CHAPTER: The Situation.







He stood outside Jam Pony looking at the people inside. He didn't want to go in, he didn't want to see her just yet but he knew if he didn't go to work she'd know that he was having a hard time dealing with it. So he decided to go in and put on a happy face.

He went to his locker and took out his gloves. He could feel eyes on him as he was doing that. He prepped himself for what was going to be the longest conversation of his life.

She knew he wanted to act like nothing happen, like he didn't say that he was in love with her. That was exactly what she was going to do, act perfectly normal. " Hey," she said opening her locker as she usually did.

This was his test of strength. " Hey Max." he closed the locker and gave her some eye contact to show that he couldn't care less about her presence. " See you around." He walked away and he could see at the corner of his eye the bewildered look on her face. He did it; he managed to fool her. Being satisfied with his accomplishment he went to the dispatch counter. Normal looked up at him and smile. " What?" he asked confused.

" I just wanted to see how my golden boy was doing."

" You're golden boy is fine." He had a feeling like Normal wanted him to do something for him.

" You know Alec, there's a big fighting contest going on maybe you could enter." Alec was a sure bet, as long as Alec fought he knew that he could put his money on him.

" I told you I'm done with fighting." The last thing he wanted was to be captured and placed in a cage again by White.

" Your take is fifty grand."

It was a very tempting offer. He'd get to kick people's butt with out breaking a sweat and make money at the same time. Also, it wouldn't even take his mind off things. " You know, it sounds kind of good. Where is it?"

" It doesn't matter where it is, he's not going," Max said interrupting the conversation. Both Normal and Alec looked at her and raised an eyebrow. " He doesn't fight anymore," she said looking at Normal. With all the mutant fear buzzing around the most stupid thing he could do was fight. People would suspect something and to add insult to injury he had this conspicuous barcode on his neck. He'd be in a cell before the first bell rang.

" I think it's up to Alec to decide if he wants fights or not."

" He doesn't," Max insisted.

" Well Alec, which is it?"

If he decided to fight she'd think that he was doing it to spite her and he didn't want to feel guilty or anything, she was entitled to have her own feelings even though they weren't in favor of his affections. " She's right Normal. I think I should sit this one out." He took up a package form the counter and went on his way.

" You've been causing me money since I hired you," Normal complained. " He was going to do that fight. I could have gotten some good cash. Who knows maybe I would have eased up your work."

" If it wasn't for me Alec wouldn't even be working here. You don't even care about his safety do you?"

" I don't think Alec would have a problem with anyone, he took down the raining champion in three seconds flat."

" I don't care, just don't try to get him to fight again."

He laughed, was she forgetting who was the boss and who was the employee? " What are you, his girlfriend?"

She took up a package and looked at with venom emitting from her eyes. " Yes, I am his girlfriend." She walked out and went to her bike. She couldn't believe that Alec considered fighting. She couldn't believe she said that she was his girlfriend.

This was really getting her and he didn't seem to be bothered by it.

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Max sat at her usual table with Logan at Crash. Not that she was bored or anything she just couldn't care less about what he was talking about. She nodded her head ever so often to let him think that she was listening. And ever so often she said. "Yeah."

Logan realized he lost her attention about half an hour ago and she was trying to convince him that she was listening. " Then Barbie took me to her dream house." (I love this part! Heh, "then Barbie took me to her dream house, and we played pool games and had ice-cream for tea")

" Yeah," she said automatically not knowing what he said only that he expected a reaction.

" Max," he snapped his fingers to get her out of her trance. She looked up at him with her eyes wide open. " Are you okay?"

" Yeah," she said looking around. She was looking for Alec in particular; she hoped he wasn't out fighting.

" What are you looking for?"

" Nobody," she said he eyes meeting Alec's. He was at the bar talking with a girl that looked like Asha, she quickly looked away.

He didn't even ask her of she was looking for somebody and she gave him that answer. She was million miles away. " So. . . What are you doing tomorrow night."

" I'm free," she said.

Whoa, all of a sudden she seemed to be intrigued by the progress of their conversation.

**************

Alec smiled at his company. He was bored stiff but he had to act like he was paying attention just to give the impression that he gave a damn about what she was talking about.

" I think they should call this spot the reject spot."

" Tell me bout it." Even though she was a drag to be around he could still relate to her. Max and Logan's relationship was affecting her the same way it was affecting him.

" Remember the last time we were here?"

" Yeah." It was when he first thought Max had gotten the cure. She was at Logan's and he was drinking and telling his partner in misery about the good news.

" Remember the proposal you made?"

" Yeah, that we sleep together just for the hell of it."

" Still up for it."

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. He was glad nothing happened then. He would have just been using her. He thought Max and Logan would be doing the same thing. Now it was different, he got to know Max a lot more. They had a different relationship, she knew now that he had feelings for her. " No," he stated simply. " I'm not into games."

" You're right. We would have made a big mistake then and it would be a big mistake now." A few hours later they learnt the virus had just come back. " So what are we going to do?"

" Well I don't know bout you but I'm going home. See you around." He took his jacket and walked out the door.

While unchaining his motorbike he saw Max was outside. He put on his shades.

" I just wanted to say thanks for not going to the fight. I know you don't have to listen to what I say providing the situation."

Did she forget that he said they were supposed to act like it never happened? " What situation?"

She nodded. " Right, there is no situation."

" Exactly." He waited for her to say something but she didn't. " I'll like to stay and chat but my bed calls." He drove off.

She almost told him to call her but then she realized with the situation they weren't allowed to do that anymore. They weren't allowed to do anything together anymore. " This situation sucks."