It was here that Max and Draco went their separate ways. Max took a look at the clock on his phone, it read 7:15 AM. He needed to keep an eye out for Vivi so that''s what he did. The lockers designated for 10th graders were on the first floor across from the cafeteria, so Max sat outside the doors at a nearby reading area to pass the time.
He was extra cautious and kept an eye out in case Draco or Jess were spying on him, not that it''d make much of a difference.
Kacey might find it interesting that he''d go out of his way to talk to a nobody like Vivi, but there was no reason for him to lie about why. It was simple, he wanted to diffuse any tension between her and Draco. Max considered his deal with Kacey, he''d asked her not to keep an eye on Draco or Ava, but he didn''t add any provision about himself, an oversight on his part but not an important one. If he''d asked not to be spied on it might''ve made her more suspicious, after all there was good reason for Max to defend Draco and Ava, but to add a condition for himself would seem random and out of nowhere especially because he wasn''t being spied on at the time. Jess just so happened to see him with Draco and Ava, but now going forward there''s a chance it''ll be intentional.
Breaking Max out of his thoughts was a quick jab to his sides which Max caught in his peripheral easily enough. He reached up, grabbed Gabby''s hand, and pulled her to his side on the bench, she yelped as he did.
"You really thought the same trick was going to work a second time?" Max asked.
"Oh, Maxito is holding my hand, I wonder why?"
Flustered, Max immediately let go, and turned away.
"You probably should''ve got me from behind like last time."
"But what if I wanted to be caught?" She asked looking at Max playfully.
"Then you''ll end up getting yourself hurt."
"A risk I''m willing to take." She said scooting closer to him.
"A risk I''m not." Max said sharply.
"Why didn''t you tell me you were joining the track team again this year?" She asked.
''Word does travel fast.''
"You''re just as surprised as I am."
Richard, and a few other students from last years team waved at Max and Gabby as they went to their lockers. Still no sign of Vivi.
"Are you joining again this year?" Max asked Gabby.
"Yep, and I''ve improved a lot so watch me run okay?"
Gabby had never been a particularly good runner, but she had potential. During practice she was always pushing herself, often running an extra lap or two after coach blew the whistle. If it''s true, and she trained a lot over the summer then she''ll be a standout on the girls team this year.
"I won''t be at practice all that often so don''t get your hopes up."
Gabby scowled, and squinted her eyes at Max, looking at him as if he was some kind of villain. "Buuut when you are at practice you''ll watch me?"
"Fine."
Gabby smirked as if to say, ''that''s what I thought'' and started rummaging around in her backpack for something. Max thought he caught glimpses of a uniform.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
"By the way Maxito, are you really close to that boy from yesterday? I think his name was Draco."
"He''s an old friend, I''m just helping him adjust to school life."
"He''s a bully." Gabby said. "I have him in a few of my classes. He kept trying to take Autumn''s mask off. You know why she wears that."
Autumn was in their home room, and someone who was lucky enough to avoid Draco''s assault yesterday, but it looks like that didn''t stop him from picking on her in other classes.
"I had a talk with him earlier. He shouldn''t mess with her anymore."
"Just be careful with him, he''s creepy."
"I''ll keep that in mind."
It was at that moment that Max caught sight of Vivi making her way to her locker.
Today she wore a light blue hoodie, the same color as her hair. Without a word to Gabby Max made his way over to Vivi as she opened her locker.
Inside he could see a bottle of foundation miscellaneous school items like rulers, a cup of mechanical pencils among other things. There was also a cute calendar hanging in the back that was ocean themed and a Florida postcard Max was surprised how detailed everything was despite it only being the second day of school.
After grabbing what she needed out of her locker she quickly closed it, and spun around only to see Max looking at her with his arms crossed.
"Vivi right? We need to talk." Max said.
She looked him up and down, almost with contempt. Max figured she already had a bad impression of him, lumping him in with Draco; after all he did go out of his way to defend him yesterday, if it weren''t for Max she would''ve had to deal with a face full of water, but on the other hand that was probably more preferable to spit.
Another oddity was this girls behavior. After Draco was injured she''d offered to take him to the nurse, obviously so she could provoke him or get a rise out of the boy. But she was so thin, and small, there was no way she could handle herself against someone like him.
Up close her hair looked coarse, and dry as if all the moisture had been sucked out of it. Her hands were small, and her nails were a light shade of green.
"As long as it''s on the way to class." She said stepping around Max, walking past him rather quickly.
He caught up to her in an instant. Vivi was a fast walker, but her legs were short making her strides much shorter than Max''s.
"First, what happened with Draco yesterday? I saw the wound you left him, was that really a pencil?" Max asked bluntly.
There was no hint of nervousness or surprise on Vivi''s face, instead there was complete neutrality, as if Max was boring her.
"What else would it be?" Vivi asked.
"I don''t suppose you carry a knife on you."
"Don''t be stupid. That violates at least 50 school rules, and besides someone would''ve seen it."
"No one saw the pencil either."
"So, you waited all morning for me to get to my locker so you can accuse me of something you have no evidence of? Is this all you wanted to talk about?"
Max sighed realizing he may have pushed Vivi too far. He still didn''t buy Vivi''s ''pencil'' story but figuring that out was more about satisfying his own curiosity than anything else.
"No, that''s not what I wanted to talk about. I was just curious is all." The two had just made it up the stairs, and were on the second floor now.
"I wanted to ask you to leave Draco alone."
"Me? I don''t think you''re talking to the right person. Are you sure you don''t have us mixed up?"
"No, forget about yesterday. He won''t be bothering anyone again."
"Ha! What are you his manager or something? Are you going to go around the classroom and apologize to everyone on his behalf too?"
"I just don''t want you provoking him. After what happened yesterday he''s eager to get revenge."
"I don''t see what that has to do with me." Vivi said, almost smiling now as if she reveled in the attention.
"Alright then, let me appeal to your school spirit. Wouldn''t it be disruptive to the class if Ms. Kilbert had to step in every five minutes because you and Draco are fighting?"
Vivi pursed her lips in thought, her face scowling.
"Guess so... but still." The two stopped right outside the classroom. "If he starts anything I won''t show any mercy. Got it?"
"Sure." Max agreed.
Max wasn''t sure what her version of ''no mercy'' meant but he went along with it. If Draco acted up again he wouldn''t protect him, and in addition to that he''d go straight to Raguel to get him removed from his care. For a moment he thought about Dante, and whether his team had a ''Draco'' on it, the thought made him smile a bit.
"I don''t know what you''re smiling about, but that''s just sad." Vivi said motioning to Gabby who was a few feet behind them. It seems she''d followed Max and Vivi up the stairs. She had her arms crossed uncomfortably, and was stealing glances in their direction.
Then without another word Vivi went inside the classroom. Max met Gabby''s eyes for a moment before disappearing into the room as well.