On a ridiculously hot spring afternoon a young couple was walking from their school. Most kids their age would have been wondering around on a Friday night. No cares in the world. Well, 16 year old Chayla had a few. Constantly she would think about all of the moves she had to learn since she was a highlighter for the high school band. Subconsciously she would review dance moves inside of her head. She would be moving without even realizing it! No one understood this more than her boyfriend, Achan. A.k.a, A.C.
Even as she was walking with him she was doing it.
"Dag what you can't stop moving?" He teased.
"Dag what you wish you were still in the band?"
"Aye, stop throwing shots!"
A month ago, Achan had a moment when he was being, well, Achan. Trust me. There's been so much extraneous time spent listening to Mr. Baker, their band director talk about his "potential." I swear. He was being fussed at more than how much it snowed in February.
" It ain't my fault you skipped Ms Dunts class on the back stairs."
"That's the thing. I wasn't-"
"Here we go..."
"I swear! Chay, why do people always want to assume its something bad because 'its me'. No one bothers to hear my side."
"But A.C.-"
"I swear!"
"Look. You had to had known eventually that Mr. Baker would get irritated with you. And I'm already trying to ignore the fact that they didn't only catch you on the backstairs, but the also saw her."
She was referring to Karlie Baker Johnson. Rumors were already circulating about Achan messing around with her. So that incident last week didn't curb Chay's suspicions.
"Bae! You already know I dont-"
" Right now, I really don't want to know and don't care. All I know is, you need to figure out how to get that instrument back in your hand."
That shut him up. For a minute they were walking in silence.
Achan Carter wasn't terrible. I mean, as far as being a person goes. He's come us ever since he's been in high school. Two years ago, he was that annoying guy everyone has that tries to fight you in the hallway. Now, he'll still try to fight you sometimes. But, still annoying. Tall, cocky, and goofy.
He's the complete opposite of Chay. Yeah they're both light skinned and what ever. Otherwise you wouldn't think they would talk to each other. Shes quiet and stout while hes tall and cocky. She sits in the front of the class while he's in the back tapping cadences with his pencils. She's chilling in the lunch and he's throwing carrots at somebody. But, he's always the first one in the band room after school and she's the last. Always blowing on his tuba.Always the thirstest one when it comes to band.
His lip was poking out as he said
"Baker's gonna let me come back, right?"
Chays dimple showed as she tried to hide her smile.
"Wtf is funny?"
"Dude. If he let you back in after you got suspended for riding your bike around the school. If he let you back after you jacked up that window when you were playing basketball outside -with that little ugly girl Karlie- he'll let you back after this."
" You got jokes, but ok then. And why are you always calling her ugly?"
"Dag what you think she's pretty?"
"I didn't say-"
"Are we any where near your car yet? I'm tired of walking."
"Girl, don't complain. You know I can't park at the school. You could've had to walk home from practice."
"I may as well had, as far as you parked. This worst than being in a parade!"
"Calm down, we're almost there. We just have to walked to the other side of this park."
They walked into the park they saw the clouds of smoke and the smelled the scent of barbeque and beer. A lot of people were on the benches sitting around and had on the same colored t-shirts. Must have been a family reunion. The only thing that seemed to be missing was music.
As they looked around Chay spotted a darskin guy doing fingerings on a trumpet.
"Tristian!" She screamed and ran over to hug him. mm
"Hey buddy!" She exclaimed.
"Sup Chay. Where's ya boy at?"
"Over there walking like a lazy ass bum."
" Man, you see how she does me T?"
"Wassup A.C. ?Or as Mr. Baker calls you, 'Head-Ach.'"
"Ha-ha." Achan laughed sarcastically.
"So, this is your family reunion?" Chay asked
"Sort of. My father invited some of his friends he went to school with up here too."
"Why you got your horn with you?"
"Dag what you couldn't stop practicing?" Achan jumped in.
"At least I can practice. But there's nothing else to do out here."
"Why is everyone looking so salty? Achan asked.
Tristian pointed to a group of people huddled under one of the tents. His father and a couple of other people were tethering with a speaker system. Meanwhile being fussed at by his mother and his aunt.
"They've been doing that for the past hour."
" Why don't you play a song for them?" Chay suggested.
" There's not too much I can play without the rest of the band."
" What about 'Beyond?' Y'all have the melody for the most part, right?"
"Yeah. But it still won't sound right without a Tuba."
You know that moment, when a light bulb seems to light up over your head? That's what happened to Achan. He caught an idea.
" I'll be back." He said
"Where you going?" Chay asked.
" I'm going to the car."
Achan jogged the rest of the way across the park. He returned five minutes later strapped up with his Tuba.
"Never did you have a whole Tuba in your car." Tristan remarked.
"Never did you park this far away from the school." Chay added.
"Number one, you be quiet. Number 2, I do listen to some of what Baker tells us. When he says practice, I practice. Number 3, I forgot to take it back when he 'kicked- me-out.'"
Tristian smirked. "Alright Head-Ach, let's go crank." They started walking towards the middle of the field. Suddenly, Chay got a light bulb in her head. " Wait y'all!" She took her hair out of a pony tail and whipped her glasses off. " Hold these please." She told a little girl at a picnic table. Then she skipped to the center of the field and stood at attention.
Achan made such a loud riff that people who were by the high school could probably hear him. At first, the park was silent. Next thing you know Tristian was playing the melody to 'Beyond.' Chay was busting out ripples. Then Achan was cranking and holding down the baseline. The crowd clapped and cheered them on and you could peep the neighbors coming out of their house to see what all the commotion was.
When they were finished you couldn't get people to shut up! You could tell the music put everyone in a better mood. That's the least you could say for Achan. Performing was the one thing that made him feel on top of the world. Nothing else got his heart racing. Well, except for when he saw Mr. Baker emerge from the crowd, with Karlie.
"Mr. Baker graduated with your father?" He whispered to Tristian.
"Yup."
" How are you Mr. Baker?" Chay said as she gave him a hug. Meanwhile giving Karlie the side eye.
" I'm fine. Its nice to see you all up here today. With my instruments." He then gave Achan "the look."
"How are you doing today ' Head-Ach?'"
" I'm fine sir." He expressed timidly.
"What you say boy?"
"I'm fine sir!" He spoke up
Mr. Baker did that thing when he smirked and raised his eyebrow.
"Speak up the next I talk to you boy. Any way. I just wanted to tell you guys my daughter and I enjoyed your show"
" Your daughter?" Tristian asked.
" You all know Karlie, right?"
Karlie stepped up and stood to almost the same height as her father. ( Mr. Baker's a very short man)
"Hey Tristian! Hey Chayla girl!!" Karlie ran up and embraced Chay hyperly. At least Chay had practice fake smiling.
"Hey Karlie..." They both said monotonously.
"Oh! And hey Achan! I didn't notice it was you behind that tuba!" She gave him a hug too. As she hugged him Chay gave Achan that 'if-you-enjoy-that-you-can-enjoy-being-single' look. So he barely huged her back.
"Head-Ach, when is your suspension over?" Mr. Baker questioned
"All I have to do is go to Saturday school tomorrow sir."
"Oh OK. I presume that you won't be getting into any more trouble, right?"
"Definitely won't be sir."
"Good. Well I have to take Karlie back over her mother's. You all be safe tonight."
"You too sir." Tristian said.
"See y'all at school?" Karlie squeaked
"Bye Karlie..." They all said simultaneously.
The three turned to walk away when Mr. Baker's voice called "Mr. Achan."
Achan turned around and said "Yes sir?"
" See you in practice Monday."
