Present day. Hypercity High.
Ken: And that is that. (thinking: As per Rose's request, I kept her crush on him a secret.)
Max: Really?
Ken: Yes, really.
Max: But that's not fair.
Ken: It is in hindsight. Now we should get to class. I'm sure the others are already on their way there.
Max begrudgingly sent his arm into his locker.
Max: What class are we having?
Ken: We're having History.
Max: Right, right.
He searched his locker upsettedly.
Max: So, how long till I can join the team?
Ken: Hmmm. That depends...
Max: Depends?
Ken: It depends on the chief's decision.
Max: The chief?
Ken: Tiff.
Max: Her? But...
Ken: No buts. She's the team leader.
Max: But...
Ken: No buts.
Max got the book and pulled it out of his locker before closing it.
Max: That's unfair. I just saved you guys. Doesn't that make me a part of the team.
Ken: Max, this isn't a superhero cartoon. This is real life. And real life has consequences, speaking of....
It was at that moment that a loud voice was heard. It was Vince.
Vince: HEY RUNT!
Max: Wha....?!
An angry and fuming Vince came walking straight towards them. The students in their midst held their tongue and got out of the way.
Vince: You have any idea what you just cost me!
Max: Wha...?!
Max had completely forgotten about the food fight and only then began to remember it.
Vince grabbed Max and slammed him against the locker.
Max: Hey! What's wrong with you?
Vince: Shut it. It's because of you that I got a red card.
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Ken: A red card, really. Quite fascinating.
Vince: Shut it, nerd.
Max: What the heck's a red card?
Ken: It's a school system. Remember how I said Principal Valencia had a habit of expelling people? Well, if you get three red cards, you'll be expelled.
Vince: I thought I told you to shut it.
Ken: Right, right. My bad.
Max: Hey! What do I have to do with this? It's you who started it by bullying that guy.
Vince: Oh! Really? Well, remind me? Who threw the first plate? Oh, that would be you. Moron.
Max: Moron!
Max and Vince stared each other down angrily.
Vince: All you had to do was sit down and enjoy your "protection" from Luke. But no. You had to be a jerk and screw things up for me.
Max: Well, you deserve it.
Vince: Oh...
A door opened, and a teacher looked at the pair.
Max looked at him hopefully while Vince didn't even bother to look at him.
The teacher simply turned and walked away.
Max: What the...?!
Vince: You don't get it, Max, do you?
Max: What?
Vince: When you mess with the wolf, you get the fangs.
Max: Yeah, yeah. Hypercity school motto.
Vince: Ohohohoh no. You don't get it. You get the fangs, all the fangs. Speaking of...
Members of the football team slowly started to appear. All bigger and stronger looking than Max.
Ken backed away.
Vince: Class is about to start. So...
Vince landed a punch on Max's stomach, causing him to flinch and drop to the ground.
Voice: Nice one, Vince.
A red-haired young man amongst the jocks high fived him.
Name: Jeffrey Coleman
Age: 15
Description: Your average jock
Occupation: Student, left back on the football team
Fact: He really loves ice cream. As in really.
Vince: You know it.
They high fived again while Max recoiled on the ground.
Vince: Hey, let's get to class.
Jeffrey: Yeah.
The other jocks agreed, and Vince took one more look at Max, only to see him defiantly glaring back even while in pain.
Vince: Tch. Let's go.
They all dispersed while Max slowly got up.
Ken: Are you...
Max: What the heck was that about? Why didn't you help me?
Ken: I'm not the one who started the fire. You know what they say, no good deed goes unpunished.
Max: But I thought we were friends.
Ken: Friends don't support their friends' stupid decisions.
Max: You don't say.
Voice: Max!
It was Rose.
She rushed across the halls to Max.
Rose: Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I saw what happened. Are you alright?
Max: Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. No thanks to somebody.
Max looked at Ken.
Ken: I'm always happy not to help.
Max: Yeah, yeah...
Rose: Vince was so mean to you. Hmph. You should have helped him, Ken!
Ken: Oh, sweet innocent Rose. I would have loved to, but I want to leave high school in peace.
Rose: Hmph!
Max: It's fine. It's fine. It's no big deal.
Ken: No, Max, it is a big deal.
Max: Huh?
Ken: Listen, Max. Remember how Luke said that the jocks basically rule the school?
Max: Yeah?
Ken: Let's just say that that wasn't an over exaggeration. That is exactly true.
Max: Yeah, but it's like that in every high school, right?
Ken: Well, here it's about ten times worse. Remember that teacher who popped in and left?
Max: Yeah.
Ken: You're gonna be seeing a lot of that.
Max: But what about the principal? Vince seemed plenty scared of him.
Ken: He is a whole 'nother beast. Probably one of the few people, if not the only one Vince is scared of.
At that moment, the bell rang, and they all instinctively started to walk to class.
Ken: We should get to class.
Rose: Oh yeah. That's right. It's Mr. Diego's class.
Max: Huh. What's so special about him?
Ken: For starters, he's the teacher that abandoned you in your time of need.
Max: What? Really?
Max, Rose, and Ken were walking towards the classroom. On the corner of her eye, Rose saw her trinket on Max's arm and smiled to herself.
Just as Max entered the door, a voice sounded from the school speaker.
It was the principal.
Richard: Maximillian Hunter. To my office, now!
Max remained in place, stunned as Rose looked at him with concern and snickering could be heard from his classmates.