Luck
For better or for worse, our morning search turns up zero keys, but also zero danger. After deciding to refill our batteries back at the base, with Anette leading the way, we head towards the Home Ec class. “It’s right here.” She calls out to us, standing in front of a door on the first floor. (And of course it HAD to move yet again…) I think to myself as I join up with her. Without wasting a moment, the whole group steps inside the reformed classroom in order to rest. With a quick glance at everybody's faces, I can easily tell that they’re in low spirits. (Well considering the time limit, we might as well get back out there ASAP…) I start thinking while grabbing a seat at the counter in front of the kitchen. “Don’t worry guys, I’ll make lunch!” Max announces, a leader’s smile plastered on her face. (I can tell she’s forcing herself to act tough. I can at least tell that much…) She says that in a reassuring tone as she makes for the kitchen, and the others all give half-hearted answers. But that doesn’t ruin her solid and optimistic expression. Only when she’s well out of everyone’s sight does her smile drop
It's not long before her expression forms a frown instead. She turns to the fridge, opens it and takes out some ingredients. Then she looks back at us, opens it again and takes out some more. But yet again, she turns right back and takes out extra vegetables. (Poor Max) I eventually heave a sigh and walk towards the kitchen myself. When Max realizes I’m coming to the kitchen, she quickly wears the same leader-smile and looks at me. “Anything wrong, Jack?” She asks me, her voice firm. “Nope, everything’s fine. Just wanted to lend you a hand.” I reply with a straight but honest face. “Well…” She taps her chin for a bit but eventually nods “Okay.” The girl next to me smirks. “Can you please rinse out the tomatos?” She asks me, her expression unwavering. “Sure.” I reply as I turn around after grabbing the vegetables and running the water. “You know Max…” I call out to her, turning off the running water. “…If something’s bothering you, you can always talk to me.” I firmly state while looking her way. “What do you mean? Everything’s cool!” But she doesn’t relent. “Max, I can tell when you’re upset about something. I may not look like I’m paying much attention but trust me…” I make sure to look her in the eyes. “…I know when something’s up.” I state, my gaze fixed on hers. She, on the other hand looks down clasping her hands together tightly. “Plus, don’t you think that it’s a tiny bit unfair when you’re trying to act tough in front of me, your friend? You don't have to put a front when you're talking to me. I’m here for you, partner.” I smirk as I spell out the last part. (We used to call each other that when we were kids and we ran around town causing trouble. We’d always get into funny and weird situations back then, but trust me I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world.) “Jack… You…” She grins at me and tilts her head to the side. “I?” I quizzically ask pointing at myself. “What’s gotten into you?” She asks me, this time with an honest smile. “Hey that’s just rude. I’m just looking out for my friend.” I teasingly tap on her nose and she erupts in giggles. "You’re such a dork.” She replies as she tries to attack my face with her finger but I grab hold of both her hands and we laugh in unison. Suddenly she stops and her warm smile makes the heat rise to my face. “Thanks Jack. And I’m sorry.” Max says still looking at me. “I’m just beating myself up over the fact that we haven’t made any progress yet…” Her voice trails off. “You don’t have to worry about a thing Max, remember, one step at a time okay? We’ll get through this 100%. I mean we’ve got the ridiculously lucky Maxine Bell with us, so what could possibly go wrong?” I try to reassure her, and crack a joke at the same time. “Whaaat? On what basis am I lucky?” She protests with a playful smirk. “Remember that one time you played in the hook toy machine and got that super rare toy everyone wanted on the first try?” I recall back to our childhood. “Yeah, but luck had nothing to do with it!” She protests yet again. “Max. It was broken.” I immediately reply with a straight face. “What? For real?” Max looks at me quizzically. “Yep” I nod.
“Still that doesn’t mean that-“ “Remember that one time at the festival-“ “Okay okay I got it, Jeez!”
She tries to protest yet again but I don’t relent. After convincing her about the validity of my statement, we turn back to the kitchen and I roll up my sleeves. “So what are we making Chef Max?” I ask having rinsed out the tomatoes. “Sandwiches, sous-chef Jack.” She replies on the same note, clearly in a much better mood than before. On that note we continue making lunch for the whole group, enthusiastically. (I like it when she’s smiling, it gives me the feeling that everything will be alright. Although when I came back here, I didn’t quite treat her as I should have, she never stopped treating me like a true friend. Unfortunately, the number of people I’ve mistreated seems to be growing the more I think about it…)
After having lunch altogether, we set out once again in search for the much-wanted keys that will potentially bring about our salvation. “Is everyone ready?” Our leader, and my friend, Max speaks out confirming everyone’s condition. The girls nod or verbally agree while I give a thumbs up and we’re out of the door before we know it. April, who’s the last to leave, closes the door behind her but before we can advance Chloe jumps up like a spring. “Oh shoot! I forgot my phone!” She speaks up and walks back to the already closed door. For some reason, my senses hit red alert. “NO DON’T!” Anette’s shriek though, is unable to register with Chloe, as she swings the door we just came through, wide open. What lies behind that door is not our home base, the Home Ec classroom anymore… (Are we gonna lose someone like that yet again…?)
It's not long before her expression forms a frown instead. She turns to the fridge, opens it and takes out some ingredients. Then she looks back at us, opens it again and takes out some more. But yet again, she turns right back and takes out extra vegetables. (Poor Max) I eventually heave a sigh and walk towards the kitchen myself. When Max realizes I’m coming to the kitchen, she quickly wears the same leader-smile and looks at me. “Anything wrong, Jack?” She asks me, her voice firm. “Nope, everything’s fine. Just wanted to lend you a hand.” I reply with a straight but honest face. “Well…” She taps her chin for a bit but eventually nods “Okay.” The girl next to me smirks. “Can you please rinse out the tomatos?” She asks me, her expression unwavering. “Sure.” I reply as I turn around after grabbing the vegetables and running the water. “You know Max…” I call out to her, turning off the running water. “…If something’s bothering you, you can always talk to me.” I firmly state while looking her way. “What do you mean? Everything’s cool!” But she doesn’t relent. “Max, I can tell when you’re upset about something. I may not look like I’m paying much attention but trust me…” I make sure to look her in the eyes. “…I know when something’s up.” I state, my gaze fixed on hers. She, on the other hand looks down clasping her hands together tightly. “Plus, don’t you think that it’s a tiny bit unfair when you’re trying to act tough in front of me, your friend? You don't have to put a front when you're talking to me. I’m here for you, partner.” I smirk as I spell out the last part. (We used to call each other that when we were kids and we ran around town causing trouble. We’d always get into funny and weird situations back then, but trust me I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world.) “Jack… You…” She grins at me and tilts her head to the side. “I?” I quizzically ask pointing at myself. “What’s gotten into you?” She asks me, this time with an honest smile. “Hey that’s just rude. I’m just looking out for my friend.” I teasingly tap on her nose and she erupts in giggles. "You’re such a dork.” She replies as she tries to attack my face with her finger but I grab hold of both her hands and we laugh in unison. Suddenly she stops and her warm smile makes the heat rise to my face. “Thanks Jack. And I’m sorry.” Max says still looking at me. “I’m just beating myself up over the fact that we haven’t made any progress yet…” Her voice trails off. “You don’t have to worry about a thing Max, remember, one step at a time okay? We’ll get through this 100%. I mean we’ve got the ridiculously lucky Maxine Bell with us, so what could possibly go wrong?” I try to reassure her, and crack a joke at the same time. “Whaaat? On what basis am I lucky?” She protests with a playful smirk. “Remember that one time you played in the hook toy machine and got that super rare toy everyone wanted on the first try?” I recall back to our childhood. “Yeah, but luck had nothing to do with it!” She protests yet again. “Max. It was broken.” I immediately reply with a straight face. “What? For real?” Max looks at me quizzically. “Yep” I nod.
“Still that doesn’t mean that-“ “Remember that one time at the festival-“ “Okay okay I got it, Jeez!”
She tries to protest yet again but I don’t relent. After convincing her about the validity of my statement, we turn back to the kitchen and I roll up my sleeves. “So what are we making Chef Max?” I ask having rinsed out the tomatoes. “Sandwiches, sous-chef Jack.” She replies on the same note, clearly in a much better mood than before. On that note we continue making lunch for the whole group, enthusiastically. (I like it when she’s smiling, it gives me the feeling that everything will be alright. Although when I came back here, I didn’t quite treat her as I should have, she never stopped treating me like a true friend. Unfortunately, the number of people I’ve mistreated seems to be growing the more I think about it…)
After having lunch altogether, we set out once again in search for the much-wanted keys that will potentially bring about our salvation. “Is everyone ready?” Our leader, and my friend, Max speaks out confirming everyone’s condition. The girls nod or verbally agree while I give a thumbs up and we’re out of the door before we know it. April, who’s the last to leave, closes the door behind her but before we can advance Chloe jumps up like a spring. “Oh shoot! I forgot my phone!” She speaks up and walks back to the already closed door. For some reason, my senses hit red alert. “NO DON’T!” Anette’s shriek though, is unable to register with Chloe, as she swings the door we just came through, wide open. What lies behind that door is not our home base, the Home Ec classroom anymore… (Are we gonna lose someone like that yet again…?)
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