A Fine Line (16 page)

The girls walked into a nearby restroom and Lucy looked in the mirror. She was positively glowing. Her lips were puffy, her cheeks were rosy and her eyes were bright.

I wonder if Wes looks the same way…

You’ll see him later tonight and you can check in then. Maybe your girls want to know that Mr. Mallinson is going to visit.

Lucy bit her lip and announced, “So, girls, there comes a time in everyone’s life…”

While Lucy was examining herself in the mirror, Wes was continuing his stroll around the campus. Lost in his thoughts, he was surprised when he literally ran into Molly.

“Um, hi there.” Wes raked a nervous hand through his hair.

“Wes? Hey, what are you doing here?” Molly twirled her own hair nervously.

“Well, Lucy’s car broke down and she needed a ride up…”

“Oh, so are you going to stay and watch the show?” Molly asked awkwardly.

“Um, I was thinking about it.”

Then I’m going to sneak into Lucy’s room and spend the night with her, what do you think about that?

“Oh, that’s nice.”

Wes couldn’t tell if Molly’s tone was expectant or hopeful or something else entirely. As they had really only been on one date, that didn’t necessarily constitute a relationship, but the situation was borderline stressful. In the high school universe, one date usually meant the intention of something more. So, making out with a girl’s friend in your car after even one date with said girl’s friend could potentially lead to a major conflict. Wes tried to end the conversation before he said something that really got him in trouble, “So, I guess I’ll see you on Monday.”

Molly smiled, “Well, if you get a chance to watch, come say hi after we’re done.”

“I will.”

“So, what do you think?”

Mandy and Gina looked at each other, and the same devilish smiles that had been on their faces earlier, appeared again.

Mandy commented, “You realize if we get away with this, we will be Flyers legends?”

Lucy responded, “The way I figure is that with the competitions already over, the only person who has something to lose is me, but I really don’t think we’ll be caught.”

Gina nodded and said, “Then, welcome Mr. Mallinson! Let Operation Union Jack commence!”

Caught up with the exciting plans for the evening, Lucy forgot to ask her friends advice regarding Molly.

A few minutes later, Henry gathered all his drummers and addressed them, “Well, gang, it’s been a great four seasons with you seniors and I hope that we end tonight on a high note. I know some of the other Instructors here and I don’t want to get your hopes up, but think we have a real chance at surprising a few people. If our licks are clean and our drill is tight, then Billy might be walking out to accept the High Percussion trophy before the evening is out.”

He paused, and Lucy looked around, wondering how it seemed that just yesterday she had been nervously awaiting her first competition as a member of the front line. Henry continued, “I guess I’m also feeling a little nostalgic tonight because you are the first class that I’ve seen come up from freshman and make it all the way to seniors. I’m very proud of every single one of you and I know we’re going to go out there today and show them how the Forrest Hills drumline gets things done!”

A cheer went up and the Line marched down to the field. So excited by earlier events with Wes and Henry’s rousing speech, it didn’t occur to Lucy that this was her very last competition with the entire band. She was too wrapped up in joking, laughing, and simply being a part of her section. Although Forrest Hills was used to marching out last or at the very least, second to last, at this competition they were slotted in the fifth to last position. It didn’t have to be mentioned that the band had to make an impact that would last for four more performances or that every judge had seen a Big Band show before.

The announcer came on over the loudspeaker, “Please help me welcome the Forrest Hills High School Marching Flyers! The band is under the direction of…”

With that, Fred and Drew gave the command to march out onto the field. Once in place, and at perfect attention, Lucy felt familiar chills running down her arms. Her green eyes scanned and locked on certain images that would stay with her long after the season was over.

Fred, looking confident and ready in his Drum major uniform.

Mandy, tall and proud – her flag locked and ready, fluttering gracefully in the breeze.

Gina, in her sparkling feature twirler uniform, a vague look of concentration in her eyes.

Tom, with a cocky grin and non-marching uniform sticking out from the rest of his section.

Her bass line, standing at perfect attention with matching intense expressions on their faces.

Wes looked down from the stands at the gathered Forrest Hills marching band. He was going to watch the show from the perfect vantage point – in the middle of the crowded bleachers towards the top. With the tap from a snare drum, the Flyers marched out. Wes found he was holding his breath in anticipation. He couldn’t really tell the difference between the bands, but he was learning what he should start to look for.

The announcer finished his announcements for the band and said stoically, “Drum majors, is your band ready to take the field for competition?”

Fred and Drew slowly clapped and brought the band to attention, “Band, ten hut!”

“HUT!!!!”

Every person in the band responded in unison and the single word echoed through the stadium. Drew and Fred completed their salute and Fred walked over to the podium. There was silence on the field. Fred lifted his hands and a collective breath was drawn by the wind players. When Fred’s hands came down signaling the first down beat – one – the show took off. The melodies poured out of the band members’ instruments. Drill was precisely followed.

Lucy was so focused on the performance that suddenly it was time for her and Tom’s solo choreography. She quickly took off her bass drum and let the music and Tom’s lead take her away. Not expecting anything like what was happening on the field, the audience members went crazy. When Lucy’s feet left the ground for their first aerial stunt, the crowd went even wilder and by the time Tom lowered her in a dip at the end of the song, everyone in the stands was on their feet. With matching smiles, Lucy quickly curtsied and Tom bowed for the judges, then they were both off and running and throwing on their drums and quickly, but in step, marching to get back to their sections.

By the end of the performance, Wes realized his feet had been tapping along with the sounds of the big band music. As the Forrest Hills marching band made their way off the field and into the stands, he fought his way down to congratulate…

Who? Molly or Lucy?

Both?

The group was quickly seated and quiet, as the next band was about to perform. Lucy was whispering to the basses about the show when she felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw a familiar face smiling at her.

“Enjoy the show?” she asked.

* * *

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Room 312

Wes locked his eyes on Lucy’s and replied, “I liked it fine.”

It was a very intense answer for such a simple question. Neither Wes nor Lucy really needed words for the emotions they were trying to convey.

Mark, sitting next to Lucy and very aware of her moods, smirked and found himself biting back an inappropriate comment, happy to see his section leader had finally found someone she could be this weirdly romantic with – even if it was a football player.

Lucy patted a small piece of concrete next to her and Wes wordlessly fit in between the basses. There were many things Lucy wanted to talk about with Wes, but none of them were appropriate conversation for in front of her section. On the field, the competing band was called to attention and everyone in the Forrest Hills band went quiet. Lucy was glad for a moment to catch her thoughts.

Thank goodness Molly’s not here…

Like any good Front Line section leader, Molly was overseeing the safe transport of the instruments back to the equipment truck. Throughout the performance, Lucy’s entire being was focused on Wes sitting next to her. She had always been a little tense around him, but since their intense kiss, she felt like she might burst if he actually touched her. At the end of the show, the band clapped enthusiastically.

Lucy shot up out of her seat, and looking at Wes, said forcefully, “I’ll be back in a few.”

The football player immediately understood he was supposed to follow her lead. Ponytail swishing, Lucy walked up the stairs. Mark and Wes watched her go, smiles on their faces.

As soon as Lucy was out of eyesight, Mark’s face clouded over and he asked Wes gruffly, “What exactly are your intentions?”

Wes looked skeptically at the shorter underclassmen, whose arms were crossed and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Don’t pull that polite British crap with me. It may work on the girls, but from the outside it looks like you have an interest in two of the most important women in my life and I want to know your intentions.”

Wes didn’t necessarily like Mark’s technique, but he had to respect it, “It’s complicated.”

“Well, you better uncomplicate it soon, understood?”

Wes nodded, wondering if, in an alternate universe, Mark was playing defensive tackle for the Forrest Hills team.

Mark’s face unclouded and he smiled, “Then go do what you think is right.”

Wes scrambled up the stairs to try and catch up to Lucy, which proved to be easier than he originally thought. As half of the featured swing dance pair of Forrest Hills’s show, she had plenty of people coming up and congratulating her. Wes pushed his way through the crowd, grabbed her hand and led her to the very top of the stadium, drawing some very interested stares from the smaller band they had infiltrated.

As soon as they sat down, Lucy asked, “What are we going to tell Molly?”

“The truth, I guess.” Wes was somewhat distracted, as Lucy had not yet let go of his hand.

“How do you think she’ll take it?”

“Not sure.”

“When do you want to tell her?”

“On Monday.”

“What if she finds out before then?”

“She won’t.”

“Maybe you should stay out of the way until we get to the hotel.”

Being this close to Wes, after he had been out of reach for so long, was almost more than Lucy could take. Seeing the frustrated and confused look on Wes’s face, the brunette continued, “It’s just when I’m around you…”

Understanding what she was saying and looking down at their entwined hands, Wes grinned and said, “Ditto. Call me when you get settled and good luck!”

Lucy squeezed his hand and made it back down to where the band was seated. By the time she made it, the competition was down to the final two bands. Talking quietly, she and Mark discussed (i.e. picked apart) the other Lines. The Forrest Hills show was just as clean and difficult as any of the top performers. The scores would be close. Lucy tried to remind herself and her section that they were the new kids on the block this year and the judges might not respect that.

Finally, it was time for the bands to collect on the field for awards. Lucy looked over her shoulder at the basses, returning their smiles. Mark called after her, “Don’t come back unless you’ve got a trophy in your hand!”

Proving that the percussionists weren’t a bunch of uncivilized idiots, Billy offered his arm to Molly and Tom followed suit with Lucy as they made their way on the field. Donovan had elected to stay back and keep an eye on the section. The quartet may have looked cute, but their strides said something different entirely. It had taken four years to perfect, but Lucy’s walk would never be confused with most girls her age. She could pick out the other drummers as they walked out with their bands – it was a combination of shoulders squared under a carrier meeting supreme confidence and aggression.

The Forrest Hills leadership amassed near the fifty-yard line and the announcer began calling out the placements, working his way up through the smaller bands to the large band category. It was enough time to get Lucy nervous. The hours of practice, the years she had committed to the organization, it was all over after tonight. As results were called, no one in the band was surprised when they were awarded all Superior ratings.

As if to stretch everyone’s nerves even further, the announcer came over the loudspeaker, “Before awarding the Sweepstakes trophy, we would first like to give out trophies to award high honors for each section.”

“For outstanding achievement in the Drum major category…”

“For outstanding achievement in Brass playing…”

“For outstanding achievement in Woodwind technique…”

“For outstanding achievement in the Majorette section…”

“For outstanding achievement in Color Guard…”

By the time the announcer had reached the Percussion caption, Forrest Hills had picked up third place trophies for the Brass and Drum majors, second place in Woodwind and Guard, and first place for the Majorettes. It was starting to dawn on the Forrest Hills marching band members that they had an actual chance at winning Sweepstakes.