A Fine Line (17 page)

“For third place in Percussion, the award goes to Lakeridge High School.”

“For second place honors in Percussion, the award goes to Valencia High School.”

All four of the Forrest Hills drumline seniors shared a look. Would they be shut out of the percussion honors? Lucy couldn’t remember a time they hadn’t returned from competition with at least a third place trophy, but if their school hadn’t been called yet, then what?

“For first place in their first time at the competition, for outstanding achievement in the category of Percussion Ensemble – Forrest Hills High School!”

Molly and Lucy began jumping up and down simultaneously hugging Tom and screaming while Billy proudly went out to accept the award. He returned with a HUGE smile on his face. Lucy glanced over at their section of the stands and saw the drummers going crazy.

The announcer continued, “Before we give out the final Sweepstakes awards, the judges of this competition would like to recognize a number of individual players for their outstanding contributions to today’s events. It is a special honor and we have no set number to give out.”

The announcer began calling out a number of the soloists. Lucy’s mind started wander. She couldn’t keep the smile off her face, wondering exactly how tonight was going to unfold.

“…and finally, from Forrest Hills High School, Lucy Karate and Tom Finnegan.”

Lucy and Tom looked at each other in shock. For something that started out in Tom’s garage on a whim, they had certainly had come a long way. As the Forrest Hills group was congratulating the pair, Tom looked at Lucy and said, “Let’s skip!”

Shrugging, Lucy grabbed Tom’s hand and they skipped across the field up to the judges. Once there, Tom swung Lucy around in a new dip they had been practicing that was more complicated and far more suggestive than their romantic dip in the halftime routine. The crowd stomped and cheered ecstatically.

Once the pair had returned to the Forrest Hills section, the announcer said, “Finally, I’m sure you’ve all been waiting for this moment. It’s time to announce the Sweepstakes awards. Please note that these awards can go to bands of any size –regardless of how many members are in the band. The Sweepstakes trophies are given to bands with top scores, near perfect drill, and a high level of musicality.”

Lucy held her breath as the announcer made his way through the top ten finishing schools. As the announcer made his way up the list, she began wondering and seriously worrying if they were even going to finish in the top ten.

What about all those trophies we already won? We have to be Top Three.

“In third place…Lincoln High School!”

Lucy let out a depressed sigh. If they weren’t awarded third place, then she was almost positive that they were going home empty handed.

“In second place…Forrest Hills High School!”

Lucy and the rest of the Forrest Hills marching band went absolutely crazy. It was one thing to win at a small competition, but it was another thing entirely to show up to a major competition and win second place. Lucy watched with pride as Fred and Drew went to accept the giant trophy.

“In first place…Hoover High School!”

There was a collective gasp through the crowd. Hoover High was a much smaller band. The usual winners, the biggest high schools, had been shut out of the top three. Watching the seventy five member Hoover High band go crazy on the field was actually a lot of fun. When all the celebrating was over, the Forrest Hills leadership went back to their section of the stands. With the arrival of trophies, the entire band started going crazy all over again. Cameras were produced out of duffle bags and uniforms, and about one zillion pictures were collectively taken. It took roughly an hour to get everyone back to the bus and packed up. The Line busted out their new (and now instant classic) cadence “Mrs. Wyatt is a Bitch” and played it all the way back to the truck, gladly teaching the entire band the verbal cues. It was the best night in marching band that Lucy could remember.

At the hotel, after keys were distributed and curfew times were given, Mandy, Gina, and Lucy put their things down in their room. Mandy and Gina were in possession of their caption trophies, which made a nice addition to the hotel suite. Lucy’s eyes flicked to the alarm clock, noting the chaperone check would be in about an hour.

The girls changed into their casual clothes and all looked at each other. Lucy saw that her own mysterious smile was mirrored on her friend’s faces.

Lucy took a deep breath, “So, NO ONE knows about this, right? That includes Mark and James. I know it would be fun if they could spend the night too, but if we involve too many people there’s a chance things could blow up in our face. You know that Mrs. Wyatt is looking for a reason to get me kicked out, and I don’t want to give her one, understood?”

Gina and Mandy nodded.

Lucy continued, practically shoving her friends out the door, “Then get outside and do some celebrating! Just remember to do the secret knock before you come back in the room.”

The girls had thought it best to get Wes in before the lights out check. Sometimes the chaperones were known to tape the rooms and it would be very obvious if Wes came in after hours. Plus, Mrs. Wyatt was notorious for doing rounds after everyone went to bed. There wasn’t a lot of room to hide Wes, but Lucy figured they would work out that technicality once Wes was in the room.

Mandy called out over shoulder, “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t!”

Lucy watched as the girls quickly went out in search of their boyfriends and she waited for hers.

Wait a minute – don’t get too far ahead of yourself. And by the way, are you sure you don’t want to go out and celebrate with the rest of the Line?

I’ll wait until Indoor for that, plus, I did plenty of celebrating already tonight.

Although the band parents knew everyone in the Forrest Hills marching band, there was no way they could keep up with all 250-plus at the same time. One more high school guy, especially in a hotel already full of high schoolers, wasn’t going to stick out too much.

Lucy nervously dialed his number and said shyly, “You can come up. It’s Room 312.”

She started pacing the room and wondered for the fourth time in as many minutes, if she should change her clothes. The reality of the situation – a boy sleeping in her bed – was suddenly starting to actually dawn on her and she wondered if she wasn’t kind of crazy. Lucy instantly began a mental checklist of herself.

Teeth?

Brushed – with mouthwash.

Legs shaved?

And lotioned.

Bra or no bra?

Bra.

Lucy looked down and desperately wished for cuter pj’s. The worn out green flannel boxer shorts and grey tank top seemed suddenly unglamorous.

Do you think he’ll really care?

No.

There was a knock at the door. Lucy peeped through the peephole and saw Wes standing on the other side, a grin lighting up his entire face. Her heart began beating faster. She opened the door and Wes darted inside. They stood in front of each other for about two unbelievably tense seconds, before Wes reached out and cupped Lucy’s chin, crushing her lips with his own and gently pushing her up against the door. Lucy felt his hands slide around her waist and she lifted up her arms behind his head. They quickly picked up where they left off early that afternoon.

Remember what I said about a crowbar…?

While Lucy was busy making up for lost time, Bronwyn was hanging out in the lobby waiting for the rest of the Pitlets to continue celebrating. Meredith and Megan had gone in search of a soda. Like a scene from a movie, as soon as her friends left, Drew walked up. Freshly showered and adorned in the understated brilliance of a fitted dark t-shirt and khaki shorts, Bronwyn’s heart started instantly beating faster. For once, the freshman redhead was feeling particularly good about herself. Megan and Meredith had coaxed her into wearing some of their make up and she had taken care dressing herself – just in case this situation actually took place!

Not able to come up with anything remotely witty, she said brightly, “Congratulations!”

“Thanks, I—”

A very attractive majorette interrupted the junior Drum major, asking flirtatiously, “Coming, Drew?”

He looked back at Bronwyn, “See you around, kid.”

Megan and Meredith found Bronwyn a few minutes later, an incredibly sad look on her face.

Meredith put her arm around her friend, “C’mon, let’s go to the pool. I hear a bunch of the guys from your section are there with their shirts off.”

Lucy was vaguely aware of knocking directly behind her.

Gina! Mandy! Crap!

She tore herself away from Wes, long enough to spin around and look through the peephole and see the girls.

She told Wes, “Behind the door.”

He winked, but moved out of sight.

Mandy and Gina came in the room. Once the door closed, and the girls spied Wes, they all began squealing and talking at the same time. If Gina and Mandy guessed what Lucy had been up to for the past hour, they didn’t acknowledge it.

Their moment was quickly disturbed, when there was a knock at the door, and a voice called out, “Girls?”

* * *

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Slumber Party

As if the person on the other side of the door had x-ray vision, all four members in Room 312 immediately froze. Then there was a flurry of activity and Wes made a very James Bond mad dash and roll under the bed.

The voice on the other side of the door knocked again and asked, “Girls?”

Mandy choked back a giggle and said, “Just a moment!”

Lucy and Mandy scrambled to look “casual” and then gave Gina the all clear. The majorette slowly opened the door. It wasn’t Mrs. Wyatt, but instead Mrs. Nelson, the high school sponsor of the Color Guard, 10th grade biology teacher, and their chaperone for the trip. The teacher peered into the room to see Lucy on the far bed watching TV, Mandy peeking her head out of the bathroom, while Gina examined the trophies. Mrs. Nelson walked in and sat down next to Lucy, “I just wanted to tell you all what a wonderful job you did this evening.”

All three girls shared a look. Of course this would be the night Mrs. Nelson decided to be sentimental…

Mandy shrugged and sat across from her sponsor, and finally replied in a choked voice, “Thanks, Mrs. Nelson.”

While Mrs. Nelson launched into a trip down memory lane, Lucy’s mind started to wander. Although she was still glowing from her private time with Wes, another part of her was worried how things were going to go over in the halls of the high school. Wes was not totally aware of how strong the pressures of his American peers could be. It wasn’t stated anywhere that football players dated cheerleaders or that most people stuck to their own cliques, it just usually worked out that way.

Why are you doubting yourself? This relationship is only hours old and already you’ve worked out a way for it to end.

Maybe it’s just too many emotions in one day.

Maybe you should just NOT worry about everyone else. Look at Tom and Jewel – they seem to be working out okay.

True, maybe we can go to Homecoming with them.

Now, don’t get too far ahead… take this Wes thing one day at a time.

Lucy lost her concentration when she felt something stroking the back of her left foot. She tried to choke back a squeal when she realized it was Wes and ended up making a very weird sound.

Mrs. Nelson looked at her strangely, “Is everything alright, Lucy?”

Lucy recovered quickly, “Yes, I, uh, just got a little choked up thinking about how quickly our senior season is going.”

Mrs. Nelson patted Lucy’s shoulder gently and said, “I know, dear, that reminds me of my days…”

Almost an hour later, Mrs. Nelson looked at the clock, and exclaimed, “Oh! Have I been in here for an hour? There are other rooms I still need to check on. I’ll see you girls in the morning.”

“Sure thing, Mrs. Nelson,” Mandy said as all three of the girls got up.

The teacher called out, “Lock the door behind me! And don’t forget, we have a busy day tomorrow at the Aquarium.”

The marching band had to do something borderline “educational” to get the school board to sign off on an overnight trip. When the door closed tight and Mandy drew the chain shut, all three girls burst into laughter and literally fell over they were laughing so hard.

Wes emerged from under the bed and said in an irritated tone, “I didn’t think she was ever going to bloody shut up!”

His comment sent the girls into further gales of laughter and it was a good five minutes before they finally regained their breath.

Gina announced, “There is seriously no way we are getting any sleep tonight.”

The majorette’s comment proved to be all too true. Between calling Mark and James off and on all night, a very strange game of Texas Hold Em’, doing pedicures and manicures (Wes included), and eating the remains of secret pal gifts, it was close to 5AM before they even lost steam. Finally, Mandy yawned and said, “We should probably get some sleep considering we have to be up in less than three hours.”