"MaxGyver strikes again!"

- Max Caulfeild

CHAPTER FOUR: Trouble Ahead

    It was almost Fall, my favorite weather. Where leaves turn from their boring browns and tans, to beautiful oranges and reds. It's where the air is crisp and chilly, the wind cool and refreshing.
    Trees began to strip their leaves and lay bare against the world while the strong gusts of wind pluck the leaves and scatter them against the hard ground.
    I walked down the sidewalk, breathing in the fresh air. I watched two football players throw a football back and forth, their jerseys worn proudly on their backs. I noticed one of the girls, Alyssa Anderson, sitting alone on the bench.
    She seemed to be engrossed in the book that lay open in her hands. She was also a quiet student, one that I didn't talk to very often. She was very accident-prone, always seeming to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

She was a heavy set girl with beautiful brown hair that faded into a bright purple. She was a sweet girl, one who also didn't deserve the abuse that others gave her. I continued my walk to the dorm, seeing the janitor, Samuel, who was sweeping the leaves from the concrete.

I need to go to my room and return Warren's flash drive before he goes all ape shit on me, I thought. I headed past Alyssa, making my way to the dorms. I let out a quiet groan as I saw the gang that had decided to take over the steps into the building. They sat perched on the steps, giggling and chatting back and forth like birds. I rolled my eyes, glaring at them.

Oh look, it's Victoria and her gang of bitches..just my luck.

I walked up to them, hoping they would all just let me through. Of course, it didn't go that way. Completely the opposite actually. They all stared up at me, Victoria's eyes piercing into mine. They all glared right back at me, leaning back casually and taking up more space.

"Oh look! It's Max Caulfield, the selfie hoe of Blackwell." She sneered, making the other girls laugh behind her. Victoria stood up, smirking and getting into my face. Just wait till I rip that pretty blonde hair out. She snickered at me, crossing her arms.

"What a lame gimmick. Even Mark..Mr. Jefferson..falls for your weak hipster bullshit." She walked around me, almost like a predator stalking its prey. I watched her with narrowed eyes as she circled around, her smile getting bigger and bigger. I clenched my fist, hearing her friends whisper and snicker at me.

"The Daguerrian Process, Sir!" You could barely even say that!" She chuckled, standing back in front of me now. I glowered at her, keeping my mouth shut. She fixed her hair and sighed, nodding towards her friends.

"I guess you got your meds filled." She chuckled along with her friends, going back to sit down on the steps. HA HA HA, go eat something you skinny bitch, I thought angrily. I mentally face-palmed myself.
    Max, stop trying to give comebacks. I rubbed my arm, pulling my bag higher on my shoulder. She looked around, shrugging her shoulders carelessly.

"Since you know all the answers, I guess you have to try and find another way into the dorm. We ain't moving." I sighed, my shoulders dropping in disappointment. I glared at them, standing still and rigid in my spot. Victoria giggled and held her hand out, pulling out her phone.

"Oh, wait! Hold that pose!" I started to step back when I heard her phone camera go off, taking a picture of me.

"So original. Don't worry, Max, I'll put a vintage filter on it right before I post it all over social media." I stood there, gawking at her. How could one person be so cruel to everything that stood in her way?

"Now..why don't you go fuck your selfie?" (I'm sorry, but I love this insult XD)I stood there for a moment, shocked by her blunt words. I let my anger boil my blood as I stepped back and away from the group.

Oh, yes Victoria. I'll get your bony ass out of my way.

I shook my head, walking down the sidewalk. I looked to the side to see the sprinklers turning on. It spurt out water onto the plants, cascading them in droplets of cool water. I felt a smirk come to my lips as I searched for the storage room.
    I found the room, sneaking inside quietly. I looked around quickly, impatient to find the valve. I looked on the wall, seeing the valve. Smiling to myself, I ran over to it and wasted no time in pushing it down. I peered outside the door, seeing the spurt of water increase and shoot out further.

I watched in pleasure as it soaked Victoria and the girls, their squeals causing heads to turn. I covered my mouth and giggled, watching it all play out. They shot up on their feet and stumbled away from the line of fire as they grumbled and complained.

"What the hell!? Are you kidding me!? Look at this!" Victoria cried out, wiping her hands on her shirt. Her blonde haired friend put her hand on Victoria's shoulder, looking at her.

"Chill, Victoria. It's just water, I-" Victoria cut her off when she slapped her hand away from her shoulder.

"Yeah, water on my cashmere! Do you know how much this fucking outfit cost!?"

"...you look great."

"I can't even chill on the steps."

I was enjoying their little tantrum as I hurried and stepped out of the storage room, watching them carefully. I walked past Samuel as he climbed up the ladder, setting a large white paint can on a hook. He waved down at me, pulling a paintbrush out. He was a nice man, I talked to him more than most people.    
    He was a pretty quiet, keep to himself, kind of guy. Which is probably why we got along well. I looked at Victoria, seeing her dripping wet. I stopped in my tracks, looking up at the paint can, then back at her.
    I held up my hand, quickly rewinding time. Samuel reversed back behind the building, and Victoria sat back with her group on the steps. I quickly walked over to the paint can now resting on the ground, and decided to tamper with it. I pulled one of the handles off the can, carefully putting it back in place loosely.

Okay, now let's see if this works..

I stood back, away from the paint can as I saw Samuel walking down the sidewalk. I tried to suppress my smile as he picked up the can and headed up the ladder. He climbed up it, hanging it on the hook gently.
    He plucked the brush out of it, turning his back to start painting. My smile widened as the handle broke, sending the can of paint crashing to the ground. The girls all squealed as paint splashed onto all three of them. Victoria groaned loudly, her arms held tightly at her sides.

"No way! No fucking way!" She shouted, her face scrunched up in anger. Paint covered her hair and clothes, her skin blemished with the white paint.

    "Oh, are you okay Victoria!?" Her little followers chirped at her as they looked at her in worry.

    "Oh, Samuel is sorry. Wet paint is not good for hair. Nope. Sorry." Samuel said, quickly climbing down the steps to the girls. The girls glared at Samuel, backing away from him when he raised his hands. He looked very guilty, making me feel a little bad for putting the blame on him.

"Get the hell away from me, weirdo!" Victoria waved him off, looking down at all the paint splattered onto her. She sat back down on the steps, crossing her arms and huffing. The other girls rushed inside, saying they would fetch her some paper towels. I giggled into my hand, watching the whole scene play out.

It worked! Don't mess with Max, bitches!

"Um..hey, Victoria." I said quietly, standing in front of her. She looked up at me, her eyes piercing into me. She looked anything but happy to see me at the moment.

"What do you want, Max?" I opened my mouth to say something, but stopped myself. I sighed quietly, knowing what I should do.

"I am sorry. That's an awesome cashmere coat." Her eyebrows raised in surprise as she nodded and sat back a little. She looked down at herself, shrugging.

"It was. But there will be another." I nodded, rubbing my arm and swaying from side to side.

"Well, you always seem to know how to pick the right outfits.." She smiled a little, feeling full of herself as usual.

"I do have some talent. Mr. Jefferson told me-" I cut her off, agreeing with her instantly.

"I've seen your pictures, you have a great eye. Richard Avedon esque." I said, smiling a little down at her. Her glare went away and she smiled back at me. It was unusual to see her smile at me, let alone not look at me like she's going to rip my head off.

"He's one of my heroes...thanks, Max." There was a slight awkward silence between us until she patted her thighs and looked back at the front door.

"I hope those sluts get me a towel before they hang a sign on me." I nodded, looking down at a ground. I heard her sigh and looked up to see her pulling put her phone. She held it in her hands, her fingertips tapping on the screen.

"You deserve a better shot. Sorry about blocking you, and..and the, "Go fuck your selfie." She said, her tone apologetic. I nodded to her, watching her delete the picture she took of me.

"That was mean..but it was pretty funny." We said our goodbyes and she finally moved out of the way. I sighed in relief, heading up the stairs will the smell of paint lingering in the air. I opened the door, heading inside quickly.

This day just gets better and better...