New Beginnings: Year One

Chapter 3

Chapter 3, Performances and Band-Aids.

Fionna walked into the cafeteria cradling her backpack containing her picture. She took a quick look around and groaned inwardly when she saw Cake sitting with Marshal and the other boys from her class. She had learned their names quickly as the hours of her music class. The tallest boy in the group was Marcus Rocorn; he liked to go by Morco and was the bands drummer. Next to him sat Ignatius Flame, she had taken to calling him Iggy every time he called her Bun bun because of the zombie rabbit the took residency on her green pack.

There was also a very quiet bassist, she only just caught his name during roll call, and while his name was Timothy she called him Turtle due to his reclusiveness. The other guitarist was not sitting with the group, he had settled with a different group that seemed to share his flair for pink streaked hair. His name was Bubba; Marshal had numerous times called him Bubbagum. Fionna thought it was cute. Finally, sitting with an open spot next to him, which Fionna thought to be for her, was Marshal Lee. Fionna glared at him the moment his eyes locked with hers. He simply smirked in return, gesturing her to the table.

She had nearly made it when a girl with snow white hair cut into a Mohawk slipped into her spot, wrapping her arms around Marshals neck. Fionna instantly froze, she knew deep down somewhere inside of her she had developed a crush on Marshal the very first time she saw him. Taking a deep breath she turned and walked away from the table. Marshal shot up, dumping the other girl out of her seat, but he was too late, Fionna had already made it out of sight.

"Marshy!" The other girl exclaimed as she pouted from her position on the floor. Marshal rolled his eyes, as he picked up his guitar. He quickly peeled the rest of the girl off of him before making his way out of the cafeteria. "MARSHAL LEE!" The girl screamed after him. He looked back at her and gave a deep growl in reply. Her eyes widened deeply as she watched him walk out.

Fionna sat in the music room, strumming a tune out on one of the acoustic guitars Simons room had. It was different from her own guitar, but it would do. She was sitting in front of her notebook, it was open to a page further to the front then it would have been if she had been writing. It was one of her father's later pieces. She loved the song, even with its sad meaning.

Fionna hummed the tune along with the guitar, completely unaware of the small audience she was gathering as she sat on the stage, singing her little broken heart out…

"I figure out all the pieces and…

It now makes sense to me

My future has been set in stone

And this end must come, for this must be done…

I cannot let them die in vain, they fought by my side

And there went their pride...

One a brother, lived with all his will

The other taught me life and how to deal with it…

So I'll walk this alone

And face this truth

Mama I'm coming home

Home to you

No goodbyes this time

And no kisses too

Jenny please don't you cry

Know I'll always love you…"

As the guitar solo came into the song, tears streamed down Fionna's cheeks, the words impacted her deeply. She had nearly cracked when her mother's name came up in the song. It had been her father's way of saying goodbye when he knew his time was short.

"Memories run through my mind

And it's comforting to me…

This is it, theres no more to say…

Just a waiting game

As he takes his aim.

So I'll walk this alone

And face this truth

Mama I'm coming home

Home to you

No goodbyes this time

And no kisses too

Jenny please don't you cry

Know I'll always love you…"

It became harder for her to see the notes through her tears. She nearly gave up when she hear another guitar playing next to her. The sound caused her to jump as she looked to see Simon playing the notes effortlessly. She gave him as sime and played as best as she could, relying on him to keep the song goingm clearly determined to see the song to the end. So it didn't surprise her when Simon joined into the ending corus.

"So I'll walk this alone

And face this truth

Mama I'm coming home

Home to you

No goodbyes this time

And no kisses too

Jenny please don't you cry

Know I'll always love you…

I figure out all the pieces and

It now makes sense to me"

Fionna laughed as the song ended, tears staining her face. Simon wrapped an arm around her and rocked with her gently. She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She wiped her face, and sighed.

"Thanks man." She smiled and hugged her uncle. It wasn't until Cake came bursting into the room whooping about how incredible she had been did she notice the others had filtered into the room, entranced by the sorrowful song emanating from their class room. Others quickly joined in, praising Fionna left and right. She did not handle the praise with grace, blushing deeply as she tried to shove her talent off on Simon.

Marshal watched her from the back of the room, he was hypnotized by the surprise performance Fionna had given, even if she had not realized it was for an audience. He smiled a crooked grin, pushing his hair from his eyes. Iggy leaned on the wall next to him, he gave his friend a nudge. "So? Can we ask her to join the band yet or what?"

Marshal chuckled; he knew that was Ignatius's way of asking if they could finally kick Bubba out of the band. Marshal knew the dude did not obtain an ounce of skill, but he was one of his best friends. "Maybe." Marshal continued to watch Fionna, he noted the way she became more comfortable around the people who had watched her. They were like a band aid for her feelings, people made her feel happier. Marshal Lee made a mental note of that before walking out of the room.