The Fellowship of the Band Nerds

Chapter Two

They walked down the hall together for a bit, idly chatting. Suddenly, Eric stopped.

"What is it, Eric?" Sami asked.

"This is it," he said.

"What?"

"If I take one more step, I'll be the farthest from the band room that I've ever been."

"Oh, Eric, you're such a dork." She walked behind him and pushed him, forcing him to take another step. "There. Now get over it."

Just then, Minh-Bao and Melissa burst out of a nearby room, practically colliding with Sami and Eric.

"Hi, Sami!" Minh-Bao chirped.

"No time to talk, gotta run!" Melissa said, pulling Minh-Bao along.

"Why are you guys hurrying?" asked Eric.

"Well..." Minh-Bao looked slightly guilty. "We kinda stole a bag of Pixy Stix from the 'boners, and they're after us."

"Listen!" Melissa exclaimed suddenly.

They stopped for a moment, hearing approaching footsteps.

"Maybe it's just the track team," Eric said hopefully.

"Hide!" Sami hissed, squeezing into a doorway. Minh-Bao, Melissa, and Eric followed her, pressing their backs up against the wood.

"Wow, freaky people in black," Melissa commented quietly as the nine people marched by.

Suddenly, one of them stopped, looking around.

Sami froze, tightly clutching her backpack, which held the One Oboe of Power. An odd sensation began to spread over her. She unconsciously opened her backpack and took the case out. She put the oboe together and began to put it in her mouth.

Melissa hit her over the head. "What are you doing?"

Sami came to. "Wha?"

"Hurry, let's run!" Minh-Bao said, opening the door.

They ran a few feet outside the door, then stopped.

"What's going on?" Melissa asked.

Minh-Bao looked around. "Those Black Marchers were looking for something. Or someone. Sami?"

Sami paused. "I must get far away from the band room. Eric and I must go to Squee."

"I know where to go," Melissa said. "Follow me."

She led them a bit further down the hallway, then stopped in front of a door.

"Here?" questioned Eric. Melissa pointed up. A large sign reading SQUEE hung over the door. "Oh."

Sami knocked on the door. It opened, and a short blonde girl peered out.

"What do you want?" she snapped.

"We wanna stay at the inn," replied Sami.

The door opened fully. "A band nerd!" the girl exclaimed, surprised. "Four band nerds. What brings you to Squee?"

"Told ya, we wanna stay at the inn! Why do you care, anyway?"

"All right, all right, fine!" The girl stuck her tongue out at Sami. "Was just asking..."