Chapter 9: The Apology
In the opening scene, we see Max in The Rusty Mug along with Vernon, Louis, and Uncle Joe, they all take a seat at a table; with the tavern finally closed for the day, Uncle Joe spoke with a sigh.
Uncle Joe: And that's just it.
Max: This does seem like a serious matter.
Vernon: It could be anyone, Louis, Luke, anyone.
Max (smiles): I' am sure they wouldn't want Louis, anyway, you did the right thing by telling us, thanks, Uncle Joe.
Uncle Joe (sighs): Just don't do anything reckless.
Max nods and the three of them prepare to leave, just as they were about to leave Uncle Joe calls Max back in, telling the other to leave, he signals Max to take a seat and then says with a smile.
Uncle Joe: So, have you apologized yet?
Max: …I don't know, your method seems a little…farfetched.
Uncle Joe: It's a tried and tested method, you see, I'll shave my mustache if it doesn't work.
Max (smiles): Then you better sharpen your knives, because I'm sure it won't work.
Uncle Joe (laughs): You still have much to learn of love, my boy.
Uncle Joe then goes through the plan once more to rectify some errors, Max, still skeptical, decides not to bother Uncle Joe and listens quietly, after going through the plan over and over again Max finally decides to call it a night.
The scene then shifts to Max's dorm room where Avery and Pip are playing a game of chess together, even though both have never even seen, let alone played chess, they were intrigued upon finding a dusty board with chess pieces, as they played by their own made-up rules Avery was lost in her own thoughts.
Pip (smirks): Aaand there, Ha, I win again
Avery: ...
Pip (confused): Hey, big sis, you still with me, HEEYYY
Avery (startled by the sudden noise): Wha.!?
Pip: Are you okay sis, you seem kinda down lately
Avery: Yeah, I'm fine, it's just that Max hasn't been around that much lately.
Pip (puts a finger on his chin): Hmm, I've been wondering the same thing; oh! Maybe he's training to be stronger.
Avery: Where would he train this late at night
Pip (smirks): You seem to be pretty worried about him, is it perhaps you like him?
Avery (flusters): WHA... THAT'S OUTRAGEOUS.
Saying this she begins to lengthily explain Pip's misunderstanding and that she could never love a man like Max, she also adds that she only acts as a bodyguard for him out of pity — hiding the fact that Max was the one to actually discover her secret identity — After hearing her lengthy explanation Pip took a deep breath and finally came to a conclusion.
Pip: So, you do like him.
Avery: THAT'S THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I JUST SAID!!
Pip (sighs): You're no fun to tease, anywho, I'm gonna get some sleep, you should too, goodnight.
Pip quickly hops into his bed and Avery follows, it had been three hours since that but Avery could not even get a wink of sleep, to ease her troubled mind she sneaks out the window but suddenly bumps her head with Max's — who was trying to sneak in — and almost fell if Max hadn't held her hand. Avery nods with gratitude and rushes to the forest almost as if ignoring Max — Max follows close by — Max finds Avery at the very lake where they first met; her expression unclear due to the shade of the trees.
Max (emerges with a smile): Trouble sleeping?
Avery (startles): WHA... How long were you standing there.
Max (smiles): What's the matter, Avery.
Avery (sighs): Nothing, it's just...school.
Max is skeptical but chooses not to press on, he sighs and takes a seat next to Avery.
Max: So, tell me about yourself Avery.
Avery (taken aback by the sudden question): Wha... What do you mean by that?
Max (smiles): Well, something's on your mind, and I can't have my bodyguard distracted, can I?
Avery (slightly disappointed): Oh, well... I like travelling, aand eating
Max (chuckles): So, what all places have you seen
Avery (looks down, her voice barely above a whisper): I've never left the band, th...this is my first time out.
Hearing this Max suddenly laughs which startles Avery
Avery (flusters): Hh...hey...Wha- what's so funny.
Max: You really were worried about that, how about we go out tomorrow?
Avery (embarrassed): WHA!? Yy-you meant th...the two of us...alone
Max (smiles): If that's what you want.
Avery smiles and nods in response, Max helps her up and leaves first, Avery takes another look at the lake, this time, her mood better than ever; as she left, two mysterious figures appear from the shadows.
Louis: You know it's bad to eavesdrop
Vernon (disappointed): Aww man, I was hoping for some juicy information.
From behind them another man approaches which startles Louis to the point where he leads out a comical scream.
Louis (startled): HEY, What's the big idea.
Max (smiles): You know, the next time you're hiding, try better, I could spot you from a mile away.
Vernon (smiles): Say Max, is there anything actually going on between you and the girl?
Max (puts a finger on his chin): Wellll, I don't know, she seems really easy to manipulate, so I just went with the flow.
Vernon: Well then careful there young man, these are dangerous waters you're swimming in, who knows when the tides turn.
Max (smiles): Well, what can I say, I do love exploring.
Louis: Wait, what are you guys talking about?
Max and Vernon laugh at Louis's dumbfounded nature to which Louis start's chasing Max, a comical relief to the heavy tension. Just then Max sensed a familiar presence in front, he then ducked and the figure jumped on Louis instead off Max.
???: MAXEY-POO!!!
The mysterious girl jumped on Louis, her chest suffocating him, she turns around to see Max right behind her, grinning.
Max: Ah, it's good to see you, Amy.
Amy (confused, tilts her head): Huh, there's two of you.
Louis (muffled): GET… OFF… ME!!
Amy: Ah, sorry about that.
Louis gasps for air after almost being sent to the underworld, he then sees Amy who's looking at Louis, grinning.
Louis (angry): WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, YOU TRYNA KILL ME OR SOMETHING!
Max: What are you doing here, Amy
Amy: Oh yeah, Maxey, I'm being chased by some terrible men, help me out, will ya?
Saying this the group heard a rustle in the trees above them, Max smiled at the stupidity of the humans, to follow Amy into the forest at night, he then channeled mana at his fingertips and in the next second bodies fell from the trees.
Vernon (smiles): Fascinating, but don't you thing that was a tad bit cruel.
Max (smiles): I gave then a painless death, so no, I don't think that was cruel.
Louis silently stared at the bodies; he was then slightly ticked off when Amy robbed the dead of their belonging, she then curiously gazed at an empty vail in the pocket of one.
Amy: Maxey, c'mere for a sec.
Max and Vernon both come and observe the vail, Max finds similar traces of a golden liquid at the bottom of the vail; Vernon takes his syringe and carefully sucks the remains from the vail, then stores it in his pocket.
Max (impressed): Nice one, good job Amy
Amy (grinning proudly): Hehe, now as a reward I comma-
Max (smiles): No
Amy (shocked): But you didn't even-
Max: Nope, not happening, not again.
Amy sighs and then pouts in disappointment; Louis furrowed his brow in confusion and asks Vernon who too was curious; both of them had only one question, who was this girl.