Bad Luck: Cute Shirt (Maxwell)

[Olivia Baker]

Liv's stomach rolled inside her, bashing up into her organs and wanting to explode every moment she looked up at her teacher. No one had laughed, but she knew that they'd all noticed. The side glances, the whispers she knew had to be about her... the fact that she was wearing the same shirt as a teacher, and not only that, but that he was a HE, and that he wore it better, his muscles making the shirt stand out, while her frail, thin frame only showed off how flat chested and unfeminine she really was. 

She felt ugly. She felt masculine.  She felt like she was back in middle school playing the boys parts in plays. That had been a rough experience. She had only been cast as boys parts because she was the tallest and there were never enough boys in plays or dance class. The words were worse than the boys costumes though. So unkind. She was accused of being gay, which she didn't know was an insult to begin with, but apparently was when you were in middle school. It didn't bother her when they asked at first either, only when they persisted. Only when they made that into something to be ashamed about. When she defended there nothing being wrong with it it only got worse....  It filled her with rage as the memories slid out of the carefully filed drawers in the back of her mind labeled DO NOT OPEN, defiant, as if they had their own brain of their own, creeping slower, and slower up to the front of her own, only to make her squirm. 

The bell rang, Liv had already packed up her things anxious to make a quick get away. To get back to her room and burn the shirt. 

Out of her desk and the door as fast as she could, but of course one could only go so fast when their seat was located at the furthest point of the room from the door. 

[Maxwell Clayton]

The lecture had been more boring than being in a queue at the DMV, because at least the DMV might have had a magazine or something to read. But no, Maxwell was stuck here, slouched in his desk towards the left side of the class as he usually was. Some kids always sat in the front row, the middle aisle, the back of the class... but Maxwell? For whatever reason, he always sat as far to the left as he could, and didn't care how far forward or back. He was a creature of strange habits like that.

But finally! It was over. The only interesting thing that had happened during that hour and a half imprisonment was that the teacher had just so happen to have worn the same exact shirt as Olivia Baker. Random, but Maxwell often appreciated randomness. To be fair, the teacher looked a bit better in the shirt. It fit better, suited his personality more, but Olivia still wore it well... in Maxwell's opinion.

Perhaps only Maxwell's opinion. At least, certainly not in Olivia's opinion. He knew her fairly well, or at least her type. After he'd made his way to the door, Olivia had practically shoved him aside while she tried to make her great escape as fast as possible. She did not look happy.

"Hey, watch it." Maxwell said in reaction, but regretted it instantly. That wasn't his style. However, he could see that pained, embarrassment stricken look on Olivia's face, in her eyes. It was sad, really, and a bit pathetic. He followed after her, and for her own good decided to help her out. They were both Peer Mediators, and Maxwell had decided Olivia needed some mediation between herself and a splash of reality. Maxwell hurried after her, and later down the hallway finally caught up to her.

"Olivia. Stop. I don't just mean physically." Maxwell frowned, and shook his head. "Don't even pretend to ask me what I'm talking about either. Are you seriously that upset over something so petty? Snap out of it, for your own good." He was certainly being straight forward and harsh, but Maxwell wasn't usually one to beat around the bush to take others feelings into consideration if he felt they were acting foolish. Maxwell certainly thought Olivia was acting foolish.

[Olivia Baker]

"Hey, watch it."

Of course she had to bump into Maxwell of all people. He was one of the few people Liv was quite sure didn't like her. She hadn't really ever talked to him, but she could tell. Maybe it was how he looked at her or the discussions in class or she was just being ridiculously sensitive right now and was just sure that she was an idiot who no one liked to begin with, but especially him. She wasn't being the most rational of girls. 

"Sorry" She blurted out, a bit more forcefully than she would like, but intended on continuing on her way, her face down, clear cut goal in mind. 

"Olivia. Stop. I don't just mean physically. Don't even pretend to ask me what I'm talking about either. Are you seriously that upset over something so petty? Snap out of it, for your own good.

"Excuse me?" Olivia asked turning and looking at the boy. "I'm SORRY I bumped into you." Was he really calling her out on something she felt so uncomfortable with, in front of all the people she just got embarrassed with just to make it worse? What an ASS! She had never gotten into a fight at Hammel, she'd never even gotten detention at Hammel and this boy was really pushing her towards something she didn't want to do. For the first time she actually wanted to hit someone. 

"Well considering you don't even really know me I'm happy you've just judged my character so completely." She said, "Other than that I'd like to say yes Maxwell. I'm pretty damn upset about this because I don't particularly like looking ridiculous." She said. "Are you happy? SHould I call myself petty? I've never been called it or considered myself it before but if it makes YOU happy sure. I'm petty. There. You won. Now have fun on your high horse." She was pissed.