The Line (3 page)

Scruffy Doug yelled, “Come on – we don’t have all night!”

The girls casually said their goodbyes to the freshman table, smiled smugly at the other girls in the diner, who were hoping to get spots at the table themselves, and squeezed into the crowded booth. Lucy and the girls chatted away with the seniors. As with most people in marching band, the guys and girls actually had a lot of overlapping friends. Plus, the seniors were able to fill in the juniors about some of the teachers they would have in the following year. Lucy also found herself curiously more attracted than usual to Nevada. She had locked eyes with him a few times during the night and did her best to hold his intense hazel gaze. She had always considered him out of her league, but there was something different about tonight. Somehow, the cymbal player seemed attainable.

Nearing curfew, saying their goodbyes, Gina and Lucy walked to their cars. As they waited, the girls realized Mandy was still deep in conversation with Jerm. With a delighted expression on her face, Mandy skipped up to the pair and said cheerfully, “Jerm is going to give me a ride home! He lives in my direction anyway.”

Gina and Lucy shared a smirk and rolled their eyes, knowing very well Jerm and Mandy didn’t live that close to each other. Chatting a bit to finalize the details of who would pack what for band camp, Lucy finally got in her car and pulled up her favorite “Sing Along” playlist on her iPod, pondering this seemingly good start to her junior year. As she sang along with Urge Overkill’s You’ll Be A Woman Soon her thoughts drifted back towards her section.

After a failed attempt at a relationship with Nathan and a brief flirtation with Tom, Lucy had made a firm pact with herself not to get romantically involved with members of the Forrest Hills drumline. Although she didn’t like the restrictions, Lucy knew it was best to be the token girl and not anyone’s official girlfriend – something strange always accompanied the label.

While changing for an indoor competition last year in the nearly empties ladies locker room, she and Molly had decided their role on the Line was part psychiatrist, part matchmaker, and full time masseuse. Flirting was as far as anything seemed to go, and as long as she remembered it didn’t mean anything, no one got hurt.

Lucy arrived at her house, but didn’t feel like going to sleep right away. While she knew no guy could ‘complete’ her, the bass drummer couldn’t help it as her thoughts kept straying towards potential guys she wanted to date this year. Having never been in a long term relationship, Lucy was a big fan of the crush. Other than Nevada, she had a long running crush on the junior class president, Murray. The super smart cutie was not in band, only in her classes, and had caught her attention in gifted Biology their freshman year. She wondered what Murray had been up to this summer. As the cute head of the class and all around nice guy, she knew many people who held a torch for him. Sighing, Lucy had long ago realized that crushes were not always about returned feelings. Sometimes it was just fun to know there was a guy out there who could make your entire day with a smile.

Although she knew there was nothing ‘wrong’ with her, Lucy wondered why some people fell into relationships so easily. Mandy had been dating someone since forever, and Gina had at least one previous boyfriend. Having spent more than her fair share of time with young men, the almost junior pondered what she could possibly be missing.

* * *

CHAPTER TWO: BAND CAMP

A few days later, Lucy waved goodbye to her parents and younger brother, Craig, as Tom pulled away from her house. She wasn’t quite sure how she had managed to convince her parents to let her crazy friend drive her up to band camp, but was happy they had agreed. The Forrest Hills high school band camp was held two hours away at a small college. The large marching band completely took over the college for the week – using every inch of the campus – the dorm rooms for sleeping, the dining hall, classrooms for practice, and parking lots for sectionals. Lucy looked over at Tom and smiled, looking forward to this mini-road trip. With the tenor player up early every morning to be at the pool, and Lucy closing most nights at the pizza place, they hadn’t spent a lot of time together over the summer. Plus, one of the true signs of being an upperclassman was not having your parents drive you up to band camp.

Tom pulled down his sunglasses and said, “We just have to make a quick stop.”

Lucy knew what exactly what he meant. Tom refused to drive anywhere further than five miles without beef jerky and a Big Gulp from the local Quick Trip. In addition to the refreshment stop, before Lucy could do or say much of anything, Tom had quickly added Nevada, Ewan, and Nathan to the minivan.

The road trip was filled with establishing new inside jokes, reciting lines from favorite movies, mooning other cars, listening to Tom’s band Eight Cadet (a ska-influenced group whose “gigs” had so far included a neighborhood block party and a bar mitzvah) newest recording, talking about the season ahead and, a sigh-worthy, all too brief nap on Nevada’s broad shoulder. Lucy considered the entire event an outstanding success. In the early afternoon, the party wagon pulled up to the girls’ dorm. Lucy waved goodbye to the guys as she went to check in. The bass drummer swept into the lobby as the girls outside watched her section mates pull away. Lucy was rooming in a triple with Mandy and Gina, who were arriving together after making a planned stop at the nearby outlet mall. After Lucy put her things away, she stretched out on the bed, closing her eyes and remembering previous band camps: getting dunked in large bins of ice, crushing on hot upperclassmen, learning music and trying to memorize it as fast as possible, laughing at the planned night activities, flirting with classmates, meeting transfer students from different schools, making new friends and trying her best to go on as few hours sleep as possible.

Post band camp

Dear Diary,

First of all, please pardon the extreme stream of consciousness style of this entry. I haven’t got a lot of sleep this week! But, as usual, it was totally and completely worth it.

So, first of all, learning drill was a different experience than I thought it was going to be. Sure, it was hot and sweaty, but it’s was also pretty amazing when you think of it – 250 people on a field, actually going where they are supposed to go all while playing memorized music! (BTW, the show’s theme this year is ‘A Night At the Movies’ including: Mission Impossible, Pink Panther, and James Bond – the drum solo takes place in the 2nd song – we’ve learned the music, but haven’t learned the extended drill yet). Learning the music and the formations was an intense process that took awhile, but I’m proud to say we all accomplished it and I can’t wait to see how far we’re going to go!

Of course, like any good band camp, there was more than just marching and music…

First of all, can I just say how much I hate Mark? We fight so much that the rest of the basses have dubbed us Mr. and Mrs. DeMatteo. (Yes, I, of course, have taken his last name.) There is not ONE thing we can agree on. The tempo (which I set), dressing the line (I decide how sharp the diagonal will be), how hot it is, how cold it is, visuals… That being said, we can have moments when it’s Lucy and Mark vs. the World…where we have a never-ending stream of inside jokes, non-stop flirting and the rest of the basses have no idea what is going on between 1st and 2nd. Realistically, I’d say it’s about 30/70 for the whole love/hate thing. However, Mark does help me realize I’m a lot tougher than I used to be. Lucy from two years ago probably would have run off crying, but junior Lucy has a quick response ready. I think Lance is getting close to killing us…

Mandy and I tried to keep each other on track (and mostly failing) to study for our upcoming AP U.S. History class. Hey – not our fault! We had every intention of studying every day, but as soon as we took those books out someone was there to distract us. Interestingly, the main distraction came in the form of one Jeremiah Stanford. I have to stop and wonder what my captain dating one of my best friends would mean for me? Sure, it would raise my profile, but is that a good thing? Given both of their track records, I’m not sure how long term their relationship would be. Maybe something for the season? I’m already trying not to get involved. An introduction was enough for me.

Anyway, speaking of friends, Gina was also up to some awesomeness. I’m so proud of this girl. She earned the coveted spot of feature twirler this year. I watch her and I’m amazed by the crazy amount of things she can do with a baton. Seriously, she can get some height on that thing. She also received some male attention this week. I noticed her and Jonathan (the cute trumpet transfer player has a name!) together a few times.

Finally, sigh, Nevada. Beautiful redheaded Nevada. So, remember how I mentioned I wouldn’t date (okay, I could like them I just couldn’t do anything about it) anyone on the Line? Well, I’m thinking maybe I should amend that resolution. It all started on the trip up and then he was just always there at the end of practice ready to give me a back massage (definitely necessary after a long day and a heavy drum), sitting next to me at the night activities, piggy back rides anywhere I wanted… I know, this could all just be flirting and it wouldn’t be the first time I had read into something, but is it wrong if I want it to be more? Because I REALLY, REALLY want something to happen.

And it almost did once or twice…or maybe it didn’t! I can’t tell!!!!

For someone who is around guys all the time, I certainly wonder why I can’t read the ones I’m interested in. Molly thinks for sure he does like me, but what if he doesn’t and I end up making a big fool of myself? And then I have to march an entire season with that level of awkwardness? No thanks, been there, got the trophy.

Which brings me to my big school-is-almost-starting resolution: I’m not sure if it’s my being on the Battery, the change of scenery from marching on the field, or the new inner percussionist constantly chatting in my ear, but I am ready for a serious change. I want to take some risks in the romance department this year, because let’s face it, where has having a crush got me so far? I want to be a normal high school girl and go on dates and have a boyfriend. I don’t want to be some lame chick who just waits for things and then never gets anywhere, because really, is that who I still am? I don’t want to be always known as Lucy Karate, The Good Friend. After this week, I think I’ve proven to myself that I’m braver and stronger and deserve more. Why should I settle for anything else? I’ve got my friends, I’ve got my bass, so now it’s time to go out and make some things happen, then so be it.

So there, it’s official. I, Lucy Karate, will take a risk this year when it comes to the opposite sex, no matter what.

Ta for now,

Lucy

Lucy put her diary away, determined to keep the promise she had made to herself and firm in her decision not to be the Lucy she had been for the past two years, but Lucy Karate, confident and kick ass in the romance department.

So, what are you waiting for?

Just hours ago, she had been at band camp. Now here she sat, the summer slowly slipping away and risks were waiting to be taken. With the exception of people named after states, there was no one in particular she wanted to see, but with energy to burn, Lucy knew she had to get out of the house. Ponytail swishing, she went down to check the paper to see if any good movies were playing. Glancing at the clock, there was still time to make the matinee at her favorite dollar theater.

Grabbing the keys to the Matt Damon, she announced, “Hey Mom, I’m going to see a movie!”

“You still have energy?” her Mom’s voice called out after her.

“Believe it or not, I do. I’ll be home in time for dinner!”

A few minutes later, Lucy pulled up to the theater. The dollar theater used to be a grand movie palace in the 1950’s and still held some of the old Hollywood glamour. She bought a ticket then went to the counter and purchased her traditional movie treats – Swedish fish and a Diet Coke, and went in to find a seat. Given all the back to school sales and the dated film that was playing, the theater was not very full. Balancing her treats, Lucy took a seat near the front. Idly checking her phone for updates and messages, the bass drummer put the device on silent and began randomly tapping out a cadence on her knee. It was such a subconscious thing for her to do after the past week; and she was so into the notes she didn’t realize someone else was tapping along with her. Lucy stopped abruptly and turned around. Behind her was a very cute boy. He was tall, as Lucy quickly noticed, with cropped dark hair and twinkling cobalt blue eyes. He looked familiar, but she didn’t think he went Forrest Hills. Lucy blushed and said, “Sorry.”

What do you mean sorry? What could you possibly be sorry about? It’s a free country and you’re allowed to—

Lucy’s inner struggle was interrupted when the Cute Boy said, “I don’t mind. Do you drum?”

Lucy froze. While she was crazy proud of being a drummer, there was the risk the Cute Boy would think she was some sort of unfeminine freak if she told him the truth. She didn’t want to scare him off before any further conversation took place.