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2Smrtgrls
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Max looked around the living room, glad to be back in her own apartment, only a few steps away from her own bed. She smiled as she looked over where Kendra and Original Cindy sat. She had been pissed at them for getting rid of her tryptophan, but it was a sign of how much they cared about her that they had been so worried.
And everything had worked out fine.
"So Max, Original Cindy and I have been talking it over," Kendra said.
"Mm-hmm. Trouble follows you around like the tail on a dog. We're getting the vibe there's something going on that you don't want us to know about for some reason," Original Cindy added.
"'Cause maybe you think we can't handle it?"
Original Cindy locked eyes on Max. "But we can, 'cause we down like that."
Max looked away, unsure about what she should share with them. "I don't know what you guys are talking about."
As Kendra and Original Cindy continued to press her, she decided to just tell the truth.
"What if I told you I was a genetically revved-up female?"
Kendra and Original Cindy laughed.
"Like we're not," Kendra responded.
"But...I'm a different kind of female altogether," Max protested.
"Like you so special. Okay, fine, don't tell us, but whatever's going on just know...you still my boo," Original Cindy answered.
"Yeah. Me and sister girl got your back," Kendra said.
Max nodded, decided to just drop it. It was clear they weren't ready to handle the truth about Manticore.
"But, I do want to know one more thing, revved up girl," Kendra said.
"What?"
"What is up with you and Logan?" Kendra asked.
"Nothing," Max said, her voice clipped.
Original Cindy and Kendra shared a look.
"Damn, I'm not into men, but I know when someone's got somethin' goin' on and you girl…you got somethin' goin' on for him," Original Cindy said.
"Yeah, maybe, I mean…I don't know."
"What do you mean, 'you don't know'?" Kendra asked. "Either you're hot for him, or you aren't."
Max got up and walked into the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and got out the gallon of milk. When she turned back to fill her glass, Kendra and Original Cindy were standing there watching her.
"What?" Max asked.
Original Cindy and Kendra continued standing there, a smile on each of their faces.
"No, seriously, what?"
"Don't you want to tell Original Cindy about how Logan has been invading your every thought?" Kendra asked.
Max shot her a quick look. "Have we no secrets?"
"I didn't tell her anything," Kendra answered.
Max stalked past the two women and plopped down on the couch in the living room.
"So, we talkin' dreams, fantasies? What's up?" Original Cindy asked as she joined Max in the living room. "Or have you just been doodlin' 'Mrs. Logan Cale' on all of your notebooks?"
Max laughed. "No, never really saw myself as a Mrs. Anybody."
"So, then, what's the dealio?" Original Cindy asked.
Max turned her face and stared out the window. After a moment, she turned back to face her friends. "Yeah, I'm thinking about him, but it's different…I mean, I've been attracted to guys…"
"Yeah, like Eric?" Kendra teased. "He was a winner, Max."
Max chuckled. "Yeah, like Eric. But Logan…Logan's different. It's like…I don't know…"
"Spit it out, sistah. Man, I've never heard you strugglin' to get words out like this!" Original Cindy exclaimed.
Max took a deep breath and then began. "Okay, this is really weird, but there's something about him, about how he looks, how he moves…it just does something to me."
"I hear you on that, boo. Original Cindy has had the hots for sistahs cause of how they hit the floor."
"It's not that," Max answered. "It's…well, I don't know for sure…but I think it's the chair."
Original Cindy raised her eyebrows. "Seriously?" She turned to look at Kendra, "she tell you this before?"
Kendra nodded.
"Damn, boo, that's whack."
Max stood up and walked over to the window, staring out over the city. Original Cindy walked over and put her arm on Max's shoulder.
"What you goin' to do?" she asked quietly.
Max turned to face her. "That's just the thing. I don't know. I mean, we're working together and these thoughts are going through my head and I can't seem to stop them. But, I can't act on them. No way. That's just…it's just wrong."
"Why?" Kendra asked, coming over to join them. "I don't see what the issue is here."
"It feels bad," Max said. "It feels like I'm taking advantage of him or something."
"I don't know about that," Kendra replied. "I've seen the guy. He's hot, sitting or standing."
Original Cindy nodded. "You know I ain't into that scene, but I agree with Kendra here, he's damn fine."
"So maybe you just need to relax, Max," Kendra said. "Maybe the chair is a bigger deal than you want to think and that's what the problem is."
"But, it isn't…I mean, it is, but it's not like…" Max protested.
Max was interrupted by her pager going off.
"Crap, it's him," Max said as she looked at the display. "I gotta blaze."
"Keep the faith, boo," Original Cindy said as Max turned to leave the apartment.
"Thanks," Max answered and then headed out the door.
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Maybe it was just Logan being different. But that had never mattered to her before. Being a transgenic, you got used to appreciating the differences in other people. Why would it make any big deal that Logan used a wheelchair. That half of his body didn't work like it used to. What was the big deal, anyway?
Max raised her hand to knock when the door swung open.
"Hey," she said as Logan moved back so she could enter.
"Sorry, I saw you on the camera coming in, so thought I would…"
"Slow down, Logan, take a breath," Max said, as she walked past him into the apartment. "Somethin' on fire here?"
Logan laughed and followed her down the hall. "No, nothing like that. Sorry, I guess I just get worked up sometimes."
"So, you rang?" Max asked, as she casually dropped down on the couch.
"Yeah," Logan answered. He wheeled across the living room and stopped in front of the coffee table, setting the brake on his wheelchair. "I got a pretty interesting message tonight, a blast from the past, if you will."
"Old girlfriend?" Max asked, trying to keep her voice casual.
Logan chuckled and shook his head. "No, a daughter of an old friend. Someone who died a few years ago."
"Ah…so, is she hot for you?" Max asked.
Logan shrugged. "Don't know. All she's seen of me are my eyes…she only knows me as Eyes Only."
"And I come in where?" Max asked.
Logan leaned forward and picked up a folder. He handed it to Max.
"I need you to figure out if she's legit. Find out who she knows, where she hangs out…if there's any reason for me to not respond to her request."
Max picked up the folder and leafed through it. When she looked up, Logan was leaning forward, his head resting in his right hand, his glasses in his left.
"Headache?" she asked.
Logan sighed, lifted his head, put his glasses on and smiled at her. "No, it's just…" His voice trailed off.
"What?"
Logan released the brake on his chair and wheeled back about a foot. "It's just that this is the kind of stuff that I used to do. And now I need you. And I used to be able to meet with an informant anywhere and now I have to send Bling to check out the accessibility. And I'm not subtle…there's nothing subtle about this chair. Everyone stares. Everyone notices."
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you think," Max replied.
Logan snorted lightly. "You might be surprised. Yesterday, Bling and I were in the park. I saw this guy watching me. I mean, I could tell he was staring at me because every time I looked over, I caught him and then he'd look away. Anyway, so Bling had brought a new chair for me to try, one that I could use for basketball. But he had to change the casters because…I don't know…anyway I was waiting on a bench for him to come back and that guy came over and sat across from me. And it was like I could tell that he was getting a charge just out of watching me. And it just made me feel so…so…I don't know, like I was a freak or something." Logan's head dropped down, his eyes staring down at his legs.
Max got up and walked over in front of him and sat down on the edge of the coffee table. She took his hands in hers and waited until he looked up at her.
"You're not the freak. That guy…he was the freak, Logan."
Logan nodded, and then smiled lightly at her.
Max stood up. "Let me check out this Alina chick. I'll get back to you as soon as possible. And until then, fight the good fight and don't waste your time on messed up jerks like that guy."
She picked up the folder of information and headed for the door.
"Max?"
She stopped and turned back.
"Thanks for understanding. Thanks for not…well…for treating me like nothing's different."
Max gave him a quick nod and headed for the door.
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Max stepped out onto the Space Needle, the packet of info from Logan still clutched in her hands. She stood looking over the city, its lights twinkling as far as she could see.
That guy really messed with Logan's head. But what would Logan think if he knew what was going on in mine? How am I any different? I mean, I value him as a friend, but the attraction…would I feel this way if things hadn't changed?
Is it the chair or is it that he needs me? Nobody's needed me for a very long time. Maybe that's what I'm missing.
Or maybe I am just a freak.
To Be Continued…