Level Nine

JULIAN: Wait a second, what about Mia? Little Miss Hearst High followed us here.

MIA: Huh? I’m… I’m with you guys. Obviously.

AUTUMN: Back up. Explain that ‘obviously’ part.

MIA: Well, I totally warned you about the cupcakes…

AUTUMN: That YOU helped bake.

MIA: 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!

ADDISON: She’s got a point. It’s not like she’ll be welcomed back at Hearst High now that she’s done this.

AUTUMN: 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.

MIA: Just give me a chance, okay? That’s all I’m asking.

ADDISON: Everyone gets a chance here. That’s what makes us different from Hearst! Mia… Welcome to our school.

[ Admit Mia | None | 2850xp ]

PAYTON: Addison. I heard a CRAZY RUMOR that you let this evil cheerleader into our school.

ADDISON: Er… about that…

MIA: Oh, Payton! I remember you. The girl who ruined my party.

PAYTON: That was an accident, and way better than trying to ruin someone’s social life on purpose! We don’t need people like you here.

MIA: But…

ADDISON: Look, Mia’s the one who sent us the texts about what Hearst High was plotting. Can you at least give her a chance?

PAYTON: You don’t know her like I do. Trust me. NO ONE is going to want her here. We all HATE her.

Payton storms off.

MIA: But… I’m… popular. And attractive. And rich. Why would people hate me?

ADDISON: That might be how things worked at Hearst, Mia, but it’s not how they are here. People don’t like you just because you’re popular. You’re popular because people like you.

MIA: Is that, like, a Taylor Swift song?

ADDISON: If you want people to like you, Mia, you have to reach out to them. Get to know them. Be nice to them.

MIA: Ugggggh.

ADDISON: Here, I’ll help you. Just try to be nice to people, okay? I’ll try to talk them into giving you a chance.

MIA: So who do we fix my reputation with first?

ADDISON: I saw on Nishan’s Facebook page that he’s filming a sci-fi fan film today. If you show up and help, you might be able to get on his good side.

[ Mia, Nishan, A Level 4+ Filmmaker (Morgan) | 3h | 1750c, 2850xp ]

NISHAN: Mia! You really want to help with my fan film? You were always so mean to me back at Hearst High…

MIA: Yeah, well, now I’m not, okay? I’m totally into… whatever this thing is about…

NISHAN: Oh, you’ll be absolutely perfect! I was hoping we’d find a pretty girl to play the sassy companion…

MIA: Thanks, I guess, but whose sassy companion am I, exactly?

NISHAN: The Doctor’s!

MIA: I am NOT playing doctor…

NISHAN: Ha ha! That’s so something a companion would say. Roll cameras!

MORGAN: And… action!

MIA: Ahem… ‘I can’t believe it, Doctor! You’re saying that you know how to defeat the Nebulons because a future version of me taught you how?’

NISHAN: ‘That’s right. And you learned how to do it by watching me just now.’

MIA: ‘How is that possible?’

NISHAN: ‘Oh, you know… wibbley wobbly...’

MIA: ‘Timey wimey!’

NISHAN: And cut! That was perfect!

MIA: I have literally no idea what we just filmed.

NISHAN: Oh, it never actually makes sense… but it’s just so fun! I’m just really grateful for your assistance, Mia. I couldn’t have done it without you!

MIA: It was actually kind of fun… But if this ends up online, you’re a dead man.

ADDISON: That went better than expected!

MIA: Yay! Nishan likes me!

ADDISON: Yeah, it’s a good start… but don’t forget, you’ve still got a long way to go before people here really trust you.

MIA: Boo. Fine, what’s next?

ADDISON: Autumn is painting over by the Artist Hangout. She’s always got extra supplies in case anyone wants to join her.

And so…

AUTUMN: Hey, Addison. Mia. What’s up?

MIA: I… er… want to paint with you?

AUTUMN: Is this a setup for a prank or something? Because I remember how things were at Hearst High, and I really don’t have time to spend another afternoon washing cotton candy out of my hair.

MIA: No, it’s not a setup, you weirdo! I just want to… paint… things…

AUTUMN: Well, I never turn down a soul in search of artistic expression… and I have to admit, I’m curious about what you’re going to paint.

MIA: Sooo… I can paint with you?

AUTUMN: We’ll just need somewhere nice to paint… somewhere inspiring…

[ Have 2 Trees, Have 2 Flower Boxes, Have 10 Brick Paths | None | 2850xp ]

MIA: So, Addison, what should I paint?

ADDISON: How about… Horses eating fruit.

MIA: Uh, okay, if you say so…

And so, a little while later, Autumn walks over…

MIA: What do you think?

AUTUMN: Huh, that’s weird… that is EXACTLY what Julian painted the one time he came down here… At least your version’s a lot better than his. His fruit were just splotches, and his horse looked like a log with feet.

MIA: This is actually kind of fun!

AUTUMN: Heh… yeah. It really is.

JULIAN: Hey! Mia!

MIA: What’s up?

JULIAN: I get that you’re going around, doing this whole win people over thing… and I’m not buying it. You had a sweet setup at Hearst High. And something about this feels like you’re not telling us the whole story.

MIA: What is this, an interrogation?

JULIAN: I don’t know! You tell me! Is it?!

MIA: That doesn’t even make sense!

ADDISON: Uh… maybe you two should spend some quality time together and talk this out…

[ Complete a Party with Julian and Mia | None | 2850xp ]

JULIAN: Okay, you seem pretty cool. But I still don’t really get why you don’t want to stay at Hearst High.

MIA: Ugh, if you have to know… My dad is super strict. He won’t let me do what I want to do… and he didn’t approve of the person I liked. She went to another school, and my dad didn’t want me associating with anyone who wasn’t under his thumb at Hearst. And as long as I’m living under his roof AND going to a high school he runs, my dad’s never going to let me out of his sight. He’d have total control over my life. At least now I’ve got some time to myself every day.

JULIAN: I get what you’re saying, kid. Welcome to our school.

MIA: Y’know, Addison, I’m really making progress. Julian likes me, Nishan likes me… even weird art girl is kinda okay with me.

ADDISON: It’s a start, but there are more people at this school than just the three of them! You know, if you really want to make an impression on more people, you could help me improve the campus! I have to get it ready for that school inspection.

MIA: Improving the campus? That sounds hard. Can’t I just hire someone to do it for me?

ADDISON: Heh. It’s not that bad. Come help me out and see.

[ Level Mia | None | 2850xp ]

MIA: This place is amazing! I’d stay here all day! In fact, I wish I COULD. My dad and Max have been FURIOUS ever since I transferred.

ADDISON: Well, I’m glad you’re here. I think we should be just about done!

MIA: I’m amazed. This actually didn’t totally suck. I never thought I’d make a sci-fi movie or paint anything. Kara wouldn’t have let me do that stuff if I’d tried. But now that I did, I have to say it was actually… kind of fun! If this is what it takes to be popular here, well, I’d pick it over Hearst any day.

ADDISON: I’m glad you’re liking our school.

MIA: Everyone’s ACTUALLY been nice. There’s just one thing… I do miss being on the cheer squad. Think the cheerleaders will let me join?

[ Mia, A Level 4+ Cheerleader (Emery) | 5h | 3500c, 2850xp ]

MIA: So… I’m kind of an expert in cheerleading. At Hearst High, we’ve won dozens of awards…

EMERY: Hey, don’t expect to just come to our school and take over our squad!

MIA: I’m overqualified to be head cheerleader, and you know it!

ADDISON: Ahem! Mia, let’s start with just getting you on the team, okay?

MIA: Right. I do want to be on the team. I know I can help! Let me take a look at your routine, Emery. Maybe I can give you some pointers.

EMERY: Ha! Our routine is perfect!

ADDISON: You should hear her out. There’s always room to improve.

EMERY: So, what do you think of our routine?

MIA: It’s awesome! But what do you think of something like this for the ending?

Mia does a running, tumbling pass with a triple somersalt that ends in the splits!

EMERY: Okay, that was pretty good. With her help, we’re going to be way better than any other squad in the state!

MIA: Yay! That went so well!

ADDISON: And now… It’s time for you to face Payton.

MIA: Noooo, not Payton! That prep HATES me! She ruined my party! She’s out to get me!

ADDISON: Payton doesn’t hate you. She just forgot about your party. You just need to get to know her in the right setting. I’ve got an idea.

And so…

PAYTON: What?! You want me to go SHOPPING with HER?

MIA: You think I’m any happier about it? If Addison leaves us alone together, you’ll probably smother me with a handbag.

ADDISON: You two need to give each other a chance. If you guys talk, I’m sure you’ll realize this is all a big misunderstanding. Besides, it’s shopping!

PAYTON: Oh, fine! But it’s not nice to exploit my love of shopping!

[ Spend 48000 coins | None | 2900xp ]

And so, at the mall…

PAYTON: Um, why do all of the salespeople know you by name?

MIA: Please, I spend most of my time here. They’re like a second family!

PAYTON: A second family that keeps bringing us snacks and more dresses to try on…

MIA: Yeah, much better than family, now that I think about it.

And later…

ADDISON: So, since you two are both still alive, I’m guessing this shopping trip went well…

MIA: Yeah. Payton is actually kind of cool. I guess she wasn’t really trying to sabotage my social life.

PAYTON: I AM sorry that I let you down. I just got so excited helping Addison with this school that I forgot. It was totally unintentional!

MIA: Well, that’s not what Kara said… but I’m starting to think I shouldn’t have trusted her so much. And I didn’t realize that everything I did, like, hurt you so much.

PAYTON: Aw, it’s okay. You’re… you’re actually kind of okay.

MIA: Thanks, Payton! Does this mean I get to help you plan the next big party?

PAYTON: What? No! I didn’t say that…

MIA: I can just picture it… a fancy masquerade theme… red velvet cake… totally ripped butlers…

ADDISON: Aw, how can you be so upset when she’s just so happy? It’s adorable.

PAYTON: Sigh…