Read Online The Line by Courtney Brandt - Free Book Online

exactly who they were. The South Washington high school drumline.
    Lucy was glad she had taken off her own drumline jacket before going into the restaurant, but seeing the collected drummers, all of the brave feelings that had been with Lucy in the car suddenly disappeared. It was one thing to tell Sam the truth when it was just the two of them; it was another thing completely to tell him in front of his entire Line.
    “Remember how I told you I was on drumline?”
    “Yes.” Remember how I told you I wasn’t on drumline?
    “Well, it’s kind of a tradition I go out with them after a game. I’m the kind of in charge of the section. I tried to tell them I had a date, but that only made it worse. So, I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Can we ditch them after an hour or so?” Lucy asked, desperately wishing she could dump them all this very moment.
    Sam smiled and answered, “Thanks for understanding.”
    No worries, if there’s one thing I know how to handle, it’s high school percussionists.
    Thinking quickly, Lucy knew what it would take to get their attention and perhaps even teach them a lesson about the fairer sex in the process. Lucy walked back to the group with Sam, a devious smile on her face.
    Sam made introductions, “Guys, this is Lucy Karate. Lucy, this is Flip, Ted, Jeff, Massey, Ken, and Snoopy.”
    Lucy smiled radiantly at each of them, wishing there was a young woman among them. She thought she had seen a girl or two on their Line before, but there were none here tonight. Sam took a seat and she squeezed in next to him, taking her hand under the table and squeezing it gently. She saw some of the guys were giving Sam looks of approval around the table. Lucy rolled her eyes and pretended not to notice, but was secretly flattered.
    Ted spoke up first, “So, you go to Forrest Hills?”
    “Yes, I do. So, now we can never talk again, isn’t that how it goes?”
    Ted laughed and answered, “No, it’s cool. We go to practically identical schools. As long as you’re not in the marching band, it’s okay.”
    Lucy swallowed and asked hopefully, “What’s wrong with being in the band? Isn’t that what you guys are all in? Isn’t it all just one big happy family?”
    Ken fielded the question, “Not really. Both schools are in competitive marching bands, just like the football teams are. Also, we’re on the drumline, so we’re not technically in the marching band.”
    As a percussionist, Lucy understood the difference he was alluding to. Being a drummer was an interesting paradox. You were part of the marching band…you were the very heartbeat of it, but you were also a unit unto yourselves. Plus, you could look cool playing a drum, which wasn’t always possible say, playing the clarinet. People in the school may not know much about the inner workings of the marching band, but they could recognize the drummers separately. Lucy knew all this, but asked, “I guess I don’t follow. What’s the difference?”
    Ken looked puzzled. It was very difficult to explain this dilemma to someone who wasn’t on the Line, so he replied, “Never mind.”
    Flip spoke up, “Anyway, we just have some problems with the members the Forrest Hills drumline.”
    Lucy cocked her head, this was interesting news. She asked innocently, “Really? Who specifically? Wouldn’t it be funny if I had class with them or something?”
    Snoopy answered, “It’s that stupid drumline captain, Jerm, he’s such a tool. Plus, what the hell kind of name is Jerm anyway?”
    Lucy almost spit out her chocolate milk. It was entirely true, Jerm could be a total tool sometimes and his name was a little ridiculous, but he was also a great drummer and a loyal captain, so she said, “Hmm, I don’t know a Jerm. Maybe he’s a senior.”
    Lucy fiddled with her straw wrapper in front of her. She was getting deeper and deeper in trouble. If (when?!) she ever told Sam she was on the Forrest Hills drumline, this conversation was not going to go over