>>5699114Screaming like a little girl at the sudden voice in your ear, you topple head-over-heels onto the deck just as your skater pal lets out a triumphant cheer!
“D’aww man, you guys <span class="mu-i">missed</span> it…”
<span class="mu-i">Pepper</span>, you hiss as you get off the floor, you coulda’ <span class="mu-i">KILLED</span> her!
“... named <span class="mu-i">ELVIS</span>.” Concludes the red-haired reporter. “Doing your homework, I see-good on you, slick.”
Yea, you nod as your heart stops trying to pummel its way out of your chest, you wanted to brush up on who’s who!
“Trust me on this, chief: you ain’t gonna miss her.” Pepper replies as she takes a seat next to you. “She acts like she doesn’t want attention, but she thrives on the stuff…”
Well <span class="mu-i">that</span> sounds healthy! Flipping through the pages some more, you turn to the reporter for assistance. Does she know <span class="mu-s">JAKE’S</span> last name? He’s supposed to be in <span class="mu-s">STUDENT COUNCIL…</span>
“Pretty sure it starts with a ‘<span class="mu-s">J</span>...’ Mutters Raj before his face lights up with recognition! “Hey, Pep, isn’t he your-”
“No clue what you’re talking about, pal.” She interjects, making a point to avoid your gaze.
Oh son of a… flipping back to the ‘<span class="mu-s">H</span>’s, you find your target exactly where you thought he’d be: <span class="mu-s">JAKE HORNSBY.</span> Know him, Pepper?
“I’ve never met that man before in my life.”
Bullshit.
“Guess ya scooped me again, scout.”
… wait, you add as you examine the page closer, where’s <span class="mu-i">Pepper’s</span> photo?
“He’s a year ahead of me, slick.” She explains with a shrug. “He’s my older brother.”
But what about that <span class="mu-s">DISCLAIMER</span> ear-
“SNAFU with the school records, don’t read into it.”
So you’re <span class="mu-i">not</span> a senior, you growl, that means you're not actually allowed to be at the party?
“Neither are you, hotshot.”
Dropping it for now, you refocus your attention on the glasses-wearing redhead in the photo. Contrary to Pepper’s unshakable smug demeanor, Jake looks like he would drown you in a pool and make it look like an accident!
“Yea, he gets that a lot.”
His quote is no less inspiring:
‘<span class="mu-i">Through uncompromising order: peace.</span>’
And <span class="mu-i">THIS</span> is the guy running the <span class="mu-s">DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE??</span>
“He <span class="mu-i">does</span> take it pretty seriously...” Shrugs Pepper as Raj beefs it again behind her. “But that’s why I chose <span class="mu-s">THE BEST-</span>”
Yea, yea, save it for someone who’s buyin’ it!
>CONTD. 