The Billionaire's Club

By Zack Ferguson

Rong Liang is popular at Richmond's Academy, but his music career could never take off by himself.

Gareth Wilson is new to the school, and his father can barely afford to pick him up at the end of the day.

Jenny Summers is reclusive, escaping into the world of music to avoid the world of reality.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zack Ferguson
• Release date: Nov 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781922722348

Zack Ferguson

Zack Ferguson was born and raised in Perth, Western Australia where he lives with his family. He is an ideas man with a bizarre sense of humour and a love for creativity, music, and potentially voice acting. He is also a drummer, playing since he was six years old, and a part-time mash-up artist on YouTube and Instagram, who spends way too long perfecting his craft. In his early years he enjoyed creating games on a website called Scratch, but eventually realised that he was much more interested in telling the stories he made for them. Zack's love for storytelling and creative writing grew throughout high school, where he finally found inspiration in his final year to put pen to paper to write his first novel: The Billionaire's Club.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Formation

Day one back at Richmond’s Academy of Higher Learning came and went without much hassle. The assortment of grey lumps of concrete housed one and a half thousand people between the hours of 9:00 and 3:30, each dressed in almost identical aubergine suits and black bottoms with green ties to match. Telling one student apart from another became more and more difficult as their expressions all sunk into the same bored and apathetic look more and more throughout the course of the day. Indeed, when the final bell of the day rang, the tsunami of students that meandered out of any given exit was never very interested, or interesting.

None, that is, except for three students in a small lounge area.

Near the front of the school, in what was once a classroom of some variety, three students were sat, bored, not taking any notice of each other. The room was bright white, on account of the school knowing they had to keep the place well-lit to avoid parents getting upset. In fact, the whole reason the room was set out like this was to avoid parents getting upset. In response to complaints from disgruntled parents last year, the school took this room, added about fifteen folding chairs to it, put up a Hang in There poster, and declared it The After-School Club. The room was meant for use by students whose parents were simply too busy to pick them up at 3:30. What the kids did in it was of little concern to the higher-ups. After all, this is a private institution. Surely, they could expect their kids to behave.

These three students were simply buried in their phones to pass the time, having not even looked at the others enough to know what they looked like. They were all quietly aware that there were two other people in the room, but they seemed to share a mutual, unspoken agreement to not acknowledge each other’s existence. Unbothered by the rest of the world, they continued doing whatever it was they were doing, silence rebounding through the room, unaware that a fourth person was about to enter the room and, inadvertently, completely ruin everything.

The door burst open. A figure waltzed through, dumped his bag on top of the small heap that was already there and sauntered towards his peers. The three looked up. A tall, skinny boy stood before them. Clearly Asian, with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his tie hanging just slightly loose around his neck. If some of the more invested teachers caught sight of his uniform, he might have been sent to detention on the spot. Nevertheless, he stood proudly, eyeing down each of the people in the room in turn.

Alright! he shouted. His words echoed around the room. How we doing lads?

The three stared blankly for a second longer before, almost in unison, dropping their heads back into their phones.

The smile dropped from the boy’s face. Aw, come on, he whined. He slowly made his way over to a chair. If I’m gonna be spending all my afternoons with you lot I’d at least like to talk to you! Right?

He spun the chair 180 degrees and sat on the top part, threatening to annihilate the thing completely. He bounced eagerly, awaiting some advances from the crowd. Nothing.

He sighed. Come on guys! Introduce yourselves at least!

He noticed that one of his new friends was visibly scared by this statement. A girl with white-blonde hair. Short. Very short, he thought to himself. I could fit her on a bookshelf. Clearly not the social type, either, as she was now actively shying away from him instead of just being slumped uninterested over her phone. Like the other two.

Both boys. One with red hair, also not very tall. One with black hair and glasses. Very tall. That guy could absolutely beat me up, he thought to himself. Rather than being deterred by this, he simply chuckled loudly to himself and turned the situation on its head.

How about you, big guy?

The tall boy with the glasses looked up. His expression was blank. Are you talking to me?

Is anyone else here a big guy? he replied, grinning from ear to ear.

Slowly, big guy put his phone into his pocket. Fine, he sighed. I’ll bite. My name’s Gareth.

Gareth! the Asian boy exclaimed, overjoyed to finally have pried something out of someone. My man! Hell of a name, Gareth.

One better than me, the boy with the red hair spoke up from his phone. His brow furrowed and he seemed to actively detest every word that came out of his mouth. Your name’s not Humphrey.

Yooooooo. The sheer surprise worn by the Asian boy was staggering, and almost too much for his poorly placed folding chair to handle. Sorry, Gareth. He wins.

Glad someone’s happy with it, Humphrey growled, still not looking up. It just makes me sound like a rich, pretentious twat.

Just makes me think of the bear, Gareth chuckled to himself. Humphrey smirked, but the Asian boy’s look didn’t change.

That reference went right over my head, he declared. He paused for exactly long enough to signal a change in subject before continuing. My name’s Rong, by the way. R-O-N-G. You can just call me Ron if you want. All my white friends do it.

Doesn’t that mean something about glory and honour? Gareth inquired.

"Wow, looks like someone’s brushed up on their tangerine," Rong beamed.

Gareth blinked. Mandarin?

THAT’S the one! Rong exclaimed. He threw his head back, much to the discontent of the chair. I know jack and shit about the language, I just know what my name means. Mum tells me constantly.

Humphrey had now put his phone away. A suppressed smile was slowly slinking across his face. If only English names had meanings like that.

Ours would probably both mean ‘rich pretentious twat,’ Gareth spoke. The three laughed. Rong was beaming from ear to ear, happy to have made just a couple more friends today. But he was ready to go for the hat trick. He noticed Humphrey’s eyes slowly drift over to the girl and let his own focus shift as well. The look of nonchalance she tried to hold on to was contradicted by her wide eyes and very visible sweat lining her forehead. No fear. Rong was always ready for the shy gal type.

Damn girl, am I wearing noise-cancelling headphones, or have you just not been talking?

Silence.

Dammit, Rong smirked. That one’s so terrible it normally works every time. He softened his tone a little. Come on, he spoke gently. You’re probably gonna have to spend a lot of time with us. The least you could do is tell us your name.

The girl looked up hesitantly. She gulped and wiped the sweat from her brow before speaking softly. My- my name’s Jenny.

Ayy! Jenny! Like 867-5309 Jenny?

Almost immediately, Jenny’s face brightened. She placed her phone into her lap and turned to face Rong. She still spoke softly, but her voice brimmed with joy.

Yes! 867-5309! I didn’t think anyone else here knew that song!

What can I say, Rong smirked. Music was cooler in the 80s.

I know, Jenny sighed. My name’s actually Jennifer, but I go by Jenny because of that song.

That reference went right over my head, Gareth interjected, grinning to himself at his call-back. Rong laughed, but took mental note of the fact that Humphrey didn’t. Humphrey seemed like he was in his own little corner of the universe.

Rong sighed as Jenny spoke up. Tommy Tutone, she said happily. 867-5309. Look it up. Great song.

Will do, whispered Humphrey thoughtfully.

Humphrey was feeling a little bit out of his comfort zone and slightly annoyed by the fact that he had been forced into a conversation he didn’t need to be in, but something else was toiling away in the back of his mind. His eyes just kept drifting over in Jenny’s direction, and he didn’t know why. The name of the song hung in his mind like air freshener. For almost no reason, he felt extremely determined to listen to the song, just to find out what this near stranger saw in it.

Ayo, Humphrey!

Humphrey jumped. He was pulled forcefully out of his bubble by a call from Rong, who grinned down at him from his perched position on his strained chair.

Just making sure you hadn’t died on us, buddy.

Humphrey rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

Hey, listen, Rong suddenly said, completely changing the subject. I know we literally just met, but one of my white friends has a gig tomorrow.

Wow, Gareth gasped. What does he play?

He’s tryna be a DJ, Rong answered. Only 16, man. That’s how he gets in most places. Venue organisers are so surprised when they find out he’s 16. We’re all 16 aren’t we, by the way?

The three nodded. God you talk fast, Humphrey added cynically.

Just gotta keep up with me, I guess, Rong responded through his unceasing smile. But yeah, he’s gonna be just down at the coffee place not far from here. You guys wanna come?

Gareth shrugged. I don’t see why not.

Sounds like fun, Jenny agreed warmly.

Humphrey was more sceptical. Why is a coffee place hiring a DJ?

Man, if I knew, Rong sighed. Can’t imagine it’s gonna be any sort of rave down there.

Well if you guys are going, Humphrey sighed.

Sweet! Rong jumped up from his chair, much to its relief as it sprung back into its default position. Ya know, if I had to pick a bunch of guys to hang around with for an hour after school, I reckon I could’ve done worse than you guys.

You’ll regret saying that in a few days, Gareth snickered.

CHAPTER 2

How Was School Today

So, how was school today? Gareth’s father asked softly. After he had gone very off course in the car on the way home, talking mostly about his current work situation, it had suddenly dawned on him that he had never asked about his son’s first day at a new school, and was worried that something might have gone amiss. The relief that washed over him when he saw the smile on his son’s face was almost palpable.

It was alright, Gareth said calmly. Went in. Did some classes. Made some friends. Went right back out again.

Gareth’s father found that one part of that statement stood out among the rest. He raised an eyebrow. Made some friends?

Oh, yeah, Gareth said casually. Talked to some folks in the After-School Club. Humphrey, Jenny and Rong. They seem nice so far, but I’ve not had long to spend with ‘em.

See? his father beamed, nudging his son with his elbow. Told you this after-school thing would be good for ya! They both chuckled for a few seconds and eventually fell silent. Gareth’s dad sighed and looked at his son. Look, I know it’s not ideal, but I’ll be able to pick you up at a normal time once we’re back on our feet.

It’s okay dad, Gareth sighed knowingly. I understand. He fiddled with his tie to get it off and looked around the living room. Paint was flaking off the walls, and the windows hadn’t been properly cleaned in a good two, possibly three years. The reclining chair on which his father sat was falling apart at the seams, almost in danger of collapsing into its component parts at any moment, with exposed metal making the chair look more like a cyborg than a place to relax. The TV at the other side of the room only played a handful of free-to-air channels, and the DVD player underneath it was barely capable of handling normal length films. He recalled trying to watch all three-and-a-bit hours’ worth of The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews and worrying throughout the whole second half of the movie that the player may overheat. He was relieved that it hadn’t, as these DVDs and his two-year-old phone were the only entertainment he had.

Hey, Gareth’s dad grinned, paycheque’s coming in tomorrow! What should we get with it?

Nothing, Gareth sighed. Save it up, dad. Pay for something we need, like a new chair, or some Windex, or... bills and stuff.

Gareth’s dad looked to the floor in shame. Yeah, you’re right. I’ll work this out soon enough. The extra hours may have to last a while, though.

Gareth was familiar with the conditions he was in. His dad had only recently got a job down at an appliance store a few blocks away. It was bringing in money, but the damage had already been done in the two years after his mother had... well, he preferred not to think about it. The place was in shambles now, and the extra money brought in from overtime was well worth the hour he had to spend at school each day.

* * *

So, how was school today? Jenny’s mum asked through three layers of lipstick. Her makeup was so thickly applied and so glossy in the light streaming in through the windscreen that Jenny could almost see her own reflection in it. The look was completed with eyebrows that looked like centipedes and eyelash extensions long enough to be classified as weapons. Jenny tried to mask her look of sheer unsettlement as she spoke.

It was alright, she said flatly, readily prepared to leave it at that.

Her mum wasn’t happy with this. I never could get much out of you, could I? Come on, surely something interesting happened today!

Jenny shrugged. I met some people in the After-School Club I guess...

There’s something right there! her mum grinned, riding a curb in a distracted attempt to get the whole way through a right turn. Tell me about these people.

Jenny remained more or less expressionless. I don’t know much about them, mum. I’ve only had about an hour to talk to them. All I know is we’re thinking of all meeting at the coffee place not far from the school. I forget the name.

Oh, well that’s great, sweetie! Finally, you’ve got some new friends!

Jenny turned to look out of the window. She watched trees and houses rush past them at speeds that she was reasonably certain were beyond the speed limit and lamented her earlier years at Richmond’s. Certainly, she wasn’t new to the school, and certainly, she was used to the place by now. All the filthy rich children that had been sent by only the most elitist of parents to only the most elitist of schools. One child in particular crossed her mind, and apparently crossed her mum’s mind as well.

What happened to that Emily girl you were friends with a few years ago?

Jenny didn’t look up from the window. Her voice carried resentment. Mum, I told you, she’s not a good person. I don’t know if she even still goes to this school.

Well, hopefully these new people turn out better than her.

Jenny didn’t react. Memories of a stuck-up, arrogant girl called Emily resurfaced from the crevasses of her mind. Emily, the girl who famously believed that she was better than everyone else because her father was the founder and CEO of a really big social media platform. One that Jenny used herself. Sparingly, because not many people followed her on it, but the app’s presence on her phone was hard to ignore at the best of times. Still, she had to remember that just about everybody else at her school also had the app, and yet many of them shared the same distaste for Emily, on account of her constant ridicule of anyone less rich than her and the effort she went to to make everyone around her feel inadequate.

Jenny smiled. It would be very hard for them to be worse than her, I think.

* * *

So, Humphrey, I trust school went alright.

Humphrey had little to no intention of communicating with his mum in the car on the way home. He stared at an L plate that sat between his feet on the floor as he spoke.

It did, actually, he said, no discernible tone in his voice. I made friends and everything.

Oh, did you now? his mum said with no interest. Clearly, Humphrey’s mother showed as little interest in talking about Humphrey’s social life as Humphrey showed for talking at all. She was after far more important information. What about your classes, Humphrey?

It’s the first day back, Humphrey spat. I can’t tell much from one lesson in everything.

The car filled with musty silence. Humphrey reflected on his day, but moreso on the people he had met today. Gareth, he had definitely never seen before, but the other two seemed vaguely familiar to him. He had definitely seen Rong around. In all the years of him going to Richmond’s, he had known about the popular Asian kid known for throwing the type of parties only seen in high school movies, but with saké around every corner instead of conventional alcohol. He just didn’t know his name was Rong. Moreover, he certainly didn’t know he’d have the opportunity to become friends with such a legendary figure at the school. A smile crawled across his face at the idea that suddenly, he was friends with a popular kid.

The smile faded, however, as he thought about Jenny. He hadn’t seen Jenny or heard anything about her before today, but today he realised he might well have seen her a lot. He used some hindsight to figure out that Jenny was in most of his classes, recalling seeing her on the other side of a number of rooms and starting to feel... something. His head slumped into his hands as he tried to sort out his own feelings in his head, while something else rattled around in the back of his mind. A number. A vaguely familiar number. It started with 8, but he couldn’t remember much else about it save for the fact that it was really important.

In the blur of things flying through Humphrey’s head at a million miles per hour, he caught sight of the L plate on the floor again. He wondered what life would be like if he could muster the confidence out of thin air to drive places. The freedom he would have, the power he would possess over the roads themselves. He liked the idea, but he didn’t like having to be good at driving first in order to reach that point. Plus, if he could drive, he wouldn’t have to wait around in the After-School Club for an hour, a prospect that, at the moment, he was very unsure how to feel about.

* * *

Why do you never ask me how school was anymore? Rong inquired. He had crashed onto the couch in his living room, readily prepared to talk to his mum for a little bit before retiring to his room to do... something or other. He’d figure it out when he got there.

Rong’s mum stood in the kitchen, which, thanks to the marvels of modern home design, was only separated by a white bench from the living room, allowing for simple communication while more important things, like cooking food, happened in the background.

Because, his mum answered with a small chuckle, I imagine if anything happened at school today, you would tell me anyway.

Fair enough, Rong grinned, hands behind his head. Yeah, I met some new guys at the After-School Club today. We’re thinking of going to that coffee place to watch Jason tomorrow.

I still don’t understand why that place needs a DJ, his mum replied.

Only one way to find out! Rong chuckled. His mum followed suit in the kitchen.

Well, who are the new friends? she asked gingerly, egging on a bit of conversation.

Oh, they’re great. There’s Gareth, the one with the sense of humour. He’s pretty cool. There’s Jenny, who’s apparently a big fan of 80s music. And there’s Humphrey, who...

Rong trailed off. He recalled seeing Humphrey’s vacant face for most of the time he had been there. At the time he just shrugged it off. After all, school is tiring stuff, and who’s to say he wasn’t just really out of it? But now, through the benefit of hindsight, it seemed really odd to him.

...is definitely a character, Rong finished, almost out of breath. I don’t know much about them yet, but I want to.

His mum smiled his way. "They sound like a great bunch of people. Maybe this Jenny girl can help you with your music career!"

Rong laughed. He thought about his attempts to create electronic music. He had gained a small social media following with this, but it was far from fame, and he knew he may need some sort of