It's The End of the World... And I Feel Fine (The Adventures of Max Harvey)

Chapter 1

I used to think the apocalypse would be this grand, catastrophic event that unfolded slowly, like a movie. You know, the kind where you see the destruction from a distance, the kind where you have time to prepare or at least to scream. But that's not how it happened for me. It all started on an ordinary Tuesday, with the kind of mundane annoyances that usually fill up your day.

At fourteen, I was navigating the labyrinth of high school, complete with its cliches, crushes, and seemingly insurmountable homework. The sun was hidden behind a layer of clouds, and the air was thick with the smell of rain. I was wishing I had taken the day off when Marco Deterrez came barreling through the crowded school hallway, a wide grin on his face.

"Hey, Max!" Marco called out, almost tripping over his own feet as he waved at me.

I tried to hide my smile. "Hey, Marco. What's got you so fired up?"

Marco shrugged, his shaggy brown hair bouncing with the movement. "Just the usual. Figured I'd stop by and see if you wanted to skip third period and grab some snacks."

I hesitated, glancing at the clock on my phone. "I don't know, man. Mr. Thompson's already on my case about missing classes."

Marco pouted in that exaggerated way he knew got under my skin. "Come on, it's not like the world's going to end or anything."

He had no idea how right he was.

We ended up sneaking out and grabbing some snacks from the convenience store down the street. Marco, being Marco, managed to get us both the biggest slushies they had and a couple of candy bars. I tried to keep the conversation light, but Marco had this uncanny ability to read me like an open book.

"What's bothering you, Max? You've been out of it all week," Marco asked, handing me a cherry slushie.

I took a sip, trying to ignore the lump in my throat. "It's nothing. Just school stuff."

Marco wasn't convinced. "Come on. You know you can talk to me about anything."

I sighed, fiddling with the straw in my drink. "It's just... there's this girl, Ruby. I don't know if you remember her, but she's in our science class."

Marco's eyes lit up. "Ruby? The one who's always winning those science fairs?"

I nodded. "Yeah, that's the one. I've been thinking about her a lot lately."

Before Marco could say anything else, the ground beneath us shook violently. It was like the world had been yanked out from under our feet. I grabbed the edge of the counter, my heart pounding as the whole store began to shudder.

Panic erupted around us. People screamed, some running for the door, others ducking under tables. The lights flickered and then went out, plunging us into darkness.

"What the hell is happening?" I shouted over the chaos.

Marco's face was pale, but his eyes were sharp. "We need to get out of here!"

We stumbled out of the store, the street outside was a scene of utter mayhem. Buildings swayed as if they were made of Jell-O, and the ground buckled beneath our feet. I looked up and saw the sky darkening, the clouds swirling in ominous patterns.

And then, as if the universe had decided to pile on the misery, I saw her. Ruby, standing on the sidewalk across the street, her eyes wide with shock as she watched the world unravel around her.

"Ruby!" I shouted, pushing my way through the crowd.

Marco grabbed my arm, trying to pull me back. "Are you crazy? It's dangerous out there!"

But I couldn't just leave her there. I had to reach her.

As I stumbled through the debris and chaos, I could see Ruby's face clearly now, her brown eyes filled with fear and confusion. I reached out to her, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. The end of the world had become a backdrop for something that felt almost ordinary—a chance encounter with the girl I had always admired.

"Max?" she called, her voice barely audible over the cacophony.

I took her hand, pulling her close as the ground continued to shake beneath us. "Ruby, we need to get out of here. It's not safe."

She nodded, her grip tightening around mine as we ran. Marco stayed close behind us, his face a mix of concern and determination.

We didn't know where we were going. All we knew was that we had to keep moving. The city was collapsing around us, and every step we took was a step away from the chaos that threatened to consume us.

As we ran through the streets, the sky grew darker, the clouds churning with an angry, unnatural energy. I could feel the weight of the world crashing down on us, but I also felt something else—a strange sense of exhilaration.

Maybe it was the adrenaline, or maybe it was the fact that Ruby was by my side. Either way, I found myself oddly at peace in that moment, amidst the destruction and terror. It was as if the apocalypse had turned into a twisted adventure, and for the first time in a long while, I felt alive.

Little did I know, this was just the beginning. And that this was the first major thunderstorm here... but not the last.