Dancing With Fire

Jackson:

"Yo Jack, get up we have band camp," my older brother Chase yelled from the living room.

"But I don't want to," I whined and re-covered my face and dozed back off.

"Don't make me get the ice bucket," Chase threatened. I shot up.

"Don't you dare," I threatened back.

"Well, get up and you won't have to find out," my brother teased. I rolled out of bed and got into the shower. I changed into running shorts and an old T-shirt, "Let's go we are running late!" Chase said, pushing me out the door. I put my running shoes on in the car and checked to make sure I had my gallon full of water. Showing up at school, band camp seemed super fun, then drill, block, and conditioning ruined that for me. After running block I went over and took a huge gush from my water.

Standing back up, I backed up into something, or should I say someone, "Dude! Watch it! I have a bass drum here." a feminine voice said.

"Sorry I didn't see you there," I said turning around to face this girl.

"No one ever does," she said sarcastically and then smiled. Wow, and she wasn't joking. She's pretty short to my five-ten, "Hi, I'm Danny Anderson. I play bass two," she said sticking out her hand around her drum.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Jackson Rodgers, I play the trumpet," I said, shaking her hand.

"Do you mind handing me my water while I take this pain in the butt off?" she asked lifting her drum off her chest.

"Yeah sure thing," I replied grabbing the water she pointed to. That was covered with tie-dye duct tape.

"So let me guess, you hate duct tape?" I asked smirking at her. She took a big drink and set it back down.

"I hate it," she played along.

"Yo! Get back here! We have the show drill to start!" Harry Jacobson, our drill coach, screamed. Danny put her drum on and raced back to the drill line. I followed her, grabbing my gold-colored trumpet on the way, "Left! Right! Turn! Where is your dot! 8 to 5! God Jackson were you born with two left feet? Get the footing right!" Harry screamed at me. We restarted the drill and I fixed the mistake and Harry, even though I never thought he could smile, smiled at me, "Alright. Take five and Ty, take the basses and go work on the music," Harry said and I looked over and Danny was staring at me. She smiled and pointed towards her water and she walked/ jogged over to where I was. She took off her bass again.

"So Harry, he's an interesting jerk isn't he," I said lifting my eyebrows.

"He's weird and leaving me with mixed first impressions," she said spilling a little bit of water on her T-shirt.

"Hahahahahaha!" she frowned and pulled me close to her face.

"You didn't see anything," she said, then put her drum back on and I pretended to lock my lips shut. After another three hours of drill, Harry said the words I've been dreaming of hearing since this morning.

"Good job today everyone. Go home," Harry dismissed us and I raced over to the pit and helped them pack up.

"Alright battery let's march back!" a dirty blond guy said, walking over and putting his snare drum on. That must be Kendall. He looked scarier in person. Danny ran over and lined up next to Edward Marsh, one of my sophomore friends.

"Yo Jackson, good job today man," Brett said ruffling my hair.

"Thanks and thank you for helping me with the drill so that Harry didn't kill me on the spot," I said, packing up my trumpet and following the drumline down the steep field hill.

"No problem you're my freshmen. I got your back," Brett said and followed me back to the band room.

"Kendall!" Edward called.

"Yup, what's up?" Kendall walked over and towered over him.

"I wanted to know if you like having a girl in the section?" he asked.

"Dude, you're just mad that she is showing you up," Kendall said with a huge laugh.

"Ugh. You're horrible," Edward snapped and stormed into the band room. I laughed a little bit. Maybe a little bit too loud. Kendall turned around and smiled, "He's the jealous type. You must be Chase's brother. Umm... your name was...," Kendall said snapping, trying to remember my name.

"It's Jackson, but I go by Jay or Jack," I answered.

"Oh cool, nice to meet you, Jack," Kendall said and walked to the band room. I took a deep breath of the warm, night air. I walked into the band room and grabbed my trumpet case to put it away.

"Hey," I stood up and turned around.

"Hey Sandy," I said and she played with her hair and smiled.

"So are you going out to dinner?" She asked flirting with me more.

"Nah, Sandy cut the act. We broke up six months ago... please excuse me," I said seeing Danny.

"Hi," she said taking off her drum.

"Hey, so are you going to Jersey Diner?" I asked. As I watched her try and put her drum up, "Here I got it," I lent her a hand and put her drum up.

"Thanks! Nah, the Jersey Diner is great and all, but it's really not my scene," she answered packing her backpack.

"Do you want to get a bite to eat with me?" I asked hoping she wouldn't think I was coming on too strong.

"I have to ask the older bro, cause he's my ride. We can get food at like Islands or something," she said waving down her very tall and scary older brother, Michael, "Hey Mikey, can I go and get a bite with Jackson?" she asked and every bone inside me was praying for him to say yes.

"Oh, you're Brett's freshy. Yeah, I guess so. What time do you want to be picked up?" he asked.

"Um... 10:30 alright?" she said looking at me. I nodded and then she looked back at her bro.

"Alright cool. I forgot I owed you one from helping me clean up the mess yesterday," he said then left with the rest of the battery.

"So, Islands?" she asked and I smiled and nodded.

Walking to the restaurant, I got to know more about Danny. Her parents are divorced and she has a passion for drawing and computer art.

"So Jackson, where did you move from?" she asked adjusting her Vans hat that she was wearing.

"I lived with my dad in North Carolina and decided to join my brother in California at Avenue High," I explained and she smiled up at me. We showed up at the restaurant and scored on instant seating.

"So how long have you been playing the drums?" I asked, now curious about how much talent this girl has.

"I have been playing since fourth grade. Yeah, so about six years," she said picking up her menu.

"Good afternoon, my name is Carlos and I will be your server for tonight. Can I start you off with something to drink?" The tall and dark-haired man asked.

"Yes, I would like a coke and a side of water please," I ordered and continued to look for a good hamburger to eat.

"And you Ms?" Danny arched her eyebrows and set down her menu.

"I would like a raspberry iced tea please," she said. So, she likes iced tea.

"I'll be right back," the waiter said and then walked off.

"So what burger are you thinking of getting?" I asked, looking up from my menu.

"I'm looking at either the American classic or the bacon cheeseburger," she looked up at me and I realized now that her eyes are really pretty, "How about you?" she asked looking away from my eyes.

"I am going to get a cheeseburger," I said proudly, which made her giggle a bit louder than before. During dinner, I got to know Danny way more, and now for the final big question, "So, what does Danny really stand for?" I asked and she dropped her fork on her plate and sat up a little straighter.

"It's a nickname for Daniella. I hated it so I changed it in fourth grade," she answered looking me straight in the eyes.

"Daniella's a really pretty name, why change it?" I asked.

"Because I don't want to have a girly name. I don't want to be a girly girl," that makes sense.

"That makes sense. I guess," I smirked and she smiled back.

"Did you both enjoy everything?" Carlos asked setting the bill down.

"Yes, thank you," I said and took the bill.

"Um, what are you doing?" Danny asked placing her hand over mine.

"I am paying, this is my treat," I answered pulling out my wallet. The tab said $20.45 plus tax.

"Thanks, I owe you one," she said and grabbed her backpack and stood up.

"No problem. I enjoyed tonight," I said, following her out.

"Hey, Dan you have fun?" Michael came over and hugged her.

"Yeah, I had a great time! Well, I'll see you tomorrow Jackson. Um bye," she hugged me and walked to her brother's car.

"Bye," Did she just hug me? Wow, this is kinda amazing. I smiled and saw Brett walking over.

"What's got you in a blush? Does my little man have a crush on Danny?" Brett said elbowing me and I frowned at him.

"No of course not," I shrugged and got into his car.

"I don't believe you," he said and drove me home.

***

The first week of band camp flew by, but once we started getting more music and drill I was starting to realize this was going to be a lot of commitment. The second week rolled around and so far, Harry hasn't yelled at me since the first day. Danny and I have been going to Islands after every practice and this has given me something to look forward to every night and I have a feeling that this is the start of something new.