Marching The Line: The Newbie

Chapter 5

Makenna's P.O.V.

I could tell the light was turned on. But I was still waiting for Asher to count to three so I could see the surprise. I didn't know if I should be excited or worried. I still didn't know Asher that well. But I had butterflies just wondering what his true colors were.

"One.....Two.....Three." Asher counted.

I opened my eyes and my mouth dropped open. I slapped a hand over my mouth. Sitting in front of me was a black and silver Pearl marching snare. "Holy hell." I gasped.

"Take a closer look at the drum. Check the bottom." Nick smiled.

I walked over to the drum and flipped it over to the bottom. Written in silver and black sharpie was Nick's signature followed by his band mates. One name caught me totally by surprise. "Who's Alan Wayland?" I asked confused.

Nick and Asher shook their heads. "Alan Wayland is one of the best snare drummers or any drummer for that matter, there is. He's amazing. And Me and Asher here did some calling around, and found out that he used to go to Valley View. So we called him up and asked if he'd like to do us a small favor."

I stared at them. Complete and utter shock settled over me. "But why? Why are you guys being this nice to me?"

"Swallen is giving you such a hard time. It isn't right." Asher said. I tried to defend myself but he cut me off before I could speak. "You're only struggling because of dyslexia and your marching isn't great because that drum and harness don't fit you right. So we took that picture that you sent to me of you with your guitar and showed him. He sized you right up and even said he'd love to meet you."

I was totally lost for words. I was used to being treated like some loner, not like I was an angel that had fallen. That's how these two were treating me. "Jesus guys. I have no idea what to even say. I'm in total shock." I said staring at the drum.

"Don't worry about it." Nick said smiling. "Live to please." He said dismissing it with a wave of his hand.

Asher was smiling. His green/silver eyes sparkling. "Same here. Though, I could go for some ice cream."

I laughed. "You're such a piggy I swear." I said shaking my head. I put the harness on over my head and settled it on my shoulders. Asher grabbed the snare and hooked it into the harness. Alan had done an amazing job fitting the drum to me. My back didn't even feel like it was being stabbed. Marching was going to become much easier for me that was for sure.

*

Asher's P.O.V.

We dropped Nick off at his place close to nine. I looked over at Mak who was holding her new snare in her lap. She hadn't spoken since we left the ice cream shop, I was slightly worried. "Are you okay?" I asked.

Mak continued to look out the window without speaking.

"Mak?" I asked, concern edging my voice. I reached over and touched her shoulder with my free hand.

Mak jumped and looked at me. "Huh? Sorry."

I narrowed my eyes and looked at the road. "Are you okay?" I asked again.

Mak nodded. "Yeah. Just tired." She said. Her voice seemed oddly flat.

"Something tells me that's not everything." I said.

Mak tilted her head slightly and looked at me. "I'm fine Asher. Really." She sighed. "Promise." She said when I didn't believe her.

I sighed and then nodded. "Alright. I believe you."

Mak looked at the snare drum head. Her eyes glazing over slightly as her mind probably began to play rhythms. "Won't I stick out slightly?" She asked.

"Hm? Oh, no. I have a black drum to. Swallen just wanted me to use the school snare until I could get a replacement head. Which I did thanks to Nick." I told her.

"Nick is really sweet. He's not like most guys that are in bands."

"So what you're saying is, he doesn't have a big head." I said trying to make her laugh.

She chuckled. A tiny. "Ha." She nodded. "Yeah. That's what I'm saying. I feel like I need to do something nice for you guys to repay you."

"Help the band get to States and that'll be your way of repaying us." I said.

"States?" Mak looked confused.

I reminded myself that this was Mak's first year in marching band. Or band for that matter. "State competition. We've been trying to make it that far for years. Alan never got a chance. Even he said that if you made a difference in our sound and our drive he would be willing to join Swallen's side like Swallen had wanted since he graduated."

"So we compete?" Makenna said. I thought I heard a trace of fear in her voice.

I nodded. "Mhm. Trust me, it's a great feeling getting out there on the field just to perform your show. It's truely a marching band field and not a football field then."

Mak looked back out the window, watching as the trees and stars flew by. "Oh." Was all she said.

We pulled up at her house and I turned the car off. "Just had a thought."

"What is it?" She asked watching me.

"Where are your parents? Aren't they ever home?" I asked.

Mak looked at her hands. "No. And they won't be coming home."

"Wait...they aren't dead are they?" I asked suddenly.

She shook her head. "Well, no. They left me a while ago. My past isn't my pride Asher, but without I wouldn't be as strong as I am now. I don't want to think about where I could be now if I hadn't of straightened up."

I didn't understand what she meant. But I could see by the look on her face that she didn't want to talk about it. "Wanna watch a movie?" I asked.

Greatfullness flashed across her face. Makenna nodded and got out of the car. I followed behind her as she opened her front door. "Movie room is down the right hallway to the left." She said.

Makenna's house was huge. Something a rich person would live in. My guess was her parents were wealthy and sent her money even if they left her. I found the movie room and sat down on the couch. I wondered what Makenna meant by her past wasn't her pride. I wondered what kind of horrible things had happened or things she did to make her parents leave her. What parents would leave their child to fend for herself. Another thought accured to me. Did Mak have any siblings? Was she the only one that got shut out? I shook my head as Mak came in and sat down next to me on the couch. She had picked out on of my favorite movies, Step Up, in the DVD player and hit the play button the remote.

"Thank you for not asking any more questions Asher." Mak said without looking at me.

I nodded. "I could tell you didn't want to talk about it."

She gave a faint smile and leaned her head on my shoulder. She yawned but paid attention to the movie. She fell silent as the characters began to dance around in the subway train. It was one of my favorite scenes, then I realized that Mak really was tired. She was fast asleep on my shoulder, her breathing quiet and slow. I grabbed a pillow from the top of the couch and placed it on my lap and carefully moved Mak so she was laying with her head on the pillow and her feet laying on the couch space beside her. She sighed, I couldnt imagine the pain her back had been in from sitting in that postion of leaning on my shoulder. I ran my fingers gently down her spine, I could feel where her spine was bent out of shape and all the large knots in her muscles. I sighed. Mak needed help or she was going to be in serious pain and possibly messed up for the rest of her life. Looks like I'd be forcing her to see a doctor. Moving my fingers on a large knot between her shoulders she flinched slightly then relaxed and made a little whimper sound that sounded content. She gave another sigh and relaxed even more. I moved my eyes up to the movie screen and chuckled slightly to myself. I was going to be the only one up watching the movie now.