Max frowning, sitting up straighter. "What do you mean? You're, like, one of the smartest people in this school."

"I don't know... I've just been having a hard time lately. The numbers, the words—it all jumbles together sometimes. You know..."

Max softens, realizing what she means. "Your dyslexia."

Melanie nodding, voice quieter. "Yeah. What if I messed something up? What if I—"

Max cutting her off, reassuring. "Hey. Stop. You're fine."

Melanie looking at him, hesitant. "You don't know that."

Max smirking slightly, pulling out his phone. "Actually... I do."

Melanie narrowing her eyes. "Max... what did you do?"

Max grinning proudly. "I may or may not have hacked into the school's website and checked your grades already."

Melanie scoffing, but secretly grateful. "You seriously can't just wait for normal results like everyone else?"

Max pretending to think about it. "Nope."

He turns his phone toward her, revealing the screen: Straight A's. Honors Math. Honors Science. Honors History. Honors English. Max grinning smugly. "See? Absolutely nothing to worry about."

Melanie staring at the screen, relief washing over her face. "I... I did it?"

Max nodding. "Yep. Even with dyslexia, you're still at the top of your class. Kinda unfair to the rest of us, honestly."

Melanie smiling softly, finally relaxing. " ...Thanks, Max."

She glances around the cafeteria. No one's looking. So, before she can second-guess herself, she scoots closer, rests her head on his shoulder, and—discreetly—pulls her sweater over both their hands as they intertwine again.

Max doesn't say anything. He just smirks, squeezing her hand slightly. They sit like that, completely comfortable, until the bell rings for their next class.

The sun is already high as Max and Melanie walk toward the school entrance. The halls are mostly empty now—everyone else is already in class.

Melanie checking her phone, eyes widening. "Max, we're so late!"

Max grinning, hands in his pockets. "Wow. Would you look at that? Guess we gotta take our time now."

Melanie narrowing her eyes. "You made sure we were late on purpose, didn't you?"

Max mock gasp. "Me? Sabotage our punctuality? Never."

Melanie sighing, rubbing her forehead. "Why?"

Max smirking, stopping in his tracks. "Because... this."

Before she can react, Max leans in and presses a quick kiss to her cheek. It's light, almost casual—except for the way he lingers just a little longer than necessary. Melanie freezes. Her brain short-circuits. Max just looks smug as he starts walking again. Melanie blinking rapidly, flustered. "I—you—Max—"

Max grinning, glancing back at her. "Words, Mel. Use 'em."

Melanie shaking her head, trying to focus as she speed-walks to catch up. "You still didn't answer why we had to be late."

Max shrugging. "I just needed the right moment."

Melanie grumbling, covering her warm cheeks with her sleeves. "You're impossible." They finally reach the doors, but Melanie pauses, still fidgeting. "I hate being late. Mrs. Thompson is going to give me detention."

Max grinning, pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

Melanie frowning, taking the paper hesitantly. "What is this?"

Max smiled. "A perfectly legitimate late pass."

Melanie eyeing it suspiciously. "...Did you forge this?"

Max mock insulted. "Forge? That is such an ugly word, Melanie. I prefer... strategically crafted."

Melanie groaning, but looking at the pass anyway. "This isn't even the principal's signature. It just says "LET THEM THROUGH, IT'S FINE."

Max grinning proudly. "And that, my dear Melanie, works every time."

Melanie raising an eyebrow. "There is no way this actually works."

Max smugly, leaning in. "Then tell me, why do you think we've never gotten detention for being late to class this quarter?"

Melanie folding her arms. "Because you're lying."

Max grinning wider, stepping back toward the entrance. "Guess you'll just have to test it out and see."

Melanie sighs, still skeptical, but reluctantly follows Max inside, gripping the pass like it's a ticking time bomb.

☆

The front door swings open as Phoebe, Max, and Melanie walk in, dropping their bags. Phoebe calling out. "We're home!"

Max grinning smugly. "Did the report cards come in yet?"

Barb laughing as she walks in with Hank, holding the envelopes. "Since when are you so excited about report cards?"

Hank grinning, holding up the report cards. "Looking for these?"

Phoebe & Max eagerly. "Yes!"

Barb explained. "Now, remember, before we open your report cards, we care just as much about effort as we do about the grades."

Hank shaking his head. "No, we don't."

Barb lowers her voice. "I know, but we have to say that."

Melanie folds her arms, already suspicious. Max being excited about grades? This had 'scam' written all over it.

Barb goes on. "Okay, first, Phoebe. Five A's and one B."

Phoebe gasping, grabbing the paper. "A B?"

Max mock sympathy. "Oof, tough break, sis. Hope you have a solid backup plan for life."

Phoebe ignoring him, turning to her parents. "Art class? You guys loved the horse I painted you!"

Hank tilting his head. "Oh, that was a horse?"

Barb laughing nervously. "That's what that was!"

Melanie bites her lip, barely holding back a chuckle. Max, of course, looks smug. Hank clapped. "All right, Max. Straight A's."

Max leaning back, smirking. "What can I say? I'm a genius."

Phoebe & Melanie simultaneously. "WHAT?!"

Melanie snatching the report card from Hank, scanning it in disbelief. "There is no way."

Phoebe crossing her arms. "Is there another Max Thunderman at our school?"

Barb clutching her heart, beaming. "Max, I'm so proud of you! You finally put aside all that supervillain nonsense, and it really paid off!"

Phoebe muttering, side-eyeing Max. "Someone was paid off."

Max shrugging, cocky as ever. "What can I say, sis? Some of us don't need to study to get "gooder" grades."

Melanie deadpan. "That sentence alone proves you don't deserve straight A's."

Max ignoring her, stretching dramatically. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be off building my next rocket, because I earned it." He gesturing at Phoebe's paper. "My report card spells "AAAAAA", and yours spells "AAAAB". Tragic."

Phoebe groans. Melanie is still staring at Max's report card like it might explode. "Oh, wait, there's more! Max, you're being transferred to honors math class!"

Phoebe & Max shouting in unison. "WHAT?!"

Barb clapping excitedly. "That's Phoebe's class! You two can be study buddies!"

Phoebe glaring at Max. "Oh, we sure can."

Max looking at the paper, suddenly less smug. "Uh... yeah... about that."

Melanie turning to him, arms crossed. "Yeah, about that."

Barb oblivious, proudly placing both report cards on the fridge. "Look at my smart kids!"

Phoebe narrowing her eyes, stepping in front of Max. "Spill it."

Max hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay! I changed my grades. But I didn't expect this to happen!"

Phoebe throwing her hands in the air. "I worked my butt off to get into that class, Max! You need to transfer out!"

Max shrugging. "Eh. Sounds like a hassle. I'll just sleep through it."

Melanie laughing dryly. "Yeah, you may as well. I mean, you couldn't keep up anyway."

Max offended, spinning to face her. "Excuse me?!"

Melanie smirking. "It's gonna be way too challenging for you."

Max crossing his arms. "Oh, please. There isn't a math equation out there I can't solve."

Phoebe mock thinking. "How about "You + this class = failure"?"

Max mock thinking back. "Okay, how about "You ÷ shut your mouth = go away"?"

Melanie grinning, patting his shoulder. "Gotta work on those math slams, genius." Phoebe and Melanie smirk at each other, while Max huffs, arms crossed, as the scene fades out.

Max glares at Phoebe and Melanie as they smirk, victorious. Barb is still beaming, thrilled over Max's "achievement." "Oh! We almost forgot one." She holds up another report card—the one with Melanie's name on it.

Melanie blinking, confused. "Wait, what? How do you have mine?"

Hank laughs, waving it. "Your parents sent it over, said we could open it since you're basically part of the family."

Melanie deadpan. "Fantastic."

Barb opens it and gasps dramatically. "Melanie! Straight A's!"

Phoebe grinning. "Of course she did."

Max muttering under his breath. "Nerd."

Hank giving her a proud pat on the back. "Straight A's, and you're still in all your honors classes. You kids are gonna change the world!"

Barb walking to the fridge. "This definitely deserves a spot next to Max and Phoebe's!"

She slaps it up on the fridge beside the others, and Max just rolls his eyes. Melanie, still suspicious of him, folds her arms. "Yeah, great. I feel so special."

Max mocking. "You should! You got an A in everything, including advanced math. Unlike me, who also got A's. We're totally equals now."

Melanie muttering. "Oh, you are so getting punched later."

Max smirks, but there's a flicker of nervousness in his expression as she glares at him. Phoebe watches, amused, as the scene fades out.

Max is sitting in his chair, smugly flipping through a comic book, when—

THWACK!

Max wincing, rubbing his arm. "OW! What was that for?!"

Melanie standing over him, arms crossed. "For lying to me, you absolute moron."

Max holding up his hands. "Technically, I didn't lie. I just... creatively altered the truth."

Melanie sarcastic. "Oh, so hacking your own grades and acting like you suddenly turned into Einstein overnight isn't lying?"

Max grinning, shrugging. "When you put it like that, it makes me sound bad."

Melanie glaring, pacing. "Max, if you're serious about this—about us—why would you lie to me? You were actually doing well with all the nice things, and then this?!"

Max getting up, rubbing the back of his neck. "Look, I didn't think it'd be a big deal. I just... wanted to mess with Phoebe a little. And technically, I didn't expect to get put in your class too."

Melanie throws her hands up. "Oh, fantastic! Not only did you lie, but now I get to watch you sleep through an advanced class I actually worked to be in."

Max grinning. "Or... you could help me cheat my way through it."

Another punch—this time to his other arm.

Max groaning. "WHY?!"

"Because if I was thinking clearly, I'd use my mind manipulation to slam you across the room."

Max grimacing, rolling his shoulder. "Well, aren't I lucky you're feeling a little off today?"

Melanie grumbling. "So lucky."

She sighs, shaking her head, but there's a tiny, amused smirk creeping onto her lips. Max catches it and smirks back.

Max nudging her lightly. "Hey. At least we'll have more time together, right? Isn't that the whole point of this?"

Melanie eyeing him suspiciously. "Maybe. But if you ever lie to me like that again—"

Max grinning. "I'll brace myself for another punch."

Melanie mock sweetly. "Or worse."

Max laughs, but there's a tiny flicker of nervousness in his eyes. Melanie smirks, crossing her arms as the scene fades out.

☆

The classroom is buzzing with excitement. The students, a mix of brainy mathletes and casual onlookers, are on their feet, cheering. Melanie, an energetic and playful presence, is standing on her chair, leading the chant with an impish grin.

All chanting. "Phoebe! Phoebe! Phoebe!"

Melanie laughing. "Done!"

Sarah grinning. "And a new record!"

Cheers and applause erupt as Phoebe catches her breath, basking in the attention. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, beaming.

Sarah smiled. "Phoebe, you're awesome! I really hope we're on the same Math Bowl team. I'm great at quadratic equations, unlike some people."

Gideon huffing. "That was one time! And it was a heavy pollen day."

The classroom door swings open, and their math teacher strides in, clapping his hands to settle the chaos. "All right, class, all right! Exciting news—I have finally chosen our two Math Bowl team captains. And the first team captain is... Phoebe Thunderman!"

More cheers and applause, with Melanie throwing her hands in the air dramatically. "Whoo! That's my girl!"

Phoebe grinning. "Thanks, guys!"

Teacher explained. "And facing off against Phoebe is... a new student who begged me this morning in the parking lot to be the other team captain... Max Thunderman!"

A hushed pause. Then Max saunters in, cool and collected, holding a tray of pink and blue cotton candy. He smirks as the students turn to look at him. "Present."

Phoebe aghast. "Max?!"

Sarah jaw drops before she elbows Phoebe playfully. Sarah whispering. "That's your brother? He is one prime number."

Phoebe deadpan. "Yeah. Zero."

Melanie correcting. "Zero's not a prime—"

Phoebe cutting him off. "I know zero's not a prime number!"

Meanwhile, Max steps further into the room, lifting the cotton candy tray higher. Max grinning. "And I brought cotton candy for everyone."

Sarah gasping. "Ooh, cotton candy!"

Random Student gasped. "I love cotton candy!"

Another Student smiled. "I want some!"

Almost instantly, the chants shift.

All chanting. "Max! Max! Max!"

Phoebe throws her hands up in exasperation as Melanie, caught in the hype, joins in briefly before catching Phoebe's glare and shrugging apologetically. Phoebe grumbling. "Why does my brother have to ruin everything?"

Melanie teasing. "I mean, I hate to say it, but he's got game."

Phoebe groaned. "Really? Math Bowl captain? You said you were gonna sleep through this class!"

Max grinning smugly. "Oh, I already took a siesta in Spanish, so I'm bueno." He holds out a tuft of cotton candy toward Phoebe and Mel, who eyes it suspiciously before taking a piece.

Phoebe narrowing her eyes. "I know why you're doing this—you want to mess with me. You want me to fail, so I don't get into college, end up in a shack, living with cats, wondering where it all went wrong!"

Max smirking. "I just wanna crush you in the Math Bowl. But if you're living with cats? Bonus."

Phoebe glares but takes a bite of the cotton candy anyway. Phoebe muttering. "...That is good."

The teacher claps his hands again, bringing everyone back to attention. "All right, everyone, take your seats!" As students scramble to find their spots, Melanie tugs at Max's sleeve and gestures toward the seat next to her.

Melanie playful. "Max, there's a seat open by me."

Gideon, sitting in the spot, looks up, alarmed. "Uh—I'm right here."

Melanie grins, entirely unbothered. "Didn't see you there."

Max chuckles, clearly enjoying himself, while Phoebe groans, rubbing her temples.

The bell rings, signaling the end of class. Students begin filing out of the room, chatting excitedly about the upcoming Math Bowl. Phoebe is at the front of the crowd, already strategizing with Sarah, while Max lingers behind, taking his time packing up. Melanie, who had been doodling on her notebook instead of listening to equations, finally stands and slings her bag over her shoulder.

Melanie raising an eyebrow. "So, let me get this straight—you begged the teacher to make you team captain? You? Mr. "I'd Rather Sleep Through Class Than Learn Stuff"?"

Max smirks, shoving his hands into his pockets as they walk toward the door together.

Max shrugging. "What can I say? I saw an opportunity to make Phoebe's life miserable and took it. Classic me."

Melanie laughing in disbelief. "You don't even know how to do half this math, do you?"

Max grinning. "Nope. Not a clue. That's where you come in."

Melanie stops in her tracks, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. "Oh no. Nope. Not happening."

Max innocently. "What? I didn't even say anything yet."

Melanie crossing her arms. "You're gonna ask me to help you, and I'm not getting in the middle of this. I refuse to pick between you and Phoebe."

Max mocking. "And why not?"

Melanie hesitating, avoiding eye contact. "Because... Phoebe's my best friend, and you're—you're—um... you're about to be—uh, you know—um... my..."

She stumbles over her words, her usual confidence faltering. Max raises an amused eyebrow, waiting.

Max grinning. "My what?"

Melanie quickly, flustered "Nothing! You heard nothing!"

Max chuckles, clearly enjoying this. "Right. Well, judging by that very suspiciously unfinished sentence, I'd say you're pretty stressed out. Maybe even too stressed out to sit through the rest of the school day."

Melanie narrowing her eyes. "What are you getting at, Thunderman?"

Max grinning slyly. "I'm saying you should cut class with me. Y'know, ditch school, clear your mind, do something fun instead of freaking out over team loyalty."

Melanie mock gasp. "Are you encouraging me to break the rules? I'm shocked! Stunned! Utterly scandalized!"

Max explained. "Look, I can tell you're one wrong math equation away from a total meltdown. I'm just offering a way to avoid that."

Melanie hesitates, chewing her lip. As much as she wants to argue, she knows he's right—her head is spinning, and the pressure of being caught between Phoebe and Max is already exhausting.

Melanie grumbling. "...Fine. But only because I'm too mentally drained to fight you on this."

Max smug. "Knew you'd see it my way."

They casually slip out of the building, avoiding any teachers on the way out. As soon as they step into the sunlight, Max reaches over and takes Melanie's hand in his, lacing their fingers together like it's the most natural thing in the world. Melanie glances down, her cheeks turning a faint pink.

Melanie playfully suspicious. "So... you convinced me to ditch just so you could finally hold my hand, huh?"

Max grinning. "Maybe."

Melanie rolls her eyes, but she doesn't let go. As they walk off campus together, she has to admit—skipping school with Max might not be the worst decision she's ever made.

Phoebe storms into the living room, dropping her backpack dramatically onto the couch.

Phoebe frustrated. "Where is she?! She ditched school, with Max, of all people!"

Hank confused. "Who?"

Phoebe groaning. "Melanie! She was supposed to help me practice, but instead, she ran off with my evil brother!"

Barb smirking, flipping through a magazine. "You sound jealous."

Phoebe crossing her arms. "I am not jealous. I'm just... concerned. Very concerned."

Just then, the front door swings open, and in walk Max and Melanie—laughing, holding hands, and clearly in a much better mood than when they left school. Phoebe's eyes narrow instantly.

"Melanie."

Melanie freezes for a second, then turns slowly, giving Phoebe an innocent smile. "Phoebe! How was the rest of your school day?"

Phoebe deadpan. "Oh, you mean the part where you were supposed to be there and weren't? That part?"

Melanie laughing nervously. "Haha... yeah... about that..."

Max grinning, throwing an arm around Melanie's shoulders. "Don't worry, Pheebs. I took great care of her."

Phoebe groans dramatically, while Barb exchanges an amused look with Hank. Max just smirks, knowing full well he just made things a whole lot more interesting.

☆

Later that evening, Melanie finds Phoebe in her room,