'Bear, you need to hear this tea.'

I walk to the front bar and tap my fingers with both excitement and boredom.

'Hello to you too, Brooke.' Byron sighs seeing me wait for him.

'Give me a sec. I need to serve these customers.'

I sit on a stool as Byron serves a man in a business suit. Waiting patiently, I couldn't help but notice Byron's wedding ring.

That's right. He just got married.

Nicole is the name of the woman that Byron married. The best way to describe her is independent and eccentric. She met Byron in middle school, and she invited him to her quinceañera which is cute.

Those two are what I call, an eccentric duo; not only that but Byron is straight up in love with her. It's the few times where I envy them and kinda wish I had a guy that was that infatuated with me.

Let's hope I'm not single at 30.

I haven't experienced love before, so I don't really know anything. What it feels like and how you know you are in love.

Is it maybe when marriage is in mind? I don't know.

'So, what is it you wanna talk about?' Byron interrupts my thoughts sitting on the stool beside me.

'Uhh. I need to rant about someone if you don't mind.'

'Take it away.'

'His name is Derek and he's infuriating'

'Well, this is the first time you've wanted to talk to me about a boy. I'm quite surprised that-'

'No, it's not like that! Why does everyone keep thinking like that?! Anyway, I was well on the way to becoming the head chef of my school's cooking club and he had to come along and ruin things with his wealth. Abusing his power.' My fingers tap faster on the table.

'A classic move of the rich.' Byron mutters.

He heads to the bar to get drinks and hands them over to him and me.

'Well, it's up to you. I think it's much better if you beat him using your own skills than rather complaining to another teacher or the principal.'

I stop to considering that thought.

'I could do that.'

'Don't Brooke. That poor man is sick and tired of you.'

'It's not going to kill him, after all, nepotism is a serious topic that should be discussed within a school environment.'

'Brooke, you're in a high school cooking club.'

***

'Hey, I have an appointment with Principal Walters.'

I stand in the waiting area close to the staff room and principal's office. Teachers would see me and at once sigh and smile, knowing full well I was there to talk to Principal Walters.

If I'm going, to be honest with myself. This isn't the first time; I've been at the principal's office. The first time was when one of the substitute teachers told me that they didn't like me because of my dreadlocks, saying that he never liked anything African.

Principal Walters didn't hear the end of me for that.

Second, the school was giving enough funding to have a cooking club. Professor Neuman was willing to run it, but Principal Walters wasn't willing to put in the effort. Not even the SLT bringing it up in meetings was enough for him to act on the work. That's when I stepped up and made a feature-length PowerPoint presentation.

All of the faculty were entertained (not by my presentation but) by the principal's reaction to the presentation. His reaction is still quoted daily by the faculty:

'Brooke, you are one of a kind.... an expert in complaining.'

'Miss, Principal Walters is waiting for you inside.' the receptionist stated before I walked into the office.

In sat Principal Walters: a man in his mid-30s probably wondering what it is now.

'What is it now?'

Knew it.

'Hello Principal Walters, are you having a lovely day?'

'Cut to the chase Brooke.'

I awkwardly smile and stand up, walking around his office. 'I believe what this school holds up high is the expectation that students can achieve goals at their own capabilities. So why is it that some students with privileges be allowed to cheat their way to the top and achieve the goal that people have been working so hard for? I, Brooke Monet, worked hard for the position of Head Chef in my school's cooking club. Only for that position to be taken away from me all because of nepotism!' I started, making sure I was in my presenter's voice ready for any response.

A moment of silence ensued as I waited for Principal Walters to respond. He sighs and takes a long and hard sip of his coffee and looked straight at me.

'Miss Monet, are you aware of the purpose of this college?'

'Kinda.'

'It's to prepare you for university and life. And in life, some rich people always take what you want away from you. They will always be there, and you just have to deal with that.'

'Well, Mr, isn't high school supposed to ease me into the realities of life?'

'Majority of the time, yes, but for a small minority, it often hits you in the face. You either try to defeat it and lose or...befriend the enemy.'

'Hell no, Mr. He's an entitled douchebag.'

'Proper language while in my office, Ms Monet. Isn't also like the phrase you often say, keep your friends close and your enemies, closer.' He ended, smiling, and adjusting himself on his chair.

'That will be all, Ms Monet. Befriend the enemy.'

'But Mr, how can you let this nepotism just casually happen in this establishment?'

Walters looks back at me, with his usual expressionless face. 'Brooke, this is a random position at a small private high school in the north end of New South Wales. The furthest this will go is your resume. What other significance will this position give you?'