Disclaimer: right.
A/N: My reviewers are so clever!
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I won't ever tell the world that I don't belong,
Please don't ever tell the world that I don't belong.
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Chapter 5: Don't Belong

- Zee and Maxs Apartment, 10AM -

*

Walking in through the beautiful doors of Zees apartment, Max looked around in awe. His place was beautiful, better than Logans. God, this guy must be rich.

Tommy loved the place. Every time he turned a corner he would have something new to rant on about. He couldn't get enough of the place. It was like a candy store.

"Great place Zee." Max said smiling at the man in front of her. "Yeah, thats why I need help paying for it." He said smiling at her. Max returned the smile, "I bet."

She continued to look around the place, and got comfortable in her new room. It was so much better than her old one. Way better.

Zee slowly opened the door to her bedroom and peeked inside, "Everything alright in here?" He asked. Max nodded, "Everything is perfect."

Zee smiled, "Figured you'd like it." He walked in and sat at the foot of her bed, "I was going to give up this place awhile back. But I love it too much."

Max stared at the man in front of her, taking his features in deeply. Their was something there, unexplainable. His eyes were penetrating, and he was so handsome for a human. No offense, but, this guy was flawless.

"What? Do I have something on my face?" He asked, smirking. Max chuckled, "No, I was just thinking." Zee nodded, "Can I ask what about?"

Max smiled mischeviously, "No." She said matter-of-factly. Zee laughed, "Well thanks."

"Hey, where has Mrs. J been lately?" Max asked curiously. Zee shrugged, "I guess that she's not feeling well. I really hope she gets better though, cause if not then the government gets the bar. She'd hate that."

"Well I really hope shes okay. Shes a nice lady." Zee nodded, "So, how did you find yourself here in California?" Zee asked out of suspicion.

"Well, I guess I just couldn't handle my life back in Seattle. It was getting really hectic, I had to take a break. I don't know when I'll be going back though." She had no idea why she just confessed what she did. And she had no idea why she was sitting here with a complete stranger, confessing everything to him.

But oddly enough, he didn't feel like a stranger.

"I understand." He said quietly, his eyes staring at the blankets intently. Max took the opportunity to take in his features once more. God, why did he look so familiar?

"I should be unpacking now." Max said getting up off the bed suddenly. Zee stood up also, "Yeah, we have a lot to do this week. I'll be in the living room if you need me."

Max nodded, "Okay."

After Zee left, Max sat on the bed once more. She didn't care about unpacking, she just needed a reason for him to leave. The way he looked so familiar made her uneasy.

She knew him, she had to.

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- Jampony, 10AM -

"So what did Max say?" Alec asked nervously. He was so nervous that his hands were shaking uncontrollably.

"Nuttin' boo. She just left me a message saying she'd try to call back later." Great. Just peachy. The one time Max would call, no one would answer.

And he didn't even know why he cared so much.

"Oh." Alec said. Original Cindy noticed the hint of sadness in his voice that wasn't there moments ago. "Don't worry boo. She'll be back soon enough and you'll get to bug her once more, and she'll get to yell at you too. Everything will be back to normal."

Thats the thing, Alec knew it never would be the same again. Before, he never wanted to admit his feelings for Max. But now, they just didn't seem to disappear. No matter how much alcohol he had or how many girls he'd slept with.

"I should go." Alec said. His voice was soft, almost like he didn't even know he had said it. He just turned around and walked out the door, leaving OC and Sketchy to watch him in curiousity.

-

After getting off work that day, Alec walked into his apartment, sitting on the couch, trying to find a solution to his women problems. Or should I say, woman.

Closing his eyes, she invaded his mind yet again. He couldn't get her face out of his head. It was like she was everywhere. Everywhere but here.

"Fuck it!" Alec yelled aloud, "She left, not me. Why should I be feeling sorry? Hell, if anything I should be happy because I won't be hearing her complain to me all the time now." Alec said, snickering to the wall with doubt dripping through every word.

"From now on, I'm forgetting about her. My new life will be just fine without her."

Closing his eyes yet again, he drifted off into a deep slumber.

*Alec opened his eyes. He seemed to be in a large bathroom, because their was a large mirror and bathroom stalls. "What the hell?" Alec asked himself, looking around.

He glanced in the mirror and noticed that his reflection was not moving. Baffled, he stared at the mirror intently.

Suddenly, a hand shot out from the mirror, his hand. It grasped his neck and was choking him, not showing any signs of letting go or backing down.

Alec coughed, trying to get the strong grip from him. But it was no use.

His own reflection smiled evilly at him. "You don't belong Alec." The reflection whispered. Alec tried to get free, but couldn't even move.

Suddenly, the reflection was no longer his, but Max's. "You don't belong Alec." It said again, this time sounding exactly like Max. "You don't belong here. Your a screw up! Thats it!"

Alec looked at her horrified, but did nothing. Soon, his eyes were closing, and before he knew it, he had hit the bathroom floor.*

Alec jumped out of bed gasping for air, clutching his throat. He yelled muffled noises, but weren't even audible.

What the hell was that? Alec was so horrified from that he was shivering continuously.

"No more. No more dreams." He said grabbing his coat and walking out the door.

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- RockHard, 10PM -

"Oh my god, is this place always so crowded?" Max asked, walking into Zee's garage below the bar. Zee laughed, "Its only Thursday. Tomorrow it will be packed."

His voice didn't carry the same melodic tune that it once had, and decided to ask, "Whats the matter?" Zee looked up into her eyes tiredly, "Mrs. J isn't doing real good." He confessed.

"Is she okay?" Max asked worriedly. As soon as the words came out, she felt like an idiot. "Oh, nevermind. I know the answer to that."

"Where is she anyways?" Max asked Zee. He pointed up, "Her office I guess. That or she is in her bedroom."

Max said goodbye and headed up towards Mrs. J's room.

-

Walking in, Max looked around for the old woman. "Mrs. J? You here?" She heard a muffled sound coming from the left, and followed it.

Sitting in a corner was Mrs. J herself, shaking violently. "Hello child." She said when Max approached her. "Oh my god, whats wrong with you?"

"Nothing child. I've been like this for 5 years. Its nothing new." Max nodded, "Do you want me to get you anything because I could?"

The old woman shook her head, "Sit down child." Max obliged and sat across from her on the floor. The word child again annoyed her, but she hid it.

"Now I've been trying to sell this place for years, but I never found the right owner, until now." Mrs. J said, smiling sadly at Max. "I don't understand." Max said honestly.

"I mean, your the perfect owner Maxine. I've been watching you, and you have the talent. Your memory is so fantastic, and I can see right through you. Your a genuine young woman, and you'd make a fine young owner of this place. I know you'd take care of it when I am gone." She said patting her hand.

Max shook her head violently, "No, I can't do this. I was never good at managing things. I'm good at being told what to do. I'm inferior, not superior. It's always been that way."

The lady smiled, "You'll do fine." She smiled and got up, walking out the door to leave Max to her thoughts. "Oh, and one more thing. Take care of Zee too, he's my pride and joy that boy is. I know you'll take care of him too." She said, winking at her and leaving.

Max's mind was spinning out of control. This was way too weird, and it was going on way too quickly. "Why me?" Max asked herself.

She sighed and got up, cautiously walking down to the busy bar.

"Hey boss." Ty the bodyguard said. "Hey Ty. How did you know?"

"Mrs. J told me. I just saw her leaving." Max nodded in understanding, "It was so sudden, I have no idea what to do."

Ty smiled, "Get Zee, he'll help you out. You really don't have much to do, except making sure everyone is doing their job, boss."

Max smirked, "I'll go get him."

-

After a long, hectic day at work, Max arrived at Zee and her place around 3AM. Max sighed, going into her bedroom and lying down on her bed for a moment.

But a moment was all it took for her to fall fast asleep.

*
"Max! Your leaving me?" Zane asked, his ice blue eyes boring into her. Max smiled, "Sorry big brother. Got a mission to go on. I will see you later when I get back."

"Promise?" He asked her. "Promise!" Max said hugging him tightly. Following a rather large man, Max waved goodbye to Zane and her other siblings. She turned around and saw him wave at her until the white doors closed, leaving her all alone in a large room.

"You look so familiar." Max said to Zee. Images of Zane and Zee flashed through her mind like lightning.
*

She snapped her eyes open and gasped.

Zee was Zane.

She was so horrified. Sure she had so many dreams, but their was only so much she could take. Perking her ears at a commotion nearby, Max got up and walked out of her room to see where it was coming from.

Walking through the hallway, Max walked into the kitchen. There, she saw Zee sitting down reading the newspaper. "What are you doing?" She asked, her voice echoing through the silence.

Zee jumped, obviously surprised. "Oh, hey. Whats up?" Max raised her eyebrow, "I don't know, you tell me." He grinned, "I was just reading the paper." Max smirked, "At 3 in the morning? And I thought I had sleeping problems."

Zee shrugged, "I'm not the sleeping type." Max stared into his eyes intensly. Of course, why hadn't she noticed it before? No one else had those eyes.

"You okay?" Zee asked her, now standing right in front of her. She didn't know when or how he got to be right in front of her, but he was there. "Zane?" She said, her voice crackled.

He froze. No, she couldn't know. Their was nothing that could have her thinking that he was in any way Zane. "What did you say?" He asked, making sure he heard right.

Max smiled, knowing she was right. Without warning, she leaped up and hugged herself tightly to his masculine body. She let go and looked into his eyes, "It really is you Zane, isn't it?"

He squinted his eyes, trying to figure out who exactly she was. Then he broke into a huge grin, "Max?" He questioned. Max smiled and nodded, "It really is you." She said touching his face.

He buried his face into the crook of her neck and didn't let go.

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- Somewhere Up Town, Seattle, 12PM -

"Sketch, do you think it's possible that I'm in love?" Alec asked out of curiousity. Sketchy shrugged, "I guess. I mean, anythings possible right?"

"Thats not what I mean. I mean, do you think that I could be in love? Thats why I've been so crazy and down this past week?"

"Sure I guess. That or your just crazy." Alec chuckled, " I wonder if Max will come back." Sketchy smiled, "So your in love with Max eh?" He cocked his eyebrow. "What? No. Max? No."

"Whatever man. I can see it in your eyes." Silence developed as the two walked down the streets of Seattle. After a long moment Alec decided to ask, "Are you serious? I'm really in love with Max?"

Sketchy laughed, "You got it bad."

"I mean I know I cared about her, but not loved her."

"Loved who?" The familiar voice caught Alecs attention, and he slowly turned around. "Logan." The way he said his name was too funny. He said it out of pure dread, hatred towards him. Logan had this way of annoying the hell out of you, just by standing there.

"Who do you love?" Logan asked again. "None of your business." Logan shrugged, "I've been trying to get ahold of you for awhile. I haven't seen Max in a week, I'm worried."

"She went to---" Alec clasped a hand over Sketchy's mouth so he wouldn't reveal the true identity of her location. He knew Max didn't want him to know. Being the obsessive compulsive he was, he would run after her.

"She went to her cousins. See she got this call from a relative, saying she needed help. I guess she's somewhere in Seattle, though Max didn't say where. She should be back any day."

"Odd, I wonder why she never told me about this." Hmm, wonder why.

"She was probably in a rush. Being Max, she tends to forget things." Logan nodded, "Yeah, she forgot to drop me off those papers."

"What papers?" Alec asked curiously. "Nothing, its nothing big. Just your basic information." Logan brushed off, "Well, I better go. I have things to do, unlike you."

"Oh yeah, can't keep your computer waiting. It might *gasp* shut down." Sketchy said, humoring himself, and Alec. "Funny, really." Logan said sarcastically, walking off.

"What an ass." Sketchy muttered. Alec laughed, "You can't tell me he don't annoy you either?" Sketchy said unbelievably.

Alec shrugged, "I'm used to him. Besides, Max made me like him." Sketchy smirked, "Going to Crash later?" Alec nodded, "Yeah. Got to find me a woman tonight. I can't stand this 'obsessing over one woman' thing."

"Yeah, or you'd be Logan." Alec laughed, "I would wouldn't I?"

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- RockHard, The Next Morning -

"Zee, is this place way too dull, or is it just me?" Max asked looking around the place. Since it was Friday, they had to play karaoke, and had to set up a band for tonight. And Max decided to tidy the place up.

Zee shrugged, "I guess it could use some color." Max grinned, "Thats what I thought. Does Mrs. J have anything here to decorate it with? I'm thinking some colorful lights, a DJ, and some sparkle would be good."

"We have lots of stuff in the basement." He said, pointing to a nearby door. Max smiled and walked down the steps.

When she was down there, she found 4 boxes, all with things she could use. "Hey give me a hand down here." Max said.

Three hours later the place looked brand new. Mrs. J would be coming by in an hour to see if everything was going okay.

"I think I can handle this whole boss thing." Zee chuckled, "So wheres the DJ?" Max thought for a moment, then grinned, "Tommy?" Zee smiled, "Perfect."

-

That night the place was more packed than yesterday. Mrs. J loved the decoration, and suggested a few more ideas. They had the place perfect before it opened.

Tommy loved being DJ. Max gave him a black cap to put on, along with some baggy clothes. He played the right music, which also surprised Max. After all, he was only 10.

"Zee, you going to stick around?" Max asked to Zane, who was getting ready to head downstairs. "Nah, the whole night club just isn't for me."

"Please?" Max asked, giving him her best 'I-can't-do-it-alone' look. He sighed and turned back around and sat on a stool.

"What can I get ya?" Max asked, winking at the twenty something man in front of her. He smiled, "First, you could tell me your name. Then, you could guarantee me a night with you pretty lady."

Max inwardly rolled her eyes. Were all men like this? "The names Maxine. That's all I can guarantee." Okay, it was half a lie.

"Fine, just get me a scotch." Max nodded and got him a scotch, then made her way over to the cash register. "I don't get it. Your the boss, and the bartender?" Zane asked.

"What can I say, I'm a hard-worker." Zane smiled, "Right. Oh, I want you to meet my friend Layna." He said motioning to a dark haired and dark skinned woman. "Sup boo?"

Max mentally smiled, this girl was a lot like OC. This was great, she had Tommy, who reminded her of Alec, and now Layna, who reminded her of OC.

"Hi Layna, I'm Max." Layna smiled, "You can call me Lee. Everyone does."

"So your the boss of this place now?" Layna asked, changing the subject. "Yeah." Max said nodding. "Thats great boo."

"Are you straight?" Max asked out of curiousity. "I mean, I don't mean to be rude, but I was just wondering."

"No, but I can be if he's hott enough. Like Zee here, but he's like my best friend." Layna chuckled. Zee smirked, "Thanks, I guess."

Max laughed, "You would love my friend Original Cindy. Anyways, I got to get back to work. Nice meeting you Lee." Layna nodded, "Likewise Max."

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A/N: Haha, since I have someone that is a lot like Alec, and someone whos a lot like OC now, all I got to do is find someone a lot like Logan. God, who could be as bad as Logan? lol...
And No, this is not a logan-bashing fic. Tho I wouldn't mind. Sketchy really is the only one making fun of him, just cause I had to throw in SOMETHING.

And to my reviewers: You guessed right! Zee IS Zane. I guess I gave you clues right? Him being named Zee, being in California, and sort of his features I guess?

Thanks for the wonderful reviews, and keep them coming please!