Below are previews for both of my new works in the Musical Anthology: Musical Notes and Musical Measures. If you enjoyed Musical Chairs, I hope you'll give these a try, read them and review them. Please enjoy.

Preview for MUSICAL NOTES

The poster was easy to miss, yet it had easily captured her attention. It wasn't flashy or flamboyant; just a simple advertisement. Although, it was a simple advertisement that had managed to make Lucy Heartfilia stand in front of it for almost five minutes, her brown eyes beaming at the poster. Truth be told, she hadn't expected to find something like this on her first day at a new school.

"Join the Magnolia Middle School Band Program!" They were simple, yet profound, words to the eleven-year-old blonde who was staring at the poster in adoration. The school had a band! This was, possibly, the best news she'd gotten all day. None of her previous boarding schools had even considered a band program. School was about learning and studying, not blowing notes out of some instrument. Not that it was the main reason Lucy wanted to go to a public school, but it was certainly a contributing factor. She had just finally managed to convince her father to let it happen.

"So, you're interested in band, are you?" said a deep, smooth voice from next to her. Lucy was surprised to hear anything since so far she'd managed to successfully ignore everything else around her.

"Excuse me?" Lucy asked, looking up at her new conversationalist. She certainly had to look up because the guy stood a full head taller than her, his blue hair styled strangely. If Lucy were entirely honest with herself, she'd have said he was classically handsome, but she wasn't one of those girls that started looking for a boyfriend the second that puberty kicked in.

"I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself," the boy said, running fingers through his hair casually. Lucy stopped herself from blanching inside. She wasn't stupid she could tell when a guy was flirting with her. "The name's Bora."

"That's…great?" Lucy expressed, not sure what that was supposed to mean. "I'm sorry, I'm new around here, so-"

"It's all right," Bora interrupted smoothly. "You're not the first sixth grader to get lost in these halls. I could show you around if you'd like…" He trailed off, as if waiting for her to tell him her name. She didn't.

"I think I'll be fine," she responded. "I'm not really lost. I was just looking at the poster."

"Ah, yes, the band program," Bora noted, almost like it was clever that he thought of it. "Did you know that we're typically the top program in the city?"

"Really? Are you part of it?" Lucy asked, her tone part interested, part skeptical. Bora scoffed.

"Of course! I, uh…" he said with bravado, digging his hands into his pockets. "I play drums. I know, that sounds a little lame."

"Not at all," Lucy said encouragingly, not even sure why she was continuing with the conversation at all. "I think drums are really cool. I mean, I'm more of a fan of woodwinds myself, but-"

"Give them back, Flame Breath!" yelled a sudden voice that cut off Lucy's rambling.

Preview for MUSICAL MEASURES

"Hey, Mavis, when do you think you'll be done?"

Pushing her blonde bangs out of her eyes at the voice, Mavis Vermillion looked up to see the teenaged girl poking her head into the bathroom. She smiled at the girl and sat up on her knees, wiping her wet and wrinkled hands on her shorts. Before giving an answer, Mavis looked around the bathroom. Toilet bowl, clean. Floor, washed. Windows, spotless. Medicine cabinet, organized. That just left one thing to clean.

"All I've got left is the mirror, Zera," Mavis announced cheerily. Zera frowned at her, blowing at her brown hair while she leaned against the doorframe. Mavis stood to grab the dirty floor water, lifting it only a foot off the ground. Zera stepped aside to let her pass to the small room at the end of the hall, which was more of closet. Mavis kicked the door open lightly, taking a brief glance at her quarters, dimly lit by a single bulb but covered entirely with posters. Smiling again at the poster for the National Orchestra, Mavis turned into the tiny cabinet that was her bathroom. She opened the toilet and poured the dirty water down it.

"Why do you do all this crap before school?" Zera asked after she had left the bucket in her room and was going back to the bathroom. Zera had left a towel and glass cleaner out for her. "My dad's not gonna be back before we're home, and he's always gone before we leave in the mornings."

"It's just habit," Mavis admitted with a shrug of her shoulders. Zera sighed and left Mavis to her duties. Truly, Mavis didn't mind cleaning the whole house every morning. It kept her mind busy and helped her feel grateful for her downtime whenever she got it, even if it meant waking up at four every morning before school. Granted, the only reason she had to do this was because of Zera's father, the man who'd taken her in after her parents had died in an unfortunate car crash. She was allowed to live in the household in exchange for all the work she did. At first it had been difficult, since she was only nine when it happened, and Zera had been an insufferable brat back then.

All of it changed when the two girls were forced to attend the same school at Magnolia Middle School. Mavis and Zera ended up in the same class…then came the fateful day of auditions for band.

"I brought your bag," Zera announced lazily, dropping Mavis' bag next to the door along with a pair of clothes and shoes. Mavis finished wiping the mirror down in time to give a glance to the footwear. "Dress code, Mavis."

"I know…I just feel more comfortable without shoes," Mavis confessed. Zera flinched but said nothing as Mavis tossed the rag she'd used. Sighing at the inevitability of the situation, Mavis peeled her filthy shirt and shorts off to change into the black blouse and cream skirt. Zera didn't bother looking away, considering that Mavis changing was the most interesting thing all morning. As soon as Mavis finished, she slipped her shoes on and the pair of girls headed for the door.

Mavis stole a look to the girl that was undoubtedly her best friend, who was currently popping a bubble in boredom. How the dark-haired girl had transformed from a spoiled brat to the laid back teenager she was now was hardly a mystery. Simply put, the two girls had bonded over a love of music. Mavis had loved band since her parents were alive, and living in the house of a man who owned the local music store just enhanced it. Zera had picked up a love of music as well. When the two girls learned this about each other, all animosity fell away and they became closer than sisters. They played together, did homework together, even bathed together. Mavis was glad to have someone so close, especially when Zera would start to help her with her appointed chores, occasionally sneaking her dinner, too.

"Can't believe were sophomores already," Zera commented when they reached the front door.

There you have it. If you enjoyed these previews then be sure to read the full story (or at least the first chapter) and leave me a generous review. Hope to see you there and Dare to Be Silly.