Max was learning new things about Jay in real time, and one of them was just how fast the guy could run.
Despite his size, Jay was keeping up without breaking a sweat as they tore out of the school grounds together.
The second they passed through the front gates, most of the students behind them gave up the chase. Not everyone was brave enough to ditch class, and definitely not everyone had the principal in their back pocket like Max did.
"Looks like they're not chasing us," Jay said, breathing hard and clutching his chest. "That was scarier than I thought it'd be."
"Yeah," Max replied, still walking. "It's scary when a whole group gangs up on one person."
Jay knew exactly what Max was getting at. That was a direct shot at him, back when he ran with Snide's crew, when they'd all jumped Max together.
Come to think of it, Jay had never really asked how Max managed to hold his own in that situation. Most people would've hit the floor and started begging.
"Wait... where are we going?" Jay asked, frowning as he pointed back toward the school. "It's that way."
"You think we're going back to class?" Max raised an eyebrow. "To do what, study? That's not the life we're living right now."
He kept walking. "Come on. There's a good noodle spot nearby. After a fight like that, with adrenaline still rushing through us, we've gotta refuel."
Jay couldn't help but smile as he followed Max down the street. He didn't know what it was about him, but even though they hadn't known each other long, Max had this energy, like someone you just wanted to follow. Someone people listened to.
They stepped into the noodle shop, both of them still in their school gear, well, kind of. Jay didn't even look like your average student. But no one asked any questions. They sat down and got their food, just two guys who'd just survived a battle, now grabbing a bite like it was just another day.
After finishing off their hearty meal, Jay's phone wouldn't stop buzzing. He picked it up and read through the notifications. A wide grin spread across his face.
"What is it, more trouble?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow.
"There are a bunch of popular school group chats," Jay explained. "Some of them even have students from different schools in the same thread. You could say we've got a few spies dropping us updates."
He tilted the screen toward Max. "Check this out. People are already talking."
Max leaned in, and when he saw the messages, he couldn't help but laugh.
[Hey, we just got jumped by those guys calling themselves the Billion Bloodline.]
[Aren't they the ones wearing that ridiculous gear? I saw them walk in earlier.]
[Yeah, they say there were like fifteen of them. Just ambushed our guys right inside the school.]
[In the middle of lunch, too. Sneaky move. We need to do something for real.]
[I figured after Dipter was out, they'd chill. But these guys? They're even more insane.]
"Fifteen of us?" Max laughed harder. "Man, they really know how to exaggerate."
Jay smirked. "Guess we should take that as a compliment. Just the two of us felt like fifteen to them. If they said it was only two, their own people, and other schools, might think they're weak."
Max nodded. He was used to rumors. He'd lived with stories, myths, and drama swirling around his name for a while. Maybe this was the beginning of something bigger, him and the Billion Bloodline becoming legends.
"You think this'll be a problem?" Max asked after a moment. "I figured since it was just the two of us, and we kept our identities low-key, they'd back off. Thought maybe they'd get scared, start wondering if all of us were this strong."
Jay slipped his phone back into his pocket, silent for a beat as he let the question settle in.
"I don't think it'll be a problem at all," Jay said, leaning back. "You know how people are on the internet, more bark than bite. They talk big because they don't think the people they're talking about are actually watching."
He paused, his tone more serious. "But deep down, they know the truth."
"They know it was only the two of us. So the fact they're still talking like this? I doubt any of them will try anything soon. You did good, better than I expected, honestly."
That might've been enough to settle things with Clapton High, for now. But Max wasn't hoping for peace. He wanted something bigger. He had a whole plan in mind. And this? This was just one step in a larger picture.
Just then, Jay's phone buzzed again. He figured it was more screenshots, more gossip from the school group chats. But when he checked the screen, he blinked in surprise.
"This one's from someone at Seaton Academy," Jay said, as if Max was supposed to know what school that even was.
"They're saying someone from their school saw what we did at Clapton… and now they want to make an alliance with us."
"An alliance?" Max raised an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"
Jay scrolled through the message. "Some schools aren't strong enough to protect themselves, especially in certain areas. The stronger schools, or the ones trying to prove something, beat down on the weaker ones just to earn street cred."
He looked up. "Every school's got its own group of delinquents. Big or small, strong or weak, there's always someone willing to fight, even when it's a bad idea. Seaton probably wants protection. If we say they're under us, other schools might back off just to avoid us."
Max sat in silence for a moment, his fingers steepled together, deep in thought.
"The problem is…" he said slowly, "there's really no benefit to us. Seaton's an all-girls school."
Max raised an eyebrow, still deep in thought.
"I'll just tell them we're not interested," Jay said, already starting to type out a reply on his phone.
"Wait." Max's voice cut through sharply.
Jay looked up.
Max's mind was spinning. Another school reaching out to form an alliance, that gave them the upper hand in this conversation. And of all places, it was an all-girls school.
Most people wouldn't see the point. They'd write it off. Say girls didn't belong in fights like this, gang conflicts where fists flew and reputations were everything.
But Max didn't think like most people.
He saw opportunity.
"Tell them we'll meet," Max said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "I think I just came up with the perfect idea for our expansion."