It
was still a half hour before the Friday night show would start when Anders saw
Fields arrive. She went up to her. “One of the assistants will show you the way
to the dressing room,” she said.
“Thanks,”
Fields responded quietly.
“Are
you ready?”
“As
much as I can be. Like, Osborn, you, I and that assistant will know that this
is fake.”
“And
my producer,” Anders added.
“Right.
It might get out.”
“Not
any time soon, I don’t think.”
In
the dressing room, Fields quickly changed into the fake SpiderGirl suit. She
pondered again what would happen again as she looked at herself in the mirror.
“You’ve got this, Fields,” she murmured.
Anders
was ready as the show started. “Good Evening, People of Lawndale and
surrounding towns. It has been a crazy few months, hasn’t it. Tonight, I’ll be
talking to one of the people involved in those events.”
Norman
Osborn was watching. “She’s doing it,” he murmured.
“Half
an hour to the play,” Daria said as she finished dinner in the café.
“Thinking
of something?” Jane asked.
“Just
a feeling that something is going to happen.”
“It
could be paranoia.”
“Probably,
but I can’t rule it out,” Daria said. “It could be Anders.”
“But
you can’t let that distract you from the play tonight.”
“Oh,
it won’t. But I hope that whatever that interview is won’t cause problems.”
“Same
here,” Jane said.
Quinn
was also in the café, with Stacy and Tori. “What do you think Anders will say?”
Quinn asked.
“I’m
not sure. But something is certainly up,” Tori answered.
“But
It can’t be anything serious, right?” Stacy asked.
“Whatever
it is, it will be a surprise,” Quinn said.
Anders
show had gone to break and Fields as the fake SpiderGirl sat on an interview
couch.
“We’ll
be back in 30 seconds,” Anders producer said.
Anders
nodded. “Are you ready?”
“As
I’ll ever be,” Fields responded.
“You’ll
do fine.”
“And
now the moment you been waiting for, an interview with SpiderGirl!”
“Quinn?
Are you OK?” Stacy asked.
Quinn
shook her head. She hadn’t really expected a fake SpiderGirl. “Yeah, I’m fine.
I just a little shock at SpiderGirl apparently agreeing to an interview. I’m
not sure it’s the real one.”
“I
haven’t really interacted with her,” Stacy said.
“Neither
have I,” Tori said.
“Anna
has,” Quinn said. But then she remembered that she had gone home after the
tutoring session.
“What
inspired you to fight crime in Lawndale?” Anders asked.
‘A
loss and an inspiration,’ Quinn thought.
“Something
happened after I gained my powers and I felt that I needed to use them to help
Lawndale.”
“That
sounds right,” Tori said.
“But
something’s off,” Quinn said.
Peterson
knew it wasn’t the real SpiderGirl. It didn’t sound much like her for one. ‘If
Quinn Morgendorffer is SpiderGIrl, it’s not her beneath that particular mask.’
But still she didn’t have proof. She was off duty, she could go the Historia
during the play’s intermission. ‘See if Quinn’s there.’
“It
is known that you partner with Ninja Talon, but what is your opinion of the
other three vigilantes?” Anders asked.
“The
Shadow is too elusive. We work together sometimes, but she’s cold and
no-nonsense. I find the fourth vigilante full of herself and arrogant.
Dafoanairi still too inexperienced.”
“Interesting,”
Anders commented.
Quinn
was more annoyed. ‘That’s not helpful at all. Dafoanairi isn’t that
inexperienced and I don’t think the Enigma is arrogant.’
“That
does sound off,” Tori said.
“And
she’s anxious,” Stacy said. “All the reports of SpiderGirl agree that she’s
confident.”
Tori
looked at Stacy.
“I
know when someone’s anxious,” Stacy said.
“Yeah,
it’s definitely not the real SpiderGirl!” Quinn said with annoyance. She turned
to Tori. “I think people need to know.”
Tori
nodded. “I’ll call the others.”
Osborn
watched as Anders completed the interview and then went to a commercial break.
He then called the studio. “This is Norman Osborn. I want to talk to Lynn
Anders.”
“It’s
still in the middle of her show.”
“Then
repeat some of the ads.”
“Yes,
Mr. Osborn.”
“Phone
call for you from Mr. Osborn,” the assistant said a after she had led Fields
back to the dressing room.
“I
still have a show to present! I guess he asked for the ad break to be
extended?”
The
assistant nodded.
“I’ll
talk to him.”
“The
interview has been conducted, but I’m sure that it’s made getting the real
SpiderGirl more difficult!”
“You
both did well. It will have the people of Lawndale questioning the vigilantes
and their motives more.”
“They’re
not going to forget how they helped on Groundhog Day.”
“I’m
sure that you’re aware that narrative can be spun. People can be fickle.”
“I
still want to interview SpiderGirl as she is now, not as a disgraced version of
her!’
“She’s
not going to be disgraced, don’t worry.”
“I
think I’m still going to. I need to get back now.”
“Evening
Ms. Anders.”
Having
changed out of the faux SpiderGirl suit, Fields looked at herself in the
mirror. “What have I done?” she asked herself. “Made Lawndale more chaotic?”
She looked at herself in the eye and felt ashamed. She breathed heavily.
Anders
was involved in her next segment as she left the changing room. ‘I’ll wait
until the next break,’ she said.
Nadia
Blackwood knew something was up. Something had felt off about SpiderGirl. “Tori
for you,” her mother said as she entered the lounge room with the cordless
phone.
“Thanks,”
Nadia said.
“Nadia?”
Tori asked.
“Hi,
Tori,” Nadia said. “I thought you were watching the play again.”
“I
am, but it is yet to start. This is about Anders’ interview.”
“You
think something is off too?”
“Quinn
and Stacy agree. In fact, Quinn thinks it’s a fake,” Tori responded.
“A
fake? Now that I think about it…”
“Exactly.
Like, why would SpiderGirl suddenly give an interview?”
“I’m
not watching Anders anymore,” Nadia decided.
“That’s
not enough.”
“You
want me to tell others?”
“Quinn
as well,” Tori said.
“I’ll
do it!”
After
Tori called Nadia, Quinn went to find Daria.
Daria
was already getting ready for the evening’s show. “Quinn?”
“I
was watching Lynn Anders’ show. They had an interview with SpiderGirl, but I
don’t think it was the real SpiderGirl.”
Daria
looked surprised. “I didn’t think she would go that far. But I would have to
watch the show myself to be sure.” She shook her head. “I’ll investigate with
the fourth vigilante later. The play’s the priority.”
“Of
course,” Quinn said. ‘But now I’m more sure that she’s Dafoanairi.’
Again,
the tickets were sold out and the theater was full of people of all ages eager
to see Daria’s take on Shakespeare.
As
the play started, the suspicion of Lynn Anders having faked the interview with
SpiderGirl spread as various Lawndale High students who weren’t at the play
called each other, starting with Nadia and the others Tori called, and
spreading from there.
Sandi
was about to perform another search when she received such a call. She grabbed
the energy drink, but then her cell phone rang, almost causing her to drop it.
“Ugh! Who?” she asked as she answered.
“Hi,
Sandi!”
“Julia?”
Sandi asked. She wasn’t sure why Julia Barbero would be calling her.
“Did
you see Lynn Anders tonight?”
“Not
tonight. Like, I don’t watch her every night. I’ve had enough of her latest
fixation.”
“That’s
why I’m calling,” Julia said.
“Oh?”
“She
had an interview with SpiderGirl, but it wasn’t the real SpiderGirl.”
“She
faked an interview with SpiderGirl?” Sandi asked in surprise.
“I see. I guess I’ll call a
few.”
“I’ll be calling Kristen
Leung-Bell next,” Julia said.
“Got it. I’ll call someone
else.”
After Julia hung up, Sandi
looked at the photo of the person she was about to search for. “I’ll search for
you. Make sure you’re not at the play.” She grabbed the energy drink again and
downed it. “Findu mann sem heiter: Lara Edgars!”
She found Lara at her place on
Howard Drive, not far from the Lanes, on the phone, talking to someone.
“Twenty seven down. But maybe
she already knows.” She then grabbed her contact book.
Fields arrived back at Osborn’s
hospital room, half an hour after she had left the studio. She tossed the bag
containing the fake suit to the end of the hospital bed. “It’s done,” she said
quietly.
“I watched it,” Norman said.
“You did well, although you should have been more confident.”
“I feel like I have betrayed the
trust of the people of Lawndale.”
“You haven’t. You have given
something to think about.”
“Or talk about,” Fields said.
“That too. You have done nothing
to be ashamed about.”
“But I still feel that way.”
As the evening went on, the
students of Lawndale High who weren’t at the play called each other and talked
about Lynn Anders and the fake SpiderGirl. As the play went into intermission,
the Historia was filled with the discussion about it.
Quinn and Brittany emerged onto
the roof.
“So,
it’s true?” Brittany asked.
“Yes,
Anders interviewed a fake SpiderGirl!” Quinn answered vehemently. “I didn’t
expect that! Osborn must have put her up to it somehow!”
“It’s
not right!” Brittany said. “What if it’s a fake Ninja Talon next? But what are
you doing about it?”
“Tori
is calling around. I guess most teens in Lawndale know by now. She said that
most are in disbelief.”
“That’s
a good start.”
“And
after the play I’ll pay a visit to her mom, as SpiderGirl,” Quinn said. “Give
my own, limited interview.”
“Are
you sure?”
“Not
much choice, but I’ll be careful in what I say. I’ll also talk to Daria again.
She’ll have more ideas.”
“I’ll
probably come to, but I’ll probably need to talk with Andrea as well.”
At
the same time, Daria had called Sandi.
“Like,
it’s totally wrong.”
“Exactly,”
Daria said. “I’d like to see the interview for myself, given that we have seen
SpiderGirl in action.”
“You
want to see if someone taped the interview?” Sandi asked.
“Yes.
And Get in touch with Peterson, given that she’s often seen SpiderGirl. But she
may come here first.”
“What
about others?”
“I
can’t involve William, given the condition he was in,” Daria responded.
“That’s
true, but there are others.”
“Like
the owner of the solarium. But I’ll wait for tomorrow to try to get in touch
with him. In the meantime, continue calling. Someone may have taped the
interview. I’ll see if anyone here had programmed their VCR to tape it while
they were here.”
“That’s
a good idea,” Sandi said. “I shall do that.”
Peterson
arrived at the Historia and saw Quinn and Brittany enter the lobby from the
stairwell and Daria from the café.
“Evening
Peterson,” Quinn said.
“Hi,
Quinn, Daria, Brittany. I’m sure you are aware of Anders’ interview?”
“We
we’re just talking about it,” Quinn said, indicating Brittany.
She
looked at Daria. “I’m certain that it is a fake SpiderGirl.”
“I
agree. I’m trying to get a hold of video footage to have a look at it myself,”
Daria said.
“We
need to talk about it.”
“Sure,
but the play is about to resume,” Daria said.
“Of
course,” Peterson said. “I’ll wait.”
As
the play resumed. Sandi called other students again, asking if they had taped
the interview.
“I
haven’t,” Phillippa Bynon answered. “But maybe you could try the members
of the AV Club.”
“Oh,
why didn’t I think of that?” Sandi asked rhetorically in an annoyed tone as she
grabbed the yearbook again.
“You
just didn’t think about it?” Philippa asked with a chuckle.
“Probably,”
Sandi considered. “Here they are. Edward Mayer, Samara Collins, Natalie Grey…”
“That’s
enough, I’ll try Samara,” Philippa interrupted.
“Are
you sure?” Sandi asked.
“Yes.
I can look in my own yearbook.”
“Of
course.”
“Let’s
see, Edward Mayer…” Sandi considered. “I think he’s that Head guy,” she
murmured as she looked through her contact book. His number wasn’t there. But
Natalie Grey’s was.
Natalie
Grey had already received several calls about the fake SpiderGirl. She was
tired, thus she sighed when her mother handed her the corded phone again. “It’s
really blowing up isn’t it?” she asked.
“Yes!”
Natalie said. She waited for her mother to leave the room before answering. “I
know about the fake SpiderGirl!”
“Good,”
Sandi said. “Because this is related.”
“How?”
“You’re
in the AV Club, right?”
“Yes,”
Natalie asked. ‘What is Sandi up to?’
“I’m,
Like, wondering if you or someone else had taped the interview?”
“I
didn’t, unfortunately. You want to use it as evidence.”
“Yes.”
“Ed
probably did.”
Sandi
hung up and looked at the students in the AV Club again. “May as well get Ed
out of the way.”
It
turned out that Ed was at the play. ‘I’ll call him later, then, or maybe Daria
will.’
Samara
Collins was reading when the phone called.
“It’s
for you,” her mother said.
“Who
is it?” she asked.
“Someone
named Philippa.”
“Phillipa
Bynon?” she asked herself. “I’ll talk to her.”
“…Yes,
I did record it. I was sure that whatever her big interview was would be
important. Like I didn’t think it was a fake SpiderGirl at first, but
once others told me. But why do you want tit?”
“It’s
not me, it was Sandi Griffin,” Phillipa said. “And probably Daria
Morgendorffer.”
“I
know that Daria has been investigating what’s going on. I’ll call Sandi and
then head to the Historia with the tape and give it to Daria as soon as
tonight’s performance is finished.”
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