The day was just as warm as it had been the last couple weeks. The ring of the school bell echoed through the well-kept halls. It was barely heard in the large orchestra room, as it was meant to be soundproof.
Viola smugly sat in her first chair, instrument ready to go while some of the lesser professional players were only just beginning to set up. At the last second, the second chair violinist raced through the door. The upper class teen watched, brows furrowed, as the country girl wiped at her brow, chest heaving with the effort. Viola watched, eyes scrunched in thought.
Fiona looked about the room, smiling pleasantly to the flutist sitting a few seats up from the last chair. Viola noticed this action and furrowed her brows even further, feeling a lick of anger rising up inside. Once the orange foulard wearing girl was within hearing range, she snarled.
“I’m surprised you stayed, considering how we demonstrated what it truly is like to be in the Celestia's Royal Academy Music Department.” Viola found an eye roll awaiting for her. She glared in return. “I don’t know why you bother learning about the other sections; either you or the most of the others are going to be gone before long.”
Strong blue orbs rolled again before the farmer smirked, leaning closer. “Ah’m pretty sure Ah’d win that bet. Why don’t ya wait a little longer, and we’ll see who lasts.” Fiona set her supplies down and walked to the small blonde girl, striking up a conversation.
The leader of the violins scowled, annoyance rushing through her fingertips. She curled them, staring at them before looking up once more, shock flashing in her mind. The tan girl had moved on from talking with the flute player and was talking with the assistant teacher. Viola continued watching, eyes narrowed.
“What was all that about?!”
“Why, Ah’m challengin’ ya.” Fiona crossed both arms, smirking wide.
“WHAT!?!” Viola jumped up from her seat half shouting.
“Eeeyup!”
The pale-white teen jerked back, blinking rapidly at the response. "That is NOT a word!" She finally managed to gasp out, exclaiming the first thing that came to mind. After the statement, the rest of her issues burst forth, fueled by the angry furrow the other girl now wore. “You…! You haven’t been here that long! How could possibly be ready to challenge me?!”
“That's what ya think; Ah’m gonna prove all y’all that ya ain’t the best. It won't take much to become the best of the whole of ya lot if they all play like you do.” The country gal continued smiling, only to stop when the other section members laughed.
“That’s the most foolish thing I have ever heard!” Viola was among those laughing. She also crossed her arms, staring down her nose that was flung high into the air. “You will NEVER be the best. Octavia Philharmonica is the best. She has always been the best.” A pale white hand pointed to a girl with long dark hair, sitting at the head of the cellos, undisturbed by the ruckus over in the violin section. "Also, it's 'you all' or 'all of you', not 'y'all'."
Fiona squinted her eyes briefly at the correction, brushing it under the rug for the moment. She continued to frown and looked at the others who had gathered around while the teachers were just setting up. They nodded in agreement, quietly accepting the fact.
“Y’all sound like yer never gonna get better, and with that attitude, yer not. Ya don’t play with any soul. Yer heart’s too cold.” The tan violinist leaned towards the current first chair player, jabbing towards her with her pointer finger. “Yer gonna lose that way no matter what if ya keep thinkin' and playin' like that.”
The rest of the section was stunned. Mouths open wide, they barely heard the aids telling the students to get into place. The teacher came out, holding a list of names grouped in twos. In moments, a small selection of pairs standing up at the call, heading for the small side rooms where they competed for the higher ranking chair. The two violinists were among those called up.
-DC-
Everyone got their results immediately afterwards. The two violinists waited by the teacher aid; Fiona at ease and confident while Viola frowned in concern. When they pointed to the country girl as the winner, the highbrow teen shouted in frustration.
“No! No! How could she have beaten me?!”
“Told ya, ya don’t play with yer heart. You ain’t gonna win against me, no matter how ‘fancy’ a place ya live in.” The foulard wearing girl smirked, crossing her arms and turning about to take her new seat.
Viola gave in to the urge to scream incoherently. “And you will never last at Celestia's Royal Academy; your hick mind can’t possibly keep up the grades you need to stay! And it's 'isn't' not 'ain't'!” Taking a tiny amount of joy from the angrily hurt face of the ‘new’ first chair, she turned to face the aid, disregarding the disapproving face she found there. “I demand another challenge! Immediately!”
The aid grabbed the bridge of her nose, exhaling gustily. “This is going to be a long year…” She muttered before speaking up louder. “You can’t re-challenge someone on the same day as the new results. You’ll have to wait a day. Sign up in the morning.”
Viola was about to scream once more but instead took a deep breath, clenching her fists and closing her eyes. It was the laughter from the rest of the band that brought her to her senses. She found the rest of the violin section in shock while the band themselves watched amused from their places. She stomped her way to her new place, glaring out of the corner of her eye. She found a sharp blue gaze looking just as furious towards her.
This means WAR!
The new leader of the violins fought her blush of embarrassment at being the center of ridicule from the other students. She looked around the room and found that there were a few who didn’t share in this ‘amusement’. Settling in place, she curled and uncurled her fingers around the neck of her fiddle.
Ah ain’t giving up… No matter what they say… Or how they act. Ah ain’t giving up. Fiona peeked once more to the fiddler on her right and found angry cold blues waiting. She hardened her gaze as pain rushed through her chest at what had been said moments ago. And Ah ain’t ever gonna be friends with that prissy little snob!