"Hey, Jess. Got a second to talk?" Wes asked
"Sure thing!" Jess nodded
"Now that we've got this new Rebel Hangout, we're adding a few students that may be a little... edgier than you're used to. For example... I just got word that a girl named 'Koh' is about to join the school. Word on the street is that she's already been kicked out of Hearst High, Twin Branches, AND Athena Academy!" said Wes
"That's actually pretty impressive." said Jess
"That's one work for it. All I'm trying to say is, watch out for her. She's trouble. And you know that means something coming from me." said Wes
In the distance, Jess see a car pull up. An unfamiliar girl gets out she was dressed like a goth wearing black makeup, black jacket, short, legging and combat boots and starts walking toward the admission office.
"Like I said... be careful." Wes warned
"Look Wes, maybe I'm naive... But this school has always been a place that accepts ALL students, regardless of their pasts. I'm sure there were a few people that had their reservations when YOU joined the school." said Jess
"I know... and maybe they were right to. You've got a big heart, Jess. Maybe too big. Just don't say I didn't warn you." said Wes
A group of Jess friends sits near one of the school's fountains and whispers in hushed voices.
"I heard Koh burned down a fireworks stand, just to see what kind of explosion it would make!" Payton whispered
"I heard she got kicked out of Athena Academy for dying her hair... and then shaved her head in protest!" Mia whispered
"I heard she picked a fight with the Hearst High lacrosse team... and won!" Nishan whispered
"Could all of that really be true?" Autumn asked
"Guys I know there are a ton of rumors about Koh but I'm sure at least half of them are made up!" Jess exclaimed
"Which means the other half are probably true!" said Payton
"Now wait just a second... we can't just sit around gossiping about some girl we've never even met! Remember how this school welcomed US when we first got here? If anything, we need to go welcome Koh to the school!" Autumn pointed
"Great idea! We'll round up a couple of our most enthusiastic fellow students and give Koh the welcome she deserves!" Jess rounds up the student gov Jessica and Brandon. "Okay, everyone! Ready to welcome Koh to the school?"
"Does a Republican like the color red?" Jessica asked
"Let's welcome this new student like she's the visiting president of a major U.S. trading partner!" said Brandon
"I like this enthusiasm!" Autumn smiled
The four walk over to the Rebel Hangout, where Jess spot Koh chatting with Wes.
"Whoa! She's scarier than a late-breaking election night scandal!" Jessica gasped
"Just relax, everyone. I'm sure she's a total sweetheart! Hello there! You must be Koh!" Autumn smiled
"Stalk much?" Koh glared
"No... I mean... I was just..." Autumn stuttered
"We're here to welcome you to the greatest school in the world!" Jessica smiled
"Are you ready for the time of your life? I'm trying to make that our school slogan!" Brandon cheered
"I'd tell you my slogan, but it would probably get me expelled, and it's only my first day here." Koh glared
"Uh... I think we'd better go study at the library." said Jessica
"I'll go too bye for now!"
The two student govs speedwalk into the distance. Koh turns her attention to Jess.
"You must be Jess the leader of Berry High, right? I've heard about you. Did you organize this little welcoming committee?" Koh glared
"I'm driving this welcome wagon." said Jess
"Thought so. I've heard your story. You're everybody's friend or something?" Koh asked
"I do my best." said Jess
"Sounds like you spread yourself pretty thin. If you're friends with EVERYONE... are you really friends with ANYONE?"
"You seem to know a lot about me for someone I just met."
"At least you're not a COMPLETE pushover." Koh turns to Wes and smiles. "Looks like coming here wasn't a total loss."
"I told you there are good people here." Wes smiles
"Oh, I'm sorry. Is that what you were saying? I was too busy staring at your lips to pay attention." Koh shrugged at Autumn
"That's a rude thing to say!" Autumn glared
"What's the matter, Sunshine? Don't want me flirting with your secret crush?" Koh taunted
"He's not my secret crush!!! I have a boyfriend." Autumn exclaimed
"Chill princess I won't flirt with your boyfriend." Koh smirked
"He is not." Autumn groaned. "Forget it."
Koh turns to Jess and Wes "Forget this scene. Jess, Wes, want to get out of here and grab a slice of pizza?"
"But lunch is almost over!" Autumn pointed
"So we'll miss the next class! What's the matter? Haven't you ever skipped out before?" Koh taunted
"I'm not blowing off my classes just to impress someone like you! Goodbye!" Autumn turns and leaves.
"What about you two?" Koh asked
"I'm in." Wes nods
"Should we really be doing this?" Jess asked
"No one's twisting your arm. If you don't want to come, fine." said Koh
Wes turns to Jess and whispers. "I know you don't like skipping class but this might be your best shot to learn more about Koh. Let's do this."
"Fine... I guess I'll come too." Jess nods
A few minutes later, Jess, Koh, and Wes head into the pizza place.
"Perfect. No one here." Koh smirked
Danny: "Yeah... since everyone else is in class." Jess sighs
"Is Jess always like this, Wes?" Koh ask
"Jess only breaks the rules when it's necessary. Not just on a whim. I'm the same way." said Wes
"Well, in that case, thanks for gracing me with your presence. Let's go grab some food so you can get back to your precious school." said Koh
Before Jess eat, Wes pulls Jess aside. "Let's see if we can figure out if some of the rumors about Koh are true."
"Like that one about her setting fire to the fireworks stand?" Jess whispered to Wes
"Exactly. Follow my lead." Wes smiled
"Yo what's the hold up?!" Koh called. "Pizza getting cold."
"Coming were starving." Wes smiled
Jess, Wes, and Koh find a table together and sit down to eat their pizza slices.
"Careful... don't burn the roof of your mouth. Of course, you know all about burning stuff, don't you, Koh?" Wes flirts with Koh
"Heh. I've burned a microwave dinner or two in my time." Koh shrugged
"I actually meant something a little more... explosive." Wes pointed
"Are you here to eat pizza or ask me a bunch of annoying questions?" Koh glared
"Pizza. I'm here for the pizza." Wes pointed
"I did have one other question though... Could you pass the crushed red pepper?" Jess pointed
"Nice. I'm a big fan of spicy things myself." Koh smiled
Jess spend the next hour eating and making small talk.
"And that's why you always get piercings from a professional." said Koh
"That was... quite a story." said Jess
"Okay. I'm heading over to visit a couple of friends over at the army surplus store. See you later." Koh takes off.
"It's nice that we're getting to be better friends with her." said Jess
"Yeah... but we still don't know if the rumors about her are true." said Wes
Back at school, Autumn rushes up to Jess.
"Are you guys okay? Koh didn't make you commit any crimes or anything, did she?" Autumn asked
"If eating bad pizza is a crime, we're guilty. Otherwise, I think we're fine." said Wes
"I just feel like she's a bad influence... like she might even be dangerous!" Autumn panicked
"I don't think Koh is THAT bad!" Jess defended
"But how can you know for sure? How would you feel if she ended up hurting someone at our school?" Autumn asked
"I'd feel terrible... but what exactly are you proposing?" Jess asked
"We need to find out more about this girl... and I know just the place to find some info! Let's go ask a few questions at one of her old schools: Twin Branches! What do you say? Want to pay our friends there a visit and find out more about Koh?" Autumn asked
After school Jess and Autumn arrive at Twin Branches.
Autumn: "I'll go ask around and see if anyone knows where Owen and Kimi are! They should be able to tell us all about Koh and it'll be nice to catch up with them."
Autumn goes to talk to a few students, then runs back to you.
Autumn: "It sounds like they're in detention."
Danny: "I guess we'll have to talk to them after they get out."
A while later, Kimi and Owen head out of the school.
"Autumn! It's so good to see you." Kimi smiled hugging Autumn
"Sorry to hear that you guys are in detention." Jess sighed
"This is one of my friend Jess." said Autumn
"Nice to meet you." Jess nodded
"We heard so much about you." Owen smiled
"Yeah I had this little incident with a fashion show gone wrong and then there was the parade float disaster." said Kimi
"It's been kind of a rough year." said Owen
"But anyway what brings you here?" Kimi asked
"We actually wanted to ask a few questions about a new student at our school a girl named Koh." said Jess
"That girl is trouble. Let's just say she and I didn't get along too well. She got kicked out of here for slashing a jeep's tires over in the school parking lot." said Owen
"I don't know. I think she was just misunderstood." said Kimi
"Tell that to the jeep!" said Owen
"You know, no one ever PROVED she did that! People just assumed." said Kimi
"All I know is, she went to talk to the principal about it and then got expelled on the spot." said Owen
"I'm just saying I think she's got a good heart. She's just a little reckless."
"Huh... thanks for the info, you guys." Jess smiled
"Sure thing! It's good to see you! Come back any time!" Kimi smiled
Later, back at Berry
"I don't know what to do. I feel like we just keep hearing more rumors. But we don't have any facts." Autumn sighed
"Maybe it's time to just talk to Koh directly. No more dancing around the issue, trying to be subtle about it." said Jess
"Good call, Jess! It's time to just ask Koh about these rumors point-blank." said Autumn
Jess and Autumn find Koh spray-painting her shoes black on the roof of the Rebel Hangout.
"Hi, Koh... Autumn has something she wants to ask." said Jess
"Should you really be up here? I don't see a guardrail." Autumn sighed
"What do you want?" Koh glared
"There's something I wanted to ask you." said Autumn
Koh shoots Autumn a sly smile. "Go ahead, Sunshine. Ask away."
"So what's this big question you're just DYING to ask?" said Koh
"The things is... there are all of these rumors about you. Like how you beat up the lacrosse team at Hearst High. Is that true?" Autumn asked
"Funny. I heard a rumor that you only shower once a week. Care to confirm or deny?" Koh shrugged
"Easy, Koh!" Jess glared
"You don't have to be so mean about this." Autumn glared
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought I was just asking a straightforward question. And as long as I'm at it, here's another one... Do you ever wonder why you're still single? I mean... what is it about your personality that makes you so undateable?" Koh taunted
"Watch it, Koh! That's crossing the line!" Jess glared
"I'm just making a point. Don't come over here asking question, if you're not ready to answer some yourself! Now get out of here and stay out of my business."
Jess and Autumn walk away.
The next day
"There you are, Jess! You should come take a look at this someone just vandalized a bunch of lockers." Wes pointed to the lockers
"Oh no! We've got to get to the bottom of this! I know a couple of people who should be able to investigate..." Jess, Wes, Tash, and Tommy arrive at the ruined lockers. Autumn stands next to them, crying.
"Someone broke into my locker! Part of it's bent in, and a bunch of my stuff is missing." Autumn's locker door is a gnarl of twisted metal.
"Hey... come here." Wes pulls Autumn in for a hug. "Whoever did this is going to pay."
"I'm sorry, Autumn." Jess sighed
"Yeah, we'll find out who did this." Tash glared
"But first, we need more facts. Fan out and start asking questions!" said Tommy
Tash and Tommy start asking questions and cataloging information. As they do, more and more students gather around the lockers.
"Let's see... which students' lockers were damaged?" Tash asked
"Autumn's, Sakura's and Koh's!" Tommy pointed out
"Interesting... so Koh's locker was damaged too. This investigation could be a tough one." said Jess
"It's time to throw some SCIENCE at this case! We're going to need fingerprints." said Tash
"DNA analysis..." said Tommy
"and multiple interrogations!"
"I'm not sure we have the funds for any of those things.." Jess sighed
"In that case, we'll do our best to investigate." said Tash
"But we can't make any promises." said Tommy
Autumn pulls Jess aside. "What's up, Autumn?"
"Well, I think Koh might be behind the vandalism." said Autumn
"You think so? But her locker was damaged too." Jess pointed
"It might be a smokescreen to cover up what she's done." said Autumn
"Well, don't jump to any conclusions yet. I'll talk to her." Jess walk up to Koh, who slams her locker angrily. "Do you have any idea who might've done this?"
"Typical. Something bad goes down, and you think it has something to do with me?" Koh glared
"I didn't say." said Jess
"Just forget it. I'm out of here." Koh storms off angrily
Jess find Wes, running his fingers over the bent metal of Autumn's locker.
"We really need to figure out what's going on here. I'm not sure if Koh is the culprits behind all this, but it does seem like she knows more than she's letting on." said Jess
"Seems like a good time to offer up my services." said Wes
"You know who it is?" Jess asked
"No, but I've got a good nose for this stuff. Do you think it's Koh?" Wes asked
"I'm not sure if it's her... but I wouldn't rule her out as a suspect." said Jess
"Well, if she really is behind the vandalism and theft, she's going to be doing something with the stuff that she stole. We need to follow her." said Wes
"We have to find her first. She certainly didn't tell us where she was going when she left." said Jess
"Not to worry. I know someone who'll lead us straight to her."
Matt leads Jess and Wes a ways off of school ground, towards a sketchier part of the neighborhood.
"Where are you taking us?" Jess asked
"An abandoned lot." Matt pointed
"Oh. Good. Why?" Jess asked
"Koh sometimes comes down here to, uh, liven the place up a little." said Matt
"Meaning?" Jess asked
"People leave their junk there. You can smash up anything you want. It's a fun way to blow off some steam." said Matt
Just then, Jess see Koh swing a baseball bat at an old TV, shattering its screen! Koh drops the bat, picks up her backpack, and starts walking into the distance.
"Quick! After her!" Jess, Wes, and Matt start running to catch up with Koh. As Jess get closer, Wes holds up a hand.
"Hold up, guys. We don't want her to spot us. Let's follow from a couple hundred feet back." said Wes
Under Wes's direction, you keep a healthy distance between you and Koh. Koh idly makes her way down the street and around the corner.
"Come on, pick up the pace! We don't want her out of our sight for too long!" Wes calls
Jess round the corner but Koh is nowhere to be seen! "What? Where'd she go?"
I don't see her. She must have spotted us." said Matt
"Heh, well done. It's been a while since someone's given me the slip. Touche." said Wes
Jess spend half an hour looking around for Koh to no avail. "So now what?"
"We'll figure out what she's up to later. For now, let's get back to the car." said Wes
Jess walk back to Wes's car and find it completely trashed. The windows and headlights are smashed out, and the car is covered with dents from a baseball bat!
"What happened? Who did this?" Jess asked
"I'll give you three guesses, and two of them don't count." said Wes
"It's Koh, isn't it?" Jess asked
"Yeah, she knew we were following her. That must've set her off." said Wes
Matt: "She must have doubled back and trashed the car!" said Matt
"What she did it crossed the line. You don't mess with MY vehicle and get away with it! It's time for me and Koh to have a little chat!" Was grits angrily
At school the next day. Jess and Wes find Koh.
"We need to talk." said Wes
"About what? Your serious lack of personal boundaries? What's a girl got to do in this town to walk without being stalked?" Koh glared
"You destroyed my car. Don't deny it." said Wes
"I didn't touch your car!" Koh defended
"The lies have started. you're good, Koh. The way you can just look me in the eye and lie to me. it's pretty impressive." Wes glared
"Who says I'm lying?" Koh shouted
"Actually... I think Koh is innocent!" Jess pointed
"You... do?" Koh asked
"I do. Honestly, I don't think you would have had time to circle back and destroy Wes's car while we were following you." said Jess
"I guess that's a good point." said Wes
"For once, I'm speechless it's not too often that someone actually takes my side I always get the blame for everything without proof. And you're right. I didn't do it. Someone's after me first they trashed my locker. Then they must have trashed your car because they saw me riding in it when we went out for pizza!" Koh glared
"Okay, I believe you. But if you didn't do it, then who did?" Jess asked
"I have a guess. There was this guy at my old school." Koh listed
"Which one?" Jess asked
"Uh, Hearst? Yeah, I think Hearst. I knocked him into a trashcan in front of his pals when he was mouthing off at me. He definitely has it in for me." said Koh
"You're sure that's the one who trashed my car and our lockers?" Wes asked
"Well, now that you mention it... I DID accidentally light this one girl's chemistry textbook on fire... And this other guy at Twin Branches who I pushed into a swimming pool when he looked at me funny." Koh listed
"What you're saying is... you don't know because you've made enemies at every school you've ever been to?" Wes asked
"What can I say? I'm not a people person." Koh shrugged
"Okay, so we've got a few suspects. I say it's time we knocked some names off this list." said Jess
"I'd rather knock some heads together." Koh balls her fist together
"Here's the plan, Koh. We're going to get to the bottom of this. We're going to 'tour' all your old schools... and figure out who wants to do this to you!" said Jess