chapter 3-Max
I sat out in the grass again with Nudge and Angel, listening contently as they poured over a fashion magazine. I never had anything like that, or had any interest in it, but I did like when Nudge braided my hair back from my face, but I would never tell her that. I laid out in the grass, not even bothering to wonder what kind of trouble Gazzy and Iggy were getting themselves into. Suddenly Nudge gasped, and I shot up from where I was lying down in the grass, my hat crooked and hanging over one eye.
"What's up?" I asked, and her eyes were bugged out over a picture of another celebrity I didn't recognize.
"Her DRESS is what's up!" She squealed and the magazine shook, and angel just smiled and put her hand down of the magazines shiny page, steadying it so she could read the little blurbs on the side. I chuckled softly, flopping back down on the grass, and Nudge turned her face to me.
"So Maxie..." She said, twirling a piece of her hair around one finger. I groaned and put my hands over my face. She moved her tray and scooted closer to me, hanging over my face.
"Who do you like Max?" I moved my hands away from my face.
"I don't see enough people to like them." I responded plainly, but Angel rolled her eyes.
"Oh please Max." I sat upright, propping myself up on my elbows.
"Well, what about you?" I asked Nudge, whose mocha face flushed. I grinned evilly at her, and she dropped her head in her hands, embarrassed.
"Well?" Angel asked, her delicate face full of excitement. Suddenly Nudges head snapped up, her caramel colored curls flying around her face, but she brushed them away hastily.
"I know! Lets have a sleepover at my house on friday! I'll ask my mom If Iggy and Gazzy can come too." I nodded, but inside I was cheering. My first sleepover, like ever.
"That would be super cool!" I said, bouncing totally uncharacteristically in place on my seat bones.
We cheered and picked up our trays and backpacks, dumping our trays and walked to our next classes. I felt like I had a new line of defense, having new friends, even for just four days. Fang and his jock friends only bothered me when I was alone, and all Maya and her friends only talked behind my back or confronted me alone. For the first time in a long time I felt happy at school.
Nudge waved goodbye to me happily as I turned into my english class, and took my desk at the back of the room. I hunched down in my seat as Nick, Sam and Dylan entered the room, loudly, if anything.
Nick looked straight at me, a smirk forming on his face. I dropped my gaze to my fingers twisting my grey hoodie sleeve. I still saw out of the corner the three of them make their way towards me, and I tried to shrink smaller into my seat, but Nick still slid across my desk and looked an arm around my shoulders. I shrunk smaller, I hated being touched, especially by swollen-headed douches.
"Maxie, haven't seen you in a while. Where have you been babes?" I refused to respond, and just twisted my sleeve some more. Nick tightened his grip on my shoulders and shook me hard, laughing as if I had said something funny.
"Oh jeez Max..." He trailed off. I still refused to respond. I could feel his hand tighten on my thin shoulder, a sign he was tensing up, and my stomach dropped.
"You know, I've never seen her hair, have you, Dylan?" Dylan grunted a no, and Sam only crossed his arms over his chest. Nick reached towards my grey hood, which covered a dark purple beanie. My hands flew to my head, holding my hood down to my head as Nick tried to pull it off. He gripped my wrist and tried to pull my arm away, but his fingers latched around...
I gasped and I flung my body away from him, sprawling across the floor. He laughed and stood up from the desk, but Sam and Dylan looked alarmed.
"What the hell Maxie?" Nick said, confusion over his dark features. He took a step towards me, and I scrambled up from the floor, looking him straight in the face. I looked at him straight in the face, and for the first time, I actually looked him in the face. His eyes were black, not brown, but black. His pupils the same color as his irises, creepy.
"What's wrong Max?" He asked, and concern actually lighting behind his dark eyes. My jaw actually dropped before I clamped it closed again. He wanted to ask me what was wrong, he was my problem! I folded my arms over my chest, looking down at my shoes, just glaring at them. If I had superpowers there would be little holes burned through my shoes.
"What's wrong?" Nick asked gently. And I whipped my head to glare at him, furious.
"You! You're my problem! You always stomp around on me like im your property or something, did you ever consider that maybe I had feelings too!" I hissed, and his eyes narrowed. I straightened up, feeling strong for standing up for myself. Nick just looked back at me, his dark eyes had gone expressionless when I told him he was my problem.
"Max, I.."
"Save it for someone who cares." I spat, cutting him off as I walked around him to my desk in the back as students began to flood into the room. I didn't turn to spare him a glance, but took out my notebook and "Persepolis" book, staring straight ahead.
Adrenaline mixed with my blood from yelling at Nick, and now I was jumpy as Nick and his friends took their spots across the room, but I could still feel their eyes on me. I yanked my sleeves lower over my hands as the teacher entered and started class. I spaced out until the end of class, so I could race to study hall with Gazzy. I looked up from my book to check the board, out of my peripheral vision Nick was staring right at me.
I dropped my head, not wanting him to look at me. I probably made him angry, shoot...why did I do that? I dropped my head down into my arms on the table, wanting to disappear into the floor. The bell rang, signaling next class, and I bolted for the door, but a hand grabbed me by the bicep. I didn't need to look up to see who it was.
"I don't know what you're hiding, But I intend to find out." I ripped my arm out of Nicks hand, hissing,
"You have never known me, and you never will."