For a little laugh.
Jam Pony was pretty slow that particular Tuesday. Packages were slow coming in and with the pouring rain outside, no one was in a rush to deliver the ones waiting on Normal's desk. The man, himself, was out sick and the resulting celebration led to casual conversations all over the locker room.
Sketchy slung an arm over Max's shoulders and she rolled her eyes as they made their way to their lockers for the day. "I'm telling you, Max. This could turn into a serious career for me."
"And I'm telling you," she plucked the limb and tossed it away. "That World Weekly News hasn't been serious a day in its existence. Why don't you try a legitimate paper if you're so interested?"
"Baby steps, Max. I've gotta write what I want to before committing to the Man and doing boring articles. This here is free speech at its finest."
Original Cindy walked into the conversation from behind and flicked Sketchy's forehead as she passed by. "Boy, you can't even spell the word 'commitment'. Not to mention, who's gonna hire a half-drunk fool named Sketchy. You want to be serious, you're gonna need to start going by Calvin again."
"Ah, but what's in a name?" Alec chimed in, mussing his hair to flick a few raindrops away as he set his backpack down. "Not all of us are lucky enough to make new names up on the fly, Original Cindy."
The woman in question raised an eyebrow at him. "I suppose not," she arranged the last of her stuff in her locker before closing it. "But it does seem more common in this town than people think."
Alec grinned at the clearly knowing comment and Max rolled her eyes at the antics. She wasn't all that worried Sketchy was going to find out the truth about her and Alec, but you never knew who might be listening.
Even if it was a bit fun to make light of the secret.
Sketchy was quickly distracted by the need to flirt with Tasha across the way and Original Cindy followed to enjoy the show and potential slapping.
Which left the obnoxious flirt that Max was starting to grow just a little more fond of after weeks of working together on deliveries and rescues alike. He really wasn't that bad once you got used to him.
Most of the time, that is.
Checking to make sure no one nearby was listening, she closed her locker and tapped Alec's shoulder.
"Speaking of names, I've been meaning to ask, where'd you get yours?"
"Huh?" Alec turned to meet Max's eyes. He seemed a little confused that she'd voluntarily talk to him.
"Obviously, I know where you got your first name. But your last name, 'McDowell', where'd you pick that from?" She repeated.
Alec crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the locker door. "Well, where'd you get yours?"
Max shrugged. She hadn't really thought about it for a long time. "I lifted a wallet a few days on the road. I liked the name on the driver's license and tried it on for myself."
Alec nodded. "Good choice. It suits you pretty well."
"So, McDowell?"
A slow smile started to spread across Alec's face that had Max immediately wary. "Well, do you know what a 'dowell' is?"
Sensing the trap, Max narrowed her eyes. "Something with building stuff?"
"Yeah, usually with furniture," His grin widened and he leaned a little closed to her. "Specifically, a dowell is something you use to fill a gap when a screw just isn't possible."
"That's it? Why would you-...?" The double meaning heated her face the second it hit her. She tried to slap him but he dodged it with a laugh and quickly moved out of her range.
"Hey, you asked, Maxie. I'm just being honest. Besides, I'm just living up to the name you gave me," he argued. "But the offer stands if you ever need it."
"In your dreams, you jerk," She snarled and left to go talk to Original Cindy.
It was always a mistake to talk to Alec. She couldn't believe she even bothered being civil sometimes.
"All the best ones, Maxie!" the Smart Alec called after her.
"It's Max!"