During lunch break Jess went to get lunch at the cafeteria sat with Julian and Payton. Autumn comes to Berry to get away from Hearst.
"Hey, Jess! Julian! I've got some good news!" said Autumn
"What's up?" Jess asked
"I talked to my dad... I told him about how your school's growing every day, and how you actually have solid academic here..." Autumn explained
"And?" Julian asked
"And how you're having a Homecoming game against Hearst High." said Autumn
"Yeah, and?"
"And he wants to come check out the school!" said Autumn
"That's great news!" Jess cheered
"That's awesome! That's... I mean, that's cool. Uh. High-five." said Julian
"Haha. I'm sooo excited. I can't wait to get out of Hearst High." said Autumn
"So when is your dad coming?" Jess asked
"Actually... he'll be here for the game. He's a big football guy, and I kind of get the vibe he's going to judge you based on how it goes."
"Well, I guess we better win, then." said Jess
"We'll bring home a victory for you, Autumn." said Julian
"Heh. I'll see you guys later. Good luck getting ready for Homecoming!" Autumn ran off
After lunch ended Jess went to class she had Biology and History.
"Hey! Jess! Got a sec?" Payton asked
"Sure, Payton. What's up?" Jess asked
"I've been working super hard to get the Homecoming Dance set up... but the tickets just aren't selling! I've tried everything... posters with glitter, posters with bows, even posters within posters! It's very meta." said Payton
"What do you think the problem is?"
"If there's one thing I know about dances, it's that no one wants to go alone... even the creepy goth kids! If you want this Homecoming to be a success, we've got to get more people coupled up around here!"
Couple start to form around the school Jess sees couple holding hand "Love is in the air." Jess smiled
"Awesome! So many happy couples... and ticket sales are through the roof! We've even got enough cash for more posters!" said Payton
"Or... you could buy something else." said Jess
"Whatever! Just take the compliment. I'm saying you're quite the matchmaker, Jess!"
"Heh. Thanks! The dance tonight is going to be awesome!"
"Hey! Jess!" Julian calls running over. "There's something weird going on. I got a text from a blocked number... with a warning that someone was going to be recording our practice today to steal our plays! If Hearst High pulls that off, we're going to be in a lot of trouble. Can you keep an eye out while I run plays? You'll need some hedges to hide behind so no one will spot you."
"Hey! Up there! In the sky! What is that?" Jess asked
"Huh? Where?"
"There's a quadrocopter with a video camera!"
"Is that, like, a dinosaur? When did they learn how to use cameras? I thought they JUST learned how to open doors!"
"It's a remote-controlled helicopter thing... and it's taping your plays!"
"Get me something to throw at it!"
Jess reach over and toss Julian a football. Julian catches the football, spins around, and hurls it right at the quadrocopter! It hits it dead-on, and the quadrocopter crashes to the ground where Max picks it up!
"Good throw, Julian. Too bad I already got all the footage I need!" Max smirked
"Give me that copter!" Julian grabs the device and slams it down!
"Still the same old Julian, huh? Never met a problem you didn't want to punch. Don't worry, that camera has been streaming everything straight to our football team back at Hearst High."
Julian glares at Max as he strides off. Jess stop Julian "Its not worth it"
"Your right Max will keep rubbing in my face." said Julian
"At least we stopped him from recording any more of it."
"Yeah... thanks for the help. I just wish I knew who sent me that text... Anyway, we're going to have to focus on our plays. Rewriting the playbook isn't going to be easy... Can you help me get some people together? And not just football guys, all right? We're going to need someone who likes working with charts and diagrams."
Jess gathers Tommy (nerd) and Emily (jock)
"Okay, so about this playbook." said Julian
"Wait a sec, I don't get what's going on here. You really want to work with a nerd on our team's playbook? Zayn doesn't exactly know much about football." said Tommy
"Even if I did, Tommy wouldn't listen." said Emily
"Come on, everyone! We're like a mosaic without coherence or unity, expressing nothing but artistic dissonance!" said Autumn
"Hearst High has one of the best football teams in the state. If we want to even have a CHANCE of beating them on the field, we have to pull together." said Julian
"That's what I just said..."
"I guess we need to give this plan a chance." said Tommy
"Agreed." said Emily "There! The playbook is done! You know, I have to say, there's some pretty smart stuff in here."
"It's a masterpiece! Poetry! A perfect blend of physics and psychology set down in football plays!"
"Heh. You know, I agree. With this playbook, we'll be unstoppable! Just get me on the field. I can't wait to face Hearst and smash Max's face in!" said Julian
"You mean smash his face in... with football victories?" Jess pointed
"Yeah, that too."
"Hey! Jess!" Payton called running over. "I'm so glad I found you! I've got a float emergency! A floatmergency!"
"Is that like... a bad cough?" Jess asked
"With the money I raised selling tickets to the Homecoming Dance, I'm planning a halftime show and float parade! The cheerleaders are working on a routine, and I'm making a bunch of floats! But I need more people to ride on them. I want our parade to be representative of a broader group! Can you help me recruit some people?"
Jess helps Payton recruit some people
"Thank you all for joining me! And a special thanks to Jess, of course. Couldn't have done it without you."
"Happy to help. So, what's the game plan?" Jess asked
"I've made some floats, and now we're going to do a test run around the football field!" said Payton
"The floats look really nice, Payton! Are those real flowers?"
"I used fresh roses and peonies to spell out 'Go Team' on this float... and over here, this float is covered entirely in glitter! Now, let's get this practice parade started!"
Suddenly, something crashes through the float!
"Whoa! What was that?" Jess asked
"It's... it's a football. Julian's team kicked their stupid ball right through my float!" said Payton
"Can it be fixed?"
"It took forever to make that Enchanted Forest of Teamwork. It's going to cost us to repair it. I just don't have any funds left..."
"Hey! Can we get out ball back?" Julian called
"Ugh! Go dig for it! It's buried in the roses for the 'Enchanted Forest'!" Payton yelled
"Are you serious? We don't have time for this. What are you doing on our field, anyway?"
"We WERE practicing for Homecoming."
"What are you TALKING about? Practicing for Homecoming is what WE were trying to do."
"I'm talking about practicing for the pre-parade."
"Come on, that's not as important as practicing for the game. Because of you, my players are distracted, AND we're going to lose valuable practice time digging around in some enchanted hedges to find our ball!"
"Because of you, I'm going to have to spend hours fixing this float! You totally ruined the 'Enchanted Forest'!"
"Um, should we get off the float now?" Jess asked
"Just forget about this whole stupid parade! If the football players don't even appreciate it, what's the point?" Payton storms off.
"Well, we can forget about practice if these floats are in the way." Julian storms off in the opposite direction
"This looks like trouble. If Homecoming's going to be a success, I've got to get these two talking again... and that means getting Payton some money and Julian some space to practice." Jess thought getting Payton money and Julian more space to practice.
"Hey! Payton! You know how you said you needed some cash to fix your float?" Jess asked
"Yeah?" Payton asked
"I've got it. Here." Jess hands Payton money
"Are you SERIOUS?! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're the best, Jess!" Payton hugs Jess
"So... I know you and Julian don't always see eye to eye... but if we're going to make Homecoming awesome, you two need to get along. Julian IS the captain of the football team, and the Homecoming Game IS a really big part of Homecoming."
"I guess you're right. Well, if he's ready to talk... I guess I am too."
Jess went to find Julian "Hey! Julian! I think I solved your space problem."
"Yeah?" Julian asked
"There's a new plot of land for your guys to practice on when Payton is using the field." Jess pointed
"I still don't see why Prep gets to use the field when MY team needs to be practicing 'round the clock."
"Ease up on Payton. She's trying to plan a float parade, AND she's getting ready for the dance. I know football is a big part of Homecoming, but the things that Payton is doing are important, too. Without them, Homecoming's just another game!"
"Okay, okay! Enough with the guilt trip. If she wants to talk... I'm ready."
Julian talks to Payton at the bench "Look, Prep, I'm not proud of how I acted."
"Yeah. I'm sorry, too. I know how hard your team is working to get ready for the game. You guys are under a lot of pressure! I wanted all of the Homecoming activities to build the team up and help morale! Not hurt it." said Payton
"I get that, now. Sorry I didn't see it earlier."
"Well, it's not too late. What do you say? Ready to start working together?" Jess asked
"Yes!" said Payton
"I'm in." said Julian
"Here's your football. I found it in the 'Enchanted Forest' while I was fixing it."
"Sweet. And, uh, I brought you these." Julian hands Payton a bunch of flowers and vines. "I thought it could help you fix your magic forest."
"Julian! That's so sweet!" Payton gives Julian a big hug!
"Hey, no big deal."
"So... I was thinking... it would be great to get the football team more involved in the Homecoming activities... if they have time, that is."
"I think we can squeeze it in. What did you have in mind?"
"It would be REALLY great to get a jock to help with cheerleaders' routine during the float parade!"
"Okay, I'm sold. Just tell me what you need from the team."
"This is going to be a lot more fun! It'll get all the fans pumped up for the game, AND it'll get the players ready to kick some butt!"
"This is going to be the best routine ever!" said Sierra
"Uh... yeah! Now... what, exactly, do I have to do?" Emily asked
"You'll be on the float with the cheerleading squad before the game!" said Payton
"We've got a whole routine we're doing with flips and throws, and with your help, we'll be able to get the tosses even higher!" said Sierra
"And after the performance, the game start!"
"Hey, everyone! Thanks for coming!" said Emily
"Woo! Go team! We're going to beat Hearst High! Ready to lift me up?" Sierra asked
"Here goes." Emily lifts and twirls Sierra! The cheer squad performs their routine. For the finale, they fire off a confetti canon and perform a multi-rotation Basket Toss!
"Let's go, team! Woo!"
"That was perfect! Good job, cheerleaders." said Payton
"That was... surprisingly fun." said Emily
"You were a big hit, Emily!"
"All the signs, face paint, and cheers... I didn't expect everyone to be so excited about the game! You were right, Payton. The players are pumped up... and so are all the fans. The parade really helped." said Julian
"Exactly. We just made sure that your players really feel like you have the home field advantage!" said Payton
"Now we've just got to win the game." said Jess
"All right! Julian, it's game time. Let's get the starters ready. We should make sure our most experienced players are out there." said Julian
"This is it! Time for the game!"
"Could you help me out, Jess? The players are waiting in the locker room and... I've never been good at speeches."
"You want me to give the pep talk to the football team before the game?"
"Yeah. You're good with words. And you've been at this school from the very start. Everyone here looks up to you."
"I'll... I'll do my best. Okay, team! Tonight, we're standing on the edge of greatness. If we beat Hearst High, we'll be making a statement. We're playing for our school! Think of this game as an epic battle! We're going out there tonight to do battle! And we're going to WIN! Now, get out there and just remember... Fight, fight with all your might!"
"Fight, fight with all your might!" The football team cheered
The two teams take the field...
"Let's see what you've got." said Max
"It's on." said Julian
The football game begins
"Ohmigosh! Time's almost up, and we're down by four!" said Payton
"It's okay. We've got one last shot to score a touchdown. If we make it, we'll win!" said Autumn
"Okay, team. This is it. Everything comes down to this last play. Get into position." said Julian
The teams line up, facing off for the final play...
"You're not getting past us." said Max
"Shut up and play." said Julian
Danny throws the ball... and Emily catches it, just ten yards from the end zone!
"I got it! I got it!" Emily cheered
"Now run!" said Danny
"Oh, right!"
"Go, Emily!" Julian called
"Not so fast!" Max tackles Emily as Emily tosses the ball back to Danny! "Oof!"
"Whoa!" Danny catches the ball
"Go, go, go!" said Julian
Alex sprints to the end zone! "YES!" Alex cheered
"That's the game! We did it!"
"This isn't happening. This is NOT HAPPENING!" said Max
"Believe it, Max. We just won!" Julian cheered
"That game was incredible." said Jess
"Yeah! I finally get why Julian's always so worried about practicing. Football is hard!" said Payton
"Heh. Well, it's no cake walk. But what you did wasn't easy, either. Those floats were pro." said Julian
"Thanks!"
"Hey! There's the big football star! I might have been sitting with the Hearst High fans, but I was cheering for you!" said Autumn
"Oh. Yeah?" said Julian
"Yeah, people started throwing things at me and telling me to shut up... but I was just so excited! You were awesome out there!"
"Heh. No big deal!"
"Don't be so modest. It was epic." said Jess
"Yeah. You guys did an a-ma-zing job! Now it's time to celebrate! Autumn, this Homecoming Dance has a no-Hearst-High policy, but I think we can make an exception for you." said Payton
"Aw! Let's go to the dance!" said Autumn
Later, at the Homecoming Dance, Jess celebrate the Homecoming victory with Julian, Autumn, Payton, and all of their classmates
"Julian! Payton! This is such an awesome party! The two of you make a great team!" said Jess
"Yeah, we do! Go Team Pulian! Team Jayton? Hmm, neither of those sound right..." said Payton
"Heh, well, while you work it out, I actually got you something. I remember you always liked it after a celebration." said Julian
"Heh, let me guess... you got her a peppermint latte." said Jess
"Yep! One hot, tasty, peppermint latte, extra whipped cream!"
"Yay! You remembered!" Payton cheered
Julian hands Payton her latte. For one second, their hands touch...
"You know, Julian... you're a pretty okay guy." said Payton
"You're not bad yourself, Prep." said Julian
"Guys! I've got great news! My dad thought your Homecoming was great!" said Autumn
"So does that mean?"
"It means exactly what you think it means! He's going to let me transfer!"
"Sweet!" Julian sweeps Autumn up in a tight bear-hug before quickly putting her down and stepping back. Payton watches, a sad look on her face, before glancing away. "I, uh, mean... congrats."
"Hee hee! Thanks. I'm so happy!" said Autumn
"If we weren't ALREADY at a dance, I'd totally throw you a party!" said Payton
"I'm going to go start enrolling right now! Just... one last thing. I've seen the jocks hanging out together and the nerds over in their building... the preps have a place to go, too. Do you have somewhere for artists like me to hang out?" Autumn asked
Construction worker gather to build a artist hangout Autumn become a new student of Berry High.