The Talk with Miguel

"Come on, Miguel, you still don't understand the proper use of kicks, which is your biggest advantage." Max walked into a café accompanied by Miguel and the charismatic Ryan, who had recently been dealing with problems with his girlfriend.

The main reason they were there was to get Ryan out of the house so he wouldn't lose his mind completely.

"You need more fights; combat experience isn't gained just by training," Ryan said something that Max had also been thinking.

However, simulated fights had many issues because Miguel still wasn't ready to learn how to take hits properly or how to reduce the damage he received.

"First, we'll work on defense. You'll use your kicks in combination and attack at the right moments," Max said as they looked for a table to sit at.

At that moment, a waitress approached and asked, "Would you like to place your order?"

Max looked up, slightly surprised, and said, "Tory, what a coincidence to see you here."

Tory, who hadn't seen Max since the last time they met, was surprised to find him here at her workplace. She replied, "Yeah, it's a surprise..."

"Do you two know each other?" Ryan instinctively smiled and looked at Max as if he wanted to ask him more questions.

Miguel, confused, also looked at Max thoughtfully.

"We met when some idiot was bothering her. Nothing surprising. So, what are we going to order?" Max knew Tory was working and didn't want to waste her time.

"We'll leave a good tip," Ryan teased, but Max threw the menu at his face before he could say anything else.

Miguel, who didn't know Ryan as well as Max, ordered, "I'll have a double cheeseburger with fries."

"You're eating that while training to be a good fighter?"

"Muscles don't grow on their own..." Miguel wanted to build muscle to protect his thin bones.

Ryan, at a loss for words, looked at the menu and said, "I'll take a medium-rare steak, a salad, and fresh water."

"I'll have the same," Max said.

Tory glanced at Max, noticing he seemed much better than when they first met, and nodded. "Your order will be ready shortly."

"Thank you, miss."

Max shook his head at his cheerful friend Ryan. Knowing about Ryan's recent issues with his girlfriend—a relationship that was already somewhat questionable—he wanted to help but didn't know how.

He'd heard that Ryan's ex-girlfriend was interested in another guy, which would feel like a slap in the face for Ryan, especially in front of their schoolmates.

A troubling situation that needed resolution to protect Ryan's reputation.

But Max, who had found some peace, wouldn't let his friend ruin himself over something so trivial.

"Alright, so, how are we dressing for the party?" Max didn't want to attend, but since all his friends were going, he had no choice but to join in.

"Deadpool, although the costume is expensive..." Miguel wanted to dress as the famous Deadpool but knew it would be impossible to get the suit.

"We could all go dressed as elegant skeletons. A girl recommended the outfit and showed me some photos. I think we'd look great," Ryan suggested, showing pictures of people in black suits with hats, dressed as traditional skeletons.

Miguel didn't think he'd look great, but Max liked the idea, especially since Devon would probably enjoy it too. "Can you handle finding makeup artists?"

"Is the party at your house?" Ryan asked. He knew it could be, but Max's place was much closer.

Lately, Ryan had been staying over at Max's, which was as quiet as a desert.

"Yeah, we'll all meet there. We could even rent a limo with a driver," Max offered, being familiar with such arrangements from his past outings with Ryan.

Miguel chimed in, "Can we invite some friends?"

"You have more friends?" Ryan gave him an approving look, thinking that if it weren't for them, Miguel wouldn't make decent friends.

"Forget it..."

"He's joking. Invite whoever you want," Max reassured him with a smile, then started talking about visiting a tailor to get good suits.

Miguel smiled. He still wasn't used to Ryan's jokes and felt that Ryan only talked to him because he was Max's friend.

But the truth was quite the opposite. Ryan saw Miguel as a friend because he had the talent to be great in fights and had never backed down from sparring with stronger opponents.