At that point, the entire room came to a vicious standstill, almost as though someone had just abruptly stopped playing the music in a disco.
All their heads turned to Max in utter shock.
Ken: (thinking: Oh boy...)
Luke: (smiling) Hmph. (thinking: This guy...)
Rose: Max?
Even Rose couldn't believe it.
The least surprised person in the room was Julianne Hunter.
Julianne: (thinking: Oh no..... Well... that's ma boy....)
And as for the most surprised person.
Tiffany remained in a bowed position... paused... frozen... completely shaken up.
She'd expected all sorts of expressions from Max. But telling her it wasn't a big deal... again?
How could he?
Tiffany: Wh... what!?
Max: I said.... it's no big deal.
The sheer shock of what he'd said, combined with his own calling her Tiff...
Tiffany: I... I...
Her eyes turned to him in utter amazement.
Rejection is a painful feeling. One that every person, male or female, adult or child, intellectual or imbecile absolutely abhors.
But that wasn't what had shocked Tiffany the most.
Had he said something along the lines of not wanting to be a burden, she would have completely understood. In fact, she'd expected something like that.
However... this teenage boy seemed to genuinely not care for any aid she offered him.
Simply put, she was baffled. Baffled beyond words.
Tiffany: B... bu....
Max: Like I said. It's no big deal.
Stolen novel; please report.
He reclined further in his seat with his eyes closed.
Max: (nonchalantly) Don't worry about it.
Tiffany: I... what.....!?
Rose: Max.....
Max: Hmm?
To make matters even more ridiculous, it wasn't like there was an inkling of sorrow in his eyes.
No, he seemed to be completely fine.
Max: (to Rose) Yeah. It's no big deal.
Tiffany: F... fine?
Max: Yeah. Absolutely fine.
He said that with a big smile on his face.
Ken: (thinking: Well... here we go...)
Tiffany: What do you mean fine!?
Her words rang clear across the room. Not a single person in the room failed to notice it.
That right there was what happens when a normally reserved person becomes agitated.
For the first time in Max's life, he'd actually seen Tiffany lose her temper, and understandably, he was shocked.
Max: Hmm?
Tiffany: You... you....
Deep down, she fought with every part of herself to keep herself calm.
She couldn't lose her cool. Not now of all moments.
However, in her mind, she couldn't hold it any longer.
Tiffany: You moron!
Max: Moron!?
Tiffany: Yes. Moron!
Ken: (thinking: Well... this is escalating quite rapidly.)
Luke: Oh boy...
Julianne simply watched in silence.
Max: Moron!?
Tiffany: Yeah! Moron!
Having heard that, Max did what any who knew him well would have expected him to do.
That being, he himself also stood up and angrily stared back at Tiffany.
Ken: (thinking: And it just gets more entertaining...)
Max: Whaddya mean moron!?
Ken: (thinking: And to think, I was about to have a sick day...)
Maximillian Hunter was many things, and proud and defiant were two of those things.
And Tiffany angrily answered him.
Tiffany: "Whaddya mean moron?" Whaddya mean you're fine? You... you
It was hard for Tiffany to say it even while angered. Saying he'd lost everything just felt too wrong.
Tiffany: Ugh... you don't even think at all.
Max: Oh I don't think at all. Well I'm thinking of some pretty interesting things right now.
He lifted his fist against her.
Tiffany: Mmmmmmmm....
Max: Mmmm......
And then at that very moment, just as things were heating up...
Julianne Hunter was just about to stop their confrontation when...
-... of all things, a giggle was heard.
Max, Tiffany, Luke and Ken: Huh!?
It was Rose. They all turned to face her
In spite of the tears that were once running out of this girl's eyes, right there and then, at that moment, she was giggling.
And shortly after that, she started almost outright laughing.
Max and Tiffany: Rose?
Rose: I'm sorry. it's just.... you two...
She laughed a bit more.
Rose: You both get along really well.
Max and Tiffany: Huh!?
At that point Luke and Ken joined in the laugh.
Ken: Good point.
Luke: Seconded.
And a blushing Max and Tiffany looked at each other for a moment before immediately rushing back to their seats and turning away from each other, leaving Ken, Luke and Rose all bursting in laughter.
Max: Mmmmmmmm....
Tiffany: Mmmm....
Julianne simply watched in silence, thinking, "Is this what they're like when they're together?"
A small smile escaped her mouth.