AN: One shot written on request. If Tony had sent the e-mail to Lucy in chapter 14 of The Line Up, how would the former bass drummer have responded? (BTW, this caused me to go back and reread my story, which I haven't in awhile, and I just fell in love with it all over again).

Furthermore, it's funny that this has been requested, because I lived a VERY similar situation in my own life. I'm just going to let you guess who I was…

Oh, and if you haven't checked out the positively awesome artwork for The Art of Music by my co-author Somewei, you are definitely missing out! Check either of our profiles for links.

Oh, and I'm going to recycle this back to The Line: Bonus Material in a few weeks.

I do own the characters – but they do like making cameos in other stories now and then…

The Line Up: Chapter 14.5: Correspondence

Lucy Karate gave her fawn Pug, Pam, a treat (okay, actually, a third dog snack), and then paced back and forth in front of her laptop. She had a major paper due for her Communications course, but that wasn't what was weighing on her. The monkey on her back had come in the form of a seemingly innocent e-mail from someone she hadn't expected to hear from.

Strange how life works like that…

The big question on her mind – the one that was causing her to pace all over her small apartment – was telling the truth vs. her friendship with Bronwyn.

How will B respond if I tell Tony how I know she feels? Will she hate me forever for interfering with her life? Or will she be excited that I helped save her senior year?

Lucy knew, even if her little red-headed friend didn't want to admit it, that Bronwyn had a MAJOR thing for the author of the e-mail. The crazy pair had started as enemies, which evolved into a weird friendship that might have blossomed into something more, had Spence's Brookwood Drum Line Captain decision been different. The messed up place they were currently certainly hadn't been helped by a season of rumors and a summer apart.

Pacing a little more, the brunette sat down to type, idly signing into AIM while she collected her thoughts for what was sure to be an awkward e-mail. Feeling nostalgic, she flipped off a message to an old friend she hadn't heard from in quite some time.

Maybe he can shed some light on the subject…

bassgirl17: Ugh….

The response was almost instant:

Cartwright213: Yes?

bassgirl17: Why are kids so dumb?

Cartwright213: Who are you referring to exactly?

bassgirl17: No one you know, and no, this is not code for some random situation I've gotten myself into. Got a minute to talk?

Cartwright213: Yes.

bassgirl17: Yay!

Cartwright213: So, what's wrong with them, and why are you involved? Because, I'm sure you've somehow gotten involved…

bassgirl17: Yeah, thanks for that, anyway, it's my friend Bronwyn and this guy who likes her…

Cartwright213: Sounds pretty simple.

bassgirl17Of course it's not that easy. Didn't you go to high school?

Cartwright213: Yeah, okay, you're right.

bassgirl17: Of course I am, but that's beside the point…anyway, this guy who likes her just e-mailed me, and I don't know what to tell him.

Cartwright213: Why is he talking to you if he likes her?

bassgirl17: Exactly my point.

Cartwright213: So tell him that.

Lucy chewed a fingernail nervously.

bassgirl17: It's a little more complicated than that.

Cartwright213: How so?

bassgirl17: Thing is, I think she likes him back. Okay, I know she likes him back, even if she doesn't know that.

Cartwright213: So, tell this guy that. What guy doesn't want to hear some girl likes him? You'll make his day and who knows, maybe you'll even bring them together…

bassgirl17: a) I'm not sure he deserves her and b) what if she ends up hating me?

Cartwright213: Who, Bronwyn? Why would she do that?

bassgirl17: Maybe she doesn't want this guy to know her feelings…maybe she'll blame me if it all goes wrong. Maybe Tony doesn't really like her like I think she does.

Cartwright213: She doesn't seem like the type that would place blame on you, and you're wrong, I think Tony really does like her.

bassgirl17? How do you know that? You've never met her, or him…

The creeping suspicion that Lucy actually knew Cartwright213 again entered her subconscious, but she quickly dismissed it. She and Cartwright had had so many conversations over the years, that she was sure he would be able to form an actual opinion about people he had never met.

Carwright213: I mean, you've mentioned them before, anyway, I think you're on the right track, but backtracking, why don't you think this Tony guy deserves her?

bassgirl17: He's said some exceedingly crappy things about her in the past.

Cartwright213: Maybe everyone deserves a second chance.

bassgirl17: Maybe…

Cartwright213: Just think about it.

bassgirl17: I will. Thanks for listening…

Cartwright213: Anytime. Good luck. Let me know how it works out.

bassgirl17: Thanks, I've got to go write an e-mail.

Cartwright213: C-ya.

Lucy signed into her e-mail account and quickly began typing a response to one snare playing Tony Clarke.

To: TonyClarke

From: LucyKarate

Antony, Antony, Antony…

I see that not a lot has changed since I left you two my senior year. I know that you're confused right now, which means Bronwyn has to be feeling the same thing (times infinity)…so, the obvious question is there, WHY NOT JUST ASK HER YOURSELF???

While I appreciate you coming to me for advice, I think you already know what you have to do if you want an answer. First and foremost, decide what your feelings are for your Captain. Your true feelings. You know, the ones you probably buried somewhere deep down in April? The ones you felt when you saw her in August? Once you ascertain that, then you can go to Bronwyn and have an honest conversation. I know that you are capable of it. In fact, for most of last year, I rarely heard from my dear little Flueger and after some consideration, I realized that it was your friendship that was probably causing it. So, I know that you are entirely aware of how to talk to little B – you may have forgotten the basics, but I bet once you start, it will be easy.

Finally, and this is LONG overdue, be a man, Tony. Apologize for starting those disgusting rumors about her and Spence in April. I know it was you, because who else could it be? If nothing else, then get whatever lame grudge you've been carrying around off your chest and tell her your sorry for kind of ruining her senior year. You dig? It's the least you can do.

Oh, and feel free to call if you want to talk about any of this!

With all apparent sincerity,

Lucy

Lucy sat back from her computer and promptly sent the e-mail. She wondered if Bronwyn and Tony would beat the odds, get over themselves, and finally admit that they were both hopelessly in love with the other. Sighing, Lucy wondered if she would have feelings like that again. Sam had been her first love, and would always have a special place in her heart, Wes had been fun to date, and Joe had also been amusing, but she hadn't had feelings like that in a long time. Bronwyn and Tony had so much tension and passion between them, Lucy had to admit she was a little jealous. Well, maybe not for all of the heartache they had been through, but she idly wished that there was someone in her own life who caused her to feel that much.
AN: And there you go…I think this fits in nicely to the storyline and I enjoyed writing it! All the best from home!

(Totally random postscript – DCI posted an article about me and The Line – look on my profile for the link – I'm so excited).