The bell sounded signalling the end of the day and salvation from a supremely boring history lesson, Mrs McKenzie was a sweet woman but boring as hell. Walking through the crowded halls Max heard someone calling for help, she turned to Original Cindy who had obviously not heard a thing because she was still talking about what she was going to wear to the barbeque this weekend, Max changed direction so suddenly it took OC a while to realise she was talking to no one.
Focusing onto the sound above the din of the crowd Max made her way towards the gym and the more deserted hallways of the east wing of the building, the source of the scream becoming visible as she rounded a corner. In front of her three big burley eleventh graders had a small ninth grade kid pinned up against some lockers.
"Pay up you runt, you're a week late with our allowance!" Walter spat, Max had caught these three shaking down a couple of ninth graders for their cash a few weeks back and had let them off with a warning, now she would have to teach the morons a lesson.
"My dad's been out of town," a small voice whimpered, "I'll have it for you tomorrow." the boy's attackers shifted slightly to reveal the whimpering boy being slammed against the lockers behind him, Max recognised the brown hair and blue cap that belonged to Sal, one of her good friends.
Max's arrival went unnoticed by the group and leaning casually against the lockers on the opposite side of the wall she made her presence known.
"What did I say was going to happen if I caught you terrorising kids again?" she asked casually. Walter spun round to face her, his cheeks flushed with anger
"I wouldn't know," he replied haughtily, "Don't listen to stupid little threats made by stupid little girls."
"Well that is a pity," Max replied idly rolling back her sleeves, "'cause if you had listened I wouldn't have to kick your ass."
"Ha! YOU kick MY ass!" he scoffed, "YOU and what army?"
"Trust me I could take your fat ass out without even breaking a sweat but as far as armies go why don't you try them on for size?" she smiled at him sweetly gesturing towards the entire basketball team who had just emerged from the gym. They stood there with their arms crossed staring Walter down, although he was bigger than a ninth grader each guy there was at least a head taller than him and he did not like his odds.
"I thought so," Max smiled again, taking his silence as surrender, "Sal, come here." The boy stepped gingerly out of the human wall that surrounded him to go stand next to max, then an idea hit her.
"Sal, you still got those permanent markers you always carry around?" she asked
"Yeah, why?" he asked perplexed
"Could I borrow them for a second?"
Before Walter knew what hit him, Max pinned him against the wall with her hand covering his mouth, she turned to his two companions while maintaining her hold on Walter
"Why don't you two show that you can function as individuals and get out of here? Now!" she snapped when they made no move to leave, they disappeared round the corner seconds later and she turned back to Walter
"The last time I warned you," she said casually uncapping one of the markers, "you didn't listen, so this time I hope you get the message, permanently!" Clearly across his forehead in bold block capitals she wrote BULLY in permanent marker and fight though he may he couldn't loosen her grip. When she was done she let him slide down the wall furiously trying to wipe off what was written on his forehead,
"Now Walter, if I EVER see or hear about you shaking down youngsters again," she told him walking towards the team and Sal who had joined them, "a little marker is going to be the least of your worries."
"You little…" Walter began, lunging for Max only to be blocked by Logan, Krit then most of the Basketball team. Logan grabbed Walter by his collar,
"That warning goes double for us, and I suggest you get out of here now before we pummel you for trying to hit a girl!" he hissed throwing Walter towards Krit who assumed Logan's previous hold on him,
"And if you EVER try and hurt my sister again, I'll break every bone in your body." Krit's tone was deadly serious as he shoved Walter down the hallway which his friends had escaped.
When Max emerged out the main entrance with Sal and the entire basketball team in tow Original Cindy rolled her eyes,
"Walter just passed me madder than a drag queen out of make-up, I take it that's your handy work boo?"
"You know my stuff." Max joked joining her friend on the hood of Krit's jeep
"Permanent marker?" Cindy asked casually
"Yep"
"You probably gonna get locked up for that shit"
"I know but I couldn't just let him bag on the young blood now could I?"
"True dat"
"If you two are quite finished can we go now?" Krit interrupted shooing the pair off his hood
"Yeah, aiight hot boy, take a chill." Cindy said climbing into the car
"Race ya home." Krit said playfully as he hoped in the driver's seat
"You're on!" Max replied straddling her baby, slipping on her riding glasses and gunning the engine. She gave the pair in the jeep a quick wink before she pulled off down the parking lot.
Update soon...