Title: Running's What You're Good At

Author: Leavemykittenalone

Summary: Max struggles with tension between her and Alec.

Rating: Currently PG-13, will be rated R or so in the future.

A/N: We need some steamy M/A action going on and it just ain't happening! Here's my attempt.

A/N2: I'm aware there's not a whole lot of plot so far but I'm setting it up. More coming soon!

****

Max lay in bed, the steady drip of rain keeping her from sleep. She knew she had to work tomorrow and groaned inwardly. Alec had been pissing her off lately, and today had been no exception. If she saw that cocky smirk slide across his face one more time she could just smack him. It didn't help with the tension between her and Logan lately.

She turned on her side as she remembered the look on his face when she told him they were through. It pained her but she knew it was what she had to do. Her thoughts turned to Alec again as she realized how truly nice it had been of him to not say anything to Logan. She shifted, uncomfortable with the thought of Alec being nice and her owing him anything. She didn't want him to have power over her. He was already cocky enough.

The rain seemed to stop for the moment and Max finally drifted into a dreamless sleep.

****

Max rode her baby through the streets, breathing in the fresh air after the previous nights rain. As she rolled in to the front of Jam Pony, Alec pulled up beside her.

"Hey Max," he said, the corner of his mouth turning up. She squinted at him. What was he so damn happy about? It was 8 in the morning.

"Hey," she got out, turning before she had to look at him again. He followed her inside and she stopped suddenly, Alec bumping into her from behind. She suddenly remembered what she had been thinking about last night and her face suddenly closed off. "Watch where you're going," she snapped at him.

He shrugged. "What'd I do?" He watched her walk away, her hips swinging and muttered to himself something about not understanding women. Max rolled her eyes as she reached her locker and fiddled with it's contents.

"Hey, Boo," Original Cindy said as she came up beside her. "What's goin on?" She looked concerned at Max's behavior.

"Nothing," Max said completely emotionless. She sighed suddenly and shut her locker, turning to look Cindy in the eyes. "I just don't know what's going on with me…"

Original Cindy grinned. "You need a night out, girl. Get you off your depression, Original Cindy will show you a good time. Let's go out tonight."

Max smiled slightly. "Sure." She picked up her bag and went to get her morning run from Normal, taking care to avoid walking near Alec. She didn't know why she let him bother her. It's not like he had even said anything to her all day yet. As she walked out the door she caught his eye, a sudden jolt running through her. She turned away quickly and walked out the door.

"That's right Max," she muttered under her breath to herself. "Just run away. It's what you're good at…" As she felt the air rush past her as she made her deliveries she wondered to herself just what she was running away from.