Fluctuat nec Mergitur

Chapter 7

*Max's POV*

Dani chattered endlessly, but I could barely listen. I was just trying not to to get lost or run over. I don't know this section of LA very well yet, since we moved here just a few weeks ago.

We lived in a too-small house in a mediocre part of the city. It sat in a neighborhood that I can't quite describe. There were flower boxes on windows, but they looked as if they hadn't been watered for two weeks. Green - enough front lawns with skimpy trees. It felt empty and lonely, but I've done worse, so I'm in no place to complain.
I was trying to not get Dani killed since we're alone, biking to school in September. It was only the third day of classes, and the whole school concept had yet to get any better.

I looked around at the sketchy shops lining the street. Store owners stood in doorways, vying for anyone's attention. The people and their buildings were places like obscure Chinese restaurants boasting to be the best in the city, downtrodden Italian 'bistros' that were more like Italian sheds, mediocre Greek and Middle Eastern delis and bakeries everywhere. The owners shouted at each other and at Dani and I. I ignored them all, but she seemed to slow down to look.

"Dani, come on." I said, my accent blurring my words a little, starting to pedal faster. She can't stop to look in every window. And to think that Dani was the one insisting we get to school a little early.

"Okay, okay!" She shouted over the roar of a passing car missing its hood.

School was only a few blocks away, too far to walk but too close to waste time and money to be driven. It's an okay school, but we've got to attend. It's the law, not to mention the closest school to our house.

In a minute or two, the building came into view. I crossed the street, making sure Dani was still with me, and pushed the bike into a stand. Dani did the same, and I locked then together onto the rack. She was already heading inside without me.

I climbed the chipped stairs into the building, gently pushing Dani's shoulder rather than say a thing. My first class is math, in which I'm far, far behind. My teacher hates me, as well as most likely everything else.

*Dani's POV*

I walked up the stairs anxiously, headed toward English. My teacher is okay, not fantastic but not atrocious. She's pretty nice. Max takes ESL instead of normal English and so far it's sounded a whole lot easier than my English class, at least from a native speaker's point of view. I'm a little jealous.

I sat down at my desk in the front of the room and immediately put my head down. I got pushed up here because all the cool kids sit in the back and cause a ruckus. School's barely started and they're already yelling. They were the boys with tattoos and leather jackets, and I was the new girl who watched makeup tutorials occasionally and listened to Katy Perry on the regular. They don't scare me, but I don't want to be with them.

The day eventually passed, and I stood next to Max in the line for lunch. We looked like complete strangers to each other, polar opposites. I wore a pink shirt and black skirt, my hair in a ponytail. Max was the one in the Dead Kennedys shirt and black jeans, not to mention her black Docs with yellow laces and her leather jacket. She's so much cooler than me, and it's only amplified in social situations like this.

A girl that I had slightly become friends with in my chemistry class walked up to me, most likely just to cut in line. I'm pretty sure she said her name was Sara. "Hi!"

"Hey." I looked at my shoes, trying not to sound too dejected. Max faced her, arms crossed like she was trying to overshadow Sara. I'd think it was strange if that wasn't just how she stands.

"Sorry about Max." I said awkwardly. Sara was looking at her a little funny. Most people do.

"Who's this?" She wrinkled her nose a little. The part of me that felt a little embarrassed died and I felt a little angry.