Alex by Bri Bri (e book reader TXT) 📕

"Okay, does anyone else have anything to top Miss Brianna here?" Mr. Nolt asks as the clapping ceases. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lindsey, a fellow band kid, hold her hand up sheepishly. "Yes, Lindsey?"

"Well, I don't think this tops Brianna's story, but my older sister is going to have her baby soon. She went into labor a couple hours ago," she gains more confidence in her story as she goes on, earning a few 'awws' from her classmates, including me.

"Well that's very exciting. tell your sister we said good luck- I mean- congrats!" He cracks up at the class, whom starts to bust out laughing at his joke. He shouts over the laughter, "No but tell her that we said congradulations." The laughter begins to die down and we get ready to talk about liquid nitrogen. As we get ready to move to the front to watch examples, my phone starts vibrating, saying that Cox has texted me. The message says, "We made into class A by 2 students. Woot! The smallest "large" school! Concord's in class B. Tell your friends!" Mikaela looked over my shoulder, quietly 'oooh'ing that I was going to get into trouble for being on my phone. 

"Hush up, it's Cox. We made it into class A!" I whisper louder then I intended. 

"Oh yay!" Mikaela whispers back. 

"Hey, Brianna, what class are we in?" Lindsey asks from across the lab table.

"Class A," I tell her.

"What class are we in?" Annika asks. I can see the envy in her eyes.

"Class A."

"Wait, what class are we in?" Lizzy asks.

"Class A. Guys, we are in class A this year," I tell Lizzy, then say a little louder so others could hear.

"Why didn't you tell me first?" She asks.

"Because you weren't right next to me."

"You said I'd be first to know," she scolds, only half-kidding.

"Dude, not now. Mr Nolt is talking." He then starts to talk about the temperature of liquid nitrogen, but I can't pay attention. The stares from jealous rejects, the stares from curious band kids, and the daunting feeling of being in the highest class all hits me, scratching at my nerves. I slump my shoulders a little more, and let my chin fall, letting some of my hair get into my eyes, trying to block off the nerves. I focus on Mr. Nolt's examples and experiment.

"Okay class, please go back to your seats, we only have a few minutes left in class, and we won't see each other again until Monday. I'll miss you guys. Please make sure the desks are back where they're supposed to be." the high pitched bell interrupts his last sentence, and he shouts over the chaos, "See you guys on Monday!"

Lizzy comes up to me right as I get out of the door. "Why didn't you tell me first?" She nearly snarled at me. 

"Because you weren't right next to me. I'm not going to shout over Nolt."

"Okay, first you snap at me for my conducting, then you steal my spot, then you don't even keep me up to date! What is wrong with you!" Her jealousy shoves itself prominently into her voice.

"First of all, calmith yourself. Second, I didn't snap at you, i gave you some criticism. So that you could get better. Third, I did tell you what class we're in, didn't I? Sounds updated to me. Oh, and, you don't OWN this spot! I was rightfully granted this spot. It's mine now," I step closer to her, trying to intimidate her. Normally, she doesn't get scared, but I see her back away slightly. 

"I hope you fall off of the stand, Bitch."

Nerves stab through my stomach. Today is my first day in band class as the drum major. Sure, it's not marching band, but the top band is full of marching band kids. Butterflies flutter around my stabbing nerves, making my head hurt. Why was I so nervous?

It's only band. No one is going to hurt me, I tell myself, already feeling their jealous stares, even though school hasn't even started. Heck, I'm not even there yet. I look over to my older brother, driving contently. He can't hear my thoughts...

The brick building lays in wait for all of the students to enter. I walk in shyly, hoping no one else can read or feel my nervousness. The guy at the welcome center acknowledges me with a nod and I half-smile at him. In the cafeteria, I see Duane sitting at a table and go and say hi and sit down by him. 

"So, you're a drum major now. How do you feel?" he asks.

"Eh, I feel like a sophomore. Maybe a little nervous," I say, making sure to keep my composure.

Publication Date: 01-17-2013

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