Chapter 4: Routine Check
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After they had left Seattle they had gone straight to L.A. When they got their Zack led Max to a baby-blue colored house.
Zack approached the door and rapped on it.
A rather plump gentleman answered the door.
"Hello, may I help you?" he asked kindly.
Zack cleared his throat," Hi, we're looking for Krit. Is he around?"
"Ya, actually he just got home from baseball practice." He then turned his back on Max and Zack. "Krit," he called. Then he strode of towards what they presumed to be the living room.
Suddenly a very slim boy appeared behind him, he had dark brown eyes and black hair. He was wearing the same mischievous grin he had always worn in the barracks at Manticore.
"Hey Zack!" suddenly he turned and said, "Who is this, surely it can't be my Maxie?"
Max grinned at Krit and gave him a big hug. "So, big bro what have you been up to?"
Still grinning Krit answered Max," Nothing here, it's the most boring town I've ever been in."
Max laughed along with Krit. Zack however asked Krit," So, are you sure nobody know who you are here?"
"Ya, I'm positive."
"Krit, I'm sorry to cut short your time with your little sister but we gotta go check on the others. We'll be back though." He promised.
Max's smile drooped a little, but she gave Krit another hug and followed Zack down the sidewalk. She waved at Krit just as he was shutting the door.
*************
"So, where next?" Max asked Zack when they left Krit's. "Well I was thinking of going to see Jondy in San Diego. But, we gotta get a room tonight I'm really tired."
"Okay" she winked at him. Not all of them could go without sleep.
They got a cheap hotel, actually Zack got the hotel, because they didn't want to look like some teenagers going to get laid.
When they met in the hotel room their gaze's locked. For a moment Max swore she saw Zack's eyes lose their darkness and twinkle. But, then she blinked and thought she must have imagined it.
Zack slept on one of the beds while Max sat on her bed thinking deeply about what had happen over the last 6 months. They had escaped Manticore. She just couldn't believe it. But, suddenly Zack awoke with a start.
"What's the matter Zack, are you okay?" she asked concern mingling within her voice.
"Ya," he answered wearily," just had a bad dream."
"Wanna tell me what it was about?" she asked sweetly.
"Sure."
She got up and sat next to him on his bed. She was suddenly very aware of how close to him she was and how attractive she thought he was. "Spill it." She said.
"Well I have this nightmare often. It's about back at Manticore. We are escaping and suddenly out of nowhere somebody shoots you in the shoulder. You stagger and fall to the ground. The bullet passed right through you. I go back to see how you are only to find you dead. Then I get hit with a teaser and am lost. You know how much you mean to me don't you Maxie?" he said bring his eyes up to look into hers.
"Ya Zack. I do. But you mean just as much to me, and if anything ever happened to you I'd be there for you 100%." She gazed back into his eyes. She knew this was dangerous, she was treading on grounds that shouldn't be touched, but to her surprise he leaned over and gave her a big hug.
Suddenly realizing what he had done, Zack pulled back, unsure of how Max would feel about this. He had been mulling over telling her that he loved her, but he just couldn't do it. But, he didn't know that the same thing had been going through Max's head as well.
'I can't believe he just hugged me. Maybe he does feel more between us than a friendship, but then maybe he's just really tired. I want to tell him I love him, but I can't it could end in me losing him.'
When Zack pulled back Max thought she did something wrong. So, she asked," Did I do something wrong?" she asked uncertainly.
"No," he answered quickly," I just thought that maybe we should get a move on."
She looked at him doubtfully," And let you go with out sleep? Not in this lifetime, bro."
As she said this they both winced. She couldn't believe she had said that, she thought of him as more than a brother. He on the other hand was sad, because then he realized he couldn't expect anymore from her than friendship.
"Sorry," she said suddenly.
He looked up, he couldn't believe what he heard," What did you say?"
"I'm sorry for..well I can't remember." She looked down quickly at her feet.
But then he lightly touched her chin and guided it back up to meet his eyes. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."
"Zack?"
"Yeah Max?"
"Have you ever wanted something you couldn't have?"
"Yeah, all the time. That's what life is all about."
"I mean something you really, really, wanted. Like a person."
His face suddenly went grim," Max, did you leave a boyfriend back in Seattle?"
She looked up astonished," What? No, I didn't have anyone in Seattle. I didn't even have any friends." She looked down at her feet again. These thoughts made her sad.
"Well, I best be getting some sleep. So, you know, we can move in the morning." He said quickly.
"Yeah, I'll be right here if you have another dream too, okay, don't hesitate to come to me." She looked up at him and looked into his eyes.
She felt something stir, something deep inside of her, something so deep her own heart couldn't whisper the words to her. Suddenly, she looked away.
*************
After Zack had slept they had fled the motel. When they got to San Diego they came to an orphanage named "For those who's relatives are lost to the living".
"Kind of corny name, huh Zack?"
"Yeah, let's go see if Jondy is still here. She didn't leave a message so I'm just assuming she's still here."
They walked into the building, and up to the secretary.
"Hello." She greeted friendly. "Do you need to stay here?"
"No, we're just looking to talk to our friend. Her name is Jondy."
"Yeah, she'd be in her room right now. Second door on the left." She said brightly after they had started walking away.
They knocked on the door and heard," Who is it? I'm kinda busy right now!"
"It's me Jondy, and I brought somebody with me."
The door flung open. "Zack! How are you? Ooh! Maxie, it's so good to see you!" she said giving Max a big hug.
Zack got right down to business after the door was closed tightly behind him. "So, Lydecker hasn't seen you, has he?"
"Nope. I haven't left here since I came. I really want to get out and steal some new outfits. These ones are ugly." She pointed at her dresser.
"Just stay here and be safe, and if you get into trouble call my contact number. Okay?"
"You're not going to leave, just like that? Are you?" she asked worriedly.
"Yeah, we gotta check up on Zane. Well I'll miss you little sister." With that he opened the door and waited for Max.
"Take care of your self baby sister. I'll miss you." Dropping her voice. "Call me sometime if you get away from him, 1-849-439-4632."
Max and Jondy gave each other another hug and with that they were gone.
Once Zack and Max were outside the building Max asked," So, where's Zane?
"He's in New Mexico."
*************
The next night they were walking through a town and saw 4 big thugs eyeing Max up. The thugs nodded to each other and came over and circled Max.
"Hey, pretty lady. Looking for a night adventure? Cause if you are, best not be looking in this kinda riff-raff," the first thug said pointing towards Zack, which was outside the circle by now. Held by the biggest and the dumbest one.
At these words Max lost her temper. Nobody called Zack riff-raff. He was way better than that. With those thoughts she kicked the first thug in the groin and then with a swift kick to the temple knocked him out.
The second thug came over and Max jumped up and did a back flip kicking him in the chin. He too fell to the ground. The third thug came over and attempted a punch at Max. She caught it and sent one flying back at his nose. Knocking him out cold with a bloody nose.
The thug that had been holding Zack was now lying at Zack's feet.
"Nice job." Zack said to Max as she walked over.
"No, prob. Didn't even break a sweat."
"Cool! Me either." He looked into her eyes and saw her eyes suddenly change from cold too warm and loving.
Max looked into Zack's eyes with all the love she could give and felt her military self slipping away. As she looked into his eyes she too saw his eyes change. They went from cruel to misty and loving.
They stood their and gazed into each other's eyes until one of the thug's got up and pushed Max into Zack. Zack in return wrapped his arms around Max and whispered," Max are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She said unwilling to let go of him.
Zack reluctantly released Max and took a hard swing at the thug. Knocking him out cold.
"Ready to go?" he asked as if nothing had happened. Suddenly he started grinning.
"Yeah. Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because I've never seen you smile." She said herself grinning.
"What can I say, even I have my weakness." He said shrugging.
Suddenly he reached up and pushed a strand of hair back and tucked it behind her ear. As if realizing what he had done he quickly took his hand away and backed up a step. "We better get a move on if we want to go see Zane."
"Yeah," she said still looking misty eyed.
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After they had left Seattle they had gone straight to L.A. When they got their Zack led Max to a baby-blue colored house.
Zack approached the door and rapped on it.
A rather plump gentleman answered the door.
"Hello, may I help you?" he asked kindly.
Zack cleared his throat," Hi, we're looking for Krit. Is he around?"
"Ya, actually he just got home from baseball practice." He then turned his back on Max and Zack. "Krit," he called. Then he strode of towards what they presumed to be the living room.
Suddenly a very slim boy appeared behind him, he had dark brown eyes and black hair. He was wearing the same mischievous grin he had always worn in the barracks at Manticore.
"Hey Zack!" suddenly he turned and said, "Who is this, surely it can't be my Maxie?"
Max grinned at Krit and gave him a big hug. "So, big bro what have you been up to?"
Still grinning Krit answered Max," Nothing here, it's the most boring town I've ever been in."
Max laughed along with Krit. Zack however asked Krit," So, are you sure nobody know who you are here?"
"Ya, I'm positive."
"Krit, I'm sorry to cut short your time with your little sister but we gotta go check on the others. We'll be back though." He promised.
Max's smile drooped a little, but she gave Krit another hug and followed Zack down the sidewalk. She waved at Krit just as he was shutting the door.
*************
"So, where next?" Max asked Zack when they left Krit's. "Well I was thinking of going to see Jondy in San Diego. But, we gotta get a room tonight I'm really tired."
"Okay" she winked at him. Not all of them could go without sleep.
They got a cheap hotel, actually Zack got the hotel, because they didn't want to look like some teenagers going to get laid.
When they met in the hotel room their gaze's locked. For a moment Max swore she saw Zack's eyes lose their darkness and twinkle. But, then she blinked and thought she must have imagined it.
Zack slept on one of the beds while Max sat on her bed thinking deeply about what had happen over the last 6 months. They had escaped Manticore. She just couldn't believe it. But, suddenly Zack awoke with a start.
"What's the matter Zack, are you okay?" she asked concern mingling within her voice.
"Ya," he answered wearily," just had a bad dream."
"Wanna tell me what it was about?" she asked sweetly.
"Sure."
She got up and sat next to him on his bed. She was suddenly very aware of how close to him she was and how attractive she thought he was. "Spill it." She said.
"Well I have this nightmare often. It's about back at Manticore. We are escaping and suddenly out of nowhere somebody shoots you in the shoulder. You stagger and fall to the ground. The bullet passed right through you. I go back to see how you are only to find you dead. Then I get hit with a teaser and am lost. You know how much you mean to me don't you Maxie?" he said bring his eyes up to look into hers.
"Ya Zack. I do. But you mean just as much to me, and if anything ever happened to you I'd be there for you 100%." She gazed back into his eyes. She knew this was dangerous, she was treading on grounds that shouldn't be touched, but to her surprise he leaned over and gave her a big hug.
Suddenly realizing what he had done, Zack pulled back, unsure of how Max would feel about this. He had been mulling over telling her that he loved her, but he just couldn't do it. But, he didn't know that the same thing had been going through Max's head as well.
'I can't believe he just hugged me. Maybe he does feel more between us than a friendship, but then maybe he's just really tired. I want to tell him I love him, but I can't it could end in me losing him.'
When Zack pulled back Max thought she did something wrong. So, she asked," Did I do something wrong?" she asked uncertainly.
"No," he answered quickly," I just thought that maybe we should get a move on."
She looked at him doubtfully," And let you go with out sleep? Not in this lifetime, bro."
As she said this they both winced. She couldn't believe she had said that, she thought of him as more than a brother. He on the other hand was sad, because then he realized he couldn't expect anymore from her than friendship.
"Sorry," she said suddenly.
He looked up, he couldn't believe what he heard," What did you say?"
"I'm sorry for..well I can't remember." She looked down quickly at her feet.
But then he lightly touched her chin and guided it back up to meet his eyes. "You don't have to be sorry for anything."
"Zack?"
"Yeah Max?"
"Have you ever wanted something you couldn't have?"
"Yeah, all the time. That's what life is all about."
"I mean something you really, really, wanted. Like a person."
His face suddenly went grim," Max, did you leave a boyfriend back in Seattle?"
She looked up astonished," What? No, I didn't have anyone in Seattle. I didn't even have any friends." She looked down at her feet again. These thoughts made her sad.
"Well, I best be getting some sleep. So, you know, we can move in the morning." He said quickly.
"Yeah, I'll be right here if you have another dream too, okay, don't hesitate to come to me." She looked up at him and looked into his eyes.
She felt something stir, something deep inside of her, something so deep her own heart couldn't whisper the words to her. Suddenly, she looked away.
*************
After Zack had slept they had fled the motel. When they got to San Diego they came to an orphanage named "For those who's relatives are lost to the living".
"Kind of corny name, huh Zack?"
"Yeah, let's go see if Jondy is still here. She didn't leave a message so I'm just assuming she's still here."
They walked into the building, and up to the secretary.
"Hello." She greeted friendly. "Do you need to stay here?"
"No, we're just looking to talk to our friend. Her name is Jondy."
"Yeah, she'd be in her room right now. Second door on the left." She said brightly after they had started walking away.
They knocked on the door and heard," Who is it? I'm kinda busy right now!"
"It's me Jondy, and I brought somebody with me."
The door flung open. "Zack! How are you? Ooh! Maxie, it's so good to see you!" she said giving Max a big hug.
Zack got right down to business after the door was closed tightly behind him. "So, Lydecker hasn't seen you, has he?"
"Nope. I haven't left here since I came. I really want to get out and steal some new outfits. These ones are ugly." She pointed at her dresser.
"Just stay here and be safe, and if you get into trouble call my contact number. Okay?"
"You're not going to leave, just like that? Are you?" she asked worriedly.
"Yeah, we gotta check up on Zane. Well I'll miss you little sister." With that he opened the door and waited for Max.
"Take care of your self baby sister. I'll miss you." Dropping her voice. "Call me sometime if you get away from him, 1-849-439-4632."
Max and Jondy gave each other another hug and with that they were gone.
Once Zack and Max were outside the building Max asked," So, where's Zane?
"He's in New Mexico."
*************
The next night they were walking through a town and saw 4 big thugs eyeing Max up. The thugs nodded to each other and came over and circled Max.
"Hey, pretty lady. Looking for a night adventure? Cause if you are, best not be looking in this kinda riff-raff," the first thug said pointing towards Zack, which was outside the circle by now. Held by the biggest and the dumbest one.
At these words Max lost her temper. Nobody called Zack riff-raff. He was way better than that. With those thoughts she kicked the first thug in the groin and then with a swift kick to the temple knocked him out.
The second thug came over and Max jumped up and did a back flip kicking him in the chin. He too fell to the ground. The third thug came over and attempted a punch at Max. She caught it and sent one flying back at his nose. Knocking him out cold with a bloody nose.
The thug that had been holding Zack was now lying at Zack's feet.
"Nice job." Zack said to Max as she walked over.
"No, prob. Didn't even break a sweat."
"Cool! Me either." He looked into her eyes and saw her eyes suddenly change from cold too warm and loving.
Max looked into Zack's eyes with all the love she could give and felt her military self slipping away. As she looked into his eyes she too saw his eyes change. They went from cruel to misty and loving.
They stood their and gazed into each other's eyes until one of the thug's got up and pushed Max into Zack. Zack in return wrapped his arms around Max and whispered," Max are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." She said unwilling to let go of him.
Zack reluctantly released Max and took a hard swing at the thug. Knocking him out cold.
"Ready to go?" he asked as if nothing had happened. Suddenly he started grinning.
"Yeah. Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.
"Yeah, why?"
"Because I've never seen you smile." She said herself grinning.
"What can I say, even I have my weakness." He said shrugging.
Suddenly he reached up and pushed a strand of hair back and tucked it behind her ear. As if realizing what he had done he quickly took his hand away and backed up a step. "We better get a move on if we want to go see Zane."
"Yeah," she said still looking misty eyed.
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