“For the last time, Zack: NO!”

“Oh come on, it’s not fair!”

Throughout the halls of Bruma's Heart Charter School, a screaming match could be heard from the Journalism Clubroom. Inside the room, students filled each desk, working on their part of the school’s newspaper. At the very front of the classroom were the sources of the screams, the journalism president and her colleague.

“How many times do I have to tell you?” The president scolded. “The B.C. Barker prides itself on releasing ACTUAL news stories! Not conspiracy theories.”

“And I keep telling YOU that it’s not a conspiracy theory!” Zack aggressively responded. The president then picked up the article in front of her, reading it out loud.

“C.L.U.B: Friendly Helpers or Shadow Organization!” she started, but Zack quickly interjects. “Well, you have to admit, the title is pretty good!” Ignoring his comment, she continued.

“As you may know, the group known as C.L.U.B has been making the rounds across the school, helping out lesser known clubs’ popularity. While this may seem like a noble pursuit on the outside, if you were to take a peek behind the curtains, you would find their true intentions: Creating a New School Order!” The president then glared back at Zack. “Are you serious?!”

Scratching his black-and-blonde hair, Zack relented. “Okay, maybe the last part’s a bit much. But my point still stands, Anita! Everything about them screams ‘shady!'”

“You don’t even have proof.” A student in background remarked.

“Wrong! If you actually READ my article, you’d see that!” He barked back. 

“A club making contracts with people they work with does not constitute malice, Zack.” Anita clarified. Zack just scoffs. “That’s just because you refuse to read between the lines! But you know what, fine!”

As he said that, the spunky journalist got up from his seat and started to leave the room.

 “Where are you going?” Anita fiercely questioned.

“To get more evidence, since you’re giving me such a hard time about it! Once I get it, then you’ll have to release my story!”

“No I don’t! Zack, come back here!” Anita's last words went unheard as Zack slammed the door as he left. 

Walking down the hall, Zack muttered bitterly to himself. “This is ridiculous… ‘I want proof!’ Fine, I’ll give you proof.” Pulling out an orange notepad from his hoodie pocket, he reviewed the notes within it, looking over potential people to interview. After confirming the options, the journalist ventured on to complete his mission: to take down C.L.U.B!

—OD!!!—

Interview 1: Jessica Fall, Junior

Occupation: President of the Cosplay C.L.U.B.

“What can you tell me about C.L.U.B?”

“Oh they’re great! When we first started, people thought we were weird or creeps for dressing as fictional characters, but it’s not like that at all! We just want to enjoy our favorite media, you know?”

“Um, yeah I understand. So C.L.U.B helped you with that?”

“They did a lot more than that! They made us more popular than we ever expected. They’re absolute lifesavers!”

“I see… What about the contract?”

“Contract?”

“You know, the one you signed?”

“Oh… that. I dunno, I just signed it. All we had to do was just change our name from Cosplay Club to Cosplay C.L.U.B. You know, with the dots.”

“And you didn’t find that the least bit suspicious?!”

“Eh, as long as we can do our thing. Hey, have you ever thought about trying out? With your hair, I could totally see you doing a great Kenma!”

“...”

 Interview 2: Robin Lang, Senior

Occupation: President of the Origami C.L.U.B.

“So, how did the group help you out?”

“Do you remember the Day of the Origami Birds?”

“You mean the time where someone dumped a load of paper birds off the school roof? That was them?”

“Yes. It was beautiful… Our creations gliding through the air, without a care in the world. Everyone who witnessed it was mystified.”

“Yeah, but I also remember some people going to the nurse for paper cuts…”

“Ah, just a little sacrifice for art. …And done. Here you go. Have a flower.”

“No tha- Oh wow, this is actually pretty good.”

Interview 3: Martin Kramer, Sophomore

Occupation: President of the ETR C.L.U.B.

“Hello? Is anyone in here?

SLAM!

“What the hell?! Hey, let me out!”

“Welcome to ETR Initiation. You know what you must do.”

“What the hell are you talking about?!”

“You’re joining ETR, right? Escape The Room?”

“No! I’m here to ask you questions! Not to join your stupid club!”

“Oh.”

…

“Do you at least wanna try?”

“OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!!!”

—OD!!!—

After spending half an hour in a room puzzle, Zack sluggishly walked back to his locker, ready to call it a day. I couldn’t even get a single shred of evidence… He thought to himself. Everyone’s going to think I'm some sort of crackpot!

As he sighed to himself, the journalist noticed someone familiar from across the colorful hallway. Opening a locker himself, a curly-haired boy with russet skin stood before him. Isn’t that guy with C.L.U.B? Zack wondered to himself. I know he helped them out before. With that though, he had a realization.

Maybe I could squeeze a couple answers outta him.

Smirking to himself, Zack made his way to the unsuspecting student.

Interview 4: Vincent Duran, Junior

Occupation: Drama Club Student

“Excuse me! Are you Vincent Duran?” he called out to the student. Turning around, Vincent looked at Zack with slight surprise. “Yes? Do I know you?”

“Zack Park, I work for the B.C. Barker! You got a minute for a couple questions?”

“Yeah, sure. What about?”

“Your affiliation with C.L.U.B.” When he mentioned the group, Vincent's mood shifted a little, his face showing a little grimace. He continued. “What is your exact relationship with the organization?”

“I don’t have one.” Vincent answered curtly. Unsatisfied with the response, Zack pursued the subject. “Oh please, weren’t you the one who loaned his classroom to them?”

“I didn’t ‘loan’ it to them, they stole it! And how do you even know that?!”

“I have sources, Duran. Confidential.”

Vincent huffed at his remark and closed his locker door, attempting to move past Zack in order to leave the conversation. “I'm sorry, but I don’t really have anything to give you.”

“Come on, Vincent…” The journalist tried to coax, staying in his way. “I can tell you detest the C.L.U.B just like I do. Help a guy out!” 

“He said he didn't have one. Can you not take a hint?” 

An unknown voice cuts in between the two. Approaching the boys was an auburn-haired girl with half-freckled skin, with what seems like a scowl forever plastered on her face. Zack withdrew back a little bit as he remembered the person in front of him. 

Great… don’t tell me he knows HER.

Interview 5: Veronica Healy, Junior

Occupation: Honor Roll Student

“Veronica.” The journalist acknowledged. “Didn’t know you two knew each other.”

“Yeah, we do. Now back off.” She steps forward in a threatening manner. She looked at Vincent. “Is he bothering you?”

Vincent raised his hand to placate his friend. “No, he just had a couple of questions about C.L.U.B.” Zack nodded his head in agreement. “Yeah, what he said!”

Veronica crossed her arms. “If that’s the case, why don’t you just go to them yourself? Rather than harassing people, like you usually do.”

“That’s not how it works, Veronica.” He replied in a patronizing tone. “Gathering information is a vital part of the journalistic-”

“I don’t care.” The redhead scathingly interrupted. “Go lecture to my brother about that shit, not me. Either way, leave us alone.” Offended at her disregard for him, Zack felt a bit of spite from within when he decided to push his luck in order to get one answer. “You know what? Let me ask YOU a question…”

“I don’t think you should…” Vincent attempted to stop him, but it was too late.

“There’s rumors stating that you had a past 'relationship' with the C.L.U.B president. Do you care to comment?”

After hearing the journalist’s bold question, the girl simply stood there, frozen in place with a blank face. While she showed no emotion, Vincent’s nervous response showed that perhaps it wasn’t the wisest decision to ask that question. “Y-You know Vee, maybe we should be going.” He said, trying to usher Veronica away from Zack, but she stops him.

“No Vince,” she replied, seemingly calm. “I’ll answer his stupid question. However, I won’t say it out loud.” She glanced at the journalist notepad. Zack, hopeful that his efforts wouldn’t be completely for naught, handed his notepad over to her. As she reached for his notepad, Zack felt something was a bit off.

Instead of grabbing the notebook, Veronica’s hand quickly changed direction and grabbed his collar, violently pulling him face-to-face. Up close, Zack saw the intense fury on her face with her hair flowing like magma, baring her teeth as she uttered her next words.

“Ask that question again. I dare you.” Zack just stayed silent, frozen in fear. “You’re lucky my friend’s here, otherwise I would have been bashing your face in already. Now, I’m only going to say this one more time: Piss off.” With that, Veronica throws him to the floor, uncaring if it hurts. The journalist merely scrambled to his feet and got away as quickly as he could.

“You didn’t need to go that far…” Vincent remarked softly. The girl merely scoffed.

“He’s fine. Some morons can only learn from pain, anyway.”

As Zack got away to a safe distance, he took a moment to relax. Though he still thought she overreacted, the journalist made a note to himself NOT to push the redhead next time. Still, while it may have been the adrenaline coursing through his veins, Zack felt reinvigorated about his pursuit against C.L.U.B again. As he pondered his next move, the sophomore remembered something Veronica said during their confrontation.

Why don’t I face the C.L.U.B myself, huh…

Maybe I will!    

TO BE CONTINUED!