HOT-SPOT RAIDERS

{M2} The day it changed

Max broke the seal glueing his eyes together and used his weak arms to push away the heavy duvet covering him. The cool breeze flooded inside the covers as he reached for his thick framed glasses. The once blurred vision had now become clear. Max rubbed his eyes and looked out at his bedroom. It was covered in blue paint and computer screens. On the walls he had stuck posters of 'Naruto' and 'Rick and Morty'. His room was fairly well sized and had stickers all over the walls. Science and maths books filled the shelves and scattered papers were spread across his keyboard. From outside the window Max could hear the rambling noises of the birds singing, and the busy feet walking, and the market sellers shouting, and the school children playing.

"Breakfast!" The sweet familiar voice of Max's mother called from downstairs.

"I'll be down in a second!" Max mimicked his mother's tone as he called back to her.

"Coming Mum!" Haley, Theo's irritating sister, called from her bedroom, located across the landing from his own.

"Coming Mum~" Max heard his older brother mock his sisters voice, echoing what she had previously said.

"That was mean Josh, leave me alone."

"Leave me alone~" He repeated her once more sticking his tongue out playfully toward his sister who was angry at him and had already ran down the stairs calling for mother to tell him off.

"Joosssh!" Reagan dragged out rolling her eyes. She was Haley's twin sister.

"Bye Mum I'm off." Max spoke while running downstairs to his mother, extending onto his tip toes, and kissing her cheek.

"What about your breakfast? You'll get hungry at school." She said with concern.

"College mum. Mirestone College. I'm not a kid so don't worry I'll be alright, plus, Robbie is already waiting for me outside."

The cold breeze hit Max hard as he struggled in a battle against the wind. Once it had finally calmed down, Max and Robbie had already arrived at college.

Robbie twisted his wrist up and peered at his watch while pushing his glasses above the bridge of his nose. "We have 13 minutes until the bell rings and we have to be in class."

"Okay, let's wait here then." Max suggested, and they both sat on a bench under a large tree outside the college.

"Did you watch the game last night!"

"Huh?"

"Baseball?!"

"Had homework." Max lied, if he was being honest to himself he disliked sport but he would never admit that in front of his sport fanatic of a friend. Robbie continued to discuss the craze reverberating across the college.

"Cool," He stated blandly, only half-listening to what Robbie was babbling on about.

"We should probably get going to class now." Max reminded his friend.

They strolled to their first period, nervously walking past the pompous students, gathered into a corner. Their ties hanged around their necks undone and their trousers hung daringly low causing them to struggle as they walked, or as they liked to say, swaggered. They were slouched against the graffitied wall heedlessly, sending haughty glares of disgust and distain at- not only the two boys- but anyone who fearlessly looked their way.

Seemingly disregarded, the boys slipped out of reach and hurried to their classroom, beads of sweat seeping through their pores.

"Close," Robbie sighed in relief while letting out a nervous chuckle. "Hey, did you hear a new girl is joining on Monday, apparently she's really rich!"

"You shouldn't judge people on how much money they have mate, for all you know rich people can be nice, so stereotypical."

"Well, from what I've heard, don't get too attached."

The day flew by and lunchtime was just around the corner. Meaning the weekend was slowly creeping up on him. Being the least popular of the college, it was difficult for the boys to go unnoticed without having to beseech for liberty. Yes, you heard correct bullies are also in college.

Hidden away in the corner of the lunch hall, Max and Robbie sat on an empty bench. Food was sent flying from one side of the hall to another, landing by the boys' table.

"We should probably move, we don't want things ending like they did yesterday." Max hinted, not wanting to remember what had happened yesterday.

"Good idea... Oh shoot! I forgot I have extended maths and science studies! Got to go I'll meet you after." He explained apologetically.

The egregious situation left Max all alone to face realisation. He has to face what had happened yesterday by himself.

Max wobbled down the corridors leading outside. He took a seat on the grass underneath the swaying branches of the trees. The leaves swiftly sailed along the air, elegantly drifting to the soil that lays on the ground.

"Oi! You have something you wanna say to us brat?!" A tall boy with blonde, curly, short hair spat.

"Uh sorry Hayden." Max replied monotonously.

"Not good enough you owe me. That food you threw in my face yesterday, after you humiliated me, you think you can escape with a measly 's-sorry' huh?" He growled.

"I didn't mean to. It was an accident. Just let it go." He waved his hand carelessly.

"Tch. You owe me. I'm letting you go. Only cause I want to talk to the other guy as well."

"Thanks." He mumbled wishing he had the courage to say it over exaggerating the sarcasm and showing not much sincerity.

Being let off the hook like a worm on the end of a fishing rod, Max walked to his last period an waited outside for the bell to signal it was the start of the lesson.

After an hour of muffled lectures, pencil tapping, manicured nails drumming on desks, paper airplane making, and whispering about the hot-gossip, the bell finally rang.

Max waited outside for his friend only to receive another apology, though this time it was recited through text.

Sorry again! I'll make it up to you! They want me to stay after school to work on a project in maths, I'll be with Ryan.
-Robbie

Max let out a deep sigh emptying his lungs. He decided to sit under the bridge by the local park to finish his homework before walking into a manic house once more.

Ouch!

A heavy box shaped item fell on his head. Someone must have dropped it from above, were his first thoughts. Although, when he looked, there was no one there. The park was deserted more than usual. Only another dog walker and group of children were in the park with him and it was neither of them.

"Hot-spot raiders," he read aloud. He registered the name And didn't recognise it. He concluded that he would take the disk home and put it in his PC to find out what it was out of curiosity.