Hello and thank you for all of the awesome reviews! I do not know how many times I can thank you guys.Special thanks to my beta Dessert Maniac, wouldn't be able to write this story without you.
Also I would love to spend this AN to send condolences to the families in the shooting in Newton Connecticut because no family should be forced to experience this sort of tragedy.
perkygirl1998: hey it's nice meeting another orchestra person! Don't worry I was just as clueless my freshman year when I joined guard for winter season because I've basically been in orchestra since fourth grade but anyway...the drum major is the same status as the concert master in orchestra. The drum captain or guard captain is just another way of saying section leader but they are captains because they are a prestigious groups that compete separately during winter/indoor season. I hope you understand because that's the best way I can explain it.
Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or Phantom of the Opera
Enjoy
Percy's POV:
For once, I didn't dread going to band practice. I could feel the tension escaping by the second. But all I hope is that this truce thing was for the better and not the worse.
I can't help but feel a part of me hating this whole thing. It was a minor part of me, though. It felt familiar but there was something about it that didn't feel like me. I was just Perseus Jackson, drum captain of this school's drumline. But I don't know if the title is meaning more or less to me every passing day.
Drum line has always been there for me, even when I had no one. I sighed, bringing up those memories to mind. This time, I noticed that my feelings for Rachel didn't hurt anymore. That's interesting … she was my first everything. I see her around school, more than I want to, and never had she looked my way.
I thought about her frizzy red hair and green eyes. The more the image lingered on, the frizzy red hair that I once thought could never escape my mind turned into blonde, princess curls blonde, and the green eyes I once thought I could always trust changed into a breathtaking stormy grey. I abruptly stopped where I was walking. Oh god, this can't be happening. The image of blonde curls and grey eyes was looking clearer and familiar to me by the second.
As if fate wanted to taunt me, I spotted Chase walking hurriedly to the band room too. Her blonde curly locks were up in a ponytail, much to my dislike. The image was clear now. Chase was a color guard captain, emphasis on color guard, something I sworn myself to hate.
All I could hope now was that practice today would be worth it.
I was out on the field with my snare attached to my harness. I was the only one here, except for some freshmen girls in woodwinds sitting on the benches. At times the girls would sneak glances my way when I wasn't looking and giggle. I smirked, some things never get old. It felt odd being one of the first ones here. I've always been stuck in the band room with my cousin and Chase learning the solo. Now I was here by myself because my dear cousin decided to teach only Chase today and not me. It felt weird; it felt lonely, but I pushed the thought aside. I have all I need right here: my snare and I on the center of the field. But I can't escape that gut-empty feeling.
Murmurs broke out and grew louder. I looked up to see more brass and woodwinds people coming, but more importantly I saw drum line behind. I snickered, they never come early.
"Hey Perce," Travis greeted. The rest of the drum line followed.
"Why are you guys here early?" I asked them suspiciously.
"Well the question is why you are here earlier than us," Travis retorted smirking mischievously. I had a sudden urge to punch him.
"Yeah the last time we checked, out captain is never early or on time," Connor continued.
"Yeah, well there is a first for everything," I said back, gritting my teeth. They, for once, were getting on my nerves.
'Tell me about it." I faintly heard Travis mumbling, but I ignored it for it would only cause even more problems.
"Anyway how are you and the guard captain doing," Connor asked smirking mischievously. The Stolls were infamously known for this smirk. The way he said it sounded so wrong in many ways.
"Nothing," I stated because it was true, nothing was going on between me and Chase.
"Good, because you know that can never happen," Travis informed me. What can never happen?
"What do you mean?"
Most of the guys in drum line snickered. Travis and Connor looked at each other. "You're not serious, right?" I crossed my arms signaling that I was dead serious. I saw them shiver. "The whole a guard can't date a drummer thing. It's marching band's number one rule."
I stared blankly at them. When the hell was this rule made? In my four years have I never heard of this rule. The drum line understood my confusion and continued. "You seriously never heard of this?" I nodded hesitantly. The drum line's snickers were getting louder,enjoying my stupidity. I didn't care, as captain I can do whatever punishment I want.
"Then how come was I allowed to date a guard back in freshman year?" I asked memories coming back again.
Travis smirked, "Because you weren't technically counted as a drummer yet."
I stared at him dumbstruck. Now that I think about it, I hated my drum major my freshmen year, always picking on the newbies. The band laughed even more.
"Yeah well that just means you weren't officially a drummer your freshman year too so shut up," I played along with them until the stopped laughing. I smirked, it was nice being captain. Although the fact that I learned this marching band rule not a minute ago was unimaginable for me. It was a ridiculous rule, but I wonder: does Chase know about it too? I chuckled. A wise girl like her should know everything.
I looked around my section to check for attendance and we were short by one, and by the most unexpected person too.
"Hey Travis, know where your girlfriend is at?" I hit his arms with my stick. He turned to me, annoyed.
"For the last time, we have nothing going on between us," Travis said in a frustrated tone. We all heard it but not ever have we believed it. "And no, I don't where she is. Where is she?" he looked around the band then scanned the front side line of the field. All of us noticed that too and were trying to hide our grins.
"What the hell is she doing?" Travis blurted staring jaw dropped to the entrance of the field. We all turned to the scene. Katie, a very out spoken girl who isn't afraid to beat the crap out of Travis, was helping the pixie girl in guard with flags. What was she doing? And where was her marimba?
I marched forward to confront her before her boyfriend Travis did. They saw I was coming and stopped a few yards ahead of me. Katie looked as if she anticipated this moment while Juniper squealed and hid behind her flags.
"Katie, what is going on here? Where is your marimba?" I asked, failing to not sound disconcerted because I was.
"Relax Perce, my marimba is already in front of the field," Katie said pointing to the front side line. "I'm just helping a guardo out with flags, calm down captain." It's not me that has to calm down.
I sighed, the look on her face from carrying the flags and talking to pixie girl worried me. It seems like I haven't seen her smile in months, maybe years, ever since the teasing between her and Travis started.
Katie and the pixie girl left,going back to their previous conversation like they were old friends. I turned around only to find Travis standing there impatiently with his arms crossed. I rolled my eyes. He makes things way too obvious.
"What happened?" Travis asked anxiously.
"Nothing, she just said that she was helping out a friend, calm down Travis," I said trying to be supportive and patted his back, but I couldn't help smirking at his immaturity and protectiveness towards Katie.
"I don't know Perce; there is something different with her. She became more distant from us," he said looking at Katie practicing her marimba. I smirked again; there was something more to Travis than everybody suspects.
"Let's get back to the battery."
Travis ultimately agreed, hesitantly tearing his gaze away from the pit section leader.
The section was huddled in a circle waiting for us.
"What did she say," Connor asked eyeing his twin brother skeptically.
"Nothing, she was only helping out a friend with flags," I told them what I told Travis. The subject soon dropped interest and I decided to leave Travis alone. This section is important to me but I know when a guy needs his personal space.
Right in time, Thalia steps on her podium. She held a strong and confident façade, but if I knew my cousin she was frightened inside. Frightened for if this season would be cancelled by Mr. D everything would be blamed on her, the drum major. For once in three years, we had something to relate to.
"Okay make this run our best one yet," Thalia motivated us. I caught her eye looking at me vulnerably. With everything happened this afternoon, I guess I still owe her support.
"Listen to your drum major. This run better be the best god damn run you have ever done so far in your life! Got it?" I commanded to the band.
"Yes sir!" the band chanted as one. Thalia and I shared a smile.
Mr. D moved to lean alongside the podium grumbling, "This better be worth my time."
Thalia raised her arms and started the first movement. Grover held his solo graciously amongst the band. By the second set of the movement, I couldn't help but feel empty and incomplete. Weird. The drum line moved to the center of the field and from my periphery were a bunch of flags. Crap! I forgot about Chase and our solo. How could I forget so easily? Every step, I got closer to doing a partner less solo. The guard and battery finally met like the drill was written and I stood there feeling like an idiot. Thalia noticed and stared at me menacingly. This will not end well for me. I diverted my attention to Mr. D, although I'm clueless why. His look was far more terrifying than Thalia's because Mr. D didn't look mad instead he was smirking. I shivered at the thought of the possibilities of what he could be thinking at the moment.
The song ended but Thalia didn't continue. Instead, she redirected her attention to me, her electrifying blue eyes on me. This isn't good.
What is it with this marching season that I keep getting caught in embarrassing moments? First it was the epic lift fail I had to do with Chase. Then getting locked in the uniform room with Chase. And now I faced utter humiliation because I have no Chase. This season was full of surprises.
I sighed and gripped onto my sticks. Short snickers appeared behind me and I only have one guess to where it is coming from.
"Kelp head," Thalia muttered deviously. Mr. D, however, hadn't moved his position. He carried his demonic smirk the whole , I am so going to get it. This run was supposed to be redemption; show Mr. D that this season shouldn't be cancelled. And I think I just ruined that.
I was about to defend myself until I saw a glimpse of a familiar blonde. Yes, finally she comes! I smiled and exhaled a deep breath.
Chase and Aphrodite were coming from the entrance. I never knew I would be so blessed and relieved to see Chase coming. I noticed Thalia seemed a bit relieved too. I looked around noticing the whole band light up from the sight of Chase.
We all must have looked creepy,because her face grew cautious the closer she got to us.
"Seaweed brain, what is going on here?" Chase asked when she got to me.
"It's nothing. We are all just relived that you came," I told her, sounding surprisingly genuine. Chase's grey eyes grew softer from my tone.
"Okay well, let's get started," she said. Thalia got the message and commanded everybody to the beginning of the song.
I stumbled my way with my snare to the opposite side of the field. Along the way, I noticed Aphrodite speaking to Chase. She was rambling while Chase was struggling to speak. And of course Aphrodite threw in her high pitched giggle like always.
Everybody was at their spots and Thalia started the movement. Mr. D from the side of the podium was ready to listen to hopefully not another horrible run of the show. The movement went according to plan, just like always. However, this time unlike the last run, I met Chase's hand in the middle of the field. We held eye contact throughout the song only for it to be broken when I lifted her by the waist. But it soon reconnected when I held her in my arms bridal style till the ending of the piece.
"Woo!" the scream came from the stadium from Aphrodite herself. I smiled meeting Annabeth's smile as well.
I placed her down for her to stand up when Thalia began conducting the next movement.
The whole time I was staring at Annabeth noticing that some of the dance was changed into even harder moves. The second movement ended continuing to the third song Masquerade which we've only touched on twice. Despite that, Mr. D looked pleasantly pleased by the outcome of it. We ended where we have learned so far. Thalia called horns down and all of the eyes moved to Mr. D.
There was silence…
"What are you doing drum major? Have the band learn the rest of the sets, and I must remind everybody that the drum instructor and alumni will be returning this week to fix up any mess for the next game." With that Mr. D leaves to the band room.
My heart stopped; nobody moved. As grumpy and ill-tempered as Mr. D was, he said the one thing that the entire band has been anticipating to hear, well that and the fact that my instructor was returning. Everybody stayed quiet until Mr. D was out of sight. The second he was, cheers roared. I looked around my section with glee and joy.
Every section was having a celebration of their own. The battery was hugging and patting each other's backs after dismounting their drums. I pierced through the crowd in search of Annabeth. I found her blonde hair with a pile of flags. What was it with today and all the flags? She spotted me through her guard. Something came over me, an adrenaline rush and I found myself running towards her. I pulled her to my arms for a hug, remembering the moment in the band room.
"Good job, Chase," I told her once we pulled away.
"Right back at you, Jackson," she smiled. "And there is something I need to speak to you about," she said cautiously. I scrunched my eyebrows in confusion.
Unfortunately, Thalia returned to her podium before I can ask. "Okay you guys hear Mr. D, time to learn the last sets of Masquerade."
I looked back at Annabeth. We knew we had to get back to our own section. So without a word we returned to the opposite ends of the field.
The third movement was probably the only song where the guard and battery weren't together. There shouldn't be anything wrong with it but there was.
Now the drum line and most of the sections were sitting down on our next set while waiting for the remaining sections- *ahem* woodwinds- to learn them. This part always sucks because some sections are always too slow, especially when there is no one to talk to or nothing to do. The drum line was busy with themselves and I saw Nico and Grover having an interesting conversation.
"Oh this is rich, you band geeks are still practicing even after your public humiliation from Friday!" That voice never fails to disgust me.
We all turned to see our one hit winner football team with their quarterback in front of the pack. I groaned; just when I thought today finally calmed down in drama.
"Get out of here, we still have this field until 6," our drum major fought back.
"I must give you guys props. I mean, I would never have suspected you guys to hold your head high after Friday's game," Luke said clapping his hands.
"Just leave Luke." For somebody who doesn't know their secret he or she would've guessed they hated each other, but unfortunately for me, I knew better. Thalia looked like she was about to break apart. This bastard is so dead to me.
"Come on sweet cheeks, I know you don't want me to leave." The band laughed at that, but I stayed quiet because I knew part of that was true and I think Thalia knew it too.
"Get your team and leave Luke," I said standing up from my spot. I had to say something before Thalia broke apart completely.
"Why should we, because unlike you guys we actually won on Friday."
"Yeah one game in nearly a decade," I reminded him, feeling vengeful.
Luke and his team flinched when they heard that because it was true.
"It's better than being a bunch of disappointments."
That stuck a core. Luke smirked thinking he had us, which he probably did.
"Luke, I am not going to say it again. Leave!" Thalia yelled. That surprised me, Thalia is a strong and independent person but I never knew she had the strength to stand up to Luke.
Hearing Thalia must have hit Luke deeply, because a flash a sadness washed over him but not long enough for others to recognize it.
"Fine we'll leave. Let's go guys." He said to his team leaving the marching field. I think Thalia just broke up with Luke. I looked back at her. I smiled, her confidence was obvious. The band congratulated her and it seems like today was full of celebrations, in a way. It's hard to believe this band came from a devastated group of tone deaf players to an overpowering marching band in just one day. But they had a group of amazing leaders to help them.
Yay chapter 15 finished!
Sorry for being gone for 3 weeks. Marching season did end yes but I'm starting winter/indoor season this week so I'm going to be twice as hectic than before. But I'll try to update and keep writing as possible as I can.
Now there wasn't a lot of Percabeth in this but I needed to figure out the Thuke situation first.
Marching band terms:
Battery: drum section of the marching band; another term for drum line -okay yes I have used drum line more than I used the battery word, but don't get confused for those not in marching band. Basically, up until now I totally forgot the term battery because I was used to using drum line.
Pit: percussion instruments and players who don't march, consists of marimbas, xylophones, chimes, ect.
Also please tell me if I am putting drum line in a negative connotation.I don't mean to, so please tell me if I am.
How did everybody's marching season went? Anything new or hilarious happened?
Lastly, please review! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everybody!