CHAPTER 9
The yellow team’s match that day was against the red team. The moment the match started, Max sprinted into the middle of the field, firing paintballs wildly. This time he managed to hit a red player on the leg, scoring an elimination.
But as he dove for cover next to Owen, the remaining members of the red team bombarded Max. In an instant, he and Owen were covered in red paint.
“Nice going,” Owen said as he and Max left the field. “Your insane playing style not only got you eliminated in under thirty seconds, but it got me eliminated too.”
Max just shrugged and sat on a bench in the observation area. Owen stood by the window next to Jace to watch the rest of the match. Max found he didn’t care at all.
* * *
The yellow team lost their match, but the green team won. Afterward, Alex and his friends came running into the observation area, laughing and high-fiving. Alex spotted Max, sitting alone.
“Hey, Maximum Loser,” Alex said. “I hear you were on the field for almost twenty-five seconds today. Must be your new record, huh?”
Max glared furiously as Alex and his friends laughed and laughed.
A member of the red team standing nearby laughed too. He was young, and smaller than Max, but Max was angry. He jumped to his feet and charged the kid, knocking him back into the wall.
The boy in red charged back. He shoved Max, sending him to the floor of the observation area.
Max was sprawled on the floor. Alex and his friends gathered around and laughed even harder.