A Little More Trouble

"His name was Bert..." Max nodded slightly, trying to recall exactly what he had forgotten.

"Are you sure, or are you just guessing?" Devon asked as she paused to gather the things she needed for her next classes.

Max looked at her calmly and said, "I just remembered it. Like I told you before, I don't forget things."

However, before she could respond, he added, "But I've never spoken to him before, other than a simple greeting. Won't it be a bit awkward for everyone if we suddenly look for him?"

"We just need to give him his damn debate part. We don't need to befriend him for that." Devon smiled as she walked toward the classroom.

"Of course, that makes sense." Max smiled and followed her closely.

For most, not socializing or joining the more popular school groups would be suffocating, but such problems didn't matter at all to Max and Devon.

Things moved at different rhythms for both of them, so there was nothing to be alarmed about. Max wasn't uncomfortable talking to others; it was always the other way around.

As they walked, Max's indifferent eyes noticed a group of three playing dangerously. Just as they passed by, one of them pushed his friend, who was about to collide with Devon.

In that moment, Max moved, grabbing Devon by the arm and pulling her firmly to his side, ensuring she—distracted by her notes—wouldn't get hurt.

"You idiot, one more step and I'd have ended up on the floor."

"Hey, moron, shouldn't you be more careful in a place like this where you're not the only one walking?" Max let go of Devon's arm and approached the nearest guy, who was a bit stocky.

"You're just going to let him talk to you like that, Mike?" A guy behind him mocked, seeing Max seemingly unaware of whom he was dealing with.

"I'm in a good mood. Why don't you go back to your girlfriend and save yourself some embarrassment in front of her?" Mike stepped closer to Max, murmuring these words almost in his ear.

"Not worth it, Max. They're just a group of idiots with no self-respect." Devon grabbed Max's arm to stop him from getting into trouble.

Over the time they had been friends, she had taken it upon herself to keep Max from getting into fights because of her. Many didn't know it, but the only way to truly anger Max was to mess with those he considered close or cause unnecessary problems.

"You heard your girlfriend. Get out of my sight now," Mike mocked, glancing at his friends, who each took a side.

"Hey, are you serious?" Max asked as he faced the guy, extending his hand to push Devon aside.

"What? Damn it, do you really want me to mess you up?"

"Tyler, who's this guy?"

"Just some idiot. Do you have a problem with us?"

Tyler was taken aback but, after thinking about it, couldn't recall any issue with Max. He was about to wrap things up quickly, but suddenly an open hand grabbed him by the jaw, causing everyone to step back.

"I heard you've been causing trouble and still are. Do you have a problem, or what?" Max asked, tossing Tyler and Mike toward the lockers. The latter immediately grew furious.

"If you want a fight, just say so, you lunatic!" Mike didn't know why the fight had started, but he wasn't about to let himself get beaten up by some idiot who had come looking for trouble with his friends. He took off his hoodie and threw the first punch.

To make it more realistic, Max let the punch land on his cheek. After being hit, he retaliated with a single punch to Mike's nose, and within seconds, Mike was down.

Thud!

"Whoa!"

The students around simply reacted to the punch that floored Mike. Many recognized him as the jerk who always bothered other students while hanging out with Tyler.

"Get up!" Max said, slightly annoyed by the pain from the punch he'd taken.

But Mike, blood pouring from his nose and fear creeping in, felt humiliated by the laughter and taunts around him. Angrily, he got up and charged at Max like a football player.

Crash!

Despite slamming into the lockers, Max wasn't hurt. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the teacher approaching and shouting, "You two, stop right now!"

"What do you think you're doing?" Mr. Steve yelled furiously, glaring at everyone. "It's Monday morning! You must really want to get expelled. Both of you, come with me to the principal's office right now!"

Such fights weren't common. A true fighter knows when to back down, but if an opponent refuses to surrender despite severe injuries, a responsible fighter begins to question continuing the fight.

Looking at Devon, who stood to the side with a somewhat serious expression, Max smiled and muttered under his breath, "These idiots will think twice before messing with us again."

"Damn it, Mr. Kim, take this boy to the infirmary. And you, Max, come with me to see the principal!" Steve yelled again, still furious.

"Yeah, no need to keep shouting." Max thought, feeling a headache as he glanced at the time, lost in a stream of thoughts.

When Max disappeared down the hallway, Devon sighed, calming her racing heart from the shock. It had been a while since she'd seen Max fight. She wasn't happy, but she wasn't angry either. Those jerks had it coming.

"Hey, was that your boyfriend fighting?" A girl approached Devon after seeing how her boyfriend had been brutally beaten.

Irritated by the situation, Devon asked, "What if he is my boyfriend?"

"Is he always that violent?"

"Forget it, Sam," said one of Samantha's friends, pulling her away. She was the daughter of Daniel Larruso, Max's neighbor and Tyler's current girlfriend.

Devon smirked slightly and said, "I doubt it, but good luck with that. Everyone here knows those arrogant idiots have deserved a beating for a while now."

Feeling irritated by the confusion, she immediately headed to class, ignoring Sam and her friends.

"What's her deal?"

Sam, staring at the blood on the floor, murmured, "I don't know. Let's get out of here."

...

Principal's Office

A few minutes later.

"Yes, ma'am, we have it under control, so you don't need to worry. But I'm afraid your son's nose is a bit broken... No, it's definitely completely broken. I've never seen a nose that crooked before. What? I'm just reporting your son's situation, ma'am. It's just a nose; no one's dying."

Principal Williams stared directly at Max, as if trying to make him realize the trouble he had caused by fighting. Max, however, ignored him and focused solely on his phone.

"Yes, ma'am, we'll handle it, of course."

Principal Williams let out a deep sigh and, after hanging up, said, "This drama is not good for my heart this early in the day. How did we end up here again after the deep conversation we had with your uncle, Mr. Jones?"

"Mr. Williams, you know that idiot deserved a beating," Max replied casually after receiving a message. "Besides, if I hadn't started the fight, I'd be the one with the broken nose."

"Call me Principal. My last name is reserved for school staff... Anyway, where's your uncle?" Williams asked, opening a box of mixed nuts and munching on them without looking at Max.

"He's on a business trip. Maybe he's on his way, but if we wait for him here, it'll take a while... So, what's going to happen?" Max asked, changing the subject.

"Obviously, you'll be punished. I suppose you've contacted another family member besides your uncle... God, you could've done this outside of school, and maybe I'd have avoided complaints from that woman who's sure to come here and bother me."

"It's not like I haven't done it before. Let me take full responsibility. I'll cover the medical expenses for those guys I hit, as long as there's no intervention from their families. And of course, I don't want to be expelled."

As Max said this, a series of shouts came from outside, and the mother of Adam burst in, looking for trouble.

"Is this the boy who hit my innocent Tyler?! You bastard! Where's your mother? I'll teach her how to raise her son! Damn it, do you even know you've broken his nose?"

"Ma'am, calm down!" Williams shouted, watching as poor Mr. Steve, who had brought Max to the office, held back the woman intent on causing a scene.

At that moment, the principal signaled Max to leave, promising to inform him of his punishment later. Williams knew expelling Max would be a huge mistake, especially after Silver's donations to the school and all the gifts they couldn't return now.