[A/N]: Well... hello again, folks! As stated in the above box area, this is the SEQUEL to my previous story Drum Major Status. For all the new readers, I do recommend that you read DMS before reading this one. And for all the people who have followed me onto here, THANK YOU! From all your input, I finally got a working plot line that I believe you guys will love. I'm going to introduce some new characters and bring back a few from DMS. I hope you all will be patient with me as I'm still trying to get a rhythm. Enjoy the first chapter - sorry it's so short!

Chapter 1: King Davis

Jessica

"Jessica Welling," they called out my name out of the hundreds of musicians in the high school gym.

For the passed two days, I've been out on the marching field working my butt off. The staff pushed us to our limits during basics and helped out playing abilities by teaching us new techniques. Now it was all or nothing. The gym was cramped with enthusiastic musicians desperate to get a spot in this wonderful group.

I walked passed all the trumpet players who stood in front of me. A member of the staff and trumpet tech, Jordan, handed me an envelope. "Congratulations," Jordan spoke in his deep voice. "You're now a member of the Santa Clara Vanguard."

From hearing those words, it lit my fuse and like a firework, exploded with overflowing satisfaction and joy. Giddy inside, I took my place back within the crowd of eager musicians.

You did it, Jessica. You made it into you favorite drum corps. You're going to work your butt off and perform a kiss ass show.

"Davis Kim," they called up next. Davis and I spent most of this audition camp together. We were both auditioning for the first time ever for a drum corps. Davis was a freshman at UC Berkeley and studying music composition. Because we always stood together during the arc warm-ups and sat together during meals, he and I have become close friends.

When Davis came back with his envelope, I shot him a thumbs-up as he sat next to me. The staff called up dozens of people, and for those that didn't receive an envelope were encouraged to return to the following camp to show improvement.

Happy with the outcome of my audition, the first person I called to tell the great news to was my best friend, and now roommate, Cassie. On the phone, she screamed in excitement and I screamed right back. I didn't care if I looked like such a high school girl screaming into a phone in the parking lot, I was ecstatic.

The average height and skinny Davis noticed my over-girliness and after taking a large, deep breath, I recouped and returned to normal. "Sorry," I apologized for my screeching.

"Don't be sorry. I was doing the same exact thing earlier," Davis was sweet and charming. After we exchanged a chuckle, he asked, "When's the next camp? January 8th. You'll be there, right?"

"If I some change to fill up my gas tank, I'll definitely be there."

When Davis smiled, all anyone could notice was his extremely white teeth. His father was a dentist or so he told me. Davis was surprisingly fluent and excellent in English being that he and his family had just moved to the States only a few years ago. He picked up the American accent easily, but when he grows unaware, his Korean roots become apparent.

"Can I get your number?" he asked. Without second guessing his intention, I swiftly gave him my contact information including my email and instant messaging username. "Thanks."

"No problem. I'll see you in a month?"

He flashed his dental clean smile before getting into Mustang. As he drove off in the direction of UC Berkeley, he rolled down his windows and waved goodbye.

When I got home later that day, I opened the envelope that I just received from the audition camp. As I read, my giddiness diminished. All I saw were the numbers 2300 on the bottom of the paper. How the hell was I supposed to come up with $2,300 dollars by the end of May?

Frantic that I may have to give up my position on the Vanguard, I called my parents back in Arcana. My mother answered the phone.

"Hey, Mom." She seemed very happy to hear from me being that I didn't call very often. "So remember that audition I told you about on our last phone call? Well, I got in."

"That's great, honey."

"But the thing is… I have to somehow raise twenty-three hundred dollars before tour starts. And right now, I don't have anything."

"I see. Here. Let me hand over the phone to your father." A few seconds later, a new voice came onto he speaker. "So you need money?" I could easily hear the resentment seeping through the phone's speaker system.

"Yes."

"Jessica, if you came back home, money wouldn't be an issue."

"Dad, you know why I left Arcana…" Memories of regret and anger began to rush through my head. I was picked on and bullied because I made co-drum major with a boy who didn't know the meaning of humble. Nobody liked me and at the end, I didn't like me either. I became harsh and deceitful just like everyone who treated me badly. They drove me out of that town.

"I already don't like the fact that you're living on your own with Cassie's family. You know what happened last time. What makes you think I'll like it when you're off loose all over the country during tour?"

I thought my father had forgiven me for my little brother's accident that caused to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

"So does that mean you're not going to help?" I asked, already devastated.

"No. Not with drum corps. We'll still pay Cassie's parents for your rent and food for the remainder of your senior year, but you'll have to find your own way to pay for Vanguard. Or… You can come home, and you join one of the smaller corps down in southern cal and I'll help pay for it. It's your choice."

There was no way in hell I was going back to Arcana.

DaKing: Jessica?

DM4RHS: I'm sorry who's this?

DaKing: It's Davis… from camp?

DM4RHS: oh haha. I didn't expect it was you. You have such an interesting username.

DaKing: Should I change it?

KingDavis: Is this better?

DM4RHS: Much better. What's up? How's college treating you?

KingDavis: I have finals coming up next week and I'm procrastinating on this English essay. AAARRRGHH

DM4RHS: lol, sorry to hear. So hey, there's a chance I might not be coming back to camp.

KingDavis: What? No! Why?

DM4RHS: Have you looked at the letter in the envelope? The fee has two too many 0's at the end of 23. On top of that, my dad won't help me pay for it. I need to find a job or I'm screwed.

KingDavis: That sucks! You know, you can get sponsorships too. You can also sell some stuff online. I can totally help you out if you want.

DM4RHS: Please! I can use all the help I can get.

KingDavis: Do you have a resume? For looking for jobs and such…

DM4RHS: Uhhh… no.

KingDavis: Ah, well… I guess I will just have to put off my English paper for a little bit longer.

Christian

DM4RHS is now online. I just stared at my laptop fighting the voices in my head whether I should talk to her or not. It had been a long time since I last saw her at her high school. We did not talk much, nor did we get any closure. Our whole relationship was still an open book. Maybe it wasn't for her, but it definitely was for me.

On my desk sat an envelope I received from the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps just a week ago. I played Tower of Power for my audition. Though the staff found it cliché, they loved that I could reach all the high notes. It was a difficult, but satisfying weekend. Living in Concord allowed me to attend camps and return back home to my cozy bed.

The envelope remained unopened. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to march this summer. My mom and I were just getting settled in into our new home and I was still getting used to the fact that I was living under the same roof as her boyfriend. There was plenty of change going on and adding drum corps to the list would make it overwhelming.

I made it into the corps. I knew without even opening up the letter. The last thing the staff told me was, "Congratulations. You are now a Blue Devil." But I wasn't sure if I wanted to be a Devil.

I checked back on my laptop screen finding that Jessica was still online. I wondered if she noticed that I was there.

Jessica and I were only together for two days before she upped and left for Riverview. We spent intimate nights together talking about our secrets and family drama. She was completely open with me and I was with her. I'd never opened up myself completely to a girl before. Sharing my thoughts with Jessica just felt natural. But all hope was gone of ever rekindling our friendship.

[A/N]: I hope you guys liked it. Please leave me a review with your thoughts and ideas for direction. Thanks everyone, really!