You Snared My Heart: A Marching Band Love Story

FIRST COMPETITION WOOP

BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP
A halfhearted slam to the alarm clock and I was up. It was the ungodly hour of 6:15 on a Saturday, the day I normally reserved for sleeping until 11 and then watching movies and being lazy. However, today was the first marching competition and call time was at 7. Walking blindly to the bathroom I slammed my toe on the threshold and fell nose first onto the wall. My eyes were sticky and crusted with goo. My hair was a rats nest already and...was that spaghetti in my hair? This was already a great day.
I am clearly a morning person.

Once I was dressed and had coffee and cocoa Dyno-bites in my system I was ready to function. Checking my e-mail on my phone I found the day's schedule:

Eastern Nebraska Marching Invitational:
Saturday, October 2, 2015
Call Time: 7
Practice:7:15-11:45
Lunch(Band Booster provided): 12-1
Meet by bus for Prelims: 1:30
Preliminary Performance: 2:30
Finals:TBD
Awards: 10
Home by 11:30

It looked like a busy day. Our competitors were all from top schools, which meant that it would also be a stressful day.

Last year Westmont had placed around 10th at every competition. This year, we were aiming for 5th- an accomplishment we would have called impossible if not for the complete overhaul of the program.

Westmont High School had a thirst to prove itself, and this competition was our chance to make people fear and respect us. Who ever said marching band wasn't competitive? We had a new killer marching technique and level of precision that hadn't been present last year. Plus, even though Lincoln and Emily might have their faults, you couldn't deny that they were amazing drum majors. I hadn't been involved in the program last year, of course, but even I could tell that.

I arrived to school at 6:55. After getting out Warren(my baritone for you peeps who can't remember), Daniel and I walked down to the field. I have to admit, his awkwardness was starting to grow on me. We had a conversation about our most embarrassing moments (Mine would have to be I noseplanted in 6th grade while walking through the cafeteria. A vicious chair leg sprung out of nowhere, causing me to faceplant onto the floor. The cafeteria turned completely silent as people took in my soy sauce splattered glasses and noodle covered hair). Daniel told me about the job he had in 8th grade where had to dress like a taco and dance around by the street as an advertisement.

The rehearsal started off with a long session of circle drill, followed by a good 20 minutes at set. Lets just say my arms felt like jello after that. We worked specific spots of the show that needed cleaning.

Carl gave us plenty of "good advice". More like a telling us all the bad stuff we are doing wrong and trying not to plainly say that we suck. He was a walking black hole that sucked energy out of our group.

Emily was yelled at a few times by Carl and shied away at his harsh tone, but Lincoln stayed emotionless on top of the podium. After about two hours of rehearsal, we set up for a full run of the show.

The show in total is about ten minutes long. I wouldn't say it was our best run, but we didn't train wreck which must be a good sign. Once we are dismissed to go back up to the school and get some lunch before we head out, everyone is rushing towards the front doors. I stay back to help put stuff away and pack up the trucks.

Daniel said he needed to oil is valves so he went up with the rest of the band. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Lincoln folding up the podium. I set my baritone down on a safe place in the grass before walking over to him.

"Hey, need some help? I ask him.

"No I've got it." He says and tries to pick it up but let's out a groan in pain.

"It doesn't look like you got it." I say with a chuckle and walk up to help. "Are you okay?" I ask him, lifting up one end of the podium while he grabs the other.

"Yeah just a little sore." He tells me in between gritted teeth.

"From what? Conducting causing back pain?" I tease.

"Uh no. Playing tennis." He replies, frowning as usual.

"You play tennis?" I ask surprised.

"No, but my cousins were in town this weekend and they are avid tennis players. Of course my mom forced me to okay with them. Lets just say I lost bad." Lincoln explains to me, ending with a little chuckle.

"Are you sure you should be conducting then?" I question him as we continue to carry the podium towards the truck.

"I can't let the band down...and well I couldn't let Emily take control." He says with a little smirk and I laugh. His brown

"I suppose. Just take care of yourself." I tell him, placing a hand on his shoulder after we've set the podium down.

"Thanks Eleanor." He says and I nod. We remain in silence for some time before a high pitched voice is heard.

"Lincoln!" Lillian hollers, causing bother Lincoln and I to turn and watch the blonde girl prance towards us. I roll my eyes and thankfully no one notices.

Once Lillian reaches us, she wraps her arms around Lincoln's torso, obviously trying to make me feel like a third wheel even though I'm not.

"Oh hey, Elizabeth." She says, most likely purposefully saying my name wrong.

"It's Eleanor." I correct her.

"Oh...right." She says before turning to Lincoln. "Are you ready to go up? We can have lunch together." She says, batting her perfectly touched up mascara eyelashes at Lincoln. Lincoln looked uncomfortable, his eyes darting back and forth along the ground.

"Um yeah sure. Uh thanks against Eleanor. I really appreciate the help." Lincoln thanks me awkwardly and I nod slowly.

"Yeah no problem." I reply slowly. He bites his lip before turning back to Lillian's impatient face.

"Well... see you later." He says before walking off with Lillian, leaving me alone on the field. I sigh before going back over to find my baritone and beginning to walk up to the school.

Alone.

>••<••>••<••>••<

The bus ride was uneventful. Daniel, as section leader, claimed the back for baritones/euphoniums. As the only girl, I claimed my own seat. That didn't stop Daniel from poking my head and being annoying the whole ride though.

Once we arrived at the competition, it was a mad scramble to prelims. 45 minutes later I was standing at the edge of the field, in full uniform, watching Lincoln as he strode to the front of the block.

My stomach did a flopping motion. I'd never admit it, but with Lincoln's uniform, pressed white globes, and hat he looked kind of...hot. In a twisted sort of way. That didn't hide the fact that he was a completely too serious geek though who tended to be a jerk to me.

Our show went through all 4 seasons. My direction changes were tight, I was nailing my music, and tempo was relatively stable. The freshman sousaphone I was next to was doing okay for missing the last two practices.

It happened around Autumn. The tempo clicked up to 180 and I quickly backward marched to my next dot. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a huge glint of silver. Before I knew it, I was face planting, Warren crashing onto my face, as I heard the freshman screaming. The music dissolved into Winter, and I followed suit. The only thing I saw besides blackness was snowflakes, snowflakes everywhere.

•••••••••••••

A/N:

Sorry for such the long wait. Trying to get back in routine with writing.

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