Standing in the Spotlight

Elizabeth Rose

"Lizzy! Pumpkin, hurry up!" Dad shouts and I quickly grab my laptop bag, my two suitcases, and my jacket.
"I'm coming I'm coming!" I reply and run down the hall.
"Good, Aunt Cass is waiting outside. Sorry I couldn't take you today Lizzy but you know how work is and you know your brother, Charlie, is hard at work in NYC with the musical. I'm going to miss you honey," Dad says and kisses my forehead.
"I understand Dad. Work is work, who else is going to put out the fires in Saratoga Springs, New York. And Charlie was made for the stage," I say with a smile
"Your mom would be so proud to see how grown up you and Charlie have gotten. She loved you Lizzy and Charlie, right now I bet right now she's watching over you two in heaven." I smile and hug Dad.
"I love you my little Rose and so did your mom. I'll see you on spring break. Now your aunt is waiting, so get a move on," Dad tells me.
"I love you too Dad. See you during spring break," I reply then give him a hug and walk out to my Aunt Cass' car. Quickly I set my stuff in Aunt Cass' trunk and climb into the front seat.
"You ready Beth?" Aunt Cass asks and I nod. I pull out my laptop and start putting the finishing touches on this week's newspaper.
The newspaper draft reads Welcome Back Students. Then it goes into all the different topics about the spring musical, art competition, winter show choir performance, regular choir, dance recital, blah blah blah. I spellcheck it then add in some art and then send it to Mr. Newman, the teacher who oversees the newspaper, to be published. Ping! I pull out my phone and check the message it's from Nora, a girl on the newspaper staff and my roommate. It reads, Hey Elizabeth Rose McKay, my mom got a new job in Iowa and we moved there over winter break. I just wanted to say that I can't continue writing the gossip column since I'm in Iowa. Sorry about that, have a great rest of the year.
I let out a frustrated groan and slam my hand on the dashboard.
"What is it, Beth?" Aunt Cass asks.
"The girl that writes the gossip column moved . What am I going to do? I don't have anyone to write the gossip column and it's not like I can just hire some rando to do it," I groan.
"Beth really?"
"What really?"
"You are such a talented writer why can't you write the gossip column. You're like a little fox you could get that information in no time," Cass says with a smile and I groan.
"Aunt Cass you don't understand the gossip writer is like the worst position ever. You either make up some ridiculous story or actually find some gossip and then someone gets hurt," I explain.
"Beth you're a writer, can't you just write some crazy story about a popular person?" Aunt Cass points out.
"I guess but anyone could do that," I mumble. 

Soon Aunt Cass pulls into the drop off lane of Spotlight Academy. I get out of the car and grab my baggage from the back.
"Bye honey! Love you! Don't forget Charlie is coming down to see you tomorrow!" Aunt Cass wishes me off.
"Got it. Bye Aunt Cass, take care of my dad!" I shout as she pulls away. I take a deep breath and smile, Here we go. 2nd semester. I hold my chin up and walk towards the school.
"Coming through!" A boy shouts as he pushes me to the side on his skateboard.
"Hey watch it!" I shout and scowl. The skater stops and turns around.
"Were you talking to me? Because I know you weren't just talking to me like that wannabe writer. You're just a nobody. You write about people and events wow so cool," the boy retaliates and I realize it's the brainless Griffin Robertson.
"Oh wow even your insults are weak and dumb just like you. In fact you can't even tell the difference between a rock and hamster. And you know what at least I have a future if journalism doesn't go well, but if dance doesn't go well for you- well let's just say I see, 'Would you like a side of fries with that?'in your future." I smirked and walk past him as he stands there thinking if something to say.

Swiftly I walk to the dormitories, avoiding basically everyone, and then head to my dorm from last semester. I open the door and smile. The room has a wall with newspaper wallpaper, a teal wall, and two white walls. One bed in the center of the room and a desk against the newspaper room. I scrunch my eyebrows together, do I not have a roommate either. I notice a envelope on my desk and open it.
Dear Elizabeth Rose McKay,
Your roommate has withdrawn from Spotlight so you will have no roommate this semester. The janitor has set up the room for you. You may change it and add any furniture you would like on your own time and expense.
-Headmistress
Beatrice Lang
I beam at the letter then set it down. I leave my bed and the desk where it is but I move the reading chair and bookshelf near the window.
"This should work," I mumble and start unpacking my stuff. Knock! Knock!
"Hello? Anyone in here?" A voice calls.
"Come in!" I shout as I start to put my teal sheets on my bed. The door opens then shuts.
"You're Elizabeth Rose McKay, right? The editor of the school newspaper?" The girl asks and I turn around to Cosette Degray standing there with some papers. Sure Cosette looks all sweet and innocent but she's a real diva, it's either her way or the high-way.
"Well I'm not just the editor of the newspaper, I'm also a editor of the yearbook, producer of the daily announcements, photographer, author, and playwright. Anyway yes I am Elizabeth Rose McKay, what's it to you?" I question as I sit down on my bed.
"Well I was wondering if you could put these choir announcements in the newspaper and the announcements. Oh it's going to need a full page on the newspaper and how about I film the announcement I would hate for someone to say something wrong. Oh and while you're at it could you put these up around the school? I'm so busy and you walk all over the school all the time," Cosette says with a plastered on smile.
"In your dreams. We do the announcements with our own people and if you want a full page you're going to have to pay otherwise you get the regular 1/4 of a page. And put up your own silly flyers, I'm not a servant. Now run along," I reply and wave goodbye.
"I need to be on those announcements I'm the president of choir. And everyone needs to know about our winter concert and that we are having tryouts for our non-singing majors. If it's not a fu-"
"Just get one of your groupies to do it. You are the president of choir after all," I reply with a smirk. Cosette takes a deep breath then walks out of my room.
"Much better," I mumble as I finish making my bed.

Ping! I set down my book and walk over to where my phone is charging.
To:Elizabeth Rose McKay
Elizabeth, we need a gossip section by tomorrow. As you know Nora has moved and we don't have anyone else to write it. Until further notice you will be writing the gossip column.
-Mr. Newman
"Great now it's official I have to write the gossip column," I groan," Just finish unpacking then start on the column." I pull out the pictures and embellishments from my trunk that I left here over winter break. I pull out my family picture of my dad, my mom, my brother, and me and hang it above my bed. My mom died in the middle of my 8th grade year. It was just so sudden. Some crazy drunk driver hit her and she was gone, ever since her death my Aunt Cass moved in with us to help my dad and me while Charlie was in NYC. It's been hard on my whole family, my mom was my best friend, she was the one who inspired me to pursue writing and journalism.
I smile and a hot tear rolls down my cheek. I wipe the tear away and finish hanging up my pictures and everything.
Now for the gossip column. Who to write about? There are some many mean kids at Spotlight I don't even know where to begin.
Ping! I glance at my phone and see a message an unknown number.
Hey, it's Cosette. Please just give me a full page.
It's like a light bulb just went off in my head. My first ever gossip column will be about Cosette and how she's auto tuned, it sounds fake but the idiots at this school will believe anything. Maybe it's a little mean but come on it's gossip. I smirk and pull out my laptop then start typing.
Cosette Degray Auto tuned?!?
Oh this is going to be good.