Max walked out the door thinking way too much for her own good as usual.
'This can't be happening. I feel like his mom or his wife or – oh god no Max we are NOT going there. His wife? I mean come on, it isn't enough I can't keep a steady relationship cause I always screw things up with my fog bank syndrome. But that was just asshole Darren right? I mean the guy did cheat on me and he could have at least let me down before venturing into greener pastures. Things would get messed up anyways right? Manticore is in the way and it always will be. Yeah that's right. I would never hurt Logan so we can't be together.'
Max was speeding off on her bike. She was late enough to work as it is so she wasn't going to go back to the apartment.
'Dammit. What the hell is the matter with me? I am such a fricking hypocrite. Telling Zack that it isn't just phony mentality. Wanting to live a normal life. When I am here running away from the fucking feelings and I know a "normal" girl would never let Logan get by her. The whole Manticore safety reason doesn't work anyways I know. As much as I would want to keep him safe from that I know that he is putting me in just as much danger with being his legs for eyes-only. Arch! Why can't I get you out of my head.'
Max walked into Jam pony with her forehead wrinkled up. Her head was starting to hurt because of all these thoughts.
"Wassup boo? And where were you last night?" Cindy slammed her locker shut.
"Sorry. I don't think I could have lasted the night with out ripping Sketchy's head off. Besides, Logan got sick so I stayed and babysat him cause he don't have enough sense to take care of himself." Cindy raised an eyebrow.
"So you were taking care of him?" There was definantly double meaning in her tone.
"Not like that! You know what I mean." Max rolled her eyes. Cindy shrugged.
"Whatever ya say suga but I still think that maybe you aren't letting me in on somethin."
"Maybe and maybe not but either way we aren't like that."
"Sure, sure, sure."
"Hot run sector 2." Normal tossed a package to Max. "Come on bip bip bip people. Customers waiting out there on the account of you lazy bums."
"Normal back off. After all if it weren't for us lazy bums then you wouldn't have much of a work force now would ya?" Max asked him cynically.
"I really don't care what you are preaching today missy miss but you better get your hid down to sector 2 before I fire you." Max rolled her eyes and grabbed her bike and headed off.
Max walked into the penthouse once she reached it.
"Logan? You better not be at your computer." She threatened as she made her way towards his computer room. She looked in and didn't see anyone. Max made her way to the bedroom and peered in. Logan was sitting on his bed with files out in front of him.
"Well what are you doing?" Logan looked up at Max with an obviously unsatisfied look on his face. He looked like a little kid who had his lollipop taken away.
"How ya feeling?" Max asked casually as she leaned against the doorframe.
"Not bad considering I have just about lost control of my body." Logan's voice was surprisingly raspier than before and it was much quieter.
"Losing your voice now?" Max asked.
"Yes." He croaked.
"I think I like you this way." Max said with a smug smirk. She walked further in the room and looked over his files splayed out.
"You shouldn't be working." Logan shrugged.
"I need to get something done. Besides it is good to focus on something other than being sick."
"You should be resting."
"What do you think I have been doing all day?"
"Trying to ignore all pain and proceed with the brigade."
"Ahh but the pain has subsided. Medication fixes all."
"Ohhh I see. You are all drugged up. That is why you are in such a light mood as opposed to your usual self." She said satisfactorily. He gave her a scowl. She was waiting for him to defend himself and he looked like he was working up to it.
"I guess I am. Not a bad feeling though. Kinda numbs everything you don't want to remember." She was surprised he didn't deny it.
"What exactly don't you want to be remembering?" She asked curiously.
"There is plenty but it doesn't matter."
"Oh come on Logie tell me."
"Don't call me that." He moved a hand up to his head.
"Why."
"Cause Valerie called me that." He hated that dork like name and certainly didn't want Max to get in the habit of calling him that. He didn't want to remember Valerie or the crap she has given him. Women always seemed out to get him he thought sometimes.
"Sorry. So ya gonna tell me?" Logan sighed.
"Just some dead ends on some leads and a phone call that dampened my drugged state."
"Who called?"
"My aunt." Max tried to suppress a smile. She knew what crap he had been put through and she felt sorry for him but images of a drugged up Logan talking to Margot brought funny scenarios to mind.
"What did she want?" Logan shut his eyes and grasped his head.
"She was trying yet again to set me up." Max stopped smiling.
"Set you up?"
"Yeah like on a date or something like that. I did a few before to please her but I swear those are the most painful things you can put a person through." She smiled again but there was a nervous edge to it.
"I am sure." A silence fell over the room. It was almost smothering. Max started to shift her weight from one leg to the other trying to think of something to say. She didn't want to go quite yet but the tension was killing her. She looked into his face and they both held each other's gaze intently for a long time. Max found it one of the most comforting things, which she thought was kind of weird.
"Max?" His voice was low. "Thanks for…you know." She nodded her head still lost in his gaze. Suddenly Logan shook his head in realization.
"Dammit. Zack might have e-mailed me again." Max turned her head away.
"I could check." Logan looked at her deep in thought.
"Actually I probably need to do it myself."
"Why?" Max was hit by the notion maybe he didn't trust her. He paused and coughed a few times.
"Has he ever…" Logan paused uncomfortably. "He wouldn't alert us if he was coming would he?" Max eyes widened.
She slapped herself mentally. Where and what the hell have I been doing. Of course Zack wouldn't do that. In fact he would just show up and he would avoid having something traceable like that. I have been so caught up in my damn thoughts I didn't consider this.
"No." She stated this matter of factly. Logan licked his lips still deep in thought. He reached over to his bedside table and picked up his laptop except Max took it from him.
"Sorry but your still sick and if I am correct you still have a headache so let me do it."
"But you don't know how." He protested wanting his little flat black friend back in possession.
"You can tell me. Looking at the screen will only make it worse. I don't care how many drugs you take."
"Fine." He knew she wouldn't give it back.
Logan thought she would ask for the directions and then execute in the living room or computer room. He was extremely surprised to see her slip onto the bed facing him. She crossed her legs Indian style and put the computer in front of her on the bed but just so Logan couldn't see the screen.
He watched her features closely as she booted the computer. She bit her lip as she logged on.
"Since when did I tell you my password?" He asked. She looked up at him.
"Since I got bored a while back and figured I would test myself on how well I know you." She smiled pleased with herself. "Apparently I know you very well cause I already have figured 23 out of your 35 passwords so far. I will get them eventually though." Max went back to the task of opening the correct files.
"Umm this would be one of those passwords I didn't have time to figure." She looked up at him expectantly. He smiled when he realized which one she didn't get.
"Type in araveug." She looked up at him sharply after a second.
"You used my last name as a password?" He smiled at her.
"Why not? I make passwords out of things or people I know best." She scoffed.
"Like you know me all that good."
"You'd be surprised. Besides I knew unless somebody knew who you were and my thing for backwards passwords than it was safe. I even used Bling's name for one o them."
"I know. I figured that one out last week." She turned back to the screen and typed more.
"He didn't send anymore."
"That's ok. I just want you to right click his previous e-mail. It doesn't have a return address on it. Ok now I want you to click that flashing icon." Max looked up at him.
"Ok now what?"
"We wait."
"We wait? How long?"
"If I am right we are already done waiting." Max looked at the screen when windows started popping up.
"Dang. Who hid all of this junk in a single e-mail. Like they wanted you to find it all." Logan let out an exasperated an irritated breath.
"Can I please see the computer now?" She grinned at him.
"Nope." Suddenly her face contorted into shock and confusion.
"What?"
"It's a barcode. Encoded in all of this junk data attached to the e-mail."
"Zack's barcode?"
"I don't know. I can only decode the first 7 digits. It's an X5."
"Now can I see it?" She looked at him and reluctantly handed it over. The computer light hurt his eyes but ignore the pain. Logan typed in many commands.
"An X5 with the designation of 326." Logan looked up at Max.
"Jondy."
"Why would she be sending this?" Logan asked softly. He could tell she was deep in herself right now.
"She wants to meet. Is there another message in there?" Logan looked back down.
"Reply. We can send it back in the same code. Ask her when and where." Max nodded her head. Logan went back to sending the message back in coded form. When he finished he turned it off and put to the side of his bed. His hand went immediately to message the place between his eyes where a burning pressure had built.
"I shouldn't have had you do that." Max said quietly.
"Come on Max. It isn't like I'm gonna die from a little work. Besides I was bored out of my mind."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I just…" Her voice faltered. "Logan she obviously used Zack to get your attention and all but she knows your eyes only. If Zack is just dispersing that kind of info then…"
"Max. I am fine. I have always been fine and I will be. I trust Zack. Despite the fact he is in no way my favorite person, I trust him. Besides he knows that if he puts me in danger he puts you and the rest in danger. If he thought he needed to tell Jondy then I trust him enough not to question." She made a half smile for a second.
"Kind of weird you trust him just like that. I mean he wasn't a friendly person to you."
"Well he did leave you with me. He wouldn't let that happen if he didn't know I wasn't going to keep you safe." Logan said quietly.
"I know. He still doesn't trust you much though. Hell the guy is my brother and we suffered the same hell and he doesn't trust me."
"He trusts me more than he gives off."
"How d'ya figure?"
"He left you here with me." Max didn't say anything. She knew Zack did like her more than a brother and that if he thought she was in danger here he would fight her with all of his will to get her out. It was true though. She was and felt safe here with Logan. Of course it didn't dull her senses for danger or anything but when she was with him she felt better somehow. It was a good feeling. Something she had never felt before. It was like an overgrowing warmth and tingling in the pit of her stomach. It was an exciting and calming feeling. At times she didn't want to be anywhere else but with him.
A/N I think I pulled the plot of alright don' you agree? Nah it sucked but I will make it better! ( Just you peeps wait!
'This can't be happening. I feel like his mom or his wife or – oh god no Max we are NOT going there. His wife? I mean come on, it isn't enough I can't keep a steady relationship cause I always screw things up with my fog bank syndrome. But that was just asshole Darren right? I mean the guy did cheat on me and he could have at least let me down before venturing into greener pastures. Things would get messed up anyways right? Manticore is in the way and it always will be. Yeah that's right. I would never hurt Logan so we can't be together.'
Max was speeding off on her bike. She was late enough to work as it is so she wasn't going to go back to the apartment.
'Dammit. What the hell is the matter with me? I am such a fricking hypocrite. Telling Zack that it isn't just phony mentality. Wanting to live a normal life. When I am here running away from the fucking feelings and I know a "normal" girl would never let Logan get by her. The whole Manticore safety reason doesn't work anyways I know. As much as I would want to keep him safe from that I know that he is putting me in just as much danger with being his legs for eyes-only. Arch! Why can't I get you out of my head.'
Max walked into Jam pony with her forehead wrinkled up. Her head was starting to hurt because of all these thoughts.
"Wassup boo? And where were you last night?" Cindy slammed her locker shut.
"Sorry. I don't think I could have lasted the night with out ripping Sketchy's head off. Besides, Logan got sick so I stayed and babysat him cause he don't have enough sense to take care of himself." Cindy raised an eyebrow.
"So you were taking care of him?" There was definantly double meaning in her tone.
"Not like that! You know what I mean." Max rolled her eyes. Cindy shrugged.
"Whatever ya say suga but I still think that maybe you aren't letting me in on somethin."
"Maybe and maybe not but either way we aren't like that."
"Sure, sure, sure."
"Hot run sector 2." Normal tossed a package to Max. "Come on bip bip bip people. Customers waiting out there on the account of you lazy bums."
"Normal back off. After all if it weren't for us lazy bums then you wouldn't have much of a work force now would ya?" Max asked him cynically.
"I really don't care what you are preaching today missy miss but you better get your hid down to sector 2 before I fire you." Max rolled her eyes and grabbed her bike and headed off.
Max walked into the penthouse once she reached it.
"Logan? You better not be at your computer." She threatened as she made her way towards his computer room. She looked in and didn't see anyone. Max made her way to the bedroom and peered in. Logan was sitting on his bed with files out in front of him.
"Well what are you doing?" Logan looked up at Max with an obviously unsatisfied look on his face. He looked like a little kid who had his lollipop taken away.
"How ya feeling?" Max asked casually as she leaned against the doorframe.
"Not bad considering I have just about lost control of my body." Logan's voice was surprisingly raspier than before and it was much quieter.
"Losing your voice now?" Max asked.
"Yes." He croaked.
"I think I like you this way." Max said with a smug smirk. She walked further in the room and looked over his files splayed out.
"You shouldn't be working." Logan shrugged.
"I need to get something done. Besides it is good to focus on something other than being sick."
"You should be resting."
"What do you think I have been doing all day?"
"Trying to ignore all pain and proceed with the brigade."
"Ahh but the pain has subsided. Medication fixes all."
"Ohhh I see. You are all drugged up. That is why you are in such a light mood as opposed to your usual self." She said satisfactorily. He gave her a scowl. She was waiting for him to defend himself and he looked like he was working up to it.
"I guess I am. Not a bad feeling though. Kinda numbs everything you don't want to remember." She was surprised he didn't deny it.
"What exactly don't you want to be remembering?" She asked curiously.
"There is plenty but it doesn't matter."
"Oh come on Logie tell me."
"Don't call me that." He moved a hand up to his head.
"Why."
"Cause Valerie called me that." He hated that dork like name and certainly didn't want Max to get in the habit of calling him that. He didn't want to remember Valerie or the crap she has given him. Women always seemed out to get him he thought sometimes.
"Sorry. So ya gonna tell me?" Logan sighed.
"Just some dead ends on some leads and a phone call that dampened my drugged state."
"Who called?"
"My aunt." Max tried to suppress a smile. She knew what crap he had been put through and she felt sorry for him but images of a drugged up Logan talking to Margot brought funny scenarios to mind.
"What did she want?" Logan shut his eyes and grasped his head.
"She was trying yet again to set me up." Max stopped smiling.
"Set you up?"
"Yeah like on a date or something like that. I did a few before to please her but I swear those are the most painful things you can put a person through." She smiled again but there was a nervous edge to it.
"I am sure." A silence fell over the room. It was almost smothering. Max started to shift her weight from one leg to the other trying to think of something to say. She didn't want to go quite yet but the tension was killing her. She looked into his face and they both held each other's gaze intently for a long time. Max found it one of the most comforting things, which she thought was kind of weird.
"Max?" His voice was low. "Thanks for…you know." She nodded her head still lost in his gaze. Suddenly Logan shook his head in realization.
"Dammit. Zack might have e-mailed me again." Max turned her head away.
"I could check." Logan looked at her deep in thought.
"Actually I probably need to do it myself."
"Why?" Max was hit by the notion maybe he didn't trust her. He paused and coughed a few times.
"Has he ever…" Logan paused uncomfortably. "He wouldn't alert us if he was coming would he?" Max eyes widened.
She slapped herself mentally. Where and what the hell have I been doing. Of course Zack wouldn't do that. In fact he would just show up and he would avoid having something traceable like that. I have been so caught up in my damn thoughts I didn't consider this.
"No." She stated this matter of factly. Logan licked his lips still deep in thought. He reached over to his bedside table and picked up his laptop except Max took it from him.
"Sorry but your still sick and if I am correct you still have a headache so let me do it."
"But you don't know how." He protested wanting his little flat black friend back in possession.
"You can tell me. Looking at the screen will only make it worse. I don't care how many drugs you take."
"Fine." He knew she wouldn't give it back.
Logan thought she would ask for the directions and then execute in the living room or computer room. He was extremely surprised to see her slip onto the bed facing him. She crossed her legs Indian style and put the computer in front of her on the bed but just so Logan couldn't see the screen.
He watched her features closely as she booted the computer. She bit her lip as she logged on.
"Since when did I tell you my password?" He asked. She looked up at him.
"Since I got bored a while back and figured I would test myself on how well I know you." She smiled pleased with herself. "Apparently I know you very well cause I already have figured 23 out of your 35 passwords so far. I will get them eventually though." Max went back to the task of opening the correct files.
"Umm this would be one of those passwords I didn't have time to figure." She looked up at him expectantly. He smiled when he realized which one she didn't get.
"Type in araveug." She looked up at him sharply after a second.
"You used my last name as a password?" He smiled at her.
"Why not? I make passwords out of things or people I know best." She scoffed.
"Like you know me all that good."
"You'd be surprised. Besides I knew unless somebody knew who you were and my thing for backwards passwords than it was safe. I even used Bling's name for one o them."
"I know. I figured that one out last week." She turned back to the screen and typed more.
"He didn't send anymore."
"That's ok. I just want you to right click his previous e-mail. It doesn't have a return address on it. Ok now I want you to click that flashing icon." Max looked up at him.
"Ok now what?"
"We wait."
"We wait? How long?"
"If I am right we are already done waiting." Max looked at the screen when windows started popping up.
"Dang. Who hid all of this junk in a single e-mail. Like they wanted you to find it all." Logan let out an exasperated an irritated breath.
"Can I please see the computer now?" She grinned at him.
"Nope." Suddenly her face contorted into shock and confusion.
"What?"
"It's a barcode. Encoded in all of this junk data attached to the e-mail."
"Zack's barcode?"
"I don't know. I can only decode the first 7 digits. It's an X5."
"Now can I see it?" She looked at him and reluctantly handed it over. The computer light hurt his eyes but ignore the pain. Logan typed in many commands.
"An X5 with the designation of 326." Logan looked up at Max.
"Jondy."
"Why would she be sending this?" Logan asked softly. He could tell she was deep in herself right now.
"She wants to meet. Is there another message in there?" Logan looked back down.
"Reply. We can send it back in the same code. Ask her when and where." Max nodded her head. Logan went back to sending the message back in coded form. When he finished he turned it off and put to the side of his bed. His hand went immediately to message the place between his eyes where a burning pressure had built.
"I shouldn't have had you do that." Max said quietly.
"Come on Max. It isn't like I'm gonna die from a little work. Besides I was bored out of my mind."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know. I just…" Her voice faltered. "Logan she obviously used Zack to get your attention and all but she knows your eyes only. If Zack is just dispersing that kind of info then…"
"Max. I am fine. I have always been fine and I will be. I trust Zack. Despite the fact he is in no way my favorite person, I trust him. Besides he knows that if he puts me in danger he puts you and the rest in danger. If he thought he needed to tell Jondy then I trust him enough not to question." She made a half smile for a second.
"Kind of weird you trust him just like that. I mean he wasn't a friendly person to you."
"Well he did leave you with me. He wouldn't let that happen if he didn't know I wasn't going to keep you safe." Logan said quietly.
"I know. He still doesn't trust you much though. Hell the guy is my brother and we suffered the same hell and he doesn't trust me."
"He trusts me more than he gives off."
"How d'ya figure?"
"He left you here with me." Max didn't say anything. She knew Zack did like her more than a brother and that if he thought she was in danger here he would fight her with all of his will to get her out. It was true though. She was and felt safe here with Logan. Of course it didn't dull her senses for danger or anything but when she was with him she felt better somehow. It was a good feeling. Something she had never felt before. It was like an overgrowing warmth and tingling in the pit of her stomach. It was an exciting and calming feeling. At times she didn't want to be anywhere else but with him.
A/N I think I pulled the plot of alright don' you agree? Nah it sucked but I will make it better! ( Just you peeps wait!