So what if I’m a late bloomer?
Drew’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, “We’re here.”
Bronwyn gathered together her uniform bag and said, “Thanks for everything. I guess you’ll talk to J.D. next week…”
“Yeah.”
“Well, for what it matters,” Bronwyn gulped, “I would’ve loved to go with you.”
“It would’ve been fun.”
Bronwyn’s mind screeched to a stop.
Does that mean he actually might’ve gone with me?
She got out of the car and walked to the door, only turning around to wave goodbye, not wanting Drew to see the silly disappointed tears in her eyes.
How did you think this was going to end?
She was so lost in her own thoughts she didn’t hear Drew close the car door. Bronwyn squeaked when she realized Drew was right behind her. She turned and looked up at him, his handsome face, so familiar to her now, and held her breath.
“Since it’s a real date…” Drew quickly closed the distance between them. He cupped her face and lowered his mouth to her slightly open lips. The redhead didn’t have anything else to judge how great a kisser Drew was, but in her mind, it was one of the best moments in her life. When the embrace finished, she opened her eyes and saw Drew grinning at her.
“I wish things were different, Bronwyn.”
“I know; me too.”
“Sweet dreams.”
As Drew walked away, Bronwyn briefly entertained the idea of transferring to a different school just so she could date the guy she liked. Once inside, the redhead immediately called Meredith and Megan to fill them in on the exciting news. They were both happy for her, and tried to make her feel better that she had at least gotten something special out of this whole mess.
* * *
CHAPTER EIGHT: Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps
J.D. approached Drew after practice on Tuesday and said, “Alright dude, she’s had to have made up her mind by now.”
“She did.”
“And?”
“You win.”
J.D. immediately burst into scornful laughter, “I always knew I liked that girl.”
Drew sighed, and surprising himself, said, “I did too.”
“Don’t tell me you actually had feelings for her. She’s just some silly sophomore.”
“Is that all you see?”
J.D. didn’t respond.
“Look, if that’s what you think about her, I feel sorry for your section.”
J.D. crossed his arms, “Don’t even think about going there. I am the drumline Captain and we are doing fine this year.”
Drew rolled his eyes, “Whatever. Now, I want you to listen to me for two seconds. Bronwyn may just be ‘some sophomore’ to you, but she’s a damn good player and has done nothing to earn your resentment and exclusion. You’re sabotaging your own section with your actions. Do you think any other section leader goes around betting on the people they are supposed to lead?”
“They do things their way, I do things mine.”
“Just think about what I said.”
“Not likely. Look, I’ll expect your apology to the Line before this week’s game.”
“And what of Bronwyn?”
“The only thing she has going for her is that she was smart enough to turn you down.”
Drew watched as J.D. walked away and felt terrible for the little redhead.
The senior drum major walked down to the practice field with Bronwyn on Thursday. He walked next to her but Bronwyn quickly noticed he wasn’t saying much. She nudged him, “What’s up?”
“I told J.D.”
Even though she knew the plan was coming to an end, Bronwyn slumped and asked, “What did he say?”
Drew clenched his teeth and forced himself to remain calm, “Nothing. I’m going to ‘talk’ to you guys before Friday night’s game.”
Bronwyn blasted a rim shot off on her snare drum in frustration, to which Drew laughed and said lightheartedly, “That is the perfect sound for the way I feel.”
Bronwyn kept walking and muttered to herself, “I just hope it actually changes things.”
“You know, I’m actually surprised he’s going ahead with this thing. I thought it might be enough for him just to have this privately over me.”
Bronwyn nodded, “You’re right, it’s been so long since the ‘incident,’ I’m surprised it still matters to him.”
“Then again, this is J.D. we’re talking about.”
“I’ve never known him to let anything go. He can carry a grudge forever.”
They walked on, and Bronwyn realized after it came out that she had turned Drew down, they probably wouldn’t get to hang out like this. She would miss him. Not knowing if she would get the chance to anytime soon, she said, “By the way, if I haven’t said it, thanks again for doing this for me. For both our sakes, I hope it works.”
“If things were different…” Drew drifted off.
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I could just not go along with the terms of the bet? I mean, it’s just J.D., I don’t really owe him anything.”
As desperate as Bronwyn was for a solution that could allow them to be together, she reasoned, “The thing is – the band needs this. You know it does.”
The disharmony from band camp had grown and they both knew J.D. needed to ‘win’ to come back to participating normally with the other sections. Drew admitted, “I really wish Lance was Captain.”
“You and me both.”
“Drew?” It was Geoff, the brass Captain.
“Yeah?”
“You were going to go over the closer with us?”
“Coming.” He looked at Bronwyn and said, “Goodbye.”
At the end of 5th period the next day, J.D. held his stick up for attention and addressed the entire Line, “I’d like everyone to be on time tonight. We’re going to have a special treat from the drum major before the game.”
Tony cracked, “Is this for all of us or just Bronwyn?”
Bronwyn immediately flushed, but she just as quickly flicked Tony off, as many of the members of the Line tried to hold back a laugh.
J.D. winked at Bronwyn and said, “Everyone just be there.”
Bronwyn inwardly cringed at J.D.’s leery gesture. As the Line broke attention to put their instruments away, Bronwyn tried to ignore the stares she was getting from the other percussionists. The whole situation was getting too complicated. She knew they all thought she knew what was going to happen tonight…which she did know, but wasn’t supposed to know. Plus, if a drummer had somehow missed the drum major personally squiring the only girl on the Battery after the past two games, they had certainly heard about it from someone else on the Line. Therefore, Bronwyn was not surprised to hear a purposely loud afterthought from Tony.
“It’s just disrespectful if you ask me. I mean, it’s like Drew thinks he’s better than us because he’s drum major or something. And if Bronwyn is with him, well… ”
Bronwyn painfully clamped down on the inside of her cheek, knowing exactly what the first bass was insinuating. She had to use every bit of restraint not to yell at her fellow sophomore.
Just remember something nice…
Drew’s kiss was nice.
Well, concentrate on that.
A smirking Tony seemed to notice he had almost gotten to the normally unshakable Bronwyn. He asked, “What’s the matter, Flueger? Why don’t you go ahead and tell everyone what Drew’s going to tell us tonight?”
Bronwyn took a deep breath and responded casually, “Sorry, Tony, I hate to disappoint you, but he’s not my boyfriend. What do you care anyway? Do you have feelings for me or something?”
Tony had kept up a stream of annoying comments since band camp. After seeing Drew with her, he had an entirely new brand of insults to torture her with. However, Tony was clever enough not to torment Bronwyn when senior members of the Line were present. Bronwyn’s retort was one of the only times she had ever spok
en back to Tony, and those who were in the percussion room paid attention.
“What did you say?”
“I asked why you cared?”
While everyone in the room waited for Tony’s response, Lucy’s former antagonist, Mark, ‘accidentally’ bumped Tony’s shoulder as he left the room. He threw back a sarcastic, “Excuse me.”
Bronwyn smiled at Mark’s small vote of confidence in her. Emboldened, she repeated herself, “Why do you care, Tony? Does who I date affect how I play snare?”
“No reason.”
Bronwyn gathered her bag and left the room, “That’s what I thought.”
She knew as soon as she walked out he would probably start talking trash about her and Drew, but it had felt good to finally render Tony speechless.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: If airplanes were shooting stars…
Lucy…
So, a little after the fact, but I have just two words for you: trampoline and stars. The date was totally amazing. I’m not sure even why I’m telling you this, but as first kisses go, mine with Drew was, well, there really aren’t words to describe it. So, yeah, I’m totally bummed because that was it, my only shot and now it’s over. Drew and I can’t see each other and I know it’s really going to hurt when I see him date someone else, which I’m sure will be in a week or so.
Any advice to help this messed up sophomore?
B
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: If airplanes were shooting stars…
B,
Sorry things between you guys had to end like this, and, at this point I’m just going to have to take your word that you two couldn’t figure out a way around the devious mind of J.D. Strauss.
(Does sarcasm come across on e-mail?)
Anyway, I know the end of the season seems like an eternity away, but can you make it until then? Maybe you and Drew can start things up in the off-season. I know it’s not a lot, but maybe the thought of it can keep you going. You should ask him, who knows?
Take it from a girl who knows from firsthand experience, it’s REALLY difficult to be with someone the Line doesn’t like. However, I guess you have to decide if he’s worth it. If your happiness involves having Drew in your life, then maybe say to hell with J.D. and his followers and just go for it.
Lucy
P.S. Speaking of first kisses…I just had a nice one of my own on Saturday night. A guy in my apartment complex, Joe.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Stuff
Hey bro,
I can’t go to anyone else with this situation I’ve gotten myself into. Long story short, I think I really like this girl, but due to the politics of marching band, we can’t be together.
How do I get myself to stop thinking about her?
D—
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Stuff
Drew,
“Politics of marching band?” What the hell does that even mean? You like the girl. Well, if you like her enough you’ll find a way to be together. End of story.
There’s actually a girl I’m interested in up here. We both went to FHHS, but it seems like we’ve only discovered each other at college. Long story short, I was a junior when she was a freshman. It’s funny, looking back all the times we could’ve met in high school, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be until college. Of course, I guess it’s a bit complicated between us as well. She’s just coming out of a long relationship. Maybe I’m not the best person to be asking advice from.
I’ll be coming home soonish (laundry is totally catching up with me), so maybe we can hang out and talk about this in person.
Lates,
Joe
Drew made his way to the percussion room before the night’s game, unhappy with what he was about to do. He walked in and saw the entire Line had gathered. Bronwyn was there, sitting in the back, and kept her eyes on the ground.
The drum major took a deep breath, and announced, “So, I just wanted to let all of you know that for the rest of the season, I will leave you the hell alone. J.D. is your Captain and should I have any issue with anyone on the Line, I will consult him first.”
With that, Drew turned around and left the room.
What J.D. (and Bronwyn) had hoped would be a bonding moment for the Line fell completely and totally flat. In reality, no one except J.D. (and maybe Tony, as a loyal J.D. follower) understood what Drew’s random confession meant, or cared. As the drummers looked around at each other trying to figure out what the heck had just happened, J.D. burst out laughing.
No one in the room joined in.
Lance looked around and asked skeptically, “What exactly are you laughing at, J.D.?”
“That was priceless.”
Jared looked at J.D. and said, “No, it wasn’t. That was just weird. I mean, we’re not exactly kicking ass and taking names this year. Don’t we need to get along with the drum majors?”
Bronwyn breathed out a sigh she didn’t realize she was holding in.
J.D. looked around the room, desperate to keep the attention on Drew and how much he didn’t like his classmate. After a few moment of struggling for the appropriate response, he said, “Well, Flueger, there’s something else you should know. Your precious ‘boyfriend’ placed a bet on you.”
Bronwyn’s heart sank. She had to act surprised, which wasn’t difficult to do, given J.D.’s confession. “He did what?!”
“Apparently, he was so sure you were going to say yes to going out with him that he made a wager with me.”
With all her emotions so close to the surface, it didn’t take much for Bronwyn to pretend to be upset. She sputtered, “I don’t understand. Why would he do that?”
“I just thought you should see what kind of guy he really is.”
Bronwyn stood up and pointed at J.D., “I’ll tell you what I do see. I see a Captain who took a bet on someone in his section. I see a section leader who is too busy to care about what really matters. I see…” She stopped, and continued, “Why would you care anyway? No one on this Line gives a shit about me!”
With her heart pounding, Bronwyn roughly grabbed Stewie and her carrier and walked out of the room.
* * *
CHAPTER NINE: Rumors
Silently questioning her sanity, Bronwyn put her drum on the instrument truck and desperately wished she could ride on one of the band buses with the rest of her friends. With her little outburst she was pretty sure no one was going to want to sit with her on the drumline bus. Seeing Megan and Meredith, Bronwyn walked in their direction.
Why did I have to sound like such a girl back there?
Uh, duh? You are one.
But this is drumline, not the dance line…
Quit whining. Maybe this whole time you’ve been trying to hard to hide the fact that you are a girl. What’s so wrong with being a girl? Last time I checked, most guys like girls.
Maybe.
Well, standing up to Tony was a good start. You can be a girl, but just because you act like a girl doesn’t mean you can’t be strong. Remember Lucy?
Desperate to avoid the percussionists, Bronwyn thought about her situation and chatted with her band friends, keeping one eye on the drummers boarding their bus. Not wanting to relive her mistake from a few minutes before, she kept quiet about her little blow up at the Line, and decided to tell her friends at a later date. She purposely got on last and was about to take a seat in the front near the chaperones when someone spoke up from the back.
“Yo, Flueger…back here.”
It was Lance. Bronwyn didn’t question his motives; she went back and slid into the seat, making sure she was closest to the window. Once the bus got going and everyone had pulled out their Real Feel pads, the sophomore relaxed a little. She wasn’t sure how this ride was going to end
, but listening to the sounds of the bus, she knew she was somewhere part of her belonged. Bronwyn looked out the window and wished she had a cell phone so she could text Drew.
Do you really think he wants to talk to you right now?
Bronwyn tried not to think of the answer to that question and looked around the bus. She was sitting in one of the very back seats, with Jared and Mark across the aisle. J.D. was sitting a few seats further up and out of hearing range. Bronwyn accidentally locked eyes with Tony, who smirked at her. She looked away and slid further down in her seat, trying her best to become invisible. Lance had already pulled out his sticks and was practicing on the back of the seat. Bronwyn wasn’t sure why he had called her to sit with him, but whatever the reason, she was grateful. She was about to pull out her iPod and completely cut herself off from the bus, when Lance asked, “So, you don’t like J.D. that much, do you?”
She didn’t bother keeping her voice down as she replied sarcastically, “What made you think that?”
“So, why not just confront him about it?”
Bronwyn gave him an incredulous look.
“Seriously, I know it’s hard to believe, but I think somewhere, deep down he is human.”
Bronwyn gave her fellow snare another skeptical look. Although if Lance was willing to admit J.D. had redeeming qualities, maybe she should hear him out. She crossed her arms, and said, “Who cares about J.D.? I haven’t noticed you doing anything.”
Keeping in Line Page 7
