Amphibious Studies (Cassie)

[maximillian cornelius dunn]

It was mid-day during the week, which naturally meant that nearly everyone Max cared to know was wasting their life away in class. Those who weren't in class were probably sleeping, or worse, studying on their own time. In such a small town, it wasn't often that you found young people just wandering around during the day.

The door to the large auditorium read 'lecture in progress' as Max stood within the university walls, very out of place considering his reputation. However, this was where Cassie was, or at least, where she was supposed to be. He had called twice and both times he was promptly put through to voice mail, a good indication that she was in class, attempting to learn. Why the girl had chosen biology, Max would never be able to explain.

As the door cracked to the darkened lecture hall, Max set the suspicious box he was holding on the ground, lid slightly opened. It didn't take long before the students were spun into an uproar as frogs hopped down the center aisle, going this way and that. Bodies moved around frantically in the panic as Max slipped into the auditorium, making his way through the crowd.

As he came up behind the blonde, Max maneuvered down the aisle of seats, plopping down right beside her. Sneakers immediately rose to rest on the back of the seat in front of him, hands behind his head. "Figured if I was coming, I'd bring my study materials."

[cassie jade holloway]

THIS IS NOT THE END

The day had started slow for Cassie. Her day started with a too early phone call from her cousin. Not one to fall back asleep, she forced herself out of bed to get the day started. She honestly had no intention of going to class that day - but by the time class had rolled around she had done everything that needed to get done so she decided to go, not wanting to miss another class. While she was getting dressed for class, Max called her but she sent it to voicemail. She knew he would talk her out of going to class and she had already decided to go. Once she was dressed, she left her apartment, stopping at Starbucks on her way to the campus. She arrived at class right on time, which wasn't something that happened often. Cassie was usually the girl walking in ten minutes late but still wanted a seat in the front.

As she was setting her stuff down on her part of the table, she felt her phone vibrate again and internally groaned. She hit ignore once again, turning her phone on silent and stuffing it in her purse. Now she wouldn't have to worry if he called again until after class was over. A few moments later, the teacher started on his lecture and she took notes as he talked, losing interest every few minutes but would quickly get back to taking notes. About thirty minutes into the class she heard the door open but ignored it. She just assumed that it was a late student, but she heard screaming coming from the back of the room and her stomach dropped. She expected the worst - someone with a gun or a bomb or something but then Max sat down in the chair next to her and she glared at him, her lips scowling at him, "Can't I have one day to myself? I do have classes to pass, you know."

[maximillian cornelius dunn]

The instructor was quickly picking up on the panic from the students, his narrowed eyes following Max, burning a hole in the boy's soul if he could. Setting his glasses down on the desk, the instructor zeroed in on the rebellious guy. "Maximillian, if you wish to waste your own life, please keep it out of my classroom." This was a small town, and Max was a big name in it. They had all been neighbors for life, save for the few, like Cassie, who came from other cities.

Waving off the instructor, Max focused blue eyes on Cassie and gave her his devil-may-care grin, the one he had perfected as an infant. "The girl who shows up late everyday is lecturing about being responsible now? Come on Cas, you know you were dozing off before I livened up the joint." Leaning closer to her, Max's shoulder touched hers as he gave her a playful shove. Sometimes she could be so uptight.

"If you really want me to leave though, I guess I have no choice. Go back to boring lectures." Shoes dropped to the floor with a loud thud as Max rose to his feet. At 6'1, Max stood higher than a lot of students, many of whom had now turned their gazes to Max as well. For some, the distraction was the perfect reason to leave class, for others, well, the glares spoke for themselves.

[cassie jade holloway]

THIS IS NOT THE END

Cassie frowned as the teacher called out Max, "I swear to God if you got me in trouble, I will kill you." Max was fun - but that was it. He didn't care about school like she did and while she was okay with it, she still wanted to good in her classes. She furrowed her eyebrows, not sure how to retaliate. She was always late and she was dozing off before he had shown up. "Regardless of that, you can't just show up." She was talking in a hushed whisper, trying to not get noticed more by the professor who had continued on with the lecture. She tried to halfway listen, hoping to catch anything important that he said while still trying to pay attention to Max. She jotted something down in her notebook, then looked back at him

"Fine. I'll come with you." It wasn't like she would have declined to begin with but she looked at him almost grudgingly as she stood up,gathering up her things, heading out, turning around halfway to the door to make sure he was following her. "Well, now that you've stolen me from class," She paused, shooting him a glare, "What are we doing?" She leaned against the wall outside of the classroom, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you came and got me to do nothing, I'm going to be angry and I'm going right back to class."

[maximillian cornelius dunn]

Max turned and left the aisle, standing in the center as Cassie began to gather her things to follow him. Hook, line and sinker. Max had a way about him that people gravitated to, he was a natural born leader, people followed, he just used his talents for evil rather than good. It wasn't like he was being manipulative though...at least not right now. Cassie clearly didn't want to be here anyway, or she would have sent him on his way with his tail between his legs, though that never happened.

Letting Cassie lead, Max turned around and began walking up the stairs backwards, waving to the class. "Bye!" His voice was loud as some students giggled, the professor glaring. Turning back around, Max slipped through the double doors and leaned on them once they closed, grinning to Cassie. "Clearly I came to take you away on my stead. You looked like you needed a knight in there."

That arrogant grin of his slipped back onto his face as he walked over to Cassie, holding his hand out. "I'll carry your bag at least." Sometimes he could be a halfway decent guy, when he wasn't disrupting lectures and all. "Honestly, I was bored today and I got some extra money. Convinced the girl down at the bank to let me access my parents' deposit box. Was easier than I thought it would be too."