The Incredible Charlie Maxwell

Chapter 11

 The Bugatti cruised through the night, the city lights blurring into a kaleidoscope of color. Mira rested on the passenger seat as she looked out the window, taking it all in. Who could've guessed that she’d be riding shotgun in a Bugatti? Her heart skipped at the thought,  amazing… 

 She turned to Michael, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, what's the story with your family? You're obviously not struggling, but there's more to it, isn't there?"

 Michael's expression remained impassive, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. With  a calm smile, he simply said, "Not tonight, Mira. Let's just enjoy the ride."

 Mira's smile never wavered. "Fair enough. But you're not getting out of telling me forever."

 Michael's lips curled up further. "I'm shaking in my boots." He said in amusement as he sarcastically rolled his eyes.

 He glanced in the rearview mirror, where Barry and Jace were riding shotgun in the other two Bugattis. Of course, they wouldn't know how to drive a Bugatti overnight, so Michael arranged for personal chauffeurs in both cars while he drove himself. 

 He saw their headlights flashing like fireflies in the darkness. The distant honk of a horn echoed through the night air, followed by another, and Michael's friends were signaling their excitement, their cars' headlights blinking in sync. 

 Mira followed his gaze, laughing. "Looks like your friends are getting impatient."

 Michael's smile grew, but his eyes remained fixed on the road. "They're just having fun."

 As the lights ahead began to fade into the distance, Mira asked, her voice softer, "Why did you choose me to be your date tonight? You barely know me."

 Michael's gaze flicked to hers, his eyes still glinting with that amusement. “And you? Why were you kind to me when the others  did nothing but shun and laugh at me?”

 Mira looked away. He didn't wait for her to answer; he shrugged and added, "Maybe I just wanted to see how someone with a kind heart would react to a night in the spotlight."

 “What do you mean by that?” Mira asked, her brows furrowed as she scrutinized his expression.

 Michael didn't answer; he kept driving. As the memory of previous events flashed in his head, his grip around the steering wheel tightened. “Make sure you have the best seat in the house tonight, Mira…” His amused smile suddenly warped into a nice mischievous grin. “This is going to be one heck of a night.”

 -

 The grand ballroom was lit up, the DJ spinning sick beats that had the whole crowd dancing. Confetti and balloons floated through the air, and the hashtag #GradParty2025 was trending on everyone's phones.

 Danny Franchester, in his well-tailored suit that screamed luxury, stood tall, his whole demeanor giving off campus kingpin vibes with his arm around Jane as his queen bee. They were the golden couple, and everyone knew it.

 "Yo, where's Michael?" Danny sneered, his eyes scanning the room. "Thought he'd show up in a  broke ride."

 “Or no ride at all.” Someone chirped in the back.

 Jane snickered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I can't believe I was with someone as worthless as that." She held up her hand, showcasing the Caesar Bracelet. "I mean, look at this beauty. It's worth more than Michael's entire lifetime. Even if he died and came back a hundred times, he still wouldn't be worth up to a quarter of the amount."

 The crowd oohed and ahhed, and some students took out their phones to take pictures of the bracelet.

 "And don't even get me started on my outfit," Jane said, twirling around. "This Chanel ensemble is worth millions. I'm basically wearing a designer museum. I could literally buy all of you in here."

 The crowd laughed, and someone shouted, "You go, girl!"

 In the corner, Celia stood with her friend Amara James, a stunning model with piercing eyes and a fierce attitude. 

 She was a well-known campus baddie and a big-shot model, working with top brands like Elite Inc. Her confidence and sass were legendary, and she had a reputation for being ruthless in the industry.

 With her sharp tongue and ability to make or break careers with a single post on social media, Amara was a force to be reckoned with. She exuded an effortless cool, her designer outfits and flawless makeup a testament to her status as a top model. When she spoke, people listened, and her sharp wit and clever comebacks were the stuff of campus legend. "Who's this Michael?" She asked, her voice husky and confident.

 Celia tried to intervene, her voice above the music. "Amara, don't mind what they're saying. Danny’s an idiot, so not worth it." She then spoke a little louder, addressing everyone. “Cut it out, you guys. Let's try to have fun without having to tear someone down… He's been through enough.” She said the last part more to herself than to them.

 But Amara was already intrigued. "Oh, this should be good. Tell me more about this... Michael."

 Jane's eyes lit up, and she launched into a vicious tirade. "Michael? Please. He's a joke of a guy who thinks he can measure up to us. He's just a poor boy, a wannabe. I mean, seriously. Who tries to rob Neon Wears? And what's next? He’ll try to steal a sandwich from the cafeteria?"

 The crowd laughed louder this time, and Amara raised an eyebrow. "Oh wow…"

 They continued to laugh and mock, and Celia shook her head. She knew Amara's reputation, and she knew that once Amara got involved, things would only get worse.

 Amara smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Well, I have to see this Michael for myself. Where is he?"

 The crowd started to chant, "Where's Michael? Where's Michael?" and the anticipation built. Little did they know, Michael was about to make a grand entrance…

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