𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 ✪ 𝙬. 𝙗𝙮𝙚𝙧𝙨

★02

chapter two.
mad max
.✧*:･ﾟ

"𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍𝙀'𝙎 𝙉𝙊 𝙒𝘼𝙔 that's Madmax"

"Yeah, girls don't play video games"

Ember glared at Will, half curious and half angry. "Why not?"

He stuttered "No, I- I mean, of course, if they wanted to, its just, you know... most girls don't"

They went back to stared at the redhead through the fence, watching her skateboard as they came up with various theories about her and her possible secret identity. Ember didn't really understand all the fuss, but she didn't mind because Will would throw secret glances at her every few minutes to make sure she was being included in the conversation.

Ember had been accepted graciously into their party by all their members, after telling them how she could help tracking down El with them. She had been disappointed at first when she'd realised they didn't know where her friend was, but Will had reassured her that they would help her find her. This statement had made Ember feel very warm and fuzzy inside, though she didn't know why. She had stayed the night in Mike's basement, in a tent he told her El had once slept in. He had warmed up to her since he found out about her relationship with El, and had even snuck up to his sister Nancy's room to grab some pyjamas and clothes for her. She had hidden out in the basement all morning, examining all Mike's games and books, until the house was empty, then she crept off to the school to join the boys on their lunchbreak.

Lucas and Dustin had just told her of the mysterious "Madmax" who had crushed their previous high scores on their favourite arcade game, when Mike spotted the new girl skating around the grounds on her own. They had all ran over to the fence, where they were now scrutinizing her.

"And even if they did" Mike continued "You can't get 750,000 points on Dig Dug! I mean, that's impossible!"

"But her name is Max" Lucas argued, squinting at the girl.

"So what?"

"So, how many Maxes do you know?"

"I don't know"

"Zero. That's how many."

Ember thought for a second. "Why don't you just ask her if she's Madmax?" she questioned.

All the boys gasped, as if she had suggested commiting a serious crime. "Are you nuts?!" Dustin yelped " We can't just.. ask!"

"Well, why not?"

"Because, because... we can't be caught fraternising with the enemy"

Ember shrugged and turned back to the other girl, not really understanding what that phrase meant.

"But I mean, she shows up at school the day after someone with her same name breaks her top score. I mean, you gotta be kidding me" Dustin continued.

"Exactly!" Lucas exclaimed " So she's gotta be Madmax, she's gotta be!"

"And plus she skateboards, so she's pretty awesome"

"Awesome? You haven't even spoken a word to her!" Mike argued, making the others turn to face him.

"I don't have to" Dustin fired back staring at him " I mean look at her-" They all turned back to the fence only to find the court empty, and Max gone. "Shit, I've lost the target"

Ember shut her eyes for a second, before opening them and turning her head abruptly. The other girl was climbing up the stairs that led back into the main school building. "There!" She pointed. They all followed her finger until they saw Max reach the top of the stairs, drop something into the bin, and make her way back inside. The boys looked at each other, and all sprinted towards the bin, to see what she had dropped in. All, except Will. He had noticed Ember didn't run after the others, and he gently nudged her