Macaulay parked her bicycle and inched carefully into homeroom. What was going on? People were murmuring all around in pairs and groups. She tried to look for the faces of her very close friends to ask what had gone wrong.

“ Alison!” she yelled, on spying her best friend. “whats up? Why the commotion?”

Alison looked like a pillar of salt.

“Ali, speak to me, honey!” Macaulay said, getting worried. She turned round to people passing. “What happened? Can someone tell me what happened?”

She managed to grab the hand of a passerby. “There’s been a murder.” He said. “Melanie Griffiths. She was murdered last Friday on park hall crescent. Everyone’s just so scared because nothing this dramatic has happened in Cosham for years. It’s just really freaky that there’s a murderer in this town.” He hurried away.

“Oh my God, Mac, Melanie is dead.” Alison finally snapped out of her trance. “I had art class with her.” She tried to hold back her tears. “We had plans to go to the Picasso conference this winter together. She had so much talent and promise, Mac. I don’t know how i can go back into that class and look at the seat next to me, knowing that she’d just been murdered. It could have been me, Mac!”

“Hush, Ali.” Macaulay wrapped her in a warm hug and rocked her forth and back as her friends tears seeped through her shirt. “Whoever did this will definitely be brought to the law.”

She turned around and saw other people crying. Some boys who wanted to look brave were standing in corners with their fists clenched to their mouths. Whoever Melanie Griffiths was, she definitely had quite an impact on Cosham. Everyone looked so sad to lose her. Macaulay randomly wondered why she didn’t know the girl and thanked God that she didn’t because she had seen the lifeless body of what would have been a great artist open to the investigation of strange policemen. She wouldn’t just have been able to sleep if it was someone she’d known.

The speakers around the hallway vibrated as the voice of principal Mc.Kinley came through. “To the gym, students! In five minutes, I’d like to see everyone at the gym!”

Principal Jordan Mc.Kinley, a former American soldier in the WWII retired from the army, moved to England and accepted the job to be Cosham high’s principal twenty five years ago. He’d seen the good, bad and ugly of this school, but one thing he prided his tenure in was the fact that he’d never lost a student to death, ever. The news of Melanie Griffiths’ death left him shaken for hours after he received it. What sort of pervert went around killing seventeen year old girls? How could such a person live with himself? He left his office for the gym.

“Mrs. Stone, please hold off any calls for the next hour. I need to have a meeting with my kids.”

“Yes, Mr. Mc.Kinley.”

The gym was packed with high school students ranging from ages 13 down to 17 year olds who hadn’t made their GCSEs and had to re-sit. Everyone had their own ideal theory about who was responsible for Melanie’s fate and why the person would do that. Since Cosham high was just one of those schools which had everyone segregated into groups according to behaviour, it made the theories easier to move around.

The nerds were taking this issue very personal because Melanie Griffiths was in the JETS club with most of them. “Man, who could possibly kill Mel? She was like the Pythagoras of modern times!” that was Philip.

“Last night on crime and investigation, they were looking into the minds of underage murderers, and lost of the time, this people strike due to jealousy and obsessions. Whoever did this to Mel must have envied her real bad.” Chris said.

“Come on man, it could have been some fifty- something year old bored pervert whose wife wasn’t ready to fuck him anymore. Boredom does that to a man at times.” It was Josh Brandon, captain of the soccer team. None of the geeks could believe that he had actually joined in their conversation. Kevin, the computer whiz was practically beginning to stutter. It was as if the gods had finally smiled on them. They were being noticed.

“What makes you so sure it was a guy who did this to Mel?” Adam asked. Adam was always known to be the thinker in the nerd pack and he looked straight into josh’s eyes even when his friends were looking at him in horror for challenging josh Brandon.

Josh cleared his throat. “Instinct. I mean no cat fight female could murder Mel. What could she possibly want? Lipstick?”

Thunder struck then as it began to rain and Cambria hurried quickly to where Macaulay and her friends were seated. Since Cambria was nicknamed ‘PUKE’ because she was bulimic and frightenly becoming gaunt, she had practically no one to hang out with at school. Alison and Ann edged noticeably away when Cambria came up to them. All the girls in the hall screamed simultaneously at the sound of the thunder and some boys were getting goose pimples.

“We’re all gonna die!” Kevin said, screaming.

“Shut up you pussy!” a jock shouted from the back.

“Its chauvinists like you who go around murdering poor innocent little girls.”

“Well it takes a murderer to know one doesn’t it?” the jock shouted back.

“Can you guys stop? This is scary already and you’re worsening it!” Fanny Bridges stood up. There was silence for a while. She was the Queen bee of Cosham high. Two time recurring winter dance princess, leader of the cheerlead squad and daughter of the mayor. However, no one was thinking of her titles at the moment.

“Why don’t you just shut up and go throw some pom poms?” another guy shouted. Fanny’s jaw dropped open. She waved her pink polished nails at him.

“Why don’t you get a life?”

A shrill whistle was heard then and everyone hurried to sit down and keep silent. Jordan Mc.Kinley was in the room. A guy at the back who had obviously not noticed was still laughing. Another one whispered loudly to him. “Dude! It’s Serge!”

Serge. a shortened form of sergeant, was the nickname that the students had given Mc.Kinley because he acted sometimes like his was still in the army. Whenever he needed silence, he had only to blow his whistle and the place became like a graveyard.

“I’m disgusted! I expected more from you people. We just lost a student. One of us! One of you...” he emphasised. A girl started crying at the back. “It could have been either one of you murdered or the killer could still be out there. You have no right whatsoever to act like complete retards when something this serious is happening.” Mc.Kinley continued. “And so, the police are going to be interrogating some of you who witnessed the murder, were close friends to Melanie Griffiths or have some tangible and i repeat tangible theory as to who may have done such a despicable thing. By that i mean i do not want some cock and bull tale from some kid who doesn’t have better things to do with his teenage time.” He made sure his point had gotten across. “This here is detective Miller. Now could the following people please come forward?” he brought out a sheet.

“Alison Bauer, Jenna McClusky, Amy frosbee and Josh Brandon. These people were closest to Melanie Griffiths according to her parents. If you know you have reason to be out here, please come forward as well. Do not withhold evidence.”

“I knew Mel.” Fanny rose up her hand. She was followed by a crowd of other people and a worried crease crossed McKinley’s features. “You know what? Every 12^th grader gets a shot. A timetable will be drawn and you all get to have a session with the police. Now I’d like 10^th and 11^th graders who have evidence.”

The number of hands went down obviously. Macaulay hadn’t seen anyone who had so much friends, even up till the point of death.

Mc.Kinley started to leave the gym when detective miller whispered something to him and then came forward.

“Just a word if you may. I want to assure you people. We will get whoever is behind this and get that person behind bars for as long as eternity. It’s not a promise, kids. It’s a fact.” And with that, he made his exit.

Obsessed.

“Hi. This is Jay. Just wanted to tell you there would be a club 17 meeting today by 5pm.

Cambria McAdams was in the gym when she got the message. She had just concluded her daily work out ritual. Blast these love handles. No matter how hard she tried, she still couldn’t seem to achieve the perfect body of her dreams. First she was a size 16, which was obviously a disaster in her definition. She wore her mother’s clothes at times and stared with unhidden jealousy at the ‘it’ girls when they strutted their pretty little bodies up the school hallways. Then one summer, Cambria had a nightmare which made her wake up to the reality of her size. She had to drop to a size 6 if it was the last thing she did...or at least that was the initial plan. She became so obsessed with her weight that she worked out 6 hours a day with only an energy drink and slim tonic sustaining her. Everyone tried to tell her she was okay. She had dropped from 180 pounds down to 100, but Cambria just couldn’t control herself any longer. Her obsession was here to stay. She took a quick look round the gym and a slight peek out of it. She hoped no club 17 person was around the corner. She would just die. Last night, they had made a pact to give up their obsessions and now, first thing in the morning, she was here again. In the shrine of her problems. Jay would kill her if he found out she’d backed out. Again! She made her was to the shower for a quickie before heading down to Jay’s. What could he possibly be up to now?

Abel Daniels had been staring at the pack of weed he’d just bought for fifteen minutes before his phone beeped. He found Jays message staring at him like he was some sort of convict. He hadn’t always been dependent on this crap. He hadn’t even needed it. He just wanted to lose his virginity to a swinger who he barely knew, without feeling guilty about it. So, he’d shared his worries with his elder brother, Michael who was a rebel inside and out. Michael told him that if he did it when he was high, he wouldn’t know what hit him. And so began a life of overdependence on weed. He tried his best to ignore the smooth white temptation and move to the next room. His body started jittering uncontrollably and he felt as if he was going to die. He managed to shut his room tightly and make it back to the object of his obsession without fainting. He sniffed at the powder sharply and gave a sigh of relief when he felt life come back to his body. While he took another shot, he tried not to look at his club 17 bracelet which read: I RULE MY BODY, IT DOESN’T RULE ME.

Macaulay Morris laughed with her friends as they came back from swimming practice. She was so elated. She had finally beaten the time record of Olivia Newton, who had been the school’s defending swimming champion for over ten years. She couldn’t believe her luck. Just a little more practice and she would be ready for the regional’s competition. She could hardly wait. Her friends had been so supportive of her, and she was so happy none of them showed obvious signs of jealously yet.

“Let’s go to KFC and celebrate.” Her best friend Alison suggested.

“Totally!!” the others echoed.

Macaulay stopped short as she saw the glorious entrance to Debenhams. They were having a sale! 30% off! “You guys go right ahead. I’ll be there in no time.”

“You alright, Mac?” Alison looked worried.

“Yeah. I just left some stuff at the pool.” Macaulay waited for them to turn into the next alley and then she shot into the boutique. Her eyes caught a pair of fantastically high and classy jimmy choos.

They fit perfectly! And they were....£45? Macaulay groaned. That was half her pocket money for the week! But the shoes were so beautiful! She picked them up and headed for the counter. The always cheery sales attendant packed it up for her and handed it over. “Have a nice day.” She said.

Macaulay skipped happily as she left the shop. Just then her phone beeped. She got Jay’s message and automatically, a guilty expression crossed her features. 5pm was just thirty minutes away. And jay’s place was quite a distance. If she was going to get there, she would have to leave now; with her new pair of shoes. She text Alison with her blackberry, apologizing for not being able to come and then got on the next bus to jay’s.

Jay Eden had just finished ordering pizza. He walked over to his window and stared out of it. The day was boring. Nothing to do, nowhere to go. He thought of last night and smiled. He was so happy that Cambria, Abel and Macaulay had finally come to terms with their addictions and decided to give it up. Though just a year older than they were, he’d managed to get them to form club 17 to help them deal with their addictions. He told them how he’d overcome his own personal addiction but never told them what exactly his addiction had been. And he wasn’t prepared to let anyone know yet. It was too risky. It could bring up a whole deal of his past that could haunt him. His doctor’s words came hauntingly.

“Try not to stay alone and idle, Jay. The idle mind is the devils workshop.”

Jay had nodded, and decided that this club was the best way to keep himself busy.

He picked up his iphone and typed a message to his club 17 members. He was so proud of all of them! Making lifelong pacts to live better lives. With that thought in mind, he dozed off.

Jay woke up moments later with a start. There was a loud uproar below his flat. He pulled on a pair of jeans and t shirt and ran downstairs. He met Abel, Macaulay and Cambria downstairs.

“What happened?” he asked.

“Someone was murdered, Jay.” Macaulay replied with obvious jitters. “Stabbed to death. The police are down there, no one is allowed to be there till they are done investigating.”

“Holy crap. Who does things like that? Stabbed to death? Don’t people have consciences anymore?”

Abel shrugged. Macaulay particularly looked uneasy. Cambria couldn’t actually be bothered. She could smell pizza in the air and that made her nauseated.

“Come on guys, let’s go upstairs.” Jay said. “I ordered pizza.”

Five minutes later, jay was beginning to feel uncomfortable. Everyone looked so dismayed and upset.

“Is everything alright?”

Cambria couldn’t eat, because she’d read somewhere that pizza had two days worth of calories bundled into one flat pie. Abel was having his weed jitters and was desperately trying to hide it. Macaulay still hadn’t gotten over seeing a real dead body.”

“How was school?” jay tried a different approach.

Macaulay coughed. “I beat Olivia Newton’s record finally.”

Jay’s face lit up. “That’s great, Mac.” He looked at Cambria. “How about you Cammy?”

“I...” she had been fidgeting with one pizza slice all the while. “I aced my chemistry test. I think I’m finally prepared to write my GCSEs.” Lying had to be the most difficult task alive.

“Awesome Cammy!!!” jay said encouragingly. “Abel?”

“I applied for a scholarship to Bristol. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

“I’m sure you can do it, Abel. I’m so proud of all of you. One day into our pact and you’re all doing so well? Remember, if i could do it, you can too.”

They all muttered undetectable responses.

Abel was thinking: “I’ve screwed up real bad. Which university is going to accept a chain crack smoker? Cambria and Macaulay have everything going great for them.”

Cambria was thinking. “Macaulay is so perfect! And i have to lie to make Jay happy. Abel is applying for a scholarship and Macaulay is getting her dream goal. What the hell is wrong with me?”

Macaulay was thinking: “if only jay knew that inside my bag is a £45 worth shoe! Cambria and Abel don’t have to deal with their addictions any more. Why can’t i just be normal?”

Jay was thinking: “I’ve finally won over these seventeen year old addicts! Now, time to recruit more! I feel like I’ve made an impact in the world.”

If only they knew how wrong they all were.