Oliver may have been in the last chair, but he was one of only four middle school students in the senior orchestra. His stomach didn’t exactly feel like it was full of butterflies, but it did feel like he was watching an action scene in a spy movie, one with lots of running and high-kicking fight scenes.
The senior high girl next to him gave him a once-over and sniffed. She had long blonde hair and cat-like eyes. Probably some sort of feline shifter. “I didn’t know the senior high orchestra allowed kids.”
He glared at her. “I’m a seventh grader, not a kid. And I plan to beat you in the next chair challenge.”
She laughed, revealing small fangs. Definitely a shifter. “I’d like to see you try. I’m studying privately with Magister now.”
Oliver raised an eyebrow. “Only now? I’ve been studying with Magister since I was five.”
Her mouth snapped closed. She spun away from him and started fidgeting with her stand and music.
Oliver would show her—and everybody else, too.
Magister tapped on his stand with his conductor baton. “We have much work to do before our holiday concert. I welcome those of you who are new to the orchestra, but it will be up to you to keep up, or you will be moved down to the junior orchestra. Practice hard and listen to your instructors so you can continually improve.”
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Oliver had wanted to be in the Eclipse Arts orchestra since seeing a spring concert with his parents when he was seven. The music was so big that it filled Oliver’s mind for months afterward. Magister had given him recordings of many concerts since then.
His parents respected his teacher but wanted Oliver to study magic more than music. Yet at the same time, they were terrified of letting Oliver practice magic in case it used up more of their dwindling supply. At least his playing the cello didn’t require them to waste any magic on weak spells like those for changing one’s hair color, a common beginner spell for young witches and wizards.
Oliver loved the sound of the cello, but there was something magical about the sound of all the instruments playing together, creating melodies and harmonies while the percussion added rhythm and excitement. Since the day he had seen the EA orchestra, all Oliver had wanted to do was play his cello in a full orchestra and create big sounds for other people to enjoy. Maybe he would play for another small child who would fall in love with those sounds, just as he had.
The orchestra had elected officers the year before, so returning members were passing out music and taking roll. Min Ho, his suitemate, turned around and smiled at him from the second violin section. Min Ho was one of the other four middle school students in the senior orchestra. But he was third chair in the second violin section, and two senior students were seated below him.
It was infuriating that Oliver was the last chair. But he had to admit there were twice as many violins as cellos, so perhaps he would have ranked higher if there were more cellos.
He had to do something dramatic to keep his chair.