A Fine Line (2 page)

Lucy was glad he couldn’t see her cheeks as she blushed at his answer.

Two weeks later, clad in gray cotton shorts, a black tank top and signature Oakley sunglasses, Lucy Karate strolled into the familiar band room in a contemplative mood. It was nearing the end of her junior year and Prom and Graduation were right around the corner. She would be sad to see the seniors leave – one South Washington HS senior in particular – but was glad to start turning her thoughts again to all things marching band. It was like a part of her that was missing had returned. Lucy wandered into the percussion room and ran a hand over her bass drum, smiling and wondering what kind of adventures this season – her last – would hold. Her attention was distracted by an unknown redhead, who, based on the rhythms she was playing on the practice pad, possessed obvious percussive talent. Lucy waved at Molly, a fellow upcoming senior, and nodded in the direction of the petite girl with freckles, “Who’s that?”

“That would be Bronwyn Flueger. She’s in my section,” answered Molly.

The bass drummer walked up to the new girl, “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lucy.”

Lucy reached her hand out to shake Bronwyn’s hand. Bronwyn, intimidated, limply responded.

“That’s not how drumline girls shake hands. Now, give me a real shake!”

Bronwyn shook again and gave the same squeeze Lucy did.

“Atta girl.”

At that moment Lucy was bodily picked up and slung over some guy’s shoulder and carried into the band room. A wide smile on her face, Lucy yelled out, “Tom!”

Molly grinned as she watched the two of them go. She responded to Bronwyn’s bewildered look, “That was Tom, the quint Lieutenant. Don’t worry, I promise it will all make sense one day. Now, let’s see if we can find the mallet box and gather the rest of the Pitlings.”

The following day, Lucy finished stretching and pulled out her bass drum. She joined Molly on the walk outside to where the Line was gathering. Hefting her drum on one shoulder, Lucy groaned a little under the weight of it. She asked, “How’s the Pit looking this year?”

Molly considered a moment before replying, “Actually pretty decent. I mean, considering it’s the second day and all.”

“How’s the girl? Is she cool?”

Molly knew what Lucy was really asking. For their collective years on the drumline, the girls had been unique individuals – set apart not only by being female in a predominantly male section – but also by their distinctive personalities. It went without saying both girls wanted it to stay that way. Bronwyn represented their legacy, and Molly and Lucy would do anything to make sure it was a good one.

“I’m not going to lie to you, she’s way shy.

“We can work on that. What about her chops?”

“That’s the thing. As far as I can tell so far, she’s AMAZING!”

“Hmm,” Lucy tapped a finger on her lips and continued, “I wonder what’s holding her back?”

“No idea, if I had skills like that, I’d be bragging to everyone.”

As they walked outside, Lucy looked across the pavement at the rest of the marching band. While the Forrest Hills Warm-Up Week was technically for officer wannabes and upcoming freshman, many sections took advantage of the time to start practicing and getting back into the old competitive spirit. As one of the shoe-ins for Guard Co-Captain, Lucy smiled proudly at her friend Mandy. She felt the same pride watching Fred, back for his second season as Drum major. He was putting Drew, an upcoming junior, through his paces as the new Drum major.

Speaking of leadership…

With the exception of one section, the drumline had already worked out who its section leaders were going to be. With long honey blonde hair and supreme mallet technique, Molly was the undisputed Queen of all matters Front Line. Her laid back attitude was well suited to helping the underclassmen figure out their place on the Line. Without much argument or drama from anywhere, Billy would take his place as this year’s Captain as well as leading the snares. Tom, as only one of two members returning to the quints, who also had the most seniority and best technique, was named tenor Lieutenant. A fellow senior, Donovan, who had played cymbals last year, would be stepping up to take charge…which left her section, the bass line, without a leader. Tryouts had finalized the bass line to include herself, Mark, and Jared from the previous season, and had added underclassmen Thomas and Kevin respectively. Lucy was happy her former section mates Lance had made snare, and Nathan was seeing success on quints. Jared, in all his apathetic wisdom, was not overtly interested in leading the section, leaving hyper-competitive Lucy and Mark to duke it out. In all honesty, in the off-season, Lucy and Mark’s feelings towards one another had mellowed considerably, but tryouts had brought back the old love/hate relationship that was well known throughout the entire Line.

Molly asked, “Have you and Mark worked things out yet?”

Lucy rolled her eyes, “No! I swear he is just doing this to piss me off. I’ve already explained to him that he has another year.”

“No dice?”

“None.”

“Maybe you guys should just flip a coin?”

Lucy sighed, “I’m thinking that’s what it’s going to come down to.”

Continuing their percussion discussion, Molly queried, “How’s the new guy?”

Although there were a lot of new players and faces on the Line this year, Lucy knew she was referring to one in particular, a transfer student with something, it seemed, permanently up his ass, named J.D. Strauss. She replied, “Well, he can play or else Henry wouldn’t have put him on the snare line, but he can’t seem to get over his past Line. Every other sentence starts with, ‘Well, this is how we did it on my old Line.’ It’s like dude, you’re on this Line now, so give it a rest.”

Molly smiled, “Well, at least he’s fun to look at.”

Lucy laughed along with her friend; it was true. J.D. was what a lot of girls would consider cute, but Lucy couldn’t picture herself with someone so tense and uptight.

Molly continued, “I have to go round up the kids. Catch you after practice?”

“Sounds great.”

Lucy placed her drum stand on the ground, as Billy approached her, “You guys any closer on a Lieutenant yet?”

Lucy shook her head and answered, “I have to be sneaky.”

“Why is that?”

“Mark has to be convinced that he doesn’t want it. Right now, the only reason he wants it is because I do too.”

Billy grinned and said, “Are you considering reverse psychology?”

“Precisely what I was thinking.”

As first bass, Mark was soon lining up in front of Lucy. She took a deep breath, said a silent prayer that her stupid idea would work, and affected the most bored voice possible, “So Mark, I was thinking about the whole Lieutenant thing and I think you should just do it.”

Mark asked skeptically, “Really? Just like that? Out of the kindness of your heart?”

“Something like that.”

“What’s the real reason?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Whatever.”

The new third and fourth basses joined the line up. Both cymbal members last year, Kevin and Thomas had only heard of the legendary fighting between Mark and Lucy and eyed the pair suspiciously.

Lucy nudged Mark, “What if we vote?”

“Now you want to be Lieutenant again?”

“Hmph.”

Billy nodded at his drummers to begin the warm up, and started Eight on a Hand at a slow tempo.

Mark whispered, “Is your friend Gina seeing anyone?”

Lucy smirked. She couldn’t think of a more mismatched couple than straight-A, first chair, feature majorette Gina and slacker “I’m God’s gift to women” Mark DeMatteo.

If it will get me Lieutenant…

You’re going to owe Gina a big one.

I’m sure she’ll understand.

“She’s single.”

Gina and Jonathan’s relationship had ended dramatically on the spring band trip to Florida a few weeks earlier. Lucy suspected Gina might be ready to get back in the game.

“If you set me up on a date with her, you can be Lieutenant.”

Lucy was momentarily stunned; she hadn’t thought it would be so easy. She asked warily, “Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

Lucy couldn’t resist adding, “What’s wrong? Macho Mark can’t get a date on his own?”

“Lucy…” Mark said in a warning tone.

“I’m kidding. Consider yourself set up.”

“Thanks, Lieutenant.”

Billy glared at them and both bass drummers were instantly quiet.

* * *

CHAPTER TWO: The Guy

Sam and Lucy were ending their last official date before the former South Washington snare drummer left for college. Lucy was upset, but not as upset as she thought she would be. Since graduation almost three months ago, although she didn’t want to admit it, they had been growing steadily apart. Still, there was something nagging Lucy’s subconscious.

Without Sam…you’ll be alone.

As shallow as it was to admit, Lucy really liked being one half of something. Liked having strong arms around her. Liked having eyes light up when he saw her. Liked having someone to kiss goodnight.

Does it matter that it’s Sam?

Of course it matters. Are you implying that it could be anyone?

Well, you didn’t sound too picky.

Sam interrupted her thoughts by cupping Lucy’s chin, “So, we’ve been dancing around this all summer. What exactly are we, Lucy Karate?”

Lucy looked away from the familiar dark blue eyes and answered, “I don’t want to hold you back from anything.”

“It’s not like that, Luce, I don’t want to be with anyone else.”

“How can you say that when you haven’t even left yet?”

“Some things you know.”

Lucy sighed and said, “I’m just saying, it’s hard to talk about things that haven’t happened. College and high school are two totally different things.”

Sam paused a moment before commenting, “So, we’re semi-together?”

“As definitions go, that sounds good enough to me.”

Dear Diary,

I can’t believe my senior year is here, well, almost here. For all purposes, tomorrow is the beginning of senior year. Tomorrow is the first day of band camp, which doesn’t seem real. You wait and wait and wait and then suddenly you’re a senior and it’s your last season. I’m really sorry to say good-bye to summer, because this one has been a total blast…and it’s also been keeping me busy. I’ve been trying my best to really and finally say goodbye to Sam. Then yesterday, it actually happened.

He left for school yesterday and so far all I really feel is numb. I want to be happy for him, but it still completely sucks to be left behind. As hopeful as I am that we’re going to stay together, I’m glad we’re both approaching this thing as realistically as possible. Long distance relationships are tough. There’s a lot of missing each other and missing out. However, before you write me off as completely devoid of romantic feelings, Sam and I have decided kind of see how things go one day at a time.

Is this the smartest decision I’ve ever made? Probably not. On the other hand, it’s not like there’s anyone I’m going to be falling into the arms of anyone any time soon. In fact, I’m trying for just the opposite. After my success with the still (!) strangely happy couple of Gina and Mark, I’m going to be playing a bit of Cupid as we head to band camp. I have some definite couples in mind…

Furthermore, in case I didn’t mention it, I am officially a Lieutenant on the Forrest Hills HS drumline. Not too bad for an oboist, I think. After everything was said and done, so far Mark has actually stuck to his guns about respecting and accepting me as Lieutenant. I’m already dreaming about going out on the field for competitions and on the court for Indoor! I can’t wait!

Mandy and I worked at Da Vinci’s again. It was a struggle to waste our pre-senior hours, but we’re all saving for an awesome Spring Break trip. Not sure though, my funds may have to go towards an emergency trip to see Sam.

Anyway, as we head into band camp, I think about my friends and where we all started four years ago…how we didn’t know anything about anyone and… Okay, I won’t go all sentimental just yet. Instead, I’ll tell you about the show. We’re finally doing a Big Band show including: “Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing),” “Bei Mir Mis Du Shoen”, and “It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).” Can you say bass drum awesomeness? We got a sneak peek of the book Henry wrote and it is technically amazing! The drum break is, as always, nice and long with plenty of time to show off our mad chops.

Also, one last thing before I have to go really finish packing. Besides playing Cupid, I have another project for this season and her name is Bronwyn Flueger. Drumline Girl #3 is soooooooo unbelievably shy. My heart totally goes out to her. I think it may be too much to try and find her a boyfriend, but it’s never to early to start building some confidence. Who knows? She may be the future Captain of this Line.