Marching The Line: The Newbie

Chapter 4

Asher stood behind me as I sat down on the black piano bench watching Nick play. His fingers flew over the strings and frets expertly. Nick's dark eyes met mine and then flickered over to the drum set. I tilted my head to the side slightly confused.

"Play the drums." Asher said.

My eyes widened. "Oh. I can't I'm sorry." I said.

Nick stopped and shook his head. "Don't think so much about it. Just play a simple rhythm with a beat."

I was frozen in my spot. No one had even heard me play on the set. A drum set was different from a snare or quads. You had several things to play at one time and you had to keep it well balanced. I was okay with just snare or quads. But the set was a whole other thing.

"Let you're heart to the playing." Nick said watching me.

I glanced at Asher then back at Nick, holding my breath I got up and walked over to my black drum set. I picked up the sticks that were perched on the snare and released the breath I was holding. I stared at all the different drums and cymbals. The high hat caught my attention quickly. I set my foot on the kick drum peddle and my other on the high hat peddle. My sticks hovered over the high hat and I closed my eyes. I felt the smooth wood of the sticks in my hand, my mind slightly flickering to the feeling of the marching snare on. I took a deep breath and felt myself slip out of reality as I started a complicated rhythm on the high hat, closing it and opening it so the cymbals would ring. After a few seconds I added a solid heart beat sound on the kick drum. My hands migrated all over the other drums and I moved my other foot to the second kick drum peddle. I added ride cymbal and crash cymbals in between the drum sounds. It wasn't long until I heard the sound of the electric guitar following along. The hard to follow riffs flowing with my drumming. Then the sound of the bass guitar filled the extra space. This went on for a few minutes then slowly, piece by piece and instrument by instrument died away. I looked up, my eyes slightly glazed over from my drum high. I grinned. "I had no idea that would make a difference.."I said almost out of breath.

Nick and Asher grinned. "Well, what you didn't know is I actually go to your school and I've heard you play on the snare and quads. When Asher snuck a look at your Ipod and saw that you had MSS on it, he grabbed me and told me. I've been listening to you for a few days now."

I glanced at Asher. I wasn't sure I should be mad at him for sneaking into my Ipod or glad that he did because I had just played with Nick Hope. My mind was swimming.

"But," Nick said breaking into my thoughts. "I'm glad you moved to Valley View. Besides Asher, we needed another good drummer."

I smiled. "Thanks. But I haven't played that long."

Asher walked over and leaned over the drums. "Which makes you all the better." He said quietly. "Now, your surprise isn't quite done. Get your things and meet me out at the car."

I nodded, the air leaving my lungs as Asher's green eyes bore into mine. Nick grinned and winked at me, then followed Asher out of my house. I sat behind the drums for a minute. "What the hell just happened...?" I said aloud to myself. I shook my head trying to get my brain to function correctly. Unfortunately, the drum high was a little stronger than I had anticipated. Standing up I grabbed a light jacket and my house keys, threw them in my backpack and made my way out the door.

Asher's P.O.V.

Nick had been right. Makenna was better than she even thought. The girl could play a drum set like she was born to. She needed some practice still but then again everyone that picks up drums in a year does. Hell, I still needed work. I watched as Mak locked the door behind her and picked her way down the front yard.

"She'd be good for you bro." Nick said glancing at me in the rear view mirror.

I looked back at him. Slightly shocked that he had said anything. "Um. Yeah. I guess so." I said doubtfully.

Mak climbed in the passenger seat and buckled up. "Do I get any hints as to where we're going?" She asked excitedly.

I shook my head. Mak groaned making me laugh. "You'll survive." I said shrugging.

"Please?!" She begged. Her normally pale green eyes were bright and pleading. I had to fight back an "aww" because she looked like a kitten.

I shook my head. "Nope. Sorry."

Grumbling, Mak flopped back into her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. "No fair." She mumbled.

Nick chuckled from the back seat. "Pouting will get you no where Mak. Just gotta be patient."

"I'm not patient." Mak muttered and looked out the window.

I was smiling from ear to ear. I wasn't going to ruin Mak's surprise or our good moods by releasing what had been bugging me all day. Maybe I would bring it up to Mak later. We'd been texting for almost two days straight now, I was thinking about just calling her. I wouldn't fall asleep on her easily if I did that. I glanced over at Mak again. I heard Nick clear his throat, knowing he had seen me. I snapped my eyes back on the road, gripping the wheel tighter and looked at Nick's eyes in the mirror. He had an eyebrow raised but looked away. I fought back a sigh and we continued in silence.

*

"Are we there yet?!" Makenna exclaimed. We had blind folded her so she couldn't see her surprise. I leaned down to her ear.

"Not yet, now hush." I whispered in her ear.

She made a whimpering sound but fell quiet. Mak had gone from the girl I was sure hardly spoke to bounds of energy. I didn't understand her sometimes. Mostly at all. She still was incredibly quiet, especially when we were in large groups of people or around those she didn't know. It was almost like she wanted to be reduced to a tiny ant and disappear. It worried me to. So did her tendency to fall silent when something was wrong. It was almost like she was so well guarded that she locked everything away.

Nick tapped my shoulder and jerked his chin toward a door. I nodded and stopped. Mak reached for the blindfold but I pulled her hand back. "Not yet." I murmured. Mak sighed but didn't say anything. Nick opened the door and I led Mack in. It was way darker in the room than I had thought. I was fighting to keep from tripping over something. "Okay. Take the blindfold off, but don't open your eyes."

Mak nodded and Nick flipped on the light. I couldn't help but grin at the surprise in front of me. Hell, even I liked it. Nick looked at me and nodded. "On the count of three...open your eyes."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hahaha! You thought I was gonna keep going didnt you!? :D Just kidding. More chapters are coming. Don't worry my savy reading friends. I wrote this chapter on a drum high and ice cream/ Monster. So I'm a little spazzy and hyper. Yes, I play drums too. So does my best friend.

Anyways. Mak's about to be in a real surprise. I've got to say. I'm jealous. I'm gonna stop blabbing and go find something to do so I don't kill my computer again with my hyperness. Haha, hope you all likes it! Keep reading!

*Don't like the heat...Don't start the flame!*