The rest of the day went pretty smoothly, and Max used his free time to refocus himself. Using the notepad in his work phone he developed what he believed could work as a new schedule, incorporating school, track practice, and work. In addition to that he sent a text out to Draco letting him know to meet him in the morning.


    The bell rang signaling the end of school, and Max casually made his way back to Mrs. Kilbert''s room. Detention was usually one to two hours, but he was hoping Mrs. Kilbert would go easy on Ava since it was the first day of school, and she is a new student. Max took his time heading toward the classroom, allowing all the students in the school to file out.


    As he turned the corner to the hallway, he saw Ava, the only student present leaning against the locker outside Mrs. Kilbert''s door, she immediately saw Max, and started to walk in his direction.


    "Is this your doing?" She asked.


    Ava held a slip of paper up between two fingers. It was the detention slip that Mrs. Kilbert had given her earlier, and this time it had a large red x crossed through from end to end.


    "Huh," Max said, "Maybe."


    It was clearly because of Kacey, perhaps as a show of good faith? Max imagined Kacey pleading Mrs. Kilbert asking her to rescind Ava''s detention. If it was any other student, it probably would''ve gone on deaf ears, but Kacey was a golden child, and that came with certain perks.


    The two made their way outside, and both students immediately placed their hands inside of their pockets. The sky was a bleak gray, and the wind icier than St. Hope''s floors.


    Max caught sight of a few of his classmates. Lily, and Richard were getting on a bus while Kacey, Jess and a third friend got inside an expensive-looking vehicle.


    He also saw the boy with the camera making his way toward the railroad tracks. Now that Max thought about it he''d seen him a couple of times before on his way to school.


    ''Must be nice.'' He thought.


    He also saw the boy with the camera making his way toward the railroad tracks. Now that Max thought about it he''d seen him a couple of times before on his way to school.


    The two hit the sidewalk and started walking toward 4th.


    "This is the way to the general store," Ava said, "so what? We''re scouting?"


    "I''m also shopping," Max quipped.


    It was true, Madam Vine did ask him to pick up some more supplies today. He usually went to a store closer to home, but figured he could knock out two, no, three birds with one stone. He could do some scouting before the hit at the end of the week, get to know Ava a bit more, and pick up the supplies for the orphanage.


    "We both know why you asked to talk to me so get to it." Ava said unflinchingly. There was a hint of annoyance in her voice, it was as if she needed to be somewhere else.


    "First, you should leave Kacey alone. Don''t talk to her unless you absolutely have to. You''re lucky you got out of detention." Max said.


    "So, what you''re really saying is ''I''m sorry Ava, when you asked me whether there was anything to be cautious about instead of waving you off, I should''ve carefully thought through the question, and answered you.'' Do I have that right?" She asked mockingly.


    Max stopped, "to be fair, when she asked you if you wanted to join the cheer-leading squad you could''ve just said no. How was I supposed to know you''d give an unhinged response?"


    "Did you see the look they were all giving me? If I''d answered politely, it wouldn''t have stopped them from asking me over, and over, and over again. A clear, and direct message was necessary."


    "And look where it got you." Max countered, "You were about to spend-"


    "Do you think I''m incapable of doing something as simple as getting out of detention? I''m not Draco."


    ''So maybe Kacey isn''t the reason she got out...hmm''


    This was almost worse than arguing with Gabby, and not because Ava was wrong, but because her logic was sound; sure, Max disagreed with it wholeheartedly but the more he spoke with her the more he realized how different they were. At this point he had a pretty good guess on what Ava''s weakness was.


    "I''m not underestimating you," Max said continuing to walk, and Ava did the same, matching his pace.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    "Let''s change the subject then, are you sure you''re up for this job?" Max asked.


    "I don''t know," Ava said almost sarcastically, "what''s it like?" She asked, "how did you get involved?"


    She leaned a bit closer into Max, and glared at him with her emerald eyes. Her smile was devilish in nature as she had no real interest in Max''s answers. Max knew that she knew that he was trying to learn more about her, and Ava planned on playing coy.


    Max shrugged, "Like some, I turned to this for the benefits. Fast cash, protection, etcetera etcetera, as for what''s it like, well," Max thought for a moment, "well it ranges from a full wallet on its best day to being broke on your worst."


    Max figured this was an apt response; not very detailed, and incredibly generic. If Ava wanted to be reserved, he could be too.


    Ava did nothing but nod her head in response, but she was smirking the whole time. It was Max who wanted information, not her.


    "So how did you hear about us anyway?" Max asked.


    "The news."


    "That''s not what I meant..." Max sighed. He rephrased the question, "How did you end up joining?"


    "I don''t want to talk about it," Ava replied sharply.


    Max smiled, "You know when to shut up, then how about something you would be more willing to talk about. What do you think about Draco?"


    Ava''s face twisted like a knot, and her body tensed in both anger and fear.


    "When we met, he kept talking about how he just cleaned out his backpack."


    "What?"


    "He said he used to keep people inside of it, the thing is I couldn''t tell if he was joking or not."


    "Draco strikes me as the kind of person with a sick sense of humor," Max said, "I wouldn''t worry about it too much."


    The thought of it was silly to Max. For a teenager Draco was below average in height, and weight, and given his social skills anyone he could harm would see the red flags long before it happened. Not to mention the fact that people couldn''t actually fit in back packs. It was stupid, sick, but stupid, nonetheless.


    "Anyway," Ava said, "just keep an eye on him and have a backup plan in case he gets out of control."


    Max didn''t need Ava to tell him that. He had already been working on contingency plans for both Draco, and Ava. Of course, the easiest solution would be to go straight to Raguel, but he preferred to do things on his own.


    Max tried to change the subject, "Forget all this work stuff for a bit, why don''t you tell me about yourself?"


    "I''d rather not."


    "And I don''t blame you." Max said, "Tell you what, to make this more fair I have an idea."


    Ava looked up at him curiously.


    "There''s a little game people use to get to know each other called two truths and a lie. Pretty self-explanatory, we each state two facts and a lie about ourselves, and then we take turns guessing the lie." Max explained.


    "Alright," She agreed. The girls expression changed for once "you start."


    Max thought for a moment. "Let''s see... I have a little sister, I''m actually a straight A student, and the Archangels didn''t test me."


    Ava looked Max over, scrutinizing every inch of him from his facial expressions down to his body language; Max felt like prey being observed before its demise, he would be lying if he said her eyes didn''t make him uncomfortable.


    "If I can correctly guess the lie does that mean I get a free question?" She asked.


    Max raised a brow, "Sure why not. We can raise the stakes, only if you''re willing to do the same that is," Max smiled.


    "Well, you did say this was a game, and games have winners, and losers." She remarked. "The Archangels didn''t let you join without some kind of test, obviously."


    "Made it too easy for you," Max laughed. "No problem, I''ll be sure to up the ante a bit from now on. So, what''s your question?"


    "Why did you really join the gang?" She asked.


    "I needed money and they offered. That''s all there is to it. Specifically, I needed to pay for something."


    "And what was it you needed to pay for?"


    "You really think I''d let you get away with asking a second question?" Max asked.


    She ignored that. "I never attended Riverview Academy, I''ve studied martial arts," She placed a finger on her lip as she pondered her last statement, "I dislike sports."


    Max chuckled, "You expect me to believe your home-schooled just like Draco? No, you did in fact attend Riverview Academy. That''s the lie."


    ''There''s also the fact that she told everyone as much in class earlier. Was she expecting me to believe she''d already lied earlier?''


    "That''s right." Ava conceded.


    "So why did you transfer schools?" Max asked.


    Ava''s eyes flickered with a wild intensity that Max hadn''t anticipated. Her fingers gripped the sleeves of her coat, and her walking became more labored.


    "The people there, the atmosphere, everything about it was like a cage. I needed to get out."


    "You seem smart, I''m surprised someone like you could feel trapped."


    "It''s not just that, it''s about what I was becoming. I didn''t like it." Ava explained, "Anyway, it''s your turn, tell your lies."


    "Let''s see," Max said with a smirk, I did say I''d up the ante a bit so, let''s go with... My favorite color is green, I''ve never hit a woman, dogs are my favorite animal."


    "You''ve never hit a woman."


    "You got me," Max chuckled.


    "I thought you said the question would be more difficult this time. I''m disappointed Red." Ava said, she was smiling now. That was an odd sight, but one he welcomed.


    It was also the first time Ava called him by name. Sure, it was Red, and not Max, but that was the form that their relationship would take, one between boss and associate, not friends, and that''s what Max wanted, a sense of respect, and this was a step in that direction.


    "Let''s see," her eyes were forward now, peering into the foggy road ahead, "What can you tell me about your sister?"


    Max flinched, it was as if a small knife began to dig its way under his skin, crawling around like an insect agitating everything it touched. He hated this question, and for a brief moment he hated Ava too for asking it. It didn''t make any sense, she had the opportunity to ask about anything, why pick his sister? He didn''t expect this line of questioning.


    "Oh, did I strike a nerve?" She asked, turning toward him, her face neutral and uncaring.


    "No," Max said, facing the fog ahead like Ava was just a moment ago, "We were separated when we were younger, she''s probably doing okay now."


    "Hmmm," Ava touched her lip again, she seemed disappointed for some reason.


    "Were you expecting a different answer?" Max asked.


    "You said you were doing this for the money, and after you mentioned your sister, I thought that was the reason, guess I was wrong."


    "Guess you were," Max confirmed.