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The chemicals between us, the walls that lie between us.

Lying in this bed.

The chemicals displaced, their is no lonelier place.

Than lying in this bed.

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Chapter 7: The Chemicals Between Us

----Four Months Later----

It had only been a few months yet it felt like years since he'd seen her. Her face was only a mere remembrance in his mind, fading fast.

Funny, in 4 months almost nothing had changed. Max was still gone, OC was still getting a few phone calls a month, and those too were fading. Logan however, was a complete mess. He had the cure for 4 months now, but it helped none with her gone, Max still didn't speak to him.

However, he did find out by OC that he was the real reason she left. She let him have it. He didn't know where she was though, that's the information everyone refused to share with him. He'd been trying to find her, but he had no such luck.

Logan was beating himself up over it all, and he looked like hell run over. Even Alec felt a little bad for the guy, but didn't show it. He realized that Logan truly hurt her. He'd stepped on her heart, with Asha. Their was no way he could forgive him.

And now here he was, wallowing in despair over the pitiful nothing he liked to call life.

"Alec?" The slurred voice of Sketchy questioned. They were at Crash, doing the usual. Drinking and playing pool. Alec hadn't slept with a girl for two months, and that was highly unusual. The feelings he had for Max had long faded, but a little of it was still there.

"What?" He replied absently. He hadn't shaved for days, and was starting to grow a goatee.

"It's your turn." Sketchy pointed out. They were playing pool, and Alec was of course, winning. He nodded and took his shot, doing anything but concentrating on the game at hand, and he missed.

Neither could believe their eyes, Alec had never missed.

Sketchy laughed whole-heartedly, "Well that's odd." He stated. "Your thinking about her again aren't you?" He sighed.

"Not really,"

He smirked. "Then what are you thinking about?"

Alec shrugged, "I just - I just wonder what she's doing right now, or if she thinks about me." He sighed, "Of course not. I'm going over to Joshua's."

Before Sketchy could protest, he grabbed his denim jacket and headed out the door.

-

"Hey Joshua, you here?" Alec asked, stepping into the house. Looking around the room, it was full of paintings, but no Joshua. He browsed through the unfamiliar paintings and his eyes settled on one in particular.

His hand absently reached out to trace the image. It was a painting of Max. It was painted in perfection, just like the person he knew she was.

Letting his arm rest at his side, he headed downstairs. Letting out a shaky breath, he placed his fingers over the piano keys, and he began to play. Playing made him remember so many things, but forget them as well.

He started playing slow, sad, and softly. Then, he played louder and faster. A hand on his shoulder made him spin around in alarm, eyes focusing on the sad canine in front of him. "I feel it too Alec." Joshua said. sadly. Alec had lost his companion, and Joshua had lost his little fella.

He gave Alec a quick hug and prodded upstairs, Alec following soon after.

"How you holding up?" Alec asked, sitting on the couch. Joshua shrugged and sat in the kitchen, picking up the book he had been reading earlier. "Big fella okay. Miss little fella."

He sighed, "I do too Josh. I really do." The painting of Max was sitting across the room from him, practically staring him down. It made him very uneasy. "So what have you been up to lately Josh?" Alec asked, trying to make small talk.

Joshua shrugged, "Not much. Reading. Painting."

Alec smiled slightly. "Josh?" He questioned.

"Yes Alec?"

"You know, that picture of Max you painted is really good. It looks just like her." He said.

Joshua smiled and nodded, "Joshua paint little fella very good."

Alec laughed nervously, "You sure do. You know, Logan may be interested in that..." He said.

Joshua smiled, "Really?"

Alec nodded, "Yeah so, I could always go give it to him. That is unless you intend to keep it?"

Joshua shook his head, "No. Joshua has lots of paintings of little fella."

Alec smiled. "Great, I'll be sure to give it to him." He walked briskly over to the painting and picked it up, walking out the door. Joshua just laughed softly at the transgenic. Alec could never fool him.

---------------------------------------------

The air was cold that day, colder than it ever should have been. The wind blew so fiercely and the sky was gray. It fit their moods perfectly.

Max watched with sadness as Zane stood there, emotionless, in front of the grave. He said nothing the entire day, and hardly spoken a word the entire week. Everyone knew it was bound to happen soon, but it would never prepare them for the agony that would come afterwards.

Max walked over to him cautiously and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked down at her with stormy eyes. His face may have not shown anything, but his eyes showed it all. Tears brimmed his eyes and they threatened to spill down his face.

Tommy was standing on his left, holding his hand fiercely. The whole situation was awkward, and the hurt, she wasn't used to this.

Standing before the grave of Mrs. Judy Bloom, the three said their silent goodbyes to the lady they come to know as a mother to them.

Zane, however, had it worse. Max had only known Mrs. J for a mere 4 months. Zane knew her his whole life.

His voice crackled and he sobbed openly, unable to keep the tears in. Max quickly grabbed him and held him tight, whispering soothingly in his ear. "It's going to be okay." He wrapped his arms around her and held on for his life.

She held him like that for a long while.

"Maxie?" Zane whispered, still hugging her.

"Yeah?" She asked.

He pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Promise me - promise me you won't leave me." His light blue eyes were sad and pleading.

Without a second thought, she answered, "I'll never leave you." He hugged her again and she could only hug him back.

Not long after, Zane finally became composed again and he said his goodbyes to the only woman he'd known for his entire life. Sniffling, Tommy grabbed a hold of Max's hand. She smiled reassuringly down at him.

Zane walked back over to the two and grabbed a hold of her other hand, and the three walked back to their car. He gave another glance back before hopping back into the car. And the sky turned slightly blue.

"I have to get to work today," Max said apologetically, "But if you need me to stay--"

"I'll be fine. Me and Tommy will just play some games or something. You go to work." Zane reassured her.

"You sure?" She asked worriedly. He smiled softly and she nodded, saying goodbye and heading over to Rock Hard.

-

Max sighed and sat down. Today was a busy night, and all she could think of doing was to go home. She didn't want to leave Zane alone, not in that condition.

Suddenly, her thoughts drifted to Seattle. It had been forever since she'd called OC. About a month. She really, really needed to call her. Max had never intended to stay here this long. She hadn't intended to become so close to other people and find her brother either.

Walking over to the payphone, Max dialed the oh-so-familiar number and sighed as she waited for the phone to pick up.

"Lo?" OC's voice came across the phone.

"Hey OC."

Their was a long, long pause. "Hey Max. What's going on?" She asked. Funny, she hadn't called her boo, and she didn't seem too happy.

"Not much, just wondering how everyone is doing down there, I--"

"Were managing." She cut her short.

Max nodded and cleared her throat, "Look OC, I was wondering, do you want to come and visit me here?"

"What?" OC asked incredulously.

"Yeah, I would love to see you guys."

OC smirked, "If you wanted to see us that bad, you'd of came home already. What's wrong with coming down here?"

Max sighed, "OC, I found my brother. And I met some great friends too. I really don't know if I can go back."

"So you meet some new friends and suddenly theirs no Seattle anymore, is that it?" Max was wondering what OC was getting at, it was so unlike her to be like this. "Look Max, you've already made up your mind that your not coming back here. Why you continue to rub it in my face I don't know." She sighed, "I got to go."

And she hung up.

Max cursed, she didn't mean for any of this to happen. Truthfully, she wished it hadn't. But she found her brother, and now, he really needed her. And not to mention Tommy, she was really getting attached to the annoying brat.

But honestly, she was still afraid to see Logan. Every time she thought of him she remembered that day. It wasn't so much that she was angry, or still moping, it was that she still cared for him. Not in the way she used to, and that's what scared her.

Logan was supposed to be her love, her life, the only one. Why in the hell did she feel otherwise? She was supposed to feel heartbroken and hurt that he had betrayed her. She didn't miss being with him, she still cared for him, but that was it.

She huffed and walked back over to the bar. Today was going to be a long, long day.

-------------------------------------

"Hurry the hell up, I ain't got all day boo." Original Cindy scolded to Alec, who was taking an extra long time at getting his stuff packed.

After the interesting call from Max, OC decided to visit. She had her reasons to be angry with her boo, but she'd wanted to see her since she'd left. Now was as good of a time as any. So she asked Alec to go along, he declined. She had to force him.

Alec walked out with his bag and he threw it in the trunk and sat in the passengers seat. He sighed and rested his head against the chair. "I cannot believe I'm going to see her." He said aloud.

OC chuckled, "You'll be fine."

He shook his head furiously. "The Alec that didn't care would be fine. Me? I have feelings for her."

She smirked, "So now you admit it."

"Just drive." He muttered.

-

"So, how in the hell do you know where Max lives?" Alec asked. They were in California now, and it was a long, excruciating drive. Alec hadn't been hit upside the head or scolded so many times in his life. Well, not for four months at least.

"I don't." OC said, flipping through a phone book.

"Well then how in the hell do we find her?" He asked incredulously.

"I know where she works, she mentioned the place to me. It should be in the phone book."

She flipped through it and finally, spotted what she was looking for. "Yes! Rock Hard, its on 316 Maple Drive."

Alec raised an eyebrow, "Isn't that a rather, inappropriate name?"

"COME ON!" He raised his hands in surrender and hopped into the car.

"SLOW DOWN!" Alec shouted to OC moments later, who was flying through traffic like a bat out of hell. He grabbed a hold of the dash for support, "You passed it!" He yelled, looking at the bar as it flew by.

She came to a screeching halt, did a 360, and headed to the bar. As soon as the car stopped Alec stumbled out of the car, "I'm driving next time!" He shouted at her. She ignored him and walked into the club.

"Is it just me or does this place remind you of Crash?" Alec asked curiously, inspecting the place. Indeed, it did.

"Hey, do you know where I can find the owner?" OC asked a dark haired girl.

"Can I help you?" The girl asked politely.

"Yeah, I'm looking for Max. I'm her friend OC, I came to visit." Alec coughed behind her. "And this is Alec, he came as well."

The girls face lit up, "So your Alec." The girl said, looking him up and down. "She's upstairs. I'll get her." She walked over to where the steps led to upstairs and yelled, "Maxine!"

Alec snorted at the name. It figured, she was too self-centered that she couldn't even change her lousy name to something a little less noticeable.

The rest of his thoughts couldn't be processed as the girl that had haunted his every dream came walking down the stairs at an excruciating low pace at that exact moment.

It seemed hot in here. Was she in heat? He felt something stir in his pants and blushed slightly, not taking his eyes off her. Her appearance changed a little. Her long straight hair was a little shorter and had a curl to it, which was not a bad look on her at all. That and she actually wasn't wearing black clothes.

"Original Cindy?" Max asked with doubt. She was standing still at the top of the stairs, mouth agape. She looked beside her and her eyes came in contact with him. Right at that moment he had wanted nothing more than to curl up and die. This was all too much.

"Alec?" The words escaped her mouth in the exact same fashion as OC's, except a little softer. She smiled and bound down the steps, meeting them both in a tight embrace. "I thought you weren't coming!" Max said, pulling away from the two.

"And pass up the offer to see my boo? Girl you crazy."

Max smiled and hugged her friend. "It's great to see you too Alec!" She chirped, giving him a tight hug. This was all rather surprising, yet nice and he couldn't help but smile and wrap his hands securely around her.

"Sit down, have a drink or two." She said, ushering them to the bar. "I'll get the rest of the night off so I can spend it with you guys." She winked, going to the bar to get a pitcher of beer.

"So, what have you been up to lately?" Alec asked awkwardly.

Max smiled and shrugged, "Not much, just hanging with Tommy and Zee mostly." His heart felt heavy as it fell down to the pit of his stomach. Those were male names if he wasn't mistaken.

He cleared his throat and drank his beer, suddenly not feeling able to talk. "Nice place you got here boo, I can see why you like it." Original Cindy said, eyeing a few girls here and there. "Damn, if only Seattle had this many fine females walkin' round you know?" She asked.

Max laughed, it was nice to have her friends back. Although she did happen to notice that Alec was acting a little on the strange side. "You okay boo?" OC asked to Alec.

He nodded, "Hey I think I am going to play a game of pool, either of you two want to join me?" He asked, standing up suddenly. They both shook their head and he shrugged, walking to the pool table.

Max unconsciously watched as he set up to play a game and a stranger walked over and offered to play him. Alec nodded and the two played, the man letting Alec break.

"Bad move." OC murmured, taking a sip of beer. She shook her head and looked over to Max, noticing whom her gaze rest upon. She looked back over at Alec and to Max, her mouth agape. "You sure have changed boo."

Max snapped her head to Original Cindy and furrowed her eyebrows, "What?"

OC grinned, "I'm not blind sugar. I see the way you looking at your boy."

Max was about to re-state that Alec was in fact not her boy, before pondering the obvious. When she had seen Alec, she didn't feel annoyance or hatred. She felt happy to see her friend, and not to mention he looked amazing in his black shirt and denim jeans, with the stubble on his chin.

Her cheeks flushed as she realized the turn her mind was taking, her eyes looking over Alec appreciatively from the opposite end of the room. She heard OC bust into laughter, obviously noticing the way Max was drooling over him.

"You got it bad, boo." Original Cindy stated, finishing off her beer.

Alec returned a little later, stuffing a wad of money in his pocket, his silly grin plastered on his face. How she did miss seeing that grin. Before, she used to want to slap it off his face because he did it too much. Now, she kind of liked it.

Max felt like hitting her head repeatedly on the table, hating the way she couldn't stop thinking about Alec. Not even for a minute.

"I'll get the next round." Alec said, taking the empty pitcher of beer.

"You don't have to." Max shrugged.

"I want to." Alec winked, walking off towards the bar with Max staring after him.

"Just tell him how you feel." Original Cindy said.

"What? No!" Max almost yelled, appalled with the idea of telling Alec how drool-able he was. The bastard was so arrogant he'd just smirk and think nothing of it, except to tease her about it 10 years from now. She dreaded the thought.

And truthfully, she denied the fact that she liked him. It was just infatuation, a small crush. Surely she'd get over it. Alec was nothing special anyways, right?

"Why not?" OC asked.

"Alec is a playboy. He wants girls for one reason. I can't have a relationship with someone like that." She said. "Besides, I don't like Alec. It's just a little crush. I haven't seen him in awhile."

OC smirked, "Right, sugar. Like I'll believe that one. Besides, you said it yourself you haven't seen him in awhile, don't you think he might have changed?"

Max's eyes wandered over to the bar, where Alec was flirting shamelessly with the waitress. She was leaning over towards him, all the while touching him in different places, Alec looking mighty comfortable.

"No." Max said flatly. She gestured to the bar and OC noticed Alec flirting with the waitress.

"Theirs nothing going on." OC shrugged. Max raised a brow, noticing how the pair's hands were roaming in all sorts of places. "I'm sure." Max mumbled.

"You know, theirs one good thing about this bar." Max began.

"What's that?"

"It's my bar right? So I can kick Alec's ass out anytime I please." Max finished with a satisfied grin.

*

Alec was loving the attention he was getting. Not only by the pretty waitress flirting with him, but with Max. He could practically feel her burning gaze on his back, and he grinned to himself in satisfaction.

He didn't really like the blonde, but it did succeed it making Max jealous. So if she was in fact jealous, she had to have some sort of feelings for him. Seeing her squirm and hate the attention he was giving the blonde was too much to ask for.

And one minute he was talking to the girl, not necessarily listening though but talking nonetheless, and the next he was ripped away from the chat with his companion.

"What the hell?" Alec questioned, confused with why Max was dragging him away from the blonde and outside, with OC following with a grin.

"Sorry to spoil your fun Alec, but their is no flirting with the waitresses in my bar. It's time to go home." Max said sternly with her hands on her hips. Okay so the dirty talk the waitress kept feeding him DID in fact affect him, the bulge in his pants proved it, but it was only because he was thinking of a certain someone else while listening.

"Are you insane? I have no home! My home is miles from here!" Alec yelled, obviously frustrated, yet satisfied with her obvious jealousy.

"Point. And that's why we're heading to my place. And you are in NO way to speak to Tommy. He's already got enough garbage in that brain of his, just talking with you will heighten it."

She got in the car and drove off, OC and Alec close behind. They drove for about 5 miles before stopping in front of a nice sized apartment. The three got out of the car and followed Max up the stairs and into Zane's apartment.

"Max? Is that you?" Alec heard a gruff male voice say as he entered the apartment. He couldn't help but hate the feeling of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. Why was she staying with a guy? And two guys to say the least.

"Yeah, Zane, I'm here." Max replied as Zane flicked on the lights. Alec was met with a man with dark hair, and dark skin looking quite similar to Max. The only thing dramatically different were the color of their eyes. Zane put a t-shirt on and walked over, seemingly curious.

"Zane, these are my friends from Seattle; Original Cindy and Alec. Guys, this is Zane, my brother."

Alec had no idea what relief flowed through his veins at that exact moment at the word brother, very happy with the fact she didn't say boyfriend or something similar. Although, if he was correct Zack was Max's brother, and his feelings for Max were a little more than brotherly love.

"Hey." Zane said, sticking his hand out and shaking OC and Alec's hands. "It's great to finally meet some old friends of Max's. She's told me a lot about you guys."

They all went into the living room, Max fetching them all something to drink. It was getting late, and it was obvious they had woken Zane from his sleep. "So what brings you down here?" Zane asked after a long moment.

"Just visitin' Max." Original Cindy said, taking a look around. "Nice place boo."

Max smiled and sat down, Tommy trailing right behind her.

Alec looked at the kid curiously, seeing as how he looked like a 10 year old gangster with his baggy pants, sweater, and sideways hat. He was chewing gum noisily, sprawled out on the couch in comfort, looking casually at Original Cindy and Alec.

"Yo." He said, giving OC a wink of appreciation and looking her up and down.

She crossed her arms and smirked, glaring in the process. "Max, you might want to tell your little mini boo to keep his eyes above the horizon unless he wants Original Cindy to lay the smack down on his ass."

The grin on Tommy's face disappeared as he looked at her with shock and disbelief.

Max laughed whole-heartedly, "Don't mind Tommy, he's going through these stages of teenage years, trying to figure out what his sense of style is. This week he's a Nelly impersonator."

Alec raised an eyebrow, "And what about last week?"

"Men in black." Zane said flatly, a smile creeping on his face at the memories. "Wasn't quite successful."

"Fa rizzle." Tommy interjected.

"What the hell did he just say?" Alec asked, eyeing the boy sitting across from him.

"We're still trying to figure that one out." Zane said quickly.

"So what boo, are you playing mommy now or something?" Original Cindy questioned, still giving Tommy a glare when he looked her way.

"Hell no!" Max said quickly. "You see, when I was traveling here to California, he kind of followed me, and I haven't been able to get rid of him. Call him a pet."

"I'ma jet outta dis joint. Night homies." Tommy said, faking a yawn and heading to his room.

"Peace." Alec said, causing the other three occupants of the room to stare at him bewildered. "What? I've been hanging around Sketchy too long..."

"Whatever." Max rolled her eyes. "It's getting late, so I'm going to bed too. I can fold out the couches for you guys to sleep on, and I'll fetch you some blankets."

Alec, feeling himself slightly light-headed, watched her retreating back. Unaware of Zane staring at him, quite bemused, he stood beside Alec and whispered, "You like her, don't you?"

Alec snapped out of his trance and looked up at Zane, "What?" 'Like I'm going to pour out all my secrets to you' Alec thought bitterly, sitting down dejectedly on the couch.

"Just stating the obvious man." Zane said, before leaning down eye level to Alec. "But if you even think about hurting her, I'll make sure they will find your body parts scattered all through Seattle. Got that?"

Alec was a bit taken aback by the threat, before a cheery smile swept back on Zane's face and he nudged him in the side, "Just talk to her."

Alec ran a hand through his disheveled hair, trying to grasp all the words to say that he needed to. And a mere second later, Max emerged with a handful of blankets and pillows and sat them down.

"There ya go. If you guys need more, let me know. Night guys." She went to turn around when Alec found himself blurting out her name before he could stop himself.

"Max?"

She turned around and looked at him expectantly, her brown eyes penetrating into his own. He debated just saying 'I love you' right there, but figured it too forward. Or maybe just kissing her would be better? No, it just might cause some serious damage afterwards. Or maybe just a light conversation, and telling her how he felt?

As the millions of options raced through his head, he found himself unable to tell her. "Uh, night Max."

A dazzling smile lit up her face and she turned around, walking into her bedroom and closing the door. Letting out a breath he hadn't known he was holding, Alec slumped down on the couch in defeat.

Across the room on the other couch, Original Cindy sat looking at him with amusement. "Real smooth, boo. Real smooth."

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A/N: *ducks from the various things being thrown at with*

I know it's been months since I've updated. I've been busy, and I recently moved, and I'm even pregnant now so, you can tell I've been definitely busy. The fact my muse has disappeared doesn't help. You find it, give it to me, please? Anyways, hope this chapter wasn't a disappointment for all you guys that are actually still reading... and just note; this story is almost finished.