Chapter Four

A/N: I apologize that the story is moving slowly at first. It will hopefully pick up in the next couple chapters!! Thanks for sticking with it so far. :)

When the bell rang, all the confusion and never-ceasing embarrassment melted away, like a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off Natsu's shoulders. He straightened immediately, tucking his new World History textbook into his backpack and scooting out of the aisle before taking off for the band room.

It wasn't long before he got lost, making a wrong turn somewhere along the way. He was walking along the language department hallway when he realized he was not in the right place.

Natsu had to interrupt a room full of kids chatting excitedly in French to ask for directions to the band room, which, unluckily, was in the exact opposite direction from the one he was heading in. With only two minutes until the late bell rang, Natsu heads up the stairwell the French professor directed him to and eventually found his way to the band room amidst the twists and turns.

It was nearly at the edge of the school, with a split path, one of them leading to his destination. Natsu figured he had a one in two shot, considering he couldn't remember where to go from here. Luckily, he saw a couple of girls headed down the left hallway, flute cases in their hands.

As he moved down the hallway, the cacophonous sound of instruments playing scales to warm up filled his ears. Following behind the girls quickly, he slipped into the band room just as the bell rang. The band director, an older brunette man in a bright yellow polo shirt, handed him a stapled pamphlet with a kind smile.

The two girls knew where to sit, and found their spots easily. Natsu, on the other hand, scoured the room for an empty chair. He felt everyone's eyes on him, staring him down like they were judging him for not having a seat already. Well excuse me, he thought sarcastically, It's not like I've ever been here before. How would I know where to sit?

As he found an unoccupied seat near the clarinets, he had to rush across the front. Natsu attempted to ignore the whispers of "Who is that?", "That pink hair, is it dyed?", and "Probably a punk phase," simultaneously trying not to roll his eyes at the last one. He found a spot near the back, sliding into a chair at the end and sighing in relief as he did so.

He quickly unpacked his clarinet and assembled it before setting it across his lap, listening attentively and keeping his eyes forward, so he didn't have to see the other classmates staring at him like a zoo exhibit.

"Alright, now that everyone seems to be here, welcome, students! It pleases me to see so many familiar faces in the seats," He ushers to the students. "And of course, some new ones as well," He added, smiling in Natsu's direction. "As some of you may know, my name is Mr. Clive, and I've been the band teacher here at MHS for over fifteen years. However each year is like my first; there's something so exciting about starting a new year fresh. Every band's sound is unique, and I have a good feeling this year, we will outshine our previous years."

Natsu heard a soft sigh of annoyance to his right. "He says this every day on the first day," A girl muttered under her breath next to him.

Natsu looked at her, surprised someone was talking to him. She was petite, with her white hair cut into a cropped bob, which made her cheekbones look higher and her grey eyes not as dull as usual. Natsu snorted at the band teacher's statement, and they shared an amused smile.

"I apologize, but first we have to take care of some housekeeping duties," Mr. Clive announced, grabbing another copy of the pamphlet and reading off the first few lines. He delved into discussion about the upcoming concert dates, and how attendance was mandatory as they would be the class' test grades. He then began to explain the requirement of marching band, which was a seasonal activity during football season.

"Anyone who needs a new size for their marching band outfit, or the formal attire for concerts, either talk to me after class or shoot me an email so we can get that set up for you." Mr. Clive explained before going on to the next topic.

Natsu made a mental note to email him later that night.

"Next," Mr. Clive moved on, "Instrument lockers. Returning students, use the ones I assigned you, as for the others, find an empty locker and make it yours. And the last topic of the day: class rules. It is highly advised that you practice the sheet music for the concerts at least thirty minutes a night to facilitate the music-learning process for the whole band. I won't collect practice records, but it's up to you and your own integrity to stay on top of the music."

After describing the proper etiquette of the band room, such as no eating or drinking, going on phones, things Natsu's heard countless times, he said he had left the final, most exciting announcement for last.

"Drumroll please!" He pointed to the percussionists, who twirled their sticks in their hands before tapping a fast rhythm on the snares. Building up the dynamic, they finished with a flourish before Mr. Clive announced "Seating assignments!" In a sing-song voice.

Half of the people cheered, and the rest booed and groaned. Natsu remained silent, flipping to the second page, which had all the instructions typed out on it. The sheet music for the audition is all slurs and sixteenth-note rhythms, looking complex at first but would be fine once he got used to the fingerings, especially since it was only a one-sharp key.

"Like usual, you will be required to play four scales; the ones you will play depend on your instrument. Additionally, you will play the prepared etude, which is on the back of the instruction sheet... That will be focused mainly on your rhythm, tone, and clarity... Lastly, there will be a piece for sight reading, which you have thirty seconds to review before you play. Any questions?"

"Yeah, I have one," A boy shouted from the back, trumpet in one hand. He sure sounds like a trumpet, Natsu thought, resisting the urge to cover his ears from the boy's loud voice. "Do the clarinets still have to audition? You know, considering there's no point when Gray is still in band."

Gray laughed from his spot in the front row, on the end, like he belonged in the first chair spot. Based on what I know of the guy, it makes sense that he'd be the best at this too, Natsu thought, mouth twitching with contempt.

"Oh, shush, Loke," Gray denied it humbly. "Everyone has an equal chance at stuff like this." Which was lies, and Natsu knew Gray knew that. But he chose not to say anything, because speaking the wrong thing at a crucial time like this could completely give the wrong impression to the student body.

Natsu cursed himself for caring so much, and figured there was no chance to get first chair. Maybe third or something, if he was lucky.

Another guy raised his hand. "When is the audition?"

"Ah, yes, I probably should've mentioned this, thank you," He nodded in the boy's direction. "On Friday, we will spend the class period doing auditions, so come prepared. The results will be posted on my door Monday morning. Practice makes perfect, everyone! Now, let's get to the fun stuff."

On his music stand were folders filled with sheet music. He handed them to the first person in the row, telling her to pass them down. The folders were dispersed between people and when they got theirs, his stand partner pulled out the ones they'd be playing.

"Marching band music," She explained to Natsu. "We like to practice it whenever we can before the football season starts. At the end of the year, we play this stuff," She patted the music on the left side of the folder. "This is the graduation music."

"What about the seniors?" Natsu asked.

"They don't learn it, mainly because most of them have played it for three years now they already know it by heart. It's sort of a tradition for the underclassmen to play for them at graduation: it counts as your final exam grade too."

Natsu nodded. "Makes sense," He shrugged. "I'm Natsu, by the way."

"Lisanna," She smiled.

The band director tapped his baton on his music stand, and they sat up straighter, putting their instruments into position. His eyes scanned the sheet music, taking in the information he needed. B flat key, 3/4 time signature, tempo is allegro with a mezzoforte dynamic, his eyes traveled over the notes as he positioned the clarinet under his teeth, hearing Lisanna's breath hitch.

Every person sitting in the orchestra waited with anticipation as the conductor raised his baton and elongated the moment. Natsu sensed the aura around the band. It was like each one of them was part of a larger, breathing body, each function critical to the overall survival, their blood pumping to one steady beat. They collectively took a breath, and in that split second in slowed-down time it was like they were breathing in the adrenaline and excitement in the air. The moment passed just as quickly as it began as Mr. Clive's hands slice through the air. Natsu's fingers began to fly across the familiar keys, and then they were off.

Natsu got lost in the music, and he was surprised to find the class ended after what felt like five minutes. The bell interrupted a flute melody in the middle of a fight song, and everyone moved to clean and pack up their instruments. Lisanna said goodbye to him as she fastened the snaps on her clarinet case.

A dry sigh passed his lips, seeing a new text from Wendy to meet him out front. He walked by Gray's chair, wondering if he should say anything or not. When he looked over, Gray was immersed in conversation with the same rowdy trumpet player. When Gray saw Natsu looking, Natsu quickly turned his head and headed out the door.

One day down, he thought tiredly, one hundred and seventy-nine to go.

- - - -

"So tell me about your day," Wendy asked as Natsu led her to the car.

"There isn't much to share," Natsu said boredly, opening the passenger side door for her. She felt around with her walking cane before stepping up into the car and plopping down. Natsu moved around the back side of the car, tossing his stuff into the trunk before getting into the driver's seat.

"Well, my day was pretty great, I must admit," Wendy said happily, a smile forming on her face. "I thought everyone was going to think I was weird and automatically make me an outcast, but they all thought I was pretty cool, and they were amazed at how I could sense stuff without seeing it."

"Ah, tricking everyone into thinking you're some heightened-senses sorceress, huh?" Natsu laughed as he backed out of the parking spot. "Any possible friends?"

"A couple people," Wendy answered. "There's Romeo and Chelia, who I both have two classes with. They're very nice. Did you make any new friends yourself?"

"Not really," Natsu muttered.

"What about that girl sitting with us at lunch? Lucy?" Wendy asked.

"Well, she's interesting, but I wouldn't call us friends yet," Natsu told her.

"And that guy who made your heart beat really fast and when he walked by, trying to get you to try out for the soccer team?"

Natsu clutched the steering wheel tighter, avoiding the topic. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do," Wendy crossed her arms. The sunglasses on her face made her look even more intimidating, and Natsu gulped silently, cursing her strange sensory gift. Sometimes it was cool, but in times like this, it only made things complicated.

Natsu pressed the brakes and the car rolled to a stop in front of a red light. When the car was stopped, Natsu turned to the side and softly karate chopped her head. "I don't know what you're insinuating, but I'm not friends with him either." He said firmly. "End of discussion."

"Yeah, because you want to be more than that," She muttered under her breath. Natsu, keeping his eyes forward, chose to ignore her. He tried to convince himself that she had no idea what she was talking about, and sped forward when the light changed to green.

He turned on the car radio, cranking the volume all the way up with the hope that the music would fill his head and block out the worries in the back of his mind.

The rest of the car ride was silent. Natsu didn't have enough energy to deny her accusation, because he knew there would be no point. 

I haven't even come out to her and she already knows.