A/N: For this chapter (& any others not written in just one characters P.O.V.) anything inside these marks will show a characters thoughts, K?
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~Chapter 2: "Don't tell me 'cuz it hurts"~
The next day Max & Original Cindy are at Jam Pony.
Sketchy's being Sketchy. God, why am I here today, should've stayed home and...Hey, who's that fine looking lady? Day's looking up already for the Sketchmeister! Wonder where Alec is, think he knows her, maybe he can put in a good word, man always did have a way with the ladies...Oh, there's Normal, o-kay, I'm looking busy.
And Normal's bipping at everyone.
"Let's go people, mission bells are ringing!" For the love of Mike, where did all these lazy rejects crawl out of, a rock? And why is it I'm stuck with the lot of them? Where's Alec? Should've been here by now, not like the rest of these reprobates...Wonder if he's okay? Well, won't you look at that, a miracle, Max is here, on time oddly enough, wonder why she's being so quiet instead of being her usual smart ass self this morning? Oh, well no use worrying, packages won't deliver themselves. "Bip Bip Bip People!"
Max & Original Cindy start walking out.
"Logan kept askin' were you were, I didn't know what to say." What was Original Cindy supposed to do, look into his baby blues and break his lil' heart as I say "I'm sorry Logan but my boo's having' some mental problems right now, thinkin' she gonna break up wit' you so she never have'ta haul yo ass back to this hospital eva' again"? Uh-uh, Max, Original Cindy just ain't that kinda messenger
Max tries to brush it off.
"It's okay, it's not your problem" I'm sorry for doing that to you OC, really. But, I couldn't stay, and I knew you could deal
Just then, Max's pager goes off & Max glances at it to check the number. Original Cindy gives it a meaning look. One guess who that is
"Is that Him?" Mmm-hmm, who else would it be this hour? Boy just don't give up do he?
"If you're serious about this you owe the man an explanation." Can't keep playin' this game Max, can't keep runnin' from him. Logan may be just a man, member of the three legged species & all that, but he's a good one. He don't deserve to be left hangin'. You shoulda' seen his face girl. Uh-uh, Original Cindy don't like the way this goin' down, not at all, not a bit. It's gonna be bad all around when it's over. No doubt, Original Cindy knows 'bout these things.
Max stares into OC's eyes. God, I really don't want to, It's just so hard. But she's right. I mean, I'm doing this for him, he deserves to know what's going down. Right? Yes, of course he does. Aiight, so I'll give him an explanation, short & simple. Even if he doesn't like it. it's about what's best for him. Okay, Max, take a deep breath, you can do this.
Max walks over to the pay phone on the wall, taking a moment to gather up her courage before dialing. In his penthouse Logan picks up the phone on the first ring because he was just waiting for her call.
"Hi stranger" Gotta keep your voice even. But playful. Just reassure her. It's okay Max
At the sound of his voice, Max visibly tenses, grips the handset a little tighter, cradling it to her ear & nervously fiddles with the cord. She hesitates, her voice falters
"Hi." Hi? That's all?? How stupid can I get? No, I... I can't do this
On his end Logan continues
"You missed it, I wandered all over the hospital looking for you with the back of my gown open" That's right, keep it light. But where the hell were you Max? I wake up & you're gone & none of Cindy's excuses were solid. Max?
Max completely misses his attempt at humor
"Yeah. Uh, sorry about that, Listen-" Just say it & get it over with. It's not so hard
Logan wanders over to his computers & stands near a marker board, he cuts her off before she can continue
"I'm feeling pretty good actually, must be all that transgenic blood" Nevermind Max, it's okay, I don't really want to know
Max continues where she left off, unfazed by his interruption
"We need to talk" My heart is racing so fast it hurts, feels like it's gonna burst. Just let me say it already Logan
Logan turns to the marker board, completely ignoring her comment
"And you know, I pulled out an old board I had lying around, and put up all the doodlings I made at the bar the other night. It's kinda my uh, wide-screen version" No Max. I know you better than you think, I know what you're thinking. And you're wrong. Don't say it. Don't.
Logan turns from the board & sits down at his computer as he talks & on her end Max tries to make him stop.
"Logan-" Don't make this any harder than it has to be. I know you better than you think. I know what you're trying to do. Just don't
Logan sits in front of his computer, finally stopping to listen to her as yet unspoken words.
"Don't Max" You'll only hurt us more than you know and you'll regret it, you will. Please.
His words make her pause, but only for a second. Now that she has his attention...
"I can't do this anymore." It's just, it's tearing me up inside, thinking what I could do to you. And I won't. I can't.
A look of frustration crosses Logan's features & he tries to reason with her.
"Look, I'm fine. Everything turned out okay." I should've known you couldn't let it go, so stubborn. But, it really is okay Max. Please don't do this.
She shakes her head disbelievingly Logan please just let me go this time. Stop making it so goddamned hard! Please. and tries her own reasoning.
"We got lucky. Again. I mean, how many miracles do you think we're gonna get?" It's been three times already, this has to stop! There just can't be a next time Logan. I won't let it.
"Do I get a vote? It is my life on the line." This is a two person thing, you can't just decide for the both of us
"So what, you end up dead & I get to spend the rest of my life knowing it was my fault" Then more softly, "I pass" No Logan, this time it's my decision. It's my life too. I have to live with the consequences.
"I've been where you are, remember?" His voice slightly falters, "Thinking it was all too hard..." When I lost you once again to stupid circumstances, I saw my one chance, however temporary, yanked out of my hands..... it tore me up inside. "...But I realized being away from you was worse" To know you're nearby without seeing your face or even talking, is worse even then when I thought you were dead
Max's face begins to crumble & she doesn't have any words to say. Logan if you keep this up you'll convince me, I know you will. But you're wrong, you are. Just let me be the strong one this time. Let me let you go. Don't convince me Logan. Don't. Please don't.
"I have to hang up now."
No!! "Max-" Just gotta keep her on the line, we'll fix this
But Max hangs up, the line goes dead.
There it's done you did what you had to do. The right thing. Why is it so hard Logan? It hurts. I wish I could just scream & cry & hit something. No, I have to be strong. Emotions are weakness. I just wish.... maybe someday Logan & I... No, hope is for losers. You did the right thing Max. You did! You did. Then why does it seem you're trying to convince yourself?
I told you not to say it Max, why did you do it? I told you not to.
At Jam Pony Max leans her forehead on the pay phone. At the penthouse, Logan slowly puts down his phone & stares at the wall in shock.
To Be Continued...
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A/N #2: So, how'm I doin? ME, sorry 'bout the button, I thought I had clicked it, I hate those things too, so annoying Thanx for lettin' me know, it's done now. Chiancat87, I know so far I haven't veered off from the original HG plotline at all other than to jump into the characters heads a little. But I will, next chp. Pari106, I think I did slightly better w/spelling this time, but who knows, maybe. Anybody interested in being my beta?
K, speak to me people. The button still calls to you. "Click Me, Click Me!"