Marching Band: The Journey [EDITING]

Bonus Chapter - 2

*Carson's POV*

It's been four years and nine months since everyone left. Two-hundred forty-seven weeks since the love of my life moved away. One thousand, seven-hundred thirty-four days since she broke up with me. Forty-one thousand, six-hundred thirty-seven hours since my world fell apart.

Magnolia is entering her senior year in three months. Jack is growing to be a fine young man. And I am struggling to keep everything together.

It's been nine months since our mom passed away. The treatment was going well and the money from turning in my father was still there, but then it took a turn. She insisted I save the money for Magnolia and Jack, and myself instead of wasting it on useless treatment. It was then that I realized she was the bravest woman I'd ever known. Even though we were paying for the treatment, I still urged her to stay in the hospital. On her death bed, she told me I should chase my dreams. Emmaleigh.

Magnolia and Jack suffered more than me. Jack, although young, already had a traumatizing childhood. The first half of it, he lived in fear of being beaten. The second half, he's been sheltered by the Harringtons. And now he's lost his mother to an incurable cancer. Magnolia's grades started slipping and she almost failed. Then her future would've been even more messed up then mine.

Even through all of this, all I can think about it Emmaleigh. Her radiant smile, her colorful vocabulary, her scrunched up nosed when she was confused, her beautiful brain. Everything around me reminded me of her. Our Valentine's day dinner at Fazoli's and that same night in my bed. The front porch of her old house where I confessed my secrets to her. The school where so many good and bad moments occurred. Mainly good that included marching band.

I smile as I pull onto the street that the school sits on, that's even named after it. After my most recent shift at the mechanic, I was on my way to pick Magnolia up from school. Jack was at one last after school tutorial session with his math teacher before the school year ended. He took after me in that department: sucks at math. I turn the wheel towards the back of the school where I used to leave from with Emma. My smile falters a bit, but I fix it when Magnolia opens the passenger door.

The Harringtons have been so kind with helping us, especially after my mother's treatment started to fail. We'd been living in the trailer after my father had been convicted. Once my mom died, Mrs. Harrington has been picking Jack and Magnolia up from school and practices, feeding them dinner, and even letting them sleep at their house. Tony is in Texas with Angela looking for an apartment since he just signed with a professional football team. Tracey got back on her feet and finished her degree here in the States and then got a job working for an event planner. She's currently back in the UK scouting locations for Fashion Week. At least, that's what Magnolia keeps gushing about.

Mr. Harrington offered me Tony's truck, with Tony's permission. The only way I had accepted it was if I could pay for the insurance. They only let me pay half. And I know they've been planning to get Magnolia a car because her eighteenth birthday is coming up in a few months.

"How was school?" I ask as I turn the truck around to leave school property. Even while I went to school here, I've never parked back here. I don't know how one maneuvered a large truck back here, let alone the one that held instruments when the band went to football games and competitions.

"Same as usual: teachers droning on about our futures and annoying students who don't have common sense or manners." Mag complained, letting her bag drop to her feet as she buckled up. She leaned back in the seat, using her fingerprint to unlock her phone. I had splurged to get the unlimited data plan and boy was I glad that I did.

"And band? How's that?" I ask as I turn back onto the road, silently cursing these students. It was only five years ago this was me.

"Austin wants you and your friends back. He went off today at some poor kid in concert band even though he was mad at a new guard instructor." She said, a smirk fluttering onto her face. Magnolia was the first Junior to become percussion captain and she found joy in watching Austin chew out freshmen. Twisted girl. At least I knew no one would mess with her.