Max woke up early the next morning back in her dorm. She wished she could have stayed longer with Chloe last night, but she felt she was already on thin ice with the principal, so she didn't want to risk breaking curfew.
She got a notification from her phone and saw it was from Chloe.
"You awake Max? Let's meet at the diner in 40!" The text said to her.
Max agreed with a smiley face and Chloe was quick to say, "NO EMOJI!", which got a laugh out of her.
She took one whiff of her armpits and knew she needed a shower; she grabbed her shower kit, left her room and saw life was already taking place inside the dorms. Brooke and Juliet were hanging out, Dana decided to have a bouncing party on her bed, and Alyssa was looking at the bulletin board, which had Rachel's missing poster on it.
As she walked by Kate's room, she saw the words: Will Bang 4 Jesus, written on her message board. Max scowled, knowing it was Victoria who wrote that, and quickly swiped it off the board.
As she walked next to Alyssa, she saw the bathroom door open, and someone threw a roll of toilet paper, which was caught by Max with ease.
"Uh…thanks again, Max." Alyssa said with a raised eyebrow, surprised that she pulled that off twice now.
"No problem, Alyssa." Max said, not as awkwardly as before now that she felt more used to her newfound powers. Alyssa continued to observe her with an analyzing eye.
She entered the shower room and saw Kate was already inside brushing her teeth. She could see her eyes were still red and raw from crying, it made Max want to cry herself.
"Hey Kate. How are you doing?" Max asked her kindly.
"Hey Max. I'm still here, so that's something." Kate said with as much positivity as she could muster. "Thanks again for standing up for me, I really appreciate it." She said gratefully.
"Anytime. David's got some serious issues." Max told her.
"Doesn't everybody?" Kate asked rhetorically. "By the way, do you still have my copy of 'The October Country'?" She asked genuinely this time.
"Oh yeah, it's in my room. It's really good so far. I had no idea Ray Bradbury did poetry." Max said.
"He's one of my favorite authors. I'm glad I could get you interested in him." Kate said with a small smile.
"Well, you do know your literature." Max complimented.
Kate couldn't help but blush at that.
"Anyway, if you could bring it by my room before classes start, I would really appreciate it. I need it for my notes." Kate said.
Before Max could answer, the door opened with Victoria and her minions walking through.
"Oh look, if it isn't the Christian slut and the selfie-ho themselves." Victoria said mockingly, Taylor and Courtney smirking at her comment.
Max could see Kate visibly shrink at the comment, which made her angry.
"What do you want, Victoria?" Max asked with annoyance.
"Am I not allowed to make myself look nice for the day?" Victoria asked her in snoot-like fashion. "Why don't you two skedaddle and see how many likes Kate's video has gotten." She suggested with a smirk.
"Yeah, you look like you were having a fun time, Kate." Courtney said.
"That wasn't me…" Kate said quietly.
"Oh my God, right." Taylor mocked, not believing her at all.
Max could see Kate closing herself in, ready to cry. She couldn't take this lying down.
"That's enough Victoria." Max said firmly as she got in front of Kate and approached the three.
"Oh chill out, Max. So she's a viral slut. I'm sure she had fun." Victoria said in her bitchy tone, it was starting to get on Max's nerves. "At least now she holds the record for the most tongue- "
Victoria didn't get to finish her little tirade though as Max suddenly got up in her face.
"Leave. Now." Max ordered, without even blinking.
Now normally Victoria wouldn't be intimidated by someone like Max Caulfield. But there's was something in the photographer's eyes that really unnerved Victoria, something that was boiling and ready to start a fight. It honestly made Victoria sweat a bit.
But not wanting to look like she was scared, Victoria simply scoffed with a "Whatever…" and left the showers with her lackeys, who were confused by Queen Bee's action.
Max let out a breath of relief after they left, glad the situation didn't escalate as she wasn't sure what she would have done had fists been thrown.
"Wow, Max. I never seen anyone stand up to Victoria like that." Kate said with amazement.
"It's no big deal. She's had it coming for a while anyway." Max told her.
"You're not worried she's going to tell Principal Wells?" Kate asked with concern.
"And admit that she got intimidated by a photo hipster? Not likely." Max said with a smirk.
Kate chuckled at that before turning more solemn.
"Thanks for sticking up for me. You're honestly one of the few people to actually be on my side since the video came out." Kate said quietly, tears started to sprout from the corner of her eyes.
Max couldn't take it anymore. "Kate, can I give you hug." She asked.
Kate looked at her in surprise before tears ran down her eyes and she gave a quick nod. Max needed no further inclination as she gathered Kate in her arms, who proceeded to weep on her shoulder.
"You don't deserve this Kate…" Max thought to herself, wishing she could do more.
"You're such a good person." Kate said tearfully.
"Considering that's coming from an angel, I'm flattered." Max told her.
Kate chuckled at that before letting go and wiping her face.
"Anyway, the book…" Kate reminded.
"Of course, I'll bring that by after I get ready." Max told her.
Kate nodded and went on her way.
…
After Max took her shower and took the walk back to her room, she was stopped by Juliet and Brooke.
"Hey Max, did you see Kate's hot video?" Juliet asked excitedly.
"Why would I?" Max asked with a hint of disgust.
"Because it's hilarious! 'Church Girl Gone Wild'!" Juliet told her, actually finding it funny for some reason.
"Kate's not like that and you know it." Max said as she walked away, not wanting to continue this conversation.
"Oh really? Check her out and you see what she's like." Juliet told her, wanting to get the last word in.
Max stopped walking at that remark.
And for some reason, a faint ringing went through her ears.
Next thing she knew, she turned around and went back to confront Juliet.
"Maybe you don't know what the Fuck you're talking about, Juliet!" Max practically screamed at the wannabe reporter, causing the now shocked reporter to raise her hands up in defense.
"Whoa! Take it easy, Max! I was just…" Juliet tried to defend herself, but Max wasn't having it.
"Just what?! Talking shit about a girl who has had the whole school against her?! Maybe you shouldn't believe everything you hear! Or do I have to remind you of the Victoria/Zachary situation!?" Max ranted angrily.
"Okay, how about we cool down a bit." Brooke piped in, wanting to deescalate the situation.
"How about you mind your own damn business!" Max told her viciously, surprising Brooke with her hostility.
"Okay, okay! I-I'm sorry! I won't watch the video anymore! I promise!" Juliet said, now a bit scared.
Before the situation could get more out of hand. Dana came out of her room.
"Is everything alright?" Dana asked with concern.
This finally gave Max the opportunity to think about what was happening, her eyes widened when she realized the scene she put up and quickly took a deep breath.
"It's fine, Dana. Sorry." Max quickly said before turning back before going on her way.
Even though she wasn't looking at them, she could hear the still shocked Brooke mutter, "Where the fuck did that come from?"
And in all honesty, Max was now asking herself that question.
She had never reacted that way towards anyone before, even the way she confronted Victoria came out of left field for her. She always kept her emotions in check. But now she was ready to punch a hole in the wall for Kate's sake?
Were her new powers giving her this newfound confidence? Or was something else at play?
She didn't really get to think about it though. For when she entered her room, she saw a message spray-painted on her wall of photos.
"NOBODY MESSES WITH ME BITCH!"
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Max asked herself angrily.
She quickly assumed Victoria and her minions had something to do with this but then she received a text from her phone. It was from a private number.
"Keep your mouth shut about everything. Or I'm coming for your ass. I know where you sleep!" Said the threatening text message.
Max could only give a tired sigh, "Of course it's Nathan…"
Normally this text would unsettle her.
But that was before Max got her powers.
That was before Max was bulletproof and had the strength to lift a car without breaking a sweat.
The Max now, wasn't easy to unsettle or intimidate anymore.
The Max now, knew that if she ever confronted Nathan again,
She would be ready.
To Be Continued…
Guess Max is done being the shy, cliché geek after all!
I figured with how long you guys had to wait for just one chapter, I owe you one or two more. But Do Something, Do It Stupid is still my main focus.
Now when it comes to Max's confrontation with Victoria, I originally was going to have her smash the paper towel dispenser with her fist, scaring the crap out of the Queen Bee and her friends. But that would raise a few too many questions with the other girls in the dorm so a simple look in the eye had to do.
As for her outburst towards Juliet, is it confidence or something else at play? Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Hope all of you stick with the story, thank you to all of those who have so far.
Until next time, comment and tell me what you think!