The Club

Jake was sitting by himself in the school's library, exhausted. He found a small space where there were no students, not t that the library had much people in it in the first place but he rather not be approached by anyone who knows him right now.

He lost everything at once.

His friends.

The music club.

Everything.

He just wanted to scream his frustration. If he couldn't turn to anyone else for comfort, perhaps the air around him would suffice.

He jumped when he felt a gentle tap on his shoulder.

Beautiful greenish blue eyes stared back at him. Her skin was tan like Drew's and her brown hair was partly dyed with light blue in a faded kind of style. She was dressed like a goth with black eye shadow and lipstick to match. She also had snakebite piercings and black glasses.

He's never seen someone like her before.

“Who are you?” Jake questioned cautiously.

He basically knew everyone at school because of the Jomies.

She looks taken back.

"Oh....." She scratched her head.

"My name is Chloe but most people call me CJ because my middle name is Jones. I'm not so good with people so I stay with my group more but I'm in the library most of the time so most people probably don't know me by name." She smiled at him as she offered her hand to him.

Her nails were long and painted in black.

On her arms were fingerless gloves.

She was odd to say the least but at least she was offering him a little bit of comfort.

He took her hand and stood up.

CJ was a lot shorter than him.

A little bit shorter than Daisy, in fact.

"So stranger, why is it that you're in this part of the library? I do understand that most students would rather not be in the library and just do whatever they want at lunch time." She stated as she lets go of his hand.

This part of the library?

He just found it, how did she know about it?

She looked at him with every curious eyes.

Jake sighed.

What was the worst that could happen from telling her.

CJ listened to his story, quietly.

He noticed that she frowned a lot when Zander and Hailey were mentioned but when Drew and Daisy were taken about she smiled gently as if remembering a fond memory.

"I see." She admitted putting a finger to her chin.

"Dear stranger, I believe that there's always time for a second chance if you deserve it. Every story must have an ending and I believe that your story is just beginning." She added.

"You really think so?"

"Think so? No, darling. I know so as many famous people do not always start out in the best of places or even get popular at once." She stated as she started to gesture with her hands.

"Take John Paul DeJoria, he is most well known as the founder of the Paul Mitchell line of hair-care products." She started off her speech.

"But his early life was not characterised by riches: he started his career as a truck driver, janitor and even sold Christmas cards door-to-door. He was fired from his first job in haircare while working for Redken Laboratories. Then, in 1980, he formed John Paul Mitchell Systems with hairdresser Paul Mitchell, with a loan of just $700." She stopped to see if he was still paying attention which he was.

Jake was interested in what the girl was saying.

He was very impressed that she knew all of this, by heart.

"The man known as John Paul Mitchell is now worth $3.1 billion or if that little fact does not convince you what about Ralph Lauren, he might be a household name and fashion industry titan now but Ralph Lauren had dropped out of college to join the US Army." She paused for a dramatically moment.

"He was working as a sales assistant at US menswear store Brooks Brothers when he began to wonder if men were ready for something more colourful, specifically when it came to ties. In 1967, he decided to try his hand at running his own business and he started selling ties. In his first year of trading, he sold $500,000 worth of merchandise and guess what my friend. " She stopped to ask Jake that question.

"He started Polo the next year. The Ralph Lauren Corporation is now a global multibillion-dollar enterprise and Lauren is a household name, counting A-list models and actors as close friends. As of 2018, Forbes estimates his wealth to be $7.2 billion, which makes Ralph Lauren the 91st richest person in America."

Jake laughed.

"That's interesting, CJ but what does this have to do with me?"

"Well, stranger. See this amazing people, what do they all have in common?"

Jake shrugged.

"They all didn't give up."

Jake looked even more confused.

"I'm not saying what you are going through is not hard but you should not give up what you love because of some club or your friends. You follow your own part in life because friends can carry you but they don't ever bring you back."

She sighed before clearing her throat.

"What I am trying to say is don't let what happen change you. Let it build your character and personally, stranger I think that you should try and find out which one of your friends really recorded you. You never know who really cares about you out there." She said to him as she picked up some of the books that fell next to him.

Jake looked at her.

"Thank You, CJ. I don't know how I'll find out but I'll try and thanks again for listening to me."

She tilts her head at him before frowning.

"Just know that Hailey might be sweet to you but she..........
she and Zander especially Zander aren't always the nicest of people to others in the school." She whispered softly.

Jake looked shocked.

Based on her reactions during his story, he had already guessed that she didn't have too favorable interactions between the two but now that she admitted it to him, it was confirmed.

Her expression changed back to being happy.

"Well then kind stranger, may this one have the honor of knowing your name?"

Jake laughed.

"Jake, Jake Sterling.” He said, tugging at the sleeve of his jacket.

"Hello, Jake. Chloe Jones Kolher, Leader of the Arts Club and library prefect at your service." She bowed and kissed his hand before winking at him.

"Library prefect?"

"Yes, I'm afraid that only Daisy and I are the only ones that are library prefects. Most people do not even enter the library unless it's the days when we have plays." She sighed.

Jake looked at her curiously.

"The Arts Club?"

"Oh. It's a mix of Visual Arts, Virtual Art, Drama and Music. It's not a complete music club so it has a club that does only music but most students do not really like going there because they are scared of Zander." She explained to him.

"Oh....."

She turned to him.

"Since you don't have a club, would you like to join our club?"

Jake looked unsure and CJ waved her hands.

"No no no. You don't have to decide as yet. When you are ready to, you can but if you want. You can come down to a meeting this afternoon if you want to. You'll meet everyone there."

Jake nodded.

"Thanks, Chlo."

"Chlo?"

Jake blushed.

"You know. Short for Chloe."

The girl blushed before she pointed to a clock.

"You should start going. Lunch is about to over, we library prefects have an excuse written up already but I can't say the same for you."

She waved goodbye to him as he left.