Elliot leaned back slightly, shoving his notebook into his bag. "So about the competition," he continued, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It's a race—the fastest runner wins. First place gets a thousand dollars, second place five hundred, and third place… two hundred fifty."
Max raised an eyebrow, trying to mask the excitement that bubbled inside him. "Okay… is that it? That's all there is to it?"
"Yeah," Elliot said, nodding.
Max tilted his head thoughtfully. "Alright, but how do we actually sign up for it?"
"You'll have to wait until Tuesday," Elliot explained. "That's when the organizers come to each class to ask who wants in."
"Where exactly are we supposed to meet them?" Max asked, leaning forward in his chair.
"They'll come to each homeroom," Elliot replied with a shrug. "Pretty simple. You just say you're in, and you're signed up."
Max tapped his pen on the desk, thinking aloud. "Okay… and when is the race going to take place?"
"Thursday," Elliot answered, a faint grin tugging at his lips.
Max's face lit up with a wide smile. "Thank God. I won't miss my birthday."
Elliot and Moses exchanged curious glances. "Your birthday?" they said in unison.
"Yeah," Max replied, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
"When is your birthday?" Elliot asked, curiosity winning over.
"Friday," Max said, a subtle pride in his tone.
Moses's eyes widened. "This Friday? Really?"
Max nodded, a small laugh escaping him. "Yep. And I'm throwing a party at my house."
Elliot's eyes brightened. "Are we invited?"
Moses quickly added, "Of course, we're your best friends."
Max chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're right. You two definitely are invited."
Moses leaned back, smirking slightly. "So… is it just us, or is everyone invited?"
Max grinned. "Everybody is invited. The more, the merrier."
"Okay," Elliot said with a nod, his tone thoughtful.
Moses tilted his head. "When are you giving out the invitations?"
"Tomorrow," Max replied without hesitation.
"And what time will the party start?" Elliot asked, leaning back against his desk.
Max rubbed his chin. "I haven't thought of the exact time yet. But by Wednesday, I'll have it figured out and I'll let you guys know."
Elliot frowned slightly, trying to piece it together. "Wait a second. If you're giving out invitations on Tuesday but you don't know the start time until Wednesday… aren't you supposed to write the time on the invitation?"
Max blinked, caught off guard. "I… I didn't think of that at all."
Moses tilted his head, eyebrows furrowed. "So what are you going to do about it?"
Max grinned sheepishly. "I guess… I'll move the date I send out the invitations."
Elliot raised an eyebrow. "To when?"
"Well…" Max trailed off, thinking.
Moses jumped in, smirking. "Move it to Wednesday."
Elliot nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Wednesday works. That way, you can include the start time on the invitation and hand it out the same day."
Max leaned back, nodding slowly. "Okay… Wednesday it is. Makes sense."
"That's what I've been saying," Elliot said, a triumphant smile spreading across his face.
Max chuckled lightly. "Alright, so it's official. Invitations go out Wednesday."
"Good," Elliot said, satisfied, as he tapped his fingers on the desk.
Moses leaned back in his chair, stretching. "Okay, enough talking about that for now. The teacher will be here soon, and we should probably get ready."
"Yeah," Max said, straightening in his chair. Elliot nodded in agreement.
The three friends adjusted their notebooks, arranged their pens neatly on their desks, and tried to act as though the earlier conversation hadn't drawn a small crowd of curious classmates. Some of the students peeked over from their desks, whispering, a few giggling quietly. Max didn't mind—the three of them had always stuck together, and nothing in the world could make him feel out of place when Moses and Elliot were around.
The classroom settled into a calm hum of anticipation. Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, casting a warm glow across the newly polished floors. Outside, the city buzzed with life. The distant honking of taxis and buses mixed with the muffled sounds of students walking along the street and street performers playing for tips. Inside, Max's focus was simple: stay alert, keep up with Elliot's updates, and make sure he didn't embarrass himself in front of the new classmates.
"Fine," Max muttered under his breath, shifting slightly in his chair. "No talking until Elliot is done explaining everything."
He leaned back against the chair, letting the afternoon sun warm his face for a moment, mentally preparing himself for the school day ahead.
Moses leaned toward him quietly. "You excited about your birthday party?"
"Yeah," Max said, a small smile appearing. "It's going to be fun. But I have to make sure everything at school goes smoothly first. Can't have anything messing up my first day at Lincoln."
"True," Elliot added. "We'll help you. Don't worry. Just focus on not tripping over anyone today."
Max chuckled quietly, shaking his head. The three of them glanced around the classroom as the students settled further, the room filled with whispers and the soft scratching of pens on paper. It was the first day back, but for Max, it wasn't just about school. It was about keeping promises to himself and to his friends—promises to enjoy life, stay close to those he trusted, and, maybe, start thinking about a future beyond the chaos of his early life in New York.
As the chatter quieted, Max looked at Elliot and Moses. "Alright, let's sit tight. The teacher will be here any minute."
The two nodded in agreement, adjusting their notebooks on their desks. Max rested his chin in his hand, glancing toward the doorway, waiting.