[TPIN] DILEMMA - Playing lead parts?

[Jeff Briddle]

All,
 
I have quite the dilemma which causes me a little confusion and need some advice that I know I will get great responses.  A little long but I feel there needs to be some clarification.
 
I just started to play the trumpet Feb of this year after a 25 year break.  I decided to get a private trumpet teacher who just so happened to recruit me for his community band on my first lesson.  I started to in the band at the end of Feb.  He put me in the third trumpet section and I have been pretty happy there, we have 6 of us and I am 5th chair basically.  
 
My trumpet teacher has been really working on building my chops and my speed and now I am hitting a high c pretty easily and consistently we do the Arbans and he also gives me hand written exercises to work on during the week.  BTW he is an amazing trumpet player himself.  He has a beautiful Mt Vernon Bach Strad... Anyways.
 
So here is the dilemma:
 
At my lesson yesterday he told me that I am doing very well and he thinks I sound better than the lead trumpet player and he would like to start to give me some of his pieces.  I feel I can play them but have a problem with the "new" guy taking the lead.  I really told myself that I am pretty happy being in the third trumpet section because this is just for fun but I also want to do what the director says.  
 
How do I deal with this?  I don't think he wants me to be the lead but, to play his lead parts can I do that?  I don't want to be hated or not accepted in the first trumpet section.  I also don't want the other thirds or seconds to look at me in a bad light either.  
 
I have never had to deal with this since I was first trumpet first chair from 4th grade until I graduated from high school which was 26 years ago.  Every one of the trumpet players have been very nice to me and accepting except for the lead.  He is a bit of a primadona, we say "hi" but that's it.  He can play but his tone and phrasing leave a little to be desired.  I think he has been in the Band for a very long time as with most of the trumpet players.  
 
Am I making too much out of it and I should just let the band director do what he things is best and just go for it?
 
Thanks in advance,
 
Jeff the comback player