The black limousine slid to a stop in front of the towering red-brick building of Lincoln High. The sun gleamed off the freshly painted walls, reflecting the gold letters of the banner stretched across the entrance: WELCOME BACK TO LINCOLN HIGH. Students milled about on the steps and sidewalks, their chatter and laughter carrying through the morning air, mingling with the faint hum of New York traffic.
The driver stepped out and opened the door for Maximus's son.
Max stepped down first, adjusting the straps of his backpack. He waved to his mother, who sat gracefully in the passenger seat, her face glowing in the early sunlight. "Bye, Mom," he called.
"See you soon," Sophia replied, her voice calm yet affectionate.
The limousine eased away, disappearing into the bustling street. Max stood for a moment, watching it go, then took a deep breath of the city air and turned toward the school entrance. The energy of New York was palpable—cars honking, bikes weaving through pedestrians, street vendors shouting over the din, and the occasional busker strumming guitar chords in the distance.
As he pushed open the double doors, the echo of the microphone inside the gym hit him. The school assembly had already started.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath, sprinting down the hallway. His shoes squeaked against the polished floors as he dodged students returning from the cafeteria and lockers slamming shut in the hall. He reached his locker, yanked it open, dropped his backpack in, and slammed it shut. Then, without wasting another second, he ran toward the gym, only to find the assembly had ended and the crowd was already dispersing.
Max exhaled sharply. "Missed everything."
He merged into the flow of students heading back to their classrooms, keeping his head down and pretending he hadn't been late. The chatter around him was a mix of excitement and nervousness—some students were talking about summer vacations, others discussing classes, and a few were teasing each other about who would be the top student this year.
By the time he reached his homeroom, Max had slipped through the door just ahead of most of his classmates. He slid into his seat by the window, letting his eyes roam over the room. Everything looked different. The walls were freshly painted a warm cream color, sunlight streamed through the windows, and new desks and chairs had replaced the older, worn furniture. Max tilted his head and nodded slightly.
"Nice," he whispered to himself, a small smile forming on his face.
The class slowly began to settle in. Students filed in, some chatting quietly, others finding their seats and arranging their notebooks. Among them, Steven, one of the smartest and most competitive students in the class, raised an eyebrow as he spotted Max.
"Wow," Steven said, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Max actually made it first. Only because you skipped assembly, though."
Max grinned, leaning back in his chair slightly. "Of course you'd say that. Mr. Genius always has something to point out. Don't worry—you'll see. I'll take first place this year, no problem."
Steven let out a soft scoff. "You can try."
"You're such a nerd," Max shot back lightly.
The remark sparked laughter from several students nearby. Steven's cheeks tinged pink, and he muttered, "Whatever," before heading to his own seat. Max barely stifled a chuckle as he watched him sit down, already scribbling notes with an air of feigned indifference.
Turning from the front of the room, Max glanced toward the back row, where his two closest friends, Elliot and Moses, were already seated and talking quietly. He dropped into the chair next to them.
"Yo," he said, resting his backpack on the floor. "You guys good?"
"Yeah," Moses answered, glancing at him. "You?"
"I'm alive," Max replied dryly, letting a small smirk curl at the corner of his mouth. "Did you guys finish your summer project?"
Elliot gave him a quick nod. "Of course."
Moses raised an eyebrow, giving him a teasing look. "You better have done yours, Max."
Max sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I didn't. My dad didn't get me what I needed for it."
Moses stopped teasing immediately. "Oh… okay. That makes sense. Sorry, bro."
"It's fine," Max said, shrugging.
Elliot cleared his throat dramatically, shifting his weight to grab their attention. "Anyway, I should fill you in on what they said during assembly."
Moses raised a hand dismissively. "Just tell him later."
"Shut up. I'm talking," Elliot snapped, jabbing a finger in the air.
Moses raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright."
Elliot straightened and leaned forward slightly. "So, they announced that the school renovations cost a lot of money, and they said anyone caught vandalizing anything will get expelled immediately. They also mentioned a competition. The winner gets a thousand dollars, and—"
Max cut him off without thinking. "What kind of competition?"
Elliot's face scrunched in irritation. "I was literally about to say that."
Moses leaned back in his chair, smirking. "$1,000? Looks like someone's already got motivation."
"Okay, okay, go on," Max said, raising his hands in mock surrender.
Elliot relaxed slightly, satisfied.
Then Elliot's tone sharpened slightly. "Thank you. And this time, nobody interrupts me. Pay attention.
Around them, the room buzzed softly as the rest of the students settled in, arranging notebooks, glancing out the window at the bustling street below, or whispering quietly to one another. Max took a moment to study his classmates—their expressions, the way some fiddled nervously with pens, the confident posture of those who clearly intended to dominate every class this year.
For Max, it felt like a fresh start. New school, new classmates, a chance to prove himself academically and socially. For the first time in weeks, he didn't feel nervous. He felt… ready.