An: okay you guys…last one! Ready for the conclusion…hehe…exit of this one…enter the new fic! Thanks to all who reviewed…sorry I can't put everyone's name up …but…if you didn't notice looks at review number that's a lot of names…so thanks to the majority and all my betas. You're wonderful, amanda, mel, jennifer, other mel, nic, bec, niki, halley, alisha, alicia, angela, lindsey, crea, and just about everyone else who I know I've forgotten…forgive me…long last past week.
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Nic sat next to Max on the plane ride home. Boy had it been a long past month and a half. From the attempted rape to the trial to the verdict and then finally going home. Not how the summer was planned but who can stop life from happening?
Telling Max's parents had lead to a whole hoop-la of stuff. Rafer got fired and then put in jail until a trial could be set. Five weeks later both parties went into court. The defense had tried to go for temporary insanity due to the shock of the relationship being broken, but the DA poked so many holes in his defense that it was obvious it was the last thing they had been able to come up with other than just pleading guilty.
Although, it had been interesting that when Max was testifying - after much pleading and convincing from all for her to actually get on the stand - apparently Rafer had been motioning to Max about something. No one knew it, excluding Nic, but during the short recess Mr. Lydecker, who had also seen the exchange apparently, had a little 'talk' with Rafer. The recess ended and Rafer sat quiet and still as a statue. When he took the stand, he seemed really nervous and wouldn't dare look in Mr. Lydecker's direction. Surprise of all surprises too. He actually admitted to attempting to rape Max, and the actual rape of about six other girls. None of them were present, but the DA had statements from all of them, including Nic. Rafer got jail time, a lot of jail time. Fifteen years, plus probation for ten years after that. The bastard finally got what he deserved.
Max had been a bit of a fruit ever since the whole thing started though. Not that anyone could blame her. The trial was really hard on her, going back through all the memories of what actually happened. Logan was there to help her through it all though, and to everyone's relief she was seemingly cooling down and getting back to normal. Or as normal as one could be.
Even on the plane, Nic had noticed, she'd been relaxed and slept a bit. And she'd even seemed fine about not sitting next to Logan.
She had been practically glued to his side ever since he rescued her. Made sense though. She'd come a long way and No one could express how proud of her they were that so soon after everything, she was keeping her cool. She'd put up one hell of a fight.
Nic looked at Max sleeping peacefully and smiled. One hell of a fight. She gently nudged Max, "Hey," she whispered softly. Max's eyes opened and she looked over to Nic, yawning. "Planes about to land, kiddo, thought I'd wake you."
"Thanks Nic." Max smiled, wiping sleep from her eyes. "What time is it?"
Nic shrugged, "Some time after dark, all I know."
Max nodded, "Right. Where's Logan?" Max asked, looking to where he'd been seated across the aisle.
"I don't know." Nic shrugged, "Bathroom maybe."
Max looked to the bathroom and nodded, "Oh."
Nic gave Max a sideways glance, "Oh?"
"Oh." Max nodded.
"Oh as in, 'Where's my strong hero?'" Nic fluttered her eyebrows, "or oh as in 'Man, now I can't stare at him anymore?'"
"Oh shut up Nic. We're not like that." Max declared.
Nic nodded, "Right, not like that. I see the way you two look at each other. This tragedy, my dear, has brought you two together, I don't care what you say."
Max shook her head, "Fine, don't believe it."
"Okay, I won't." Nic agreed, "I can tell you, he looks at you the same way you look at him."
Max turned her head away from the window and looked to Nic, "What?"
"That whole 'I'd kiss you but with everything that's happened how would you respond?' look. It's so obvious, Max."
Max's eyes widened, "I do not…"
"Don't what?" Logan asked, walking down the aisle from the back of the plane.
"Nothing!" Max hurriedly said.
"Nic?" Logan asked.
Nic shrugged, "Talking about the unrequited passion you two share.
Logan's eyes widened, "I'm sorry?"
"Yeah." Nic nodded, "Me too." She stood and pushed Logan into her seat, "Now please, gawk at each other and pretend not to feel 'like that' and I'll sit here and pretend not to notice." Nic teased, sitting in Logan's seat.
"Nic" Logan sighed, "it's not like that."
Nic nodded, "Right, sure it's not. You can lie to yourself all you want. But I see what's really going on here."
Logan got out of the seat and went over to her, "Nic, this isn't funny."
Nic leaned towards her brother and whispered, "I know it's been nuts, but really Logan, I know for a fact that you feel the same way about her that you did before this whole thing. And don't tell me she doesn't think of you like that, cause that's a lie too. Just get it out there Logan."
"It's too soon!" Logan argued.
"You and her have been inseparable ever since, Logan, it's not too soon. It's just perfect." Nic replied.
Logan sighed, "I leave for college in a few days. I can't make a move than just leave."
"Why not?" Nic shrugged, "She'd have a college boy to brag about. Besides, you'd see her on weekends and holidays. It's not like you're going to college out of state or anything."
Logan looked over to Max again and then sighed, "No Nic. Just stay out of it."
"Excuse me sir." The stewardess tapped Logan on the shoulder, "I'm sorry sir, but I need you get return to your seat and buckle up. We'll be landing soon."
Logan nodded and returned to the seat next to Max, "Sorry bout that."
Max nodded and smiled, "No problem."
"Yeah." Logan smiled tightly, "I'm sorry about Nic and all that."
"Yeah." Max agreed.
Logan took a deep breath and was about to say something when the captain came across the PA system to announce the landing.
The plane landed and was docked, then everyone made their way off to get their baggage. Surprisingly it went rather quickly and soon everyone was at home.
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Max walked up the stairs to her room, dropping her bags and flopping onto her bed. "Thank God I'm home."
Logan knocked on the door and pushed it open, dropping her bags that he'd been carrying. He smiled, "Some one looks happy to be home."
Max groaned, "After this summer, this is paradise. Did you know that one could actually miss overcast and rainy weather?"
Logan laughed, "I know how you feel."
The two looked at each other then quickly looked away, "Uh, so you going to be okay?" Logan asked, move towards the doorway.
"Yeah." Max answered, "I'll be fine, thanks Logan. For everything."
Logan shrugged nonchalantly, "Don't worry about it. I'll see you before I head off to college?"
Max nodded, "You leave in a three days right?"
"Yeah." Logan nodded. "Three days."
Max stood and grinned, "I'll be there to bid you farewell."
"See you then." Logan smiled, "Bye Max." he said, exiting her room.
Max sighed, "Bye Logan." She whispered.
So many feelings and confusions. How had it all happened? The summer had been a crazy one, that was for sure. Now as what to do about Logan. Max sighed, "No clue." She said aloud to herself. "No clue."
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Three days later Nic, Max, and Logan all stood in the Cale front yard, finishing loading Logan and Nic's car. The last past three days had gone by in a blur with Nic and Logan packing and moving off to college and Max getting settled here and all ready for High School to start back up, while catching up with Cindy and Sketchy. The three had barely seen each other, as suspected. But they'd been together all morning. Finishing packing and loading up all the stuff.
Nic, of course, had mercilessly teased Max and Logan while both parties denied anything, yet still exchanged looks that spoke much louder than their words. She'd tried to get them into a potential situation, but it hadn't worked.
Placing the last of the boxes into her trunk she hollered to Logan, "Hey, time to blow this joint brother of mine."
Logan exited out of the garage, box in his arms and nodded, "Alright, let me check the house and we'll be on our way."
Nic nodded, "Okay, I'll be waiting. Don't take too long."
Logan smiled and ran back into the house, after depositing the box in his car. He ran up the stairs, checking his old room and bathroom, scanning for anything he may have left. Running back down the stairs he checked around again.
Heading for the door he bumped into Max, "Hey." He said coolly.
"Hi." She replied. "You guys taking off?"
"Yeah." Logan nodded, "Got everything packed, was just making sure I had everything."
Max nodded, "Yeah."
Logan smiled, he'd been dreading this moment the entire morning. Saying goodbye. As annoying as Nic had been, she was right. "Well, uh." Logan started, "We got to get going." He walked to the door. "Still have to stop by the office to tell mom and dad 'bye'."
Max nodded, "Yeah."
Logan stopped, and turned, "Max…"
Max looked at him, "Yes?"
Logan took a step towards her, looking into her eyes, "I…" he shook his head and hugged her, "It's been a hell of a summer. I'll never forget it."
Max nodded, "No kidding. Thanks for everything."
Logan nodded and pulled away, "Yeah…I'll see you next weekend okay?"
Max nodded and walked him out the door. "Yeah. Next weekend."
Nic hugged Max, "I'll see ya around, kiddo. Be good."
Max smiled, "Always."
Nic smiled and got into her car, "Now say goodbye to my brother properly."
Max furrowed her brow and then turned to Logan, "Good bye Properly." She said.
Logan smiled, "Yeah. Properly." He hugged her again, "See you later."
Max hugged him back, "Later."
The two pulled apart but stopped half way. They looked into each others eyes for a moment then looked at Nic before awkwardly hugging again.
"Yeah." Logan said, getting into his car. "I'll see you later."
Max nodded, and smiled, "Bye." She waved, as the two drove away.
"Not even a kiss goodbye." She lamented as she walked to her house, "Almost…but not."
She stood looking to the Cale house, "They're gone. This is going to be one heck of a year." She told herself. Reaching the door she heard the sound of a car and turned to the street, hoping it was Logan coming back. She sighed when it was just some girls speeding down the road with their music blaring. "Come on Max, get a grip."
She walked into the house and went for a glass of water. She was half way done when the doorbell rang.
Setting it down she jogged to the door and opened it, "Hi, can I hel…" Her eyes widened, "Logan."
He smiled tightly then grabbed her around the waist and kissed her.
Max stood in shock before throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him back. The two parted after several seconds, when they needed air, and Logan smiled, "Next weekend." He said again before jogging back to his car.
Max grinned and watched as he pulled away. She touched her lips and laughed, walking back into the house, "Perfect way to end one hell of a summer."
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An: Alright, last time guys…katerpillar_03@hotmail.com or review. And no worries! We got another story in the works…so you haven't seen the last of me! Promise!