The (Not so amazing) adventures of Max

Twenty-First Entry: The Aftermath

Monday, September 18

So, today started with a bang. And by "bang," I mean Mr. Dreadmore storming into first period with this intense, I'm-going-to-make-your-life-miserable look on his face. Usually, he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else, so this was new—and not in a good way.

The second he walked in, everyone went silent. Even Leo, who's never serious about anything, shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Dreadmore slammed a stack of papers onto his desk and stared out at us, eyes squinting like he was trying to pick out guilty faces.

Then he said it: "Last week, someone thought it would be amusing to spike my coffee. I assure you, when I find out who did this, they will be in massive trouble."

Cue collective panic.

I could practically feel Ben shift next to me. Leo's smirk faded so fast, it was like watching a balloon deflate. Even Lo, who usually keeps cool under pressure, looked like he'd seen a ghost. Eli? Let's just say he was already halfway to a breakdown, muttering something about needing to "lay low."

Dreadmore started pacing, which somehow made it worse. He rattled off how serious the offense was, something about school policies, and how whoever did it should be shaking in their boots. I glanced at Leo, hoping he'd have that "relax, I've got this" look, but he didn't. His expression was more "I should start running now."

At lunch, the four of us huddled in the corner of the cafeteria like we were plotting a heist, except this time it was more like figuring out how not to get caught for the one we'd already done. Ben kept muttering about how we should just come clean, but Leo shot that down immediately.

"If we confess, we're done," Leo whispered, eyes darting around like Dreadmore was about to jump out of the snack line.

"But what if he knows it was us?" Lo said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"He doesn't have proof," I said, more for myself than for anyone else. I hoped I was right.

So, now we're all on edge. It's like waiting for a storm that might never come, but you're still not sure if you should get out an umbrella or build a bunker. If Dreadmore finds out it was us, it's game over. But if he doesn't... well, maybe we can pretend this never happened.

Leo says not to worry, but I'm not so sure anymore. This whole thing might have been fun and games at first, but now? Now it feels like we're walking on a tightrope with Dreadmore waiting underneath, ready to catch us if we slip.