Great Success

Great Success

As lunch was about to finish, Zak remembered something, “Hey Paris, I am staying after school today to try and get on the school paper. Unless you want to wait for me, you will need to find another way home.” Paris chuckled, “Don’t worry Zack, I can take the bus, it’s no big deal.” Both Heather and Ashley looked at Zack curiously, causing Zack to blush from the attention, “What?” Ashley looked at Heather, “I didn’t know you wanted to be on the school paper. Weren’t you going to try out for basketball again?” Heather nodded, “Ash has told me you are pretty good, she said you have a pretty good three point shot.”

Zack shrugged, “Don’t see the point, I tried three times, first time I was recovering from an illness, the other two times, I am not sure what happened. Kevin Jackson said he thought I did really well and should make the team, but then I just…didn’t. I don't know if i did something wrong to make someone on the team dislike me. If that’s the case then trying out would be a waste of time, so I figured why not try and join the school paper. Peter Zander, the former editor, encouraged me to before he left for college.” Ashley looked thoughtful, “You do, do well in English and Literature, so I suppose it makes some sense.” Heather shrugged, “Fuck whoever or whatever kept you from making the team though.” Zack chuckled, “Are you sure you are ok taking the bus Paris? I know Chloe will be staying after for soccer and I think Gavin joined the Computer Club.” Paris waved him off, “I will be fine Zack,” Zack smiled at his blue haired cousin, “Could you also let my parents know? I didn’t know I would be staying after today.” Paris rolled her eyes, “Fine, but you owe me.” Zack laughed as the bell signaling the end of lunch rang, “I always pay you back, you know that.”

The four teens prepared to leave, Zack giving Ashley a hug, but not sure if Heather liked that kind of thing. The decision was taken out of his hands as his buxom cousin hugged him herself, “Don’t forget to text us later to let us know how the stuff at the paper goes and we can also try and plan out some time to spend together.” Zack smiled at Heather as he nodded, the four teens saying their goodbyes as they rushed off to their next classes. The rest of the school day went by rather quickly for Zack as all he could think about was getting to the Speedy Scout’s office after school. As the bell rang to end the school day Zack all but dashed to his locker to put his things away for the day. It looked like the first day of senior year would go by without a hitch.

“Hey Bishop!” Zack froze at the voice calling him, gritting his teeth and clenching his fists in his locker. He took a deep breath before turning to face his nemesis, Brandon Cole was a fit and strong young man, he had to be since he was the star quarterback for the school’s football team. He had short black hair and dark brown eyes and for reasons unknown the quarterback hated Zack. Zack looked at Brandon, “What do you want Brandon? I am kind of in a hurry here.” Brandon loomed over Zack, but the nerdy teen didn’t back down as Brandon smirked at him, “Off to try out to join those losers on the basketball team?” Zack rolled his eyes, never quite understanding the hatred between the football and basketball team, “No, is that all?”

Brandon scowled at Zack not liking the less athletic teen seemingly blowing him off, Brandon pushed Zack up against his locker, “You think just because you are getting close to Heather that I won’t still beat the shit out of you if you get out of line?” Zack simply glared back at Brandon, “I didn’t realize you were doling out punishments for Principal Hartburn this year. Oh, you’re not? Then I don’t know what you mean by stepping out of line.” Brandon clenched his fist and Zack prepared himself for the coming blow, but before it could come a hand rested on Brandon’s shoulder, “Let him go Brandon, I doubt Principal Hartburn or Coach Thornton would appreciate finding out the star quarterback had to miss out on some games for… whatever this is.”

Brandon turned around with a scowl, “Mind your own business Jackson!” Kevin Jackson, the starting small forward on the basketball team didn’t back up an inch. He wasn’t nearly as muscular as Brandon, but Zack knew the dark skinned teen likely had the speed advantage. Brandon glared into Kevin’s dark brown eyes, which mirrored his own as Kevin spoke, “Well, you see if you attack my friend then it is my business, nothing happened at lunch if you think Zack tried to make a move on Ashley and if you do think that then you are an idiot to think Zack is that kind of person. So how about you back off and go meet your team and we forget this little incident, or we can go talk to Principal Hartburn.” Brandon scowled at Kevin before giving Zack one last shove and shouldering past the basketball player.

Kevin watched until Brandon disappeared from sight before turning back to Zack, “You ok bud?” Zack smiled as he fist bumped his friend, “Yeah, nothing I’m not used to by this point, thanks for the save though.” Kevin chuckled, “I doubt you needed saving, but I didn’t think you would want to go home with evidence you got into a fight.” Zack smiled and nodded, “Nor would I want to go to the Speedy Scout office looking like I just rolled down a hill of thickets.” Kevin frowned, “So you aren’t trying out for the basketball team then?” Zack shrugged apologetically, “I don’t see the point man, I tried three times I think the universe is trying to tell me something, figured I might have a better chance joining the school paper so that I can have at least one extra curricular activity to put on college apps.”

Kevin nodded sympathetically, “I’m sorry man, I don’t know why you didn't make the team the last two years, it still isn’t fair, you are a good player.” Zack smiled, “Thanks man, but I am over it, not like we can’t hang out just because I am not on the team, I mean our dads are friends.” Zack was referring to Mason Jackson, Kevin’s father, Kevin smiled, “Fair point. Well I better let you get going, I’ll text you later.” Zack nodded and fist bumped Kevin again before the two went their separate ways, Kevin towards the gym and Zack downstairs to the Speedy Scout office. The “office” was actually just an empty classroom the school had converted to act as the office for the school paper. Still, there was a rather big sign above the door that announced the room as The Speedy Scout. Zack nervously hesitated for a moment before knocking on the door.

The door opened to reveal Alice standing there with a big smile, “Zack! You actually came!” Zack rubbed the back of his neck, “I-I said I would, didn’t I?” Alice beamed, “Yes, you did, come in!” Alice stepped aside to let Zack in, “Hey Zack!” Zack looked over to see another friend he made when trying out for the basketball team Jake Hayes waving at him. Jake has short light brown hair and brown eyes, he was the starting power forward for the basketball team, “Hey Jake, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at basketball practice?” Jake shrugs, “Coach Adams knows about my part time gig here at The Scout as a photographer, so he lets me out of practice early on some days, but he said today I didn’t need to worry about it as there wasn’t going to be much practicing going on anyway. Zack nodded, he knew that Jake sometimes took photos for the paper and he was the boyfriend of Alice, so him being here made sense whether he took photos or not.

Zack didn’t get much more of a chance to look around as Victoria was suddenly in front of him, looking both stressed and relieved. “Zack! When Alice told me you said you might stop by to apply I wasn’t sure if you actually would, but here you are!” Zack smiled, “Well Peter Zander told me I should join the paper before he graduated, but I wanted to try out for basketball. I wanted to join the paper, but I was too depressed and embarrassed after not making the team the first three years. I couldn't bring myself to try.” Vicky tilted her head, “You aren’t trying out for basketball this year?” Zack shook his head, “I decided that after three times of being rejected the universe was telling me it wasn’t meant to be. So perhaps the universe was leading me here and I should have applied sooner.” Vicky giggled, which was music to Zack’s ears, “Well whatever brought you here I am glad it did. We are severely understaffed and need all the help we can get.”

Zack tilted his head, “So does that mean I am hired?” Vicky laughed and playfully slapped his arm, “Of course you are! I know how good of a writer you are and based on those mystery short stories you have done over the years for class you obviously enjoy a good mystery to solve, you would be perfect!” Zack smiled in relief and resisted the urge to hug Vicky, instead just holding out his hand for her to shake, “Well I will do my best to make you and The Scout proud!” Vicky shook Zack’s hand with a smile, “Come on let me introduce you to everyone!”