groovygamers.com

Band Practice on Thursday is painful.  Some of the other band members seem to be distracted and not performing well.  A number of sour notes come up during practice, and the band instructor finally stops practice "People, people.  I know summer break is coming, but we still have seven games to play at and the graduation ceremony.  So please, keep it together."

It's a little better after that, good enough that he doesn't complaint, but Sammy still hears every off key like nails on a chalk board.

After practice Heather comes over to her.  "Was it just me or did we suck today?"

Sammy rubs at her forehead, hoping that will help to slow her burgeoning headache.  "We totally sucked.  It was driving me nuts.  It was like being in 5th grade band all over again.  All we needed was that sour milk smell coming from the cafeteria kitchen." 

"Eww."  Heather says, pinching her nose, "Why did you have to remind me of that."  she laughs and gets her things, "Make your boyfriend find us a really cool concert this weekend and get us tickets."  she says smiling, leaning into Sammy.  "since you've been spending so much time with us, I thought it would be safe to make demands of your boyfriend."

"Sure.  We might have to find our own way to get there--  I think he said something about other plans for Saturday night.  I can ask.  How much can you afford to pay for tickets?  How many tickets do you think we'll need?"

"Well, you and me.  If your boyfriend can't go I shouldn't take mine.  Maybe just the two of us?"  She looks at her wallet.  "Hmmm, pay for tickets?  What is this pay for tickets you speak of?"  she grins, "Or we could just catch a movie."

Sammy grins back. "It's not my money to spend.  I can ask him to try to get us some comp tickets.  That shouldn't be too tough;  he knows people in all kinds of unexpected places.  I'll see if he can get enough so your boyfriend can come too, if you want."  She shrugs her shoulders eloquently.  "Up to you."

Heather wrinkles her nose, "Let's just do a girls night thing.  Greasy burgers, a concert, and then fattening ice cream.  Sound good?

Sammy laughs.  "Sounds good."  She finishes shoving things into bags and cases, and rubs at her throbbing temples again.  "Stupid bad practice gave me a headache," she grumbles.  "I'm going to get some Tylenol and then I'll ask about the tickets.  I'll let you know, ok?"

"Ok."  she says, rubbing your shoulder, "Sorry about your headache."  Then she heads home.

Sammy goes home as well.  After begging some Tylenol from her mom, she calls El and, after some normal chatter (including details of exactly how horrible band practice was this afternoon), asks him if he thinks he'd be able to get two comp concert tickets for her and Heather this Saturday night.

"In town I assume?"  he asks and she can hear him moving and then tapping away at his computer.  "Couple of bands worth hearing at under twenty-one clubs.  You want to fly her or can I arrange for a driver and dinner too?"

"If Heather knows I fly, she has never talked about it; we're not going to fly.  But you don't have to set up dinner and a driver unless you want to do it for your own peace of mind -- I'm already taking advantage of you by asking for passes."

"No, taking advantage of me is asking me to buy you a band."  He taps some more keys, "Dinner and a driver makes me feel better that you'll get home safe and sound.  Chicago is a dangerous city on the weekends." 

Sammy concedes the point with good grace, and gratefully accepts the offer of dinner and a driver.

"Thank you," she says.  "Heather will be thrilled silly."

"Hey, cool points with my girlfriends girl friends is worth the effort.  I'll have the driver pick you guys up at your place.  Dress code will be club casual.  The only thing I ask is you take plenty of hammy pictures of the two of you with your phone.  I have to have some sort of amusement, I'll be having dinner with the folks and the people dad wants me to get to know that will be going to school the same time I will.  In other words, people he wants me to look after."

"Might be the other way around; he might want them to look after you."  There's a soft background noise of fabric moving against fabric as she shifts around.  "It can work both ways.  And hey, they can be somebody to eat with until you make your own friends, and if it turns out you like these guys? Bonus!"  She shifts a little more.  "I'll send pictures, and I'll do my best to not worry the bodyguard."

"He's a driver.  That's all.  Not a bodyguard."  She hears him flop down onto his bed.  "Maybe they'll be cool.  Dad hasn't said much about them, friends of the family, blah, blah.  And it's better than eating alone all the time."

"Yep.  I wouldn't be too surprised if they're trying to hook you up with another girl while they're at it.  They don't know me, so they don't know I'm not out to ruin you, or own you, or take everything I can get.  So be nice to her.  She's probably being pushed too."

"I had hoped they were beyond that.  But now that you mention it."  He groans.  "I'm not gonna worry about it though."  he sounds resigned.  "You guys have a good time, I need to go see some people about a bus.  Talk to you later."

"OK."  She makes a kissy noise at the phone, and disconnects.  She rolls over on her bed and tries to take a nap.

In the sweet twilight of almost sleep, when some of the best dreams happen Sammy is assaulted by the teeth filled maws of black worms.  They lunge out at her, teeth snapping at her flesh, and where they connect they rip her apart like paper, out of tune music leaking from her like blood.  Then she gasps as one of the worms dives into her mouth, struggling to climb inside her.  She starts upright, the faint glow of the setting spring sun peeking through her windows still.  Her headache has subsided, but now her heart is racing and with it a new pounding in her temples.

Sammy shivers and wraps a light quilt around her shoulders.  She goes downstairs to look for her mom or dad.  "My head hurt, so I took a nap.  I had a really bad dream," she whimpers at a parent.  "Worm-things were eating me..."

Mom makes a soothing sound and hugs Sammy.  "It's okay sweetie.  Bad dreams I can still help with."  she kisses Sammy's head.  "Still have a headache?"

Sammy nods.  "A little," she replies. "That dream was so scary-- my heart is thumping like I just finished a race, and the veins in my head are pounding."  Sammy takes her moms hand and places it on her forehead.  "Feel it?  The worms were biting me, and I was bleeding, but not blood.  I was bleeding music."

"You said band practice didn't go too well.  That's probably ll it was honey."  Sammy's mom kisses her head and tries to calm her down.

Eventually the pounding in her head subsides and she's able to relax.  The family has dinner, and by the time Sammy heads to bed all seems right with the world.  Her sleep is uninterrupted by the nightmare about the worms.

The next morning she gets a text from Elrod;
Driver will pick you guys up at 6PM.  Dinner at American Bistro, then it's only a two block walk to Club 98 to listen to hear Sheryl Crow do a limited engagement.  Hope you guys have a good time.  See you Sunday night for dinner?

Sunday dinner? Yes! Wouldn't miss it.  Thanks for everything!  XOXOXO

Sammy goes to school and finds Heather before first bell.  She relays the information about Saturday night.

Heather is going through her morning routine, and takes the news Sammy gives her with a nod.  "That sounds fine.  I'll see you then."  and then she heads to class.  Sammy notices the lack of excitement, in stark contrast to the excitement at just the idea yesterday.

Sammy scoots up next to her.  "Is something wrong?" she asks with concern.  "You were so excited about this yesterday..."

"Nothing's wrong.  Just."  she pauses.  "You know, it's the time."  She offers Sammy a weak smile and then goes into her class.  Sammy needs to head to class before she's late.

At lunch, Sammy is surprised to see Heather and another band kid sitting at a different table.  She's even more surprised to see that Alicia is looking at them like she's trying to figure out which one is the weakest of the herd.

OOC: Make an Int check also, with any bonuses for Eidetic Memory.  You can remain in your own thread or join Alicia in hers as you wish.