A Fine Line Read Free

pair suspiciously.
    Lucy nudged Mark, “What if we vote?”
    “Now you want to be Lieutenant again?”
    “Hmph.”
    Billy nodded at his drummers to begin the warm up, and started Eight on a Hand at a slow tempo.
    Mark whispered, “Is your friend Gina seeing anyone?”
    Lucy smirked. She couldn’t think of a more mismatched couple than straight-A, first chair, feature majorette Gina and slacker “I’m God’s gift to women” Mark DeMatteo.
    If it will get me Lieutenant…
    You’re going to owe Gina a big one.
    I’m sure she’ll understand.
    “She’s single.”
    Gina and Jonathan’s relationship had ended dramatically on the spring band trip to Florida a few weeks earlier. Lucy suspected Gina might be ready to get back in the game.
    “If you set me up on a date with her, you can be Lieutenant.”
    Lucy was momentarily stunned; she hadn’t thought it would be so easy. She asked warily, “Just like that?”
    “Just like that.”
    Lucy couldn’t resist adding, “What’s wrong? Macho Mark can’t get a date on his own?”
    “Lucy…” Mark said in a warning tone.
    “I’m kidding. Consider yourself set up.”
    “Thanks, Lieutenant.”
    Billy glared at them and both bass drummers were instantly quiet.
     
    * * *
     
     
    CHAPTER TWO: The Guy
     
     
    Sam and Lucy were ending their last official date before the former South Washington snare drummer left for college. Lucy was upset, but not as upset as she thought she would be. Since graduation almost three months ago, although she didn’t want to admit it, they had been growing steadily apart. Still, there was something nagging Lucy’s subconscious.
    Without Sam…you’ll be alone.
    As shallow as it was to admit, Lucy really liked being one half of something. Liked having strong arms around her. Liked having eyes light up when he saw her. Liked having someone to kiss goodnight.
    Does it matter that it’s Sam?
    Of course it matters. Are you implying that it could be anyone?
    Well, you didn’t sound too picky.
    Sam interrupted her thoughts by cupping Lucy’s chin, “So, we’ve been dancing around this all summer. What exactly are we, Lucy Karate?”
    Lucy looked away from the familiar dark blue eyes and answered, “I don’t want to hold you back from anything.”
    “It’s not like that, Luce, I don’t want to be with anyone else.”
    “How can you say that when you haven’t even left yet?”
    “Some things you know.”
    Lucy sighed and said, “I’m just saying, it’s hard to talk about things that haven’t happened. College and high school are two totally different things.”
    Sam paused a moment before commenting, “So, we’re semi-together?”
    “As definitions go, that sounds good enough to me.”
     
    Dear Diary,
    I can’t believe my senior year is here, well, almost here. For all purposes, tomorrow is the beginning of senior year. Tomorrow is the first day of band camp, which doesn’t seem real. You wait and wait and wait and then suddenly you’re a senior and it’s your last season. I’m really sorry to say good-bye to summer, because this one has been a total blast…and it’s also been keeping me busy. I’ve been trying my best to really and finally say goodbye to Sam. Then yesterday, it actually happened.
    He left for school yesterday and so far all I really feel is numb. I want to be happy for him, but it still completely sucks to be left behind. As hopeful as I am that we’re going to stay together, I’m glad we’re both approaching this thing as realistically as possible. Long distance relationships are tough. There’s a lot of missing each other and missing out. However, before you write me off as completely devoid of romantic feelings, Sam and I have decided kind of see how things go one day at a time.
    Is this the smartest decision I’ve ever made? Probably not. On the other hand, it’s not like there’s anyone I’m going to be falling into the arms of anyone any time soon. In fact, I’m trying for just the