Ren and Max were seated in the office waiting impatiently. Their "parents" were speaking impatiently. They all sounded frustrated. Ren was leaning on Max lazily. She was mostly asleep since they were dragged into school early. Max lazily leaned towards Ren, her eyes were closed.

"Ren, Max, Mr. Xin is ready to see you." A secratary informed. Ren and Max stood and lazily walked into his room, the adults trailing after.

Max and Ren awkwardly stood to the side as the adults took over the chairs. They were all talking over one another. Max and Ren exchanged a look. They sighed in unison. The adults slowly silenced as Mr. Xin calmed them. He looked to the teens.

"What was the point of yesterday?" He intrigued. Now all eyes were on Max and Ren. They exchanged an awkward glance as if discussing a way to get out of this. They were silent as they discussed. "Well?" He asked.

"Max." Steve huffed through gritted teeth.

"Ren..." Ren's mom, Carol, huffed frustratedly. They slowly looked back.

"We were acting." Ren informed, coming up with something off the top of her head.

"Yeah, we were doing a thing for the drama class..." Max added. They exchanged a hesitant look.

"Which required you to physically assault one another and then you to run off campus?" Mr. Xin asked harshly. "Tell me the truth, or you'll be in more trouble." Ren sighed heavily.

"Max was just being frustrating. I was trying to get her to act like she used to and I went too far. I deserved what I got." She motioned to the bruise on her cheek.

"And I deserved it too. Sorry about that, by the way." Max told Ren, facing her only a bit. Max motioned to her slightly swollen cheek. Neither had iced their face, so it was worse than it needed to be. "I was being a brat just because of recent events. It was my own fault, I had it coming, we both did."

"That is no excuse to physically assault one another and run off of campus." Mr. Xin scolded. "Max, you were already in here yesterday-"

"You were what?" Steve hissed. Max didn't even look at him.

"Mr. Glass, please." Mr. Xin sighed to Steve. He looked back at Max, she looked tired and broken just as Ren did. They were clearly both exhausted and did feel bad, but that was still not eniugh. They were in trouble.

"I understand Max and Ren both made a bad decision, but is there a way we can keep this off their permanent record and a way to keep them from being suspended?" Dan asked hopefully. Mr. Xin's gaze trailed between the four adults. He frowned with thought.

"Any students who physically assault one another are suspended, Mr. Glass." Mr. Xin explained. "I'm afraid there is no other way..."

Dan had Steven's last name, Max did not. She had had the last name of "Crosby" since she was born and she wasn't going to change it.

"Why not like... community service?" Ren's dad, Rocky, pleaded. He really didn't want the adoption agency to waltz in more than they did because Ren acted out. Dan didn't want that either, that's why they were trying so hard.

"Ren and I could clean the school?" Max offered.

"We can work with the janitors to get gum off of everything and then write a report on the janitors and everything they do. It would promote keeping the school clean and help the janitors to be more respected." Ren added, thinking quickly. She gave Max a look. Max nodded along.

"Girls..." Mr. Xin sighed softly. "I understand your living situations, but you have acted out. You should be punished just as everyone else is..." He explained, sighing. The principal entered unannounced. "Mr. Nono..." Mr. Xin greeted quickly.

"Hello," he greeted. "Is it alright if I sit in?"

"C-certainly..." Mr. Xin panicked. Mr. Nono joined the group, he seated next to Mr. Xin.

"So, Max, Ren, I heard you both got in a fight... and then Max, I heard you ran off campus?" Mr. Nono asked amusedly.

"Yes, I did." Max nodded. "I'm very sorry..." Her head bowed with shame. He stared curiously. Max sighed softly.

"Are you aware that this is a very serious offense?" Mr. Nono asked sternly.

"Yes, I am." Max nodded. Mr. Nono sighed softly. "I was wondering if there was a way I could make this up without being suspended, or having this on my permanent record..."

"We both were." Ren agreed. "We both messed up. We're both very sorry for causing a scene and a problem."

"The girls came up with the idea of cleaning the school with the janitors, they offered to clean up all the gum and write an essay on the importance of janitors and keeping the school clean." Dan informed quickly.

"We'll also repaint the stalls to cover the vandal stuff." Ren offered. Max glanced at her. She frowned curiously. They exchanged a look and looked back to the adults. "We'll also stop acting out, I'm really sorry..." Ren sniffled.

"Me too..." Max whimpered.

"You want to save your record by community service?" Mr. Nono tilted his head slyly. Ren and Max nodded.

"Girls, I have told you-" Mr. Xin sighed.

"I think that's a wonderful idea." Mr. Nono cut him off. He grinned amusedly.

"What? Sir!" Mr. Xin panicked. Mr. Nono raised his hand to cut him off.

"I think you both would be a very helpful. I expect the essay to be at least three pages, twelve-point font, double spaced, three paragraphs at least. I want to know about each janitor; Beam, Rodriguez, and Stellar. Both of you must write your own report on each of them. While cleaning, I expect every desk in the school to be gum free, every chair as well. I want each bathroom stall repainted. You will help the janitors however they need help. Understand?" Mr. Nono asked sternly.

"Yes." Ren and Max spoke in unison.

"I expect the paper to be dome in two weeks, right after your 'community service.'" Mr. Nono decided.

"Yes, Mr. Nono." Max and Ren nodded.

"You are not suspended and this shall jot go om your permanent record, if you clean to the janitors satisfaction. If not, this will go on your record." Mr. Nono warned. The girls nodded. "Girls, please leave, I would like to discuss with your parents. You may go be with your friends." He announced, waving them off. 

"Thank you." Max spoke and quickly left.

"Thanks!" Ren grinned and waved. She ran out. "Sheesh!" Ren whined when they got to Max's locker. "How'd we get ourselves into this mess?" Ren whined dramatically.

"Better than being suspended." Max commented. She was digging through her stuff.

"True." Ren nodded. "Dude, Steve was piiiiiissed." Ren pointed out.

"He usually is." Max shrugged casually. Ren frowned uncertainly.

"Well, hello ladies!" Henry greeted, leaning on the locker besides Max. His dirty blonde hair tilted with his head. He had an innocent look for only a second until he wore a flashy grin. That brought out his almost black muddy brown eyes. "I'm surprise you two are here." He hummed amusedly. 

"Barely. Thanks to Miss. I Have an Idea, here," Ren pointed to Max with her thumb. "We got off the hook if we help janitors for like two weeks or something."

"You're the one who suggested we write a report." Max hissed through gritted teeth.

"I didn't think they'd go with it!" Ren whined. Henry raised a brow. Max sighed and bowed her head. 

"This sucks." Max whined dramatically. "First I have to get up early, now I have to stay late to clean, then do my homework, then come in early to clean. I want death." Max hissed to her locker. She gave the inside of it a creepy look. Ren pat her head awkwardly.

"There there murderous child." She soothed. Max gave her a look. Ren grinned innocently. Max snickered, grinning only slightly. Max's eyes widened with panic when she was hugged from behind. Alyc was squishing her tightly. Max stretched and squirmed. Alyc wouldn't free her. Max puffed her cheeks while pouting. Henry laughed. 

"Please don't ever do that again!" Alyc begged. 

"I wouldn't hug her for too long, she's diseased." AJ snickered as he walked over. Max sneezed and glared at AJ. He laughed. Alyc quickly freed Max, she didn't want to be sneezed on. Max's eyes rolled. 

"You better not sneeze on me." Rich warned as he walked over from his locker. He had changed the style of his hair for once, it wasn't carefully slicked aside, it was more of just... Everywhere.

"What's with the hair?" AJ laughed. 

"I got it cut, leave me alone." Rich defended, huffing with frustration. His closed his brown eyes tightly and then opened them. He gave AJ an annoyed look. AJ laughed again. 

"I think it's cute..." Alyc smiled shyly at the thought. Her head innocently tilted. Rich blushed embarrassedly and shyly looked away. He had a nervous smile. Henry snickered with amusement. Mac wandered over, he had a curious look.

"Oh! Ren, Max, you're here." He smiled hesitantly. They waved casually. "Are you in trouble?"

"We have to write an essay and clean the school." Ren sighed dramatically.

"Ren!" Rocky called sternly. He looked around. Ren peered her head over Henry's shoulder.

"What?" She whined dramatically.

"Ow!" Henry whined. Rocky looked over. He stared at the back of Henry's head suspiciously. He focused on Ren.

"Stop acting out." He ordered. He left with Carol. Ren huffed and flattened her feet. She leaned on the lockers and crossed her arms. She was pouting. Dan walked over, his hand resting on AJ's shoulder so he could get through. Steven stormed out angrily.

"Max, please stop acting out." Dan sighed softly.

"Kay..." Max mumbled, glaring at the floor. She flinched when Dan pat her head. Dan frowned worriedly.

"I'll see you later. Stay at school." He scolded and left. Max's eyes rolled.

"Yeah, Max, stay at school." AJ joked in a mocking tone. "Ow!" He whined, holding his leg. Max had kicked him in the shin. AJ pouted. Max smirked amusedly. 

"Whoops." She hummed slyly. AJ gave her an annoyed look. Max winked, cocking her head to the side. The bell rang. 

"Alright you slackers, get to class!" Alyc instructed, waving her friends off. 

"If we must." Henry whined dramatically. Alyc giggled and walked off. The group walked off towards their shared classes. 

Max was silently reading, her fingers trailed the book while she tried not to tap. Ren was mumbling as she read, since she read aloud more often. Max was absentmindedly listened, but not really. Her right hand silently tapped as if she was playing a song. Her mind was racing, not really focusing on any confusing word, just imagining after school. Her eyes closed instead of reading. Her tapping stopped. She just... Imagined.