Questions Ch. 1
The title is "Questions"... Sorry I couldn't think of anything more original or catchy... but it kind of relates to my theme. I'll have each chapter end with a question.
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***Josh/Max***
I'm no Einstein. Yeah, I accepted that a long time ago. In fact I've got an English professor who has dedicated his life to reminding me of that fact everyday in any and every way possible. I can do pretty well as "Max Steel" the secret agent because... well, I guess improvisation is my element. My brain can dish out the desperate, last-minute ideas when I need to save the world. This brain's also doing a decent job of getting me through college (whenever I'm actually in class).
But this brain can't do diddly in the love department, whether in Josh McGrath or Max Steel mode.
I came to that painful realization when I caught myself trying to siphon love advice from an episode of "Batman: The Animated Series." I guess it's embarrassing enough just to admit that I've been taping every episode of the cartoon for the past month or so. But ever since this whole Max Steel thing started, it seemed like good old Bruce Wayne was the only guy understands what I'm going through.
How do you deal with people not knowing that you're actually two different individuals? How are you supposed to handle all the different expectations for your different alter egos? What are you supposed to do when you need to be in two places at the same time? (Actually, I found the answer to this one in "Flintstones.")
But I found myself desperately searching through these tapes for a different type of guidance and help after I received a call the other day.
I recognized her voice as soon as I heard it. Laura and I were still on good terms after we broke up. But even after she left for the semester on the research ship, it took me a while before I stopped calling her my "girlfriend." I guess Josh McGrath wouldn't have been surprised to receive a call from her. Josh would have been thrilled. But "Josh" didn't get her call. It was "Max."
It wasn't Josh to whom she told about her impending return to Del Oro. It was Max.
It wasn't Josh who she asked to meet her at the docks. It was Max.
It wasn't Josh who she asked to give her a ride back to her apartment. It was Max.
It wasn't the ex-boyfriend and perpetual-good-friend that she asked to meet her upon her arrival home. It was the new friend and hero-who-once-saved-her-life.
But... I *am* Max Steel! I AM! ughh... Josh McGrath equal Max Steel.
I didn't tell her of course, but I remember spluttering something incoherently into the phone before coughing up my reply.
"Alright, I'll be there waiting by 2."
"Thanks, Max."
I could practically hear her smile. It took me a few minutes, just sitting there, to absorb the reality of what just happened.
Did this mean that Josh now officially had no chance of getting back with her? What am I supposed to expect? Should Max try and go for Laura's heart or step aside and let Josh slide back into the picture?
Yeah, it's like playing a game of chess against myself, and strategizing behind my own back. Of course, it doesn't help the situation that I've never been any good at chess either.
So, that was when I turned to my Batman cartoon tapes.
Selena Kyles, alias Catwoman. You know the story right? Selena's friends with Bruce and in love with Batman. But Bruce is in love with Selena. All the elements for a relationship seem to be there, and yet somehow the love arrows are still missing their intended targets. So how did the Dark Knight deal with the woman that loves the Bat side of him and not the Bruce side of him?
He arrested her... for burglary and whatnot. So he ended up taking the easy way out of the problem.
But what am I supposed to do this Thursday when I see Laura again?
The title is "Questions"... Sorry I couldn't think of anything more original or catchy... but it kind of relates to my theme. I'll have each chapter end with a question.
--------------------
***Josh/Max***
I'm no Einstein. Yeah, I accepted that a long time ago. In fact I've got an English professor who has dedicated his life to reminding me of that fact everyday in any and every way possible. I can do pretty well as "Max Steel" the secret agent because... well, I guess improvisation is my element. My brain can dish out the desperate, last-minute ideas when I need to save the world. This brain's also doing a decent job of getting me through college (whenever I'm actually in class).
But this brain can't do diddly in the love department, whether in Josh McGrath or Max Steel mode.
I came to that painful realization when I caught myself trying to siphon love advice from an episode of "Batman: The Animated Series." I guess it's embarrassing enough just to admit that I've been taping every episode of the cartoon for the past month or so. But ever since this whole Max Steel thing started, it seemed like good old Bruce Wayne was the only guy understands what I'm going through.
How do you deal with people not knowing that you're actually two different individuals? How are you supposed to handle all the different expectations for your different alter egos? What are you supposed to do when you need to be in two places at the same time? (Actually, I found the answer to this one in "Flintstones.")
But I found myself desperately searching through these tapes for a different type of guidance and help after I received a call the other day.
I recognized her voice as soon as I heard it. Laura and I were still on good terms after we broke up. But even after she left for the semester on the research ship, it took me a while before I stopped calling her my "girlfriend." I guess Josh McGrath wouldn't have been surprised to receive a call from her. Josh would have been thrilled. But "Josh" didn't get her call. It was "Max."
It wasn't Josh to whom she told about her impending return to Del Oro. It was Max.
It wasn't Josh who she asked to meet her at the docks. It was Max.
It wasn't Josh who she asked to give her a ride back to her apartment. It was Max.
It wasn't the ex-boyfriend and perpetual-good-friend that she asked to meet her upon her arrival home. It was the new friend and hero-who-once-saved-her-life.
But... I *am* Max Steel! I AM! ughh... Josh McGrath equal Max Steel.
I didn't tell her of course, but I remember spluttering something incoherently into the phone before coughing up my reply.
"Alright, I'll be there waiting by 2."
"Thanks, Max."
I could practically hear her smile. It took me a few minutes, just sitting there, to absorb the reality of what just happened.
Did this mean that Josh now officially had no chance of getting back with her? What am I supposed to expect? Should Max try and go for Laura's heart or step aside and let Josh slide back into the picture?
Yeah, it's like playing a game of chess against myself, and strategizing behind my own back. Of course, it doesn't help the situation that I've never been any good at chess either.
So, that was when I turned to my Batman cartoon tapes.
Selena Kyles, alias Catwoman. You know the story right? Selena's friends with Bruce and in love with Batman. But Bruce is in love with Selena. All the elements for a relationship seem to be there, and yet somehow the love arrows are still missing their intended targets. So how did the Dark Knight deal with the woman that loves the Bat side of him and not the Bruce side of him?
He arrested her... for burglary and whatnot. So he ended up taking the easy way out of the problem.
But what am I supposed to do this Thursday when I see Laura again?