Let's Do This

The story after UIL

It was the Monday after UIL and I was still seriously happy. I was on the school bus on the way to school clutching my flute case excited of getting new music for the spring concert and for solo ensemble. As soon as the bus stopped at the side of the school, I stood up and raced to the door like every other sane seventh grader.

Anthony and I met by each other with our other friends Niko and Ashley. Niko being another fellow band nerd in honors band (which played the flute), and Ashley a non-band member being confused every time we mention band.

"How was UIL guys?" Niko asked. "Did you break the streak of getting sweepstakes?"

"It was awesome!" Anthony and I said simultaneously.

"And it's not broken, yet..." I added along.

I glanced at Ashley which was confused, who didn't even bother asking what UIL was since she wouldn't understand. I looked back at Niko and Anthony, Anthony which was babbling away about all the random details. I'm pretty sure I heard him mention my cummerbund once or twice.

I suddenly remembered something when I reached up for my head to grab the bangs out of my face. There was a bruise.

I looked around to see if there were any teachers around, then I punched Anthony in the shoulder once again, and he yelped.

Niko and Ashley laughed at his reaction and then suddenly asked why I punched the kid.

"That's what you get for throwing a shoe at my forehead! There is a bruise now!" I yelled loud enough just enough for him to be scared. Then I laughed.

"I have a feeling I'm never gonna let you forget that moment" I said after I saw Niko and Ashley's reaction. They were basically laughing so loud that the whole school could hear them.

"You should know, to never hurt Grace in some way!" Ashley said between laughs.

"Yeah, she will always have her revenge" Niko said to Anthony.

A moment later when we all somehow calmed down, we went to the library to finish our homework (like the Asians we are...I didn't mention that earlier did I...). After ten minutes of "teamwork" on our homework, we all decided to check in some books, and also check get some books.

I moved to my favorite row of book shelves with Niko and decided to pick a few books. As soon as we got there, I saw Niko suddenly leave grinning. Before I could comprehend what was happening, he shoved me between the book shelves.

I looked down and saw Jason and his friend sitting there hanging out. Thank goodness they didn't see me.

I ran out and their eyes turned on me. My zipper of my jacket had hit the metal door of the library and made a loud sound that they had probably heard. How come when I'm around Jason, I have the elegance of a brick.

"Hey Grace!" A familiar voice called out. Not again...

I turned around to see Jason and his friend standing up. I waved and tried to look normal while leaving to go to the desk my laughing friends and I were at.

"Don't worry guys, I won't forget to have revenge on you" I said to them while packing my backpack. (The revenge was for them to be forever afraid that I will have revenge on them, MUAHAHAHA. Well, I couldn't think of anything)

~

First through fourth period flew by and Anthony and I were heading towards band. We walked down the eighth grade hallway with me hoping to not cross by Jason. I scanned the hallway, and soon enough there was Jason at his locker. Anthony didn't seem to notice until we were right beside him.

A hand was suddenly grabbed my wrist and we came to a stop.

"Hey Jason!" Anthony said grasping my wrist, getting Jason's attention. I tried to escape but his hand was too tight on my wrist.

"Grace, say hi to him" Anthony says, nudging me. This can't be happening...

"Uh, hey" I say trying not to act weird, which I was basically failing. And I heard Jason say hi back making the blood rush to my face.

The next thing I know, Anthony kept trying to have a conversation with him and finding ways to embarrass me. After a few minutes the halls began to empty and his hand loosened.

I quickly said bye and ran.

So much for not acting weird...

And that ended up being a routine for the rest of the year.

~

I walked into the Band room and went to my locker and just opened it. Who uses their locks? Not me.

After I assembled my flute and grabbed my band binder, I headed toward my seat and heard my band director still congratulating everyone over UIL.

I was one of the last people in my section to come to my seat and had to push through some music stands to get there. Once I got everything situated, band started and our band director was handing out our solos, while some students were handing out our spring concert music.

Once I got my concert music, I skimmed though it and it was mostly basic rhythms. Next I got my solo.

I had no idea what I was looking at. All I saw was an unfamiliar key signature, 8th notes, time signature changes, and cut times.

I looked to the girl beside me, all she had were half notes, whole notes, and quarter notes. She also had a 100 bpm tempo.

"Your solos are different for every single one of you" The band director spoke, "Some will be easier, some will be harder. It will depend on who can play difficult pieces, or easier pieces." Well, that explains on my piece, does that mean I'm better than some others?

Band started and we all were learning out spring music. We would have to learn our solos in our own time.

The spring concert music was easy enough so I hardly didn't listen in class and focused on my solo, and I wasn't the only one.

It was in a key signature I wasn't familiar with so I had no clue if I was fingering it right. When the bell rang, instead of putting up my band binder, I brought it with me to sixth and seventh period to work on my solo.

When last period ended, I fairly knew the first few measures and learned the key signature (with the help of my pencil I used as a flute).

Now I just hope I could perfect it in time to play in front of the whole band, and in sectionals.