A/N: Speedy updates are imminent! I don't have school right now, so that's probably why :P They might not come fast this weekend, I have sectionals and have to deliver phone books all weekend [Both for Marching Band. Ah, to be a band geek...

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Pat's jaw dropped, unable to even comprehend what he said. He stood there for a while, neither one moving. Pat could feel his own world tearing apart by the seams. The smaller boy had always been his closest friend. It was just unbearable to think he wouldn't be there. "I'm really sorry for not telling you sooner." Nate said in barely a whisper, his eyes averting Pat's powerful ones. Pat was still unable to speak. He gave him a few minutes to regain himself. "When did...you find out?" Pat finally asked him in a low voice.

"Last week." He answered honestly. He knew it was wrong of him not to tell Pat sooner. He and the other trumpet player had been best friends since before he could remember. Sure, they had their rocky times, but it had to do with their clashing personalities, Pat being irritable and commanding, while he was normally the one to irritate. He was thankful for at least 5 months with him.

Pat moved closer to his bed, hovering above him. "Are you...you know...alright?" He managed out, unsure of what to say without seeming forward. The smaller boy frowned back up at him. "I was about to ask you the same thing." He finally let anger take over his form once more. "Goddammit, Nate..." His hands clenching into fists. He turned and threw his fist into the wall closest to him, a loud crash erupting from this. He was absolutely shaking, uncaring that he probably broke his hand in three different places.

"Why you? Of all people, why you?!" His voice bellowed throughout the room angrily. Nate couldn't answer him. Just then, a nurse came in, and the second chair trumpet retracted his arm back to his side. "I'm sorry, visiting hours are over." She informed him in a soft voice, directing him to the door. He complied, and headed out with her, turning to Nate. "When are you getting out of here?" He asked the boy in bed. "In 3 days, at most." He answered back. Pat nodded, and left the room.

>>

Pat, Nick, Katherine, Scott, and Hailey, a flute player, were all sitting at a table in Taco Bell, having a late lunch. They were all talking and making jokes while the second chair trumpet sat there quietly, just eating his taco. He'd talk every once in a while, but not as much as he normally did. They all noticed his hand was considerably swollen, but they didn't know if they should ask him why.

All of them talked about sectionals, gossip about their other band members, and other band related things. Yes, they were certified band geeks, and were proud of it. They did have lives outside of band, but those were rare. Seeing as they had sectionals so often they couldn't really do much else. "Hey, do you guys all want to come down to the mall this weekend? We haven't been there in a while." They all nodded, they needed to get stuff anyway.

"I've got to practice this weekend." Pat informed them, so he wouldn't be joining them. They understood, since Nate's solo was difficult. "C'mon Pat, we could check out all the hot chicks down there." Nick nudged him, laughing lecherously. Pat rolled his eyes and pushed Nick away from him. "Not eveyone's as shallow as you, Nick." They all laughed at this remark, except for Nick, of course. He pouted at him, "I'm not shallow! I just like hot girls."

"Have fun by yourself, then." Pat told him, going back to eating his taco. He decided it was good for him to get out after his meeting with Nate. It really relaxed his nerves, but it made him much more apparent of the throbbing pain in his hand. He'd just wrap it up later.

>>

He hit another foul note, and cursed under his breath. He was never going to get this solo down.

>>

A few days had passed, meaning Nate would be coming back to band sectionals. Or at least, that's what he thought. He got a call at 11 in the morning, nearly an hour into sectionals. "Hello?" He asked, moving to the side while he section practiced their parts. "Yeah, Pat, I'm not coming in today. If anything, Friday." It was Nate on the other line, and friday wasn't for another 2 days. Now Pat was mad, he was looking forward to spending time with his friend. They exchanged farewells, and he put his phone back in his pocket.

"Alright, let's do that again." Pat instructed them as he went back to his section. Once again, Tim missed the 'C' in the run. "Tim, how many times do I have to tell you? Did you even practice from yesterday?!" He yelled at him, angry as it was. Tim, the rookie trumpet, apologized multiple times to the angry fill-in, not wanting to get him angrier. Once again, Todd came by to stop him from harrassing the trumpets.

"Hey, Pat. Cool it down, seriously." He told him in a no-nonsense voice. He was worried his outbursts would affect the morale of the band. "Shut up, Todd. I've got it under control." He spoke back to him, not even bothering to turn around. This sparked irritation in Todd, who was normally very mellow. "Look, I don't care what's going on outside here, but don't bring it to sectionals." He told him, causing the larger trumpet player to turn around. "Don't tell me what to do, Todd."

The trumpets looked at each other nervously, they could already tell what was going to happen because of their section leader. "I have seniority over you. I can tell you whatever I want." He got up closer to him, starting to get incredibly irritated at the other's incompetence. It was true, he did. Todd had been Mello section leader for 2 years, and Pat wasn't even section leader. Pat glared down at him into the other's brown eyes. "Oh yeah? Well what about this, Mr. Section Leader?"

After these words left his mouth, he punched Todd square across his face, unaware it was with his bad hand. Todd was thrown back from the impact, but wasn't slow to get up and charge at him, both of them being stopped at their respective sections holding them back from an all-out brawl. "Keep it up, Patrick, and you'll never play in this band again!" Todd spat at him furiously. "Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try it, you goddamn pansy!" While he was struggling to break through the grip of his Mellophones, they were both called by their Band Director loudly.

"Todd! Patrick! Get into my office now!" His voice bellowed across the field, making everyone's spine shiver. They both pulled away from their respective sections, and headed up back to the band room where their director's office was. They simply glared at each other from the corner of their eyes, knowing they couldn't try anything stupid now.

>>

They were both sitting in front of Mr. Kuma, their band director. He eyed them both, and started to say something. "Ok, I'm not going to ask who's fault it is, because as far as I'm concerned, it's both of your faults." He then turned to Pat, "Patrick. One more outburst from you, and you could be cut from the band." Pat gritted his teeth in response, but he wasn't stupid enough to talk back to him. "And Todd. Stop bothering with everyone else's section, and just worry about your own." Todd nodded in response.

"Alright Todd, you can leave. Patrick, I want you to stay." Pat cocked an eyebrow as Todd didn't hesitate to get up and leave the room. "I heard about Nate. All I can say is, you're not going to be section leader."

"What?!" Pat blurted out angrily. How could he not give him the right to be section leader? He was second chair, he would be the next one up! Mr. Kuma regarded this oddly. "What, you mean you seriously thought you were going to be section leader after that?" Pat averted his director's eyes. He guessed he was right. he flipped his messy hair out of his eyes. "That's all I wanted to say to you. I'll tell you who's section leader next week." He didn't respond, stood up, and left his office.

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A longer chapter! gasp I should also note, there's going to be a tiny bit of yaoi in the next chapter or so. No, it's nothing bad. I should still leave the rating then, since they don't actually do anything.
Again, R&R is very very appreciated 3