Here is the next chapter! This starts the small series of the honor band Arianna was a part of, along with Kassie, Ashley, Peter, and a few other people who were mentioned before. They don't come into the story very often, but when they do, they play an important part, so I had to add them in, sort of. Later on, as the story continues, Kassie becomes a main character, kind of, and Peter, too. But, that's not for a while now, so I'll just let you read!

Chapter Eight: Honor Band: Part One

Arianna groaned as she got out of bed, shivering. It was going to snow any day now, and it felt like winter already. It was that gloomy time of year when all the leaves had fallen from the trees but snow had not yet come. Not that Ariana could see anything; it was pitch black outside. Getting dressed in comfortable clothes, Arianna packed last minute things into her small travel bag, double checking that she had her forms, music, concert attire, and flute.

She wondered what rank she was; Mr. Vogl hadn't said. In the honor band she had been in under Mr. Berringer's direction, she was ranked seventh. Arianna hoped she wouldn't get anything lower than that this time as she grabbed the keys and headed out the door.

The van was quiet as Mr. Vogl pulled out of the parking lot, the sun still hidden, the moon still bright. Arianna, who had been there first and thus claimed the passenger seat, found herself waking up slightly, trying to drag a brush through her hair.

"Hey, why are we stopping?" asked Kassie, who had also made the honor band. A few groggy heads peeked up above the seats of the large school van Mr. Vogl now drove into the parking lot of the local gas station.

"Anyone interested in breakfast, follow me," the director responded. He looked to Arianna, who hadn't moved an inch while everyone else got out of the van, tripping over their own feet.

"Not hungry," she said simply, a slight smile on her face. Mr. Vogl shrugged and followed the rest of the students into the station. To be honest, Arianna only had enough money to cover lunch and she didn't want to starve when it really counted and she actually wanted food.

It had been this station where Mr. Marah had told the girls not to ruin his night, Elissa trying to hold Arianna back, Allie confused, Marah sneering as Arianna's heart fell... No! Arianna shook her head. No, she wouldn't think about him, not now, before they went to an honor band. Marah had been too busy to care about honor bads; he had lost her papers, after all. No! Arianna shook her head once more, tangling her hair in her brush. She wasn't going to think about him or Mr. Berringer today. It would be better without them in her mind...

"Let's get the show on the road!" exclaimed Mr. Vogl, jumping back into the van with coffee and a box that had something that smelled remarkably good inside.

"What is that?" asked Arianna, pointing to the box.

"Pizza!"

"For breakfast?"

"It's- Breakfast pizza," said Mr. Vogl, taking a sip of coffee after smiling at Arianna. "Take a bite."

"No thanks. It's your's. You're still a kid at heart, huh?"

"Yup. And if the rest of the students don't get here soon, this kid is taking off!"

It was hard to believe that everybody else was asleep, but it was true. Six students slept in the two seats, resting on one another like a litter of puppies.

"Are they all asleep?"

"Yeah. It's nice to have some quiet, huh?"

"Sometimes. I don't like quiet when it's at a cost, but this is nice. I'm driving my first van load of students to my first honor band as a director."

"Must be nice. When I'm a director, I hope I get to do this with my students. I hope they'll all remember it until their kids are in band and I can give them their own memories."

"You feel that way, Ari?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then you'll make a good director..."

"I have the feeling I won't drive like you, though!"

Arianna giggled quietly as Mr. Vogl smiled.

"Hey, I've never been in an accident yet!"

Arianna had been shocked that Mr. Vogl was trying to drink coffee, eat breakfast, get the radio working and find cruise control while getting on the freeway. It had been an hour since that happened, but it was still on the back of Arianna's mind.

"So, can you tell me about the band we're a part of? Who is the director? Where exactly are we going?"

Arianna looked over to her director, trying to make his face out in the dark.

"The director is my old college professor, Dr. Doss. Dr. Roger Doss is one of the most astonishing people you'll ever meet, I bet, in your entire life. That man is half my size and must drink twice the amount of coffee I do. He's clever and can pack emotion into everything he does. You're going to like him, Ari."

"Sounds like my sort of person," Arianna said, interested. "Is there anything else I should be warned about?"

"We have a few hours practice this morning, a master class with a tuba player, then lunch. After that, there is going to be a conductor's symposium while you guys take a campus tour of the college. Then another hour of practice, dinner on our own, then the concert. We're going to get back home at about midnight. Sound like fun?"

"Sounds like fun," Arianna replied with a smile. "What other schools are there?"

"We were not told. Anyone, I suppose."

"How about this high school?" Arianna hoped she sounded random in naming one particular school that topped her list.

"They could be, why?"

"No reason..."

Arianna felt her hopes rising that Mr. Berringer would be there and told herself to knock it off. If anyone would be there, it would probably be Marah. Arianna felt her heart sink. She stared out her window, watching the sun come up, thinking carefully.

"What's going on, Arianna?"

"Nothing."

"Still upset over yesterday? Commander Skkab isn't going to attack you for that one mistake. It was no big deal, really."

"It's not that. It's nothing, really."

"Don't fall asleep; keep me some company. Well, second thought, if you're tired, you should go to sleep. Yeah, go to sleep."

"I'm not tired! I'll keep you company."

"Here we are, guys. Don't embarrass me, okay? I know almost all of these directors and the Head Conductor is my old professor. Watch what you do and say, okay?"

"Are you that nervous about us?" Arianna asked quietly, walking next to Mr. Vogl, the group talking wildly behind them. Mr. Vogl was nervous, she could tell; she could see the look of concentration on his face that could only mean he was a bit scared. Arianna supposed she would be scared, too, if she had her best students with her and were going to bring them to the attention of her old teachers. She wanted to reach out and touch his shoulder, to say something calming, but knew that wouldn't help; it might only make things worse. Mr. Vogl wasn't like Mr. Berringer. He didn't need her always by his side.

"It's not you I'm worried about, or the rest of the group. I know we'll behave," Mr. Vogl explained, adjusting his tie as they walked the sidewalk to the auditorium for check in. "I just want everything to go well."

"Don't worry, Mr. Vogl. It will."

Arianna stopped and let Mr. Vogl walk ahead of her a few paces before slipping into the group of students, waling next to Peter and Ashley until they reached the building. She watched Mr. Vogl carefully before turning her attention to the rest of her surroundings. He wasn't like Mr. Berringer. He wasn't like Mr. Marah. He was something more...

Should she let herself grow attached to this one at the risk of losing him at the end of the year?

Oops, Arianna is second guessing herself! Well, the next part should be nice. We meet a new character who is just amazing (in Arianna's opinion, at least!) and I hope to hear from you! Drop me a review! Thanks!