The Line (13 page)

Lucy knew it was really none of their business, but since the drumline was just a big strange incestuous family anyway, they would all have an opinion. She cringed to think what they would all think if they all knew she was dating the opposing line’s captain. The reputation and friendships she had worked so hard on would definitely be put in jeopardy. Picking up her pen once again, she began writing.

Sam is obviously ready to put a lot on the line (pun intended) by dating me. He would have to deal with the fallout from his own Line as well. Doesn’t that prove anything? What would Nevada do if this situation was reversed? I get that Sam doesn’t care as much about his reputation as Nevada does. I guess we’ll see how this week plays out.

Melodramatically yours,

Lucy

A pensive Lucy walked into percussion class on Monday, noting the good mood from Saturday was still in effect. During the first part of class the drummers sat and listened to the judges tapes from the competition. They were mostly good comments with some specific spots for each section to work on. Overall, Jerm was very happy with his Line’s performance. As the final tape came to a finish, he got up and addressed the group, “Now listen, guys, we have to keep it up, because S.W. is going to be there again this weekend and it’s going to be just as close. During sectionals I need everyone to really concentrate on their part of the show. Do what you can to be more uniform and sound like one drum. Add cool visuals, do whatever it takes to make your part better. I’ll see everyone after school.”

Lucy walked to her next class. She was hurt, but not surprised when Nevada didn’t join her.

After school, sectionals were a great distraction for Lucy. Being on the bass line was different than any of the other sections. It was not about sounding like one drum, but really listening and finding your distinct place within the five notes. In addition to perfecting their part, the boys on the bass line were a great diversion from the decision she had made and needed to execute. Somewhere during the day, between Nevada’s ignoring her and thinking about what she really wanted, Lucy figured out who she wanted to exclusively date.

Too soon, sectionals were over and the Line was putting their instruments away. Lucy looked for a moment to get Nevada’s attention, but he had somehow managed to get out of the percussion room without her seeing. She found herself running out to catch Nevada at his car.

She shouted, “Nevada!”

He turned around and answered, “Yes?”

Lucy, out of breath, caught up to him and panted, “I’ve made a decision about the whole exclusive thing.”

That statement definitely got his attention. He crossed his arms and asked, “And?”

Lucy gulped and the words just started pouring out, “Well, the thing is—”

Nevada had delivered this line enough times to know what was coming; his heart sank, but he toughed up, and answered, “Listen. I get it. Apparently this guy at South is worth throwing away all we did and had—” Nevada’s voice did a very uncharacteristic crack but he pulled it together to say goodbye, “So, anyway, I hope he’s worth it. Bye, Lucy.”

Nevada got in his car, slamming the door.

Lucy didn’t make a move to stop him and blinked rapidly. She didn’t know how she pictured the conversation going, but she never expected this outcome. She wanted to remain friends with Nevada and obviously that outcome wasn’t going to be in the cards for a while. Watched his car drive away, Lucy commented, “I guess that means you’re not going to be my date to Homecoming.”

While she knew Nevada was completely justified in wanting his space, this fact was somehow more depressing than anything else. Having missed out on the social event of the fall semester for both her freshman and sophomore years, Lucy had so desperately wanted to simply go with a boy that liked her and dress up and have a good time. Trying to convince herself she could somehow smuggle Sam in without anyone knowing, she moped over to her car. Tom was parked next to her and loading his quints into his mini-van. He had been taking them home as much as possible to practice for the upcoming individual competitions at Indoor. Noting his friend’s mood, he asked, “Hey Luce – what’s wrong?”

“Oh Tom,” was all Lucy managed to get out before she broke down in tears. She sat down heavily on the curb and sniffled loudly. Tom had two sisters of his own and knew this might take awhile. He sat down next to Lucy and put his arm around her, rubbing her back as she cried. As the tears subsided, Tom smiled and commented, “That’s my girl. Now, Lucy, what in the hell is wrong with you? All I could get out of your incoherent sobbing was something about Nevada and Sam? You weren’t making a lot of sense.”

“Promise you’ll keep this to yourself?”

“You got it.”

Lucy took a deep breath, blew her nose, and said, “Here’s the thing. Before school started, I met this great guy and it turns out this great guy just so happens to be the captain of South’s drumline. At the same time, Nevada finally decides he likes me and so I date the two guys the same time. Both want me to date them exclusively. So I picked one.”

Tom sat a moment, not saying anything. Lucy was worried. It wasn’t like Tom to be quiet for this long. Tapping his hands on his knee in thought, he finally replied, “Well, Luce, you probably already know this, but when this story all gets out, Jerm is actually going to kill you. And if you didn’t tell Nevada who exactly you were with…well, I just hope he never finds out.”

Lucy threw up her hands and answered, “I know, I know! I hated hurting Nevada and can you imagine how crushed he would’ve been I told him, ‘Oh Nevada, by the way, you’re great and all, but I like the S.W. captain better than you?'”

“You can’t pick who you like, but you should’ve just been honest from the beginning.” Tom said.

“I know that now,” said Lucy quietly.

Tom was quiet for a minute and then he started laughing hysterically. Lucy was outraged and demanded, “What are you laughing at?! I’ve been crying my heart out over here!”

“I was just thinking that only you, Lucy Karate, could get herself into this kind of mess.”

“Thanks, Tom, you’re a real buddy.” Lucy thought a moment and then asked, “So, you really don’t care that I’m dating our rival Line’s captain?”

“So, I know you’ve wanted to date someone for a long time, but I guess I’d have to see you two together to make sure he was good enough for you. However, if it was worth breaking up with Nevada over and possibly crossing the Line over, he must be a pretty cool dude.”

“You don’t know how much that means to me.”

Tom got up and pulled his friend with him, and asked, “So, we’re all good here?”

“Yes. I probably don’t say it enough, but thanks for always being there for me.”

“That’s what friends are for.” Tom returned her smile and got in his car.

Feeling better, Lucy got in her own vehicle and called Sam, who answered on the first ring, “Hey you, what’s up? We just got done with practice.”

“Wow, you’re really working everyone late. We finished a half hour ago.”

“Yeah, well there’s this tough drumline with a really hot bass drum and we have to beat them this weekend.”

Lucy grinned at the compliment and said, “I’ll bet. Listen, do you think we could meet up tonight?”

“Sure. Since I bet you’re as hot and smelly as I am, want to catch a late breakfast at WaHo?”

“The most important meal of the day? How could I miss it? I’ll meet you there in a few.”

“No primping or changing – I want to see what Forrest Hills looks like after a practice.”

“I promise you’ll get me just as I am. Believe me, I’m too tired to make an effort.”

“See you there.”

En route, Lucy called her parents to let them know she wouldn’t be home for dinner. Pulling into the familiar parking lot, her emotions were pretty much shot when she pulled up to Waffle House. Not seeing Sam’s PT Cruiser, she went in and got a table in the back. Just when she thought Sam wasn’t going to show, he walked up. Green eyes glanced up to see the snare drummer’s familiar tall, muscular frame in a fitted white shirt make his way through the restaurant towards her. At that moment, Lucy knew she made the right decision. Her face lit up and there was nothing she could do to stop it. Her smile was reflected in Sam’s face. She leaped up to hug him. After a strong (and entirely necessary) hug, Sam released Lucy and took a step back to look at her, commenting, “You know, I never get a chance to see how you look at practice,” Sam let out a low whistle, “It’s no wonder you’re the sweetheart of Forrest Hills’s drumline.”

Lucy was wearing gray cheerleader shorts rolled up and her drumline shirt from last year with Adidas flip flops. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail and tucked behind a visor. Lucy looked down at herself and then back at Sam, asking skeptically, “You sure you haven’t been spending too much time in the sun?”

“I just like what I see, that’s all,” Sam’s serious voice betrayed the initial light comment as they slid into the back booth.

Lucy picked up on it, of course. Just like Nevada, the South senior wanted to know what her decision was. Lucy didn’t want to delay her response, and said, “So Sam, you’re probably wondering why I called you.”

“You missed me so much from yesterday that you just couldn’t take it and had to see me?” Sam’s voice sounded a little deeper than usual; obviously he thought Lucy had brought him here to break up with him.

“Well, I always miss you, but Sam, I thought a lot about what you said and—”

Sam interrupted, “I never should’ve forced you to make a decision. Obviously, I wasn’t going to get picked.” He continued rambling, “I mean, why would you choose the guy you never see and the captain of your rival drumline?”

Lucy shook her head and continued, “Hmm, that’s weird, because even after all those things, I still did pick you.”

Sam’s ears must’ve not been working; his mind was still wondering why he had ever forced Lucy to choose between him and Nevada, so he asked, “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“I pick you, Sam Powell.”

Sam whooped and all the restaurant patrons turned around to give the back corner booth a strange look. Sam uncharacteristically flushed and asked, “Why?”

Lucy had a hard time meeting his intense gaze. She fiddled with her cutlery and replied, “You liked me from the beginning and you continued to like me even after I lied to you and even though I’m on your opposing line. I don’t know…no guy has ever been like that with me. They always notice my friends first and me later, but with you it was different.”

Sam grinned at Lucy from across the booth and then asked, “Have you informed Nevada of your preference?”

“I have.”

“How did he take it?”

“Not as well as I would’ve hoped.”

Sam knew Lucy had been as honest as telling the cymbal player she was dating someone from South. He asked, “So, I guess it’s too soon to be out in the open?”

Lucy answered with a question of her own, “How would your Line take it?”

“Probably better than yours. Your being involved with Nevada certainly doesn’t make things any easier.”

Lucy nodded in agreement, then said, “At least we can still go to your Homecoming…”

“And I am really looking forward to that.” Sam reached across the table and put a finger under her chin, “Look, Lucy, I know it can’t be easy, sneaking around your Line, but we’ll make it worth it.”

“I know.”

They finished eating, talking about their performances, and walked out to their cars. Sam pulled Lucy into a tight embrace and murmured, “So, I guess I’ll see you on Saturday?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Lucy looked up into Sam’s twinkling blue eyes and was momentarily overwhelmed by the warmth and love that was coming from them and knew she had made the right choice.

As if to solidify those feelings, Sam leaned down and kissed Lucy softly. From the far side of the parking lot, someone else witnessed the embrace. If Lucy had wanted the following weeks of her life to be easy, she should have simply left the restaurant without the goodnight kiss. The junior bass drummer drove home, oblivious to the fact that word was spreading quickly that she had been spotted embracing none other than Sam Powell from South Washington in the Waffle House parking lot.

* * *

CHAPTER TWELVE: I AM WOMAN!

The following day, a finally content Lucy walked up to the percussion lunch table and sat down, taking off her iPod headphones as she did. As she started getting out her lunch, the freshman percussionists around her scattered to another table, leaving Lucy by herself.

Noting it was a bit strange, she started eating her PB and J and looked down at the end of the table where the seniors sat, trying to catch someone’s attention, but wasn’t able to. Unsure what or if Nevada had told the section anything, Lucy chalked up their avoidance to their breakup, but was surprised at their extreme reaction. While she couldn’t put her finger on it directly, it was almost as if she was an outcast. Shaking her head, and chiding herself for being paranoid, Lucy got back to her sandwich when she saw Molly frantically motioning at her from the soda machine.