okay! Helenaride, you win! your guess was "I think Max or Fang's gang is going to come back and Max is going to get hurt so Fang needs to save her." Exactly right! Many people were off and only one or two were right. But you were right on the dot!! You'll get a special mention in this note (lol) and in the next chapter as a character! Congrats!
"Okay, everyone out to the courtyard!" Barb called out through the halls.
My group was already by the doors so we all left before everyone else. Outside, there were a lot of giant tables. One had shirts. One had skirts/pants. Another had shoes. And then the last had accessories like ties, headbands, etc. There was a small table near the wall of the school and there sat seven people with clipboards. We were to go to them to tell them what we needed. On the other side of the courtyard, there was a backdrop set up along with a camera. We were going to have our pictures taken for the uniforms.
Barb came out, shoving past students, and stood before us all. "Okay! Go out to the tables and choose your uniform! Once you choose everything you want, go into the bathrooms and change. Come back out and get it approved by the people over by the small table and then go for pictures!" She jumped out the way while people went to the tables.
My group took its time.
"Max." Barb called. Half my friends stopped with me, going to wait for me. The people that stopped were Angel, Ella, Nudge, Fang, Iggy, and Gazzy. Everyone else kept going. She came up to us. "You and all of you," she addressed all of us. "Have that special privilege I mentioned before." She went off to the tables to make sure no one ripped each others' throats out.
My group went to the tables. We all immediately started looking. There was actually some good stuff here. I picked all my stuff easily. I chose a black shirt with buttons and the shirt ended mid-thigh. Black skinny jeans to match, they were a lighter shade than the shirt. A blue jean vest went over that, not buttoned. I was going to keep my black Converse and replace the purple laces with blue. I found a tie and thought it would be perfect. It was dark blue and black, striped diagonally. Everyone was required to wear ties. (pic on profile. There's no tie or Converse but the outfit is there)
Iggy found his easily too. He had blue gym shoes that had white laces and white around the bottom and on the toe. Tan pants with a black belt. He chose a white button up and a dark blue blazer. His tie was yellow with dark blue stripes. They were diagonal. (outfit on profile)
Ella, Nudge, and Angel decided to match a bit, getting clothes that looked alike. Ella chose a black pencil skirt and a white blouse. Her tie was grey and black, stripes diagonal. She wore black tights along with black, short heels. Nudge took a white blouse, like Ella, and a mini skirt that was black. It went to mid thigh. She got black tights under those and black flats. Over her blouse, she was going to put a black vest over it. Her tie was the same as Ella's. Angel's uniform was more childish but has sophistication to it. She took a white blouse too but over that was a black dress that ended above the knee. The dress was low cut and had one inch straps. There was a fake belt under her bust. She took the same kind of tie as well. She wore black socks that stopped below her knees. Her shoes were black Mary Janes. (all three outfits on profile. The pic shows 5 girls. Ella is the second from the left. Nudge is on that girl's left- your right- and then Angel is next to her.)
Gazzy took a white button up and black pants. He grabbed black sneakers and a dark green tie. Simply casual.
Fang took a black button up shirt, white wife beater, black pants, and a red and black striped tie. The stripes were diagonal like all the others. He also was keeping his black Converse. He was going to have one shoe have red laces and the other have black.
We all went to the bathrooms and changed. I think I was the only girl who took pants instead of a skirt. As we were getting our clothes approved, it got quiet. There were snickers a few places. We all turned and saw Lissa standing there, head down.
She was wearing a red sweater- a FULL sweater- and a black and red plaid skirt that went a little past the knees. She wore black socks that went to the knees and black flats. Her tie was a ribbon type bow tie. It was black.
I covered my mouth to keep from laughing. It didn't work. You could still hear me laughing. Another hand was placed over mine but it wasn't mine. It was Fang's. He was trying to keep me quiet. It worked a little bit.
After a while, Lissa couldn't take the silence. "Aren't you going to make fun of me?" Lissa directed the question to me.
I looked her up and down. "Nope. Because this time, you aren't doing anything wrong." I answered once Fang removed his hand. "Although, that does suit you, Blowing Ball." I smiled and turned around.
People went back to conversations they were having and choosing outfits. I went up to the table. They approved of everyone and they all went to get their pictures taken when I sent them away. I was having a small argument with a lady.
"Listen, just choose another outfit as a second option for the hot days. Those jeans are going to give you heatstroke on the bad days. You can keep that but have an alternative too." She was being sincere.
"But there aren't any shorts for girls, only skirts." I argued back lightly. I was trying to keep a calm head so I wouldn't hit her.
"Choose a skirt then. You can have leggings on underneath it if you want or you can have a long skirt."
I sighed and went back to the table. Ella was done with her pictures and came over to me with Nudge and Angel who were also done.
"Are you kidding me? She didn't approve?" Ella seemed shocked.
I shook my head. "No, she did. She just wants me to have a second choice for the hot days." I went back to looking.
"Max, can we pick out your other? You can go get your picture taken while we search." Angel bargained.
I nodded and went to take my pictures. They took one of my front, both sides, and back. I felt like I was taking mug shots. All I needed was a piece of paper with my name on it and a number and it would be perfect! (You know, mug shots have your face and then a paper with your name on it…)
I went inside the school to the bathroom where I was supposed to meet up with Angel, Ella, and Nudge. I walked in and saw my outfit. A white blouse, like theirs, a mini skirt that went to mid-thigh. A weird belt that looked pretty cool went with it. Under the skirt were long leggings or stockings. They were black and red and striped, going up and down. A small black jacket went over the blouse and I had a tie matching theirs. My shoes were black, short heels. It wasn't that bad. (in the pic with Ella, Nudge, and Angel's. The one on the farthest left.) I changed into it, got it approved, and took the pictures.
Since I was already wearing it, I decided to wear it for the rest of the day. Today was another free day, like Fancy Day last week. I was walking to my locker to put my other outfit away when I ran into a familiar form. Devin.
He smiled at me. "Oh, hello, Max."
"Hey, Dev. What brings you back?" I put my stuff away and we walked toward the front entrance.
He held out a box. "Here. These are the pictures you wanted."
I shook his hand thanks and he went off to Fang. He handed him a box too. Fang muttered something and Devin left, going to his car. I walked over to Fang.
"Hey," I greeted, holding the box carefully by my side.
Fang looked up at me and then back at the box. He didn't say anything.
My eyebrows drew down. "What's up?" I asked carefully.
He shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing important." He looked down at my uniform and tried to hide a smile. "Nice uniform."
I scowled. "I have another. This is for the hot days. I just think they want me to be more girly."
He chuckled. "Maybe."
I looked up at him and smiled.
"Well, well. Looky here, Max has herself a friend." I heard a familiar voice snarl. My blood ran cold and I froze in place, smile gone. Fang could see the fear in my eyes.
I turned my head to look at them, replacing the fear with as much courage as possible. Everyone was quiet. There were five people standing near the parking lot. Two boys and three girls. They were standing like a pyramid. A girl in front, two boys behind her, slightly outward and two girls behind them the same way. The girl in front was wearing black pants, a black tank top, and a red leather jacket. Her dark brown hair was cut extremely short and looked like it was cut with scissors.
Everyone else sort of resembled that fashion. The guys wore black muscle shirts though and black leather jackets. The other two girls wore the same as the first but their jackets weren't leather.
"Maxie, come on over here. Say hi to your old friends, won't you?" The girl in front said. Her name was Tabitha. Nickname, Tabby-Cat.
I slowly made my way over to them after handing Fang the box. I was shaking but only a little. I was standing a good two feet away from them now so I stopped moving forward. "Tabitha, Henry, Carlos, Angela, Yvonne." I greeted them all with a cold, cutting voice.
I saw Carlos and Yvonne flinch slightly. They hadn't heard my voice in years. Not being used to it scares you.
Tabby frowned. "Maxie, you should know better than to address us by the wrong names." She backhanded my face, whipping it to the side. I didn't do anything back.
"Tabby-Cat, Shredder, Blaze, Avenger, Blade." I greeted them with no emotion, my head still facing the side.
"Lilith." They all greeted me at once.
"I'm not Lilith anymore." I said in a deadly voice. I looked Tabby straight on.
"Lilith, you should watch how you talk to us. Remember what happened last time?" Tabby threatened.
Memories flashed in my eyes. Being grabbed, cut, stabbed, bleeding nonstop, having to crawl to the hospital. It was true that these were the only people who I was terrified of.
"How the hell did you get out of jail?" My voice wavered, for which I was pissed off at. "You were supposed to be locked up for years!"
"Got out on good behavior." She smiled maliciously. "You miss them, don't you? The McGraths?"
Tears started to form in my eyes but I wouldn't let them fall. I didn't speak.
"They disobeyed us. And, well, you know what happened. But they never went against us. What do you think the punishment for that is?" Tabby got right in my face.
I punched her in the face. She stumbled back. "You don't EVER talk about the McGraths! Damn it, Tabs, they were your family!"
"Who are you, to talk to me that way!? I'm the boss, I'm the leader! You do not command the leader! Which is why they are gone!" I stopped dead in my tracks. I had been about to punch her again but I stopped. This was new information. "You were not- and still aren't- allowed to command me! I am above you! To prove it-"
"She killed them." Shredder finished, keeping Tabby upright.
"And it's all your fault." Tabby said in an eerily calm voice.
I lunged for her and punched her, knocking Shredder away from her. We've fought many times before when we were all still together but we always stopped before someone got severely hurt. Not this time. Someone might die.
I punched her and elbowed her gut. Kicked her, hurt her. People were just watching. "I've had to go into hiding because of you people! I've had to give up my whole life because of you! What more torture do you want inflicted on me?!" I screamed at them while punching. Tears were streaming down my face.
Tabby punched my gut and I suddenly felt warm. Her face was close to mine. "Death." She spat. She shoved me off her and stood, a bloody knife in her hand.
I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. All I remember is people screaming bloody murder and Tabby being tackled by a Shadow. Then…everything went black.