New Days [Completed]

New Days: Six

“I…hi!” a short, blonde haired boy went up to the new kid.

“Hey. What’s up?” the new kid replied. He was sitting on the grass, facing the playground. He barely glanced at the short boy who had approached him before responding.

“My name is Nick. What’s yours?”

The new kid seemed to be taken aback by the straightforwardness of this Nick, but replied anyway. “Max.”

“Cool. Max.” Nick said it slowly, as though testing to feel how easily his name would roll along his tongue. He was hoping that Max would be his friend – he didn’t have many friends, so he wanted to make the most of this opportunity. Besides that, Max seemed to be cool- he could be fun to be around – and maybe he could help Nick become cool and make friends.

So far all he knew about the new kid, Max, was that he had joined the day before and that he wasn’t very friendly. Nick had been slightly ill, so he hadn’t been there. Max had just moved to Nonexistentville and wasn’t happy about it. He had also seen Max play basketball that morning, and he was good at it. Maybe basketball was his hobby.

Max had not said anything, so Nick made another attempt at making conversation. “You play basketball really well...” he began shyly.

Magic.

 That’s what it was. Nick’s words lit a light in Max’s eyes and the bored, apathetic boy was no more. He stood up from where he had been sitting and for the first time fully looked at Nick in his hazel eyes. Nick was surprised at the sudden change in Max’s attitude, but grateful – he hadn’t had anything else to say, and he didn’t want to pester Max with questions. Maybe they would be friends after all.

“I’m glad you think so. Thanks. Basketball has always been my favorite – my dad got me playing it when I was really young and I really like it. Maybe one day I’ll go pro!” Max stopped abruptly, slightly embarrassed at having said so much. He extended his hand for Nick to shake, which he did.

“Do you think you could help me out a bit? I’m awful at basketball.” Nick wasn’t trying anymore.  

“Yep. I think I can. And I will.” Max smiled. Another first. “There’s another ten minutes before recess ends, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s go!”

“Right now?” Nick’s expression was one of incredulity – not that he’d have known what that word was…he hadn’t realized just HOW intense Max’s passion was.

“Yes. It’s still recess. Come on!”

Max grabbed Nick’s hand, and with that exchange, the two ten year olds walked to the basketball court…

I was still looking for my Physics class when the bell indicating that I ought to be in Room 1406 rang. I had no idea how the room could even be 1406, there weren’t over a thousand rooms in this school! The ridiculous numbering was making it even more difficult for me to find it. I didn’t care about the bell though, I had a perfectly valid excuse for being late – not that I still knew the consequences of being late. (meet Max Grey: the rambler)

“Excuse me!” I turned around to see that a girl was in the hallway, and looking about confirmed that it was indeed me who she’d called out to.

“Yeah?”

“I’d ask you for a pass since you’re not supposed to be here without it, but you seem to be new. So instead I’ll ask you if you’re new, because that makes a whole lot more sense. Are you new?” she said that really fast. Someone had a train to catch.