Chapter 70 – Club Recruitment Day – Holly Hayfield

For some reason I was incredibly nervous when I went to meet with the vice principal about my new plans for the school. It felt like, with the badge, the things I said had more weight and I needed to act accordingly. Coming to her now wasn’t merely as a student making an off-hand suggestion, but now it was an official proposal. The idea came with official paperwork that I had to fill out before our scheduled meeting. She, along with two other members of the staff, was punctually waiting for me in her office.

They took my proposal seriously. They seemed to like it, but recognized the truth behind this idea. It was grand. The scale of my club system wasn’t just an overhaul to the school clubs itself, but would potentially become a future staple of how extracurricular groups were handled at this school. That was a serious change to be making, even as a recognized member of the staff. In the end, my proposal was emailed to the principal himself.

Not even a day later, I had full permission to begin making official preperations for this new club system. The principal was ecstatic to hear my change for the school. According to the email he sent me, he had wanted to overhaul the system but never had the time and no one else had the initiative to take charge of it. That left the project in my hands. With the blessing of the principal and vice principal, I was allowed to announce these changes over the intercom that Wednesday morning. Thursday would officially be the first Club Recruitment Day for Meredith’s School for Troubled Girls.

My classmates were praising me as they saw me in the hallways. Everyone was abuzz with excitement about what club they would join, or finally making their preexisting club into an official club. Now that there was a method for doing so, they’d be able to register the rooms they were using and get the staff off their collective backs. This also meant that they’d be able to request funds from the school, although the budget was fairly small. People were excited about the possibilities.

No longer would these groups have to exist in the shadows. What would’ve been considered a basic school function in other schools was finally coming to our school. Val’s Meredith Solidarity ChatCat was blowing up with discussion. On Wednesday night there were people undergoing massive recruitment efforts on the eve of Club Recruitment Day. The chat was moving so fast that I could hardly keep track of individual messages between users. It was fascinating to see what we managed to put into motion.

Thursday came and I found myself spending most of the morning out of class. The club recruitment activities were set to take place during lunch, extending afterwards for an additional full hour. However, members of the student council and SCA were in charge of setting up in the cafeteria. That mostly meant dedicating a few tables to the paper work that would need to be filled out, and creating the digital entry system that would become the official way the school kept track of these organizations. To accommodate the predicted crowd, we had to source additional chairs from some of the storage rooms.

“Things are actually starting to look up for this school.” Alison said to me, “At first I didn’t have much faith in this SCA thing, but this might actually make it worth it.”

Alison and I were left in the cafeteria to work on the digital element of the club registration system. The other SCA members went to gather chairs. Alison was clicking away on her laptop. Meanwhile I was flipping through pages of my notebook to guide her layout.

“It’s thanks to all the effort that everyone put in that this is becoming real.” I said.

Alison smirked while continuing to work on her laptop.

“It’s thanks to you.” Alison said flatly. “You’re modest, Holly. I don’t think Val’s original version of the plan would’ve been approved with the way she framed it. Even if it was approved, no one would’ve showed up, let alone talked about it. Your version of the plan has got the entire school riled up.”

“That’s kind of you to say.”

Alison stopped typing and turned to me.

“If this student council has any real chance of fulfilling Val’s oversized dream, then it’s because you were able to see it through. I’m not sure Val realizes just how fortunate she was to get someone like you.”

“Trust me,” I said with a small laugh, “She knows.”

“Do you like her?” Alison asked frankly.

“What?”

“I’m asking you if you like her. That look just now, you seemed to reflect on her in an intimate way. I get the feeling that you two are closer than most people might suspect.”

I looked off to the side. How could I answer this? She was getting the wrong idea in one sense. In another sense, she was right. My feelings for Val weren’t really romantic, but I felt like Val needed me. Val has been on a better path ever since I began having real conversations with her. I don’t want to see Val slide back into the person that she used to be. I did like this stable Val, just maybe not in the way Alison was getting at.

“Our relationship is… complicated. We had a rough start, rougher than most. It took us a while to understand each other but we’ve reached a point where we can work together towards our best interests.”

“Does she have your interests at heart the way you have her interests in yours?” Alison asked.

This was another difficult question. Alison was prying deeper than I expected her to. She asked this type of question without any sort of hesitation. It made me wonder where this conversation was headed. Alison had always been somewhat secretive in the time that I knew her. I got the feeling that her reason for joining both the event committee and the SCA were self-motivated.

“What are you asking me, exactly?” I asked. “I get the feeling that you’re taking a shot at Val.”

The edge of Alison’s lips curled into a slight smile as she realized that I was seeing through her game. She neutralized her change in expression like a pro actress.

“I’m sorry, is that what it sounded like?” She asked innocently, “I only meant to ask if you were being well taken care of. That’s all. I was just thinking of how nice it would be to have someone like you in an entourage of my own. I can’t help but to be jealous of the student council president and all of her wonderful helpers.”

“Let’s try to keep focused on the task at hand.” I said to end this conversation.

She smiled politely.

“Of course, forget I said anything.”

Soon everyone returned to the cafeteria with the additional chairs we needed. It was just in time too. The lunch bell rang just as they were coming in. When all the chairs were arranged into the proper places we began to wonder if this was too much. We were wrong. We were so incredibly wrong. The cafeteria was filled with people, not only registering their clubs, but openly recruiting members between groups.

Usually during lunchtime the student body was scattered. Students making good grades were allowed to eat off of school campus and often went that route. Typically the people that stayed behind ate in classrooms or their own hideouts. This was the first time this school year that hundreds of people were trying to cram themselves into this medium-sized cafeteria. I had to squeeze my way through people just to get to Val. Val was talking to a couple of people when I reached her.

“Yes, I think your club idea is fine,” Val said to one of the girls in front of her, “We may not have a dedicated tennis court, but we do have a net in the gym storage room. If you can submit a proposal for it, I’ll talk to the vice principal on your behalf.”

The girl and her friend looked at each other in excitement.

“Thank you! Thank you for everything you’ve done here! It’s all we’ve been asking for since school started!” She said.

“I’m happy to do whatever I can.” Val said, “Besides, Holly is the one you should really be thanking. She created this recruitment day event.”

“Thank you Holly!” They both said excitedly.

I was so joyed by their eagerness that I didn’t know how to properly respond. I smiled and waved casually. They both laughed and walked off together in the direction of the recruitment bulletin board we set up. Valentina elbowed me with a sly smile. I laughed.

“This is going far better than we expected.” Val said. “Maybe I should be the one thanking you.”

“It’s like you said, I’m happy to do whatever I can.” I said.

Val smiled and rubbed my head like I was a little kid or something. I knocked her hand away and we both laughed. That little playful moment was interrupted by the sound of someone stomping up towards us. Val stopped smiling as she noticed Naomi and two of her girlfriends approaching her. Naomi had a heated look on her face and looked like she was ready to tackle Val before she made it to her. Val straightened her relaxed posture.

“So much for our agreement, huh,” Naomi said angrily, “You slimy snake! You damned traitor! You…!”

I stepped in front of Val just before Naomi could reach her. I presented Naomi with a paper from out of my bag.

“I thought that you might come here. That’s why I made this.” I said to Naomi as I handed over the paper, “It’s a form that will officially grant you unchallenged access to the Old Science Wing. I’ve done all the other paperwork necessary to allow you to use that space as your club’s operation area. All you need to do is to fill that out and get the signatures of your permanent members.”

Naomi skimmed the paper, moving her lips as she read it to herself.

“This improves your current situation.” Val noted. “With this filled out, and thanks to the school’s new club system, no one can kick you out.”

“Except this student correction authority thing that I keep hearing about…” Naomi said suspiciously.

“That wasn’t put in place to slight you.” I said defensively. “When I hammered out the details I made sure to consider your group’s situation before I went to the principal and vice principal. Your group has been protected.”

Naomi looked at Val with squinted eyes like she was looking for some hint of deception. Val was angered by this apparently. Val pushed me out of the way and returned Naomi’s stare down.

“I don’t care if you don’t believe me.” Val said. “I don’t even care if you don’t like me. I’m not the one that went out of my way for you. It was Holly. You can call me whatever you want, but don’t call Holly a liar.”

Naomi looked down at me and her eyes softened. She let out a sigh and looked at the paper again.

“Fine,” Naomi said unhappily, “I’ll fill this out. I still want to talk about the future of this club system though.”

“Our door is open anytime.” Val said.

Naomi nodded at her two girlfriends and they all turned to walk away. As they moved away from us I could sense a feeling of relief flow through Val as she was no longer tensed up. She looked at me with an admiring look.

“You came prepared.” She noted. “What would I do without you?”

I laughed.

“You know, Alison was just asking me something to that effect. She seems to think that you take me for granted.”

Val winced at the sound of that.

“That girl… I don’t like her. We need her. She has her uses, but I still don’t like her.” Val said. “What’s she even after? Why’d she bother joining the event council in the first place?”

“I don’t have a lot of evidence, but I do have a theory. She was one of the original applicants for the student council presidency.”

“What?” Val asked in disbelief.

“As you know, the vice principal narrowed down the selection choices before the students could vote on them. Alison was one of the applicants running for president specifically. According to what I’ve heard she had a full group ready to go and everything.”

“Then why would that lead her to join the event council?”

“It’s probably because she plans to run again next year.” I said. “She’s a junior. She’s got another chance. By being part of the event council… No… By being part of the Student Corrections Authority she has a huge opportunity to make a name for herself.”

“If that’s her reason then I don’t want her in the group!” Val said.

“I was afraid that you might say that, because I wanted you to consider her potential.” I said. “If that really is her plan then she can keep our changes going even after we’ve graduated.”

Val hadn’t thought about this. She was taken aback a little. The idea of passing on the baton was an important one, but something she was probably waiting until later to worry about. As I was talking to Val, I noticed Sofi and Alyssa from the corner of my eye. I started to back away from Val.

“We’ll talk about this later! I’m going to go talk to Sofi!”

“Good luck.” Val said.

Sofi and Alyssa were meandering through the crowd of people, looking around at all the festivity. When I touched Sofi on the shoulder as I reached her I could feel her jump dramatically as she spun around.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” I said trying to suppress a smile.

I didn’t imagine that the leader of the Occult Club would be so easily frightened.

“There was something that I wanted to talk to you about.” I said.

“I don’t want to continue our conversation from before!” Sofi said stubbornly.

She was already giving me the feeling that she was going to be difficult again, but this time I had an ace up my sleeve.

“It’s more than that.” I said. “I’ve got someone I want you to meet. I think you’re going to like her.”

Sofi folded her arms and watched me with a stony look on her face. I signaled to someone in the distance.

“Hey! Jenna!” I called, “Sofi is over here! This is the one I told you about!”

Jenna came forward across the sea of people after hearing my call. She was looking at Sofi and Alyssa like there were mystical creatures. Sofi and Alyssa were giving Jenna a similar look. Jenna was an over-the-top gothic girl with dyed black hair, thick black make-up, and a black trench coat that went on over her school uniform. Jenna slowed down as she came closer, but I put my hand on her back to encourage her closer to Sofi and Alyssa.

“Jenna, this is Sofi and Alyssa. They’re the two members of the Occult Club. Sofi, Alyssa, this is Jenna. She and I spoke at length last night using ChatCat. She’s interested in joining your club.”

Sofi’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. She grabbed Jenna’s hands and Jenna’s face lit up too.

“Really…? Are you serious…? You really want to join us…?” Sofi asked.

“Yes! Holly told me all about you! She showed me a picture she took of your club’s hallway! It looks awesome!” Jenna said excitedly. “I didn’t know this school had such club until I heard about it from Holly on ChatCat!”

“How long have you been into occultism?” Alyssa asked.

“My entire life,” Jenna said, “I’m into mysticism also if you’re interested in that.”

“Did you bring the sketchbook you told me about?” I asked Jenna. “They would probably appreciate your artwork.”

Jenna looked at me as if I were a genius. She dug through the bag she was carrying at her hip in order to pull out a journal. She flipped through the pages of the journal and then turned it to Sofi and Alyssa. Both of them looked at it with interest.

“Is that the Killing Cat?” Sofi asked wonderously.

“It is, yeah!” Jenna said. “I used my own cat at home as a model for this drawing. I actually named her Nyx after the legend of the Killing Cat. I’ve been interested in the story ever since I heard it. I was hoping we could talk about it together. Do you two have a ChatCat ID? I want to add you.”

“Before all that,” I said to interrupt them, “Could you bring a club registration form to Sofi and Alyssa? The Occult Club isn’t an officially recognized club just yet, but I’m willing to make it one.”

“Sure, where are they?” Jenna asked.

I pointed out Jay across the cafeteria.

“Jay is handing them out over there. Tell her I sent you to get a form for the Occult Club. She’ll give you priority over whoever she’s helping at the moment.”

“Okay, I’ll be right back.” Jenna said as she ran off.

I smiled at Sofi.

“She’s just a start.” I said. “Once you’re officially recognized you can put up your recruitment poster on that bulletin board over there. On top of that, you’ll be allowed to use the Meredith Solidarity ChatCat group in order to seek out new members. If you’re lucky you could increase your membership count as much as you’d like.”

Sofi and Alyssa were practically glowing with excitement. That was when I presented Sofi with a different form from my bag. I handed it to her alongside a pen.

“I just need you to sign this first.” I said.

“What’s this?” Sofi asked.

“It’s a prewritten apology and promise that you won’t return to handing out those pamphlets again. It’s assurance that you’ll keep your nose out of where it doesn’t belong.”

Sofi’s excitement drained from her face and she gave me a challenging look like she was going to contest it. I put my hand on her shoulder.

“You think that no one cares about Malorie or her story.” I said. “You think she won’t be avenged? That, if you stop raving about it then nothing will happen?”

I put both of my hands on her shoulders now.

“Even if you don’t believe anything else I say, believe this. Malorie won’t be so easily forgotten. She was a unique individual and you aren’t the only ones that have an interest in seeing justice done. All of the student council believes in Malorie Noelle. And if we can do this…” I said as I gestured to the ongoing celebrations, “Then please believe me when I say we can honor Malorie’s memory.”

Sofi thought about what I was saying deeply as I let go of her. My hands upon her shoulders were replaced by Alyssa putting her hands there in a more comforting position. She leaned in to her friend.

“It’s a good offer.” Alyssa said softly, “We should take the offer. I want to grow our club.”

Sofi looked up at me and nodded.

“Okay then,” Sofi said, “I’ll promise to do what you ask as long as you promise to make sure Malorie didn’t die in vain. It was what Ms. Logan would’ve wanted.”

“I promise.” I said.

With that, Sofi began signing the paper on a nearby table.

This proof of Sofi’s silence would hopefully be enough to take her out of the vice principal’s line of fire. If it didn’t, then nothing could save them. I found the vice principal sitting at a table in the cafeteria, speaking to one of the newly registered clubs. She was using this event to establish a positive reputation of her own. Although she didn’t have anything concrete to offer, she promised that this new club system would change the school for the better. The students around her were gleefully heralding her as if she was the one that came up with the system.

“Oh, there you are Holly. I’ve been looking for you. I’ve got something to talk to you about, privately.” Ms. Sampson said.

“Me too…” I said cautiously.

I wasn’t sure what she wanted from me, but it must’ve been important because she got up as I arrived.

“Good luck with your new clubs, girls. I need to speak to our wonderful junior counselor over here.” Ms. Sampson said.

She pulled me away from the crowd. She then led me out of the cafeteria. I handed her the form that I had Sofi sign and watched as Ms. Sampson read it with a great deal of satisfaction. When she was done reading it she wrapped one arm around me and pulled me close to her. This gave me an uneasy feeling.

“You’re incredibly useful, aren’t you?” Ms. Sampson said, “I wish I knew this earlier. I would’ve brought you under my wing much sooner.”

“Thanks… I think.”

“It’s a compliment, really! You’re new club system has raised school spirits. Their hardly talking about Abby anymore, this was exactly what we needed to take their minds off of it.”

“That wasn’t really the plan, but I suppose that is a side effect.”

“It gave me an idea! There’s something else that I want you to do for me.” Ms. Sampson said quietly with a sneaky smile.

“Why do I get the feeling that I’m not going to like it?” I asked.