"So..." Logan said tentatively, trying to break the awkward silence that had fallen between them. "Are you hungry? Like I said, I know a great seafood place on the pier."
"No." Max simply replied. Logan was starting to worry about her. Since leaving the bar, she had gone back into her depressed funk. She had even turned Logan down on his offer of a shopping spree. Giving up, he resigned himself to silence and pondered the terrible circumstances Max faced. After they had traveled for a good while, Logan decided on a course of action.
"Max?"
"What?"
"I know that it is cloudy and all, but would you care to watch the sunset with me?"
"Fine." His heart was torn by Max's emotionless response.
After strolling to the beach, Max sat down on a cobblestone wall and stared blankly out to sea. Logan hoisted himself up next to her and pondered his next move. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Max began to sob. She rested her head on Logan's shoulder and snuggled into him. Not wanting to over-step his bounds, Logan slid his arm around her with caution and began comforting her.
"Shh.... Let it out, it's okay. Shhh.'' Logan brushed the hair from his companion's face and smiled at her.
"The weather, Logan. It is like it knows. So cloudy and overcast... just like me." She gripped Logan's Shirt with both hands and buried her face in his arm. "Oh Logan. I am so cold, so heartless."
"No..." Logan began to protest.
"Jeff was one of the very youngest X-5's." Max began her story between sobs. "He was weaker than the rest of us, and we abused him. I protected him for a long time though. But not because I loved him at all, or because I felt pity for him. My seizures were just starting to get bad, and I thought that having him around would take attention off me. I used him as a sort of insurance plan that I would be safe from Lydecker's wrath. The night we escaped I told him that we were going to get out together. That no matter what happened, I would help him out. I had no intention at all of staying with him. I tried to lead him off in a different direction in hopes that they would chase him instead of us. He trusted me. He trusted me and I used him. No, I did worse than use him. I... I...." Her voice gave way to another series of sobs. Logan was stunned at what he had just heard. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Max opening up like that to him. Not knowing what to say, he remained quiet. They remained there until nightfall. Just listening to the crashing waves, watching the seagulls, and holding each other. Eventually, Max broke the silence that was becoming common between them. "Logan, it is getting late. You are more than welcome to spend the night at my place. In the guestroom of course."
"But you don't have a guestroom."
"I know."
"I'm not sure that me staying over is such a good idea."
"Please Logan. Don't leave me alone, I need you right now." Max clutched him tighter.
"Sounds good then, your place it is."
"Thank you." Max whispered as she raised her head.
"So, is that offer of a chess game still open?" Max questioned when they arrived at her home.
"You bet."
"Well, go set it up on my bed, I will be right in."
"Where are you going?" Logan asked, feeling very strange in her apartment.
"I need to get something... it is a supprise."
"Alright." Logan wheeled into Max's room and began assembling up the chess set he had been lugging around all day. Shortly after he had finished, Max appeared in the doorway. Thankfully, she hadn't changed into something 'more comfortable' as Logan had feared. Instead she was carrying a bottle of very cheap red wine, and a music player. He watched as Max set the music player on her end table and poured two glasses. She handed him a glass and pressed the play button. "Ahh... Moonlit Sonata. One of my favorites." Logan smiled warmly and took a sip of his drink, which was surprisingly good.
"I know this isn't anywhere near Cale standards, but it is the best I can do."
"On the contrary." Logan responded. "This is perfect. Beyond perfect. As a matter of fact, I cannot think of anywhere I would rather be." This drew a rare smile from Max who sat down cross-leg on her bed. "Just out of curiosity, how many songs are on this music box?" Logan asked.
"Only one. But I knew it was your favorite."
"Great. So let's see if I can beat you at chess without my home-court advantage."
"I hate to break it to you, but last time I checked, you couldn't beat me with it either." This one comment gave Logan hope. He had Max back.
They played late into the night with Max winning each time. As it approached three a.m., Logan reclined on Max's bead and fell asleep. A short time later he was jolted awake by the sound of thumping. Max was lying next to him in the fetal position having a seizure. The thumping was her head was hitting the nightstand. Struggling into a sitting position, Logan cradled her in his arms and rocked back and fourth. She shakily wrapped her arms around his waist and held on like he was a life preserver. Logan looked out the window and shed a tear for her, wondering how much more she had to suffer.
I'm sorry that it took so long for part 3 to come up. I'm already starting on part 4... it should be interesting. But anyway, I know that all these stories ask you to R&R, so please do!! It would help a lot to know what you like and what you don't like!
"No." Max simply replied. Logan was starting to worry about her. Since leaving the bar, she had gone back into her depressed funk. She had even turned Logan down on his offer of a shopping spree. Giving up, he resigned himself to silence and pondered the terrible circumstances Max faced. After they had traveled for a good while, Logan decided on a course of action.
"Max?"
"What?"
"I know that it is cloudy and all, but would you care to watch the sunset with me?"
"Fine." His heart was torn by Max's emotionless response.
After strolling to the beach, Max sat down on a cobblestone wall and stared blankly out to sea. Logan hoisted himself up next to her and pondered his next move. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Max began to sob. She rested her head on Logan's shoulder and snuggled into him. Not wanting to over-step his bounds, Logan slid his arm around her with caution and began comforting her.
"Shh.... Let it out, it's okay. Shhh.'' Logan brushed the hair from his companion's face and smiled at her.
"The weather, Logan. It is like it knows. So cloudy and overcast... just like me." She gripped Logan's Shirt with both hands and buried her face in his arm. "Oh Logan. I am so cold, so heartless."
"No..." Logan began to protest.
"Jeff was one of the very youngest X-5's." Max began her story between sobs. "He was weaker than the rest of us, and we abused him. I protected him for a long time though. But not because I loved him at all, or because I felt pity for him. My seizures were just starting to get bad, and I thought that having him around would take attention off me. I used him as a sort of insurance plan that I would be safe from Lydecker's wrath. The night we escaped I told him that we were going to get out together. That no matter what happened, I would help him out. I had no intention at all of staying with him. I tried to lead him off in a different direction in hopes that they would chase him instead of us. He trusted me. He trusted me and I used him. No, I did worse than use him. I... I...." Her voice gave way to another series of sobs. Logan was stunned at what he had just heard. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine Max opening up like that to him. Not knowing what to say, he remained quiet. They remained there until nightfall. Just listening to the crashing waves, watching the seagulls, and holding each other. Eventually, Max broke the silence that was becoming common between them. "Logan, it is getting late. You are more than welcome to spend the night at my place. In the guestroom of course."
"But you don't have a guestroom."
"I know."
"I'm not sure that me staying over is such a good idea."
"Please Logan. Don't leave me alone, I need you right now." Max clutched him tighter.
"Sounds good then, your place it is."
"Thank you." Max whispered as she raised her head.
"So, is that offer of a chess game still open?" Max questioned when they arrived at her home.
"You bet."
"Well, go set it up on my bed, I will be right in."
"Where are you going?" Logan asked, feeling very strange in her apartment.
"I need to get something... it is a supprise."
"Alright." Logan wheeled into Max's room and began assembling up the chess set he had been lugging around all day. Shortly after he had finished, Max appeared in the doorway. Thankfully, she hadn't changed into something 'more comfortable' as Logan had feared. Instead she was carrying a bottle of very cheap red wine, and a music player. He watched as Max set the music player on her end table and poured two glasses. She handed him a glass and pressed the play button. "Ahh... Moonlit Sonata. One of my favorites." Logan smiled warmly and took a sip of his drink, which was surprisingly good.
"I know this isn't anywhere near Cale standards, but it is the best I can do."
"On the contrary." Logan responded. "This is perfect. Beyond perfect. As a matter of fact, I cannot think of anywhere I would rather be." This drew a rare smile from Max who sat down cross-leg on her bed. "Just out of curiosity, how many songs are on this music box?" Logan asked.
"Only one. But I knew it was your favorite."
"Great. So let's see if I can beat you at chess without my home-court advantage."
"I hate to break it to you, but last time I checked, you couldn't beat me with it either." This one comment gave Logan hope. He had Max back.
They played late into the night with Max winning each time. As it approached three a.m., Logan reclined on Max's bead and fell asleep. A short time later he was jolted awake by the sound of thumping. Max was lying next to him in the fetal position having a seizure. The thumping was her head was hitting the nightstand. Struggling into a sitting position, Logan cradled her in his arms and rocked back and fourth. She shakily wrapped her arms around his waist and held on like he was a life preserver. Logan looked out the window and shed a tear for her, wondering how much more she had to suffer.
I'm sorry that it took so long for part 3 to come up. I'm already starting on part 4... it should be interesting. But anyway, I know that all these stories ask you to R&R, so please do!! It would help a lot to know what you like and what you don't like!