In The Head's Office.

[Marie Lynn]

Highmore quietly stood at his door. He waited for Max to enter the room first. While he was waiting he started to consider his options of punishment for Max.

[Maxwell Green]

Max stepped into the small office indifferently. He stood there for a moment, staring at the place, boredom in his eyes. He had been here many times before. There was nothing interesting or new to see. The same pictures and diploma's and certificates hanging on the walls, the same wallpaper, the same books on the shelves, the same pointless junk and papers on the desk. He took notice of the small plaque that was sitting on it; it was brown, and most teachers had them that read 'Mr. Highmore.' Pssht. He shook his head. What kind of name was that, anyway? Highmore. He repeated it over and over in his head. Did he want them to get 'high more' or something? Was that the aim? Was he always 'high more' than everyone else? Did that make sense? Whatever. It was a pointless thought.

He dismissed it quickly as he sat down in the uncomfortable, yellow chair with brown arms and legs without being asked. As mentioned; Max was here many times before. There was no need to be shy anymore. He banged his short, painted nails on the arms, waiting for Mr. Highmore to come in and give him his 'sentence'. He sighed. This was getting ridiculous. He bit at his lip, messing with the lip ring on his bottom lip. He slouched in the chair, not looking very interested. He looked down at the legs of the chairs... darn. They weren't the cool kind you could spin around in and tick off teachers. He looked up again, continuing to tap on the arms of the chair as he waited for Mr. Highmore to speak.

"So..." He began, "What'll it be this time? Demerit? Detention? Suspension? Community service? House arrest? Draft me into the army? Military school? Write two billion words on some pointless topic? No computer privileges? No TV? Extra homework? No allowance? Starvation? Death?" He asked quickly, a humorous tone to his voice as he named a bunch of random punishments that had nothing to do with anything at all. He shrugged, raising his eyebrows in question. "What'll it be?"

[Marie Lynn]

Highmore motioned to his secretary to not let anyone in his office unless it was very important. He then walked into his office. He saw that Max had already seated himself. He sighed. The children these days didn't have much manners. He walked into the office and stood behind his desk. "I don't know Max." He said answering Max's question about his punishment. "Everything that I have tried doesn't seem to work." He sighed. "And don't say that it does because if it did then you wouldn't be here in my office again, Now would you?" He added, waiting for Max's answer. "Oh, and don't giv me any smart mouth." He said, sitting down in his chair.

[Maxwell Green]

Max watched as Mr. Highmore walked into the room. He stared at him as he stood behind his desk. Darn. He suddenly got a brilliant idea that he probably would've been funny to have sit down at the headmasters desk instead of the normal, uncomfortable seat in front of it that he normally sat in. Next time he would need to remember that. I don't know Max. Max looked surprised, smiling, a somewhat triumphant look coming over him. He sat up straighter. Wow. He didn't know? That was rich. "Really? Wow. I didn't think I was that terrible of a student that you would run out of punishments for me... Jeeze. Was I really in that much trouble over the years?" He asked with a small chuckle, sounding awestruck, though it was unclear whether it was fake or real.

Everything that I have tried doesn't seem to work. Max shook his head, looking greatly amused by this. No dip, sherlock. Took you a while to realize that, huh? He thought tauntingly to himself tauntingly. And don't say that it does because if it did then you wouldn't be here in my office again, Now would you? Max laughed softly as he intertwined his fingers together, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair. "Hey, I wasn't going to say it did. I was actually going to agree with you for once." He said, still chuckling softly, a humorous tone to his voice though for the most part he was serious.

Really, he was going to agree. Nothing did work. It was never going to work. Trying was a waste of energy anymore, couldn't they see that? He wasn't going to stop smoking or stop doing anything else he was doing because of a pink slip of paper or an hour or two sitting in silence. It was a lost cause anymore... Stupid teachers and their thick heads that couldn't seem to grasp that concept. His laughing ceased as he shifted in the chair.

Oh, and don't giv me any smart mouth. Max's grin grew wider as he snickered. Pssht. Oops. "Smart mouth? Me? Never." He said mockingly, blatantly going against his words. He narrowed his eyes playfully. Well, so far, things were going swimmingly. Really, he was getting used to spending his days here. It wasn't all that bad if you knew what to say.

[Marie Lynn]

"Max this isn't funny!" Highmore said very loudly. He stood up, putting his hands down on his desk. He leaned forward so that he was looking strait at Max.

[Maxwell Green]

Max this isn't funny! Max jumped in surprise as Mr. Highmore yelled. He looked down at his lap, avoiding eye contact with the man. He made a loose fist and put it over his lips gently as a broad smirk crossed his face. Maybe from a head masters point of view, it wasn't funny, but to Max, yes, it kind of was. He stifled his laughter, pausing for a moment as he tried to calm himself. He took his hand from his mouth and looked up again, the wide grin still over his face. "Not even.. A little...?" He said, using his thumb and index finger to signify 'a little'. He burst into random laughter, though he wasn't sure why. Perhaps at the fact that Mr. Highmore was so serious for no reason.

He tried to calm down again, putting his fist over his mouth as he looked up at the head master from under his eye lashes. He put his hand up for a moment, "Okay, okay, you're right, it's not funny..." He settled himself for a minute or two as the two fell into silence, but Mr. Highmore's straight face made him laugh again. He looked down, waving his hand in front of his face, as if trying to dismiss his amusement, "Sorry.. Cigarettes.. Smoking.. Makes me loopy." He said, his voice still slightly sarcastic as he moved his left index finger in a few quick circles near the side of his head to indicate 'crazy'. He stopped, folding his hands again as he nodded a few times. Really, it wasn't from the cigarette's he was laughing, but it was a good excuse. These kinds of outbursts would probably get him questioned about other drugs, too, but that wasn't the case at all. He just thought it was funny. Why bother taking things so seriously if you knew it wasn't going to work?

[Marie Lynn]

"Then maybe you should quit smoking!" He said just a little quieter than before, but not by much. He didn't move. He kept his strait face looking directly at Max.

[Maxwell Green]

Then maybe you should quit smoking! Max pouted innocently, crossing his arms over his chest and narrowing his eyes stubbornly as he set both feet beside each other firmly on the ground. "Maybe I don't want to." He retorted childishly, raising his eyebrows in question again, staring right back at Mr. Highmore challengingly. He shifted a little, waiting for a response.

Really, he had no plans to quit smoking anytime soon. It wasn't something he disliked doing at all, or else he would try harder to stop doing it. It wasn't that bad of a thing to do, besides the fact that he was killing himself slowly, but.. right now he wasn't feeling very bad. Maybe in a few years he would regret it, but right now he certainly did not.

[Marie Lynn]

Head Master suddenly thought of a punishment for Max. "Alright, you might not want to quit but you will. Because I have thought of a punishment for you." He said with a smirk on his face. He stood up straight looking at Max. If Max didn't want to stop smoking then Highmore would make him stop.

[Maxwell Green]

Max stared at him, his eyes unwavering, ready for whatever this guy may bring to him. Alright, you might not want to quit but you will. Because I have thought of a punishment for you. Max looked interested, sitting up straighter. He smirked, snickering once more. "Oooh, will I?" He said sarcastically, narrowing his eyes again. This oughta be good. There wasn't much more that they could do to him that would make him want to quit smoking. Even rehab probably wouldn't work now, with the length and how much he had smoked already. Plus, rehab was very avoidable to go to. He sat there, staring at Mr. Highmore curiously. "What is it this time?"

[Marie Lynn]

"Max, from now on you will be escorted everywhere." He said looking at Max. He didn't wait for a remark from him or anything like that, he continued to explain. "You will have a teacher, Head student, or trusted Prefect with you at all times. I don't care where you are or what time it is. You will have to listen to your escort at all times. They will also sit with you during class to make sure you don't skip. You are not permitted to smoke or do any other kinds of drugs." He said looking at Max, crossing his arms.

[Maxwell Green]

Max, from now on you will be escorted everywhere. You will have a teacher, Head student, or trusted Prefect with you at all times. I don't care where you are or what time it is. You will have to listen to your escort at all times. They will also sit with you during class to make sure you don't skip. You are not permitted to smoke or do any other kinds of drugs. Max nodded in understanding as if he thought this was a good idea. It was all a lie, though. What the heck? Okay. So he would be stalked by someone. He could think of five ways to get around this just off the top of his head, so really, this idea was screwed up. He shrugged, still looking rather in different. "So... Are they going to sleep and visit the bathroom and dress with me, too? Isn't that kind of a violation of privacy? I'm serious. I'm shy." He said mordantly, narrowing his eyes. "Feed me and get me food to make sure I don't spike it with crystal meth? Follow me to clubs and watch me snort cocaine and feel up a bunch of girls?"

Of course, he meant all of this in an disrespectful and caustically. He did not smoke crystal meth nor cocaine. Only tobacco and only cigarette's. Plus, he had heard of children who do worse here. Perhaps they just weren't caught because they were so open about their addictions. But hey, it wasn't his fault he was an honest person. Wasn't that what kids were supposed to be? Honest? Max rose to his feet defiantly. This wouldn't work. It was simple. He paused, snarling at Mr. Highmore. "Is that your plan?" He hissed.

"You do know I'm going to be legal in..." He paused again, looking down at his hand to count on his fingers the number of months until his birthday, when he would be eighteen, an adult who was allowed to smoke cigarette's all they wanted. Max's birthday had just passed on April 13th -- Friday the 13th -- so it wouldn't be for a while. He looked up again, finishing his sentence swiftly, no longer looking fun and playful. He was serious. Completely serious; his expression hostile and threatening. He no longer smiled nor laughed kind-heartedly. He glared at Mr. Highmore formidably. His plan would never work. "... Twelve months, right? Do you really think that twelve months of someone stalking me is going to turn me away from my addictions? Are you really that old and senile to think it'll work?"

He asked his questions as if he were a lawyer, as if questioning the head masters sanity -- his logic -- his intelligence. He pointed his finger at Mr. Highmore ferociously and intensely. Max stood tall in front of Mr. Highmore's desk, the only thing separating the two of them and keeping him from getting violent. His cheerful disposition twisted into a menacing gaze. Suddenly, this was no longer a game to him. He meant what he said and said what he meant. This wouldn't stop him; not no way, not no how. Max was certain of this. He was no dummy, he was not naive nor moronic or dim. He was a clever boy. He could find ways around this. He would, surely, prove this man wrong in his plans.

[Marie Lynn]

Highmore could tell that Max was still thinking. "No, Max. I will give you some privacy. They will not be right next to you every second of the day." He said. "But they will watch you very close. Yo should have thought about this before you disobeyed me more than once." He said with a straight face. He was not joking at all. "Now the next time someone catches you smoking or doing something against the rules I will call the police." He added. "Don't make me do that Max." He said. Highmore didn't move as he looked at Max with a very stern and serious face. "Now sit here and wait a minute." He added as he left the room. He went to talk to his secretary. His asked his secretary to call one of the Head Students down. He went back into the room, closing the door behind him.

A girl with dark brown hair walked quickly to the Head Master's office. She was wearing a red t-shirt and light blue jeans. She had white tennis shoes on. She talked to the secretary was told to knock on the door. Marie did as she was told and she waited patiently by the door.

[Maxwell Green]

No, Max. I will give you some privacy. They will not be right next to you every second of the day. Max sneered at Mr. Highmore unhappy, a serious of profanities running through his head. Revengeful thoughts filled his mind, ways to get back at him for this. He wouldn't get away with it without some kind of scar from Maxwell Green. But they will watch you very close. Yo should have thought about this before you disobeyed me more than once. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head in annoyance.

Max pretty much tuned out for the rest of the head masters lecture, looking away from him in defiance. He was always told it was rude to look away from someone when they were talking, so, of course, Max decided to do so now. He would do anything to show his disobedience and audacity toward this. He was even tempted to flick off the man, or curse and swear a lot, but he held his tongue, deciding to take his younger sisters advice and not get himself into anymore trouble.

He looked up as Mr. Highmore left, following his movements with his antagonistic green eyes. As he walked out of the office, Max turned, uncrossing his arms and flashing his middle finger at Mr. Highmore's back. Not that that would do much, but it helped him vent his hatred. He stared at the door, his eyes malignant and nasty. He walked toward it, noticing the girl who walked in. Oh, God. With any luck that wouldn't be the one the head master intended to 'watch' him. What was this, some kind of probation? Plus, she looked younger than him. How was that going to work? It wasn't. None of it was going to work.

Max, of course, had no plans of giving up smoking. He would just have to be more discrete about it, that's all. Bathroom's, dorm rooms, off campus; places like that. And amongst people who he didn't have to worry about ratting him out, which shouldn't be hard. He didn't know anyone here, nor did they know him, so hopefully they wouldn't bother turning him in. It was simple. He could get around this. And when he turned eighteen in twelve months, he could smoke freely in front of Mr. Highmore and say, 'I told you so.'

... This was going to be a long twelve months.

At least he had a car, one person he would trust his life with, and music. If he ever wanted, he could pack up and leave and never come back. Move somewhere else, far from here. Back to Nevada. Back to California. Alaska. Somewhere. All he had to do was find some money; more of it, anyway. He needed to get a band together, find some gigs and rock the faces off of people around the world. That was his plan. With a big tour bus and more than one friend to smoke and drink with and do other stupid things that would get them killed by the time they were forty.

His eyes floated toward Mr. Highmore's desk, spotting pens and some other slightly sharp objects on it. His eyes widened for a moment as his heart sank, an empty feeling taking over him. He looked down at his arms toward the very faint, red lines that ran horizontally up toward his elbows. They weren't very visible anymore, but Max knew they were there. His head flashed back to two years ago, when his only friends were a couple of razors and his own blood. He looked up, his face horrified, as he remembered the blood... Oh, how much there was. Oh, how it spilled so freely.. How it flowed out of his veins and over his skin and onto the floor beneath him. He remembered the razor as it cut along the surface of his skin. How frightening it was, how good it felt... to die. To be so close to your last breath, your last seconds on earth.

Oh, how good it felt.

Max shook his head suddenly, snapping out of his terrible reminiscence. His terrible childhood. He looked behind him quickly, trying to mask his uneasiness, his thoughts of suicide. He didn't do it well. His face was white, as if he had just saw a ghost. He shoved his hands into his pockets, looking at the ground. So quickly he became much more passive than he was before. His aggression and hostility ceased, and nothing but misery and loneliness was left on his face. His eyes were big, looking depressed and sickly. His lips formed an indifferent line across his face, as he awaited his fate for the next twelve months.

[Marie Lynn]

Head Master Highmore heard the knocking and walked over to the door. He opened it. "Oh, hello Marie." He said to the girl outside of his office. "Come on in and have a seat." He said pointing to the empty chair next to Max. "I hope I didn't pull you out of an important class." He said laughing a little.

Marie smiled as she looked at Highmor. “Just my Honors Reading!" She said joking around. Her smile faded quickly as she saw the boy in the chair. She didn't really know why the Head Master wanted her, but she was ready to try to help. She carefully sat down as if the boy had a deadly disease that was highly contagious. She tried to give the boy a faint smile, but didn’t really succeed. She looked at Highmore, trying to ask him why she was here with her eyes. He didn’t see her though.

“Now, Max this is Marie.” Highmore said looking at Max then to Marie and back to Max. “Marie, Max has trouble with smoking.” He said looking at Max. Maybe he will learn not to disobey me or any other staff members and really think about his smoking habbits. Highmore thought to himself. “I would like you to keep an eye on him. Make sure that he doesn’t smoke. And don’t worry about your classes I will talk to your teachers. I would also like you to escort him to class and stay with him during the whole day.” He said.