Except inside…
Give me a minute!
Uh, hello? Baby, it’s cold outside!
Part of her still wanted to run home, throw on some old jeans and a hoodie, but in the end she was glad she chose the dress and to actually come to the party. It was all part of her goal to break out of her “shy Pit girl” persona and start to get some recognition in the section. What better place to start than the Christmas party? Currently, she had too many crushes to count, the top of her fantasy boyfriend list being none other than Cameron MacKenzie, snare hottie. Best of all, he was an upperclassman…not an annoying sophomore, like know-it-all first bass drummer, Spence. Lucy could count on one hand the times she had conversed alone with the flirtatious junior. Furthermore, the latest gossip was that Cameron was single! He had been attached to the pretty blonde Ellen from the Dance Line all season, but apparently something had happened and Lucy could only hope the rumors were true. Suddenly, she realized someone was behind her.
A masculine voice whispered in her ear, “You know, you might not believe it, but there’s actually a party is inside. We don’t force the freshman to stay outside.”
Lucy looked up and gasped, Cameron was standing right next to her, looking dapper in a dark suit. The young front line member had to remind herself to breathe.
“Oh yeah?” Lucy finally responded and then wondered why Cameron seemed content to stand in the freezing cold with her.
Not that I’m complaining…
She closed her eyes and hoped that her cheeks were rosy and that her mascara hadn’t clumped. From under her eyelashes, she realized that his usual electric blue gaze seemed not as intense as usual.
You could always ask him about it…
What’s he going to do, spill his heart to some lame freshman he doesn’t even know?
You’ll never know until you ask.
“Is everything okay?” Lucy questioned, her breath making little white puffs in the cold December air.
Cameron rubbed his hands together for warmth and pasted a smile on his face. In what Lucy considered a very phony voice he replied, “Sure, fine. Why shouldn’t I be?”
The freshman didn’t really have a good answer to his question, so she shrugged her shoulders. The moment on the front porch, whether real or imagined, was broken. Cameron continued awkwardly, “Here, let me get the door for you.”
“Thanks,” Lucy tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
Hey now – six times you’ve talked! It’s a Christmas miracle!
As soon as the pair entered the house, someone asked to take her coat and she watched helplessly as Cameron disappeared into the kitchen. Lucy sighed, but went off to find Molly, kind of second guessing why she hadn’t volunteered to ride with the other Pit girl in the first place.
The freshman drummer was pleasantly surprised as the evening went by quickly and was embarrassed that it seemed she had to leave before anyone else. Carefully timing her exit, Lucy went over to retrieve her coat, hoping that no one would notice that her curfew was before anyone else’s and that her parents were going to pick her up.
Come on Mom and Dad, why did we say eleven? No one else has to leave now!
With a final sigh, she buttoned up her jacket and realized she slightly disappointed with the way the evening had turned out. Sure, she had flirted and laughed and all the things you were supposed to do at a party, but there was something missing.
Hearing some of her classmates approaching and still obviously having a good time, Lucy quickly ducked into the deserted formal dining room. Wanting to stay warm, she was planning to wait until the last minute to run out and make a quick getaway when he parents pulled up.
“You leaving?” A familiar voice asked, causing her to turn around.
Lucy looked to see Cameron’s muscular figure leaning on the doorframe. Trying not to stare, she quickly averted her gaze and happened to see that he was standing under some very strategically placed mistletoe.
Oh…my…gosh – did he just see me check him out and look at the mistletoe?
Lucy risked a glance in his direction – Cameron looked up and locked eyes with her, a slow grin stretching across his face.
“That’s the first time you’ve really smiled tonight,” Lucy blurted out.
From across the room, Cameron cocked his head at her, “How do you know?”
“Umm…I don’t. Sorry, just ignore me.” Lucy was glad it was dark in the room, because her cheeks definitely flushed.
“You might be right.”
Lucy’s heartbeat sped up as Cameron came into the room and stood across the elegantly set table from her. She willed her parents to be late, and looked outside. Her heart soared when she didn’t see headlights. Deciding that the role of “sympathetic ear” might be her best option to continue conversation with her season long crush, Lucy asked warily, “Are you okay?”
Cameron responded in a distant voice, “Yeah.”
“I don’t believe you,” she challenged.
“Really, Lucy?”
“Yes,” she answered honestly.
Cameron traced a plate on the table. Not making eye contact, he asked, “Why don’t you think I’m okay?”
Lucy gulped. Freshman boys she knew (or at least thought she knew) how to handle, but this was the first time she had ever been really alone with someone she was interested in. Unable to come up with anything, she finally found her voice and murmured, “I would say it’s because of your recent breakup…”
Cameron didn’t answer for a moment, instead taking time to walk further around the table, picking up a frame with Michael, last year’s Captain, in his graduation robes. Setting it down carefully, he said, “How do you know that I’m not still dating her?”
“You would’ve brought her tonight,” Lucy said mater-of-factly.
“Would I?”
“You would.” Lucy had no doubt, because who wouldn’t bring Ellen? She was gorgeous and lots of fun to be around.
I might as well keep on screwing things up…let’s see, I’ve already called him unhappy, why shouldn’t I throw ‘wrong’ into the mix for fun?
Lost in her thoughts, Lucy looked up and realized Cameron was suddenly very near. Not really answering her statement, he asked, “What do you want for Christmas, Lucy?”
Lucy wasn’t about to tell him that all of the sudden something that you couldn’t buy in stores had shot up to the top of the list – something that involved a small piece of shrubbery that was about five feet away. She shifted nervously and replied, “To make the Battery next year.”
“That’s all?”
Lucy was uncomfortable this close to her crush, so she moved towards the door, and said unconvincingly, “Yup.”
“I don’t believe you.” He threw her own words back at her.
Lucy paused, and realized that she was now standing under the mistletoe.
“Do you believe in tradition?”
Lucy thought it was a weird time to bring up the drumline, but if it changed the subject away from something that didn’t make her blush, then she would take it.
“Sure…”
Instead of responding, Cameron moved in so they were both standing in the crowded space of the doorway. In a good way, Lucy couldn’t breathe, she looked down.
“Lucy…” A voice whispered very close to her face.
Lucy looked up and realized there were only inches separating she and Cameron MacKenzie. His eyes were twinkling and this close to him she noticed a light sprinkling of freckles across his nose.
“Now, are you sure there’s nothing you’d like to ask Santa for?”
Lucy gulped; the tone in his voice alone was enough to make her melt.
All I want for Christmas is a perfect first kiss…
With her heart pounding in her chest, Lucy could only summon the courage to look up to where the mistletoe was hanging. The gesture was enough for the junior. As soon as Cameron’s callused hand cupped her cheek, Lucy closed her eyes. With her h
eart pounding, the freshman thought time stopped as his soft lips met hers. Not wanting the moment to end, she put her arms around his neck, and responding to his tongue on her lips, did what came naturally – opening her mouth and deepening the kiss. As Cameron brought her in close, Lucy lost herself in the sensations of the embrace…until headlights flared in the room.
Breathlessly, Lucy stopped the kiss, but leaned in until she was forehead to forehead with Cameron. In a highly disappointed tone, she whispered, “I have to go.”
Cameron murmured, “I know.”
Lucy shyly smiled as she walked away and said, “Merry Christmas, Cameron.”
“Goodbye, Lucy.”
Something in his voice made her stop. She was going to ask, but her Dad honked the horn and she walked out into the cold night, trying to believe what had just happened wasn’t a dream.
It really was the best Christmas Lucy could ever remember. On the morning of December 25th, she was having a wonderful dream about Cameron’s perfect kiss, and turned over happily. As Cameron’s kisses grew sloppier, Lucy’s green eyes opened and she was ecstatic to see a small Pug puppy on her chest.
Lucy’s squeals were heard throughout the house, “Thanks, Mom and Dad! She’s perfect!!!”
A few hours later, after all the presents had been opened, Lucy got on her computer to send out holiday wishes to everyone. Opening Facebook, she immediately zeroed in on Cameron’s name and her eyes squinted in concern when she saw he had posted a note entitled, “Goodbye.”
Holding her breath, Lucy was shocked to see the following note:
Hey dudes and dudettes,
My Dad got transferred and we’re moving out of state. I enjoyed all of my seasons with the Forrest Hills drumline and am proud of every note I got to play with you guys. Best of luck to everyone in the future. I’ll give y’all my contact info when we get settled.
Keep on rocking!
Cameron
* * *
Death (Tom, A Fine Line)
“Yeah dude, it’s dead.
“Aww…and I thought I was going to be first.”
The tenor Lieutenant grinned at his section, got out his trusty drum key, and began unscrewing his largest drumhead – which was completely busted. After affixing the new one (which looked weird next to the other broken-in heads), he asked, “You know there’s a tradition, right?
“What’s that?”
“It’s like Frisbee and discus together. Whoever can chuck the broken head the furthest – wins!”
That’s how Henry found his tenor section. Instead of memorizing the closer, they had taken a few moments to be high school boys.
* * *
Tie (post A Fine Line)
“Lucy?”
The brunette in question turned, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. No matter how many times she heard it, the green eyed girl always got a small rush hearing her (what she regarded as boring and utterly normal) name spoken in the deliciously polite upper crust British tones of her boyfriend, Wes Mallinson.
“Yes?” Lucy responded, a small smile playing on her lips.
“A little bloody help here?”
Smiling, his girlfriend asked playfully, “How did you manage to get to the school in this state?”
Wes rumpled his wet from the shower hair in an entirely familiar gesture, and answered, “Umm, I don’t know?”
Confidently, Lucy moved over and began retying the silk tie that was currently askew around Wes’ dress shirt. Confused, the football player looked down at Lucy’s nimble hands – her bass mallet calluses long gone – tie a perfect single Windsor. Wes gazed down lovingly at Lucy’s face while she concentrated on the task at hand. Once the gray silk was securely in place, Wes asked, “Do I want to know how you know to do that so well?”
Lucy Elizabeth Karate really hadn’t thought she would get emotional at her graduation, after all, she had had her entire senior year to prepare for it. However, the simple question triggered some undeniable fact. Being one of the sole drumline girls of the Forrest Hills HS marching band, it had always been her responsibility during concert season to make sure that her boys had their formal wear on appropriately. Now…abruptly, those days were gone. She wouldn’t be tying anyone else’s ties. Wouldn’t be learning a new show. Wouldn’t have lame inside jokes. Who would make sure…? A finger under her cheek interrupted her thoughts.
“What’s the matter?” asked a concerned Wes.
Lucy quickly wiped away the two tears that had formed and pasted a smile on her features, “Nothing – let’s go get our diplomas.”
* * *
Irregular Orbit
Bronwyn had to admit, marching was different than she expected it to be. Take for example, today’s practice.
Henry shook his head, “Guys – I don’t need to tell you that was horrible. Start again!”
The Battery grumbled as they reset the opening to the drum solo. Their Instructor clicked off counts on his drum sticks. This version wasn’t as bad, although Bronwyn hadn’t been quick enough and ended up just missing getting Tony’s bass drum in her back.
“I told you – it’s supposed to be an irregular orbit!”
J.D. asked, on everyone’s behalf, “What does that look like?!”
* * *
Luck (Bronwyn POV, Keeping in Line)
Although everything had abruptly changed in the past two weeks (for the best!), I still felt I needed something to ensure my good luck. Looking around the percussion room as we packed up our equipment for the competition the next day, I looked on the percussion room wall. There was a busted shelf that held relics and trophies from previous Lines – plenty to be proud about, enough to find inspiration from. Tucked away, I unearthed a scratched up, spray painted, gold mallet. Attached to it – a note:
From the Front Line…
This mallet has magical properties – good luck!
* * *
Colors
There were many significant colors that made up the Forrest Hills HS marching band.
The crisp kelly green of the uniform coats, so similar to the field on which they marched.
The solid black uniform pants, with matching dark berets and Shakos, and most recently the drumheads of the same color.
Shining silver, on the rims, on the keys, on the buttons, on the braids of the leadership who wore them proudly.
And finally, stark white – to match the hash marks and yard lines on the field, found in proud stripes on their uniforms, and the spats on their feet.
* * *
Eternity (100 words)
Of all the band buses to break down, it was the drumline bus that did. While they waved goodbye to the others, the long wait set in for the magic part that was needed.
Lucy, who had already finished her homework, and didn’t feel like helping Tom start his, laid down on the warm grass and idly wondered what it would be like to be stuck forever at a rest stop with the drumline.
Hearing the familiar sound of drum sticks on a practice pad, a random burp, and Molly’s laughter, she decided it wouldn’t be so bad.
Table of Contents
PROLOGUE: Can I Graduate?
CHAPTER ONE: Summertime and the Livin’s…
CHAPTER TWO: Boot Camp
CHAPTER THREE: A Simple Plan
CHAPTER FOUR: Strategery
CHAPTER FIVE: Operation Tattletale
CHAPTER SIX: Boys Will Be Boys
CHAPTER SEVEN: Facing the Music
CHAPTER EIGHT: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
CHAPTER NINE: Rumors
CHAPTER TEN: Discussions
CHAPTER ELEVEN: How Do You Talk To A Drummer?
CHAPTER TWELVE: Drumline Idol
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: This Means War!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: If You’re On Time (You’re Five Minutes Late)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Hollaback…Boy?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: With A Little Help From My Friends
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Accelerando
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN: I’ll Never Fall in Love, Again
CHAPTER NINETEEN: The Minor Fall, The Major Lift
CHAPTER TWENTY: Crossing the Line
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Battery Operated
Acknowledgements
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Keeping in Line Page 19