Sidemen Oneshots + Stuff

The Orchestra pt. 2 - Wind Band Shenanigans

Here's something to hopefully make up for my absence.

~~~

"...How?" Simon looked at his band of friends as he put out the question. "How did we all get moved up into the intermediate band?"

"It's a wind band as well..." Tobi thought out loud. "Just wind instruments..."

"Uh, forgetting about somebody?" JJ asked, mockingly offended as he knew that Tobi was just trying to annoy him.

"Just...just wind instruments."

"I don't play a wind instrument!" Perhaps he wasn't pretending to be angry anymore.

"Well, you only got moved up because our old orchestra got another percussionist and they didn't need two," Harry pointed out. "Although they easily could've just kicked you out."

"We should stop messing with JJ," Vikk suggested. "Unless you guys want cymbal crashes in your ears every week."

"I actually didn't think of that, thanks."

"VIKK!"

"Let's just get set up - do you want to get in trouble on our first day?"

~

It was halfway through the session (otherwise known as the break) and Simon was sitting motionless in his seat, staring blankly at the sheet music on the stand in front of him.

"What...what the hell-"

"Hey, Simon! Wanna come get some treats or something?" Ethan called out from the doorway of the hall. He noticed Simon's confused state and jogged over, trying to figure out what was wrong. "Uh...what's up?"

"This...makes absolutely no sense whatsoever..." Simon groaned, looking up to Ethan as the trombone player glanced over a sheet filled with quavers, dotted quavers and semi-quavers. And dynamics. And repeats. And many other musical terms that only people who play instruments would understand.

"Aw, come on, Simon, you'll get used to it!" Ethan encouraged him. "You're not the only one struggling anyways. This is the intermediate band, remember? We aren't beginners anymore. Now, how about you come with me to get a sweet treat from the tuck shop to help with your stress." The two boys stood up and started heading for the door, only stopping when a disheartened-looking Josh walked through the door with a half-eaten mars bar in his hand.

"...What's up with him?" Simon asked, confused.

"He's depressed because he can't stare at Freya all the time anymore," Harry answered before Ethan could open his mouth, walking in just behind Josh. "You did notice how he raced out of the hall, right? He really just wanted a chance to see her during the break, but it turns out their break is, like, ten minutes before ours. So he can't see her anymore." After saying the last sentence Harry let out an involuntary snort before realising what he just did. "I, uh, shouldn't be laughing."

"Wow...must be tough," Simon said. "...Probably not as tough as this music, though."

~

(Just saying I wrote this section back at the start of December so...)

"CHRISTMAS SONGS~!" Harry sang joyfully, playing the tune for 'Stop the Cavalry' obnoxiously loud on his trumpet. Several practices had passed - it was already late November - and the seven boys had settled into the difficult wind band surprisingly well. Sure, it was slightly more stressful ("PAY ATTENTION TO THE DYNAMICS SIMON!" their new conductor had shouted) but it was still fun nonetheless.

Josh flinched slightly, even though he was sat further away from Harry than he originally was.

"We get it, you're excited for Christmas," he stated. "You couldn't express it any louder."

"Aw, c'mon Josh," Tobi chuckled. "Loosen up a bit; it's the holidays! What's got you so grumpy?" Josh huffed and crossed his arms (as much as he could with a saxophone in in his arms, anyway), turning away slightly.

"Is this about..." Vikk cut himself off, seeing the elder's expression. "Uh...maybe we can-"

"Alright, guys, we only have two practices before the concert, and I thought that we needed something a bit more fun and cheery," the conductor announced. "So if you check inside your folders you should see a new piece. Get that out - we'll be playing that first."

Everyone looked eagerly into their folders to see what they would be playing. Simon suppressed a laugh as Josh groaned.

"I hate you all."

The new song was 'Accidentally in Love'.

~

"Alright, break's over, everybody get back to your places!" the conductor called out. Ethan sighed and put his phone down, picking up his trombone and heading back to his seat. He had forgotten to bring money that week so he couldn't buy anything from the tuck shop, meaning that he was the only one in the hall when break finished.

Soon enough he was joined by JJ, Vikk,  Tobi, Callux and a few other people who he didn't really know well. Josh walked in a minute later, looking a bit rushed and apologetic.

"Sorry, sir."

"It's okay, Josh, sit down. Now...have you all finished eating your Skittles?"

Chuckles broke out around the group - everyone had learned to enjoy this when it lasted, as the conductor wasn't usually one for jokes.

"Who didn't eat Skittles?" somebody asked.

"I didn't!" one of the trumpet players (a boy with dirty blond hair and a strange accent) piped up, shooting a hand into the air.

"So...what did you have?"

"Pringles!"

Several minutes into the second half of the practice, Simon and Harry walked into the room, oblivious to how late they were. The conductor looked at them, frowning.

"Did your watches break?"

"I'm not wearing a- OH SH...OOT!" Simon exclaimed after seeing the time on Ethan's watch.

"Um..." Harry looked awkwardly at their conductor. "...Sorry, sir..."

~

(...don't ask questions with this one.)

"Please, Josh?"

Vikk glanced up to see Simon, Harry, JJ and Ethan all crowding around Josh, Tobi looking on with a small smile. Harry was holding a sheet out to Josh, his trumpet grasped in his other hand.

"...FINE. But just once."

The four boys cheered as Josh snatched the sheet from Harry, scanning over it. JJ ran over to the drum kit and picked up his drumsticks as the others readied their own instruments. Rolling his eyes, Josh started blowing a vaguely familiar tune with his saxophone. Vikk tilted his head - where had he heard it before?

"HEY!"

Suddenly, everybody else started playing the same tune (save for JJ who was playing a quick beat in the background), whilst Josh folded up the sheet and stuffed it in his pocket.

Vikk, perplexed, was about to walk up to Josh and ask what the tune was when suddenly...

"WE ARE NUMBER ONE!"

~~~

I'm so sorry, okay, I couldn't help it. The idea struck me and I just thought 'What have I got to lose?' so yeah.

Hey, if you want to help Stefen Karl, go here --> https://www.gofundme.com/2tm9tqk

They've already passed their initial goal but hey, who said people had to stop there?