The Matters of Power

Chapter 11- Fall Festival, Missing Star [2]

One extremely lax World History and Introductions to Engineering class period later, I find myself in another predicament in the cafeteria after the events of the Fall Star Representative class nominations. Everyone is going crazy on finding out the latest gossip with the nominations and the rumored events that will be hosted in the Fall Festival, so much so that my mind feels burning through my own head from the enormous amount of thoughts received and the crowd of students surrounding me while in the lunch line. All their excitement really exhausts me, I don't even see much point in being all riled up in just a vote in what is assumed to be a big responsibility to show the other years and the school that we are actually competent. Even when I sit next to Fernando with today's meal of Rice Bowl, everybody else tries to subtly send messages whenever I look up from my meal or approach me and ask ridiculous questions regarding my opinion on my nomination of Fall Star Representative. I just respond with having no opinion and revealing no emotion while acting surprised it would have happened to me, and they seem to be acceptable with my response and back off.

Fernando speaks up, "So, I assume that you were nominated in your class, huh? Must feel good to get all that attention." I reply, "No way, they constantly approach me with the most meaningless intentions just for gossip. I only felt good when I actually had a chance against losing to other nominators, Carl and Hugo." "Yeah, that sounds like something you would say, not like I would have a chance to be chosen." We eat our lunch in relative peace, well as much as it was left, but after I throw my leftovers away, I return back to my seat to find Payton in our table, waiting for me. "Payton, what's going on?" I ask as I sit down. She digs into her backpack and pulls out a stack of binders, "Marcus, we were nominated by our class and are running up against other class nominations, yes? The way I see it, we are arguably the best cases to be appointed Fall Star Representatives compared to the others who are snobby rich guys or people who like to pick fights with weaker people (she mouths 'sorry' to Fernando, who pays no mind). If we have any chance of success for this, we need to expand our influence so that people will see that we really are their best choice." The amount of dedication to this is amazing to me, since I never really wanted to be a part of this to begin with.

"Uh, Payton, aren't you exaggerating this a wee bit too much? Is it really that necessary to make such preparations for such an event, like, what gain would you have from all this?" "Wh- what do you mean, Marcus? In case you didn't know, there will be university scouts visiting our school to check on any prospecting students in our clubs and will definitely pay attention on who becomes the Fall Star Representatives! This is my chance, and possibly yours, to be recognized and get another reason to be commended on your student report." Ah, so she is trying to overachieve this and one of those people who want the best scores possible. I applaud her dedication and her reasoning, but this is something that I don't want to commit to. So I try to speak up, "Do you think all this work will be worth it? Especially with me." Her face beams. "Of course it'll work! So far, you have been the most popular Freshman in this school for good reason and no doubt that we can secure the overall vote for you if we just put a little work to convince the undecided ones. For me, I have to put in a little more work since it seems I have some stiff competition among us girls, but if you can help me we can make a win vote easily!" Sounds like I've got no way out of this now. I can feel Carl's hostile energy near me somewhere in the cafeteria, and I know it's him based the sound of his thoughts.

"(Carl) Godforsaken Marcus can't seem to know when to lay off the popularity. If I was just a bit faster that time I could have beaten him right then and there with Payton watching my strength. Now I have to walk and sulk in misery as he tries to suck up to her." If he really does want to get closer to her, then by all means let me help him. "If I may," I suggest, "I think we should employ Carl for his help with your voting, since he seems to be quite the outspoken person." She looks conflicted. "Why would you want to ask Carl Thompson of all people? That guy is nothing but trouble since we were little, and let us not forget that time he tried, and FAILED, to beat you up because of petty jealousy. He wouldn't know when to not get in trouble, especially with this on the line." Ouch, so it doesn't seem like Carl hasn't had a well-made reputation with Payton and she seems to have some history with him to say such critical things for him. I got to convince her somehow, "Well, you did just say that I mostly have my votes secure. And with somebody outside the nomination circles, he can vouch for you since he knows you well enough that you would be a better nomination, even with his, uh, 'intimidation factor' to probably help with the convincing."