Chapter 3

I woke up again but this time light was slightly peeking through the blinds I looked at my watch it read 8:00.

That's better I thought.

Taylor yawned again and sat up. She looked down where she was lying then followed until she was looking right in my eyes. She blushed then turned away.

"Oh gosh," she said. "Max, I'm so sorry you must have been here all night."

"Yeah, but it was fine I slept well. You?"

She turned back. "Pretty good. Are you sure it was fine?"

"Yes I'm sure I just laid my head on.." I paused. Would it be weird if she found out that I put my head on hers?

" On?"

I blushed and turned away."Never mind."

She grabbed my hand. "Max..."

I looked at my hand then into Taylor's stunning blue eyes.

"If you just laid your head on mine, that's okay you know that right?"

"Are you sure?"

She smiled. "Well it wouldn't be the worse thing that would've on my head."

I smiled back "I guess so."

"Hey, what time is it?" she turned and looked at the clock on her dresser. 8:05. "Max."

"Yeah?"

"What time does class start?"

"8:10. Why are you asking-" I suddenly realized what predicament we were in. Class was on the other side of the campus it would take at the least five minutes running.

"Aw, Crud!"

"Hurry!" Taylor exclaimed. "Go and get ready." she ran to the door and opened it for me. I ran out and ran to my dorm as fast as I could. I threw open the door, slammed it shut and got changed faster than I thought I could. I grabbed my mouse and keypad and ran out into the hall and towards Taylor's dorm. She was waiting already fully dressed.

"Let's go!" I said as I came up to her. We both ran side by side to get to class. the halls still had some kids lingering in the halls while they were walking to their own classes. We ran past Calhoun's office. " Mr. Ross!" he yelled.

Both Taylor and I came to a screeching halt. a turned around to see a very upset Calhoun. "May I see you in my office for a moment?" he asked.

I gulped. "Yes sir." I walked slowly. I looked behind me to see Taylor giving me a sympathetic look.

Help me! I mouthed.

I wish I could. she mouthed back.

After I walked in Calhoun closed the door behind me. I never got called to Calhoun's office what did I do wrong? Could someone have told him that I slept in Taylor's dorm? But technically I didn't sleep with her. Why would I? I wouldn't unless we were... I pushed that back. Too young to think about that Max, Too young.

Calhoun walked behind his desk. "Do you know why you're here ?"

"No Sir." I said.

"Tell me your opinion on hacking."

"I hate it, anyone that does it is a noob."

"Then I guess you're a noob."

I gave him a confused look "What are you talking about?"

He turned his screen around. "According to this you are the top ranked player in VGHS."

I looked at the screen. Stunned I couldn't believe it. Sure enough my profile. With my Name: Max Ross, my username: Maximus. and my picture. How could this be? I'm not even remotely close to the top.

"Care to explain?" Calhoun asked.

"Uh..I don't know sir." I said. "When did this happen?"

"Not sure but the power went out for a few minutes last night that's when I suspect it happened."

"About what time...did the power go out?"

"Around 8:05,"

"Well I was in my dorm resting before...anyway I was resting at that time."

"Resting before what?"

I didn't say anything I just looked down.

"Before what?!" he said louder.

"I went to play games with Taylor!"

" Ms. Chambers?"

"Yes sir. Taylor Chambers"

He sighed. "Well until we find out who this was we're holding you responsible and the punishment is expulsion."

"What?" I asked shocked.

"We don't deal with hackers lightly here at VGHS. You're on the top of the list of prime suspects."

"What about someone else?"

"Do you have any idea who might have done it?"

"I don't know! Maybe Law?"

"What does Law have against you?" he asked.

I looked down. He has a point I thought. What would or does he have against me. "I don't know." I said quietly.

"What?" Calhoun asked.

"I don't know!" I practically shouted.

Calhoun stared at me for a moment. I thought I crossed the line. "Very well" he said. "But you're still being held accountable until we figure out who it was."

"Yes sir." I said. "How long do I have?"

"Two Weeks most."

"Yes sir, thank you"

"You may leave. Do you need a note?"

"Yes sir."

Calhoun pulled out a sticky note and quickly scribbled some words on it. "Just give that to your teacher and you'll be fine."

"Thank you sir, have a good day."

"You too Max."

I walked out and closed the door behind me. I saw Taylor standing right there. "You should have gone to class." I said.

She had a small tear swell up in her eye. "I know." she said softly. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me in a hug. "Don't worry," she said. "We'll find who it was. We won't let you get expelled."

Having her comfort me with a hug felt nice. "I know we will, and he or she will not get away with it."

She stepped back for a moment. "That's what I like to hear." Then she stepped back in and we resumed hugging alone in the hallway.

...

We got to class like five minutes later the we should have I handed the teacher the note and chose a seat Taylor didn't have a note so she got marked as tardy and got a warning. She came up and sat next to me.

Today was fighting class. The kind of games like Street fighter or stuff like that.

Taylor leaned over and whispered. "So who do you think it is?"

"I don't know. It could be anyone. But it would be someone who has something against me."

"Like who?"

"I don't know. But Taylor, Can we talk about this later?"

She gave me a sympathetic look and nodded. "Of course, you still must be talking all of this in huh?"

"Yeah, a bit."

I didn't see her do it but Taylor but her hand on my back and started rubbing it. What's going on lately? I thought. Not that I didn't enjoy this sort of attention from her. But I wanted to know what started it. Was it playing video games with her last night? Was it letting her sleep on my shoulder? Was it that I spent the night with her? I didn't know.

"Mr. Ross?" The teacher asked.

That snapped me out of it. "I'm sorry what?" I asked.

The whole classed laughed.

"Daydreaming again Mr. Ross?" the teacher asked.

"Probably about Taylor being his girlfriend." a student said.

The whole class erupted in laughter again. I could feel my face turning redder back the second.

Taylor looked at me. I turned away. She can't know. Not yet.

"Now, now." The teacher said. "What ever Mr. Ross daydreams about is his business and his business only."

"Sorry, Mrs. Colson." I said.

"It's fine Max. Now as I was asking is would you pleas show us how to do a perfect combo in Hero fighter."

"Oh sure," I walked up to the front of the class demonstrated the combo then sat back down.

"Did you all get that?"

"I'm sorry what?" A student said. "I was daydreaming about a girl I have NO chances with,"

The class erupted with laughter once again.

This time I got up and ran out.

Taylor tried to stop me but couldn't "Max!" She said. "Come back."

But I didn't I ran straight to my dorm and locked the door behind me. I needed be alone for a while.