Chapter 3- The First Rehearsal
Alright, here goes Chapter Three. To those who don't know, choirs are usually separated into four groups: Bass, Tenor, Alto, & Soprano. Our main character, Morgan, is a Bass1, otherwise known as a Baritone. I say this now to avoid confusion later. That's all folks, I hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter Three-
Our little group finishes eating and we all head back out to the plaza to go and look around. We are in the "rich district" of Pasadena, so all the shops in the area are all these fru-fru clothing emporiums and the restaurants are expensive steakhouse-type deals where each plate cost an arm and a leg. Sure, there are the occasional little chain restaurants where we would be able to actually afford something, but we definitely would have to dig deep in our wallets if we didn't want just a simple pizza or burger. Part of the plaza was elevated above a big flight of stairs. Isabel took us up there to see the movie theatre we would be going to later that week.
"Come take a look inside you guys. It's really cool." she says, waving us in through the front doors. It was actually really big on the inside, and there was even a bar in the corner. We looked at the big illuminated signs above the ticket counters showing the schedule of movie showings. Sure enough, the movie we want to see plays on Friday at 6:30. Content, we exit and start back down the stairs. We leave the plaza again after seeing all we wanted to see and start going down the block. Isabel and Sam walk together ahead of us while Jarred and I stay a little behind them talking.
"So, do you have a girlfriend?" he asks me. I laugh a little at his question. If only he knew. "Nope. Where's that question coming from?" I ask him, halfway joking. "I don't know," he chuckles, "I'm just trying to make conversation." "That's okay. Why? Do you have one?" I ask. "No, I don't. Having one would be nice, but I guess I haven't really been looking for one," he tells me and I nod in response. As we continue to talk, I realize that he's actually trying to be my friend. I always kinda thought he was one of those arrogant pricks like most of the football players are at my school, but now I can tell he is legitimately a nice guy. Shit, I think to myself. I think I actually like him. But really, it doesn't matter. I know that he probably won't think of me the same way. Even if he did, I would be too nervous to do anything about it. It makes me a little sad, but I don't let him see it. Today is the first day I've actually started to talk to him, so I'm probably just thinking too much.
We continue to flap our jaws at each other until Sam stops in front of what looks like an ice-cream place. "Ice-cream? Sam we just ate." I say. "It's gelato, actually, and this stuff is the bomb. We should come back after rehearsal!" the bobcat says excitedly. We agree to go later if we aren't too tired. Jarred checks his phone and the time is already 5:30. "Alright you guys, we should start heading back before our conductors hunt us down," I say to the group after my blue-eyed friend shows me the time. They all groan in unison and we start back down the block to get to the auditorium. When we get there, I realize that everyone is holding their music binders except for me. "Fuck! I left my music back in the hotel room. You guys go ahead, I'll meet back up with you." I tell them. Before getting ready to sprint back to the room, Jarred tells me, "I'll go with you." "No, dude, it's fine, I don't wanna make you late." I say politely. "It's okay, don't sweat it, besides if we're late, you won't be the only one." he assures me.
I don't have time to argue, so I let him come along. We both run as fast as we can back through the hotel, earning some disgruntled looks from other furs as we zoom by. We take the elevator really quickly, run down the hall, bust through the door and run back out. I have my binder in my hand as we run outside and two of us slow down once we make it to the door. We go up the stairs, and into the Gold Room. I sign in after Jarred, and he goes to sit with the rest of the tenors and I with the baritones. Just in time. 5:56. A skinny jaguar probably in her sixties steps onto a platform in front of the seated choir in a skirt and suit coat. As she scans the group of 200 or so furs, she speaks to us with a Spanish-sounding accent and quiets us down.
"Hello boys and girls, buenas noches." she says warmly. "Buenas noches," we all reply in unison. "I would like to welcome you all to this year's Western Division Honor Choir. You all have shown us through your auditions and love for music that you are very talented. I cannot wait to begin making beautiful music with you." We all applaud at her flattering comment before she continues. "I am Maria Bolivar, your conductor for this week, however, I consider my students my children and grandchildren, so feel free to call me Grandma." The room fills with sounds of students cooing with things such as, "D'aww," and "You rock, Grandma!" She humbly laughs and bows before giving us more information about her. Apparently she comes from Venezuela and there works for a choral program that helps young, underprivileged children. She also gives us some information about the rehearsals and so forth. She finishes with, "Gracias estudiantes, now if you would please take out 'Ave Verum' so that we may see how you all are doing."
We pull out our first piece and stand up. The pianist begins to play the keys softly as we stand with our music in hand, ready to start. I glance up from my binder and begin to sing as soon as Grandma gives us the signal to start. We sound amazing. I figured it would sound pretty much the same as choir back home in Lemas, but oh no. Our sound fills every corner of the room, and you can hear our voices blend as the harmonies come along. It's a crisp, professional sound and I'm enjoying it. We go through each piece of music we have, six in total, and work on all the kinks, stopping many times along the way to perfect them. The tenors and the altos are giving us the most problems right now, and the old jaguar tells the us basses and the sopranos that we can sit while she works with the rest of us.
As I sit, I glance over to the standing tenors and altos to the left of the room. I look to see Isabel toward the front carefully watching the conductor but scan the tenor section for the wolf. I have to bob my head to see past the many students separating me from him. There I see him, past the center aisle on the end seat, and instead of focusing on his music,he appears to be looking for familiar faces too. When he finds me, he grins and his tail wags then he signals someone behind me. I turn to see that Sam is in the row of seats behind me, near the wall. Once we know where all the members in our friend circle are, we get back to the music, or at least the left side of the room does. As for me, I pull out my phone (even though it's not allowed) and text some of my friends back home. Right now, I'm have a conversation back and forth with Esther who is complaining that while "she and the rest of the folks from my high school have to face the horror of public education" we get to "frolic about, singing show-tunes." Haha okay then? I text back with an "I'm sorry. Not my fault you're not cool enough. X)" We go on with more banter while Maria finally fixes the pitchy sections.
We all go over the music one more time, and I'm exhausted. You may think learning music isn't all that bad, but after a few hours it feels like you've been doing some hardcore math. I want to get out of here, and I'm trying to make a tactical plan to shove through the crowd as soon as we're done. Finally, the jaguar says a little speech and reminds us of the plan for tomorrow. I know it's rude, but in the back of my head I'm begging her to talk faster.
After about what feels like 100 years later, she excuses us and I rush out the door with about 200 different furs trying to do the same, some even more rude than myself. One horse steps on my foot, and I glare at him and say "Pezzo di merda." It's Italian, but he gets the message. (What? My grandparents are Italian. I've picked up a thing or two from them.) We get down to the foyer and out the door. My friends find me and Sam is already set on going to the gelato place. Jarred and Isabel look just as tired as I am, but they both agree to go. I sigh before saying, "Fine, let's go." As we start walking, we're stopped by Mrs. Talob and Howard, Sam and Isabel's teacher. "Where are you going?" she asks. "Curfew is at 10:00. It's already 9:30." "We were just going to get some ice-cream and then head back to the hotel." Jarred says, almost pleaing. The two cats let us, but come along with us just to make sure we "stay out of trouble."
We pass the plaza, head down the sidewalk, and stop when we see the shop. They're about to close, but we make our orders quick. Instead of sitting down, we head right back out with our little plastic bowls of frozen deliciousness and head back to the hotel. I guess I really liked mine. I'm already finished and we haven't even made it to the plaza. I toss my bowl and spoon in a trashcan, and catch up with Jarred. "You look so tired." I tell him with a worried tone on my voice. "Yeah, I'm okay though." he says after yawning. I giggle when he licks some chocolate off his muzzle. When we get to the hotel, the six of us hop onto the elevator with sleep on our minds. We make it to the second floor, and Jarred, Mrs. Talob, and I begin to walk out. Sam gives Jarred a "bro hug" before he steps out, and a little wave of jealousy runs through me and my ears get pinned down on my head. I need to chill. When he steps out, Jarred notices and asks, "What's wrong?" I quickly put my ears back up and tell him it's nothing.
Mrs. Talob follows us to our room, and tells us to be ready in the morning by 6:00. Jarred puts his arm my shoulder and uses it as a rest while she's listing off things we need to do tomorrow, but I can't even pay attention. I'm looking at the tall form next to me, basically infatuated. I feel my cheeks blushing and my curly tail is already wagging. Mrs. Talob interrupts my thoughts when she says, "Did you get all that, Morgan?" "Yes ma'am." After that, we go inside to find our roommates already asleep on the bed on the left side of the room. I unbutton the overshirt I'm wearing and change out of my jeans. I throw on some plain black pajama pants to go with the black undershirt I'm wearing now. Jarred takes off his shirt and I'm looking at him, about ready to drool. Knock it off Morgan. Calm yourself. The fit figure next to the bed tells me he's going to take a shower. I say "Uh-huh" probably with some dumb look on my face because he snickers before disappearing into the bathroom.
The TV is on, and I watch it after climbing on the right side of the bed. After a while, Jarred steps out, steam billowing behind him wearing pajama pants with no shirt. I'm gonna die, he's trying to kill me, I'm gonna die. He sees me staring at him as he's drying out the fur on his head. He sends a smirk my way saying, "You okay?" "Uh, um. Yeah. I'm fine." I say nervously. He laughs and crawls into bed to my left and turns out the light. It's silent now. After a couple of minutes, Jarred speaks. "Hey, I had fun today." "Me too," I say quietly. "I know it sounds super corny, but bear with me," he says, and I flop on my side to face him. "Yeah? What is it?" "Well, I didn't really talk to you much back home but, you seem like a nice guy." he says in a kind tone. "Th-thanks." I tell him, almost surprised for whatever reason. "You're a nice guy too, Jarred. Goodnight." "Goodnight." he says before it goes quiet again.
My brain is running around in circles about the wolf lying next to me. I think I really like him. You just think that because he's being nice to you. But is he just being nice to me? Yes, it's nothing more than that. He's really cute.. Obviously, but that doesn't mean I need to be in love with him on the first day we talk. It's just a crush. A crush? Ugh. I'm done thinking. I need some sleep.