Love's Silent Crescendo

Marching In

I stand in front of my bathroom mirror, wrestling with the wild mess I call hair. I woke up earlier than usual, determined to look my best. There's something about the day that feels special, though I can't quite put my finger on it. I slip into a bright blue dress—Luke's favorite color, or at least I hope it is, based on the one time yesterday when he borrowed my blue pen saying he liked it alot. It has a pleated skirt that sways a little when I move, paired with my comfiest ballet flats. My makeup is kept simple, just enough to feel pretty without going overboard. But the hair? That's still a challenge. When I was younger, my hair had these gorgeous, doll-like curls that everyone loved. But in kindergarten, my mom gave me the traditional bob with bangs—a rite of passage for Hispanic girls I feel. Ever since, my hair has been in rebellion, transitioning from those bouncy curls to dead straight, and now to this frizzy mess I'm staring at. No amount of gel or straightening seems to fix it. After an internal battle and several failed attempts, I settle on a ponytail, hoping it's enough to pull off the look I'm going for today. As I scrutinize my reflection, a thought crosses my mind: maybe I'm not as unattractive as I think. After all, Luke wouldn't be texting me if he wasn't at least a little interested, right? I feel a small flicker of hope at the thought, but then the doubts creep in. What if he's just being nice? What if he doesn't actually like me like that? I've spent so much time dreaming of a movie-like romance, ever since I was a little girl, watching my older sisters go on dates and have their first kisses at eleven. Yet here I am, still waiting for that whirlwind romance, and my lips remain untouched. I remember seventh grade, when I could've had something close to a romance with a boy named Martin. He was sweet and a little nerdy, but my friends laughed when he asked me out. Peer pressure got the better of me, and I rejected him—harshly. Still, he kept trying, giving me little gifts and notes every holiday, even as I brushed him off. Sometimes I wonder if I missed out on something real, but part of me thinks I wasn't ready for it back then. I snap out of my thoughts when I hear my mom call that it's time to go. I grab my backpack, take one last look in the mirror, and head out the door. The drive to school is a blur as I mentally prepare for the day. My stomach churns with nerves, especially as I think about seeing Luke again. I've never felt this way about a boy before, and the thought of him makes my heart race. When we pull into the parking lot, I take a deep breath, smoothing my dress one last time before stepping out of the car. The butterflies in my stomach intensify as second period approaches. I walk into the classroom and spot Luke right away, sitting at our usual seats. He waves me over with a grin, and I can't help but smile back. We exchange a few words before the bell rings, nothing too deep, just a quick "Hey, how's it going?" from him and a "Good, you?" from me. But it's enough to send my heart into overdrive. As usual, we have a few minutes to socialize before class lets out, and I turn to Luke and Antonio, who are deep in conversation. Luke brings up after-school practice, and I'm immediately confused. "Practice? For what?" I ask, raising an eyebrow. He looks at me with a mix of surprise and amusement. "Band practice, you know, to prepare for next week's game?" I blink at him, still lost. "Wait, what? Band practice?" Luke laughs, a warm sound that makes me blush. "Geez, Gwenny, are you always daydreaming?" He glances at Antonio, who also chuckles. "You'd better hope you brought some spare clothes because marching in that dress wouldn't be practical." "Marching? What do you mean, marching?" I ask, bewildered. I can feel my cheeks heat up as I realize how out of the loop I am. Luke leans back in his chair, still grinning. "It's called *marching* band for a reason, you know. We actually, like, march." My embarrassment grows as I realize I hadn't fully understood what I was getting into. "Wait, like... the stuff from the 70s and 80s? People still do that?" The bell rings, cutting off any further embarrassment, and I quickly gather my things. As I stand up, I glance at Luke. "So, what exactly do I need for practice?" I ask, trying to sound more composed than I feel. Luke gives me a sympathetic smile. "You'll want to wear something comfortable, like workout clothes, and definitely bring sneakers and a water bottle. It's going to be hot today." Noticing my panic, Luke adds in a softer tone, "Hey, don't worry. It's going to be fun, you'll see. And we'll get to spend more time together." He winks playfully, and I can't help but feel a little better. I smile back at him, feeling a surge of warmth despite my nerves. "Thanks," I say softly, and we head down the hall together. As I walk to my next class, I quickly text my parents, hoping one of them can bring me a change of clothes. My dad responds, saying he'll swing by the school later with some workout gear for me. Crisis averted, I breathe a sigh of relief. In seventh period, as I set up my instrument, Luke kneels in front of me, just like he did the first time we met. I try to ignore the way my heart skips a beat and focus on adjusting the sheet music, pretending not to notice him. "You feeling better about practice?" Luke asks softly, his voice low enough that only I can hear. I nod, finally looking up to meet his gaze. "Yeah, I think so," I say, offering him a small smile. "Good," he replies, his grin widening. "Remember, if you need anything, I'm here." The warmth in his voice makes my heart flutter, and I smile back, nodding again in acknowledgment. He lingers for a moment before returning to his seat, and as I watch him walk away, I feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness settle in my stomach. From the corner of my eye, I see Kaylee, watching the whole exchange with an amused grin on her face. "What?" I ask, feeling my cheeks heat up again. Kaylee just shakes her head, her smile widening. "You two are adorable." My cheeks are on fire as I stammer, "No, we're just friends! It's not—no, he's not—" Kaylee raises an eyebrow and laughs lightly, waving off my protests. "Wow, you've got it bad, but for what it's worth, you two look pretty cute together." I open my mouth to protest again, but my embarrassment begins to subside as I muster the courage to ask, "Do you think he likes me?" Kaylee gives me a reassuring nod, then the sharp taps of Mr. Riccardo's baton cut through the chatter, signaling the start of class. Relieved for the distraction, I focus my attention on the front of the room. Once class ends, Mr. Riccardo informs us that we have an hour before we need to return for practice. As I pack up my things, Kaylee asks if I'd like to hang out while we wait. "Sure!" I reply, happy for the company. Just as we're about to leave, Luke walks over. "Hey, want to join us for snacks at the deli?" he asks, flashing his usual grin. "Sure! Can Kaylee come too?" I ask, glancing at her. "Absolutely!" Luke says without hesitation, his smile widening. Before I know it, we're heading across the school parking lot toward the nearby deli, joined by Antonio, Leia, and a few new faces. Luke introduces me to Spencer and Tucker, his best friends who are a grade above us. Spencer stands just about an inch or two above me with broad-shoulders, and tousled brown hair and energetic spirit. Tucker, on the other hand, is much shorter and leaner, with long, light brown hair that falls over his eyes. They're both friendly and seem to get along well with Luke. Emily, another girl in the group, is petite with a squeaky voice that matches her small stature. She chats animatedly with Kaylee as we all stock up on snacks. By the time we head back to school, I'm feeling more relaxed, starting to feel like part of their group making jokes, taking silly photos, and sharing our snacks with one another. All while Kaylee and I chat about my budding romance with Luke, giggling the whole time. We return back to the school and change into new clothes for the rehearsal. We head out to the practice field, where Mr. Riccardo assigns us our spots. I stare at the small piece of paper in confusion, trying to make sense of it. Turning to Kaylee for help, she takes one look at it and explains, "Since you missed band camp, it'll take you a little while to catch up. But don't worry, we'll help you figure it out." I gave her a puzzled look, and she continued reassuringly, "Your parents must have missed the notice. We had our practice sessions a week before school began," she explained. I felt a flush of embarrassment for missing something so crucial, but her reassurance calmed me a bit. As we get situated, I feel a surge of determination. Despite the heat and my earlier nerves, I'm ready to tackle this new challenge. More importantly, I'm excited to spend more time with Luke and see where this adventure takes us.