Bittersweet Tragedy

The First Day

Ding Dong

It was the end of the day. I finally stepped out of the dim classroom into the bright hot sun in early September. Today was the day, the first day of marching band season this year! I walked down the hall with a happy spark in my step. I greeted my friends and we started towards the performing arts building. As we neared the building we heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, bitch!!!"

I turned and saw my best friend Mia. She stood tan and sunburnt skin, long brown ombre hair, with a slim athletic build.

"Oh my God, you're wearing that again?"

I said as I inspected her outfit, short shorts and a crop top that showed off her toned body.

"Yeah, I'm trying to get my ex's attention! Did you see that hoe he was with?" She explained

"You mean you?" I retorted in a joking manner.

"Mhmm like you can talk. You know with your thing for eyeing up boys." She snapped back smirking.

I winced and responded sharply, "Hey shut up not so loud!"

The problem was I was gay but not out. I was too scared to let anyone but my closest friends know. The fear of teasing and judgment was too much for me...

"Whoops sorry..." She snapped me out of my thoughts.

"So you ready?" Mia asked

"Y-yeah I guess..heyhe heck do you ever keep up all the sports you do and now this?" I asked

"Well, I have my ways with teachers I guess." She said slyly and winks

"Oh God, you are a hoe." I shake my head

She laughed exposing her perfectly white teeth. She was perfect. All the guys knew her and thought she was really hot. All the attention she got was so overwhelming when I hung out with her. I was honestly jealous, I was one of the people who no one knew and I hid away to avoid confrontation and to hide my secret.

We finally reached our destination and we stepped into the coolly air-conditioned hallway of the performing arts building. I had no idea what to expect. 

Then we heard it, the familiar chaotic but welcoming sound of people warming up on their instruments. There were the booming voices if the tubas, the mellow deep tones of the clarinets, the blaring, and overwhelming trumpets. Out of the sounds I recognized the frantic yet beautiful scales of the flutes. The flute section was my home the place where I had some of the closest friends in.

Mia and I entered my safe place, the band room. I was there during school for class and before school for Jazz. For some reason everyone is so surprised I play bass guitar, I wonder why... Here I felt like no one would judge me, just laughter and memories yet to come. I hold music close to my heart as my only escape from my anxiety.  I hoped to have a way to blend into a crowd but still play a part in something bigger than me.

I headed to the cupboards to retrieve my flute. I grabbed the familiar sticker covered case from amongst the array of different sized cases. It was a simple black case decorated with stickers and pins from amusement parks and previous festivals. I turned around to see my fellow flute player, Rose, a short brunette girl with glasses and a quirky sense of fashion. Today since she had art class, she was wearing a pair of paint-stained, blue denim overalls over a black shirt and white converse.

"What up Snow!" She exclaimed

I sighed with a shy smile. Most people call me "Snow" mostly cause my name, Sorren White, sounded a lot like Snow White.