A Fine Line
A Novel
By
Courtney Brandt
Published by Courtney Brandt at Smashwords
Copyright December 2010 Courtney Brandt
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
* * *
Dedicated to…
Leigh, Crystal, and Lisa, without whom high school would’ve been a much
different Story altogether.
* * *
Other books in The Line Series:
A Fine Line (available in print and digital release)
Keeping in Line (available in print and digital release)
The Line Up (available in print and digital release)
* * *
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE: Lieutenant Lucy?
CHAPTER TWO: The Guy
CHAPTER THREE: “Hole-y bass drums, Batman!”
CHAPTER FOUR: How Not to Apologize
(A Lesson by Wes Mallinson)
CHAPTER FIVE: The Deal
CHAPTER SIX: Say Goodbye
CHAPTER SEVEN: Preparations
CHAPTER EIGHT: Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing)
CHAPTER NINE: Transitions
CHAPTER TEN: What Tangled Webs We Weave
CHAPTER ELEVEN: Where There’s Smoke
CHAPTER TWELVE: Blind Date
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Picture Perfect
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Battery Powered
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Road Trip
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Take Your Breath Away
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Room 312
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Slumber Party
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Wide Right
CHAPTER TWENTY: The Smallest What?
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Consequences
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: There’s No I in Team
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: The Last Hurrah
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: Truths
Epilogue
* * *
A line travels on with no end in sight
The name for a group completely connected
A circle sounds a bit more right
For the way we were all affected
Teach yourself as you go, have no fear
Discipline, trust, work, and focus
And cadences — everything learned this year
Yeah a circle, nothing could've broke us.
At first all I wanted was to hide
From an experience I could never dream of
But it gave me courage, friendship and pride
And even a 'loose-change' love
Those I fatefully, endlessly spent time with
Initiated and motivated my change
And by November it was finished
Nothing was quite the same.
The minutes dragged on, the hours disappeared
The truth of the matter effortlessly fought
Tradition and bonds lasting infinite years
But the present existence cannot
Nothing but notes, rhythms, the beat
Connected to melodies, no we’re not done
So different so separate, the strangers we meet
Yet at our finest, completely one.
Waiting again and turning around
Every day a challenge I so wanted to face
Despite everything so similar, what I found
Was the change I could only embrace
A fraction of something much bigger than me
Spaces of time with second-nature common sense
The mornings, days and nights burning my memory
Filled with commitment, passion, subtle confidence.
Words that were said and what we wore
Days of practice and marking time
What I had to take on for
Trying or failing or succeeding for The Line
Revolution in one less than a million ways
Out of my proverbial rut
It was in those July-August days
That I most definitely grew up.
Forget the world, forget to breathe, forget your name
Innocently ignorant to what I would feel
I found myself most when we were all the same
Felt my heart, oh I just felt real
The caring, belonging, the knowing I can
More than anything matters, the collision of
This is what has made me who I am
This is how I fell in love.
By Carly Noyes (used with permission)
* * *
CHAPTER ONE: Lieutenant Lucy?
On a warm day in late April, percussionists from all over Forrest Hills high school gathered for one of their most important days of the year – drumline auditions. Sitting off to the side, a brunette girl worked in a few more minutes of practice. If rehearsing for her junior year auditions had been a lesson in discipline and commitment, her upcoming senior year had been about finding free moments when she wasn’t with her boyfriend, graduating senior, Sam Powell. However, things weren’t as bad as she feared – it was like riding a bike. Lucy Karate had no question she would get her chops back by the end of the summer; however, she was a bit worried for the very near future. In a competitive Line, members had no guarantee on the spot they had the previous year.
Still, how can they argue with a best bass line patch?
The question of who was going to lead which section on the Line, however, was more concerning than keeping her second bass position. Traditionally, the strongest player in the section, or the player with the most seniority would be given the Lieutenant, or section leader, position. The role of drumline Captain was almost exclusively reserved for the senior snare with the best playing ability. Everyone could respect that person’s skill, and leadership seemed to naturally come from it.
Lucy nervously chewed her bottom lip as she tried not to worry about tomorrow’s results. There were plenty of graduating seniors, but she wasn’t sure how it was going to shake out for next year. She looked across the hall to Mark, and could already easily picture the epic yelling matches they were going to get into this season. As much as he wanted to make quints, she doubted there was going to be a spot for him.
“Hey, Mark?” Lucy plopped down next to her sometimes favorite sophomore.
“S’up Luce?”
“So, what happens if it’s you and me in the section again?”
His drum sticks paused midair before he answered, “Whatcha mean? Have you heard something?”
Considering the rumors that ran rampant this time of year, Lucy wasn’t going to call him out for gossiping – especially when he had something she potentially wanted. She ignored his question and asked, “Can I be Lieutenant?”
“Why?” Mark put his sticks down.
“’Cause I want it.”
“I’m the better player.”
“I realize that, Mark.”
Mark drummed a moment on his Real Feel practice pad, before raising his eyebrows and asking suggestively, “What’s in it for me?”
Lucy rolled her eyes and asked, “Seriously? You’re go
ing to go there? Why don’t you save it for the new additions to the dance line?”
“Whatever.”
Lucy tried another argument, “I’m going to be a senior next year.”
“And? I’m going to be a junior.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“I thought we were just trading facts.”
Frustrated, Lucy turned around and had a feeling that Mark was just being Mark and eventually he would come around and see things her way.
That night, Lucy sat on the front porch swing in the strong arms of her boyfriend, Sam Powell and forgot all about auditions. For the moment, she was relaxed and trying to push out thoughts that in a matter of months those same arms that were holding her were going to be moving far away…
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Sam murmured into the top of her head.
“What are you talking about?”
“The end of the summer.”
“How did you…?”
“Come on, Lucy, give me some credit… I think I know you by now.”
Rather than focus on all the ‘could happens,’ the couple had decided it would probably be best to have the awkward conversation at a later time. With her senior season almost started, Lucy was looking forward to the summer ahead. She was quiet a moment before she asked, “Do you think I would make a good leader?”
“Let’s see…that’s like asking if the sky is blue.”
Lucy smiled to herself and answered, “Seriously, pretend you’re not my boyfriend for a minute. I would do a better job than Mark, right?”
Sam considered the situation and answered, “Well, you’re playing with a lot of ‘what ifs,’ but yes, I think overall you would do a fine job as bass section leader. I think you inspire loyalty.”
Lucy was glad he couldn’t see her cheeks as she blushed at his answer.
Two weeks later, clad in gray cotton shorts, a black tank top and signature Oakley sunglasses, Lucy Karate strolled into the familiar band room in a contemplative mood. It was nearing the end of her junior year and Prom and Graduation were right around the corner. She would be sad to see the seniors leave – one South Washington HS senior in particular – but was glad to start turning her thoughts again to all things marching band. It was like a part of her that was missing had returned. Lucy wandered into the percussion room and ran a hand over her bass drum, smiling and wondering what kind of adventures this season – her last – would hold. Her attention was distracted by an unknown redhead, who, based on the rhythms she was playing on the practice pad, possessed obvious percussive talent. Lucy waved at Molly, a fellow upcoming senior, and nodded in the direction of the petite girl with freckles, “Who’s that?”
“That would be Bronwyn Flueger. She’s in my section,” answered Molly.
The bass drummer walked up to the new girl, “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lucy.”
Lucy reached her hand out to shake Bronwyn’s hand. Bronwyn, intimidated, limply responded.
“That’s not how drumline girls shake hands. Now, give me a real shake!”
Bronwyn shook again and gave the same squeeze Lucy did.
“Atta girl.”
At that moment Lucy was bodily picked up and slung over some guy’s shoulder and carried into the band room. A wide smile on her face, Lucy yelled out, “Tom!”
Molly grinned as she watched the two of them go. She responded to Bronwyn’s bewildered look, “That was Tom, the quint Lieutenant. Don’t worry, I promise it will all make sense one day. Now, let’s see if we can find the mallet box and gather the rest of the Pitlings.”
The following day, Lucy finished stretching and pulled out her bass drum. She joined Molly on the walk outside to where the Line was gathering. Hefting her drum on one shoulder, Lucy groaned a little under the weight of it. She asked, “How’s the Pit looking this year?”
Molly considered a moment before replying, “Actually pretty decent. I mean, considering it’s the second day and all.”
“How’s the girl? Is she cool?”
Molly knew what Lucy was really asking. For their collective years on the drumline, the girls had been unique individuals – set apart not only by being female in a predominantly male section – but also by their distinctive personalities. It went without saying both girls wanted it to stay that way. Bronwyn represented their legacy, and Molly and Lucy would do anything to make sure it was a good one.
“I’m not going to lie to you, she’s way shy.
“We can work on that. What about her chops?”
“That’s the thing. As far as I can tell so far, she’s AMAZING!”
“Hmm,” Lucy tapped a finger on her lips and continued, “I wonder what’s holding her back?”
“No idea, if I had skills like that, I’d be bragging to everyone.”
As they walked outside, Lucy looked across the pavement at the rest of the marching band. While the Forrest Hills Warm-Up Week was technically for officer wannabes and upcoming freshman, many sections took advantage of the time to start practicing and getting back into the old competitive spirit. As one of the shoe-ins for Guard Co-Captain, Lucy smiled proudly at her friend Mandy. She felt the same pride watching Fred, back for his second season as Drum major. He was putting Drew, an upcoming junior, through his paces as the new Drum major.
Speaking of leadership…
With the exception of one section, the drumline had already worked out who its section leaders were going to be. With long honey blonde hair and supreme mallet technique, Molly was the undisputed Queen of all matters Front Line. Her laid back attitude was well suited to helping the underclassmen figure out their place on the Line. Without much argument or drama from anywhere, Billy would take his place as this year’s Captain as well as leading the snares. Tom, as only one of two members returning to the quints, who also had the most seniority and best technique, was named tenor Lieutenant. A fellow senior, Donovan, who had played cymbals last year, would be stepping up to take charge…which left her section, the bass line, without a leader. Tryouts had finalized the bass line to include herself, Mark, and Jared from the previous season, and had added underclassmen Thomas and Kevin respectively. Lucy was happy her former section mates Lance had made snare, and Nathan was seeing success on quints. Jared, in all his apathetic wisdom, was not overtly interested in leading the section, leaving hyper-competitive Lucy and Mark to duke it out. In all honesty, in the off-season, Lucy and Mark’s feelings towards one another had mellowed considerably, but tryouts had brought back the old love/hate relationship that was well known throughout the entire Line.
Molly asked, “Have you and Mark worked things out yet?”
Lucy rolled her eyes, “No! I swear he is just doing this to piss me off. I’ve already explained to him that he has another year.”
“No dice?”
“None.”
“Maybe you guys should just flip a coin?”
Lucy sighed, “I’m thinking that’s what it’s going to come down to.”
Continuing their percussion discussion, Molly queried, “How’s the new guy?”
Although there were a lot of new players and faces on the Line this year, Lucy knew she was referring to one in particular, a transfer student with something, it seemed, permanently up his ass, named J.D. Strauss. She replied, “Well, he can play or else Henry wouldn’t have put him on the snare line, but he can’t seem to get over his past Line. Every other sentence starts with, ‘Well, this is how we did it on my old Line.’ It’s like dude, you’re on this Line now, so give it a rest.”
Molly smiled, “Well, at least he’s fun to look at.”
Lucy laughed along with her friend; it was true. J.D. was what a lot of girls would consider cute, but Lucy couldn’t picture herself with someone so tense and uptight.
Molly continued, “I have to go round up the kids. Catch you after practice?”
“Sounds great.”
Lucy placed her drum stand on the ground, as Billy approac
hed her, “You guys any closer on a Lieutenant yet?”
Lucy shook her head and answered, “I have to be sneaky.”
“Why is that?”
“Mark has to be convinced that he doesn’t want it. Right now, the only reason he wants it is because I do too.”
Billy grinned and said, “Are you considering reverse psychology?”
“Precisely what I was thinking.”
As first bass, Mark was soon lining up in front of Lucy. She took a deep breath, said a silent prayer that her stupid idea would work, and affected the most bored voice possible, “So Mark, I was thinking about the whole Lieutenant thing and I think you should just do it.”
Mark asked skeptically, “Really? Just like that? Out of the kindness of your heart?”
“Something like that.”
“What’s the real reason?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Whatever.”
The new third and fourth basses joined the line up. Both cymbal members last year, Kevin and Thomas had only heard of the legendary fighting between Mark and Lucy and eyed the pair suspiciously.
Lucy nudged Mark, “What if we vote?”
“Now you want to be Lieutenant again?”
“Hmph.”
Billy nodded at his drummers to begin the warm up, and started Eight on a Hand at a slow tempo.
Mark whispered, “Is your friend Gina seeing anyone?”
Lucy smirked. She couldn’t think of a more mismatched couple than straight-A, first chair, feature majorette Gina and slacker “I’m God’s gift to women” Mark DeMatteo.
If it will get me Lieutenant…
A Fine Line Page 1