A Fine Line (3 page)

Lates,

Lucy

Although Tom had offered a spot in his pimped out mini-van, the brunette had opted to ride up to band camp in Mandy’s convertible, ready to start planting a few romantic seeds in her friend’s head. Lucy was still considering if the Guard girl would be a better fit with James or Fred, and finally ruled in favor of James, strictly for the ‘opposites attract’ angle. The girls joked the entire way up and schemed a few pranks to play on the freshmen in their respective sections. The Auxiliaries were notorious for their playful “hazing” and Lucy’s best friends weren’t about to not continue the tradition.

The bass drummer’s final band camp at Forrest Hills High School did not disappoint. By talent night, she was extremely exhausted, but in the best way possible. The halftime show was well on its way to being completed and the Line had already memorized most of the music. If everything came together, the band had a great chance at sweeping captions and maybe even winning the coveted Sweepstakes award come competition time. However, the realities of October seemed far away at this moment. Currently, Lucy, Molly, and Bronwyn were standing backstage, going over last minute preparations for their much anticipated and completely secret skit. In a show of Drumline girl solidarity, the older girls had decided to include Bronwyn in the plans during pre-band camp. The young redhead looked like she was going to hyperventilate.

Lucy looked at her, “You don’t have to do this.”

Bronwyn replied timidly, “I can do it.”

Lucy rewarded her with a wink and a smile and handed her the homemade sash and glittering Burger King crown. The bass drummer looked over at Molly and offered, “You ready?”

“You bet.”

The ladies of the Forrest Hills drumline sauntered on stage in floor length evening gowns, complete with elbow length gloves. Lucy was wearing her Prom dress, a navy blue creation in satin, complete with an elegant updo that showcased her highlights. Molly wore a beautiful pink Princess dress and both girls had coaxed Bronwyn into an emerald green dress that really set off her red hair.

Waiting for the catcalls and applause to die down, Molly addressed the entire marching band, “Well, ladies and gentleman, it seems that we need to enlist your help.”

Lucy picked up the dialogue, “See, in case you didn’t realize it, every year there’s ‘The Guy’ in the drumline. They come from a prestigious pedigree – Cameron, Brad, and Jerm. He’s The Guy, usually a senior, that everyone falls in love with and crushes on. Now, this is where you come in. As we’re in the same section and just a little too close to the action, we’re going to have each of our senior guys up, ask them a few questions and then have you vote by applause.”

From their seats in the audience, the senior (male) drummers looked completely shocked. Lucy and Molly had been working on this project all summer and hadn’t given their section mates a clue about what was coming.

Molly extended her hand gracefully, “James, if you would like to join us?”

James was a good sport and joined his fellow seniors on stage.

Molly asked, “The first question, which we’ll be asking each of the contestants, could you please describe your perfect date?”

From there, the skit moved forward and Lucy and Molly switched it up, asking the guys humorous and romantic questions as if it was some weird version of Blind Date meets American Idol. The girls agreed to save the best for last. Lucy addressed the crowd, who was now totally getting into the skit, “Last, but certainly not least, is my good friend and quint Lieutenant, Tom Finnegan!”

Tom strutted on stage in his khaki cargo shorts, random t-shirt with the phrase “Norway Jose” and a visor – a typical drummer ensemble for band camp.

Lucy asked, “You know the question, Tom, what would you do on your perfect date?”

Tom grabbed the mic and began speaking suavely, “I’d surprise my lovely date, with her favorite flowers of course, then we would get in a limo that would take us to a private jet and head for New York City to take in a Broadway show. I’d have her home by curfew and no date is complete without a kiss!”

Channeling some sort of melodramatic awards ceremony moment, Tom swept Lucy up into a melodramatic kiss onstage, complete with a dramatic dip. The band went wild. Lucy, who had never actually kissed Tom, played along for the crowd and kissed him right back. He was no Sam, but it was still fun to be the center of attention like this. The rest of the drumline seniors were too shocked to do much of anything besides laugh, cheer, and take pictures. Breathlessly, Lucy told the crowd, “If we can now begin the voting process. Remember, please cheer loudly for who you think is the next ‘Guy.’”

It was no surprise when Tom was easily voted the “Guy” of the Line. Bronwyn walked over and presented Tom with his sash and crown, which he immediately put on and took a celebratory strut around the stage.

Molly ended the memorable skit by saying, “And don’t forget, next year you have to decide between Mark, Lance, or our newest recruit, J.D.!”

Lucy, Molly, the male seniors, and Bronwyn all were in hysterics as they walked off the stage.

Billy smiled and said, “I totally did not see that coming.”

Lucy punched Tom lightly on the shoulder, who responded innocently, “What was that for?”

“I’m sure you know I’m dating someone.”

Tom grinned and replied, “Hey – it worked, didn’t it?”

Ewan nudged his friend, “I totally wish I had thought of that!”

Nathan asked, “Is there something Sam should know about?”

Lucy rolled her eyes and said honestly, “Me? Tom? C’mon, that was just for fun! It was like kissing my brother.”

The second to last night of band camp was Senior Night and tradition dictated that the members of the graduating class arrive to the festivities in togas. Lucy was smiling as she got dressed, remembering all the former upperclassmen that had come before her. She, Mandy, and Gina had searched far and wide for the perfect sheets to make their togas out of over the summer. At a local thrift store they had managed to find Strawberry Shortcake (for strawberry blonde Mandy, of course), pastel purple for Gina (her favorite color) and vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle sheets for Lucy. They completed their stylish ensembles with fitting footwear – Adidas flip flops for Lucy, sequined sandals for Gina and Birkenstocks for Mandy. On their heads – only the choicest in traditional senior head wear – golden Burger King Crowns.

During this night, activities centered around giving out humorous captions to each member of the senior class. Mr. Izzo, the band director, gave a little speech about each senior and then presented them with the award. He was midway through the group when he announced, "This senior came to us a shy freshman, but not shy enough to tell me exactly which section she was going to be in. From the beginning, everywhere I looked she was hanging around not one, but many young men. Of course, it’s not like she can help it – as the majority of her section is made up of them! So, it is with great pride that I give Lieutenant Lucy Karate, honorary ‘The Dude’ status."

Lucy, a fan of The Big Lebowski, proudly received her caption, which the creative band parents had made in the form of a tattered bath robe.

The following night was the band camp dance and Lucy’s matchmaking plans were coming to fruition. She had been nudging James in Mandy’s direction for some time and was happy to see the senior snare would be escorting her friend to the dance. Lucy looked wistfully at her friends as they chatted happily about their “dates” for the evening. The brunette remembered last year when she had kept her fingers crossed that Nevada (an ex-something and former cymbal player) would ask her for just one dance and had been over the moon when he actually had. Lucy smiled as she remembered how excited she had been by a slow dance. It hadn’t been long after that when she had met rival school hottie Sam and the utter chaos of her junior year had begun.

Having already dressed up one night during the exhausting week, Lucy didn’t feel like putting a lot of effort into her clothes for the evening. She decided to walk the long way to the dance, calling behind her, “I’ll see you girls over there.”

A few minutes later, on the steps of the women’s dorm, Lucy spotted Bronwyn and took a seat next to the little Front Line member, “Are you going to the dance?”

The little redhead shrugged. Lucy wanted to roll her eyes at the obvious apathy, but knew that this girl needed help. She continued, “So, um, thanks for your help the other night.”

“It was nothing.”

“How was your first week at band camp?”

“Fine.”

“Do you like the show?”

Bronwyn brightened considerably and answered, “Yeah, it’s pretty awesome. It’s so different than being in middle school.”

Lucy was glad there was finally something they could talk about. She complimented the younger girl, “Molly says you’re doing a great job with it.”

Bronwyn looked away and said, “I’m okay.”

Lucy let the self deprecating comment pass and asked, “Met any boys you like this week?”

At that moment, Drew, the junior Drum major, walked by with an attractive Auxiliary girl on his arm, and Bronwyn blushed. She sighed, “No.”

Lucy smiled, “Me either.”

The next morning, Lucy figured she had gotten an average of about five hours of sleep a night for the week, but it didn’t matter. She got a familiar rush when Billy tapped out quarter notes and the band lined up in the opening set. All the hours and sweating were worth something. With her eyes on Fred, Lucy idly wondered where this season would end…

If this is the first time we’re running the show, where will we be the when we run it the last time it happens.

* * *

CHAPTER THREE: “Hole-y bass drums, Batman!”

“Well, girls, I can’t believe it’s over.”

Oakley sunglasses securely in place, Lucy was riding home from her last band camp with her two best friends. They were taking the “scenic route” home because a) no one had really bothered to look at the directions because b) they were completely exhausted from the previous week. A strange mix of both anticipation for the season ahead and sadness that their last band camp had passed filled the car.

Mandy turned down the radio and replied, “I think it was the best one ever.”

Gina caught Lucy’s eye in the rearview mirror and winked, “Yeah, why’s that?”

“I just never thought of James like that, you know?”

Lucy nudged her friend, “Like what? Is there something you should tell us?”

“I guess we’re just sort of dating, that’s all.”

Gina said, “Well, that takes care of the two of us, but Lucy, what exactly are you and Sam? What’s the deal?”

Lucy looked at the passing scenery for a moment before answering, “I wish I had a good answer to that. It’s so complicated.”

Mandy asked, “Complicated like, long distance relationship complicated? Or complicated, like you’re not sure if you’re actually still dating complicated?”

Lucy spotted a gas station and decided to evade the very question she had been asking herself all week, “Hey, how are we doing on gas?”

Gina checked the tank and nodded, “Good catch, Luce.”

They pulled over at a gas station for some refueling. Gina pumped the gas, while Mandy went inside for some supplies (Diet Cherry Cokes, Sun Chips, and Swedish Fish). Lucy took the moment to give Sam a quick call. He picked up on the first ring and she asked, “What’s up?”

“Hey! Just who I was about to call. How’s the show looking?”

She could hear him smiling on the other end, which put a grin on her own face, “Good. I’m just about to pass out from lack of sleep, but that’s entirely normal. How’s dorm life?”

“So far, so good. My roommate smells a little, but no complaints. Last night we went to this awesome party and got—”

Lucy, who didn’t want to hear about an amazing party that she had not attended, saw Mandy, and said, “Hey, I gotta go, I’ll call you tonight?”

Sam stopped mid-sentence, “Sounds good.”

Lucy waited a beat before automatically saying, “I love you, Sam.”

“Love you too, Luce.”

Lucy hung up the phone with a sigh. She didn’t know if it was mostly in her head or just her overall depressed mood from being done with band camp, but she was completely second guessing her “relationship” with Sam. She wanted him to have a great time away at school and do all the fun things that were involved in college life, but where did she fit into that picture? They were in this weird friends-but-more-than-friends place that, on paper at least, had made sense, but now, in the real world? He was still the first person she would call about everything…

What happens if he calls you with girl problems?

I would hang up the phone.

Seriously, you’re not making things any easier on yourself…

How am I just supposed to shut off feelings I have for him?

Well, the situation could be reversed – you might be calling him for boy advice.