I'm sitting here, waiting for Max, trying to get up the nerve to bare my soul. I paged her a long time ago, and she's still not here. I'm getting more nervous as the time passes. What if she doesn't come, what if she knows why I want her to come over, what if she doesn't want anything to do with me? I don't know if I could take that. I mean, I *really* don't know. After everything we've been through together, she has to know how I feel. I don't think I could live without her.
Max
OK, so he paged me. He made the first move, just like I wanted. So why am I standing outside his door, unable to step inside? I can sense him in there. He's worked himself up into a frenzy. I can almost smell the fear coming off of him. What's he so afraid of? Lil' old me? Afraid I'm gonna tell him off? Afraid we're gonna have another one of those 'awkward' moments, like we did in the hospital room? And what the hell am I afraid of? Must be something, 'cuz I'm still out here in this damn hallway.
Logan
She's not coming! It's *never* taken her this long to show up after I page. It's been an hour, at least! OK, so it's only been fifteen minutes, but it feels like an eternity. She doesn't feel the same way about me, and somehow I knew it already. How could she possibly? I'm older than her. She must see me as a big brother. Maybe I'm just her meal ticket, a boss. Someone else to give her orders. A slightly nicer version of Lydecker, just trying to get her to do my bidding. This is turning out to be much worse than I *ever* imagined...
Max
I can hear him in there...of course, I've got my ear to the door...but that doesn't matter. I've got to recon this situation, can't walk in there unprotected. Can't let myself get hurt again. God, I wish I could just shut down this soldier crap, but it's like it's been tattooed into my brain! Whenever I feel threatened I turn into this cold, unfeeling *thing*, and I hate it. Why can't I just trust him not to hurt me? This is Logan we're talking about, not Zack, not Lydecker....Logan. I mean, yeah, he hurt me in the hospital room. He agreed way too quick when I denied the kiss. I wanted him to argue with me, tell me that it meant something to him. But he didn't. I should just go in there and get this over with, let him say his piece about how 'we're not like that' . Even though that's not what I want, I think I'm ready to accept it...
Logan
Why can't I just admit to her how I feel? It's not that hard to just swallow my fear of rejection and say, "Max, I love you...always have, always will." How hard is that? God, I've been practicing what to say for weeks now, I can't possibly screw it up. Some man I am. I can try to save the world on a daily basis, but when it comes to baring my soul, I turn into a blabbering idiot. There must be an easier way to handle this. Maybe I should've just called her, not given her a chance to get away. No, that isn't right either. I have to get up and do *something* because the waiting is killing me.
Max
What's he doing in there? It sounds like he's pacing, rummaging through drawers...what was that? Lighter...he's lighting candles. And was that a bottle opening? He probably made dinner...but I don't smell anything. God, look at me. I'm out here like some preteen with a crush, lurking around and hoping to catch a glimpse of my boy. *My* boy...I guess I'm already to that possessive part of our relationship. What am I talking about! What *relationship*? No wonder he got over that kiss so fast. I mean, who would want a super-charged-genetically-enhanced-killing-maching as a girlfriend? How intimidating is it to know that the woman in your life could beat you down with *both* hands tied behind her back? That's it, I'm going home, I don't need this kind of pain.
Logan
The candles seem to help the pounding in my head. And the wine doesn't hurt either. If she's not coming then I might as well get drunk. That way I don't have to think about *any* of this. I'll probably never see her again...
Max
OK, I can't seem to move from this doorway. I'm just sitting here, leaning back, knowing that the only thing separating me from Logan in three inches of oak and my own fear of rejection. I can *smell* him, for god's sake...that fresh-scrubbed, clean sheets sort of smell. He's still pacing around in there...is he that nervous about blowing me off?
Logan
That's it! I can't take this anymore. I can't sit here in a dark room, drinking away my sorrows! I'm going over to her place, and if she's not there, then I'm going to that club she hangs out at, and if she's not *there*, then I'm sticking to Original Cindy until Max shows up. I have to do this, I have to stand up and make her listen to me. I *will not* live the rest of my life regretting that I didn't tell her the truth in that hospital room!
**Logan practically runs to the door, throws it open and instantly trips over Max, who is still sitting in front of his door. They end up in a tangled heap on the hallway floor**
"Hey...," Max says calmly.
"Hey, yourself...," Logan answers.
**Logan looks deeply into Max's eyes, sees the beginnings of tears and the buildup of insecurity. He doesn't even try to extract himself from the twisted mess on the floor, he just reacts.**
"Max, I love you!" Logan blurted out, "I have since the moment I first saw you and I will always love you! I couldn't hold it in anymore. I had to tell you..."
**Max let out a joyous cry and wrapped her arms around Logan, kissing him deeply. They stayed there on the floor for quite some time, not saying anything, silently declaring their love for one another**
Max
It's OK! It's really OK! He does want me, he does love me, and he knows I feel the same way. I know he won't hurt me, but I have to work on my trust...this is exactly how I hoped this would work out....
Logan
Thank you, God. Thank you....