Keeping in Line (6 page)

Drew looked in his rear view mirror and then back at the road, before he said, “I guess you’re right. I do have a bit of a trend.”

“So, like I said, I know it’s a lot to ask for and just forget I asked. I’ll come up with a new plan and you can forget I even asked.”

They were quiet the rest of the way to Bronwyn’s house. As Drew pulled up, and the sophomore went to immediately get out of the car, more than ready for the entire painful experience to be over, Drew placed his hand on her smaller one, “Wait.”

Bronwyn looked up at him, “Yes?”

“I think I figured out a way this just might work.”

“And?”

“It’s kind of your idea and kind of like that movie with Freddie Prinze Jr.”

“You mean
She’s All That
? You’ve seen
She’s All That
?”

“Hey, do you want to hear the plan or not?”

“I do.”

“The thing is, I don’t think your idea is enough, basically, it needs something more. So, here’s what I’m thinking – I’ll mention, loudly, in front of one of the members of the Line that I’m interested in asking you to, let’s say, Homecoming or something. That information will get back to J.D., who being the guy I think he is, will come up to me and make some sort of wager as to whether or not you will say yes. When you say no, then J.D. feels like a star and you get the support of the Line and I will…well, I guess I'll go back to dating the girls I usually date.”

“Do you think that would actually work?” Even after spending an entire summer with five teenage boys, Bronwyn realized she was really no closer to understanding the male gender than she was a year ago.

“I’m a guy, aren’t I? I think I would know better what works and what doesn't.”

“And you’re sure you want to go through with this?”

Drew shrugged his shoulders and said, “Why not? My senior year was going to be boring otherwise.”

“Well, then, if that’s the case, then I have the perfect person you can ‘comment’ to,” Bronwyn said, a devious grin on her face.

At the same time, at a post-practice gathering at Waffle House, the rest of the snare section were having a conversation of their own. Adam picked at his hash browns, and said, “This doesn’t feel right.”

J.D. looked over at him and asked sarcastically, “What do you mean? Are your hash browns not to cooked to golden perfection?”

Adam rolled his eyes and answered, “I’m not talking about that. Listen, it’s not that I don’t love our section and all, it’s just…”

Kevin asked, “It’s just what?”

Adam sighed, “I can’t believe I’m actually saying this, but I think we’re being really shitty to Bronwyn.”

J.D. scoffed, “Who, Flueger? Are you kidding?”

Scott said, “Why do you care, Adam? Something going on of your side of the snare line we should know about?”

Lance interrupted, “Cut him some slack, guys. I’m on the other side of Adam and I think I would know if something was going on.”

J.D. asked, “Does that mean you’re on her side?”

Lance crossed his arms, “There should be no ‘sides’ on the snare line, J.D.”

J.D. glared at Lance, “Are you telling me how to run my Line?”

Adam broke the tension and said, “Seriously J.D., all I’m trying to say is I think Bronwyn is starting to take it personally that we never include her in anything.”

J.D. looked around the table and asked, “Do you remember your first year on the Battery?”

Kevin replied, “Yeah man, I marched with Lucy on the bass line, it was a laugh a minute in our section.”

J.D. gave him a stern look, “You’re not helping.”

Scott said, “Maybe you’re right, I mean we really came together at band camp, but it was as the five of us. Our section has six people in it.”

Lance nodded and added, “Seriously, I mean what we do and how we act sets the precedent for the rest of the Line, and right now, we’re setting a bad example.”

J.D. shrugged, “I guess. Fine, I will try and be nicer to Flueger.”

Happy with their Captain’s attempt at normalcy, Adam smiled and said, “You won’t regret it. Plus, I think once we include her, it’s really going to help us as a section.”

* * *

CHAPTER FIVE: Operation Tattletale

Bronwyn nodded to Drew from across the field. It was two weeks into the school year and today they were going to set ‘The Plan’ in motion. It was weird, because in the past week, Bronwyn had actually noticed a slight difference in how her section was treating her. Sure, she usually spent breaks hanging with her band friends and not the Line, but while she couldn’t put her finger on it, it was as if they were actually being a little nicer to her. Furthermore, Ben decided his earlier comment of “anytime” meant he didn’t mind taking Bronwyn home from practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and even picking her up for Friday night games.

Now is not the time to hesitate, as much as I’d like to think I’m one of them, the plan will ensure my acceptance!

Bronwyn could only wait and hope J.D. would take the bait and react accordingly. She was also nervous because they had to involve another person. She didn’t want Operation Tattletale somehow getting out to the rest of the band, but she trusted her friend Pete, a trumpet player.

Drew found Pete after practice, “You ready for this?”

Pete smiled and said, “Bronwyn’s a good friend and if you two think this will work…”

“It will.”

“There he is. I’ll see you in a few.”

Pete planted himself directly behind Bronwyn’s favorite person in the section, Tony Clarke, as he walked back from the practice field to the percussion room.

Drew jogged up and joined Pete, then asked, “Hey man, you got a sec?”

“What’s up?”

“So…you’re friends with Bronwyn, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Do you know if she’s dating anyone right now?” Drew asked loudly.

It was all Tony could do not to turn around. He visibly slowed his pace so he was walking closer to the pair behind him.

“Not that I know of. Why are you asking?”

“No reason.”

“Really?”

“Well…you promise to keep this to yourself?”

“Sure.”

“I was thinking about asking her to Homecoming.”

Tony almost tripped over himself. Pete, noticing Tony’s antics, had to hold back a laugh, “Seriously?”

“You think she would say yes?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe you should just ask and find out.”

“Yeah…although, I think I may wait awhile and get to know her a little better.”

“Do you want me to let her know that you’re interested? I can drop some hints for you.”

Drew said quickly, “No! I mean, not for now, let’s just keep it between you and me.”

“No worries.”

At that point Tony peeled off and went zooming in the direction of the band room. Drew clapped Pete on the back and said, “Do you think he bought it?”

“Hook, line, and sinker. I’m sure J.D. will know about your ‘intentions’ in the next ten minutes.”

“Great, thanks for your help.”

Still slightly confused about what was actually going on, Pete commented vaguely, “I hope things work out the way you want it to.”

Tony skidded into the percussion room, nearly colliding with some of the front line members. He quickly found J.D. and pulled his Captain aside, “Hey dude, I have something to tell you.”

The tone of Tony’s voice made J.D. pay immediate attention. He told the younger drummer, “Alright, put your drum away and let’s talk outside.”

They walked quietly into the hall. J.D. crossed his arms, and asked, “What’s this all about, Tony?”

“You know Drew?”

“Our dumb major?”

“Yeah, him.”

“What about him?”

Tony looked around to see if anyone was listening. Satisfied they weren’t, he commented, “It seems as though he’s taken interest in Bronwyn.”

“As in Flueger?”

The sophomore rolled his eyes, “You know another Bronwyn?”

“Continue.”

“Apparently, he’s thinking of asking her to Homecoming.”

“And how do you know all this?”

“I overheard Drew talking to one of Bronwyn’s friends.”

“Curious.”

Tony questioned him, “Are you going to do anything about it? Do you think she would actually say yes?”

J.D. smirked, “Not sure yet, but it does give me a few ideas to keep things interesting this season. Do me a favor and make sure to keep this to yourself, okay?”

“Sure thing, J.D,” Tony said proudly.

Drew was not surprised when he saw J.D. waiting at his car that evening after practice. The drum major had to wipe the smile from his face before J.D. knew something was up. Dumping his book bag in the trunk, he asked gruffly, “Can I help you?”

J.D. crossed his arms and said, “I hear you’re interested in someone in my section.”

“Who told you that?”

“So it’s true? I don’t hear you denying anything.”

Drew shrugged and responded, “Well, sort of.”

“And you want to ask her to Homecoming?” Given there were only three young women in the entire section, there was no need to mention the “her” by name.

Drew kicked a tire and said, “I’m going to kill—”

J.D. grinned evilly, “Listen, don’t ask how I know. I have my sources. I was wondering if you wanted to make a bit of a side bet on the situation?”

“I don’t like the sound of this…”

“Trust me, Bronwyn never has to know. Just a gentleman’s wager.”

“That’s pretty low, J.D., even for you.”

“She won’t find out. Anyway, what do you care? You’ll be at college next year and not worried about some pathetic high school girl.”

Drew waited a moment before asking, “Alright, I’ll consider it. What are the odds?”

“She says yes…I’ll personally pay for your entire ‘delightful’ Homecoming evening together.”

“Sounds good.”

“She says no…you admit personally to my section that you have no leadership abilities or any sort of dominance over them.”

“Isn’t it bad enough that she will say no?”

“Nope.”

Drew scuffed his shoe on the pavement, “Let me think about the terms. In the mean time, do not tell anyone the plan. If I find out that Bronwyn or anyone else in your section knows…everything is off.
Comprende
?”

“Yeah, just don’t keep me waiting.” J.D. walked off towards his own car.

As soon as the snare player was out of sight, Drew called Bronwyn and hoped she was home. When he heard her voice on the line, he said, “It worked.”

“He actually bought it?”

“Sure did. So, if I ‘win’ he’s going to spring for our entire Homecoming night.”

Bronwyn didn’t know how to respond. While she was glad Drew had been able to accurately predict how things were going to go, she was also a bit sad J.D. would so eagerly bet on her. Finally, she said lightly, “Awww…too bad for ‘us,’ I guess.”

Drew laughed, “Yeah, I guess so, and when I lose, I have to admit to the Line that I don’t have any control over them blah, blah.”

“J.D. certainly knows how to play hardball, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah, I don’t mind so much. As long as I’m telling just the Line and not the entire band, then I think we’ll all be a big happy family again and then we can go onto winning some competitions this season.”

“Thanks again.”

“Hey, no big deal. With the show going the way it is, it will be a nice distraction. I’m sure by next week it will be old news.”

“Well, thanks for calling and letting me know. Night, Drew.”

“Night, Bronwyn.”

Bronwyn hung up the phone and sighed.

What were you hoping for? A happy ending?

No…but, I wish I could’ve gone on at least one date.

Are you sure that’s it?

Bronwyn trudged up to her room, not wanting to admit the real reason she was sad. Deep down, she’d held the hope that maybe Drew would warm up to the idea of actually going out with her, that maybe she would be more than just a ‘distraction’ during his senior year.

Friday was the first home game of the season. The stands were packed and Bronwyn was excited about her first night marching with the Battery. All the hours of practice that had led up to the show so far were about to pay off. Rehearsals were one thing, but it was something else entirely to march on the field in front of the crowd. This game was especially unique, because tonight the Forrest Hills Flyers were revealing their new uniforms. Bronwyn couldn’t believe her luck – the uniform had not been updated in six seasons but this year they were given sleek, new designs.