Chapter 114: I Didn’t See It Coming "You and your cheesy jokes," Cindy said, looping her arm through Abby’s as they walked down the hallway together. She smiled. "Anyway, Max seems more relaxed around us these days. Maybe things will go back to normal between you two." "Yeah," Abby replied, her smile bright but thoughtful. "It still doesn’t feel the same. Like... Max has changed. But he still feels warm. I realized maybe we don’t need to go back to how things used to be. Maybe a new kind of relationship between us would be even better." Just as her words settled, a hand shot out and slapped Abby’s lunchbox from her hands. It hit the floor with a metallic clang, the lid cracking open and scattering its contents. Students down the hall stopped mid-conversation and turned their heads at the noise. Standing in front of Abby and Cindy was a girl with her hair tied high and tight, her stance sharp with attitude. Flanking her were two others, one chewing gum like it was a war cry, the other wearing her skirt so short it barely passed as part of the uniform. Abby and Cindy recognized them immediately. These were the girls who were always in the halls. Sent out of class more often than they were in it. Known for shouting matches with teachers and drama that never seemed to end. Some of the most troublesome girls in the school. "Did you do that on purpose?" Cindy snapped, crouching to pick up the container. "Scrambling for your trash like the dog you are," the lead girl, Kira, sneered. "Of course I did it on purpose. You two need to remember your place around here." She looked down her nose at them, unbothered by the stares around her. "And talking to Max?" Kira added. "You seriously think you’re on that level?" Abby clutched her lunchbox to her chest, eyes flicking downward. She looked sheepish, shrinking back a little. But before she could take a step, Kira, Nightly, and Susan moved in, boxing them in. The three girls cornered Abby and Cindy, pushing them until their backs were pressed against the wall beside the window that looked out over the school grounds. Cindy, for all her fiery spirit, wasn’t a fighter. Neither of them were. They weren’t delinquents. They didn’t know how to handle girls like this. "We haven’t done anything," Abby said quietly. "We don’t even share the same classes." "Are you an idiot?" Nightly snapped. "You should stick to people who are like you." Kira stepped forward, finger jabbing into Abby’s shoulder, once, twice, again with every word. "We’ve seen it. Every time you try to get Max’s attention. You think cozying up to the leader of this school is going to change your life? Newsflash, you’re not part of this world. So stop trying to play in it." "What’s wrong with you, Kira?!" Cindy shot back, voice raised. "Abby can talk to whoever she wants! Who made you the boss of who’s allowed to speak to who?" Before Cindy could say another word, Susan, still chewing her gum lazily, spat it out with a snap. The sticky wad smacked Cindy right on the cheek. She gasped and turned her head, trying to wipe it off. "Aw, did you hear that cute little scream?" Kira mocked with a grin. "Listen. You two don’t belong here. You focus on your books and your little school life." She leaned in, voice low and venomous. "Max is in our world. And he doesn’t need weak little bitches like you clinging to him for attention." She stepped back, smirking. "Keep talking to him, and let’s see how your lives turn out." And that’s when the voice came from down the hallway. Loud. Sharp. Unshaken. "What kind of threats are you idiots making?" They all turned at once. Standing at the end of the hallway was someone most students barely noticed, quiet, withdrawn, always off to the side. She rarely spoke. Rarely stood out. But today, Sheri stepped forward. "Don’t you know how important Abby is to Max?" she said, walking steadily toward them. "If you had a shred of sense, you’d treat her with some kindness. That’s the only way you’ll ever be on Max’s good side." She stopped in front of Kira and her crew, standing between them and Abby and Cindy. No punches were thrown. But the shift in energy was real. The second Sheri placed herself beside Abby and Cindy, something changed. A sense of safety crept in, quiet, but strong. Abby and Cindy didn’t know her well at all. In fact, Sheri never really spoke to anyone. But Abby recognized her. She’d seen her before, sometimes around Max. Sometimes glancing her way. It was the first time Sheri had ever said anything on their behalf. Kira scoffed. "You think this little pipsqueak has Max wrapped around her finger? Because from where we’re standing, it doesn’t look like that." She narrowed her eyes at Abby. "To us, and everyone else, she’s just some clingy, desperate girl trying to get noticed. No use to Max at all." Then her smirk twisted meaner. "And honestly? Maybe she’s that kind of shy girl. The kind that acts innocent until she gives herself up like some pathetic little, " SLAP. The sound rang through the hall like a crack of thunder. Kira’s eyes widened in shock, her cheek stinging red. Everyone froze. She turned slowly, her gaze landing on the only person whose hand was still shaking. It wasn’t Sheri. It was Abby. "You... you slapped me!" Kira hissed, her whole face trembling with rage. Abby stood firm, her fists clenched, heart pounding, but her voice didn’t waver. "You spit gum on my friend. You insulted me to my face. All of you, you’re just bullies!" Her eyes locked on Kira’s. "You think you can keep pushing people, walking all over them, and no one will ever do anything about it." She took a shaky breath, but her voice grew stronger. "Max changed this school. He stood up so people like you couldn’t get away with this anymore. He fought back. And if you really knew Max, you’d know he’d support what I’m doing right now." Her eyes narrowed. "I’m fighting back." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢 Kira looked like she was about to explode. Her fists clenched, her friends tensing beside her, ready to strike. But before anything could happen, Sheri grabbed Cindy by the wrist, then Abby, and yanked them both. "Come on! Class is about to start, we have to go!" she shouted, pulling them down the hallway. The three of them sprinted off, shoving past a few confused students as they ran. Behind them, Kira, Nightly, and Susan just stood there, watching them disappear around the corner. "You’re not gonna let her get away with that, are you?" Nightly asked. "We could rough her up a bit," Susan said, casually. "Or spread a few rumors, trash her name. But..." She hesitated. "But what?" Nightly said, rolling her eyes. "Did you see her hand shaking? That girl’s never thrown a punch in her life." "It’s not her I’m worried about," Susan replied. "It’s what Sheri said." She glanced toward the hallway. "I heard... before Max took over this school, he and Sheri used to talk. A lot." Nightly raised an eyebrow. "So?" "So," Susan said, "if we piss off the wrong people... we might end up on Max’s bad side. And I thought you wanted to be with him, Kira." Kira’s eyes narrowed as she rubbed her sore cheek. "That bitch doesn’t have any real pull with Max. Unless she’s using her body, which wouldn’t surprise me." She paused, smirking coldly. "But I’ve got a way to handle this. Without lifting a finger." "Oh?" Nightly said. "You know those girls at Seaton High?" Kira asked. "The all-girl school full of delinquents?" "Yeah. I know a few people there who’ll be more than happy to take care of her for me." She smiled. "She won’t even see it coming."