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Fox 005: Fox Free Period
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[AN: This is the fifth in the Fox Tale series. Please read them in order.]
[Creative property of Lady Quindecim]
Part Five: Fox Free Period
We turned to leave and climb the stairs into the building, carefully stepping over the threshold. I indicate my lunch remains, "These gonna be okay here?" as we go upstairs to the band equipment room.
"Yes and no." We are walking quickly and she does not turn.
"Care to elaborate?"
"I am supposed to tell you that food and drinks are not allowed in or near the band hall, the instrument room, the practice rooms, or the hall outside the band hall, but in the quartermaster's room, it will be okay."
"Won't get caught, more like?"
"Um," she blushed and went a little sheepish, "well, I don't know about that. What size are you?"
"Mmmm... five?"
"Oh, I mean, like, in inches."
"I don't really know."
Mags picked up a tape measure and a jacket, handing me the later. "So, how do you know Sam?"
"He saved me from the cafeteria." I pulled on the jacket and it swallowed me.
"That is surprising." Mags looked at the jacket and shook her head. "And that won't do."
"He is a freshman, yes?" I handed her back the jacket.
"No, sophomore." Mags handed me another, smaller jacket.
"If there is such a rift between band and choir, why does James hang out with the band?" This one fits fine, but is too short.
"We're dating." She takes the jacket from me.
"If he is your boyfriend-," But Mags cuts me off before I can finish my thought.
"Look, yeah, I know but we are not going there, you know? I am just waiting, and I know that sounds lame, but that doesn't mean I don't have... urges. I had no idea anyone was going to walk in on me in here. It is not like anyone actually saw anything. I was covered."
"I was just going to say that you didn't, like, say anything to him after lunch, so I..."
"Oh. Well, at least you have the story good and proper. Try this one," and hands me another jacket.
Now I am blushing, trying to block the image of her in here, alone, doing that, hoping she does not see the color on my face. This jacket is too tight in the shoulders.
Resigned, she takes the tape measure and starts sizing me up. Finally, she pulls some stuff off the rack and piles it on a table. Then she takes a chair, walks over to the door, closing it and puts the chair against the door and sits. I cannot take my eyes off the doorknob. I am frozen. The door is closed.
I recollect my self and hold the bakery bag out towards Mags; a peace offering for the person trapping me in the room. "Danish?"
"Sure." She takes the bag.
"You want me to try these on?"
"Yeah. They should fit, but better to find out now. So, you met Sam, and you have been to the bakery. Have you run into Fox yet? She's a weird one. She's a freshman, but she and Sam go way back... as friends that is. He's a little freaky, but a heckova chess player. Then you will meet Keith, drummer. Hey, you okay?"
I did not want her or anyone to see the tears and fear in my eyes, but I was just frozen there, so there was not much for stopping it.
"Oh goodness, girl, what is it? The changing? I'll wait outside."
"Just... open... the... door... please," I manage to force out.
She instantly got up, moved the chair and swung the door open. "It's open. It's open, okay?"
I nodded, but calming down was coming more slowly. I nodded weakly.
"How about if I stand on the other side of the door?"
"Don't close it, okay? Not all the way," I pleaded.
With Mags standing watch, I quickly found a marching uniform that not only fit, but fit rather well. Hearing my proclamation of this, Mags reentered and recorded the tag numbers on the check-out log. "Claustrophobic?"
"Something like that. Sorry."
She looked at me sympathetically, "You okay now? Can I get you anything?"
"Oh, no. I mean, yeah, I'll be fine. No, I don't need anything. I have some anxiety meds down in the nurse's office, but I'll be fine."
She looked at me a moment long enough to make me start worrying about what she was thinking. I was about to say something about getting into a bigger room when she finally said, "I know the rules say that the nurse has to administer any medication, but if it is that bad, you ought to keep something on you maybe?"
I shrugged, "Yeah." The flood of memories and alarms slowly abating. It was going to be okay. Mags was kinda nice and comforting and would be nice to have as a friend.
* * * * *
It was mid October, so being in band meant that I was in marching band, but I would still need to learn the routine. This was homecoming week, so the field routine was simple. Even more so for me because they stuck me on tympani and I would be parked on the sidelines this week. The next week I was on bells which were strung for marching, so I would be getting out on the field.
Mags and I were going over the charts for the routine when Brad and Brian, along with a number of others, started to mill their way into the band hall. Brad and Brian I could see once they emerged from the instrument room, both played trombone, and Brad's brother apparently played saxophone. Mags got her clarinet and joined her section and I met Drummer Brad, my fire-team leader. The rest of the drum section were an odd lot and I was completely dwarfed by the line. There were two other girls on the drum line, Julia and Katherine, but even they had to be nearly six feet tall.
"Hi, Brad. I'm Chole. Mags and I were going over the routine for after this Friday."
"You going to be okay carrying the bells?"
I held up my right arm in mock display of muscles. "I'll be fine. I marched with them at my last school."
"Cool. So, you are good with the keyboards and stuff?"
"Yep. I started on the marimba because I could play piano since I was little."
It was hardest to be distant in band where so many people were like family with one another, but ever since the black eye incident a couple years and a couple schools ago, it just had to be that way. We changed in front of each other and roomed together on trips and simply spent so much time together. I kept my head deep in the music to avoid sharing anything personal, but I did try to be friendly even if reserved.
I held my own for my first day with the music, but I had permission to use one of the practice rooms during my free seventh period.
I stopped into the second floor lavatory on my way to history. It was empty, which was good. Of the four stalls, only two of them, the ones on the right, had doors. The other two seem to have been forcibly liberated of theirs. Choosing one that closed, I shut the door and got seated when I heard someone else enter and occupy the next and only other stall with a door. From the shoes, which I had been trying to find for most of the day, I could tell that it was Fox. I would not be able to go.
After a moment of motionless waiting, I heard, "Oh, man. Spare some TP?"
I ripped off plenty from the industrial roll and passed it under the divider to the waiting hand.
"Oh, good grief not now! Got a pad or something?"
I rummaged in my purse and handed a sanitary napkin under the divider.
"Thanks, Chole." There was a flush, some zipping of zipper, washing of hands, then finally, "I am leaving now, so you can quit holding it in."
World History with Mrs. Pacific started out as droll as would be expected (I was never big on world history, or history of any kind) but when Mrs. Pacific told me about the projects they did every month, I started to gain interest. As October culminated in Halloween, the history department encouraged people to dress as their favorite character from history. This being world history, we were encouraged to go with iconic figures from around the world and avoid those that would be focused on in US history. I only had a couple of weeks to work on my costume, but I had a few ideas in mind.
The practice room was warm and a little stuffy, and very crowded with the big timpani taking up so much room, but it's a practice room after all so there was a good sized window in the door, so I felt okay enough being alone in the room with the door closed. There was no way I could have anyone else in here, but alone on this side of the door, with the window, and a nice, round, stainless steel door knob, I was fine enough.
Having a t-shirt under, I pulled my sweater off and put it with my bag on the floor by the door. I propped the music up on the stand, but I wanted to warm up first. After a day full of strangeness, it felt good to do something very familiar; playing one of my old favourite pieces that had won me a nice big trophy last spring.
The piece started out strong, then backed down to a more carrying, flowing rhythm. Although written from timpani, it reminded me of the Nihon Daiko that I hoped so much to get to play one day. After building once more to a passionate and energetic finish, the nearly five minute piece left me panting and sweating.
Movement caught my eye and through the window, Fox stood looking at me, eyes bright and wide, mouth open in astonishment, a blush on her cheeks and, unless I was mistaken, a breath light but as quick as my own. I felt one corner of my mouth turn up in a satisfied, vindictive, and wicked grin. She was impressed by me. What was "my kind" now? She would have to re-classify me and I was not going to give her any help at all.
[You have been reading the fifth installment of the Fox Tale Series by Lady Quindecim.]
[If you received this text from a source other that DeviantArt, please let the author know via e-mail to lady.quindecim@gmail.com]
[I hope you have enjoyed this installment]
[Creative property of Lady Quindecim]
Part Five: Fox Free Period
We turned to leave and climb the stairs into the building, carefully stepping over the threshold. I indicate my lunch remains, "These gonna be okay here?" as we go upstairs to the band equipment room.
"Yes and no." We are walking quickly and she does not turn.
"Care to elaborate?"
"I am supposed to tell you that food and drinks are not allowed in or near the band hall, the instrument room, the practice rooms, or the hall outside the band hall, but in the quartermaster's room, it will be okay."
"Won't get caught, more like?"
"Um," she blushed and went a little sheepish, "well, I don't know about that. What size are you?"
"Mmmm... five?"
"Oh, I mean, like, in inches."
"I don't really know."
Mags picked up a tape measure and a jacket, handing me the later. "So, how do you know Sam?"
"He saved me from the cafeteria." I pulled on the jacket and it swallowed me.
"That is surprising." Mags looked at the jacket and shook her head. "And that won't do."
"He is a freshman, yes?" I handed her back the jacket.
"No, sophomore." Mags handed me another, smaller jacket.
"If there is such a rift between band and choir, why does James hang out with the band?" This one fits fine, but is too short.
"We're dating." She takes the jacket from me.
"If he is your boyfriend-," But Mags cuts me off before I can finish my thought.
"Look, yeah, I know but we are not going there, you know? I am just waiting, and I know that sounds lame, but that doesn't mean I don't have... urges. I had no idea anyone was going to walk in on me in here. It is not like anyone actually saw anything. I was covered."
"I was just going to say that you didn't, like, say anything to him after lunch, so I..."
"Oh. Well, at least you have the story good and proper. Try this one," and hands me another jacket.
Now I am blushing, trying to block the image of her in here, alone, doing that, hoping she does not see the color on my face. This jacket is too tight in the shoulders.
Resigned, she takes the tape measure and starts sizing me up. Finally, she pulls some stuff off the rack and piles it on a table. Then she takes a chair, walks over to the door, closing it and puts the chair against the door and sits. I cannot take my eyes off the doorknob. I am frozen. The door is closed.
I recollect my self and hold the bakery bag out towards Mags; a peace offering for the person trapping me in the room. "Danish?"
"Sure." She takes the bag.
"You want me to try these on?"
"Yeah. They should fit, but better to find out now. So, you met Sam, and you have been to the bakery. Have you run into Fox yet? She's a weird one. She's a freshman, but she and Sam go way back... as friends that is. He's a little freaky, but a heckova chess player. Then you will meet Keith, drummer. Hey, you okay?"
I did not want her or anyone to see the tears and fear in my eyes, but I was just frozen there, so there was not much for stopping it.
"Oh goodness, girl, what is it? The changing? I'll wait outside."
"Just... open... the... door... please," I manage to force out.
She instantly got up, moved the chair and swung the door open. "It's open. It's open, okay?"
I nodded, but calming down was coming more slowly. I nodded weakly.
"How about if I stand on the other side of the door?"
"Don't close it, okay? Not all the way," I pleaded.
With Mags standing watch, I quickly found a marching uniform that not only fit, but fit rather well. Hearing my proclamation of this, Mags reentered and recorded the tag numbers on the check-out log. "Claustrophobic?"
"Something like that. Sorry."
She looked at me sympathetically, "You okay now? Can I get you anything?"
"Oh, no. I mean, yeah, I'll be fine. No, I don't need anything. I have some anxiety meds down in the nurse's office, but I'll be fine."
She looked at me a moment long enough to make me start worrying about what she was thinking. I was about to say something about getting into a bigger room when she finally said, "I know the rules say that the nurse has to administer any medication, but if it is that bad, you ought to keep something on you maybe?"
I shrugged, "Yeah." The flood of memories and alarms slowly abating. It was going to be okay. Mags was kinda nice and comforting and would be nice to have as a friend.
* * * * *
It was mid October, so being in band meant that I was in marching band, but I would still need to learn the routine. This was homecoming week, so the field routine was simple. Even more so for me because they stuck me on tympani and I would be parked on the sidelines this week. The next week I was on bells which were strung for marching, so I would be getting out on the field.
Mags and I were going over the charts for the routine when Brad and Brian, along with a number of others, started to mill their way into the band hall. Brad and Brian I could see once they emerged from the instrument room, both played trombone, and Brad's brother apparently played saxophone. Mags got her clarinet and joined her section and I met Drummer Brad, my fire-team leader. The rest of the drum section were an odd lot and I was completely dwarfed by the line. There were two other girls on the drum line, Julia and Katherine, but even they had to be nearly six feet tall.
"Hi, Brad. I'm Chole. Mags and I were going over the routine for after this Friday."
"You going to be okay carrying the bells?"
I held up my right arm in mock display of muscles. "I'll be fine. I marched with them at my last school."
"Cool. So, you are good with the keyboards and stuff?"
"Yep. I started on the marimba because I could play piano since I was little."
It was hardest to be distant in band where so many people were like family with one another, but ever since the black eye incident a couple years and a couple schools ago, it just had to be that way. We changed in front of each other and roomed together on trips and simply spent so much time together. I kept my head deep in the music to avoid sharing anything personal, but I did try to be friendly even if reserved.
I held my own for my first day with the music, but I had permission to use one of the practice rooms during my free seventh period.
I stopped into the second floor lavatory on my way to history. It was empty, which was good. Of the four stalls, only two of them, the ones on the right, had doors. The other two seem to have been forcibly liberated of theirs. Choosing one that closed, I shut the door and got seated when I heard someone else enter and occupy the next and only other stall with a door. From the shoes, which I had been trying to find for most of the day, I could tell that it was Fox. I would not be able to go.
After a moment of motionless waiting, I heard, "Oh, man. Spare some TP?"
I ripped off plenty from the industrial roll and passed it under the divider to the waiting hand.
"Oh, good grief not now! Got a pad or something?"
I rummaged in my purse and handed a sanitary napkin under the divider.
"Thanks, Chole." There was a flush, some zipping of zipper, washing of hands, then finally, "I am leaving now, so you can quit holding it in."
World History with Mrs. Pacific started out as droll as would be expected (I was never big on world history, or history of any kind) but when Mrs. Pacific told me about the projects they did every month, I started to gain interest. As October culminated in Halloween, the history department encouraged people to dress as their favorite character from history. This being world history, we were encouraged to go with iconic figures from around the world and avoid those that would be focused on in US history. I only had a couple of weeks to work on my costume, but I had a few ideas in mind.
The practice room was warm and a little stuffy, and very crowded with the big timpani taking up so much room, but it's a practice room after all so there was a good sized window in the door, so I felt okay enough being alone in the room with the door closed. There was no way I could have anyone else in here, but alone on this side of the door, with the window, and a nice, round, stainless steel door knob, I was fine enough.
Having a t-shirt under, I pulled my sweater off and put it with my bag on the floor by the door. I propped the music up on the stand, but I wanted to warm up first. After a day full of strangeness, it felt good to do something very familiar; playing one of my old favourite pieces that had won me a nice big trophy last spring.
The piece started out strong, then backed down to a more carrying, flowing rhythm. Although written from timpani, it reminded me of the Nihon Daiko that I hoped so much to get to play one day. After building once more to a passionate and energetic finish, the nearly five minute piece left me panting and sweating.
Movement caught my eye and through the window, Fox stood looking at me, eyes bright and wide, mouth open in astonishment, a blush on her cheeks and, unless I was mistaken, a breath light but as quick as my own. I felt one corner of my mouth turn up in a satisfied, vindictive, and wicked grin. She was impressed by me. What was "my kind" now? She would have to re-classify me and I was not going to give her any help at all.
[You have been reading the fifth installment of the Fox Tale Series by Lady Quindecim.]
[If you received this text from a source other that DeviantArt, please let the author know via e-mail to lady.quindecim@gmail.com]
[I hope you have enjoyed this installment]
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Chole gets to show a little about how she is cool. At least something goes right on this weird day.
If this is the firs one you are reading, by all means please stop and read the first one [link] first, then proceed in order.
Part One: Fox at First Sight → [link] ←
Part Two: Foxy Lady → [link] ←
Part Three: Still a Fox → [link] ←
Part Four: Fellowship of the Fox → [link] ←
Part Five: Fox Free Period → You are Here ←
Part Six: Fox, but not Forgotten → [link] ←
If this is the firs one you are reading, by all means please stop and read the first one [link] first, then proceed in order.
Part One: Fox at First Sight → [link] ←
Part Two: Foxy Lady → [link] ←
Part Three: Still a Fox → [link] ←
Part Four: Fellowship of the Fox → [link] ←
Part Five: Fox Free Period → You are Here ←
Part Six: Fox, but not Forgotten → [link] ←
Comments7
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I don't know much about band 
or musical instruments or costumes when it comes to such things but you do a good job at not losing me or my interest..
I also laughed at the bathroom scene, very funny lol.
Still curious about the doors, love how you keep my reeled in with that..
I also think the ending was perfect and made me smile lol.
You impress me
or musical instruments or costumes when it comes to such things but you do a good job at not losing me or my interest..I also laughed at the bathroom scene, very funny lol.
Still curious about the doors, love how you keep my reeled in with that..
I also think the ending was perfect and made me smile lol.
You impress me