Soundscapes: Endurance Episode 3

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Endurance: The Power Within (Episode 3)

🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹“De change from de dollar does make the most noise.”🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹🇹

March 13th, 2009

The clicking clock on the wall seems to be the loudest noise in class; throughout the day, flyers and text messages circulated around the school about a house party at Zack’s house tonight. His parents were on their tenth anniversary trip to Europe. Max didn’t pay any attention; he kept his eyes on Mei. Max noticed her intense focus on the lesson as the teacher taught the class. He wondered why she had never noticed him. Could it be because of his mother’s reputation in the neighborhood? Most girls didn’t care, or did they overlook it because of the money? Max was drowning in his thoughts. He leaned back in his chair, glancing over at Mei. “She’s so beautiful,” Max speaks under his breath to himself. His grey eyes sparkled when he looked at her. A slow smile grew on his face when Max felt a sharp jab in his side. He spun his head around to see Taisha Ledell glaring at him.

They bickered under their breaths until the teacher cleared her throat. The entire class looked at them. Out of everyone staring at them, Mei’s illuminating green eyes were the ones he felt piercing through him. Max turned his attention to Mei. Their eyes locked.

“Come back to me,” Max’s heart channeled to Mei.

She felt the strangest sensation; her ears rang until she could hear audible words. Come back…to me? Mei grabbed her left ear, confused and frightened.

It seemed as if Max Martinez was communicating with her. She didn’t realize she was staring right back at him. She felt relaxed, as if in a trance. Mei looked away, still holding her ear. She grabbed her books as the bell rang, darting for the door.

Max stood up, noticing Mei’s reaction. I know she heard me; he thought. This realization only threw fuel on the inferno blazing inside of him. He grabbed his books, attempting to pursue her. Just as he made it out the door, a furious Taisha yanked him backward.

She peered at him with confused anger in her eyes, piercing with questions. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Max turned around to face her. After seeing Mei’s reaction, he could let no one, or anything, come between him and his one genuine desire. “Taisha, I’m sorry, but I meant what I said this morning.” Max then walked away. His only concern was catching up with Mei.

Taisha had hoped that Max would reconsider or that she could convince him somehow to give their relationship a chance. She loved Max. Taisha believed that Max at least liked her. They had dated for a month, and he was an excellent catch. Taisha couldn't get enough of him after their sexual encounter a week ago. She believed he wanted to be with her. Taisha also admired his gentleman-like demeanor. He would open and close doors for her. Letting go of Max wasn't an option yet.

The last bell rang. Mei couldn’t make it to her locker fast enough to shove her books in and escape the hell called high school. She noticed the eye of Max Martinez staring in her direction, but decided he must be looking at Paul Walters, who was walking behind her. Paula Walters was the object of desire for all the guys. Who could compete with that?

Mei made it to her locker, shoving her books inside and slamming the metal door closed. She headed out the main doors, making it toward her bus. As she rushed out the door, Mei felt Max’s stare again. Is he looking at me? Mei questioned herself. She jumped onto her bus, putting the question behind her.

Max stood at the foot of Belmont High School steps, imagining what it would be like to talk to Mei. Her beautiful, almond-shaped, green eyes and golden complexion enthralled him. He loved her long, soft, wavy hair and beautiful smile, the rare times he could glimpse it.

“Oh boy, you got the stare! That could only mean one thing. You’ve just seen Mei,” Nelson Lopez stated as he approached his friend.

Max couldn’t help the smile that stretched across his face. “You know me too well.”

“Don’t give up; one day, she will notice you. You’ll just have to break your neck on the field,” Nelson said. “But in the meantime, let’s hit the house party tonight. Everyone will be there; I’m sure you will find someone to take your mind off of Mei.”

“Ah, I’m not into that scene, you know that,” Max said as they walked towards his car in the student parking lot. “Besides, my uncle hates when I treat women like that. This mess with Taisha, I don’t know.”

For a little, I didn’t have to hear about Mei,” Nelson nudges Max

“Yea, but you don’t have to deal with the men in my family.”

“Your seventeen, you’re not supposed to be thinking like this,” Nelson threw a tantrum, causing Max to laugh at his antics.

“I agree with you there.”

“Come on, man! It’s almost the end of the year, and you haven’t gone to any parties. If you will not do it for yourself, don’t be selfish; do it for me?”

“I’m supposed to help my uncle with something tonight. I can’t,” Max shrugged. “Hey, I promise, if something comes up, if something changes—I’ll go…promise.” Max knew his uncle all too well. Tamarius never canceled on him. Each Friday, the thirteenth, his uncle insisted he stay at the mansion far away from his mother. Max didn’t always understand his uncle, but he obeyed him.

“Deal, that’s fair…so what’s your uncle’s number?”

Max shakes his head and chuckles as they entered his new vehicle. Another guilt gift.

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