25 or 6 to 4 {EDITING}

Passion

On the way back to the band room, we played the UCLA Fight Song and Pachuco. I was jealous - I've always wanted to learn that song. Everyone in the band wanted to play it, but the drum majors said that the freshman don't know it, and wouldn't give us the music.

When we got back to the band room, the drums started to play. "What are we doing?" I muttered.

"Come on, guys, we gotta do suicides!" Andrea yelled. We all ran out of the line to prepare for Incantation.

I don't know if everyone else followed us or if we followed them, but soon the entire band was crowded around the outside of the band room finishing the field show. Everyone was yelling at the top of their lungs at the part where we sang. At the end, instead of crossing trombones on a knee like we normally did, Andrea stood in front of us while we all got down on a knee. She struck a pose and we pointed out trombones to her.

That was the most fun I'd had all year.

We all changed out of the uniforms and the band council was having a little party down in the dungeon. I dropped off my uniform and headed outside to where Jessica was waiting.

David and Kayla were standing outside the band room. I thought Kayla looked like she needed a hug as well, and I guess she did, because she accepted it happily. I know I've been really hard on Kayla, but she really is a kind, diligent person if you really get to know her.

This time, Jessica was the one who was crying. She was telling me that I was her friend and was really cool, which made me start to cry again.

I can't believe how far I've come since the beginning of the year. I love the trombones, and I'm so glad I was able to spend my freshman year with them. There are so many things that I've wanted to say, but I've been too scared to say them out loud.

Andrew was actually the first person I met from the section - he was Samantha's boyfriend. I've always loved how he can make anyone smile. There's just something about him that makes you want to smile.

Caiden has always been one of the people I look up to. Not only did he teach me to play the trombone, but he's one of those people that knows how to get along with different types of people. If I need to vent, Caiden is always a good choice because they way he talks makes the situation seem less severe.

Jayden and I don't always get along very well, but when we're both in a good enough mood to listen, he knows quite a lot and has actually given me some of the best advice on not only the trombone but also video games and even academics. He's also very vocal; if he says something was good, you know it was good.

Zoe is probably the quietest out of all of us, but that is the last word I would use to describe her. When I first met her, she didn't really talk to me much, but then I got to know her and she's not as quiet as I thought she was. She was one of the reasons I kept playing the trombone - she wasn't as snappy as everyone else. I never really have to be embarrassed with Zoe because I trust her.

Jessica is by far the craziest in the section, maybe even more than me. That's probably why I love her so much - she may not be the happiest person on Earth, but she sure does act like it. Everything sounds fun when Jessica talks about it. She's a really great person.

While Andrea has helped me a lot with playing with a more gentle approach, Dylan has helped me a lot with a more aggressive approach. He's not always in the best of moods, but no matter what mood he's in, he somehow always makes me feel good. When he's irritated, we get a lot more done. When he's goofy, I forget about how stressed I am. When he's depressed, I can see that he's still a person. I've always admired Dylan and how good he is at the trombone, and I've always loved how he can turn anything into something funny.

I know I've said this countless times, but Andrea is a really great person. She's funny like Caiden, serious like Dylan, and kind like Zoe. Andrea is the person who you feel can get along with everybody. I say that Andrea is short a lot, but for some reason, everyone I meet who is short is always kind, like how almost all of my friends wear glasses.

I thought back to band camp. I guess my wish came true, I thought.

My mom called me to leave, and I really didn't want to. I wanted to fall asleep, right beside my passion. The night fell and I knew that this wasn't over yet.

There would be more memories to make tomorrow.