The Line by Courtney Brandt

so can’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about, but you don’t know the first thing about what’s it’s like to be a drumline girl. I look at all these girls trying to get my section’s attention and think; you don’t really know these guys like I do. You weren’t there on a freezing Saturday in November when we got 2nd place. You weren’t there every day in class to see them. You weren’t there to hold their hand when a girlfriend broke their heart. You weren’t there on the bus to give them a back massage. You don’t know the music or the inside jokes or the first thing about these guys.”
    “I guess you feel pretty strongly about that.”
    “You’re damn straight I do. These guys are like my brothers – sure, we have a very messed up relationship, but I would do just about anything for them.”
    “Does that include your ‘boyfriend’ from earlier tonight?”
    “Oh, um…that’s Nevada.”
    Sam raised his eyebrows and commented, “That seems to be a little bit more than brotherly love.”
    Lucy twisted her hands and said, “Well, about the same time I started seeing you, Nevada and I started a little something.”
    “Another thing you were planning on telling me?”
    “Yes, actually.” Deciding this might be the last conversation she might ever have with the handsome senior, she said, “Look, I haven’t dated a lot before. I’m new to all of this. Besides, you and I were never exclusive, just like Nevada and I aren’t.”
    “I think that might come as somewhat of a shock to him.”
    Lucy sighed, Sam was right, but she didn’t like talking about Nevada with Sam, so she asked, “Why did you really come here tonight?”
    Sam took a minute to answer, “Honestly? You’re not like any girl I’ve ever met, Lucy Karate. You have a crazy dog, beautiful eyes, and I probably should have guessed that you are a drummer. I love kissing you and you’re fun to be around.”
    Lucy wasn’t sure how to respond.
    “I don’t know why, but even after everything I still want to see you again.”
    “Well, that makes two of us,” Lucy said shyly.
    Sam smiled and said, “Get over here.”
    Lucy got up and sat down on Sam’s lap and asked, “So, what do we do now?”
    “We see each other very, very carefully. Neither of our Lines can know what’s going on. But, you have to promise that you will tell Nevada you are dating someone else.”
    “I promise. A kiss for good luck?”
    Sam chuckled and pulled her chin towards his, “Sure thing – we’re going to need a lot of it.”
    With plenty of luck a few minutes later, Lucy got in her car, resolving to never lie again. She had a not so fun conversation with Nevada ahead of her.
     
    * * *
     
     

CHAPTER EIGHT: AWAY GAME!
     

    Rather than immediately tell Nevada the truth, Lucy did her best to avoid him the following week. She didn’t like doing it, but there hadn’t been a good time yet to tell him what was really going on.
    That’s a lie and you know it.
    Fine, but what should I say?
    You had no trouble telling Sam.
    So, I just go up and say, ‘Oh, by the way, thought you should know, I’m dating Sam, you may recognize him from such places as the Captain of our rival drumline.’
    In not so many words…
    Since “the incident” the previous Friday, everyone on the Forrest Hills drumline was pretty convinced it was Sam who had called her a bitch and there was nothing Lucy could say to convince them otherwise.
    Aside from all the drama, Lucy was absolutely bursting to tell someone what was going on. She couldn’t tell Gina and Mandy because she wasn’t sure they wouldn’t understand. Plus, Mandy and Jerm were pretty much together any spare time they had, so there was a good chance Jerm would find out if she did tell the girls. Lucy debated telling Tom and Molly, but was afraid of the fallout it might produce.
    Just think, the longer you wait to tell everyone, the worse it will be.
    I have to tell someone.
    Lucy decided the next