chapter one:
❛ staticscar ❜

PLEASE DONT BE A GHOST READER!!
COMMENT AND VOTE

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Scarlett Hargrove and Max Mayfield pushed open the door to the arcade, the clamor of pinball machines and arcade games washing over them in a wave of noise and light. The room was alive with the sounds of digital beeps, excited shouts, and the occasional clinking of tokens.

Keith, a lanky guy with an ever-present comic book in hand, looked up from behind the counter as they entered. "Hey, Scarlett," he greeted, his eyes barely leaving the pages of his latest read.

Scarlett gave a breezy wave, her long hair swaying as she approached. "Hey, Keith. Got that comic I asked for?"

Keith nodded, his eyes lighting up behind his glasses. He reached under the counter and pulled out a glossy comic book, its cover featuring Spider-Man in an action-packed pose. "Got the Spider-Man you wanted. 'The Spectacular Spider-Man #80,' just like you asked."

Scarlett's eyes sparkled as she took the comic from him, her smile widening with excitement. "Thanks, Keith." She slipped the comic into her backpack with practiced ease, then turned to Max, who was already heading toward the Dig Dug machine. "I'll catch up with you later, okay?"

"Sure," Max replied, barely looking up as she began inserting tokens into the machine, her focus completely absorbed by the game.

Scarlett walked confidently over to the Dragon's Lair game, her eyes scanning the array of flashing lights and colorful graphics. The game stood out among the others with its unique combination of animation and gameplay, promising an immersive adventure. She approached the game, a sense of eager determination in her step.

Sliding a token into the slot, Scarlett gripped the joystick and prepared herself for the challenge. The game's intro sequence began, featuring animated cutscenes that set the stage for the quest. As the game started, Scarlett's fingers danced over the controls, guiding the character through a series of intricate obstacles and enemies.

The game demanded quick reflexes and precise timing, and Scarlett's concentration was unwavering. She navigated through treacherous traps, dodged fire-breathing dragons, and fought off menacing knights with a deftness that spoke to her experience. The colorful visuals and captivating animation drew her deeper into the game, making each victory feel like a triumph.

Hours seemed to pass in minutes as Scarlett tackled each challenge with increasing skill. Her eyes were locked on the screen, her movements fluid and sure. The game's intensity built up to a climactic final battle, and Scarlett fought valiantly, her focus never wavering. After a grueling and tense sequence, she finally emerged victorious, the screen flashing with the words "Congratulations" in bold, triumphant letters.

A sense of accomplishment washed over her as she watched her final score appear. She quickly entered her initials into the high score table, typing in "STATICSCR" with a flourish. Her name appeared at the top of the leaderboard, a testament to her gaming prowess.

Scarlett leaned back, her smile wide as she admired her achievement. She glanced around the arcade, spotting Max still engrossed in her game. With a satisfied sigh, Scarlett turned her attention back to the arcade's chaotic yet comforting ambiance. The Spider-Man comic and her recent victory made her day feel complete.

The next day loomed ahead with a blend of nervous anticipation and reluctant acceptance for Scarlett Hargrove and Max Mayfield. As the morning sun filtered through the car windows, Scarlett sat in the backseat, her mind swirling with the anxiety of starting at a new school. Billy, their older brother, had driven them over, his mood matching his grumbling comments about the early hour and the unfamiliar routine. As he parked the car with an annoyed huff, he tossed back a parting shot.

"Have fun, shitbirds," Billy snapped, barely disguising his impatience as he threw the car into park.

Scarlett rolled her eyes at Billy's lack of enthusiasm but stepped out of the car with a determined stride. She moved around to open the door for Max, who was sitting quietly, clutching her skateboard with a somber look.

Max glanced up as Scarlett approached. "Where are your rollerblades?" she asked, noticing the absence of Scarlett's usual wheels.

Scarlett gave Max a mischievous grin. "In my backpack. I thought I'd keep things low-key for today."

The two girls walked toward the entrance of the school, their footsteps echoing slightly in the large, open space. Scarlett surveyed the sprawling campus with a mix of awe and trepidation. "Do you think this place will be strict about skateboards and rollerblades?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Max shrugged, her expression remaining flat. "Hope not. Or they'll have to deal with your electricity," she replied with a dry smile, alluding to Scarlett's occasional electric outbursts when she was upset.

Scarlett chuckled, feeling a small sense of relief at Max's humor. They reached the front doors of the school, and Scarlett pulled them open, allowing Max to enter first. The scent of freshly polished floors and the hum of students filled the air as they walked into the bustling hallway. The walls were adorned with vibrant posters and student artwork, a stark contrast to the quieter halls they were accustomed to.

As they navigated the crowd, Scarlett fished a hair tie out of her backpack and began twisting her long hair into a bun. She was adjusting the final loop when a boy, rushing down the hallway, collided with her. Startled, Scarlett shot him a sharp look as she stumbled slightly.

"Watch where you're going," the boy snapped, irritation evident in his voice.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow and replied with a smirk, "You first."

The boy rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath before striding away with a dismissive wave. Scarlett scoffed, shaking her head as she continued walking. Max glanced at her and said, "Jeez, he could be nicer."

Scarlett nodded in agreement. "Yeah, definitely not winning any 'nice guy' awards today."

The girls made their way to the school office, the early morning nerves creeping back as they approached the reception desk. Inside, the principal, a middle-aged man with a friendly demeanor, was waiting.

"Welcome to your first day," he said with a warm smile. "I'll escort you to your first class and get you set up with your schedules."

Scarlett and Max exchanged relieved glances. As they followed the principal through the hallways, they learned that their first period was science with Mr. Clarke.

As Mr. Clarke opened the door for Scarlett and Max, the classroom buzzed with quiet chatter. Mr. Clarke, a stocky man with a kind but authoritative demeanor, scanned the room and then looked over at the two girls. "Ah, this must be our new students," he announced, his voice carrying an air of enthusiasm.

Scarlett and Max moved to walk past the front of the room to find seats, but Mr. Clarke called them back. "Hold up. You don't get away that easy," he said with a chuckle, making the girls halt mid-step. Max closed her eyes in mild frustration, rolling them before walking back to stand beside the teacher's desk. Scarlett, on the other hand, was momentarily frozen, unsure of what to do. Max raised her eyebrows at her, silently urging her to join her.

Gulping nervously, Scarlett walked over to stand beside Max. Mr. Clarke turned to a boy with curly hair sitting at the front of the class. "Dustin, drumroll," he instructed with a grin.

Scarlett glanced at Dustin, who enthusiastically started drumming on his desk. Her gaze then shifted to the boy sitting directly behind Dustin—the same boy she had bumped into earlier. As Scarlett let out an annoyed sigh, she could see him fidgeting in his seat. Her irritation deepened as she realized he was the same boy from earlier, his demeanor now one of curiosity.

"Class, please welcome, all the way from Sunny California, the latest passengers to join us on our curiosity voyage, Maxine and Scarlett!" Mr. Clarke announced with a flourish.

The room's attention shifted to Scarlett and Max, and Scarlett noticed the four boys seated at the front exchanging looks. The raven-haired boy's eyebrows raised slightly, and he seemed particularly interested. Scarlett arched an eyebrow, narrowing her eyes as she focused on reading the raven-haired boy's mind. She heard him think 'StaticScar,' which struck her as odd because that was her video game leaderboard name.

As if sensing the mental intrusion, the boy looked up and met Scarlett's gaze. The intensity of their stare made Scarlett's heart race, and she quickly looked away. She wasn't aware of the blood trickling from her nose until she caught the boy's concerned glance. He sat up straight, his expression shifting from casual to alert.

Max, noticing the disruption, glanced over at Mr. Clarke. "It's Max," she corrected in a low voice, her tone firm but barely above a whisper.

"What?" Mr. Clarke asked, slightly puzzled.

"Nobody calls me Maxine. It's Max," she explained, her voice clear and precise.

"Mad Max. Static Scar," Scarlett heard a boy whisper from the back, causing her cheeks to flush with a mix of embarrassment and irritation.

"All right, well, Scarlett, you'll sit next to Mike in the second row," Mr. Clarke said, gesturing toward the raven-haired boy. Scarlett's eyes widened as she realized she would be sitting next to the boy she had just read. She rolled her eyes in frustration as she made her way to the seat beside Mike.

"And Max, you'll be in the back," Mr. Clarke continued, pointing to an empty seat at the rear of the room.

Scarlett huffed, sinking into the seat beside Mike, her mood sour. She noticed Mike's friends glancing between her and Max, their curiosity evident. As Scarlett settled into her seat, she could feel Mike's eyes on her, the earlier interaction lingering in the air.

Mike nudged her. "You're nose is bleeding."

Scarlett eyebrows raised. "Oh, thanks," she said dryly as she wiped her bloody nose with her sleeve.

Mike noted on her nose bleeds—wondering if she was like El. He was still staring at her and Scarlett gave him a glare. "Need something?" she asked, her tone dripping with confusion.

Mike shook his head in response and looked away.

At lunch, the cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter, but Scarlett was in her own world, rollerblading around the blacktop. With her headphones on and her music blasting, she seemed completely detached from the scene around her. Her wheels hummed softly against the asphalt as she glided effortlessly, lost in the rhythm of her tunes.

Max was nearby on her skateboard, performing tricks and occasionally casting glances at Scarlett with a mixture of amusement and mild concern. Scarlett was so absorbed in her music that she didn't notice the eyes tracking her every move. Suddenly, she felt the sensation of being watched. She looked up to see the four boys from earlier—Lucas, Will, Mike, and Dustin—staring intently at her. A smirk played across her lips as she casually raised her hand and gave them a little wave.

Caught off guard, the boys quickly averted their eyes, trying to act as if they hadn't been caught staring. They shuffled around, trying to appear nonchalant, but their sudden shift in behavior was obvious. Scarlett couldn't help but laugh softly to herself.

She skated over to where Max had just thrown a piece of paper into the trash can. The boys were now huddled around the trash, with Dustin making a dramatic show of diving into it to retrieve the discarded paper. Scarlett's curiosity piqued, she glided closer, her rollerblades making a soft, rhythmic sound against the pavement.

Dustin emerged from the trash can with the paper clutched in his hand. He unfolded it with a flourish and began to read aloud, "Stop spying on Scar and I, creeps."

Scarlett's laughter bubbled up uncontrollably as the boys' faces turned bright red. The embarrassment was palpable. The boys exchanged uncomfortable glances, realizing their secret had been exposed. Mike, in particular, looked like he wanted to sink into the ground.

Scarlett grinned widely, her amusement clear. "Hey, Mike," she called out, her tone laced with playful sarcasm. "Seems like you guys are really interested in me."

Mike's cheeks flushed even more. "We weren't—"

"Spying?" Scarlett interrupted, her eyebrows raised in mock innocence. "Interesting hobby you've got there."

Mike's frustration was evident as he scowled at her. "We weren't spying. It was just—"

"Just what?" Scarlett challenged, her voice dripping with playful mockery. "Trying to figure out why I'm so captivating?"

Lucas, trying to step in and ease the tension, said, "We were just curious, okay? You're new, and we didn't mean any harm."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, still grinning. "Sure, whatever you say. Maybe next time just be upfront about it instead of sneaking around."

Max skated over, joining the conversation with a smirk. "Yeah, you guys are terrible at hiding your curiosity. Maybe you should just ask instead of making it so obvious."

Dustin, still holding the paper, added, "Well, we didn't think it was that big of a deal. We were just trying to—"

Scarlett cut him off with a laugh. "Trying to what? Be creepy? Because that's how it looked."

Mike glared at her, clearly frustrated. "Look, if you're going to keep making fun of us, maybe we should just back off. We're not here to be your personal entertainment."

Scarlett raised her hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just having a little fun. Don't take it too seriously."

Will, trying to smooth things over, said, "Okay, okay, let's just forget about it. We'll leave you alone."

Scarlett nodded, still smiling. "Fine by me. Just remember, if you're going to spy, at least do it with some subtlety."

As Mike and his friends turned away, Scarlett watched them go, her grin fading into a satisfied smile.

Scarlett walked inside the school and Max looked at her with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "You really know how to get under their skin."

Scarlett shrugged, her smile softening. "Sometimes you've got to keep people on their toes."

Max shook her head with a chuckle. "You're something else, you know that?"

Scarlett glanced back at the retreating boys, feeling a mix of amusement and curiosity. She knew this was just the beginning of her new adventure at this school, and she was ready to face whatever came next.

ASH SPEAKS!

i love this book so far. i already have another mike wheeler fic up called 'hayloft' and it's completed until s5!! i love making enemies to lovers for mike wheeler fics hehe