Keeping in Line Read Free Page A

or saying absolutely nothing. Still grumbling to herself, she left Stewie in the percussion room and sat down next to her best friends: Meredith (a sax player) and Megan (a flautist) and high-fived the rest of her band friends, Tyler (a Sousaphone) and Pete (a trumpet).
    Bronwyn asked, “What did I miss?”
    Meredith answered, “We’re discussing which bus we’re going to sign up for this season.”
    “I think I have to sign up for the drumline bus,” Bronwyn replied glumly, not wanting to admit how nervous she was to have to ride the percussion bus. The sophomore snare remembered the previous season when the Line was headed to one of the Indoor competitions. Lucy was sitting with Tom and Bronwyn was sitting by herself in the front of the bus. It seemed everyone else had easily found a seat mate, leaving the redhead (again) on her own.
    Would this season be any different?
    It was a silly question, but she wasn’t sure where she would fit in. She didn’t have a ‘Tom’ in her life like Lucy did, and she knew a lot the members of the Line would have their girlfriends on the bus anyway. Bronwyn looked across the room at Drew and wondered what bus he was going to be on.
    Megan said, “Bummer.”
    Bronwyn agreed, “I know. J.D. is running a really tight ship this year and I don’t want to risk anything, you know?”
    At the name J.D., both Meredith and Megan’s eyes glazed over. Bronwyn rolled her eyes, “You guys, I keep telling you – he’s not that cool.”
    Meredith smiled broadly and replied, “Tell me the part again how you practiced with the guys and they took their shirts off…”
    Sensing the topic of conversation was heading in a direction she didn’t want to elaborate on, Bronwyn stood up, intent on heading to warm ups. Rolling her eyes in frustration, she commented, “Ab City. I’m sure you’ll all get a glimpse at band camp. I swear, any excuse they have – those shirts come off. If you find carrier tans sexy, then you’re in luck. See you girls later!”
    Bronwyn walked over to the percussion room where she saw Beth and Valerie standing awkwardly. The redhead remembered a year ago almost exactly to the day, when she had shown up to her first band practice. Lucy had immediately and without question taken the freshman under her wing. Bronwyn had vowed to be a cool drumline girl and attempt to do what Lucy had done for her. She forced a happy tone and asked, “Hey gals – how was your summer?”
    They both mumbled generic answers.
    Taking a deep breath, Bronwyn smiled and brightly said, “Do you have any questions? We drumline girls have to stick together, after all.”
    At that moment Tony came in and interrupted their conversation, “Don’t listen to her. Bronwyn doesn’t know the first thing about drumline.” He then learned on one of the tall racks that held the bass drums and added flirtatiously, “If you have any questions, I’d be more than happy to show you around.”
    Valerie and Beth were obviously unsure of what to do, but at that moment J.D. joined everyone in the percussion room and announced, “Enough bullshitting. Everyone get their drums and get outside.”
    Bronwyn glared at Tony, flashed a smile at the young Pit members, grabbed a stand for her music and walked outside silently, thinking about her fellow sophomores. For whatever reason, her particular grade had produced a bumper crop of drummers who had all decided to keep playing after middle school. Tony was their ringleader and the pair had exchanged insults since their first introduction to one another. Bronwyn had quickly moved into the ‘prodigy’ category and Tony had not been able to get over the fact that a girl was better than he was. Worst of all, he was joined by Steve, his best friend and lackey, who was on the tenor line. Unfortunately, Bronwyn didn’t have anyone like that on her side in the Line. It was a lonely existence, missing out on something everyone else seemed to have. She wasn’t sure if it