A Little Less Talk & A Lot More Action

"Where did you say Alec was again?" Max almost had to yell to be heard over the clapping and the cries of "Encore! Encore!"

Original Cindy didn't answer, but she did pick up her glass of beer in an attempt to hide her grin. She had a pretty good idea of what Alec was up to, but she wasn't going to ruin the surprise for her friend.

Once Joshua finally finished his hundredth bow or so he stepped off the stage and headed back over to where Max and the others were seated. "Joshua you were great!" "That was awesome, man!" "You go, Doggy Dog!" they all congratulated Joshua.

"Shhh! Now it's Alec's turn" Joshua said. "Have to listen to Alec. Very important! You listen Little Fella!" Joshua made sure Max was paying attention to the stage. Original Cindy and Sketchy sat forward a little in their seats too. Knowing Alec, this show would be too good to miss. The only question was whether they should be watching Alec or Max.

As Alec walked up on stage many of the female members of the audience began to whistle and the males made a few good natured cat calls. It was all in fun though. Everyone adored Alec and you could tell he was eating it up. At the same time though, his eyes remained firmly locked on Max. The music started to play Tim McGraw's song "Real Good Man" and Alec began to sing...

Girl you've never known no one like me
Up there in your high society
They might tell you I'm no good
Girl they need to understand
Just who I am
I may be a real bad boy
But baby I'm a real good man

'Wow, he's got a really good voice.' Max thought to herself. 'Who would have thought that Alec liked country music?'

Alec's song continued...

I may drink too much and play too loud
Hang out with a rough and rowdy crowd
That don't mean I don't respect
My Mama or my Uncle Sam
Yes sir, yes ma'am
I may be a real bad boy
But baby I'm a real good man

I might have a reckless streak
At least a country-mile wild
If you're gonna run with me
It's gonna be a wild ride
When it comes to loving you
I've got velvet hands
I'll show you how a real bad boy
Can be a real good man

Alec was a definite entertainer. He strutted back and forth across the stage and acted out the lyrics in all the right places. The crowd loved it. Max tried to convince herself that it was all just for show, but deep down inside she knew he was singing to her. The lyrics were just too appropriate. As she listened to the lyrics a shiver ran down her back and her heart began to beat a little faster.

I take all the good times I can get
I'm too young for growing up just yet
Ain't much I can promise you
'Cept to do the best I can
I'll be damned
I may be a real bad boy
But baby I'm a real good man
I may be a real bad boy
Oh but baby I'm a real good man
Yes I am

Alec ended his performance with a bow and everyone began cheering and clapping. Alec waved off the many calls for an encore, stepped off the stage and headed back towards Max.

"Is it getting hot in here?" she asked Original Cindy quietly as she watched Alec make his way towards her. Original Cindy just grinned. Alec's plan was working like a charm. 'Judging from Max's reaction, she and Alec should be together by the end of the evening and Logan should be out of the picture permanently', Original Cindy thought happily. Speaking of which...

"Alec, great song, I didn't know you could sing" Logan's voice rang out from behind Max's chair making her jump.

"Logan, I didn't hear you come in." Max said nervously. She felt like a kid who just got caught with her hand in the cookie jar, but Logan didn't seem to notice.

"That's ok, Sweetheart. I just arrived." Logan kissed Max on the cheek and then turned his attention back to Alec. "Hey Alec! I wanted to thank you for getting the cure for Max and I. You've no idea what this means to us! We might even have to name our firstborn after you." Logan laughed and put his arm around Max's waist possessively.

The gesture was not lost on Alec. 'Firstborn?! Boy he doesn't waste any time does he?' Alec thought. 'Apparently, I'm too late. Logan's already won her heart. What was I thinking anyway?' Alec looked at Max and then at Logan and he could feel tears of frustration and disappointment start to fill his eyes. 'I've got to get out of here.' Alec didn't even bother to respond to Logan's comments; he just turned and walked quickly out of the room.

"Well, that was kind of rude, even for Alec." Logan remarked.

Max stared at Logan speechless for a moment, but Original Cindy could see the flames starting to rise in her friend's eyes. Logan was about to get an earful and it wasn't going to be pretty. "You know, I feel like dancing. Sketchy, Joshua, ya'll coming?" Original Cindy herded her friends out of the room.

"We should really be leaving too, honey! I have champagne and strawberries on ice back at the apartment. We don't want them to get too warm." Logan started to guide Max towards the door, but Max pulled away and slapped him. Stunned, Logan just stared at her. "What the hell, Max?"

"How dare you!" Max was so furious that her voice was only a whisper. "How dare you come in here and cozy up to me and start acting like we are a couple again without even consulting me. Come to think of it, we were never really a couple to begin with. And you are supposed to be dating Asha now. Remember her? The pretty blonde vigilante who was leaving your apartment this morning? Did you just assume that since the virus is gone I would throw myself into your arms and we would live happily ever after? Have you forgotten that I'm still a transgenic, trapped here in Terminal City while you, an ordinary, are living out there in the real world? What exactly made you think that this would work? Or that I would even still want it to work out? A lot has happened in the last year or so." Max took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down a little. "The truth is Logan, this thing between us isn't going to work. I don't really think it ever would have. We are just too different and to be honest I just don't feel the same way about you anymore, I'm sorry."

Logan looked at her with a wounded expression on his face, "But Max..."

"I'm sorry, Logan." Max repeated firmly. "I have to go." Turning she ran in the direction Alec had gone.

"It's because of him, isn't it? You're in love with Alec!" Logan shouted after her angrily, but there was no one left in the room to hear him. Rejected Logan turned and walked out of the club and out of Terminal City.