Between Love and Music

What is Love?

 “Ouch.” I muttered, stepping in a hole. We were exiting the field after long hours of practice. In marching band, if it’s Saturday and you don’t have a competition, expect to be practicing all day. We were about to eat lunch, then go to sectionals. I yanked open the door of the band room to put all my equipment up temporarily. Ryan and Will were doing something for lunch so, I was riding solo this time. After my equipment was stored, I contemplated about my lunch and decided I would eat at Subway.

As I was leaving the band room, I glanced at an unfamiliar, teenage girl’s face. She had long, dark hair and wore simple jean shorts with an All Time Low shirt. Hmm. Nice music choice. I cracked open Mr. Kein’s office door wide enough for me to slip in through. I threw myself onto the couch on the side of the office. Mr. Kein sighed. “That, Alex, is Hope, our drum line captain.” I nodded towards Alex and asked, “What do you play?”

“Pit.”

I grinned. “Percussion…nice. Wanna get out of this office and go catch some Subway with me?”  Mr. Kein glanced at Alex, probably wanting to see her expression. Alex smiled a little. “Why not?” I rolled off the couch and onto the floor, landing on a drill flag. It stabbed me in the leg. “Ow-w-w-w.” I rubbed my leg, wincing. Mr. Kein laughed.  Alex spoke up. “Well, do you want to leave or?” I glared at her. “Sure, I’ll just limp from my sore leg here.” Alex rolled her eyes and pulled me up from the floor. Well, this girl wanted food.

We got to my SUV, and started driving in the direction of Subway. “So where you from?”

“Curtville.”

I nodded. Small school, average band.

“Class A?”

She nodded. We rode in silence, just listening to music. When we finally got to Subway, we only had an hour and a half before we had to be on the field. I ordered my usual: pepperoni, salami, American cheese, and turkey on white. I watched as Alex ordered a small cheese pizza. We paid and sat down at a booth close to the windows. “So, what grade are you in?” I asked, munching on a Sun Chip.

“Freshman, you?”

Hmm. She’s a little young for marching band. Then, I remembered with smaller bands, you might start marching band as early as seventh grade. “I’m a junior.” She nodded again, taking a sip of her drink. “Why’d you move to this pathetic excuse for a town?” Alex didn’t meet my gaze. “Divorce.”

“Oh man, that blows. I’m sorry.” She shrugged. “It happens.”

~*~

After lunch, we drove the small trip back to the band room. I hope she was ready for some hard core sectionals. Slipping in the driver’s side, I plugged my IPhone up, looking for All Time Low on my “Artists”. I grinned when I found my favorite, “Dear Maria, Count Me In”. When, I played the song, Alex mirrored my grin and began singing the words along with me. Before long, we were rocking out to all of my All Time Low. I have a feeling this is the start of a beautiful friendship.

“Hope! You’re almost late for sectionals!” was the first thing I heard when I pulled up to the band room. “Chill, Winchester. I was hanging with the new kid.” I nodded towards an awestruck Alex. Jesus Christ. Why is everyone star struck by him?! “Well hello there, dear. I guess all percussionists are cute.” He smirked before winking at me. Was that jealousy boiling up inside me? No way. It had to be just anger at his comment of my “cuteness”, right? Alex laughed a little. “There must be something in the water.” Chase grinned. He must enjoy having girls fawn over him all the time. Well, guess what? This girl isn’t about to! I don’t even want to be his friend. “Nice shirt.” Chase told Alex. He doesn’t even like All Time Low!