New Days [Completed]

New Days: Five

Max

“No, you’re getting me wrong…” I never did complete that statement, which would have ended with me telling them that I too was gay - I couldn’t help it. Hysteric laughter was building up within, making it hard to speak. I sort of let out another giggle instead. How stupid is that?

“Yes, we’re idiots, aren’t we? Back off before I hurt you.” Boyfriend dearest had been the one delivering the threat.

This time I let out a full on laugh. That punk was threatening me? Not meaning to sound cocky or stuck up or whatever, but the idea of him trashing me was simply hilarious. He was tiny – by my standards, and puny too. No way could he do any serious damage. Unfortunately for me, though, the three musketeers didn’t seem to see what was so funny - Rod’s hands clenched into fists and he looked thoroughly infuriated. Bring it on, I thought to myself.

“And what do we have here?” This was another voice. Not savior, not Rod, not boyfriend dearest. I was all, what the-? Why was I attracting so much attention? The plan had been to lay LOW, not get in a fight and....

I turned to see who had spoken, like any normal person would...whoa. He looked like the stereotypical rebel, dressed in black and grey, a hoodie with the hood on, hands stuffed in his pockets. His skin was fair, almost pale, and hair jet black with - were those highlights? They looked orange, but they could have easily been red (I couldn’t really tell since they were fading). His eyes were dark and mysterious and body was... ahem, let's leave it at gorgeous, okay?

“Get lost, John.” Rodney had turned away from me to face him, and his face hadn't softened one bit. Eish, he wasn't very chummy, was he?

“Why? This looks interesting.” John drawled. His voice was not all melodious and soft as it so often is the case with every other guy – hell, I have no idea how that would even sound! His was kind of deep and throaty. That is of no relevance though.

“It’s none of your business, that’s why!” with that Rod pushed him away. I was somewhat taken aback by this – dude, you don’t just push people away like that!

John stumbled back, but his face was unruffled. Quite the contrary, he was smiling. Weird. He looked at me.

“So what did you do to tick off our three stooges here?”

“John…” Rod growled.

I thought he was going to attack John or something – maybe jump on him and start throwing punches and kicks and, well, I don't know. He looked super angry - in fact, he seemed to have difficulty breathing...he was like a bull.

Yes, that feels right. So you shouldn't be surprised to know that it surprised me to see him walk away – across the hallway, with boyfriend dearest behind him, his hand on Rodney's shoulder, as though trying to calm him. Savior boy stayed back and gave me this look – like he was sorry or something, then walked to join his friends.

I was watching them retreat, when a voice spoke up close to me.

“So…what did you do?”  That means that he was still there, and importantly, had come closer to me. It wasn’t the kind of close where I could feel his breath on me and I got all hot or anything, but he was invading my personal space...not that I minded.

“I…somehow got them thinking that I’m a homophobe.”

John laughed. “Shoulda figured.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, they’re like that. Never mind.” The whole 'shoulda figured' and then him brushing me off was weird, but I didn't press. And then there was silence. We had somehow ended up walking side by side, in the direction of my locker. Or where I thought it would be, anyhow.

“So...What’s your name, pretty boy?” THAT shocked me. Pretty boy? Really? Once again, defying what seems to be the rulebook of crushing on people, his ‘nickname’, if we can call it that, did not make me blush or make my cheeks warm or pulse pick up or anything that happens when you're crushing on someone.

 Wait, had I already decided that I had a crush on John? I mean, sure, he was hot, but...I'm not that shallow. Right?

“First up, what’s with ‘pretty boy’? And answering you, I’m Max.”

“Ah, so he can speak for himself. I’m John.”

“I know.”

If he had any particular sentiment, or problem with  the way I talked, he didn’t show it - his expression stayed pretty much the same. I don’t know if he was about to say anything else, because I wasn’t really looking at him, but the bell rang. He stopped walking instantly.

“See you around…Max.”

That was strange. But then again, nearly everything that had been happening was strange - it didn't feel like real life anymore. In Letterman nobody ever obeyed the bell. It was different here, apparently, because just as soon as it had rung, people were starting to empty out pretty fast. Being the new kid was my excuse for being late – if being late had any severe consequences. Having my back-up plan thought out, I slowed down my pace to a leisurely stroll, looking about at locker numbers till I found the one that was assigned to me.

*

0718. There we go. I opened it; got my books (the locker was already equipped. I was impressed), blah blah. There isn’t anything there that would interest you.

Ha, the lack of interesting stuff didn't last too long though. I made my way to the room where I’d have to register and spend about fifteen or so minutes every morning and guess what?

Yes.

That.

Exactly what you were thinking.

That is, unless you were thinking that a giant cheeseburger had morphed in front of me – as much as I wish it had, it had not.

Guess again then – this had something to do with what, rather, who, was in my homeroom. No, not a giant cheeseburger man, nor a hamburger man, nor a pig...gosh - alright. The three stooges were in my homeroom. Delightful.

There was one lone empty desk which I made my way towards, but then someone addressed me. “You would be Max, I presume?”

It was the teacher. It was no wonder I hadn’t noticed him before – the guy had mingled with students who were talking while standing, and he was dressed just like a student. You know, jeans, a shirt (okay so not many students wear a shirt, but still), sneakers – the norm.

I replied with a quick ‘yes’, and then sat down. Blah blah once again. He introduced himself as ‘Sam’ and that was it - he didn’t pester me with the usual “So where are you from?” and all those other questions, so I just sat quietly at my desk, looking about and absorbing my new environment. Absorbing all the details from my environment, I mean. It’s not possible to actually absorb your environment unless it’s a gas or something…

Thirty minutes into being at Maxim, I knew that in my homeroom were Rodney, Ryan (boyfriend dearest was asked for a pen) and…Nick.