Max walked down the auditorium rows towards the back where the rest of the empty seats were on the first day of 9th grade at Chespin high school. As he walked down the rows he suddenly felt the sensation of something hitting his feet hard and Max was on the carpeted floor of the school auditorium. As he started to get up he heard a familiar voice that he hoped he would never hear again.





“Had a nice trip? ,”hooted Michael laughing hysterically at his own joke . Max groaned as he got up remembering last year how the held back (by at least 2 grades, no one really knew) bully had tormented him. Last year it hadn't been much just the usual verbal teasing and stuff but at the end of the year things had started to get a little physical. Then Summer had come and thankfully Michael lived nowhere near Max. But as summer came and went, Max stared wondering if Michael had failed 8th grade again he didn't want to see him again this year.

As Max got up, he looked around for any teachers. Last year when michael had bullied him a teacher was immediately there to stop him, but at this high school, it looked like things were different with discipline.


*******

Throughout the week Max saw little of Michael just a few glimpses here and there. whenever Max did see him coming, he would just turn around and go the opposite way. One day Michael did almost get Max. At lunch time Max was sitting at the back of the cafeteria with his friend Jake, a 14 yr old albino. The reason they had become friends was probably because nobody seemed to like either of them; Jake probably because he was albino, and Max; because they didn't want Michael to think that they were friends with Max because the other students also didn't want to get picked on by Michael. As Max and Jake were eating lunch he spotted Michael heading towards their table.

“Hey Jake ummmm….. I think we should get out of here,” uttered Max quickly standing up.

“Huh, why?” asked Jake. Then he saw Michael headed for them. “Oh come on Max you have got to stand up to that over grown gorrilla you can't run for ever!” he says.

But Max was already running knowing what Jake said was true, that Michael would find him and start the 8th grade year all over again.

The next day after the final bell rang for the final time that day and Michael headed for his locker. As he closed the door he turned around and there looming over him was Michael.

“How you been runt?”, he grunted “ It looks like you've been avoiding me, and guess what I don't like to be avoided “.
Max looked around for anyone but the other students sensing trouble had quickly deserted the hallway. Michael slammed Max into the lockers and was about to punch him when max did the logical thing,he ducked and Michael’s fist slammed into the lockers. Quickly Max tried to run but Michael grabbed hold of Max and got him into a headlock cutting of his breathing.



Just when Max thought he was going to die, he heard a voice and then Michael’s grip had loosened, Max quickly scrambled away. After Max had gotten his breath back he looked back to see who his savior was and saw Jake! Jake had started choking Michael but it wasnt working so well, because Michael just turned around grabbed Jake and started beating him up. And so, right then and there Max decided enough is enough I have had it it with this guy. So Max picked up the heaviest object that he could find ( a math book) and slammed it into Michael’s head .Michael fell to the ground. Then, Max started pummeling Michael with punches, and then to his amazement, Michael got up and ran off crying for his mommy!

After Michael ran off, Max helped Jake up.

“I don't think he’ll be bothering you anymore.” commented Jake grinning through his bloody nose.