Somewhere Only We Know

I - Any Other Day

Today was like any other day, filled with assignments and bullies. Max looked forward to going home after class, where she would play video games until the moon rose high in the sky, a way to distract herself from the challenges of the day.

"Alright, class. Who can provide the simplest definition of this function?" the teacher asked, looking around the classroom as he pointed to something he had written on the board.

She looked at the board, thinking about what she would say if she were called on to speak. For a moment, the teacher glanced her way, but she soon realized he wasn't looking for her. He had called on another student a few rows away from Max.

As she fiddled with the pencil in her hands, she watched cars drive by the school. A red sedan zipped past, its paint glinting in the afternoon sun, followed by a battered blue pickup that seemed to struggle up the slight incline. She noticed the way some drivers tapped their fingers to the beat of a song playing on the radio, while others appeared lost in thought, their faces a mask of concentration. 

A group of students laughed as they passed on the sidewalk, their energy plainly contrasting with her own restless tension. The smell of freshly cut grass drifted through the open window, mingling with the faint scent of exhaust from the cars outside. 

It had become a habit for her to zone out like this. She would do anything to avoid focusing on what her teacher said during the last period, hoping it would make time go faster. Each passing car pulled her deeper into her daydreams, as she imagined the stories of the people inside, where they were headed, and what adventures awaited them beyond the walls of her classroom.

It felt like an eternity until the dismissal bell finally rang. Max climbed out of her classroom window and slowly walked toward the wooden bench near the fountain, just outside the classroom where she and her friends usually hung out to do homework or study. As she was about to take a seat, a group of tall boys with blonde hair approached her. One of them, Jackson, pulled Maxine's bag and threw it onto the concrete ground. Jackson, along with his sidekicks Lewis and James, had been Max's nemesis ever since she moved here from England.

"Fuck off, Jackson," Max exclaimed, her voice dripping with irritation as she knelt down to gather the scattered books that littered the concrete ground. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the schoolyard, and the sounds of laughter and chatter from other students faded into the background as her frustration flared. 

"Are you really incapable of walking away from the school grounds without picking on someone?" she continued, glaring up at him with disbelief. Jackson stood over her, a smug grin plastered across his face, clearly enjoying the chaos he was causing. 

As Max shuffled the textbooks into a neat pile, her fingers brushed over the worn covers, a reminder of all the late nights she had spent studying. "You better watch your back, Jack. I know your secrets," she shot back, her voice steady despite the rush of emotion. The annoyance coursing through her was fueled not only by his relentless teasing but also by the weight of the day—exams, projects, and the looming pressure of graduation.

Jackson laughed, his casual demeanor contrasting sharply with her intense irritation. "Bullshit. You know nothing," he said thoughtlessly, but she could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. It was moments like these that made her wonder if he was just a bully hiding behind bravery, searching for a rise out of her for his amusement. 

Taking a deep breath to center herself, Max stood up, books clutched tightly in her arms. She tossed the thought aside, reminding herself that she was so close to graduation and wouldn't have to deal with him much longer. Sure, getting back at him sounded tempting, but why waste her energy? In just a few months, he'd be just a fading memory, and she wouldn't have to let him get under her skin anymore. "Whatever, Jackson. Just do everyone a favor and keep your distance," she replied, her tone firm as she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving him standing there, the laughter of students now mingling with the weight of unspoken words between them.