Life Of A Sin

Chapter 2

Anastasia's POV

It's been a week since the basketball State Championships, and the whole thing with Jamie's neighborhood happened. It's currently 5:00 am, and I'm filling up my water bottle for morning marching band practice. I have to leave in about ten minutes for the high school, to start practicing and getting ready for the marching competition later. I quickly pull my hair into a ponytail, and walk up to Jamie's room. "Jamie? Are you coming to help out with band practice today?" I ask after knocking on the door. I don't hear an answer, and I turn around and lean against the door. "Jamie... It's been two days since Ani moved out, and you haven't left your room since the accident. Please Jamie, at least come out and eat something... Please, Jamie," I sit down in front of his door and lean against it. "This is Super State, I really need my best friend there with me. And not just me, Hideki needs you there too," I hear footsteps inside Jamie's room and the doorknob turns. I clumsily stand up and push the door open. Jamie is already dressed and his hair is brushed. I hug him tightly and take him by the hand. He smiles softly down at me, and we walk into the front room.

On the bus ride to the competition, Jamie, Hideki, and I are sitting in the front of the bus with my parents and Ms. Louella. Hideki and Jamie are sharing a seat, and I am sitting in the seat across from them next to Ms. Louella. I'm sitting in the aisle seat, and Ms. Louella is wearing headphones and is staring out the window. 'Aren't band directors supposed to be outgoing?' I think to myself as I talk to Jamie and Hideki.

When we arrive at the college (where the competition is taking place at), everyone unpacks their instruments and puts on their marching band uniform pants ((they're called bibbers, weird name, right?)). We all carry out our instruments, our uniform jackets, and our helmets. Hideki gets off the bus before everyone else to help percussion and low brass get their instruments off the loading truck.

Before the competition, a college band student escorts us to our warm-up zone and we spend about a half hour working on music and marching fundamentals. After warm-ups, we all get into our block formation, and march to the football field. Once we are on deck(next to the football field) we all help each other zip up and button our jackets and we all put on our helmets. We all take a quick water break and march onto the field. While we are marching onto the field, my parents, Jamie, Mr. R, Ms. Louella, other band parents, and Ani(!?!) quickly carry out props onto the field and set them in place. They all then run off the field and we perform our show.

About a half hour after we march off the field, all the marching band members have changed out of our uniforms and we are all following a college student to the bleachers. While following the student, Hideki and I are standing on either sides of Jamie, who hasn't said a word since we saw his sister on the field. "Jamie, aren't you going to say something?" I ask. Jamie doesn't answer, he just continues to walk.

"Jamie, are you okay?" Hideki asks. Jamie still doesn't answer, and Hideki and I look up at each other. Hideki shrugs his shoulders and I gently touch Jamie's arm.

"Jamie, you're worrying us. Please just say something," I softly say.

"There's no need for me to talk right now," Jamie says while quickening his pace so he's walking ahead of us. Hideki and I both look at each other and run to the front of the line. We see Ani and Ms. Louella walking next to each other, and talking about something. Hideki and I walk behind them, and look back at Jamie.

"He still isn't talking to me," Ani says.

"He'll get over it," Ms. Louella says coldly.

"Don't lie to me, we both know he won't," Ani responds.

"And? That's your problem, so you find a way to fix it," Ms. Louella replies with a cold and sharp tone of voice.

"What the hell, Avalon-"