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Part 5

Alec rode in silence next to Original Cindy. He knew she was watching him, he could feel her gaze on the side of his head; it was almost painful. He knew she knew something was wrong. What was he saying? Nothing was wrong. Nope life was absolutely fucking great He stole a glance in her direction but quickly turned away.

Once again his eyes returned to the pavement in front of him, occasionally traveling to Sketchy doing tricks on his bike a couple dozen meters in front of them as they rode to work.

"So . . . you gonna tell me what's botherin' ya or are you making me figure it out?" she didn't even wait for a response and continued, "Why ain't you over at Asha making hot monkey love to the gurl?"

He'd expected something along those lines but those particular words surprised him and only his superhuman reflexes saved him from an embarrassing fall. His chuckle was dry and hoarse and Original Cindy didn't miss the hurt flicker in his eyes, "I told you OC, Asha and I are just friends and . . . "

Determined to get her point across OC cut in, "So you're tellin' OC that you ain't completely gutted at having gone there the minute you got into town only to find her curled up in someone else's arms. You're saying that that's not eating at ya?"

Alec's knuckles tightened on the handlebars till they were white and his nostrils flared imperceptibly to anyone else but the woman beside him.

"Now you've told Cindy the story, about everything that happened back at the place you once called home but why not dis? You my boy you know dat. She cried for you . . . couldn't get her to stop for days. She's denying your death to herself with this. She's pretending that nothin' happened . . . I hope to god your new friend isn't there when you and Asha see each other."

Max had left that morning saying something about a friend of hers she had to find and a job. Cindy had invited her that night to Crash but the transgenic hadn't been clear on her presence. Alec figured she'd show up, just cause fate seemed to hate him. Facing his guilt about Sam was hard enough; having someone around with her face was torture.

"What I'm sayin' is that there used to be a chance for you and Blondie before this whole dealio but after meeting your new friend OC ain't so sure," she said parking her bike and walking inside JamPony Alec quickly on her heel, "And what is that . . . "

The X5 was interrupted by the sudden silence that fell. Everyone inside had stopped talking stopped moving. Normal's clipboard clanged as it hit the cement floor and his jaw dropped similarly, "Alec?"

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"You know you're my boy and all but you have got to tell me how Normal can be so hung over you that you didn't even have to ask for your job back. And he gives you, genetic amped up and all, the packages not even a 5 minute ride from JamPony while Original Cindy gets stuck with hauling her ass all over town," she argued and Alec grinned shaking his head at her exaggerations.

He didn't reply but his gaze once again scanned the bar finding all the usual patrons except the one he was looking for. With a heartfelt sigh his back slouched back into the chair and his usual grin set in noticing all the girls eyeing him.

Sketchy returned with the pitcher of beer and immediately poured Alec, OC and himself a glass, "So when's that hot looking babe from this morning gonna show up? OC you told her 10 o'clock right?"

She grinned and rolled her eyes, "Would the both of ya calm down? You're giving Cindy a migraine. I'm sure she'll show up!" Alec shot up at her words as if he'd been bitten and shot back defensively, "Two of us? I'm not worried whether she's here or not!"

"Mhmmm," Cindy mused taking a generous sip of her beer, "That's why every 5 seconds you scan the bar looking for that hot lickety boo," she said matter of factually raising her eyebrows for emphasis.

"I do NOT like MAX! In fact I can't even stand her. She's a self-centered, sarcastic bitch that represents everything I've always hated about Manticore!" he defended loudly.

"I love you too Alec," came the singsong sugar coated reply from behind him. His face turned to one of horror and he spun around in his chair to look at her. Her face betrayed no emotion in the classic Manticore mask.

"Max I…." He stuttered not knowing what to say but she held up her hands in a motion to stop him, "It's alright. I'm intruding and I know when I'm not wanted. Besides you'll do much better with that blonde staring at you with her mouth open. Someone should tell her that the only thing she'll achieve like that is attracting flies."

Alec looked in the direction she'd pointed only to find his gaze locked with the blonde Max had been talking about. His heart missed a beat for a second and he swallowed. Him and Asha were both frozen, staring disbelieving at each other. He tore his gaze away to where Max had been only to find it empty. His eyes trailed a path to the exit and saw her leaving, some guy's arm wrapped securely around her.

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