Drills and Illegal driving

Trouble at band camp.

 Author's note: I will be using the name of my school for this but it takes place in Detroit. Natalie/Wolf  is from Arizona.

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" The planets?"

I ask to no one in particular as i read the title of our music. Marshall just looks at me.

" What? You've never heard it?" he asks. "

"No, I haven't classical music isn't what i listen to in my spare time. The only dosage I get is during marching band." I say back dryly with a hint of a joking tone. He just laughs and gives my a small shove "Take a chill. No need to get defensive. come on were going to start learning drill." As we walk to the field he starts up conversation. " Sooo, what music do you like if you don't mind me askin?" I look at him and smile a small bit. "Rap. The occasional pop but mostly rap. It's the only thing i can relate to." I look over at Marshall and he has a goofy grin on his face that makes me burst out laughing. " If your done laughing, i would like you to know that i like rap too. It's my favorite type of music." He says with more enthusiasm than his body language portrays. I laugh and the ask a question " Who is your least favorite rapper," and i immediately get this response " Little Wayne, his rapping is just weird. whats your least favorite rapper."  " Flo Rida, if your consider him rap like most do. I think his style just... lacks something." We both laugh as we final get to  the field. We attempt to and succeed at reading our drill charts and finding the first set. At the beginning of the set i stand next to DeShaun, a tenor player. " Hi nice to meet you ." He smiles at me. " I saw you talking to Marshall, you guys friends now?" He questions.All i can come up with is an " i guess."  DeShaun keeps talking to me throughout practice but when we started to march he crashed into me. Not only did I badly smash my head into DeShaun's Tenors but I twisted my ankle. Marshall ran over to me dropping his drum. " Hey, Wolf you OK?" I faintly heard his question and just nodded my head. He let out a sigh of relife and helped me up. Marshall picked up my drum for me and set it on my shoulders. I felt  pain violently stabbing up through my  leg every time i put pressure on my right ankle. I'm already wearing knee braces and now my ankle is fucked up? Great. I keep marching despite the pain and every time we stop at a set, i see Marshall looking  back to see if I'm all right and when he does look back I give him a reassuring thumbs up." Hey, Wolf, I'm sorry i bumped into  you like that. Are you sure your OK?" DeShaun asks as we tap out the music for that set. A smile graced my lips, " yes i'm fine don't worry." " Cool, Cool, Cause  it looked like you fell pretty bad," he says back. I just nod " It wasn't as bad as you think, don't worry." Deshaun just nods and smiles and we both go back to playing the music.

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After a while of marching, we break off into section and Josh, our section leader, comes up to me.

" Are you OK Wolf? I saw you took a nasty spill."

My answer stayed the same " Yes, I'm fine Josh it's cool." I say. " Good, Hey Marshall come here for a sec." I watch as Marshall jogs as best as he can with the snare bumping his knees

" What up Josh." Our section leader smiles at both of us. " Good news. The whole entire show is going to be centered around  you two!" Me and Marshall both look at each other and the yell " WHAT!" Josh stands there and laughs. " Yup. During Mars you two will be fighting each other and there will be a drum battle. Then, In venus the color guard is going to teach you two how to dance, because the drummers sit out in that song. finally, you two are going to be center stage for Jupiter. And, I want no complaints cause you BOTH ar doing it." Me and Marshall simotainiously sigh.Great just perfect. " But that ain't cool dude!." Marshall exclaims. " Why don't the upperclassmen do it!" Josh shakes his head " Because, the group voted for you two and anyways what did i say, NO complaining. Anything to add Wolf, You're too quiet. I know you better than that." I frown " Well if I say anything, i'm going to end up punching you in the face and cussing everyone out, so i don't think you want my input." Josh jumps and Marshall snickers. " Just... Go practice for your solo in Mars you two." He says as he picks up his drum and walks away.

Marshall and I pick up our drums and tap out the first half of the music. " Ready for the solo." He asks with his smirk that makes me blush. " Yup i'm ready." he starts frestyling and tapping on his drum. He then uses my drum too. His drumsticks moved in a wild flourish between our two snares. After his part of the solo it's my time to shine. I start to drum and use his snare. I flip up one of my sticks catch it and start tapping away again. His jaw drops as i tap out the last couple of measures in my solo and finally stop.

" Well? What did you think of that Mr. I'm-Too-Good-To-Beat?" I say smirking.  " Wow. I... It was ok i mean. Ya know. For you." Marshall says in a joking tone. " BAND! AHTENHUT!" The drum major yells. Everyone yells "GO!" and stands at attention as the drum major begins to speak. " Well, Cibola Raider Regiment, The first day of band camp is officially over!" I cheer along with the rest of my band mates. " Now everyone go home cause you can't stay here!" Chuckles were heard all around and everyone moved toward the band room. I started to limp and Marshall caught me in the act. " I knew you were hurt Natalie. Why didn't you tell me?" He says with a frustrated look on his face. He supports me the rest of the way to the band room and helps me put down my drum. " I'm taking you to a hospital." Marshall says leading me to the fine arts parking lot. " No Marshall i'm fin-" " No your not!" He snaps back as he pulls out his keys. " Wait. Marshall. How are we getting there?" He looks at me with a 'No-duh' expression " i'm Driving of course. Why?" I sigh as he unlocks the door of a small, blue, rusty Ford pick up. I get in the passengers seat as he gets in the drivers seat. " Marshall, we're not allowed to drive. we're not olf enough." I say allitle worridly as i close the door. " Don't worry i've never been caught before and no complaints. Im driving." He says as he jams the keys into the igniton. He turns on the radio and the sound of "Hip-Hop is dead" comes through the speakers. Marshall had the AC on and i roll down the sleves of my hoodie and pull up the hood. It was 85 outside. Hot for Detroit natives but not for me. In Yuma, Arizona hot is 114 not 80. I don't think we have ever had 80 degree weather. I end up drifting to sleep the rest of the way to the hospital in the depths of my baggy forest green sweatshirt I had brought with me to practice. The last thing I hear is Marshall letting out a small laugh.

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" Natalie. wake up we're here." I hear Marshalls voice and feel a nudge on my shoulder. I wake up and stretch in the seat but I jolt of pain shoots up my leg and i remember where we are. He gently helps me out of the truck and locks it. "  Your not from around here are you?" he asks as I look at him puzzled. " The weather I mean. Anyone from here wouldn't be wearing a sweatshirt." I give a small smile and then awnser, " I'm from Yuma arizona. I'm used to hot weather in the summer and the wind makes me cold." He just chuckles and i get called back. The doctor takes a look at my ankle and wraps it up. I am given a presciption for pain meds. Over a 3 moth dosage. Bad Idea. We walk out of the hospital and we get back in the car. " How about we get somthing to eat." Marshall suggests. " Taco Bell." I immediately say and his eyes light up. " I love Taco Bell." " me too." I respon as he drive. I take notice that for someone thats not supposed to be driving he's very good at it. We pull through the drive through and take our food to a park. The plush grass feels good under me as we sit down. I wildly bite into my first taco. " Woah, come down there 'Wolf'." Marshall says laughing putting air quotes around Wolf. I just stick my tounge out. We finish our food then throw away the wrappers. " I gotta get home. Drive me?" " Nah. i'm going to leave a girl that has only lived in detroit for a year in the middle of the f****n city." He says as he unlocks the car door. I roll my eyes and tell him " I live on eight mile by the way. In the trailers I hope it's not out of your way." He just gives me a simple "It's not" and heads in the direction of the city limits.

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 We finally stop infront of my house and i thank him  for everything. " No problem. want me to pick you up for band camp tomarrow?" " Sure." I say with a smile. I unlock the door. Moms not home. I go in my room after brushing my teeth, shut the door, put on some quiet rap instrumentals and fall asleep in the clothes that i was wearing that day.

 

Author's Note

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