PETITION TO REMOVE THE CAMPUS PRESIDENT
A petition of Curtis Fleming
Addressed to Luke Harris
WE THE UNDERSIGNED WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS, WITH RECOMMENDATION(S):
The school is facing a horrible issue concerning the mental health of the students that may affect their studies. This problem is the underrated, but rampant bullying. We can conclude that the campus president is overlooking this serious matter and not doing his job. To solve this issue, we recommend removing him from the position and replacing him with someone more suitable for the job.
AGREED UPON BY THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:
NAME/ADDRESS/SIGNATURE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Cade began to distribute the petition papers to the students, hoping that they shared the same sentiments with him. He was sure that no matter how much they fear Luke, they would have the courage to express their dislike of his behaviours. Meanwhile, the campus officers were putting up a banner on the stage for their anti-bullying campaign.
When the last period in the afternoon ended, Luke called for an assembly.
"Good afternoon, students of Machalmmond High School. I have an important announcement to make before we go home. I worked all night and thought of a plan to eradicate the number 1 problem in our school. Today, we begin our anti-bullying campaign with the theme 'Do not let little scars turn you into a monster or a living dead.' I hope you will cooperate and join me to make our school a better place!" The students applauded his speech.
"To begin with, we will have different contests in connection to the theme. We will have chain storytelling for Grade 7, a speech choir for Grade 8, an impromptu speech for Grade 9, and a musical for Grade 10! This contest is by section. We will post the criteria for judging and the date of the presentation on the bulletin board. Good luck!"
All of these 'good boy' schemes did not amaze Cade. He had to show them Luke's real intentions. So, during lunch, Cade stood on a table in the cafeteria with a megaphone in his hand.
"Listen up, everybody! Luke is a conman. Don't believe in his lies. This battle is ours. If you have any shame, sign the petition papers!" Cade said.
Someone from the back shouted, "If you have any shame, get down!"
"If there's someone who has to step down, it's Luke!"
"Don't you know no one may step on the table? You'll be disciplined," a student said.
Cade was forced to get down and composed himself. "Come on, guys. Don't be afraid to help me reveal the truth. You know what's happening."
The students just ignored him. Someone grabbed one petition paper from his hand and signed it.
"It's you again," Cade blurted.
"Why are you always not in the mood to see me?" Elsie asked.
"Because you're an eyesore. Mind your own business," Cade replied and gestured for her to get lost.
A month had passed and not a single person signed Cade's petition paper. Luke had become strict with values integration and he put up some signage in every corner of the school to remind the students to always be kind, be gentle with their words, show compassion, and don't invalidate the feelings of other people. Meanwhile, Cade was roaming around to convince people how incompetent, pretentious, and reckless Luke could get.
"This won't work. I need firm evidence to win," Cade said to himself. He remembered one person who could make his hopes up. Cade went to the third floor and looked for Elsie in Grade 9 section C. He waited outside of her classroom.
"Hey, do you want to eat with me? My treat," Cade asked.
Elsie studied him from head to foot. "What's up with you? Did you hurt your head or something?"
"Nope. I know I was rude to you, and I want to make it up to you. I was just too occupied with this whole petition problem."
"Alright. If it's your treat, I'm all in!" Elsie grabbed his arm and took him to a food truck by the street.
"So, what do you think about Luke?" Cade said.
"I think he is my favorite asshole," Elsie replied.
"Favorite asshole?"
Elsie chuckled at his puzzled expression. "I mean I like everything about Luke except the side of him who hates you."
"What made you like him?"
"He is handsome, tall, athletic, smart, cold, cool, reliable, strong, strategic, and a good friend."
"Wow, you talk as if you know every part of him. Don't tell me you're one of his fan girls?" Cade said in a sarcastic tone.
"And he said he will remember my name. Isn't he cool? I could still feel his breath near my ear." Elsie giggled.
"I can't believe this. I thought you were on my side."
"What he did was wrong. But think about it. If you didn't spread the rumor, they wouldn't come after you."
"I didn't! Manipulation is wrong from all angles. They never treated me like a friend. They influenced me to become the worse version of myself."
"Fine. I won't argue anymore."
"If you think Luke was wrong, help me prove he's guilty. Give me the video."
Elsie stopped eating. "So that's what this is all about. You need the video. What you're doing now is no less than what Luke did to you. What made you better than him?"
"Come on, I am the victim."
"You could've asked me politely."
"If I did, would you have given it to me?"
Elsie shook her head. "Why would I help someone who wants me to leave all the time like I'm some kind of virus?"
Cade sighed. "Fine. If you help me this time, I won't push you away."
"You won't be grumpy around me?"
"Yeah."
"You won't avoid me?"
Cade nodded.
"You'll let me tag along with you?"
"Yeah. Enough with the demands. Sticking with me like glue is already too much."
Elsie delightedly munched her food. Her cheeks became circular and fat.
"You look like a pig."
***
Mr. Miller lost the words to say when Cade showed him a video of the Generals threatening him. He didn't want to believe that Luke could do such a thing, but the proof was in his hands.
"If that's not enough to remove him from his position, I do not know what is," Cade said.
"It is difficult for me to do this, but your request will be granted, Mr. Fleming," Mr. Miller said.
"What about Liam and Lewis, sir?"
"I will pass them to the moderator of discipline. He will give them the punishment equivalent to their deeds."
The next day, Mr. Miller denounced Luke's removal as the campus president.
"With that being said, the reelection for campus president is now open. If you think you are better than the former campus president, please run for the position. We need a leader that is transparent, truthful, and capable of being a role model for this institution. May God bless us all."
Cade was the first person who won against Luke's trickery. Of course, with the help of Elsie. She kept on emphasizing that Cade owed everything to her, which he labeled as an exaggeration. Elsie visited his classroom to go home with him, but Cade escaped. So she stepped out of the school premises alone. She even left her motorbike at home.
Elsie was walking by the street when someone snatched her bag.
"Hey! Come back here! I will kill you when I catch you!" Elsie yelled as she chased the man. But she didn't have the speed and endurance. She gave up as she panted and held her head in frustration. Out of the blue, a cane hit the man's head like an arrow. He dropped to the ground.
A student came running and picked up the cane. He hit the man's face once more as he said, "Stand up and run before I pierce this through your hand." The man ran away without hesitation.
Elsie crossed her arms as she walked toward the student who helped her. He was tall, and he had a splint on his left wrist.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She couldn't stop staring at his silver eyes, which gave her the chills of winter.
"Hey, can you hear me?" he repeated.
"Oh. Hi. Yes! Thanks!" She picked up her bag. "Did you throw the cane?"
"Yes."
"How did you do it when you injured your left hand?"
"Good thing I'm right-handed. Let me return this to the old woman." He walked back to the old woman. "Thank you for lending me your cane, madam."
"Don't thank me, young man."
"Let me help you cross the street."
Elsie watched him assist the old lady walked through the pedestrian lane. He also found a cab for her and smiled as they waved goodbye. He came back to her and all those times, he was glowing in her eyes.
"You came back," she said.
"You are alone, aren't you?"
She nodded.
"So am I. Are you heading home?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll walk you there if you don't mind. Bad guys may suddenly appear."
"That's so nice of you."
Guys would usually ignore her and call her creepy and weird because of her style. But this guy exudes brightness, and it illuminated her.
"Are you sure you're not a bad guy?" she asked.
He chortled. "Why would you ask that? Do I look like one?"
"I don't know. It's just strange. You are strange. I mean why would you walk a random girl home?"
"Because kindness is random."
"Are you for real?"
She stopped at her house.
"Here," he said and held her hand. He let her touch his cheek. "Am I not real?"
She gently slapped his face. "Well, you are real."
"I got to go," he said.
"Wait. What's your name?"
"Archer."