In Lakewood, a small town with a reputation of crime, gangs, outcasts and violence, Lana Takumi is an orphan and a gang member disguised in ripped jeans of her late mother and old flannels of her late father. She feels stuck in an endless cycle of b...
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E V E R E T T
"So what's next for the student council?" Mom asked while I was putting strawberry jam on my waffle by the breakfast table on a Monday morning.
I had kept mom and dad updated on the changes being made around the school by the student council and they were especially proud and thrilled to hear about to success of the Open day. They even heard good things about it from patients and colleagues around the town's hospital where they both worked. People were praising the new student council and their president.
As the months had passed by, the grief in mom's and dad's eyes had slowly lessened. Adjusting to their new jobs and life here got them busy enough to not constantly have Emma's death looming like a grey cloud over their heads.
I felt the same about myself. Busying myself with the student council and making friends with the members and The Sirens, I was able to put my attention into something else instead of on Emma. Maybe mom was right. I guess we needed to start fresh somewhere else. So far, Lakewood was doing that well for us.
"I told Lana that we should focus on getting the elevator and the school bell fixed," I told them, taking a bite of my waffle.
"Lana, the girl who arrived here early with you a few weeks ago for the open day planning. She's the one who ended up taking the role as the finance and media manager, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah. That was her."
"How did that happen anyway? You told me you were struggling to find someone for that job. Did she just eventually turn up?" He asked, curiously.
"Well, I asked her. We have advanced math and physics together and she's just good with numbers. I thought she was the perfect one for the job so I asked her. She refused in the beginning but eventually agreed to do it," I explained, elaborately.
"Well, that's great."
"Yeah. Plus, she's in a gang like most of the students. It can be easier for the gang member students to trust the student council knowing someone like them is on the council too."
Dad choked on his juice and mom's eyes almost fell out of her face as she patted dad's back. Dad raised his brows and asked, "Lana is in a gang?"
Before I could answer, mom's expression turned thoughtful before realization suddenly broke across her face. "Lana? Lana Takumi? I've heard about her around the hospital. She's in the most infamous gang in town. The Sirens, right?"
I nodded and mom and dad glanced at each other before looking at me with equally worried faces.
"No, wait. Guys, it's fine. They seem all powerful and bad but they're really nice and understanding once you get to know them. Lana is my close friend. I trust her. I'm sure the reason why the school tolerates me as the student council President is that Lana is by my side. They trust her too."
