For helping me get this."

"I didn't really do anything," Mr. Berringer answered, turning a slight pink. Arianna cleared her throat. He was getting uncomfortable and Arianna didn't know what else to say.

"I'm going to go now and- um, put my stuff away."

"Okay."

Arianna started to walk out of the office, disappointed, when Mr. Berringer called her back.

"Arianna?"

"Yes, Mr. Berringer?"

"Good job," he said softly, looking straight into her eyes before turning away and clearing his throat. Arianna nodded and whispered a thank you.

Her heart had been pounding when she thought he was going to hug her, too.

"Oh, Ari, I'm so happy for you!" Elissa squealed, hugging her friend. "I heard about it in the announcements and we all clapped!"

"Thanks, Elissa," Arianna said, pulling away.

Ari still didn't know what to think about the fame she was getting because of the honor band. She knew she had done something brilliant, but Arianna was never one to draw attention to herself. People were congratulating her in the halls, teachers were clapping her on the back; it seemed everyone was happy for her.

Arianna had thought about nothing but the fact Mr. Berringer had hardly looked her in the eye until she was leaving his office. His eyes were the only thing she was seeing, the tone of his voice the only thing she heard. Arianna hoped she had made him proud; the benefits for a director to have a student in the most prestigious honor band in the state were bountiful. To have your name on the director's list because you worked with your student to get her that far was admirable. It was nearly unheard of for a first year director to make the honor band director's list. He had better be proud of her...

"Ari, is something going on? What's the problem?"

Elissa's voice snapped her out the the little trance Arianna had fallen into.

"Oh, it's okay. I'm just tired, that's all."

"Ari, tell me what it is? Is it about Mr. Berringer?"

Arianna denied it all too quickly and Elissa raised an eyebrow.

"So, it is about Mr. Berringer. What's up?"

"Nothing, Elissa... It's nothing."

Gosh, Ari really is having some issues here, huh? Well, I can't say it gets better, but I can say that it is not as boring later on as it is now... Thanks for reading and please tell me what you think! I love hearing back from my readers! Thanks again!