The Broken Ones

Chapter Seven

"I will pick you up after you finish," Valeriana's mother told her.

"Thank you for dropping me off," Valeriana replied politely as she climbed out of the passage seat.

Valeriana was one of the first to arrive, as usual. She was always early. It was only 4:45 pm, Concert Band practice didn't start until another fifteen minutes.

Valeriana walked up the long staircase leading into large old-fashion designed building. The large sign over the entrance read The Rosetta Academy of Music. It had been founded fifty years ago by Loral Rosetta.

Despite the long time the school had been opened it only had around five hundred registered students. It offended one-on-one half an hour sessions between Four to Nine every night. As well as 9 am to 7 pm on the weekend.

Valeriana had first joined the school when she was four. It had just been a half an hour piano lesson a week, but she knew that it had changed her life. That may sound over-dramatic, but it was true. Music allowed Valeriana to express what she was feeling. A way to communicate without words. For the four-year-old, mute, Valeriana, this was like magic.

After her parents brought a piano, Valeriana would practice for hours at a time. Her parents ended up having to set rules; no playing before eleven am or after seven pm just so she would disturb the neighbours.

While she wasn't over talented or a prodigy; Valeriana was able to improve very quickly because of all the time she spent practising. She would play until her fingers cramped and her eyes grew tired from reading the long lines of sheet music.

Valeriana had been offended a job as a teacher at the Academy when she was sixteen. At that point, there was no longer a teacher higher enough to teach her. She would teach for three hours every Monday and Friday. Not only was she paid, but she was also offended free Flute Lessons. She had started playing the flute when she was twelve after she wanted a change from the piano. After six years of Flute, she was incredibly good, but she still had a lot to learn.

The Concert Band had begun as an Orchestra; it was started by Harry Rosetta (Loral Rosetta oldest child.) The aim was to offer an opportunity for the students to play together as a group instead of just solo. However due to the lack of interested from violin and/or cello players, it was renamed a Concert Band. The group was pretty laid back compared to some other concert bands. It didn't follow the usual ratio for instruments. There were six flutes (included Valeriana), four clarinet players, two violins, three trumpets, one trombone, one tuba, five alto saxophones, one tenor saxophone, one piano player, one guitar, one drummer and one percussion. The rule at the school was unless you were under twelve or at a lower level, no one would be turned away from the band. Sometimes if someone is at a higher level, they will be asked to join at a young age. Valeriana first joined when she was ten as the piano player. She switched to playing the flute for the band when she was fourteen after Daniella Fairdale become the band's piano player.

"You're here early."

Valeriana turned to see Kathleen. Regarding the role of a conductor, Kathleen was young. She had only just turned twenty-one. After Harry had taken over ownership of the music school, he gave the role of conductor to his youngest child. All of Harry's five children played musical instruments, but Kathleen was the only one that wanted to make a career out of playing. She played cello, piano and guitar.

"I'm always here early," Valeriana reminded her. She didn't stutter around Kathleen anymore. After all, she had known the girl since she was four.

"You can come in," Kathleen told her as she unlocked the practice room door. Kathleen held the door open for Valeriana.

Valeriana thanked Kathleen as she entered the room and walked to her usual place in the front row. The flute, guitar and violin players sat in the front row, the saxophone and clarinet player in the second row, Trumpet and trombone, percussion players in the third row. The drummer up the very back and the guitar and piano player to the left of everyone.

"Hey Valeriana," someone called as they entered the room.

Valeriana looked up to greet the person. "Hi R-renate," she replied.

Valeriana had known the blonde for years, yet she still stuttered in her presence. Renate and Valeriana meet as children. The eight-year-old Renate had been proud, arrogant and intimidating. Renate was well aware of the talent she processed, and she wasn't afraid to point it out to people. However, Renate quit music less than four years later. Valeriana had been very upset when she found out. Valeriana would have done anything to be half as talent as Renate, yet Renate was just willing to throw it all away. Renate had returned to the music school early last year. She had changed quite a lot. She was no longer as arrogant or proud. She no longer bragged about how talented she was. Instead, she proved it by playing. Yet Valeriana still found the blonde French girl intermediating. Even after all these years, Valeriana envied her natural gifts.

"W-where is-s-s J-Jude?" Valeriana asked her.

Renate shrugged her shoulders. "Not sure but he will get here eventually."

Not long after Renate joined the concert band her boyfriend Jude joined as well. The band had been in need of a new guitar player after the last one moved to Perth, Jude had happily taken the role. One of the first things Valeriana noticed about Jude was that he was introverted like her. He may have lacked a stutter, but he was shy, quiet and rarely showed emotions. For that reason, Valeriana was move comfortable around Jude then Renate. Jude was excellent at playing piano and guitar but like Valeriana his ability came entirely from practice.

The door to the choir opened again. "Speaking of the devil," Renate smiled.

Valeriana turned around to see Jude enter. He was only slightly taller than Renate, with dirty blonde hair and cloudy brown eyes. He had the type of hair that always looked unbrushed.

"Hey," He said as he greeted his girlfriend and kissed her softly on the cheek. He looked up at Valeriana. "Hello, Valeriana."

"H-hi Jude-e," she replied.

Slowly the rest of the band began to make their way into the room.

"Is everyone here?" Kathleen asked as she looked around the room.

"I think so," Renate said.

"Then we will start," Kathleen announced.