Keeping in Line (12 page)

“Okay, put her on.”

While Joe went in search of Lucy, Drew thought about the former drumline sweetheart. Even though Drew had been drum major the previous year, he hadn’t interacted that much with the Line. He never got to know the bass drummer because his co-drum major, Fred, had been tight with both Lucy and Billy. Anything that came up with the section had been Fred’s territory. Drew hadn’t exactly felt left out, but he never really had a chance to get to know anyone in the Line except the Pit – which was exactly where this situation had started.

“Drew?” A female voice came over the line.

“Yup?”

“So, what’s this about band politics?”

Drew suddenly hesitated and said, “Well, I don’t know if you’re the best person to talk to.”

“Uh, dude, I kind of wrote the book on band politics. Remember? Your sophomore year?”

Drew thought a moment and then remembered the controversy of Lucy’s romantic interest with the rival school’s drumline Captain, not to mention some of the rumors that had swirled around the school during her senior season. He said slowly, “Oh yeah…”

“So, what can I help you with?”

“I still don’t know if you’re the best person to talk to.”

“Because Bronwyn’s my friend?”

“Something like that.” Drew began to wonder if he had made the right decision by calling his brother.

“Drew, Drew, Drew. I’ve been around guys long enough to know when to talk and when to keep my mouth firmly closed. So, if you want to talk, that’s cool. It’s just between us.”

The senior paused, before he asked abruptly, “So, you probably know about the ‘bet’ I had with J.D.?”

“I do.”

“Well, plans backfired. Not only did the Line not respond at all to my ‘apology,’ but the band gossip managed to overhear when J.D. decided to share with everyone that I had bet on Bronwyn going out with me.”

“So now you look like a total dick?”

“Basically, yeah.”

“And Bronwyn, what does she think?”

“I haven’t talked to her about it.”

Lucy remarked to herself, “I’ll bet she’s crushed.”

Drew chose to ignore the comment, and tried to forget leaving Bronwyn alone in the parking lot a few minutes earlier, “Anyway, I have lost all credibility with the band.”

“Because of a silly bet? Have things changed that much since I graduated?”

“No, but I don’t want the rest of my senior year to suck.”

“Hmm.”

“Aren’t you going to help me?”

Lucy was quiet a moment, then responded, “I guess there’s only a few options. Option A, Bronwyn takes all the blame and tells everyone in some manifesto how she arranged the whole thing by herself.”

“No one will believe that.”

“You are correct, sir. Option B, she tells everyone the truth, that you two were in cahoots and you set up Captain J.D.”

“Then J.D. looks like an idiot, and probably will deny everything because that’s the kind of guy he is.”

“Very true. Which brings us to Option C, you don’t do anything and somehow everyone manages to forget what happened.”

“Will they?”

“Drew, you’re a cute guy—” Lucy paused before saying, “Ouch!”

“I’m a cute guy, ouch? What does that mean?”

“I’m talking to your brother.” She continued, half speaking to Joe, “Hey now, cuteness can run in the family. Anyway, before I was so rudely interrupted, I was saying that you’re a cute guy and I’m sure the girls in the band will respond to your enhanced ‘bad boy’ image. As for your leadership, well, just act the part and I’m sure the rest will fall in line.”

“You really think so?”

“I think it’s pretty much your only option, unless you just want to leave Bronwyn high and dry.”

Drew thought a moment, “I don’t want to do that.”

“Well, I think you should talk to her. I mean, you can’t just ignore her.”

“I can’t?”

“Boys! Here, talk to your brother,” Lucy answered, obviously exasperated.

Drew heard the phone being passed back to Joe.

“Bro – you okay now?”

“I think I am.”

“Well, I’ll see you soon. I think Mom and Dad have forgotten what I look like.”

As they said their goodbyes, Drew thought about what he would have to do next.

In the quiet parking lot, Bronwyn wiped her eyes on her hoodie and walked back toward the school. A voice called out, “You need a ride home, B?”

She recognized Ben, and shouted back in what she hoped was he most cheerful voice, “That would be great, thanks.”

She walked over to his truck and hopped in, determined not to mention anything about Drew.

Ben had other plans, “So, what a weird night, huh?”

Bronwyn tried her best to feign ignorance and tapped nervously on her knee, “Yeah, I guess.”

Ben dropped his voice, “How’re you holding up?”

“I—”

“I can’t believe Drew actually made a bet on you. I mean, I don’t know a lot about him, but that really doesn’t sound like anything he would do.”

Bronwyn, who felt the evening had been discussed ad nauseum with Jared, Mark, and Lance, said, “I’d really rather not talk about it.”

Fortunately, Ben felt his obligation to his passenger’s feelings were over, and changed the subject, talking about the game and their performance instead. As they neared Bronwyn’s house, the tenor player turned down the radio and asked awkwardly, “So, you sure you’re okay? I mean, I don’t know a lot about chicks, but tonight couldn’t have been that easy.”

“Which part could you be referring to? The part where the guy I thought I liked actually bet on me with my Captain? Or the part where the entire band found out about it? I know, how about the part just a few minutes ago where that same guy completely acted like I didn’t exist?”

Ben opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Bronwyn continued, “I’m sorry, it’s just been a hell of a week…hell of a season so far. I completely understand if you don’t ever want to be in a car with me again.”

Ben chuckled and stopped the car at Bronwyn’s driveway, “Nah, it’s not that bad, B. And remember, if you’re really feeling bad, I’m sure there are a few people who wouldn’t mind trading places with you.”

“Really? Name one.”

“Only sophomore on snare? Plus, don’t forget, you’re marching on one of the best drumlines in the country. Who really cares if some guy doesn’t like you?”

Bronwyn smiled briefly, then collected her things and before she closed the door, said, “Thanks – I really needed to hear that.”

Drew thought about what had happened in the parking lot and what Lucy had said.

Maybe you should go over and apologize…

Maybe that’s not a bad idea.

Although Drew was almost home, he turned his car around and went directly to Bronwyn’s house, hoping to somehow catch her. Pulling into her neighborhood, he saw a vaguely familiar car drive out. The driver was definitely a teenage guy. Drew put the timing together in his head, and assumed whoever the kid in the red truck was had driven Bronwyn home.

It’s not like you gave her a lot of options. You left her alone in the parking lot. Can you really blame her?

Drew didn’t know who to blame anymore. He got out his phone to call Joe again, but opted for sending a text instead.

>> Maybe instead of u coming home, I should come up there. Here sux.

The senior waited for a response, but wasn’t surprised when he didn’t get one. It wasn’t until the following morning when Drew checked his e-mail that his brother decided to answer him.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Fall Break

Dude, you need to get laid or something. You’re stressing out entirely too much for your senior year. I think you need to do whatever it takes to get over this chick (or politics or whatever has made you Captain Weirdo this semester). If that means coming up here for a weekend, I guess that’s cool. If you don’t have any competitions, I think I have a free weekend coming up in October.

Lates,

Joe

Ben’s words went a long way with the sophomore and Bronwyn managed to think about her disastrous Friday night only once an hour over the weekend. Under the false pretenses of looking for a Homecoming dress, she headed to the mall with Megan and Meredith. While they were taking a break in the Food Court, Bronwyn filled them in on Drew’s strange behavior in the parking lot.

Megan munched on a fry and asked, “Well, what did you expect him to do?”

“I don’t know. I just wish I could go back in time and never have asked him to help.”

Megan laughed, “Yeah, but then you would’ve never gotten to kiss him.”

Megan and Meredith made loud smooching noises, while Bronwyn turned beet red. Meredith finished laughing, then said casually, “So…I have a question.”

Bronwyn smiled, glad the subject had changed, and said, “What’s up?”

“How well do you know Ben?”

Bronwyn looked quizzically at her friend and mentally sized up the potential pair. She could definitely see her sometime chauffeur and her favorite flute player happily dating. Plus, just because her recent foray into romance was a colossal defeat, it didn’t mean other people had to miss out. She replied, “Enough to know you guys would totally be a cute couple.”

Meredith grinned, “So, you’ll help?”

Bronwyn nodded, “I’ll put in a good word.”

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: Need a vacation from real life…

Lucy,

Ready for the understatement of the year? Things didn’t turn out exactly how I thought they would. Drew went through with his part of the deal, but after he left, and there was no response, J.D. decided to tell everyone that Drew had made a bet on me. No big deal for the Line, but of course, at that moment Sandra walked by and heard everything and by the end of the 3rd quarter, everyone in the entire band knew what happened.

To top things off, I tried to go and talk to Drew, but he completely ignored me.

However, it’s not all bad. I guess some of the guys on the Line like me a little better. I can’t tell if it’s a reaction to a little hissy fit I threw or because maybe they just actually like me. Who knows? Boys are weird.

B

P.S. Maybe I can convince my parents about coming up to visit you so I get away from all this chaos.

* * *

CHAPTER ELEVEN: How Do You Talk To A Drummer?

Bronwyn walked into fifth period on Monday as if nothing had happened. She crossed her fingers, hoping not a word would be mentioned about Friday night’s drama. She watched Tony walking over to her with a big grin on his face, and knew she would not be so lucky.

“Hey Bronwyn…”

Bronwyn ignored Tony and walked into the percussion room and began pulling out Stewie.

“How was your weekend?” Tony was nothing, if not persistent.

Bronwyn rolled her eyes, but replied extra sweetly, “It was fine, thanks for asking. How was yours?”

“Whatever.”

Bronwyn got out her snare stand and went to set up in the half arc. The first bass player, who was not one to give up easily, continued following her. He asked casually, “So, I guess if you turned Drew down, then you really don’t care too much about him?”

“It would appear I don’t. I turned him down,” Bronwyn commented lightly.

“If you don’t like him, I guess it wouldn’t matter that I saw your oh-so-dreamy drum major and the Guard Captain at the movies on Saturday night?”

“I-I—”

“That’s what I thought.”

Jared yelled from across the room, “Hey Tony – you want to think about getting your drum out?”

Tony smirked and went to the percussion room. Bronwyn was beyond embarrassed and completely surprised at the tears welling up in her eyes. She forced her turbulent emotions down and numbly went through warm ups. Her thoughts drifted.

Didn’t he feel anything real with me?

Apparently not.

But that night…

Apparently it wasn’t the real Drew. Look what he’s done since then, ignored you and started dating someone else. Does he really deserve any further thought?