Chapter Text
Zoey
“Hey Zo, did you hear about the two new girls?” Sarah, my best friend, asks excitedly as she bounces up to me, as I’m grabbing my books from my locker. Sarah has always been the one clued into the school's gossip, while I’ve tried to keep my head down. Sarah is pretty much your typical valley girl, with long blonde hair that reaches the small of her back and bright brown eyes.
“New girls?” I ask, slamming my locker door shut to make sure it closes. After untold years of use, the door had a bad habit of popping open if you didn’t slam it hard. “At this time of year? Winter vacation is in like two weeks.”
“I know.” Sarah beams, “and get this, rumor has it they're both from Korea and rich. Apparently, one is some teen idol over there, and the other comes from a rich family.”
“Really, Sar. Now I know you're pulling my leg,” I say with a chuckle, slinging one strap of my backpack over my shoulder, “If they’re that famous, why would they be coming to our school? We’re just a bog-standard public school, a poorly funded one at that, in the middle of Burbank. It's not like we're one of those expensive private schools over in Hollywood.”
“Ah, Zo,” Sarah fake pouts at me, “you wound me. When have I ever steered you wrong with the school gossip?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” I say with a smirk, “Remember that time—”
“You promised never to talk about that,” Sarah cuts me off as we both head to our homeroom.
“I’m just saying there's precedent for you to get things wrong,” I say with a chuckle.
“Really, Zo, one time, and you're never going to let me live that down.” Sarah sulks as we enter the classroom, taking our seats just as the bell rings.
“Three,” I correct, “it was three times.” I pause for a heartbeat, “this month.”
Rumi
“Rumi, you know I support you in everything you want to do,” Bobby says as the car pulls up outside Burbank High School. “But are you sure about this. I mean, we could get you into one of the best private schools in the county if you're so set on finishing your last year in high school in the US.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I respond with an indulgent but fond smile. Bobby has been my manager since day one, “and you can tell Celine that you passed along her message.” Bobby just smiles. “I know she’s only indulging me, but I really do need this. I want to feel like a normal teenager for once in my life before I graduate and my career really goes into overdrive.”
“Celine just wants what's best for you,” Bobby says. “Anyway, you have a few things on your schedule for this afternoon. Your driver will be here at 3:30 to pick you up and take you to a photoshoot at 4:00, then to a meeting with a local sports brand to discuss a commercial campaign they’d like you to be in. You should be home by six.”
I chuckle, “even halfway around the world, and she can’t help but have me do ‘a little’ work for Sunlight Entertainment.”
Bobby gives a sheepish smile, “Well, you are the face of the sunlight entertainment, and for all her faults, Celine is a very good CEO.”
“You have an opportunity to expand your American fan base while you're over there, you'd be a fool not to take it,” I quote one of the last things Celine told me before I left Soaul. I open my door and step out before leaning back in and saying, “At least try and enjoy yourself while we’re here, Bobby.”
As I make my way along the sidewalk, I get my first look at Burbank High School, and it isn’t what I was expecting to say the least. The sidewalk leading up to the front entrance is cracked, with weeds growing in spots. The sign above the front doors looks sun-bleached and like it hasn’t seen a paintbrush in years—a far cry from the brightly colored, well-maintained schools in TV shows and movies.
Pushing open the front entrance with a loud creak, I make my way to the front office to check in and get my schedule. As I enter the front office area, I catch sight of a girl with long pink hair.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” leaves my mouth before my brain can even register that I said anything.
Mira
“Here we are, Miss,” my driver says as we pull up outside of what has to be the sorriest excuse for a school in the world. Seriously, I knew the idiots in power were defunding the American educational system, but this. I think of pushing open the door. Well, you wanted to get as far away from your parents and piss them off in the process. Guess you’ve succeeded. I chuckle mentally as I walk around a small group of kids milling around in front of the school, heading to the front entrance.
The inside doesn’t look any better; the linoleum floors are worn from years of students treading on them, and one of the fluorescent lights in the ceiling flickers. The lockers lining the hall are just as worn and dented as the floor. Trying to keep the look of disgust off my face as I enter the front office area, I step up to the desk.
“Mira Kang,” I say with only a slight Korean accent, years of language tutoring paying off. “I’m here to get my schedule.”
“Ah, yes, we have your schedule right here, Ms. Kang,” The lady behind the desk says, pulling out a folder. “You know it's pretty unusual for us to get transfers in this late into the school year, let alone two.”
Before I can open my mouth to ask what the ladies are talking about, I hear “What the fuck are you doing here?” from behind me. I freeze because I’d know that voice anywhere.
“Rumi,” I say, turning to face the girl I haven’t seen in almost a year. “I could ask you the same thing.”