It Was You

Chapter 16

My God, I wish I could be out on that field right now. It doesn't feel right, being stuck in the percussion pit. Don't get me wrong, I was actually enjoying myself because I got the hardest and most fun part out of anyone in percussion. We were preforming the 'Monster's University' March and I got to have some serious fun with the cowbell, which is not a sentence you hear everyday.

Hearing people shout, "More cowbell!" was pretty amusing as well.

It was the most fun I've had since moving to percussion. I was dancing to the beat as I hit the cowbell with drumsticks and I could see people in the audience doing the same. I had glanced around at one point and saw Ben mimicking my dance (and pretending to hit the cowbell like me) with my parents. I wish I could have recorded that.

When the song got to a point where everything slowed down, I had a chance to rest my wrists. It was a good two to three minute break, but once it was over, I got right back into it. The audience then started clapping to the beat and dancing all around. It was a good sized football stadium, so to see everyone on their feet was pretty awesome and rewarding!

The song then ended on a slow note from the trumpets. Seeing as that was the last song of our three song set, we were done! We got cheers as we made our way off the field and it made me smile. My very last year in band, this is exactly what I hoped for.

Once we got off the field, we made our way towards the busses and got changed. We had to get dismissed by our Drum Majors to got back to our seats and were advised to sit together when awards started.

The awards weren't for another two hours, so I decided to try and find Ben and my parents. I saw them near the top of the stands, talking and looking like they were really getting along. Very slowly, I made my way up. Stairs were one of my worst enemies because it's what took air out of me the most.

"Oh, sweetie," mom said as I got just a few steps from them, "you could have texted us and told us to sit at the bottom." I shook my head and took a seat in between her and Ben. "You were so lively out there, kiddo!" My dad said with a proud smile. "You were great!"

I smiled and mom said, "You looked like you were having the time of your life!" I laughed as I told her, "I was! That's the most fun I've had since they stuck me back there." Ben put his arm over my shoulder and said, "You were so happy, too! I want to see you like that all the time." He placed a chaste kiss to my lips and I could see mom trying to hide her smile from the corner of my eye.

After hanging out with them for a couple more hours, I had to join the band for awards. My band director decided to surprise me by telling me to go out with one of our drum majors to accept the awards, should we get any. They needed a representative for the percussion award.

Of course, that meant I had to rush to get back into uniform.

When I walked out to the field with the drum major, we stood at attention in front of the judges and waited with every other band's representatives. I could hear my dad and Ben let out the loudest whistles in the history of the universe when they saw me walk out.

"For superior in percussion, in first place...Humboldt High School!"

What. I couldn't believe it...I couldn't believe it! Percussion got first place! I was in so much shock I didn't even move a first, but I got nudged by the drum major. I walked up to the judge, did my salute, then graciously took the award. "Best percussion I've heard, young lady," the judge told me, "amazing job."

I was going to faint.

Our band itself won overall second place, which isn't bad for our first competition! While the drum major and I walked back to the band, they cheered us on. We held up the trophies and smiled like loons!

I didn't have time to meet up with Ben and my parents because I had to get back on the bus with the band. Ben texted me saying he would pick me up at school. When we got back to the school, I tried handing off the percussion trophy to my band director, but he told me to keep it. I don't think I stopped thanking him for a solid ten minutes.

When Ben arrived, I rushed to get into his car. He greeted me with a small kiss, but I pulled him in for a better one. He hummed and ran his hand up my leg. "Good night?" He asked against my lips. "Very," I told him. "Come on, let's get back and get into that carriage house.

I don't think I've seen him drive faster.