Today, you could say, was Max's day off. Bella had gone out with the girls in the morning, saying something about shopping. Max had no intention of being dragged around and carrying heavy bags while the girls questioned him on and on about his relationship with Bella. Not that he didn't like to spend time with Bella, but he just couldn't handle more than two of her girlfriends at the same time. His calm and stoic personality just couldn't withstand excessive girlish giggles.

Seeing as how Tristan had gone out with the Knights, Max found himself with nothing to do. He had no problem with going out with the guys usually, but today he just didn't feel like it. He wrote a quick text to Bella, asking her how the shopping was going and grabbing his towel and jumping into his swimming trunks, he headed for the pool. There were not that many people around in 9:30 in the morning, so he decided now was the perfect time for peace, quiet and relaxation. He loved to tan, while reading a book, though he didn't get to do that much this summer because of the endless duties he had with the company.

Max found an empty lounge and plopped into it, his shades on his eyes and a small smile permanently glued on his lips. He had brought a book with him, of course - Stephen King's "Insomnia" to be exact. Max was a big fan of Stephen King and severely enjoyed all his macabre tales. He had a way of enchanting the mind and taking it into his own dark little world, which consumed all of your cheerfulness and led you into a temporary state of extreme depression. Max was never the one for sugar sweet novels any way! He always did have a fascination for the horror and thriller novels and Stephen King somehow managed to fulfill his longing for fiction.

Max sat in the sun, his nicely toned abs catching the vibrant sunlight. Max was never the fitness maniac Kevin tended to be, but he had nicely shaped muscles and did not lack in strength of the body because of the strength of his mind. Bella said he had the perfect figure. Well, Max strongly doubted that, but he had to admit he was pretty fit, as much as he hated paying compliments to himself. He stretched out a bit, his feet hanging out of the lounge. Of course, when you are 6"1, you are hardly able to find a launge, or a bad for that matter, which suits your size.

Max looked around the pool. There were only a few people around and most of them were glancing at him and whisperig something to one another. Max snarled and shook his head, going back to his book. Oh, yes, now there were going to be rumors of him having split with Bella, because he wasn't with her at the pool. Psh. Did they have to be stuck together or something for people to believe they were a couple? Or were their records so horrible that it seemed impossible for both to have settled down? Seemed so...

When he heard the splashing sound coming from the pool, Max lowered his book a little, trying to determine whether or not to yell at the person, who was disturbing his rest. It turned out to be Aspen, Queen bee of the Princesses. Looked like a 'not'. He didn't say anything however, knowing that Bella didn't like Aspen too much, thinking she was trying to steal him from her. Which was ridiculous. Max as not an object, he could not be snatched under Bella's nose without wanting it. And he didn't want it, he was absolutely in love with her.

He pushed his shades down a bit and smirked at Aspen. He decided that merely talking to her couldn't do that much harm. Could it?
- Hey. Having fun in the sun I presume? - he asked with a chuckle. - Were is the army of admirers? - he asked, quite amused at how there always seemed to be a whole bunch of guys following her around. Even at that party the Sins threw. Though Max had to admit, it was kind of fun getting rid of those two.

Max was not really that much of a player to be obvious to things such as liking someone, or targeting someone. He had no idea whether Aspen had dubbed him to be her next conquest or not. She might have wanted him just so she could piss Bella off or something. He was severely confused when it came to the relationships the girl had. They were friends one day, enemies the next. One thing was sure though, Max wasn't too eager to find out. He liked flirting with girls once in a while. It was only normal - he was a Knight. But he never wanted it to be obvious. With Aspen, it would. Plus, he had Bella now, everything was different.

It was really bothering him how no one in the whole Academy actually supported their choice to settle down but their best friends. In fact, no one actually believed they would make it as a couple. Maybe because they had been around before. Max knew he had changed since he was with Trix. And he didn't mind it. The only thing that bothered him was that after Bella had found out about the arranged marriage thing, she had became more suspicious of him. It was only natural though, and Max hoped it would fade away with time. Now, all he wanted to do was relax and forget Well's Secret Keeper and everything else which could ruin his mood.

Max laughed out as Aspen mentioned his 'front man'. That had to be Tristan:
- Out with the Knights. - was the simple answer to that question. They were probably crashing the mall or something, or 'picking up chicks'. Max sent Kevin with Tristan, so they could spend more time together. He warned Tristan to watch after his little brother as always. Though he knew that Kevin was not a baby anymore, he couldn't help but be protective of him.

As the conversation got to the Secret Keeper though, Max's smile quickly faded and he glanced away, his eyes obtaining a dark gray color.
- Does the whole school know? - he asked with a huff as he put his book aside and massaged his temples. - Yes, it is true. But it won't be if I can help it. I'm the one with the brains, remember. - Max said, smirking. He was sure he would find a way out of the whole mess. And with Tristan's help he felt even more secure about it. Kevin was there for him, too. And he was sure Bella wouldn't desert him, even if she did act a bit upset.

- And how is Queen bee life? Any of the Knights on your list yet? - Max asked with a chuckle as he ran a hand through his coal back hair. It seemed tha everyone was doing everyone here at Well's and though he was sure Aspen got her share of it, he hadn't heard any of the Knights brag about dragging her into bed. Maybe she just wasn't the one for Knights. After all, she managed to resist King's charm, to some extent. Maybe she was imuned to Knights, who knew?

- No, I get left alone. - Max said with a chuckle. It was common knowledge he was never the one for partying up a storm and causing chaos. He was a Knight, yes, but he was a Smart deep inside. He never did something he would regret in the morning. - And yes, you've heard correctly, everything is back to normal. If you knew me well enough, you would know I rarely go with the Knights, when they're up to no good. - Max said, smirking slily. Oh, yes, he was far too sensible.

- I really don't know. - he confirmed with a deep frown. - And I do believe that if Bella finds her before I do, she would not be lucky at all. - he said with a soft laugh. He loved Bella and her emotional self. He already made peace with her and everything was almost back to normal. - She won't do anything hasty I hope. - Max said with a bit of a worried expression.

- It has to be Daniels then, huh? - Max asked. He was not really that desperate to find out, he just really liked to know most of the things that went on around him, so that he could use them if he had to. - Don't worry, I'm not that interested into your person life. - he said, not actually caring if he sounded offending. Max was known for his sharp tongue. - I just like to be informed. - he added, with a smirk.

- We're best friends. - Max said nodding, in return to her comment. Tristan was a great friend and only people, who had never met him could say the opposite. - No, just to reckless. - Max answered in his usual calm demeanor. The Knights, when at parties, or out by themselves, acted like real children. They never thought of the consequences of their actions. And why should they, the had Max to look after them.

- Opposites attract, don't they? - Max asked Aspen with a small smile. - We complete each other - he's an optimist, I'm a pessimist. Together we make the realistic view of things. - he joked, glancing over at the girl. - You're the expert, I haven't been a girl in love, so I wouldn't know. - Max said with a chuckle. He loved to joke, when he knew the person he was talking to would understand his jokes. And Aspen was definitely not stupid.

- It actually isn't, I'm just observative. - Max retorted with a smirk. And it was true, he usually noticed the small details that built up the big picture. He noticed things that most would overlook as unimportant. - I certainly hope my brother would succeed Tristan. They are much alike in personallity so at least none could expect great changes. If that happens Tristan and I would have a reason to come and visit you guys more often. - Max said with a laugh.

- I do try. - Max said with a smirk as he took the liberty of taking his index out of the book and placing it back in his backpack. It didn't look like they were going to stop talking soon. Aspen was interesting herself, plus, she had information! Max just nodded at her confirmation about the Knights being reckless. Nobody knew that better than Max, since he was the one who always had to get them out of trouble. And it wasn't always easy, that was for sure. Calling their parents to convince them to give them more money, now that was a handful.

Max made a slight face as he glanced over at Aspen:
- Why do you girls always associate the word "complete" with some sort of lovey-dovey thing? - he asked a bit grossed out as he thought about it. - It's hard to exlplain without using that word! - he said, glancing down at his tanned chest. - Yeah... - he answered when it came to the love topic. - I hope Bella's love won't go away that quickly, though. Never been in love before... - Max admitted. Before Bella he had never even had a crush.

- You can't, I'm everywhere. - Max said, sounding serious. He was, most of the times Max was in places where people would never suspect of finding him, that was how he got his information on people. He wasn't a stalker, he was just like one of the walls of Well's - he heard almost everything, but unlike Well's Secret Keeper, or Veronica - he kept it to himself. And that way, it was all the more useful.