Blue's Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

expected.
    Toby.
    He was sitting on a bench only metres away.
    Her heart did a weird flip as if someone had tossed it like pizza dough. Why was he here? And alone? And why did he look so sad?
    It was then he looked up and instantly flashed her a wide grin.
    Max faked a casual semi-smile that she suspected looked anything but casual.
    She was about to give Toby a brief wave and keep walking, but his smile faded and there was something about his look that wouldn’t let her leave.
    â€˜Great,’ she mumbled. Even though Toby had made her life a misery from the day they’d met, she couldn’t walk away.
    â€˜Out walking with all your friends?’ Toby asked when she stood before him.
    Max raised one eyebrow. ‘No, I thought I’d try walking with all your friends instead.’
    Toby smiled. There weren’t many people who could give back like Max could.
    â€˜At least this way you’re finally the smartest one in the group.’
    Max winced through a smile. Toby was obviously fine. Why did she even bother stopping? ‘Yes, and now I have to get to school so I can become even smarter.’
    When she turned to leave, she again saw his face fall. Something was up. She could feel it. And why was he just sitting here when they were late already? Then she did something she couldn’t explain.
    â€˜Do you want to walk to school together?’
    What? Max’s brain silently asked her mouth. Walk to school together? Was she crazy? What was it about this boy that made her act all weird?
    Toby looked like he was going to accept. Max held her breath. Escaping from sword-wielding criminals in Morocco suddenly seemed easy compared to spending whole minutes side by side with Mr Popularity, where she’d only end up finding a new way to make a fool of herself.
    As if he’d guessed her thoughts, Toby stood up and threw his bag over his shoulder.
    â€˜Nah. I’ve gotta do something first. And I …’
    He looked like he wanted to say something else but stopped himself and changed the subject. ‘What are you doing walking this way anyway? You live the other way.’
    Max froze. ‘I … um. It’s just that … I wanted to have a walk before school.’
    Good one, Max silently grumbled. Very convincing.
    â€˜Oh.’ Toby answered like he didn’t believe her. ‘Me too.’
    Max stared after him as he walked away, his feet shuffling along the gravel path. She was relieved he had refused to walk with her, but now she felt bad again. Toby could do that. Make her swing from not wanting to have anything to do with him to feeling bad about being mean to him, even though he was the expert when it came to being mean.
    Either way, there was no time to think about it. She pulled her bag against her chest. If she ran all the way to school she might just be able to slip into assembly without being noticed.

‘Lovely day, Max.’
    No, no, no. Max thought. Not Peasers. The principal of love and happiness. The queen of mush. Where did she come from?
    â€˜Ahh, Peasers … I mean, Ms Peasley.’
    Why was it Max could thwart criminals all over the world, make it through the Amazon Jungle and escape from a Nightmare Vortex, but she couldn’t sneak into school five minutes after the bell? She had to divert Peasers’ attention from her being late.
    â€˜Aren’t you …’ Peasers lifted her wrist to look at her watch. Max had to think fast.
    â€˜I don’t know if you get told often enough, Ms Peasley, but I just wanted to say how excellent it is to have you as our principal.’
    â€˜Oh, thank you, Max.’ Ms Peasley blushed beneath her pink eye shadow and lowered her hand. ‘That’s very kind.’
    Good start, Max thought to herself. Keep it up.
    â€˜And that concert last Friday? We all owe its success to the direction we get from you. As everyone knows, that kind of talent radiates down from above.’
    Peasers