The True Band Family

Chapter 1

Moving, Sarah had heard, was always a stressful situation; however, it was one she hoped she wouldn't be in. The only thought she had to calm her nerves down as she stood in the office of her new school was that she was put in the top band in the school, rather than something more mediocre.

Music was Sarah's passion; she chose her trumpet as her date rather than some douchebag (i.e. Damon). She could already tell that band was going to hurt, as she hadn't practiced in a week (thanks, moving), but she found herself looking forward to it.

She started tapping her foot. The secretary - whose name she forgot - told her that another student was coming to guide her around the school, which she certainly was thankful for; she just wondered what was taking him so long.

Even as she thought that, a door burst open, and a boy ran in; he was actually around her height (which was rare, considering she was rather tiny), and had tan skin, gold hair, and teal eyes that gleamed in the early morning sun. Sarah's eyes widened.

"Sorry I'm late, Mrs. Walters!" the boy said, letting out a small laugh. "I was so busy last night with homework and everything that I overslept today."

"Today of all days." Mrs. Walters clicked her tongue, smiling. "Goodness, Augustus. Anyways, this is Sarah Rowen" - Sarah waved shyly - "who just moved here. She's also a band student."

Augustus looked over at Sarah and grinned, standing up a bit straighter. "Another band kid, huh?"

"Yep," Sarah said. "I play trumpet."

August's grin widened. "Same! You're in Advanced 1, right? Thank fuck - I mean goodness," he corrected, glancing at Mrs. Walters. "I mean, we need more good trumpet players."

Sarah grinned back; for the first time in a while, she felt like she was making a new friend.

"So, is it time for the Tour de Jackson?" August asked, grinning at his own terrible joke.

Sarah laughed as well. "Sure." She suddenly realized that her anxiety had gone down; holy crap, who was this kid?

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"So, where'd you move from?" Augustus asked.

"New York," she said. She knew she'd be telling this story a lot. "Crime rates and violence up there really are nothing to laugh at, and my mom especially didn't like it. She wound up getting a job offer down here and she took it."

"That makes sense. Well, she'll like Titusville, then. It's about as dangerous as flour is spicy." August grinned at her laughter. "Well, here's your first period...Language Arts with Ms. Dallas? Oh cool, we've got the same class! You do seem like you'd be in the smart people classes."

"Are you?"

August shrugged. "I mean, yeah, but some of the teachers don't think I should be. I'm a bit of what's called a 'problematic child'; I'm smart enough to know the answer, but don't have enough sense or patience to not just blurt it out. I'm also told I get distracted easily everywhere...except band, of course."

"I knew a few people like that," Sarah said. "Being loud doesn't make you dumb."

"That's true. I guess it just makes me dumb in a classroom setting. Anyways, here's your second period - hey, you've got my mom for science! Tell me if her class is as good as she says it is, since the school district won't let me in her class."

"I'm sure it's perfectly lovely," Sarah said, trying not to stare at him as deeply as she might've wanted to. "Your mom's a teacher?"

"Yup." He stuck his hands in his pockets as they were walking. "It's annoying when I want a ride home from school right away, but cool because I get to come here early and practice. It's kinda satisfying to just blast trumpet in the hallways when no one else is in the school."

"Sounds like it," Sarah laughed, noting the smile he gave her. "This is US History?"

"Yup," he said, turning towards the door. "Mr. Long. I've got a different teacher but I've heard he's cool...and while we're at it, Dr. Aland is right over here, she teaches Algebra - that is your fourth period, right?"

"Uh, yes," Sarah said, looking at her schedule. "Ugh, PE is next."

"Fair enough reaction," August laughed. "Though, really, with all the walking around the school you'll be doing, you shouldn't really have to take PE."

"I'll take that excuse." They both laughed.

"Anyways, that's on the other side of the school. You won't miss it because it's the only place in this whole building that leads outside except for the exits. I find it useless to walk there right now because I'm lazy and Mrs. Hinden's class is in the 500 wing which is right there...she's the meanest of the Career Prep teachers but if you don't yell things and screw around in class then you should be totally fine. Which leaves you" - he turned to her and grinned knowingly - "with band."

"The only period worth mentioning, honestly," she said, grinning as well.

"We're gonna get along just fine, Sarah," he said. "So, you're in Advanced band, yes, but how good of a player are you?"

"When I told my director we were moving, he told me that he would miss the best player in his band, so that probably means something," Sarah told him, feeling a pang of sadness as she remembered she wouldn't be playing for him again.

"Nice, nice," August said, grinning. "I don't mean to brag, but I'm pretty good myself. Mr. Thornton - our director - and his son both told me that I've got the musicianship of a senior in high school, which is rather impressive considering I'm like 13. But this is actually really great because there's finally someone that can sit between me and Dawson or Dawson and I or whatever I don't really care -"

"Who's Dawson?"

August laughed. "Ah, that little asshat is currently second chair trumpet. He's a total rich kid - big house, in the Cambridge program, his parents buy him anything he wants, thinks he's better than literally everyone else because of it, etc."

"Oh, one of those kids." Sarah rolled her eyes. "I knew a guy that was a dick, but it wasn't because he was rich. He was just a dick."

"Overcompensation, maybe?" August wiggled his eyebrows.

"Oh definitely," Sarah laughed. "Anyways, is Dawson mean to you?"

"Yep," August said, looking away. "He likes to annoy me because I don't have a father who swims in trunks and a business suit shirt."

Sarah burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, what?"

The bell rang. August snapped his fingers. "Aw shit, I didn't even get to show you the band room - wait, before I keep going, is it okay with you that I swear? My sister doesn't really give half a crap who hears her swearing but I try as best I can to not in front of new people -"

"I went to public school in NYC, August. I know what swear words are."

They both laughed.

"Good to know. Now, let's get to English, the only thing Dallas is actually strict on is punctuality."

"Alright. Now, explain the bathing suit thing..."

August grinned, causing Sarah's to grow even wider. A friend was a bit more than she'd expected out of her first day at a new school, but it seemed she'd gotten one.