Tim Harper sat at his usual spot in the cafeteria, quietly eating his sandwich, eyes glued to his phone as he tried to ignore the chatter around him. It was just another ordinary day, one he hoped would pass by without incident. That hope, however, was shattered when Kim Flores plopped down across from him with a grin that screamed trouble.
"Tim, I've got the perfect idea for you," Kim said, sliding her tray onto the table.
Tim didn't even look up. "Oh no. Last time you said that, I ended up volunteering for that haunted house thing."
"Okay, but that was fun! You screamed like a baby the entire time, but—"
"No," Tim interrupted, his voice flat. "What is it this time?"
Kim leaned forward, lowering her voice dramatically as though she were about to reveal the secret to the universe. "You should join the Crime Observation Club."
Tim finally looked up from his phone, narrowing his eyes at her. "The what?"
"The Crime Observation Club! You know, that weird group that hangs out in the old journalism room? They observe crimes happening around the school and investigate them without actually, you know, getting involved."
"That sounds incredibly stupid," Tim replied, not missing a beat. "I'm not joining some wannabe detective club."
Kim rolled her eyes, clearly unfazed by his immediate rejection. "It's not stupid! They're actually really good at figuring stuff out. Last week, they uncovered the whole mystery of the missing chemistry exams. You remember that, right?"
Tim did remember. It had been the talk of the school for days. Someone had swiped the exam papers from Mr. Hastings' desk, and rumors about who did it spread like wildfire. But he had no idea that the Crime Observation Club had been involved.
"So?" Tim said, raising an eyebrow. "They got lucky. Besides, I don't care about any of that. I like being under the radar, thank you very much."
"Exactly!" Kim shot back, pointing her fork at him. "You blend in so well, you'd be perfect for it! You're smart, you notice things, and you could totally help them without anyone knowing you're even part of it."
"I am not joining," Tim said, shaking his head firmly. "That club is full of weirdos. Ivy Sinclair? She's like a walking conspiracy theory. Max? That guy's convinced aliens run the vending machines. No thanks."
Kim shrugged, unconvinced by his arguments. "Come on, Tim. You've been coasting through school, doing nothing. You could use a little excitement."
"I like my life boring, thanks," Tim said. "And besides, 'observing' crimes? What does that even mean? You're telling me they just watch and take notes? That's weird. And probably illegal."
Kim smirked. "I think it's a little more than just watching, but you won't know unless you check it out."
Tim sighed, already regretting asking her to explain. "There is no way I'm joining that club, Kim. End of story."
Kim leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as if she had all the time in the world. "Alright, alright, fine. But don't come crying to me when your life feels like a never-ending loop of Netflix and mediocre cafeteria food. You're missing out."
"I'll survive," Tim muttered, returning to his sandwich.
But as Kim chattered on about the club's latest case—something involving missing mascot costumes and suspicious janitors—Tim couldn't help but feel a tiny twinge of curiosity creeping in. He hated to admit it, but she had a point. His life was kind of predictable. Not that he'd ever tell her that, though.
Still, he shook off the thought. There was no way he was getting involved with something as ridiculous as the Crime Observation Club. Absolutely no way.
Next Chapter: 'Infedility' out on 5 October 2024