"I rounded them up", I heard Riley's groggy voice say as she flopped down on one of the bean bags in the room.
"You make it sound like they are prisoners", I mused.
"Well they would be now", Riley murmured.
"I heard that"
"Urgh", she groaned laying down on the bean sack.
It's was recess time on a Monday and exactly a week since the principal called me to his oh so wonderful abode.
So yeah on Friday, me and Riley sent out invitation to the people we dimmed worthy for the job..ahem, revenge plan...you know what I mean. Then on Saturday we, well my mum helped also to convert the old music room into our own studio. You remember that old room me and Riley had a ole so heart to heart talk, yeah that room.
The walls were painted grey with a touch of purple splattered on it, florescent lights shined brightly. It had about three bean bags and a couch arranged in a circle with a coffee table at the center of it, plasma tv mounted on the wall, then also a glass showroom that was well equipped. We also installed security cameras for good measures and even installed a toilet in...how mum has did this is under two days was beyond me. The room was massive and big.
Principal Mathew had said the room was too much for a normal school club and I replied with "Am the president and I do what I wanna", not exactly how I said it though, but you get the point, either way Mathew was seething. I laughed internally remembering his face all red and puffed up.
I stood in front of the four kids I had took my beautiful time to nominate with folded arms and stared at each and everyone of them into their eyes. Weird you say, nah am just starting.
Two boys, two girls. Aera is in her sophomore year-korean, a quiet kid and don't talk much but you know the saying the quiet kids knows everything, well most of them and I know Mara has seen a lot of secrets in this school. Those things hardly pass them but I tell you.
Then we have a CJ... senior, he is actually a DJ, hey that rhymes. Anyways, he is always invited to every single party, his like one of the best DJ in North Crest to the extent other local highschools around hire him and his also been invited to frat parties. I know... his everywhere that's why his going to be joining my club.
Next we have Nathan from the tech club and Riley trusted source she's been going on and on about. His an absolute computer geek, hack into anything and get information on anyone. He also has access to the school's app data, since his the one that basically made it. People hardly know him though and don't he was the one who made.. that's the best part. But the sad part is that his colleagues always took credit for his achievements touche his actually a quiet and also the school's mascot....that's a secret so shhhh.
And the last one which is my favorite is Riley's friend April Cooper, the tennis girl..hope you guys remember her and I know y'all are thinking, what can she do, I dunno either I just felt Riley needed more company...you know.
"I still can't believe you considered her", Riley came up to me to whisper.
"You girls really need to sort out your issue"
Riley scoffed at that, folded her arms and glared at her "There's nothing to sort out"
"Hey..Riley said she needs to talk to you"
"I never said such thing", Riley whisper yelled, this time giving me one hell of a death glare.
"Hey", April said softly.
"Hey", Riley said and waved nervously. I looked between the both of them and smirked.
"Why don't we give them space shall we", I said to the rest and we all left the room.
~~~~~~~~
"Our first agenda for the club is shopping", I said ticking it off my note pad. I heard mumurs around me and looked up.
"Questions", I asked while Riley snickered beside me.
Aera rose her hand shyly and asked "um...you said the club is a media thingy"
"It is"
"Why the shopping though", April asked.
"I just need to make a statement", I said with a shrug.
CJ rose his hand this time "why...
I cut him off immediately and said "let just say...y'all are part of a revenge plan"
"What kind of revenge plan", CJ asked .
"Lemme explain everything to you guys so there would be less question"
"I doubt so", Riley murmured and I rolled my eyes.
"We're getting revenge on the media team and the popular kids" I said using airquotes at the world popular.
"We are going to expose every wrong doings, how toxic they are and also secrets"
"Isn't that a bit too much", Aera commented
"Nah...mehn am in, I love anything drama"
"Your a boy", April pointed out.
"What's that supposed to mean", CJ said defensively.
"Guys chill, we're going to be a family from now on and No it's not being extreme they should feel what is like to be powerless, they have trampled on people for so long to the extent they spread fake news to destroy people's reputation all in the name they want to have fun...so I doubt is too much"
"Um...wasn't Riley part of the media club"
"She wasn't the one at the front...she usually did interviews"
"I loved the talking and asking question stuff", Riley said with a shrug. Her demeanor clearly showed she didn't want to talk about it but Mara wasn't finished.
"Doesn't excuse you, you and your friends destroyed the lives of so many", Nathan said.
"Am sorry..I am..really, even I can't justify myself by saying I didn't do any postings or publications since I was once president of the club but yet didn't do anything...I know I was being selfish and ignorant by doing that and am sorry"
"Your apology doesn't matter...my oppa transferred schools because of what the media team had posted...and I haven't seen him for over two years now", Aera said holding back her tears.
"Aera am...
"I nearly lost my brother because of this, you have no idea how it feels like to see your loved one in a really dark state and feel so helpless", she said with tears now streaming down her eyes.
Everyone was quiet now, not knowing what to say...I myself don't know anything about her brother since I just recently started but seeing Aera like this tugged something in my heart.
I went over and hugged her, stroking her back I whispered "how is he doing now"
"He won't talk to me", she cried "am so scared of what will happen....mum and dad won't say anything too"
"I assure you that your brother is ok...his not going to do anything to hurt you"
"Yeah his totally fine, I can even give you his Instagram handle...if you want to talk to him but his not that active", CJ pipped.
"I thought he deleted his account"
"He made a new one about last year but it's on private"
"How did you know about it"
"We're friends"
"Oh I remember you now and he won't even talk to his own sister"
"His still healing, Aera no one wants to let there little sister see them like that. Plus his been posting about drawings recently...he will come around one day"
"Am tried of waiting", Aera said wiping her tears and stood up then she added, "I will see you guys in our next meeting I need to lie down"
"Take care", I said softly to which she nodded at.
Riley held her by the shoulder as she was about to leave "Am really sorry and I...
"I know, am not angry at you...I never even knew you or you being part of the media team till that scandal happened....sorry about that"
Riley gave a sad smile at that.
"I guess we will see each other on Wednesday then, I just created a group chat to talk more on"
"Ok then see ya guys later", CJ said standing up and giving a mock salute as he left.
Nathan gave a little bow and muttered a bye and left.
April walked up to Riley and placed her hand on her upper arm soothingly.
"Are you ok", she asked in a whisper, but I obviously heard their conversation.
"Yeah am fine", Riley said with a faint smile looking up at her. It was obvious she wasn't ok but I guess didn't want to push it
"I will see ya later then", April said squeezing her upper arm softly and left.
When the door closed shut I turned to Riley and wiggled my brows and gave a knowing smirk.
"Stop insinuating that"
"And what am I insinuating", I asked still with a smirk.
"That we're..or she is "
"And...what about you"
"Am not"
"Hey, hey... no need get all defensive am not going to judge you.... really", I said with my hands up in surrender.
"You guys would really look cute together though", I added. She rolled her eyes at that but I didn't fail to miss the subtle smile that played on her lips before she sat down.
"I feel so bad"
"Aera"
"Yeah....I remember her brother now. It happened during sophomore year, am guessing Mara was in middle school then"
"What happened", I asked coming to sit beside her.
"I remember he used to get bullied for being Asian and for also having a crush on Savannah....how was I so blinded by it"
"What did she do", I asked my voice filled with distaste even though I've never laid eyes on her.
"I don't remember the full story, but I think Savannah was leading him on and then he asked her out in public but she rejected him rudely saying if he thinks she would ever go out with someone like him"
"That's mean"
"Yeah..at first it didn't add up cause a day later we received an anyomous tip...they were pictures of them on a date at night time, even one showed her pecking him on the cheeks"
"And he was bullied for that"
"The anyomous tip was later found out to have come from Savannah's ex best friend Lia and then Savannah made it seem that lia and Duri threatened her to go on a date"
"And people believed that"
"There are so many things Savannah Moss had said that people in this school believed", she said shaking her head.
"I think why Mara is angry is probably the fact that us posting that picture made the bullying more worse after the humiliation"
"It wasn't your fault you know... plus they were being racist.... that's bullying"
"But I was part of that club though and allowed it"
"Fine then since it's your fault...why not make up for it..... we're going to be the new media club", I said taking her hands annd stood up together.
"We're going to make a change"