AN: Yay – as an un-birthday present to you, and a early birthday present for me, here's a short story for all. Sorry I've been away these past few months, I'm hard at work on some original fiction and it's taking all my time and energy.

This is also written a bit out of the timeline, and would fall in at the end of Art of Music. At least, I'm currently picturing this as a postscript to the (anticipated) finished project…some extra dialogue from two of my favorite characters.

I do own the characters.


Along The Way

They made up their minds,
And they started packing…
They left before the sun came up that day.
An exit to eternal summer slacking,
But where were they going
Without ever knowing the way?

And when the car broke down
They started walking,
Where were they going without ever knowing the way?
Anyone could see
The road that they walk on is paved in gold
And it's always summer, they'll never get cold
They'll never get hungry
They'll never get old and gray
You can see their shadows
Wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happy there today…

- The Way, Fastball

I put my hand over Tony's as we sped south, away from Indianapolis and the crazy blur of a summer, which was already fading like a dream… I wouldn't trade any of it in – not one second, but it was such an abrupt end to things. As it stood, we were already late to join our college's drum line. We were starting over, ready to pay our dues – this time, both as members of the bass line, which I was looking forward to. Although snare would forever be my favorite, after being intimately acquainted with the particular percussive instrument for the better part of three months (and really, three years), I was ready for a change. The thought that we were hurtling towards and unknown future was a bit scary…even for me, triumphant Lady Captain of the Cadettes.

We had planned to drive home together since the beginning of the summer. Although we had no idea how the season itself was going to go – our plans had always been the thing that had kept me going. No matter how bad things had been, the thought of a long trip with my best friend kept me going.

There would be time later to dissect – to share all the intimate stories and inside jokes from our summer apart – the things we could talk about that couldn't be discussed in the back of a bus, or while we were about to pass out after a long day on the field. For now, I just felt comforted to be in Tony's presence.

"Do you feel like we missed anything?" I asked.

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, technically, the summer between your senior year of high school and freshman year of college is supposed to be all no responsibilities and going to the pool every day."

Tony considered, and then replied, "No offense, B, but I think we would've gotten bored after the first week."

He was right. Furthermore, the summer had been a continuing lesson that any person could really live on very little. I knew Megan was already in touch with her roommate and they were color coordinating their dorm room, but after sleeping on a gymnasium floor or bus seat for so many nights, I was just looking forward to a real bed – no matter what the comforter looked like.

Also, I rather liked not being able to dwell on the fact that life as I knew it – the relative safety of the Brookwood drum line – was no longer waiting for me in the fall. Having been so busy with being a Cadette and simultaneously missing the crap out of Tony, I hadn't really considered the subject until now. I wasn't worried about classes, or finding new friends, but I was concerned how everything new would impact my relationship with my boyfriend. I was good at dating Tony in the confines of high school, but what would happen now that there were almost no restrictions?

He squeezed my hand, "It's going to be fine. You'll see – just think, we have a new show to learn and a new Line to get to know."

I was quiet a few minutes, humming along to the radio, before I said, "You think they're doing okay?"

The great thing about Tony, was that, after marching next to him and spending so many countless hours near each other, I rarely needed to clarify or explain myself. Even after a few months apart, he knew what I was talking about.

"They're fine."

"You promise?"

"Do you think Spence would let them be any different?"

"No." I didn't always like it when he was right; I wanted him to tell me that there was no way the Line was surviving without us. That somehow they had spontaneously combusted and were waiting for our return. I knew it wasn't true, but I still wanted to think it was possible.

"So what do you think of the show?"

"It'll do," I answered, not quite ready to let go of 'Of the Sea.'

Somehow, we had both managed to get copies of the book for the halftime show. While it wasn't necessarily DCI standard stuff, and I could grudgingly admit it was still going to be a fun time learning. Ironically, we would be performing to bigger crowds as members of State's Line than we had during the Finals not even twenty-four hours before.

Speaking of which… It seemed like a good as time as any to discuss the results of World Championships.

"So, Clarke…"

"Yes, Flueger?"

AN: I heard this song a while back and to me it just stood out as inspiration for this scene.

When Somewei and I actually finish AOM I will go back and extend this scene… until then, enjoy this work in progress.