Authors Note: Check out my other M/A stories, just click on my name and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer. Not my characters but my universe so nuh!
EDGE OF LOVE
Chapter 5 - Thawing
Alec shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he tried to pay attention to the blond sitting across from him. She was the complete opposite from the type of woman he usually dated but after his falling out with Max he had gone and gotten hammered at the student bar and found himself with a dinner date with the voluptuous blonde opposite him.
Max… Alec sighed. The atmosphere in the apartment was starting to get to him. It had been two days since their fight and they were maintaining a cold silence to each other that was beginning to give him frostbite. I might have over reacted a bit. Alec acknowledged to himself. After all she was just being Max and shooting her mouth off. Its not like she knows about Rachel or anything…
Alec train of thought was broken off by a gentle cough by the blonde who was now looking at him with a slightly strained, expectant smile.
Fuck, what the hell was she talking about? Alec wondered frantically.
"So, how about them Tigers, huh?" Alec tried as his brain gave up in disgust. She frowned at him and he tried his golden standby and smiled charmingly. She melted like butter in the sun and Alec breathed a silent sigh of relief. Okay, your with a cute girl, Kendra might be a little too blonde but she's still good looking, just forget about Max for one evening and try to enjoy yourself…. Oh crap! Alec's pep talk came to an abrupt halt as the door to the cosy Italian restaurant opened and Max walked in followed closely by Professor Logan Cale.
Kendra noticed Alec's distraction and turned to see the source of it. To Alec's shock she let out a piercing squeal and stood up. Wide eyed, Alec saw a similar expression on Max and Logan's face as they noticed the pair.
"Oh my God Max!" Kendra walked over and enveloped Max in a over enthusiastic embrace that threatened to knock Max off her feet. "I haven't seen you in ages!"
Max tried to pull herself together as she attempted to smile was disentangling the other woman. "Kendra hi. Its good to see you again, how have you been?" Out of the corner of her eye Max spotted Alec standing and walking the few feet to join the other three.
"Ohhh." Kendra whispered. "So good and I'm here with a total hottie!" She rushed out before Alec reached her side. Seeing Max look at Alec, Kendra winked and mouthed the word 'hot' at her. Logan kept silent behind Max and watched the scene with a pained expression.
Alec tried to shut down the emotions to keep them from showing on his face. Cant she leave me one piece of my life untouched by her! Seeing Max again, dressed in that outfit of barely there red silk and a black skirt with a slit practically to heaven, did nothing to incline Alec to be the bigger person here. On the contrary the fact that she had worn that outfit, which just screamed sexy and sophisticated, for Logan Cale's benefit only fuelled his anger
"Max." Alec greeted coolly.
"Alec." Max managed in a civil tone and nod.
"Cale." Alec added so as not to seem rude.
"Alec." Another nod.
"Oh my! This is too perfect." Kendra grinned. "You guys all know each other. Max took the Intro Japanese course with me. We have to all sit together, this is such a happy coincidence!"
"Wha-"
"Actually-"
"Uh Kendra-"
But in flurry she was gone to speak to the waiter to have two tables moved together for them, leaving the three behind with their mouths flapping in the air. The tension rose steadily as the four of them were re seated and the waiter stood by to take their drink orders.
"I'll have a beer thanks. Kendra?" Alec asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh a beer too please." The blonde smiled widely at the cute Italian waiter who discreetly smiled back.
Max opened her mouth to order a beer when Logan spoke over her. "Do you have a 1968 French Marlow?" He asked, naming a very expensive, exclusive wine.
"Um no sir." The waiter pointed out, with a slightly confused look. "We have an excellent house wine however."
Max flushed lightly in embarrassment. "I'm happy with just a beer Logan."
Logan frowned at Max. "Don't be ridiculous. How about the 1979 Jacque Harlow?" The waiter shook his head apologetically. "The 1983 Kain?" Logan asked his voice hardened slightly in frustration.
The waiter looked strained and near tears. "Perhaps I should get the manger and you can ask him-"
"1965 Austrian Gellor?" It came out as more exasperated.
The waiter looked like he wanted to bolt and Alec winced in sympathy. "The ho- house wine is really lov-lovely." He stammered.
Logan scowled but nodded his head. "If the house wine is all they have that you have it will have to do. Red will be fine, thank you." Logan dismissed the waiter and resettled his features into a smile at Max. "I'm actually quite a bit of a wine buff Max I'm afraid."
"So am I." Alec muttered.
Logan looked sceptically at the younger man. "Oh, your into wine Alec. Really?"
Alec grinned. "Not at all. I meant I was afraid. For a moment I thought the waiter might piss his pants."
Max managed to turn an unexpected laugh into a cough as Kendra pealed with laughter and Logan glowered. Alec cast his eyes to the ceiling. I must have been a murdering son of a bitch in my former life to deserve this. He reflected.
*******************
The evening was progressing uncomfortably. Fortunately Kendra managed to talk enough for the rest of the table to put together. Alec found himself liking her simply for her lively spirit and openness, he hoped she would hang around as a friend after he told her he wasn't interested in her in a romantic sense.
As they drank their coffee Alec noticed Max and Logan speaking quietly in a hushed manner. Suspiciously he eyed them, tuning out Kendra's chatter. Alec noticed Logan's hand slipping under the table. He saw Max's eyes widen and clenched his hand into a fist.
Logan leant nearer Max and nuzzled the side of her face in a suggestive way while his hand massaged her thigh. Max smiled at him shyly but felt Alec's glare on her and pulled back from her professors touch. She really liked Logan, he had been so sweet to her, he was smart and good…
"Do you want to come back to my place?" Logan whispered into her ear, his lips just brushing her skin. Max's stomach fluttered at the question and she nodded biting her lower lip as she blushed lightly and took his hand in hers, entwining their fingers.
Alec heard the quietly spoken words and Max's response. He felt his stomach sicken and his heart twist. Was Max really going to leave with Logan, go back to his place and…
Reaching across the table Alec pretended to drop the bread basket and knocked over Max's glass of red wine. Max gasped and leapt back but the wine splashed over skirt anyway. "Alec!" She cried out in disbelief.
"Sorry." Alec said completely unapologetically. He stood and grabbed Max's arm, pulling her upright, while Logan tried to dab her lap with his napkin. "Let's get you cleaned up. Excuse us." Without missing a beat Alec steered the still protesting Max away from the table and away from Logan.
"What the hell do you think your doing!" Max hissed at Alec as he manhandled her into the back hallway of the restaurant. She wrenched her arm away from Alec's grip and crossed her arms defensively over her chest.
Alec ran a hand over his face, suddenly feeling very tired. "I'm sorry about that Max."
"Well you should be! Do you know how hard it is to get red wine out of clothes?" Max demanded.
"I'll pay for the dry cleaning! Why do you always have to be such a bitch! I apologised didn't I?"
Alec saw Max about to open her mouth, no doubt to make a comment that was going to make his strangle her and he cut her off quickly.
"I am sorry." He said sincerely. "I know we're officially not talking right now Max but-"
"Hey you're the one that flipped off the deep end the other night!" Mat interrupted.
Alec blanched at the mention of their argument but he took a deep breath. "If you want me to say sorry for that Max, you will be waiting a long time."
Max scowled at him but Alec continued resolved, if he wanted a friendship with Max then she had to know more than the tricks and treats veneer he portrayed to the world. Despite himself Alec had come to care about his infuriating room mate. "I just wanted to talk to you about Cale."
"Please. You don't know anything about love or relationships."
"I've been in love before Max." Alec said quietly and completely serious.
"With what, a blow up doll?"
Alec's expression flooded with pain and whatever else Max had been going to say stuck in her throat. Alec started to walk away without another word but stricken with guilt Max grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
"Alec I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" Max bit her lower lip.
Nodding Alec swallowed hard. "It ended badly…we- she-" Alec broke himself off and shook his head. "It doesn't matter, the point is I know we fight a lot but I care about you…Something as special as your first time…Max you need to be sure." Alec's hand moved of his own accord and he cupped her cheek gently in his strong hand.
Max looked up at him at the quiet, sincere tone of his voice. "Alec look, I'm sorry about what I said the other day, I know I can be a real bitch sometimes." Alec let out a small laugh at that and Max managed smile.
"Well, maybe its my charming personality."
Max laughed before becoming serious again. "I really like Logan, Alec." Max whispered in a small voice. She caught his eyes. "And I think he really likes me too."
Alec looked down into Max's hesitant warm eyes and he managed to shove his own feelings down. Maybe he was wrong, maybe Logan was a great guy who would make her really happy. Maybe.
Alec let his mask slip into place and held out his hands in surrendering gesture. "Well never let it be said that I stood in the way of true love." He grinned at Max and was pleased to see an answering smile. "Lets get back to our dates shall we?"
"Yeah." Max looked sideways at her room mate. "Are you alright Alec."
His mask wavered for a moment before he smirked at her and slung an arm around her shoulder. "I'm always alright."
TBC.