Unbeknownst to Max, a conversation was happening somewhere with his friends.


    Earlier at the pizzeria.


    Luke was just about ready to drive as Ken and Rose hopped on into the back.


    Ken: Looks like he forgot his backpack.


    Luke: Jeez. He''s pretty careless.


    Rose: Oh! We should give it back to him!


    Luke got into the van as did the others.


    Tiffany: Tomorrow.


    Rose: Tomorrow?


    Tiffany: Yeah. We''re too busy right now.


    Rose: Oh, right. Silly me. I almost forgot about today.


    Tiffany sat shotgun.


    Luke started to drive.


    Luke: On the plus side, though, that was a lot of fun.


    Ken: Absolutely.


    Rose: Yeah. He is soooooo cool!


    Tiffany: (sighs) What did I tell you guys about hanging out with normal people?


    Luke: Lighten up, Tiff.


    Ken: Yeah, it was just one day.


    Tiffany: (sighs) We are all aware of the danger that that could bring him and us. Aren''t we?


    Ken: And us?


    Tiffany: Yeah. What if he''s a spy, sent to befriend us and take us down from within?


    Ken: Oh, come on, Tiff, what are the odds of that.


    Tiffany: What matters here aren''t the odds. What matters are the risks we keep taking. Sooner or later, we might be screwed.


    Ken: I see what you mean, chief, but...


    Tiffany: No buts. After this week, keep away from him.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Rose: But Tiff....


    Tiffany: No buts. He should make new friends immediately.


    Rose started sobbing.


    Luke: (sighs) Much as I don''t like it either, Tiff is right. We can''t put an innocent bystander in danger like that.


    Rose: But...


    Ken: The chief is right, Rose. There''s nothing you can do about facts.


    Rose: Awwww....


    She shrugged and turned away from the group.


    Tiffany: I''m sorry, Rose.


    Luke: Yeah. We all know you had a crush on him.


    Rose suddenly turned around.


    Rose: N... No, I do not...


    Luke: Really?


    They all gave her a side eye.


    Rose: It''s just... I just... I just think he''s cool.


    Ken: Mmmm, hmmm.


    Rose: Ken!


    Ken: And for what reason do you think he''s cool?


    Rose: Well, he... well, he... well.....


    Ken: Mmmm, hmmmm.


    Rose: When he saved me, he said I didn''t owe him anything.


    Ken: Hmmm? You didn''t say that before.


    They were all a bit shocked to hear that.


    Ken: Huh. A person you''ve never met also being the kind of person to save you and ask for nothing in return. That Max guy is full of surprises.


    Luke: No kidding.


    Rose: I know, right? So there. I just think he''s cool. That''s all. Hmph.


    Luke: Suuuuurrree.


    Rose: Luke!


    Tiffany: Hey, while we''re on the subject, I''d like to ask you something, Rose.


    Rose: Yeah?


    Tiffany: How exactly did Max save you?


    Rose: Oh, right. Weeeeeeeelllllllll. I remember the car coming from my left and just as I was about to turn around, bam! Something hit me, and it turned out to be Max.


    Tiffany: Uh huh. So Max moved faster than a car that was about to hit you.


    Rose: Uh huh!


    Rose suddenly paused.


    Rose: Wait. M.. maybe the car wasn''t at full speed or...


    Tiffany: That''s enough. We aren''t speaking to him after he gets his backpack. In fact, Ken, check the bag.


    Rose: Wait! Wait!


    Rose and Ken shared a knowing glance before Rose finally yielded, and he opened the bag up.


    Rose: Fine.


    Ken: There''s nothing here but books and some random junk.


    Rose: See!


    Tiffany: Alright. But we''re still not talking to him tomorrow.


    Rose: Awwwwwwww.


    Tiffany: I''m sorry, Rose, but it''s for the good of the team.


    Luke: Yeah. Sorry, Rose.


    Rose: Hmph.


    Luke: I am gonna miss the guy, though. He was pretty crazy.


    Ken: Yeah. Did you see the way he walked up in front of Maths'' class? Dude''s got nerves of steel. I haven''t seen a single person with that much nerve on his or her first day of school.


    Luke: And standing up to Vince.


    Ken: I still can''t believe he did that.


    Tiffany: Yeah. That all just makes him more suspicious.


    Ken: (sighs) Oh, what would we be without our faithful leader?


    Tiffany: I heard that!


    Luke: Hey, it''s all good. I mean, even though we all liked him, sometimes you just gotta work in the mud. You know what I mean.


    Ken: Agreed.


    Luke: I mean, even Tiffany liked him.


    Tiffany immediately gasped and pouted.


    Tiffany: I did not.


    They all laughed at her after she said that,


    Tiffany: Ugh. Whatever. In any case, Ken?


    Ken: Yeah.


    Tiffany: Tomorrow. Scan Max completely. From head to toe.


    Ken: Sure.