Cassidy was having a great time.

Honestly.

Loisa had brought her to the band room, and she'd been introduced to dozens of super enthusiastic kids.

Some of them she knew.

"Cassidy?" Someone screeched.

She knew that high pitched tone.

"Hey, Linora!" Cassidy answered.

Her junior friend slammed into her with the force of a Mac truck, almost bowling her over.

"Thinking of putting your good ears to use in the Marching Band?" Linora bounced.

"Oh. I'm actually here with Loisa-"

"Hey, Linora. You know Cassidy? That's great!" Loisa exclaimed, pulling her hair into a ponytail.

She exchanged her fashionable sandals for a set of destroyed sneakers.

"Linora is actually Captain for the Pit."

"The....Pit?" Cassidy parroted.

"The front ensemble. They play xylophones, marimba, and auxiliary. That's actually a great place for you to hang out, because they can talk to you while we do Marching drills, and you can sit with them, because they don't have to march." Loisa beamed.

Cassidy nodded, a little bit overwhelmed.

Linora squealed like a kid who'd been given a pony.

"Yes! We're going to have SO much fun!" Linora grabbed her wrist and yanked her away.

Loisa laughed and waved at Cassidy as she was dragged toward the field.

"Our stuff is already outside. We practice on the north field. Do you want to try playing an instrument? We have all of the auxiliary." Linora excitedly led her to a cart.

"Auxiliary?"

"Cymbals, triangle. Oooo. Tambourine! Perfect!" Linora announced, handing her the jingling instrument.

"This one is super fun." She chimed.

"Ay, Sticks? Who's your friend?" A skinny Hispanic boy called.

"Everyone, meet my friend from Choir, Cassidy Clemonte. She's here with Loisa. She's gonna hang with us today." Linora announced.

The kids all laughed and waved.

"Sounds good!"

"Cool."

"Nice to meet you!"

"Welcome to the crazy club!"

They were so warm and friendly that Cassidy found herself laughing too.

She listened as they warmed up and ran their set, then she curled up in a dogpile with the kids in the Pit while the rest of the kids worked on marching.

One of the kids in the Pit, Yance, apparently, was braiding her hair.

"You have such pretty hair. I've always wanted curly hair." She gushed.

"Oh, um thanks. It can be annoying sometimes."

The Pit all told jokes and offered stories.

"-and then he tripped!"

Everyone laughed.

"Hey, I have to go to the bathroom. Wanna go with me?" Linora asked, standing up.

Cassidy shrugged.

"Sure. Why not?"

The walked off the field to the actual sports field.

"We use these bathrooms because they're closer than the bathroom."

"Why don't you guys just practice on the Big Field? Isn't that where you play during football games?" Cassidy questioned as they entered through the gate and around the fence.

Cassidy stared, frozen at the answer.

"Oh. That's my other reason for going to the bathroom. The football players practice at the same time we do, depending on the day. Pretty impressive, aren't they?" She sighed wistfully, staring at the football players who were practicing in tight pants on the field.

The whistle blew and Cassidy grabbed Linora, dragging her into the bathroom.

Linora chatted while she washed her hands.

"Okay. We can head back."

The walked out the door and Cassidy ran face first into a tall, sweaty form, in line for the water fountain.

She stepped back with an oomph.

Dark eyes met hers and she froze.

Crap.

Now Leo Henderson knew that she hadn't gone home sick.

Awkward.

And right behind him: Derek.

Great.