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[img]https://i.imgur.com/OKLvt9J.gif[/img]
[color=gray][sub]After school, before the start of the School Newspaper Club
Collab with [@Lovely Complex]
[color=31ba9f][b]Jamie[/b][/color] & [color=15603A][b]Trixie[/b][/color][/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr]
[indent]Jamie had been mulling over Trixie’s words all day long, trying to figure out how to deal with the situation with Riley, but also the job she had waiting for him. He’d concluded that the rumors about him and Riley would naturally fizzle out, as rumors generally did. In all honesty, most rumors only held power if there was someone with credibility sponsoring them, and seeing as how he couldn’t seem to find anyone who was, he decided not to stress too much. That problem could be moved to the back burner for now.

Now all that was left for Jamie to deal with was the matter of Trixie’s oh so important job, and perhaps explaining away the Riley drama, if she still had her talons in that one. Once the bell rang signalling the end of the school day, Jamie made a beeline for the newspaper room, stopping to shove some books in his locker before marching over to see Trixie. 

The newspaper room smelled like ink and stress, an aroma that Jamie had become used to over the years. Truly, it was an almost comforting smell. High school was a war zone, especially BHHS, but for Jamie, the newspaper room was his realm of control, where he was mostly safe. This was home base. 

When he walked in, Trixie was setting up for the meeting at her desk. They had another fifteen minutes before people would actually show up. Just enough time for a chat. [color=31ba9f][b]”Trixie, my favorite editor in chief. What’s this secret job you need my help with,”[/b][/color] he asked, setting his bag down at his desk.

For the time being, Trixie’s mind was not thinking about what she wanted Jamie to help her with. Her eyes didn’t look away from her papers, one was a printout of the Weekend Warrior post. Moments before Jamie made his entrance, she had talked to their teacher supervisor, the one that essentially was responsible for the School Newspaper Club, but really, at BHHS the students were given full reigns. They simply needed a teacher’s signature on the club application, along with five students joining, before submitting it to student council.  Their teacher was Ms. Miley Aspen (sister to that famous voice actor, Rhett Aspen, and dance choreographer, Summer Snyder), who taught AP English Literature, AP English Language, and Journalism, as an elective. 

Essentially, Ms. Aspen was not happy about the WW post, slandering students, particularly Damian and Henry. She was never a fan of this gossip blog - and neither was Trixie. Trixie almost lost her position when she destroyed Owen’s reputation on the Black and Orange, but instead, due to favoritism, Trixie simply had a weeks detention and some community service to do. [color=15603a][b]“Everyday, we lose credibility, Jamie. It’s hard to keep the written word alive when you have this [i]stupid[/i] blog.”[/b][/color] 

Like she’s done plenty times before, Trixie color coded the paper with highlighters of every possible color someone could think of. No one besides her really knew what the colors meant, but they were her way of analyzing whatever she was reading. To say she was frustrated was an understatement. She had been so caught up with her own emotions and personal issues that she was neglecting the newspaper, so the last issue was complete garbage. Weak, with stories nobody cared about. [color=15603a][b]“We need exposure and…”[/b][/color] Finally, she looked up from her papers and tapped the pink highlighter in her hand, all the while locking eyes with her personal favorite club member, though she would never say that outloud, [color=15603a][b]“We need to take down our competition.”[/b][/color]

Jamie nodded and crossed his arms, slowly bridging the gap between the two journalists and taking the paper from her hands. [color=31ba9f][b]”You’re right. One small problem with our competition: we have no clue who they are. The Warrior’s been pretty great about keeping their identity a secret, trust me I’ve tried. Whoever it is does a very good job of keeping their identity secret. All that I can get from the blog is that they’re someone who was at the party, and someone who’s got beef with us [i]and[/i] the Elite. Which does just about nothing to narrow it down,”[/b][/color] Jamie said. Say what you will about Trixie, Jamie respected her. She played a good game, and she was wicked smart. When they worked together, they worked well. It would suck to take her down.
 
[color=15603a][b]“Beef with us, or just the whole school in general? Like what we are.”[/b][/color] Putting her highlighter down, Trixie grabbed the sheet back, rather feistily, stood up, and read lines out loud, [color=15603a][b]“Welcome back all you loyal lovers of honesty, integrity, and the unbiased source of all things excess and depravity...”[/b][/color] 

She paused and shook her head, grumbling, [color=15603a][b]“Whoever, or whomever, does write this is one hell of a good writer. They use words like that to make their audience [i]think[/i] their agenda is good. A political statement. Telling us the truth and nothing but the truth, but really?”[/b][/color] This was the most biased piece of shit she’s ever read. She cleared her throat and continued, skipping a line or two, [color=15603a][b]“...so when word got out that no one’s favorite group of trust fundees, drama queens, and spoiled silver spooners… words, words, words... you are nothing more than a pawn in some stupid game of chess put on by those who put themselves at the top….etc, etc.”[/b][/color] 

Sitting on a desk near Jamie’s seat, she rolled her eyes and grimaced, [color=15603a][b]“It’s obvious these people have a personal vendetta against ‘us’. The majority. Just because most of their popular articles are about us, who are known names at this school, doesn't mean they solely care about ‘Damian’ or ‘Henry’ or ‘Hails’. It’s funny though.”[/b][/color] Trixie smiled to herself, placing the paper to her side, [color=15603a][b]“They’re not helping their cause. If anything, they just made Hailey’s day. It’s pretty interesting how paparazzi and celebrity media works out like that. Good or bad rep, these people stay in the limelight. All this did was add fire to the fuel. No solution, just more problems.”[/b][/color] Trixie’s words were not that of the T in HOT. Her eyes were genuine and everything she said, was like freshmen year all over again, when she didn’t care about popularity, when she actually cared about taking care of the school, taking care of herself, following the beat to her own drum, [color=15603a][b]“If only the writers knew the people they slandered.”[/b][/color] and in a quiet whisper, Trixie spoke to herself, [sub][b][color=15603a]“They’re helping the wrong team.”[/color][/b][/sub]

Jamie nodded, chewing on his lip as he pondered Trixie’s words. What could they do about the Warrior? [color=31ba9f][b]”So then maybe the whole school has beef with them. Which means that if we can figure out who it is, we can get the school to take them down for us, just with a simple leak. The problem is, where do we start?”[/b][/color] Jamie didn’t love the idea of going after the Warrior. Sure, he wanted them gone, but he’d seen the power they had. One wrong move and he could end up on the wrong side of their blog. He didn’t envy that position.

[color=15603a][b]“I could say let’s ask questions, but that could get us noticed… and without any leads, we’d be asking the whole damn school. A waste of time. What we could do though, is give them a story they can’t resist. But we’ll discuss this off school grounds. Another time, another date.”[/b][/color] Hopping off of the desk, she turned on her heel and gave him her oh so inviting smile, [color=15603a][b]“Which reminds me. What I actually want to tell you. But first, I need you to promise me you won’t tell anyone else. Not Hailey. Not Ophelia. Not [i]Marshall[/i].”[/b][/color]

Jamie rolled his eyes. [color=31ba9f][b]”And why, would I tell Marshall?”[/b][/color] the blonde asked, clearly fishing to see what Trixie knew. How could she have figured anything out from just their interactions this morning? Were they [i]that[/i] obvious? He wanted to believe otherwise, but that meant rumors were flying, rumors about him and Marshall. That wouldn’t do.

[color=15603a][b]“Why are you getting so defensive?”[/b][/color] Trixie raised an eyebrow in bewilderment. [color=15603a][b]“We both know he has a big mouth, but also with the matter I want to address, he wouldn’t be keen on it. And you two seem close so I just assumed he was someone you’d go to. For advice or whatever.”[/b][/color] Shrugging to herself, she crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes, [color=15603a][b]“Unless there is something more?”[/b][/color] Did she trigger him by saying her candy boy’s name? Or was he just grumpy today?

Jamie sighed. Did he trust Trixie? Hardly. But, he needed her to trust him. And he knew very well that she needed him for the time being. So maybe, this was one person he could spill things to. [color=31ba9f][b]”Me and Marshall...look I had a thing for Marshall but he...has other boys in mind I guess. It’s nothing though, what’s this top secret mission?”[/b][/color] Jamie said, making sure to keep the attention from sticking to him and his story. He’d trusted her with the minor details, hopefully nothing that could bite him in the ass.

Pouting at his reveal, Trixie stood silent and softened her demeanor. Marshall was around her a lot. Who was he into that was more than himself? If there was one thing she knew of Marsh, that boy had super high standards. Fantastical and unrealistic.  He needed someone to bring him down to Earth. Either way,  it was time for her to get straight to business. It was only fair. He told her something personal. Now it was her turn. [color=15603a][b]“The past couple of days I’ve done a lot of thinking.”[/b][/color] Gesturing for him to follow her, she went to her desk and grabbed a manila envelope, handing it to him, [color=15603a][b]“I need closure, Jamie.”[/b][/color] It took her a couple of months to admit her weakness, but here she was, ready to face her reality. 

The sun may have been streaming in and everything around them besides the white paper and the black ink were of a warm color palette, but her mind was clouded with grey. Her facial expression saddened at every moment she kept thinking about [i]him[/i], [color=15603a][b]“In the envelope are the pictures that caused me to… act out. Along with a letter, from me, that I’d like you to read later. I need answers. I need to know more. I need the truth. I honestly have no one to turn to and I’m tired of… crying? I think the only way I can move on is if I know more, even if I have no doubt it’s going to hurt like a bitch. But the people involved, I can’t ask them the questions I want. Everyone would say I’m stupid. Why do I still care about a guy that fucked this blonde chick? I first was curious about why. Why her? Was I not good enough? Who is she? But then I realized, I don’t care who the girl is. I care about why everything happened so suddenly. He isn’t only to blame. I shouldn’t have reacted like I did.”[/b][/color] 

Pausing to catch her breath, she locked her gaze with her friend’s, [color=15603a][b]“I know him, Jamie. And now that all the blood rage is gone, I can’t help but think something isn’t right. I guess, I’m asking you to help me find out more… I’d say Ophelia and Owen would be your two best bets. I don’t know what else to do and I’m going to be completely honest with you. I’m actually scared. More than anyone can imagine.”[/b][/color] If this bit her in the ass, she deserved it. She was tired of this game. She just wanted to be happy. 

Jamie was surprised by the magnitude of this job. Finding out what went wrong with one of the major couples at BHHS? Now that would take some major sleuthing. [color=31ba9f][b]”I’ll look into it Trix. I can’t promise how soon, but I’ll do my best,”[/b][/color] Jamie assured his friend/rival. His voice had taken on a softness that was rarely seen by those at school. He felt bad for what happened to Trixie, no one deserved that. He couldn’t necessarily just go talk to Owen and Ophelia and ask them if they’d like to share anything about the breakup, but he might be able to glean some info from Sel. Or Marshall. Fuck. Marshall would’ve been helpful here. He’d just have to make do.

[color=15603a][b]“You’re a good friend, Jamie.”[/b][/color] Trixie, although she was known for having a natural ‘bitch face’, had a smile that transformed her spiked shield that came across as near menacing into a welcoming opened door that led to a secret garden. How she went about things were odd, mysterious even, but everything she did had complete intention. 

Her body perked when she heard students approaching. Turning away, she strolled toward the board. Even so, she wasn’t done yet. Suddenly, she swiftly pivoted back to face her friend once more, to give him a preview of what’s to come and something to mull over, [color=15603a][b]“Oh and one last thing. I’m well aware this private project of yours is massive, but…”[/b][/color] She paused as the left side of her plump lips tugged upwards, creating a challenging, yet impish, smirk. [color=15603a][b]“It would be one hell of a story depending on what you uncover. Using yours truly as a primary source.”[/b][/color]

And then the bad news came. 

[color=15603a][b]“We need to make one of our issues before graduation BIG or the newspaper club will be forced to shut down. Ms. Aspen is having a hard time convincing the principal that printed journalism isn’t a dying career pursuit, since now there’s sites that host blogs like ‘The Weekend Warrior’. Regardless of its lack of credibility, it still gains way more attraction than our paper.”[/b][/color] 

She laughed at such arrogance, [color=15603a][b]“Thank you, internet. There’s a reason I’ve been doing more work with Riley’s club. It’s my backup plan to move school news to tv… Riley’s show is more comedy than anything.”[/b][/color] And that would be a bitch to turn ‘serious’, since news wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies. The latina shook her head in annoyance. It was obvious she preferred ink and paper. 

[color=15603a][b]“Of course, I’m not going to tell anyone that, for the sake of morale, but I will be setting a competition this semester.”[/b][/color] She sighed. 

[color=15603a][b]“Along with doing your usual duties for each month’s issues, you all will be tasked on making a front page story for our final paper. HOWEVER, if you guys uncover your story sooner, the better off we’ll be. We can debut the story in that month’s issue and I can talk to the higher ups,  having physical proof on why the paper should stay alive. I don’t believe in using Hailey’s help, or the power of our parents’ finances. This club means a lot to me and I don’t want to take the easy way out, because it would diminish what we’ve built and what journalism truly stands for.”[/b][/color] Though, she’d always have that one regret. A regret with a name: The Cowardly Lyon. 

Nodding to herself, she turned back to the board and started writing a question in cursive: [b]What kind of stories make the front page?[/b] Stopping at the last s in ‘stories’, she told Jamie one final thing before club members would start piling in, [color=15603a][b]“If you win, Jamie. I will forfeit my position and give you everything.”[/b][/color] 

Jamie smirked and cocked his head. [color=31ba9f][b]”I’ll give you one thing Trix. You sure know how to give a guy incentive.”[/b][/color]
[/indent]