Hank and Barb, decided it was for the best if Max made appearance at school on Friday. They were reassured with his condition being stable and all, nothing unusual would happen. Considering Phoebe would be keeping an eye on him to avoid Max from doing anything out of character or strange enough to garner suspicions.
Protests were in order but a stern glare from her mother made her realise her position before giving in.
- Line Break -
The walk to school was weird in Phoebe's opinion. Normally Max would gloat about some genius invention or his good looks [Which she sometimes couldn't deny] or try to annoy the hell out of her.
But here they were silently trudging to school with Max cool and collected occasionally stealing glances at Phoebe.
Phoebe reeled in her thoughts and focused more on reaching the educational institution [School].
On other matters Phoebe inwardly groaned for a very good reason known to her.
As an average straight A grader Phoebe was considered the epitome of both intelligence and beauty, an all in one package as some lowlife high school jocks sometimes refer to her as such.
These came in forms of three.
Phoebe clearly remembers the routinized approaches towards her. A reminiscent look is on her face knowing how it occasionally plays out.
It starts with Ned Grayson, a fashionista of the highest caliber, dressed in overly large garbs which always causes Phoebe to shiver in disgust. Ned always struts towards Phoebe with a pep in his walk before complimenting her choice of clothing, blowing her a kiss before strutting away with a mock bow. [One would question whether he's straight].
Next was Tobias Schultz, the blue eyed German boy with long wavy blonde hair. He carelessly whips his long hair in her direction as it dangles on his shoulder. He addresses her in his native language clueless as to Phoebe who doesn't understand anything he says. He, with no shame grabs Phoebe's hand and plants a wet [disgusting] kiss on her hand before leaving with his hair dangling mid back.
Lastly but not least was Hayden Kloppman.
The most shameless teenage boy she ever met.
He had short black hair, broad shoulders and an almost massive built [Though she had the sneaking suspicion that it was steroids he used]. But even she couldn't side glance the immense strength he possessed.
He roughly pushes anyone out of his way as he trudges in retrospect towards Phoebe with his head confidently held high. If he by any chance finds her with Cherry it always ends up with her best friend running away due to offensive insults hurled her way as Hayden claims his and Phoebe's affiliation has to be done in private seemingly forgetting that they were surrounded by students in the hallways and corridors. He invades her personal space by moving into her figure blatantly.
He runs a hand through her hair which often at times he does not so gently.
He concludes with a hug [Its at times like these she's tempted to use her powers, preferably telekenisis] which Phoebe allows but always prevents his hands from trotting down to her bum. After that he leaves not before successfully and sneakingly planting a kiss on her cheek which she wipes feverishly moments after.
One thing she despises is the type of cheap cologne he uses. The strong odor stench attaches itself on her clothes which proves difficult to wash off.
That's how Phoebe's day starts.
On an ordinary of course.
But not today.
Why?
The answer is simple
...Max.
- School -
Reaching school Phoebe grimaced as Max opened the door for her. Yes she was annoyed but didn't voice her displeasure. She just wished he would leave her for at least just 5 minutes.
"I'll meet you by your locker in a few" was all he said as he moved towards his locker causing Phoebe to smile knowing he adhered to her wish without voicing it.
She reached her own locker skillfully walking around the crowd of students who had no sense of direction whatsoever.
She saw a frustrated Cherry standing in front of her own locker arm crossed glaring at her said locker.
"Uh, hi Cher', what' you doin'?" Phoebe greeted as Cherry turned towards her with a sour expression.
"Oh, hi Pheebs" she offered weakly before turning back to glare at her locker.
Phoebe rolled her eyes at this knowingly. "So, mind telling me why you're glaring at your locker?" she asked.
Cherry turned to her. "Yes, for some reason I can't seem to remember the password to my locker," she said now pouting. ", and I tried every password I last entered to no avail."
Phoebe smiled at her gullible fruit named friend before opening her own locker. "Tried your birth-date yet?" she asked hand retrieving random books from her locker.
"Actually I didn't.." Phoebe heard Cherry fumbling with her locker until a sudden click resounded. "Yes!..It worked! Thanks Bestie." she said hugging Phoebe before turning to her own locker.
Phoebe closed hers and stood waiting for Cherry to finish.
Cherry turned and gazed past Phoebe and waved. "Hi Max..!" she waved enthusiastically.
Phoebe confusedly trailed her friend's gaze. She almost had a panic attack as her brother stood wordlessly behind her, so close that her figure would fit into his' like a puzzle if she inched back a bit.
She shifted beside Cherry and glared at him. "Max what are doing standing behind me so ominously?" she asked holding her two books to her chest.
Max chose to ignore her and faced Cherry. "Cherry." he offered surprising both Phoebe and Cherry.
"Y..you remember my name!" she practically yelled smiling from ear to ear.
Max smirked. "Of course, who'd forget such a pretty face such as yours?"
"Y-you think I'm pretty?" she stuttered.
Phoebe stood there watching her brother converse with her best friend ignoring the sting in her chest.
Max nodded. "Yes, you have this vague innocuous yet pretty looks even I can't deny" he admitted with a straight face.
Cherry was blushing tremendously. Phoebe swore she never saw that much red on a person's face.
"T-thank you M..max," Cherry whispered enough for him to hear. ", I-I uh, gotta go!" with that Cherry was gone.
Phoebe glared at Max before hitting him halfheartedly on the arm.
"Why'd you lie to my friend?" she asked.
"I didn't, in all factualness I was merely just stating facts" he said.
The sting in Phoebe's chest deepened. She held her books tightly pressing them against her chest. [A habit she acquired on occasions when she felt downtrodden or dejected].
"Did you really mean what you said about Cherry?"
He sighed. "Yes, why is that so hard to believe?"
'Because you're Max and Max never compliments a girl before pranking or making fun of her or better yet he doesn't at all, nevertheless Cherry.' was what she wanted to say but ignored her wayward thoughts. Instead her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own and spoke on her behalf.
"Because you declare to care for me yet you go spewing compliments around!" she bit out. That came out wrong. It was her inadvertently admitting she was jealous. Her eyes glanced around, hopefully no one heard her.
Max eyed her evenly with risen eyebrows. "You are confusing at times you know, they claim that you're my twin sister yet I feel this unnatural yearn for you.." Phoebe looked away her face warming up. "..and I won't deny that I'm attracted to you, the reason is I don't remember anything about you hence I don't know how to act when I'm around you, I feel you annoyed at my presence for some reason, its so obvious yet I don't voice it.." he slightly paused seeing her wanting to refute his claims.
"Max! That's not-" she got cut off.
He waved her off. "..its okay, I'm not complaining or anything, I just want you to tell me when you need space for yourself, I want to get to know you not impose on your person alright..?" he asked eyeing her evenly.
Phoebe was nearly in tears as she attentively listened to him.
"A-alright, I'll try" she answered nodding as he grasped her hand into his intertwining them not caring who was watching.
"Cherry may be pretty, but you're much more special.." it was at this moment Phoebe would have laughed knowing Max would never say that to her but chose not to knowing he actually was serious and her heart was in agreement with the under meaning of his words. "..even the flawless beauty you possess has nothing to do with the fact that you're unique" he made it sound so surrealist that it wasn't 'cheesy' in any sense.
They gazed fondly into each other's eyes. The thoughts that ran through their minds were wrong by default but the human mind tends to do that.
This was a beautiful scene in a Reader's imaginative perspective. [You! I meant you, the reader].
But as all other moments they had come to an end.
"Hey Pheebs!" there he stood. In all his oversized jacket and trousers glory.
Ned Grayson.
"Wow! Darling, your jean..its to die for.." he said eyeing Phoebe waist down. "..and your loose top, it leaves nothing to the imagination." he said averting his eyes towards her chest until he caught movement next to Phoebe.
He met Max's scathing glare which scared him shitless.
"O-oh," he gulped. "I'll be leaving now, since then Phoebe dear!" he announced bowing and leaving hastily.
Phoebe was bewildered watching the retreating figure of Ned Grayson. "Wow, he sure was in a hurry."
"Phoebe! Wie heißt du?" Tobias Schultz appeared suddenly whipping his hair in the process greeting her with his strong German accent. Not giving her chance to reply he started. "Mein gelieft-" his hand outstretched in hopes of clasping hers for an innuendo kiss.
He felt a vice grip on his hand and winced glancing towards Max and immediately recognised him. He knew Max through his transfer buddy Wolfgang. And he was the last person he wanted to trifle with. [Wolfgang often exaggerated Max's pranks deeming them deadly].
"Will you be bothering her anytime soon?" Max asked. The German welp had to understand what he was trying to portray.
"N..nein!" Max took that as a no and released his hand.
Tobias flailed it around eliciting snickers from student who passed by noticing his predicament.
"Now scram." and scram Tobias did, blonde hair whisping behind him.
"Do they always do this?" Max asked now facing Phoebe who nodded. "And you didn't stop this before why?"
Phoebe shrugged. "I don't know okay..I find them amusing at times." she lied.
Max blinked before glancing at his wrist watch. "We still have 11 minutes before the bell rings prior the first period, wait here, I'll be back" he announced seemingly disappearing in the crowd of teenagers not waiting for a response.
Phoebe missed his presence immediately but stood her ground nonetheless her thoughts wandering randomly.
She stood there for a while before an indignant smell hit her nose.
"Hey Phoebelicious!" Hayden Kloppman announced his presence wrapping his large arms around her smaller figure from behind with his cheek rubbing hers in an affectionate manner.
"Uh-hey..Hayden" she said unenthusiastically face scrunching of disgust having smelled his morning breath.
"Why do I get the feeling you aren't so enthralled on seeing me?" he asked reclasping from Phoebe as she faced him.
"Uuh, whatever do you mean?" She said too hastily smiling up a front.
He eyed her apprehensively before leaning in.
"Perhaps you got a new wuss to satisfy you in ways I don't right, that's it right?" he asked paranoia settling in.
"N-no I'm not seeing anyone, you got it all wrong." she couldn't help the mishaps in her grammar.
"Prove it then?" he asked smirking.
"Prove it.." she repeated. "Prove what?"
"That you aren't seeing anyone." Phoebe could see a horrifying grin replace the smirk.
"How do I prove that?" she asked feeling constricted by standing between him and her locker with her back against said locker.
"Simple.." he leaning in further his breath hitting her face. ",Kiss me" Phoebe blanched as he uttered those two words.
"No!" It was more of an automatic affront which Hayden immediately took offence to ignoring the students who stole glances at the scene but wisely chose not to interfere.
"Hmph, I don't recall you having a choice did I?" he bit out forcefully glaring at Phoebe slamming his hand threateningly next to her head on the locker behind her.
Those who noticed the demeaning fiasco didn't interfere but hoped someone did something for Phoebe's sake.
No-one noticed a certain blonde seemingly disappear in a haste.
He shoved his figure into hers ignoring Phoebe's pleas and revolting expressions as she struggled to push him back which proved naught considered his hulking figure wasn't just for show.
Phoebe's mind delved into Safe Mode as fear agonizingly coated her heart really considering her welfare as Hayden's face leaned in.
She stopped struggling a seconds ago knowing the inevitability of her actions.
In the corner of her eyes she noticed how gathering learners sent her sympathetic looks but did nothing to help her. She didn't blame them. Everyone practically feared the ground Hayden walked on.
She closed her eyes feeling his breath hit her face.
Their noses brushed.
The cuticle skin covering their lips touched.
That was as far as it could get as Hayden was roughly yanked off of Phoebe and into the opposite wall.
Phoebe felt a distortion in the air but paid it no mind. She waited their lips to meet yet nothing... until she opened her eyes.
Phoebe blinked.
And blinked again.
There was Max standing before her looking slightly agitated sending her a disappointed look.
She heard a groan from behind him and cast a glance behind her brother.
There was Hayden sprawled against the wall in an uncomfortable position.
She averted her gaze back to her twin not uttering a single word.
So maybe it wasn't easily comprehensive for someone of Hayden's stature to effortlessly be thrown nevertheless hefted.
Shaking her head she came face to face with Max.
He eyed her. "Are you okay?" he asked standing before her ignoring the guffawed stares by random individuals around them. "Or were you simply indulging yourself in his amusement as the other two?" he asked with sass.
She looked back at Max, then back at a rising Hayden surrounded by bewildered students who turned into a crowd obviously anticipating the enivatible fight about to take place knowing that was a blow to Hayden's pride which he wouldn't let easily slide.
"Max! You have to leave! Its not safe!" she cried holding him by his shoulders sending him a frightened look.
"Why?" he asked lowly.
"You don't understand! I know you want to protect me but I don't want you getting hurt either!" she offered wide eyed.
"Nuh-uh my Phoenix.." Hayden announced standing up nursing the ache at the back of his head due to it meeting the wall first. "This wuss just asked for a kloppin'!" he declared hoping to surprise Max with his back turned to him.
The flying fist was caught just as fast as it was sent.
Max glared hatefully up at Hayden [Hayden was a foot taller than Max].
"Max please! Don't get involved-" Phoebe pleaded.
"Something I should have done a long time ago the minute he laid eyes on you" was all he said squeezing Hayden's fist feeling knuckle-bones break under the pressure as the surrounding crowd winced having heard the cracking knuckles.
"Arggh! I'll kill you!" Hayden declared directing his uninjured fist towards Max's right cheek.
Max dodged releasing the grip on Hayden's fist before dodging the punch by strutting low only to rise nanoseconds later headbutting Hayden in the process.
No one said a word concerning the one sided fight.
Hayden cursed incoherently staggering backwards nursing his broken nose as his knees bent a bit which Max capitalised on.
He footed on Hayden's knees and maneuvered his legs over his neck and threw himself backwards seemingly free falling but considering he was shorter than Hayden he sent small telekenisis waves to the floor to stabilize himself and used his legs to throw Hayden into the lockers next to an unsuspecting Phoebe who squeeked away in time avoiding collision.
Max dusted himself off and faced the crowd.
Everyone was slack jawed silently star-gazing at him eyes flickering from an unconscious Hayden back to him.
Everyone was silent. But it was understandable. Max Thunderman defeated Hayden Kloppman singlehandedly within what-5 minutes.
That's when one random student started clapping and it wasn't long before the rest mimicked his actions. Claps resounded within the hallways as everyone cheered for one Max Thunderman.
Said Thunderman turned facing his female counterpart who rushed at him arms clasping around his neck as he returned her notion around her waist.
Phoebe eyes closed, rested her head atop his shoulder holding him tighter. No words needed to be exchanged.
The hug lasted far too long passing familial grounds. Which Max realised as he released her.
"How?" she asked eyeing him hands clasping his.
"Cherry" was all she needed to hear.
She nodded smiling appreciatively at him before pulling him into another hug which the surrounding crowd coed at seeing the display of affection.
The bell suddenly rang, blaring louder than the previous ring but was ignored as Max was yanked from Phoebe's possessive grasp surprising her.
The crowed cowed in as Max was hefted on top of clutching hands throwing him up before falling into ready hands.
The crowed moved further the hallway seemingly hollering, the repetitive process of throwing Max into the air still in play as Phoebe smiled trudging after the crowd meeting up with Cherry on the way as rhythmic hollering of Thunder Max! Thunder Max! reverberated throughout the corridors.
- Madeline Dobber, Head of School Editorial Magazine -
The hallway was clear of anyone except the downed form of one Hayden Kloppman.
Madeline whipped a camera out of her purse and snatched photo's of Hayden's pitiful state with a satisfied smirk of her own.
"There.." she said putting the away as she retrieved a small notepad and pen from her purse. "Now, for an editorial heading.." she muttered tapping the pen on her red lips eyes narrowed the gears in her mind turning.
Her eyes widened momentarily as she opened the note pad and furiously scrambled on a blank page subconsciously biting her bottom lip.
She finished and smiled deviously tugging a strand of raven hair behind her ear. "The Fall Of Kloppman" she ominously said with a far away look which lasted for a few seconds. She sighed contently before trudging hastily after the crowd.