I'm Only Me When I'm With You
Disclaimer - Dark Angel is not mine, nor do i claim to own it
Summary - 3rd chapter.
At 7am Alec knocked in the door to Max's room, he knew no one had told her what time she had to be up at or what time the school started.
Max's first thought on waking up was where am I? Then it all came back to her and Alec's constant banging on the room door was a good reminder.
Groaning she pushed the covers from her body and yanked open the door "what?" she snarled in a just woke up kinda way.
"Time to get ready for school" he said in a cheery voice, way too cheery for that time in the morning.
His eyes looked over her body and he smiled "you look good in the morning"
Max's face turned from confusion to anger in a matter of seconds "you don't" with that she closed the door in his face, he laughed to himself.
"Be ready by 8.15 or I leave you and you don't get breakfast"
"Whatever" Max said to herself
At 7.45 Max was fully dressed so she decided to take a walk downstairs to grab something to eat on the way she met Jesse.
"Hey Jesse"
"Alright" he said acknowledging her presence. "Hungry?" she was trying to make small talk, she wasn't very sure what to talk about with a 13 year old boy it had been so much easier when she was 12.
"I'm 13 I'm always hungry"
Just then Alec came running down the stairs "Shut up" he barked at Jesse while casually slapping him on the back of the head. "Hey!" Alec just laughed and continued walking down stairs.
Jesse mumbled something under his breath that Max couldn't quite make out. Max glared at Alec's back.
They walked into the kitchen and sat at the breakfast table, Alec's mum had prepared breakfast for them.
At 8.10 breakfast was finished and Max was walking out of the door "Going to be ok?" Alec's mum asked her as she walked them towards the front door.
"Yeah I'll be fine" Max glanced at Jesse and Alec who were bickering on there way out the door "thanks"
"Bye" Mrs McDowell waved to her sons and Max "See ya" Alec waved.
Alec walked towards the garage there was a BMW convertible parked in the drive.
Alec pulled out a set of keys from his pocket and opened the doors. Max wasn't paying attention to him; instead she was walking in the direction of the bus stop.
"Where you going?" Alec asked once he was in and had started the car engine.
Max stopped for a second and turned to face him "to get the bus"
He started to laugh. She shot him a dirty look "What?" she demanded.
"Only losers get the bus"
It was her turn to laugh "nah can't be your not getting it" she walked away from him and the car.
Now he was crawling along at the side of her, Jesse was walking just in front of her "that hurts Maxie"
"Truth does"
He groaned "Will you get your ass in the car?"
He hadn't been expecting her to stop as quickly as she did "what about Jesse?"
Jesse having heard Max say his name stopped and turned around "What?" he asked confused "why doesn't he take you to school?"
Jesse looked at Alec but didn't say anything "because he's a freak" Alec offered.
"Want me in the car?"
"Yep"
"He comes too" she said pointing at Jesse.
She had that look on her face, the look that said I'm not playing here, reluctantly he agreed "Fine"
"Say please"
"What?" he wasn't sure if he had heard her correctly.
"You heard me, say please"
"Please" he forced out through clenched teeth.
Max smiled "Please what?"
"Oh screw this" with that he put the car into gear and sped off but he didn't go far in fact he went less than 100 yards.
He stopped.
Max smiled at Jesse "So?" she called out to him
"Please can I give you a ride to school?"
"You can" with that she pulled Jesse by his collar towards the car "I think I'm gonna like you" Jesse grinned at her.
"Thanks" she said in a sarcastic voice.
"Don't start" he warned.
Jesse was feeling brave mostly because he didn't believe Alec would do anything to him while Max was around because for some reason he listened to what she had to say and didn't want to do anything to upset her so he asked "Can I drive?"
"Yeah when I'm dead"
"Sounds good to me"
"Boys" Max said rolling her eyes, they both became quiet.
Jesse couldn't help himself being 13 and a younger brother is what they do, he loved to piss Alec off because if was just to fun.
"Is Nicole back today?"
"Jesse I swear man if you don't shut up I'll stop the car and make you walk"
"Don't care its not far now anyway"
Alec groaned and banged his fist against the steering wheel, Max tried real hard not to ask but she found herself needing to know "Who's Nicole?"
"No one" Alec assured her giving her a quick glance, while glaring at Jesse through the interior mirror "Yeah no one" Jesse agreed not wanting to push his luck because he knew Alec would make his day at school bad if he carried on.
5 minutes later they pulled up outside the school as soon as the car stopped Jesse had jumped over the door of the car and landed on the ground "If you've scratched my car" Alec said pushing open the door and checking to see it Jesse had caused any damage.
Max was looking at him because he was crazy "It's a car"
"My car" he rectified. He had planned on saying more but was interrupted by people calling his name "Alec" a group of about 4 boys called out.
"Hey guys" Alec said greeting them, one of them stopped and stared at Max, she recognised him from the park.
"Who is this?" he pulled away from where Alec was sitting and moved towards Max.
"Uh…" Alec stammered "Max" he finally said.
"Max" he turned to look at her "You're nothing like Alec said" Max scoffed "tell me about it"
"I'm Biggs" he said extending his hand for her to shake "and I'm not interested" she smiled "bye bye"
She walked away from the car, the boys and Alec, she had no idea where she was going but she didn't want to be reminded about what Alec had said about her because she really was trying to forgive him.
Walking into the school she guessed the best bet would be for her to head for the reception so that's what she did.
"That's Max?" Biggs asked watching as she walked away.
"That's her"
"You said she was ugly" Biggs reminded him and Alec really didn't want a reminder "last time I saw her she was kid ok?"
"She aint a kid anymore"
"Yeah don't even think about it" Alec warned Biggs then looked to the rest of his friends "that goes for all of you too"
"Why you're with Nicole so what's wrong with us going with her?"
"Because I said she's off limits" he moved away from them walking into the school "and I'm not with Nicole she just hangs around me"
"Ok man" the all agreed following him into the school building.
Alec walked into his first class; he had assumed Max would be joining his class so he made sure they only free seat in class was right next to him.
15 minutes into the class the door opened and in walked Max followed by the Principal.
They introduced her, some of the girls snickered and some of the boys wolf whistled. Alec well he couldn't really take his eyes off her, this morning her hadn't really noticed what she was wearing but now he could and he liked what he could see.
Leather pants looked good on her; he made a mental note to tell her that sometime later in the day.
"Why don't you find yourself a seat Max" the teacher asked her. Max smiled and looked around the class room, groaning to herself when she noticed the only seat free was right next to Alec. Her eyes met his just for a second and a smirk slowly spread across his face.
He reached over and pulled the chair away from her desk.
She walked over to the chair dropped the books the principal had given her onto the table and sat down, totally avoiding eye contact with Alec.
"Tomorrow class we will be setting you an assignment where you have to take care of a baby for week"
"Why?" one of the girls in the front asked.
"To warn of the dangers of having sex before you are married"
Alec scoffed, one of his friends spoke up "someone really should warn Alec"
"Shut up" Alec demanded slapping him as hard as he could on the chest.
Max turned to face him he knew she would, he smiled she gave him a disgusted look before turning her attention back to the teacher.
"You will be in pairs, I'll pick them so don't go getting to excited"
"Great" Alec said sarcastically.
Just then the bell rang signalling end of the class. Max stood up ready to make her way out of the room but Alec grabbed her elbow.
"Know where you're going?" he asked falling into step beside her "sure I'll find it"
Alec sighed "Max come on give me chance?"
"Why should I?" she asked coming to a stop outside the locker the principal had given her.
"Because I'm your best friend" he suggested "and I'm sorry"
She put her key in the lock and started fighting with the locker. Alec laughed "here" he said pushing her out the way, he tapped on the locker and it opened.
"I had that one until last year" he smirked. She glared not believing him "they all stick sooner or later"
He was leaning casually against the locker watching her. She felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
"Forgiving me yet?"
She closed the locker door and took a step towards him "gonna have to try a lot harder than that" she grinned.
He tilted his head to the side and smiled a sexy half smile that he obviously used to get his own way. His hand ended up settling on her hip he expected her to shove it away but she didn't "You know I'm not very patient"
"Want me to forgive you, you'll have to be"
He was about to say something when a girls voice shrieked "Alec!"
He winced and Max looked around him to see where the noise came from.
Max was watched as the young brunette girl ran over to Alec and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind.
Alec closed his eyes; silently cursing "Nicole" he said turning around and removing her arms from around him.
"Miss me?"
He smiled, a tight uncomfortable smile "Yeah" Nicole smiled but then noticed Max standing behind him "Who's that?"
"My friend" Alec answered. Max scoffed but decided to annoy both Alec and his little girl friend, she laid her hand on Alec's shoulder which caused Alec to turn to look at her "Best friends" Max said in a sweet voice.
Leaning closer to Alec she pressed a kiss to his cheek and took slightly longer than needed to pull away "see you later"
Alec watched her walk away mostly because it was a good view and the other part of him was too shocked to do anything else.
Nicole was speaking but Alec really wasn't paying attention "Who was that?" he managed to make out.
He covered his face with his hands then looked at her "What does it matter? You're not my girlfriend anymore" he reminded her. Before walking in the direction Max had just gone.
He managed to catch up to Max before her next class, grabbing hold her from behind he pushed her up against the wall outside the classroom.
"What was that?" he asked stepping close to her.
"What?" she asked smiling innocently.
"Mr McDowell" a teacher said from behind him "shouldn't you be in class?"
"I will be soon" he promised "now or you'll be in detention leave the poor girl alone"
"See you later" he said and Max wasn't sure if it was a threat or not either way she shrugged it off and went into class with the teacher. Luckily for her Alec wasn't in this one nor was he in anymore of her classes that morning.
"Hi" a young black girl said to Max as she sat down. "Hey"
"I'm Cindy" she said with a nod of her head "Max"
"New girl yeah?"
"That obvious?" Max asked if with a small laugh "just a bit"
"So tell me about yourself" Cindy asked she then looked her up and down "leather pants?" Max looked down at her pants "So?" she asked her voice laced with an attitude.
"Nothing, I like them, I think you and me are going to get on well"
"I think you're right" Max agreed.
It was lunch time before Max finally laid eyes on Alec again, she walked into the dining hall with Cindy and Alec called out her name.
"You know him?" Cindy asked.
Max was distracted, looking over to the sound of his voice "Yeah"
"How?"
Max turned back to Cindy giving her full attention "We've known each other for years"
"Hmmm" was Cindy's reply.
"Why? What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing" Cindy said shaking her head and walking away, Max's curiosity was peaked "come on tell me I haven't seen him in 5 years I wanna know what he's like now"
"He's a dick" Cindy said honestly, Max turned back to the table Alec had been at but could no longer see him.
Cindy had stopped at a table at the back "This is Sketchy" she said introducing Max to a young boy who had a skate board "and this is herbal" she said pointing to a young black guy.
"Hi" she smiled at them, instantly knowing she was going to like them.
"Well hello" Sketchy said sliding up to her side, Cindy slapped him over the head "Fool I don't think you're her type"
"Yeah we'll be better as friends" Max said agreeing with Cindy.
"Oh is she…" he said pointing between Max and Cindy.
"No"
"What's he talking about" Max asked confused "I'm a lesbian"
"Oh"
"Not a problem is it?"
Max shook her head "Not at all"
Sketchy was still standing at Max's side when Alec appeared, not one noticed him until he spoke
"Move" he demanded in a brash tone.
Sketchy jumped and moved away from Max.
Max turned around "Can I help you?" she asked raising her eyebrows.
"I'm sitting over there" he tilted his head in the direction of the table "Ok" Max turned back around to face her new friends "So are you" he continued.
Max smiled tightly at Cindy, Sketchy and Herbal "Excuse me" she turned around and faced Alec again "No I'm sitting here with my friends"
"Friends? He scoffed.
"Yeah" she looked him in the eye daring him to say more "there freaks"
That statement pissed her off, using all the strength she had she pushed him back causing him to fall into a table "go away" she said disgusted.
Alec looked at her then around the hall, a few people were looking at him "what?" he barked and they all looked away and made themselves busy once again.
"What about me?" he asked in a small voice "we're not 12 anymore and I don't like the person you've become"
"Right" he turned around and walked away
"I've never seen anyone do that to him before" Cindy said laughing.
Max shrugged "He's not that bad just needs to remember who he is" she was watching him go back to his table, she felt bad but she'd make it right tonight or at least talk things through with him.
School ended and Alec was in his car outside waiting on Max.
He saw her walk of school with Cindy and beeped his horn.
Max looked towards the noise and noticed it was Alec.
"He giving you a ride?" Cindy asked "Yeah I'm living with him for a while"
"Must be fun"
"So far" Max smirked "I better go"
"Wait" Cindy called "here's my cell send a message or call me"
"I will"
Max walked towards the car, opening the door she slid inside "where's Jesse?"
"He's walking" Max went to open the door to get out the car but Alec stopped her "he wants to he's walking with friends, look" he pointed over to where Jesse was with his friends.
"Fine"
Alec didn't say a word instead he put the car into a drive and drove away from the school; he didn't take them home though. "Where we going?" Max asked after 10 minutes and she realised they weren't going back to the house.
"Don't you trust me?" he asked.
She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find words, Alec's face changed into an unreadable mask "sorry I'll take you home" he was about to turn the car around "I trust you" she breathed out locking eyes with him.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah"
"Good trust me then"
So she did, she didn't ask another question about where they were going instead she let him drive.
10 minutes later they pulled up by the side of a beach; there weren't a lot of people around.
"What we doing here?"
"We need to talk, we won't be interrupted here"
"Come on" he opened the car door and got out, running around to the passenger side he opened her door "M'lady"
She couldn't help herself; she laughed and put her hand into his allowing him to pull her out.
"Thank you kind sir" she teased back.
The walked down onto the beach, sitting on the wall at along the bank.
"So guess we should talk then?" he said nervously "about?" she queried.
"Us…" he trailed off not knowing what else to say "I miss my friend, I miss you"
"Alec I miss you too but you're just so different"
"I'm 17" he said as if that answered all her questions.
"So am I" she reminded him "but I haven't turned into a dick"
He looked hurt "you think I'm a dick?"
There was a slight nod of her head and he shook his "wow"
She bit her lip not sure of what to say next "You're the one that called my new friends freaks"
"I'm sorry for that" he took a deep breath "I just wanted to eat lunch with you" he sounded pathetic and he really didn't like it
"You could have sat with me"
"You could have sat with me" he countered with a smirk.
"Ok" she let him have that one because he was right.
"I'm really sorry for what I…"
"Stop" Max held up her hand, not wanting him to say anymore she already knew what he was going to say.
"I forgive you"
The cocky smirk he had on his face turned into a genuine smile "Really?"
"Really" before she could think he was hugging her as tight as possible. "God I'm so glad"
She wrapped her legs around his waist returning his hug, her face hidden in the crook of his neck "Me too"
They stayed that way for a couple of minutes, until they were satisfied he returned her to the wall sitting her back down on it, her legs coming away from his waist but he stayed standing between her legs, looking into her eyes.
A slow contented smile appeared on both their faces "this mean we're friends again?" he was hopeful.
"Best friends"
"Perfect" without thinking he brushed a kiss against the side of her mouth, pulling back their eyes locked, he moved closer, his lips millimetres from hers.
Her hands found their way to his waist, then the heavens opened and it started to pour down with rain
"Crap I left the hood down" Alec said moving away from her and running towards his car.
Max laughed and followed him "hurry up!" he called over his shoulder.
"I'm coming" she yelled back.
They were both laughing, luckily they got to the car in time and no damage was caused by the rain.
Forgetting about there near kiss they drove home.
A/N - Hey, tell me what you think, reviews = quicker chapters. I love to know what you think or want.
heartbreakingXbreathtaking – thanks! I'm really glad you liked it. Let me know what you think of the new chapter.
X-5 450 – Hey thanks for your review.
Gw – thank you! Glad you liked them!
Maron771121 – hey glad you're enjoying it, keep letting me know! Review's inspire me to write more.
Vintage soul – thanks, I'm not American so I wasn't sure.
Mia Kyra Callwell – Hey thanks for the review. Let me know what you think of the new chapter.
Januarysunshine13 – Hey, thanks. I'll try to update the other story as often as I can but I'm focusing on this one right now! Glad you like both.
Throwerpro – Hey thanks for the review, keep them coming, the inspire me to get chapters out quicker!
Mrs Max McDowell – I'll update as fast as I can! Thanks for your review! Keep them coming!
Lini – Thanks for the review
SelenaGomezFan67 – Hey thanks, still reading? If so let me know what you think!