Someone Else

Chapter 26

"We still need to discuss the Fund Raiser for this year." Jackson said as everyone started getting ready to leave.

I groan. The Fund Raiser is a publicity stunt that happens literally every year.

"What do you think we should do this year, Amelia?" A guy asked.

I'm the oldest one on the council, one of the three girls. The girls had started some s**t with me last year and I put them in their f*****g place, now they're good little wenches.

As for the guys, ugh. They're more pompous than the last lot. The only guy's name I remember is Jackson and he also happens to me the most responsible of the freshmen.

"Two years ago, it was a fair and last year was a Ball. I think that this year we should do a food festival like in Food Wars!, the anime." I said, waiting for them to ask me what the actual hell that it.

The sophomore guys look like someone pissed in their Cheerios but no one asks. Alright then.

I stand up and go to the middle where the big white board is.

"It's basically a competition. Students have to register to join in teams and build their own booths and cook food to sell." I explained, drawing out the plot of land and dividing it into 7 sections. "The team that gets the most money will win first prize which will be decided later. They will have to put their own money into this and they can keep 40% of their earnings, the rest goes to charity. Also, students should have the option of borrowing money from the council fund with the condition they keep less of their total earnings according to the loan. If they don't make enough then they'll have to make it up by doing something else for charity, like volunteering at homeless shelters."

"That's actually brilliant." Some kid said. "Let's decide which cuisine goes where and decide the first prize."

I smirk. "Of course it's brilliant. It's mine." I said. "I will deal with where to hold the festival, announcing it, loans and I will oversee how it runs. You guys figure out everything else. Now, for placement ideas?"

"More exotic cuisines should be placed further in the back." Jackson said. "Cuisines with strong smells and the such."

Smart, but not quite there. "Then they might be ignored entirely, which certainly doesn't seem fair to the students who decided to be bold." I said, frowning.

"Then close to the back?"

I mark off the area with an E and motion them to continue.

"More commonly eaten cuisine can't be in front, then no one will be interested to come at all!" A girl said.

I smile. "So where do you propose we put it?" I asked.

"In the exact middle would be best I think." She said.

Not terrible. I mark off one section with C.

We go over this for about 2 hours until everything is decided and ready.

"This poster is gorgeous." I said, leaning over to get a good look of it.

Food Fest inspired my Food Wars! There are avatars shaped like different foods and they're dancing, all facing the main message. At the bottom is the information and how to sign up.

"Thank you." The Junior girl said, blushing.

I hum and leave to get everything ready.

___________________________________

The turnout is so much better than I expected. The lines stretch out nearly a quarter mile.

I have four computers set up with the software I'd asked one of Matt's guys to develope. It will place everyone accordingly. We have more than enough space, this is will be the first of many I'm sure.

People applying for loans come straight to me and I write down their information and proposals.

The festival will start in three weeks, you can only sign up today. I guess first prize was too good to pass up; a job interview with any company or organization of your choice. Of course, the maximum number of people in a team is five.

Not too many teams ask for loaned. In the fifty teams, only five applied for loans. This festival is for two days and there won't be any places to linger, I am completely sure that this will go well.

All the food has to be able to easily carry around, and maximum of twelve dollars. There is also something special I've arranged. The first 50 people who pay ten dollars at my stand in front will receive a wrist band that will allow them to receive three free dishes at three different booths or three dishes from one single booth.

I've already warned them not to sell out, if they sell out then the next day their food has to be 30% off. Any food still remaining will either be taken home or given to a homeless shelter. Cameras will be set up to prevent people from putting their own pocket money in.

Yes, to the board, this is just a publicity stunt, but to me this is so much more.

"Guys, you are in control of your stands!" I say though a megaphone. "This is a fund raiser, but remember that it's to help people in need. Don't forget to punch holes in the wristbands after serving. Or not- do what you want. It's not against the rules to not do that. I can't say there will be a bonus, but perhaps you can feel like you're actually doing something to help people! Oh, and any reports of discrimination means you must empty out, which means your food for that day is...you guessed it; free! If you sell out... you know what that means!"

Matt, who had decided to sit here with me, laughed. "Amor, you have no mercy." He said as I sat back down.

"And people should know it." I said, making direct eye contact with the next team in line. I snap my teeth at them and they start fidgeting as one of them types the information in.

"Will you participate?" Matt asked me.

"I wish, but I have to man the wrist band stall. But there is something else I am doing." I said, grinning mischievously. I motion for him to lean in and I whisper it to him. "My stall will also be a congee stall, which will be sold for 0 dollars. It's not in the sections, it's the first thing everyone will see."

He gapes at me. "Amor, you...you... I don't know what to say!"

I laugh. "Say you'll help me man the stall and bring another person too because I'll be checking on the other stalls periodically." I said hopefully.

"Of course I will help you, I don't have anything I'd rather be doing." He said, taking my hand under the table.

Some students in front hear us and the look of guilt on their faces is very apparent. There's nothing wrong with trying to win, but it's important to remember why we're doing this in the first place.

To help people. Really, the loan applications aren't going out of the council fund, no such fund exists. It's coming from my pocket and I don't expect anything to be returned.

Perks of being a best-selling author, the paycheck has many zeros.