Chapter 4:

Text Message/Myspace Message :D

Once I arrived home, I logged onto my myspace page. Andrea was already online. I went to her profile and sent her a message out of habit.

Hey Andy,

I think I should message Luke tonight.

The new-found knowledge that he accepted my friend request from the night before was burning a hole in my…keyboard? I always found the time to fill her in on the details of Luke and me, and I tell her to fill me in on the ones about her and Andrew. So because of this, she told me the day she requested Andrew as a friend a few weeks ago. We tended to stalk his page for any juicy details. If his profile hadn’t been private, we would have stalked his page long before now! I have to admit, that boy was fine. Just in an entirely different way than Luke, in my opinion.

I went back to my home page and scrolled down to my top friend section. I’d made Luke number four. I figured moving him to number one would make Andrea angry and number two or three would be too obvious, so four it was! I tried not to let it bother me that he hadn’t put me on his top friends…yet. I clicked on his adorable picture which took me to his plain, almost dull profile. I knew it revealed nothing about his personality. I clicked the “send message” option and waited for the page to load.

Hey, (this was becoming our general text message starter, I could tell)

Are you nervous as I am about the contest tomorrow?

-Marie

Andrea had given me some great words of advice in the past week. ‘When you have no clue what to say, talk about what you know.’ I certainly knew about band things, and I was a little nervous about my first marching band competition.

I didn’t know if he would write back because I had not way of knowing he was online or not. I figured out he had somehow blocked his “online now” symbol which annoyed me to no end.

I went back to my home page and saw I had a new message. It was from Andy.

Yeah! I think you should, too! And so does Andrew… :D I logged on tonight and he IMed me! Can you believe it?! I about had a heart attack, girl! Lol We’re actually still talking if you want me to ask him anything for you?

-Andy

Yeah I had something for her to ask him. ‘Why are you drummers so weird?!’ I kept my thoughts to myself. She seemed to be really starting to like Andrew. A few months ago I would’ve been jealous out of my mind that she was talking to Andrew. Now, I’m actually ecstatic for her! I let my daydreams fly…It could be two girl, flute, best friends, dating the best friend tenor players! I could only hope.

Holy crap! That’s amazing! :D Tell him I say hi or something. Lol or maybe ask him if he likes cheese, too? Good times! :D

I laughed as I went back to my home page, thinking about the now hilarious moment from band camp. I found yet another message. This time from Luke.

Not really. I’ve been to so many of these things that I’m just over being nervous. You shouldn’t be though. They’re really no big deal. And was that girl serious about you smoking crack on the bus tonight?! Ha!

-LE

Ah! I couldn’t believe how completely sweet he is! And funny and charming…! I was elated until that darn conscious mind of mine brought me down to earth again. ‘I’ve been to so many of these…’ It only reminded me of how much older and more experienced he was, and not just in band. I was crazy to think he might feel the same way about me. This was just harmless flirting.

I put those negative thoughts to the back of my mind and wrote him back, thinking I’d joke around with him a little.

Yes, I do smoke crack. It’s my favorite pass time other than cliff diving and prostitution.

What am I doing?! I clicked send and sat back in my chair, waiting. Minutes later I get a reply.

Wow! Smoking crack and prostitution? I have a few buddies who could hook ya up! Lol What are you doing up so late the night before a competition, besides the obvious criminal acts? Lol You should be ashamed of yourself young lady!

The happiness I felt knowing he was spending his time joking around with me was yet again overcome by grief. ‘Young lady!’ I was a “young lady” to him, like a baby or a sister or something.

Well I could ask you the same thing, young man! And I’m not really that young. Just two years younger than you.

Before I sent the message, I deleted my last sentence. Drawing attention to our age difference couldn’t help my situation.

Naw, I know. I’m just messing with ya. And to answer your question as to why I’m up so late? I’m talking to a pretty lady on myspace! :D

I wanted to melt in my chair. He thinks I’m pretty! I got up and did a little dance only meant for my Jonas Brothers posters and my stuffed animals to see. I’m sure they didn’t mind.

:D I’m pretty, huh? That pretty much just made my day. Just to let you know. :D

I happily waited for a reply.

Um What makes you think I was talking about you? ;D jk Well it’s getting late and if I’m all tired my percussion director will do something horrible to get me to wake up. He’ll do anything! So I’m getting off here. See ya tomorrow!

‘Wow.” was the only word going through my head at that particular moment and several moments after that. I saved the messages he sent onto my computer, shut it down, and went off to bed.

That night, I dreamt that Luke and I were in the band room alone. We were just talking. Talking about nothing in particular, but it seemed every word he said came alive. At the end of the dream. I remember him leaning in to kiss me and…

“Marie!!! Get up! You’re gonna be late for your breakfast with the flutes!” I shot straight up in bed only to be blinded by the suddenly risen sun.

“Ugh!” I grunted as I tried to shield my eyes from the bright light.

I awoke fully, got dressed, and hopped in the car. All the while thinking rather bitter thoughts toward my mother for waking me up from my most wonderful dream yet at the most perfect moment, and at the flutes for having arranged the gathering that was the purpose for waking up early.

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At nine or so, all the flutes met for breakfast at Cracker Barrel. We were an extremely close section, even though there were about sixteen of us. No one ever fought from what I can recall. There was very little drama if any. We could also trust each other with anything. The upperclassmen treated the underclassmen like little sisters and were mentors and great examples. It was pretty amazing, and made band even more fun. We also enjoyed a hefty bit of band gossip as would be expected with the only all-girl section in the band.

“So I hear that Luke Ellinwood has a thing for a flute player.” One of the Senior players says. I get bright red and Andrea gives me a look. All the girls say something along the lines of “Well it’s not me…That I know of?” or “Well Andrew’s pretty cute.” but I just sit there, silent. It didn’t go unnoticed.

“Whoa Mar! Is it you?” Our section leader asks.

“I…um…I’m not exactly sure. Probably not. It’s probably one of you guys or something.” I tried to sound not too obvious, but I guess I failed miserably.

“Aw! Does our little Marie have her first quad player crush?” Katie, our second in command says.

“It’s not a crush.” I say, blushing a deep red.

“Well this is new. You really like him huh? It’s okay. You can totally tell us.” Our section leader replies.

“Okay, yeah. I guess I like him. But try and keep it on the DL, if you can.”

“Don’t worry. Our lips are sealed.” Katie speaks for the entire group.

“Yeah! We’re really glad that someone’s finally paying him any attention. Before Andrew it was Paul. There’s always at least one really good looking tenor.” one of the juniors said. I just smiled slightly. I was tired of hearing how Luke was second-rate compared to Andrew.

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Andrea and I got a ride from the restaurant to the school from Sarah, one of the seniors. We chatted about this and that until, about midway through the ride, I see a blue Nissan Xterra. Had it not had a simple, white, Saves the Day bumper sticker on it, I wouldn’t have given it a second glance. Andy saw the bumper sticker too and craned her neck to get a look at the driver.

“Hey, Sarah? Whose driving that blue Xterra over there?” She looked closer to study the driver for a second.

“Hmm...looks like that other quad player…yep! That’s Marie’s Lukie-Pookie!” She said with a sly smile. I was appalled.

“He’s not my Lukie-Pookie!…yet! And even so, why does everybody keep calling him that?!” I huffed.

“Chill, hon. We only mean the best by it! We’re all really excited you found a guy is all!” Sarah said in that almost motherly tone that the senior flutes used with us when giving seasoned advice.

“I know. I’m just nervous because everybody knows now.”

“Don’t be. Everybody has a crush now and then. We’re surprised you didn’t take up with Andrew. He’s usually who everybody crushes on. Besides me. I’ve got a man!” I could see her smile as she thought back to her boyfriend of three years. He really was a good boyfriend to her, and stood up for any of us flutes whenever we needed a guy. In the meantime, Andy had put her head down and blushed deep red. She was Sarah’s cousin and knew she tended to expand on her stories. She knew what was coming. I also knew that she actually liked Andrew for more than his freakishly good looks.

“She doesn’t mean you, Andy. Really.” I tell her in a really low voice. She just shook her head as Sarah continued to ramble.

“I’m telling you that boy is a player!” When Sarah started to laugh, we didn’t join in and she looked back at us. Andy specifically. She didn’t intend to hurt her cousin’s feelings.

“Oh, hon. You know it’s the truth.” Andy looked up with a confused face.

“I know how he is. I just…I thought that maybe he would change because of me…I wish he would change because of me.” She looked genuinely sad.

“Well I have faith in you.” Sarah said apologetically. Andrea smiled slightly. By then we had made it back to the school.

We went into the band room, set up our instruments and changed into marching clothes. It got hot under those uniforms this time of year! Shortly after, we headed out to the football stadium for a run through of the show before loaded the bus for the festival.

Luke had miraculously made it on time, very uncharacteristically, while Andrew didn’t show up for the run through at all. Andrea was worried sick, and by default, so was I. But I guess this was payback for all the times I gushed to her about Luke, so I listened like a good friend.

“What if he got into an accident on the way here?!”

“Unless he swerved from a random opossum attack, I’m sure he’s fine.”

“Oh no! I didn’t even think of that!”

“He’s fine!” I try to comfort.

“But how do you know?!”

“Ugh. Don’t automatically jump to the worst conclusion! Gosh! You’re starting to sound like me! He probably just overslept or something. “ She was usually the more level-headed one, but she apparently through caution to the wind when it came to Andrew.

My theory turned out to be correct when Andrew arrived moments before the busses pulled out. Andrea had been certain to tell me how I was right as soon as she found out herself. She also said that it was her fault in some way because they were up really late talking last night. I inwardly smiled. She went on to tell me that his mom kicked him off the computer and he called her where they proceeded to whisper for hours to each other so his mom wouldn’t hear. ‘It was just like that Taylor Swift song!’ apparently.

This got me thinking. Luke and I had talked too,…right? Just because we don’t verbally communicate that much doesn’t make everything we have less real…right? Luke was just not an initiator and hated talking on the phone. I was just scared to death to talk to him in person. Minor details. I had no idea why I had such a hard time talking to him.

Nevertheless, I managed to tell him and Andrew ‘Hey.’ as they walked by me on the way to their seats on the bus.

Luke and I texted pretty much the entire bus ride. I refused to let myself worry about the fact that we had never had an actual conversation and that whatever relationship we had was a pretty unhealthy one.

When we arrived at the school where the festival was to be held, our director let us loose to go get lunch at the concession stand. I met up with Andrea, Erin, Lauryn, Julie (a fellow freshman flute player), and Lauryn’s bass drum friend Lilly.

Once we got our food, there really wasn’t much of a place to sit down to be found. Well, besides the stands which were blocked off because a band was playing their show. We weren’t scheduled to go on for an hour or so. I absent-mindedly scanned the crowd.

“What the heck?!” Andy interjected. I gave her a quizzical look and followed her gaze. Just as I looked, I saw Andrew stand up and pull down his shorts revealing Abercrombie moose boxers, right there, in the middle of all the proud moms and dads coming to watch little Johnny play his trumpet solo.

“OH…my God!” I say, somewhat horrified and the other part embarrassed for our band to have a stripping drummer representing us to the masses. She followed my gaze and melted into a puddle of fifteen-year-old-crushing-girl stew. The word distracted came to mind and I instantly thought I needed a stronger word for the look on Andy’s face. She snapped herself back from her trance.

“What? No, no…um…not that. Luke! What the hack is that behind his ear? I seriously hope it’s not what I think it is?” I looked closely but couldn’t see much from this distance.

“It looks like a tampon to me.” Lauryn said matter-of-factly. I rolled my eyes.

“I highly doubt he keeps his feminine products behind his ear, Laur.” Julie said just as serious.

“Do you guys hear yourselves?! Of course he doesn’t have feminine products! He’s a guy!”

“Mar, do you need to go up there and ask Pookie for a tampon? You’re pretty darn cranky so…” Andrea joked. I rolled my eyes and looked back over to Luke’s direction. It looked just like a plain white stick from where I stood. But I didn’t have the best eyesight in the world.

“Is that? Is that a cigarette or something?” I ask, incredulous and hoping I’m wrong.

“No way. To play tenor’s you have to be in top physical shape. That’s why the smokers play in the pit. No offense Erin, or Lauryn.” Lilly said almost immediately.

“Well that sure does look like a cigarette to me! Is he crazy?!” Andy said. After a second he looked over and caught us staring at him. He smiled and we all simultaneously turned our heads…except Andy who stayed turned his direction to wavy cutely to Andrew who then blushed and waved back. I wish Luke and I had that…

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When the time came for us to head back to the busses to change into our uniforms, I decided I needed to take action. Just go up to Luke and ask him point blank what the heck was behind his ear. This plan was so much easier thought than done, but nonetheless, I persevered.

As we were walking back to the busses, Andrea ran up to me, seeming to have just figured something out.

“I think I’ve got it, Mar! It’s crack! Well not literally…but yeah!” I gave her a strange look and she rolled her eyes and prepared to tell me again.

“Behind Luke’s ear! It’s crack I think. A fake joint of some kind. Because of what that girl said yesterday!” When realization came crashing down on me, I almost fell over laughing.

“That’s absolutely crazy! But it’s probably the case!” I say and we walk the remaining distance to the busses.

As we’re finishing up with our uniforms, Luke walks by, uniform clad, and heads off in the direction of one of the equipment busses. Out of nowhere I hear:

“Marie! You silly crack head you!” It was Andy, who was cutting up. I gave her the death glare but she didn’t let up. Luke looked over our direction and smiled a knowing smile. He neither denied nor confirmed Andrea’s semi-accusation and simply walked on in the direction he was headed. I made a mental note to ask him on myspace that night.

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The competition went very well. We got all superior ratings (which is really good). The bus ride home was rather uneventful too. I texted Luke a few times. We were all so tired from the past two days of marching and bus riding that everything was pretty much quiet. This gave me time to think, which I really didn’t want to do.

Why did I always have to be the first to text him? I thought we’d gotten past the most awkward stage one stuff with the handshake. He hadn’t texted me first once since he got my number. This didn’t help much with the whole ‘I think he think’s I’m too young for him’ thing. Part of me wanted to know the answer to that question more than anything. Another part wished I would never have to learn the answer.

A/N: Review Review Review! :D It may be a couple of days before my next chapter. I had written a little less than half of this chapter beforehand, but I ran out of my hand-written stuff. I’ll have to write out entirely new ideas which will take a day or so! Thanks for reading! :D