Chapter Four
“Can we have a break?” Rosa complains on Friday during morning practice. “We’ve been doing this forever, and I’m so sweaty my hair’s getting ruined.”
Rosa does have enviable shiny long hair, but I can attest that it won’t last long in color guard.
“Actually we just had a break twenty minutes ago,” I say.
Yori sighs and leans her head on Rosa’s shoulder. “But I’m tired.”
A few of the others nod, looking slumped and exhausted.
I can’t blame them. People think color guard is easy, but it isn’t.
We’re constantly in motion, and our timing and synchronization have to be perfect.
But the thing is, it’s not going to get easier by not practicing.
In fact, it’s likely to get a lot worse, because when the weather changes during the fall, we’re almost assured to have at least a few stormy or windy football games and competitions.
This is nothing compared to swinging around a massive, waterlogged flag flinging mud in your face.
“How about this?” I say and try for a cheery tone. “Let’s run through the field commands one time, then run through our first competition song once, and then we’ll get a break. Yeah?”
I think it’s a decent compromise, but no one is thrilled.
“Hiya!” a voice calls and we all spin to see Faith.
She looks stunning as always, her long blond hair perfectly straight and parted in the middle, in a stylish dress and flats.
In comparison, I’m wearing my band shirt from freshman year and my hair is more frizz than curl.
She squeals at the sight of us. “Look at all of you! This brings back so many memories. I brought iced coffee and doughnuts!”
Everyone screams in delight and runs to huddle around her. She sets down a huge jug and brown paper bag and works her way through the group, giving hugs to each of the members.
“Faith!”
“Omigod, your timing is perfect!”
“You’re the best!”
I stand apart from the group, agitation growing in me even as I try to push it away.
Of course everyone’s happy to see her—she’s bringing them free food and a break from practicing.
But it would’ve been helpful to know she was coming today, and that she planned on bringing all this.
I could have pitched in or at least planned our rehearsal accordingly. Now I look like even more of a jerk.
“I had a dream of bringing you all real iced coffees, but your girl’s too broke for that!
” She laughs and they join in, utterly charmed by her.
Only Li looks back to check on me. I wave her on to get a doughnut.
“I tried my hand at making iced coffee at home and grabbed some doughnuts. Hopefully, this’ll be enough. ”
“It’s more than enough!” Keira says. “We haven’t gotten any fun things at camp. I heard the percussion section is having pizza delivered today for lunch, and the flutes are going out for ice cream after.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. Welp, that would explain why the group seems on edge today. Now that I think of it, Nova mentioned that the woodwinds have a sectional dinner planned for tonight. And the trumpets all dressed up like superheroes today. Ugh, I’m the worst color guard captain ever.
“What’s on the schedule for this afternoon?” Faith asks.
“Drill down,” Devin says.
“Oh my god, it’s drill down day?” Faith’s eyes flash with excitement. “I used to love drill down.”
“What’s drill down?” Callie asks.
“A competition to see who knows the field commands the best,” Madisyn replies in a bored voice.
“I hope you all represent out there,” Faith continues. “And whatever you do, don’t let the percussion players beat you. You can’t start the season like that.”
I nod emphatically. At least she’s a recent alum, so she gets it.
“Thanks for bringing stuff for everybody,” I tell her quietly as the others happily eat their snacks. “I totally dropped the ball.”
“Happy to take an early lunch and swing by.” She looks down at her phone. “Actually, I can’t stay much longer. Do you want to show me what you have so far?”
Not particularly, I think, but I don’t say that. She calls everyone together, and to my surprise, they don’t complain when she does it.
“Okay, I want to see what you’ve been working on before I have to go! I know you’re going to kill it!”
The others don’t look confident, but I smile and give them a thumbs-up. “You’ve got this.”
I play the music, and we run through the first song. Faith watches the whole thing with a smile on her face, cheering them on no matter how many dropped flags and missed marks there are. They all congregate around her after, and I swallow down my nerves. She and I both know how atrocious that was.
Her gaze sweeps over their faces. “All I have to say is…awesome job!”
I swing around to stare at her.
“The choreography is hard, and you’ve only been working on it for a few days, so don’t get down on yourselves. If you just keep up the energy and confidence, then I know you’re going to get it! And don’t forget to smile—the judges love that!”
I wait for her to shift into the critical part of her comments. You know, the compliment sandwich and all that. But instead, she picks up the empty box of doughnuts and gives them one more smile.
“I’m sorry I can’t stay for drill down this afternoon, but I’ll be back to check on you all as soon as I can, and I’m definitely taking time off to see the performance at the end of band camp next week. I expect big things!”
She heads toward the car, and I do a double take and jog after her. “That’s it?” I whisper as I follow her out to the parking lot. “But it was so bad.”
“I mean, yeah, it wasn’t great, but this is the end of week one.”
“You and I learned it from the choreographer in one day.”
“And that’s why we were both color guard captains.”
“But, it just feels like, if maybe you told it to them straight, it would scare them a little bit and make them work harder.”
“I don’t think your first reaction as captain should be to scare your guard.
” She puts her hand on my shoulder like she’s some aged adviser rather than a twentysomething just out of college.
“I know you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself this season, Hazel, but you can’t let that bleed into the way you act around the group.
Relax. Life doesn’t end after high school marching band. ”
That same frustration from before fizzles up in me, but the last thing I need is to get into a fight with my director during the first week of camp. “Right. Well, thanks for coming with the treats. That really boosted morale.”
“No problem. I’ll see you next week.” The corner of her mouth lifts in a smile. “And blow the rest of the band out of the water this afternoon.”
“All right, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for!
It’s drill down time!” Sire’s voice projects through his megaphone across the football field and I swallow down my excitement and nerves.
“Clarinets, I want you on the fifty-yard line. Color guard, head to the forty-five. Percussion, take the forty-yard line.” He continues calling out directions, but I stop listening.
Of course we’re going to be right next to percussion.
I bounce on the balls of my feet and take a deep breath. Nova strides by and lifts her hand for a high five, which I easily return.
“I’m coming for you, Buchanan,” she says with a smile.
“You better watch out, Walsh,” I call behind her and laugh. We aren’t usually competitive with each other, but all bets are off during sectional competitions.
A shadow falls over me and I turn to find Max in my personal space. My skin flushes at his nearness. I still haven’t gotten used to how tall he’s grown.
“The forty-yard line is over there,” I say and point behind him. “But if you don’t know that, I don’t think you’ll last long in what’s coming next.”
“I don’t appreciate you tattling on me to your mom.” His voice is low and rough.
“What? I didn’t tattle on you.”
“Then why did my mom tell me off about how I haven’t been welcoming?”
“I don’t know.” I cross my arms, hoping it’ll make me appear indifferent so I can hide how his closeness has flustered me. “Maybe because it’s the truth.”
“See, exactly, I knew you were talking about me. And then your mom had to get in my family’s business like always.”
My stomach flip-flops. “What do you mean, like always? My family hasn’t seen yours in years.”
Brody steps up beside Max. “I know you’re new, man, but we don’t talk to losers here. Particularly losers who aren’t even in band.”
Max turns to Brody in confusion.
“She’s in color guard,” Brody continues. “There’s a big difference. You’ll figure it out as soon as drill down starts.”
“Shut it, Brody,” I snap. “This doesn’t concern you.” Brody’s lucky I don’t take one of his drumsticks and shove it someplace that’ll make it very hard for him to march later.
He shakes his head and lets out a whistle. “Don’t take it out on us just because you can’t keep up. In fact, maybe you should go sit down on the sidelines now since you’ll be there in another few seconds. You can save yourself the embarrassment.”
“More like I’ll outlast both of you.” I glare at Brody before turning my anger on Max. “In fact, I’ll bet you that I’m the last one standing.”
“A bet?” Max asks. Interest flashes in his eyes and it makes my pulse leap. “What do we get when you lose?”
“She has to bring dessert for the percussion next week,” Brody says immediately. “Popsicles. It’s supposed to be ninety degrees out.”
“And when I win, you’re bringing the color guard Popsicles. One per member,” I add because I know how sneaky Brody is.
“Fine. But bring the blue ones. That’s the only good flavor.” Brody heads for his yard line.
I expect Max to follow him, but instead he steps closer to me. He leans in, as if he’s about to tell me a secret, and I can’t help holding my breath.
“You shouldn’t make bets you can’t win,” he whispers.