Keeping in Line (5 page)

Drew stood still, processing and considering the information the little redhead had unloaded on him.

Bronwyn took another deep breath, and forced herself to look into Drew’s blue eyes, “Please?”

Drew hesitated another second before he responded, “Alright, I’ll do it.”

Bronwyn was in shock. It had been too easy. “What?”

“On one condition…”

“Yes?”

“You owe me. You owe me big.”

Still shocked he had agreed so easily, Bronwyn nodded and answered, “I know.”

“So, just consider that sometime I’m going to ask you for a favor and I’m going to hold you to it.”

“Agreed – whatever you want!”

Drew, intrigued by her innocence, and perhaps the brilliant simplicity of her plan, continued, “So, any ideas about how to publicly embarrass me?”

Bronwyn shook her head, “I wish I had something, but honestly, I wasn’t sure what you were going to say, so I didn’t think that far ahead. In the meantime, let’s say if I come up to you and start doing or saying something outrageous, just go along with it, okay?”

“Thanks for the warning.”

During their conversation, they had walked around the entire campus and were back at the dorms. Bronwyn realized she had run out of things to say. She gestured vaguely at the girls’ hall, “So, guess I’d better go get ready…”

“Yup.”

“You should get ready too, wouldn’t want to keep your fans waiting,” Bronwyn said, unable to help herself.

“What can I say?”

“You’re no better than the rest of the Line.”

“See you at the dance, Bronwyn.”

The snare drummer practically floated up to her room. Megan saw the look on roommate’s face and asked, “Was I seeing things, or were you just talking to Drew?”

Bronwyn smiled dreamily and replied, “You weren’t. I was.”

* * *

CHAPTER FOUR: Strategery

To: [email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Re: Pick your brain.

Lucy,

So, in an effort to fit in with the Line, I’m kind of working on this complicated plan that will involve Drew (remember him? The cute drum major who looks vaguely like Zac Efron?). Anyway, in a total un-Bronwyn like move (that I hope you would have been very proud of) I went up and asked him if he would help out…

...and he said yes!

Of course, in my crazy head, that meant he liked me and I got all excited and dressed up for the dance and then he didn’t even look at me. Not once. I felt like a complete idiot. So now, I don’t here I am and wondering why I even asked for his help in the first place. Is it December yet?

Seriously, I’m just ready for it to be my junior year and for both Drew and J.D. to have graduated.

Please tell me you know what I’m talking about!

B

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Re: Re: Pick your brain.

B,

Yeah, I know what that’s about. My freshman year on the Line, I became obsessed with a snare player named Cameron. And it killed me to see him talk to anyone else. I knew it was never going to happen, but my brain just wouldn’t let it go…and then he moved away. Waaahhh!! But I digress, so…you just have to wait it out, either that, or find some guy who does notice you and go for it. Or, the worst (or best) of all, tell him how you feel. You’d have more guts than I did, I never got the chance with Cameron.

Later Sk8er!

Lucy

P.S. I’m curious, what exactly does this plan of yours involve

P.P.S. I’m sure this season will turn out okay – REMEMBER, YOU’RE A SNARE DRUMMER!

After reading Lucy’s response, Bronwyn climbed into bed. With the question of what exactly she could do weighing on her mind, she tossed and turned, trying to get to sleep. She didn’t want to involve Megan and Meredith because, well, the whole idea was based on the embarrassing fact that she couldn’t admit to them. Both girls were so happy and popular in their sections, they probably didn’t have a concept of what it was like to watch everything from the outside. The only plan Bronwyn could think of to get back on the good side of the Line was the following scenario:

INT. Percussion Room

Enter DREW, an attractive 17-year-old male. Percussionists are busy goofing off before a practice.

DREW

(nervous)

Has anyone seen Bronwyn?

The drummers part as BRONWYN FLUEGER, our beautiful, resplendent, scarlet haired, 15 year old heroine, walks up.

BRONWYN

What do you want?

DREW

(even more anxious)

Umm, I was wondering if you would maybe like to out with me?

BRONWYN

(laughing)

No way.

DREW

Please?

BRONWYN

Sorry, drummers like me don’t date losers like you.

Drew leaves the room with a dejected and pitiful look on his face, while the rest of the drummers crowd around Bronwyn, patting her on the back.

J.D.

I always knew you were one of us.

(calling out after Drew)

Loser!

Bronwyn sighed.

Is that the best I can do?

It’s simple and easy and there is no way the guys will not understand it. You win, he loses.

Yeah…but I don’t know if he’ll go along with damaging his rep just for me. I’m just some sophomore he doesn’t know. What does he get out of this except complete and utter humiliation
?

All you can do is ask and find out.

Still trying to get to sleep, Bronwyn wondered why her sophomore year was not going to start exactly like she had planned back in the spring. Her mental checklist had gone very much according to plan. She had earned the coveted spot on the snare line she had wanted so badly. She had classes with most of her friends. What she hadn’t planned on, and couldn’t have predicted, was her need for acceptance from the Line. She wanted to be included, to belong, rather than be an outsider in her own section. Was she being too sensitive? Should she just get over herself and accept the way things were?

It was a long time before she finally drifted off to sleep.

Tuesday afternoon was the first practice after band camp. Bronwyn glumly put on her drum and walked out to the field by herself. She looked at Beth and Valerie jealously. Of course, they were fitting in seamlessly with the other members of the Pit.

Some example you are setting for them, Flueger.

Looking up at the drum major podium was especially difficult. The same little voice inside of her nagged
, you think just because he agreed to help you that means anything?

After practice, Bronwyn didn’t even bother to ask Ben for a ride home – who would want someone as lame as her riding shotgun? As she was walking to the phones to call her Dad to pick her up, she heard someone approach her.

“So, you come up with our plan yet?”

Bronwyn’s heart fluttered in recognition of the voice and especially at the use of the word “our.” She managed to respond, “Actually, no, I haven’t.”

“Really?”

“I’m kind of stumped.”

Except that’s a lie, because I know exactly what I need to do, but it’s going to require a lot on your part, and I’m not sure if that’s what you signed up for.

They walked in silence. When Bronwyn reached the phone and dug around in her pockets for enough change to make the call, Drew looked at her strangely and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Calling my parents, because, y’know, I haven’t quite mastered the art of teleporting just yet.”

“Tell you what, how about I drive you home and we’ll discuss the plan on the way?”

Unprepared for Drew’s attention, Bronwyn looked at him skeptically and questioned, “You sure you don’t have other places to go? People to see?”

“I can see them after I drop you off.”

“Oh, okay, just let me call my parents and tell them I have a ride.”

“Flueger, you can use my cell.”

Bronwyn blushed, and replied, “Fine, Mr. Bossy, I didn’t want to go around assuming things. Even if the rest of my section does not, I have manners.”

As they walked to the parking lot, Bronwyn called and told her parents she would be home shortly and filled in the silence by giving Drew directions to her house. Gentleman that he was, Drew opened her side of the car first. Bronwyn got in and scrambled to open his door. The drum major got in the car smiling, and said, “Thanks, you’d be surprised how many girls forget to do that.”

Bronwyn beamed back at him.

…
No time like the present, you've got him in an enclosed space…

Ignoring her subconscious, she stalled and reverted to small talk, “So, how are you feeling about the show?”

As soon as she asked the question, she cringed. It was no secret the halftime show was not turning out how anyone expected. By the end of band camp, the Forrest Hills Flyers were severely behind schedule. The arrangement, complicated drill, and addition of a third drum major had slowed down the speed of learning, leaving a frustrated and exhausted band. The continued rivalry between J.D. and Drew was not helping things.

He sighed, and Bronwyn felt her heart go out to the drum major. During practices, he was always the picture of leadership. Here in the car, she realized maybe things were affecting him more than she thought. Maybe she wasn’t the only one having a difficult season.

Rather than wait for his answer, she quickly made excuses, “You know, it’s not your fault.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Of course not! Last time I checked, there were over two hundred people on the field and each of them has a hand in the final results. Plus, it’s seriously early in the season…”

“This time last year—”

“Was a different show.” Bronwyn remember being in the Pit and how easy her life had been. She continued softly, “Was a different everything.”

“You’re right about that.”

“So, give it some time.”

He paused, and then commented, “Sounds like maybe you should do the same.”

“About what? J.D.?”

“Yup.”

“That’s different.”

“How?”

“Trust me, it just is.” Bronwyn, uncomfortable with talking about the deeper issues within her section, wanted to focus on the solution. Although she was enjoying the personal conversation and getting to know Drew better, she said abruptly, “So, um, I think you should ask me out.”

He waited a few moments before he replied, “I’m confused, what does that have to do with waiting things out?”

“It doesn’t.”

“As long as you’re sure this is the best way…”

“I am.” She impatiently tapped the snare solo out on her leg.

He eyed her nervous response, but answered, “Then let’s hear an explanation.”

“Well, I mean, you wouldn’t be asking me out for real. Basically, I had this scenario in my mind, where like, after a practice or something you come in the percussion room and you’re all ‘let’s go out’ and I’m all ‘no’ and then the Line is like ‘she’s our hero.’”

Drew was quiet; obviously, he needed a moment to process the ‘plan.’

Mistaking his silence for disapproval, Bronwyn kept talking, “I know, it’s stupid. Forget I asked. I guess you have a reputation to worry about.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t think you’ve ever shown much of an interest in people like me.”

“What are you implying?”

She replied honestly, “Basically, from what I can tell, you have a type and that sort of girl is not me. You know, maybe I overlooked the whole reality of my plan. I mean, no one would believe it if you waltzed into the percussion room and suddenly showed an interest in me. ”