"I just got another anonymous text from the same blocked number," Julian informed Jess just as Autumn and Payton walked over.
"Sup, guys?" Payton greeted casually.
"Hey, Payton. Nothing much, just another anonymous text from our mysterious informant," Jess mentioned flippantly.
"Again?" Autumn enquired as she frowned slightly. "Who keeps sending us these?"
"Maybe it's someone looking to transfer," Jess said thoughtfully.
"And by the looks of it, it's someone from Hearst. The intel provided has all been schemes that Hearst has been hatching against us," Julian pointed out. "Question is, why? I mean, Hearst hates us. And why can't they just come here and do it the old-fashioned way," he added.
"Ahem!" Payton cleared her throat. "Who cares? If we've got a traitor helping us, that's good, right?"
Julian scowled, "I don't like it. We don't know anything about this person. It could be a trick."
"Well, you know the saying; don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Jess remarked. "Every text has helped us out so far. Julian, what does the latest message say?"
Julian took out his phone and showed her the text. "Just a warning that Max is up to something. The text said there's no details yet, but it's something big... and we should get ready," Julian said.
"Max will stop at nothing to have the school shut down, especially since it's flourishing," Jess said with a frown.
"But what is his plan? I don't know about you, but I'm tired of getting blindsided by that guy," Julian persisted.
"Um...if you don't mind me saying, I happen to know a guy who can help us on that end," Autumn piped in.
"Oh? Do tell." Jess's head perked up in interest.
"There's a guy I know at Hearst; his name is Wes," Autumn continued.
"Is there anyone you don't know, Autumn?" Payton asked jokingly.
Autumn's cheeks turned red and Julian laughed. "She's a sweetheart, that's why."
"You think he's the one texting us?" Jess curiously asked.
"Doubt it. Wes never helps out unless there's something in it for him," Autumn replied.
"Aah... So we're dealing with a person furthering his own self-interests," Jess said knowingly.
"I know he sounds kind of sketchy, but he can usually get you any information you need, and he's not loyal to Max and Kara. I can set up a meeting... but he's always got an angle, and you might not always like how things go when he gets involved."
Jess looked at her then nodded, "Alright. Do it."
They stood up and walked towards the classrooms for their afternoon classes. Autumn lingered behind so as she could make the call to set up the meeting.
"I don't like this, meeting up with some guy we don't know," Julian scowled, sharing his misgivings with Jess and Payton.
Jess gave him a confused look. "Wait, didn't you go to the same school with this Wes guy?" she asked.
"Sure, but I've never heard of this guy."
Jess looked at Payton. "What about you? Have you heard of this guy?"
Payton shrugged her shoulders. "Nada."
'Huh, so he's also good at covering his bases.' Jess thought.
Just then, Autumn got in step with them, a small smile gracing her face. "The meet is set. He'll meet us at Gül Park after school."
They arrived at the classrooms and sat at their desks for the afternoon period.
(Time skip)
After school, the group walked over to Julian's car. They entered Julian's car and he set into drive, starting their twenty minute journey to Gül Park. A thought occurred to Cassandra and she looked at Autumn.
"Hey, Autumn, how is it that you know Wes anyway?" she asked.
Autumn squirmed in her seat uncomfortably and she responded nervously, "Let's just say that we have a history."
"What kind of history?" Julian asked, scowl on his face.
"We went to the same school before Hearst..." Autumn trailed off.
Jess could sense that there was something Autumn was omitting and she filled the gaps in for herself about the nature of her relationship with Wes. However, Payton squealed in delight and clapped her hands. "Ooh, you two had a kissing history, didn't you?"
Autumn's cheeks were tinged a deep pink and murmured, "Maybe."
Payton squealed some more and she scowled, "Can we all just focus on the present, please?"
The drive continued on in silence, the radio playing some rock music. Jess sighed and looked out the window, wondering what she was getting herself into.
They arrived at the park after the twenty minute drive. Julian parked the car and they got out. They walked over to the park benches, where a sketchy, good-looking teenager with shoulder-length brown hair, dressed in ripped jeans and a dark brown hoodie was seated, his right leg on top of his left. He had a cocky smirk gracing his face as he enjoyed the sunlight on his face, eyes closed. He opened his brown eyes the moment he heard footsteps coming towards him.
Payton whispered to Autumn, "Damn. I never you knew that your informant would be so...cute."
The moment he saw Autumn, he gave her a soft look and smiled. "Autumn. Hey. Haven't seen you around in a long time. Hearst High isn't the same without you."
Autumn gave him a soft look of her own, mixed in with an apologetic smile. "Yeah, I'm sorry I transferred without telling you... but I had a feeling you'd know."
"Yeah, I have my ways. But y'know, someday you're going to have to stop running away from your problems."
Autumn's expression turned into an annoyed one. "Look, I didn't come here so you could recap my life. We need your help."
Wes looked at the rest of the group, taking in each and every one of them until his gaze reached Jess and looked at her for a few moments. Jess raised her eyebrow at him questioningly and she crossed her arms. His cocky smirk returned and looked back at Autumn. "I get it. A business call. Okay, so what can I do for you?"
Julian jumped right in, "We know Max is planning something big against us. We want to know what it is."
Wes whistled out loud and ran his hands through his hair. "Max, huh? You sure are good at picking enemies. That guy's tough to get information out of. I could tell you what's really in the cafeteria tacos. I could tell you who next year's Prom Queen will be. But getting to Max? That'll take some finesse."
Jess took a step forward and drawled, "Oh, don't tell me this task is too much for the mighty Wes. I've heard things about you, Wes. One of them is that you're a professional."
Wes stood up and walked over until he was face-to-face with her. "Hold on, Jess Miller." Jess's eyes narrowed slightly the moment he used her full name. "You didn't let me finish. I said it'll take some finesse not that it'll be impossible."
Jess motioned for him to go on. He continued, "It's not going to be easy...meaning it'll cost you." Jess nodded. "Alright then. Name your price."
"Eager, are we?" Wes smirked. "Information. I deal in secrets, so I'm going to need some secrets in return. There's going to be a break up at your school, soon. A big one. When it happens, I want to know who broke up with who, who cried about it the most, and what was said after. I want to know EVERYTHING. Got it?"
"What has that got to do with anything?" Autumn asked with a confused expression on her face.
"Maybe something, maybe nothing. Let's just say there might be an interested party at Hearst High." Wes said mysteriously.
Jess thought about it for a while and then she nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"Okay, I'll let you know."
"Okay then. Let's shake on it," and he held out his hand. Jess eyed it and shook it grimly, knowing there was no way out of it.
"Come back when you have the dirt on the breakup," and he winked at Jess as he walked away.
Jess stared at his retreating back for a few moments and finally asked, "Why do I feel like we just made a deal with the devil?"
Autumn looked at her with understanding and replied, "Wes gets that a lot. But you just need to get to know him."
Julian shrugged, "Yeah, I think I'll pass on that. We just have to get him what he wants to know."
A few days later...
Jess and Autumn were walking with Jessica when they heard voices screaming at each other in rage further ahead. They saw it was Eric and Bella (prep and cheerleader). The duo kept shouting at each other until they realized that they had an audience. They gave each other one last look of anger before they walked their separate ways.
Jess looked at Autumn and Jessica, mouth agape at what they had just witnessed. Autumn whispered in Jess's ear, "I think this might have been the breakup Wes was taking about."
Jess nodded and Autumn added with a murmur, "So sad."
"Tell him what happened here," Jess instructed Autumn, who complied and took out her phone and texted Wes about the breakup.
Twenty minutes later...
Jess, Autumn and Julian were behind the Hearst High gym, where Wes had instructed them to be for their meeting. Jess's gut was telling her that something was not right. Julian voiced his discomfort. "I don't like this at all, Autumn. I don't trust this guy."
"Yeah, this really reeks." Jess agreed.
"C'mon, guys. Let's just trust him. I do," Autumn defended.
Just then, Julian's phone went off with a text. He pulled it out of his pocket and informed them, "It says 'TRAP!' "
Autumn's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What? Wes wouldn't set us up. That's impossible," Autumn stated.
Jess tensed up at this, her senses screaming at her to get away. Just then, Mia ran towards them, phone in hand as she waved at them frantically.
"Julian and Jess! You idiots, do you not know how to read?! Get out of here! Wes set you up! He told Max everything!" she exclaimed.
"Wait, Mia was the one helping us?" Julian asked in a surprised manner.
"Oh no, I'm too late! Look out!" Mia shouted. Jess looked up and saw two guys in letterman jackets lean out of the windows to pour down buckets of spoiled mayonnaise. Thick, smelly globs rained down on them. Instinctively, Jess pushed Autumn out of the way and managed to push Julian away from most of the mess. The mayo slopped down on Jess, Mia and a few splattered bits on Julian.
"Eeek! It's running down my back!" Mia exclaimed in disgust.
"Oh, God, no!" Jess gagged in disgust as she wiped some of the mayonnaise from running down her face.
Max and Kara came round the corner, hooting in laughter until their faces turned to one of horror at the sight of his sister and her co-cheerleader, respectively, amongst the group.
"Mia... what are you doing down there? Why were you trying to warn them?" Max demanded.
Mia's face changed to one of fury and shouted, "Yes! Yes, I was!"
"What?! Why?" Max exclaimed.
"I've been trying to help them!" Mia snapped at him, shocking him into silence. "I told them about your dumb plan to steal their plays and about the cupcakes."
"I can't believe it..." Kara said in disbelief, shaking her head.
"WHY would you do something like this?" Max asked, his face a mask of fury.
"Hearst High isn't the same for me, Max. Dad loves you. You're his perfect football hero son. You get to do whatever you want. He treats me like a prisoner. He won't let me date who I want to date. He won't let me do what I want to do. And you and Kara are even worse. If I stay at Hearst High, I'll always be living in your shadows, and I'm sick of being told what to do! I wanted to leave, but there'd be nowhere to go if you guys messed up Cassandra's school. So I told them about some of your stupid plans." Mia told him bitterly, unshed tears in her eyes.
"Mia... calm down," Max tried to pacify her as he stepped near her, but Mia held up a warning finger and she growled, "Don't."
Max stopped in his tracks and continued, "You don't know what you're saying. Look, there's not even going to be another school soon. You're wasting your time."
Cassandra gave him a sharp look and exclaimed, "Wait, what?!"
Max gave her a mocking grin, "No big deal. Just that the mayor, who happens to play golf with my dad, heard about your little school starting up... And he thinks it's time for a little surprise inspection. You know, just to make sure you school is really providing the best educational environment for its students... And, of course, if it turns out that your school is found lacking, then... well, I guess he'd have no choice but to shut it down..."
Cassandra clenched her fists in fury and growled at him, "Fuck you."
"You can't, sweetheart," Max responded smugly and gave her a two-finger salute before turning around and walking away with Kara.
"Well, that happened," Julian commented.
"Let's get this mess cleaned up," Jess told them. "And I think I'll be holding the mayo for a while," she added with a grimace.
"Amen to that," Julian muttered.
"Wait, what about Mia?" Autumn asked.
"Huh? I'm... I'm with you guys. Obviously." Mia said nonchalantly.
"Back up. Explain that 'obviously' part." Autumn demanded with narrowed eyes.
"Well, I totally warned you about the cupcakes..." Mia started.
"That YOU helped bake." Autumn pointed out.
"And I warned you about Max trying to steal your plays. And hello? I'm just as covered in mayo as the rest of you!" Mia continued, her hands emphasizing on her mayo- covered clothes.
"It's true. It's not like Hearst will welcome her back after her betrayal," Jess agreed.
"I still say we can't trust her. If we learned anything from Wes, it's that we shouldn't trust anyone at that school." Autumn frowned, her hands crossed on her chest.
"Just give me a chance, okay? That's all I'm asking. Please," Mia pleaded.
Jess smiled at her and beckoned to her, "Come on, let's go hose off. After that, we'll get you some admission papers."
Mia beamed and the group began their walk back to Avalon High, a new student with them.