Young Writers Society

The clutter of people around me is annoying to say the least. I sit back in my seat at the realization that I have zero, I mean NO friends at this place. The bus fills with more people as we make a stop. The bus is dirty and gross, underneath the seat in front of me there is a brutalized chewed piece of gum. The rest of the ride is loud, I listen to the sounds of people playing stupid shit on their phones. I zone out until we make it to our last stop. I am still zoned out when a girl sits down next to me. I continue to be completely in my own world until the girl, starts to talk? 

"Hey, I'm kind of new around here. You know your way around?" She asks.

I think about just not responding, or just brushing it off, but I talk. "Uh... You aren't the only one, I am new here too."

"Oh. Well it's nice to meet you! My name is Murphy."

I don't really know what else to say besides my name. "Cooper."

"Huh?"

"That's my name." I respond.

"Oh. You don't look like a Cooper."

"Yeah, guess not." I say losing interest. We sit like that for the rest of the ride.

As I walk out of the bus the dark is surprising. I look toward the entrance, the dark loom of the morning coming to a front at the school building. The sun lies behind the building casting a shadow down across me and all the other kids getting off the bus. 

I start to feel a little nervous as I walk toward the school building. The thought of being in a new place, without any friends, is daunting. Murphy walks beside me, chattering away about where she's from and what she likes to do. I try to listen, but my mind is racing with worries and doubts.

As we approach the front entrance, I see groups of kids standing around, laughing and talking. I feel a pang of envy as I watch them, wishing I could be a part of their group. Murphy must sense my hesitation because she puts a hand on my arm.

"Don't worry, Cooper. We'll find our people eventually."

I give her a small smile, grateful for her attempt at comfort. As we enter the building, I start to feel even more overwhelmed. The hallways are crowded and noisy, and I have no idea where I'm supposed to go. Murphy seems to be in the same boat, so we stick together and wander aimlessly.

Eventually, we stumble upon a bulletin board advertising a club fair later that week. Murphy's eyes light up and she grabs my arm excitedly.

"Look! Maybe we can find some clubs to join and make some friends!"

I nod, feeling a glimmer of hope. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. We spend the rest of the day in a daze of new classes and unfamiliar faces, but the thought of the club fair keeps us going.

As the week goes on, Murphy and I stick together like glue. We sit together at lunch, walk to classes together, and even start to share little bits of our lives with each other. It's not quite friendship, but it's a start.

Finally, the day of the club fair arrives. We walk into the gymnasium, eager to see what options are available. As we wander from table to table, I start to feel a little more optimistic. Maybe I can find a place where I belong.

And then I see it - a sign for the school's debate team. It's not something I've ever considered before, but something about it catches my eye. I look at Murphy, who nods encouragingly, and I make my way over to the table.

As the debate team captain explains what the team is all about, I start to feel a spark of excitement. Maybe this is exactly what I need - a group of people who are passionate about something and want to make a difference. I fill out a sign-up sheet and walk away, feeling a little more confident than I have in weeks.

As we leave the gym, Murphy turns to me with a grin.

"So, what do you think? Did you find anything you like?"

I nod, feeling a little bit of pride.

"Yeah. I signed up for the debate team."

Murphy's face lights up and she throws her arms around me.

"That's awesome, Cooper! I'm so proud of you."

I feel a warmth in my chest that I haven't felt in a long time. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. Maybe I can find my place here.

The days that followed the club fair were filled with excitement and anticipation. Murphy and I talked nonstop about our potential new clubs, and I even found myself looking forward to the next school day.

As we walked into school on Monday, I couldn't help but notice the beautiful autumn leaves falling around us. The school campus was surrounded by tall trees, and the crisp air made everything feel new and fresh. We made our way to our lockers, chatting and laughing as we went.

As we turned the corner, we ran into a group of students. I recognized some of them from the club fair, but there were a few new faces. One of them caught my eye - a tall, lanky boy with messy brown hair and a friendly smile.

"Hey, are you guys new here?" he asked, stepping forward.

I nodded, feeling a little shy.

"Yeah, we are. I'm Cooper, and this is Murphy."

The boy grinned.

"I'm Zach. Nice to meet you guys."

We talked for a few more minutes, and Zach seemed genuinely interested in getting to know us. As we said goodbye and walked away, I felt a small flutter of excitement in my stomach. Maybe making friends here wouldn't be so hard after all.

As the week went on, I settled into a routine. Classes were challenging, but I enjoyed the feeling of learning new things. Murphy and I started to hang out more with Zach and some of his friends, and I found myself enjoying their company.

On the day of the first debate team meeting, I was nervous but excited. As I walked into the classroom where the meeting was being held, I saw a boy with striking silver hair sitting at the front of the room. He stood up as I walked in, a small smile on his lips.

"Hey there, I'm Xavier. You must be Cooper."

I nodded, feeling a little intimidated by his confident demeanor.

"Yeah, that's me."

Xavier shook my hand firmly.

"Welcome to the debate team. We're excited to have you on board."

The meeting was filled with introductions and explanations of what the team was all about. As I listened, I felt a thrill of excitement in my stomach. This was exactly what I needed - a group of people who were passionate about making a difference.

As the meeting ended, Xavier caught my eye.

"Hey, do you want to grab lunch together? I can show you around the school a bit."

I nodded, feeling grateful for the offer.

"That sounds great, thanks."

As we walked through the crowded hallways, Xavier talked about his experiences on the debate team and his hopes for the future. I found myself listening intently, impressed by his dedication and passion.

As we walked out of the building and onto the campus, I was struck by the beauty of the school grounds. The trees were ablaze with color, and the grass was still green despite the cool weather. Xavier noticed my awe and smiled.

"It's pretty great here, isn't it? I love this time of year."

I nodded, feeling a sense of belonging that I hadn't felt since I moved to this town.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and conversations. As I walked out of the school building that afternoon, I felt a sense of contentment that I hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad after all.

As I walked to the bus stop, I saw Zach and a few of his friends sitting on a bench. They waved me over, and I joined them, feeling grateful for the friendly faces.

"Hey, how was your day?" Zach asked, grinning.

I smiled back, feeling a sense of warmth in my chest. 

"It was pretty great, actually. I had a really good time at the debate team meeting, and Xavier showed me around the school. How about you guys?"

Zach shrugged.

"Just the usual, you know. Classes were okay. But I'm excited for the weekend. We should all hang out."

I grinned.

"Yeah, that sounds awesome. What do you guys want to do?"

The group started throwing out ideas - going to the movies, trying out a new restaurant, or just hanging out at someone's house. As we talked and laughed, I felt a sense of joy that I hadn't felt in a long time. These people, these potential friends, were exactly what I needed.

The bus pulled up, and we all got on, chatting and joking as we found our seats. As we rode home, I looked out the window at the passing scenery, feeling grateful for this new chapter in my life.

The days turned into weeks, and I found myself settling into a comfortable routine. I went to classes, worked on homework, and spent time with my new friends. The debate team was challenging but rewarding, and I found myself becoming more and more passionate about the issues we were discussing.

As the first big debate tournament approached, I felt a mix of nerves and excitement. Xavier had been coaching me and helping me prepare, but I still wasn't sure if I was ready. The day of the tournament, I woke up early and dressed carefully, feeling like this was a defining moment for me.

As I walked into the tournament venue, I saw Xavier and some of the other team members, all looking focused and serious. They greeted me warmly, and Xavier gave me a few final tips before I went to my first round.

The debates were intense and fast-paced, but I found myself falling into a rhythm. I spoke confidently and clearly, feeling a sense of pride in my abilities. As the day wore on, I found myself getting more and more excited about the possibility of winning.

When the final results were announced, I felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation. My heart was pounding as Xavier stepped forward to reveal the winners.

"And the winner of this year's debate tournament is..."

I held my breath, feeling like my entire future was riding on this one moment.

"Cooper!"

I couldn't believe it - I had won! As I walked forward to accept my trophy, I felt a sense of pride and accomplishment that I had never felt before.

The rest of the day was a blur of congratulations and excitement. My new friends all gathered around me, hugging and high-fiving me, and I felt like I had finally found my place in this new town.

As I walked out of the tournament venue that afternoon, I looked up at the clear blue sky and felt a sense of gratitude. This place, with its beautiful surroundings and kind people, was starting to feel like home. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a real future here. 

As the weeks passed by, I found myself spending more and more time with Murphy. We had started sitting together on the bus, and before I knew it, we were walking to class together and eating lunch together in the cafeteria.

I enjoyed her company, but I had never really thought of her in a romantic way. I wasn't sure if she felt the same way, or if we were just good friends.

One day, as we were walking to our next class, Murphy turned to me and asked, "Hey Cooper, do you want to go out with me this weekend?"

I was caught off guard by her question, and I felt my heart start to race.

"Uh, what do you mean?" I asked, trying to sound casual.

Murphy smiled and shrugged.

"I mean, do you want to go out on a date? We could go to the movies or get dinner or something."

I felt a jolt of excitement mixed with nerves. I had never been on a date before, and the idea of spending time alone with Murphy was both thrilling and intimidating.

"Sure, yeah. That sounds great," I said, trying to sound confident.

Murphy grinned, and I felt a flutter of happiness in my chest.

"Awesome! How about we meet at the movie theater on Saturday at 7?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of anticipation and anxiety. This was going to be a new experience for me, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect.

As we walked to our class, I couldn't help but feel like everything was different now. Murphy and I had crossed a threshold, and I wasn't sure where it would lead us. But for the first time in a long time, I felt excited about the future. 

As the months passed by, Murphy and I continued to grow closer. We went on more dates, tried new restaurants, and even went to a few concerts together. It was nice to have someone to share these experiences with, someone who actually seemed to enjoy my company.

We talked about everything under the sun, from our favorite movies and books to our hopes and dreams for the future. I had never felt so comfortable opening up to someone before, but with Murphy, it just felt natural.

She was kind, funny, and had a way of making me feel like I could do anything. Whenever I was feeling down or overwhelmed, she was there to listen and offer words of encouragement.

Before I knew it, I found myself thinking about her all the time. I would catch myself staring at her in class, or getting butterflies in my stomach when she texted me. I wasn't sure when it had happened, but somewhere along the way, I had fallen for her.

One day, I decided to tell her how I felt.

We were sitting in the park, watching the leaves change colors as we talked about our plans for the future. I took a deep breath and turned to her, my heart racing.

"M-Murphy, there's something I need to tell you," I stuttered.

She looked at me with a curious expression.

"What is it?"

"I-I... I think I'm in love with you," I blurted out.

Murphy's eyes widened in surprise, and for a moment, I thought I had made a huge mistake. But then she smiled, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

"I love you too, Cooper," she said, taking my hand in hers.

We kissed then, under the golden autumn sun, and I knew in that moment that I had found something truly special.

The Real Cooper|

I had dream't it all, that whole damn thing. I remembered how I had sparred and then fought those guys in the white uniforms. Also who was that girl? The one I kissed. I had seen her in a dream once before standing over a lake of fire, with blood flowing from her eyes as she smiled at me. In a rare moment I begin to cry, I have never felt this way. Is this what I could have had? It feels fake thinking about it now, what a shame...

The Real Murphy|

I had dream't it all, that whole damn thing. I remembered how I had gone to a meeting the other day regarding the missing Bone God, and the bad news that another God went missing during an exploration expedition. Also who was that guy? the one I kissed. He felt familiar. In a rare moment I begin to cry, I have never felt this way. Is this what I could have had? It feels fake thinking about it now, what a shame...

"It's nice to hear you say "hello."

And how are things with you, I love you

But very soon it's time to go

An office job to do, I'm up here writing songs for you

It's nice hear your voice again

I've waited all day long, even wrote a song for you

It's strange the way you make me feel, with just a word or two

I'd like to do the same for you

Strange how a phonecall can change your day, take you away

Away from the feeling of being alone, pass the telephone

It's nice to hear you say "hello."

And how are things with you, I love you

But very soon it's time to go

An office job to do, I'm up here writing songs for you

It's nice hear your voice again

I've waited all day long, even wrote a song for you

It's strange the way you make me feel with just a word or two

I'd like to do the same for you" -RJD2