Episode 3: The New Girl in School
After a long vacation and their unforgettable trip to New York City, the Vega sisters were finally back in Sownsville.
Location: Sownsville High School
The familiar sound of students filling the hallways welcomed them as they walked through the school entrance.
"Good to be back at school after the whole summer break," Sander said with a smile.
Sam looked at her in disbelief.
"Only you could actually be happy to be back in school. And honestly, after everything with Laspa, Lander Spencer, and Miss Bani's fashion campaign in New York City, I think we deserved at least two more days before returning."
Sarah sighed.
"I just hope we passed our last term exams. We barely had time to study because of the whole Laspa situation."
Before they could continue their conversation, a familiar voice interrupted them.
"Hello, bitches!"
The girls turned around and saw Amanda approaching them with a huge smile.
"I saw the cover of Hit Teen Magazine. You girls looked amazing during the photoshoot and the fashion show in New York City."
Amanda smiled proudly.
Sarah says
"The fashion show was amazing. We got to meet so many celebrities, attend a huge event, and even appear in Hit Teen Magazine. Honestly, it was a blessed experience."
She paused and looked at the girls.
"Although... I was hoping things would be different when we came back."
Sam raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
Amanda sighed dramatically.
"I just wanted to see if we could stop fighting, you know? But I guess I can still be a mean girl sometimes. Nobody is an exception."
Sam stared at her in disbelief.
"Then why are you doing it?"
Amanda placed a hand on her chest as if she was offended.
"Excuse me? You're forgetting something. I am the queen of mean, and I earned that title."
Sarah shook her head.
"You know you can make friends without being mean, right, Amanda?"
Amanda rolled her eyes.
"Keep that advice to yourself, Sarah. I don't need it."
Before anyone could respond, the sound of a powerful engine caught their attention.
A luxurious sports car pulled up near the school entrance.
The door opened, and a girl stepped out.
She wore a stylish pink and black leather outfit paired with matching leather shoes. A black backpack rested on her shoulder. From the way she carried herself, it was obvious she came from a wealthy background.
Students immediately began whispering.
"Wow... who is she?"
But Amanda wasn't looking at the car.
She was staring at the girl.
And for the first time, her confident expression disappeared.
Her face turned pale.
"What is she doing here?" Amanda whispered.
The girl noticed her immediately and walked toward them with a confident smile.
"Amanda darling," the girl said. "I never expected to see you attending such a dirty public school. I thought you would be in a private school by now."
Amanda crossed her arms and looked at the
new girl with a frown.
"I never thought I would see you here in Sownsville. How is life in Florida? Weren't you enjoying it there? So why come back to my hometown?"
The girl smiled slightly.
"My father has a business project here in your small town. So, unfortunately for you, I will be staying in Sownsville for a while."
Amanda raised an eyebrow.
"Your father?"
The girl smiled proudly.
"Yes. My father is Jack Cane."
Sander's eyes widened.
"Wait a second... you're the daughter of Jack Cane?"
The girl laughed softly.
"Yeah. Sorry, I didn't introduce myself."
She extended her hand.
"I'm Katie Cane."
"Sander Vega," Sander replied.
The moment Katie heard the name, her expression changed.
"Sander Vega?"
She looked surprised.
"No way. I saw your cover on Hit Teen Magazine. You're one of the iconic Vega sisters."
Katie turned her attention toward the other girls standing beside Sander.
"Wait... you're all the Vega sisters?"
Katie smiled brightly as she looked at the three sisters.
"Wait... I actually know all of your names."
She pointed at Sam.
"You're Sam Vega."
Then at Sarah.
"You're Sarah Vega."
Finally, she looked at Sander.
"And you're Sander Vega."
She clasped her hands together with excitement.
"Wow... my fashion icons are standing right in front of me! Maybe Sownsville isn't such a bad place after all."
The three sisters exchanged surprised glances.
Sam chuckled.
"You know us?"
Katie nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course! After your New York fashion campaign and your Hit Teen Magazine cover, everyone in the fashion world knows who the Vega sisters are."
Amanda folded her arms and rolled her eyes.
"Don't encourage them. Their egos are already big enough."
Sam laughed.
"I think yours is still bigger."
Amanda clicked her tongue.
"Tsk... rude."
Katie has just met the Vega sisters.
Sarah smiles warmly.
Sarah: "If you're new here, I could show you around."
Katie: "Really? I'd appreciate that."
Amanda folds her arms.
Amanda: "Suit yourself."
The group begins walking.
Amanda hangs back beside Sam.
Amanda lowers her voice.
Amanda: "Be careful around her."
Sam looks at her.
Sam: "Katie?"
Amanda nods.
Amanda: "We met in Florida. She always acted like she was better than everyone else."
Sam glances toward Katie, who is laughing with Sarah.
Sam: "She doesn't seem like that."
Amanda notices the look on Sam's face.
Amanda: "What?"
Sam smiles.
Sam: "Nothing."
Amanda narrows her eyes.
Amanda: "...You think I'm jealous."
Sam doesn't answer.
She simply keeps walking.
Amanda groans.
Amanda: "I am not jealous!"
Sam laughs.
Sam: "You said it, not me."
Amanda throws her hands in the air.
Amanda: "Unbelievable!"She stormed ahead.
Meanwhile, Katie continued talking with Sander and Sarah while Sam walked slightly behind them, quietly listening.
Sarah turned toward Katie.
"So... what does your father actually do?"
"Manufacturing," Katie replied. "Mostly heavy machinery. Generators, vehicles, industrial equipment... basically anything involving large-scale machinery."
Sarah nodded, though the answer didn't tell her much.
Sander noticed.
"You don't know who Jack Cane is?"
Sarah shrugged.
"Not really. I don't exactly read economics news."
Sander laughed.
"Who does? Economics news is for old people and boring people."
Katie laughed.
"Well, my dad's company deals with all kinds of heavy machinery. That's why we're here."
Sander nodded.
"How long do you plan on staying in Sownsville?"
Katie shrugged.
"I don't know. It depends on how long my father's project takes. A few weeks... maybe a few months. A year at most, perhaps."
"Wow," Sander said. "And you're not angry about being moved from one place to another?"
"Not really."
Katie adjusted the strap of her backpack.
"My dad's always moving me from one location to another. I'm kind of used to it."
They reached the classroom door.
Sander glanced at the clock.
"We still have two minutes before the teacher arrives. Want me to introduce you to some of our classmates?"
Katie smiled.
"Yeah. That would be cool."
Sarah entered the classroom with them.
But Sam stopped.
"I need to use the restroom. I'll be in class in two minutes."
Sarah nodded.
"Okay."
Sam waited until the others disappeared inside.
Then she turned sharply.
Instead of heading toward the restroom, she walked in the opposite direction.
Toward the back of the school.
---
Behind Sownsville High School
Sam reached an isolated area behind the school.
She glanced around to make sure nobody was watching.
Then she tapped a button on her wristwatch.
A few seconds later, a man approached carrying a file.
He handed it to her.
"Here's everything you need to begin the operation. I'm sure you've already received the initial intel."
Sam opened the file.
"What do we know?"
The man lowered his voice.
"Black Rose has arrived."
Sam looked up.
"Are you certain?"
"At first, we weren't sure whether she was still in New York City or somewhere near Sownsville. But now we're one hundred percent certain she's here."
"Then why haven't we found her?"
"Because we don't know what identity she's using."
He opened another section of the file.
"She was spotted at Sownsville International Airport. A man was drugged under suspicious circumstances, and the woman who was standing beside him vanished before anyone could question her."
Sam frowned.
"You said she?"
"Yes. A woman. Witnesses described her as having red hair, green eyes, and glasses."
Sam looked at the photograph attached to the report.
"But when we checked the passenger list, nobody matching that description was registered."
The man shook his head.
"That's what makes this difficult. Everyone on the plane remembers seeing a woman in her twenties board the flight. But nobody can identify her."
Sam closed the file.
"So either she's extremely lucky..."
She looked toward the school building.
"...or she's very good at disappearing."
"That's what we're assuming."
Sam took the file and stuffed it into her bag.
The man watched in horror as she squeezed the thick file between her textbooks.
He winced.
"Careful."
Sam ignored him.
"Anything else?"
"Yes. President Dan requires your presence after school."
Sam nodded.
"Okay."
She turned and walked away.
---
Lander Spencer's Residence
Black Rose sat comfortably at the dining table, a newspaper spread open in front of her.
She looked at the front page.
WANTED BY THE DEA
Below the headline was a photograph of one of her former disguises: a red-haired woman with green eyes and glasses.
Black Rose stared at the picture for a moment.
Then she chuckled.
She folded the newspaper in half and tossed it onto the table.
A maid approached.
"Ma'am, your black coffee is ready. Should I bring it?"
"Yes."
The maid nodded and left.
A moment later, Lander Spencer entered the room.
"Have you seen the news?"
Black Rose didn't look up.
"They're looking for your fake identity."
She calmly took a sip of coffee.
"I know."
Lander stared at her.
"You're not even concerned?"
Black Rose smiled.
"Why would I be?"
"You poisoned that man, didn't you?"
She finally looked at him.
"Yes."
Lander sighed.
"Did you really have to poison him? The medical team has been trying to wake him for two days, and they still haven't identified the substance."
"He'll be fine."
"How long will he remain unconscious?"
Black Rose took another sip of coffee.
"Four days."
Lander stared at her.
"Four days?"
"Perhaps."
She reached for her cup again.
"By then, the doctors will still be trying to figure out what happened."
Lander shook his head.
"Sometimes I wonder what's going on inside your head."
Black Rose ignored him.
"By the way, where are my snacks? They would be wonderful with this coffee."
Lander looked at her incredulously.
"Tell me what exactly you gave him."
Black Rose smiled innocently.
"Candy."
"Candy?"
"That's all."
"What kind of candy?"
Black Rose leaned back in her chair.
"My special kind."
Lander narrowed his eyes.
"And what exactly does your special candy do?"
"It makes people sleep."
"For four days?"
Black Rose smiled.
"Among other things."
Lander stared at her.
"Is it even safe?"
Black Rose's expression remained calm.
"Why are you suddenly so interested in my candy?"
She picked up the newspaper again.
"Besides, what about the thing we discussed? The person you were supposed to contact about the project?"
Lander's expression changed.
"I've handled it."
"Good."
He reached into his coat and pulled out an identification card.
"You may have to abandon your current disguise."
Black Rose looked at the card.
"What's this?"
"Your new identity."
He handed it to her.
"Tanya Richmond. Twenty-six years old. Artist."
Black Rose studied the card.
"For legitimate purposes, you'll be Tanya Richmond. But for our business..."
She looked up.
"...you'll remain Black Rose."
Lander nodded.
"Tanya has dark brown hair with black undertones. Different enough from your previous disguise."
Black Rose smiled faintly.
"Tanya Richmond."
She turned the card between her fingers.
"I like it."
Lander looked at her carefully.
"Just remember. Nobody can know that Tanya Richmond and Black Rose are the same person."
Black Rose's smile widened.
"Don't worry."
She slipped the identification card into her pocket.
"They won't."