Title: The Other Side
Rated: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dark Angel characters.
A/N: *~*~*~* means that the story is being told from a different POV. It's not too difficult to figure out whose.
About half an hour later Original Cindy and I arrive at Crash and enter into the talking and socializing of the club. My senses immediately heighten and I look for Alec in the crowd. I see him and sketch sitting at a table waiting for me and OC to show. He looks up and spots us. He nods in our directions and jerks his head toward the table in an invitation to join them. I make my way to the table with OC close behind. She swiftly overtakes me as we approach the table and sits next to Sketchy. This leaves one available seat: the spot beside Alec. I shoot Cindy a look and take a seat.
"Hey," I say as I fill a glass from the pitcher of beer on the table.
"Hi, Max. Didn't know if you'd show." Alec smiles at me and I take a sip of beer. As I put my glass down Alec reaches for the pitcher and his hand brushes my arm. Immediately goose bumps appear on my skin and I can feel a blush staining my cheeks. Why can't I just get this under control?
I look up to see Alec staring at me. He almost looks concerned. It's like we're in our own world staring into each other's eyes until Sketch decides to interrupt the moment with a loud belch.
"You idiot!" OC says as she slaps Sketchy on the head.
"What? What did I do?" he asks confused, not even realizing the moment he totally ruined between Alec and me.
"Fool!" Cindy says and rolls her eyes.
With the moment broken, Alec and I both lean back in our chairs, not looking at each other. As Alec shifts in his chair his knee brushes mine. I jerk in my chair and Alec's head snaps in my direction. I avoid his eyes by turning my head towards the dance floor.
Suddenly Original Cindy speaks up. "Max, let's go get a pitcher refill." I give her a grateful look and quickly stand up.
"Thanks, boo," I say as we head to the bar.
"Listen, girl, you just need to keep it real. Stop frettin' your head about the boy and just go with it," OC advices as she gestures to the bartender.
"Yeah, well…easier said than done," I say as I glance around and meet Alec's eyes looking at me from across the room.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I watch Max as I think. Sketchy's voice interrupts my thoughts. "So what's up with her?" he asks almost as soon and Max and Cindy leave the table. "You know, with Max."
"Um…I don't know," I lie. I know what's wrong with Max. It has to do with me. At first I thought maybe she might still be in heat, but she's not giving off pheromones like X5's in heat do. It has something to do with me. I take a sip of my beer as I glance back at Max. She sees me and quickly turns away. I sigh and turn back towards Sketchy. "Who knows what her problem is? You know women and their 'female troubles'."
She's been acting this way for awhile…it's just been getting worse as time goes on. It's getting pretty annoying, actually. She can never just face up to her feelings- always hiding behind a tough-ass attitude. She isn't happy with Logan. She knows he doesn't understand us – Max and me and the others from Manticore. She just doesn't want to face it. Logan is her "normal" boyfriend…but the problem is, we aren't normal. We can't expect to lead normal lives, but Max still wants to. She wants to stay in this bubble where she can pretend that she's normal – that she's happy and doesn't have the past that she does. Oh well. Not my problem.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I need to get out of here. With Alec here, OC in the know about what's going on, and Sketchy dumbly sitting there asking questions – it's just too much and not improving my day a whole lot.
"OC, I think I'm gonna head out. See ya," I say and OC looks up in surprise.
"You sure, boo?" she asks and I nod in reply before heading for the door. I avoid looking over to the table where Alec and Sketchy are sitting and continue out the door. I get on my baby and head out. Now that I'm alone I can actually think about this situation with Alec. I always thought Logan and I were good together, but he and I are too different. I know they opposite attracts, but that theory just doesn't work with us.
I stop and realize I've reached the Space Needle. I go to the top and sit for awhile thinking. My eye lids feel heavy and I realize that I'm actually tired. Must be the heat period.
*~*~*~*~*~*
OC came and told me Max left. I was hoping to spend a nice night out at Crash, but it's definitely not turning out the way I wanted. So I grab up my coat and go out after her. We need to talk and I don't care whether she wants to or not. I walk into the cool night air and wonder where Max went. I look up into the sky and a tall structure catches my eye. Max mentioned the space Needle before. Right after Zack left.
I walk to the Space Needle and get there within ten minutes. I get up to the top and stop as I see Max lying on her side. I quickly step towards her and see that she is sleeping. It feel s odd to see her so vulnerable. She looks so much smaller…much more like the child she was at Manticore. When she's awake, Max always has a tense stance – as if always ready to defend herself. Now, however, she's curled up, almost in fetal position. So unprotected….so exposed.
*~*~*~*~*~*
I stretch lazily and open my eyes to see complete blackness surrounding me. There is a little bit of light from one dim light bulb left.
"Hey, Max." I freeze as I hear a voice behind me. I slowly turn around and see Alec sitting a few feet away, knees pulled up to this chest…just sitting as though a few seconds before he had been deep in thought.
"Hey," I answer and my voice is strained. I can hear it and I know Alec can too. We watch each other for a few moments and I think of what to say. Alec beats me to it.
"So, you left Crash in a hurry. Why?" his eyes are studying me and I wonder if he is listening to see if my heartbeat speeds up.
Trying to pass it off as nothing I shrug. "Just didn't feel like a night out after all." I avoid his eyes.
"Max." The way he says my name – it sounds almost like a warning or a threat. "Why did you leave Crash?"
"I just told you, Alec. I just didn't wa-"
Alec bursts out, interrupting me. "Max, cut it out!" He looks livid. "You never just face up to anything. You're either lying about the way you feel or hiding it behind your tough-ass, bitch girl attitude!"
"Oh, you're one to talk, Alec! You're the one who is 'always all right' …You know, you could just give me a break, Alec. Did you ever think of that?" I glare at Alec, breathing hard.
"Don't you ever get sick of getting all these breaks? Everybody gives you breaks, Max…everyone except me. That's why you hate me…because I don't shift my life around to make yours easier!"
"Easier?! Yeah right. The only way you could make it easier is to stay out of it and go somewhere else!" I shout, my fists are clenched at my sides and I am trying my best to resist the urge to lash out at the X5 standing before me.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry Max. I forgot that your way of solving things is to either ignore them or run away from them…or make someone else run." He seems calmer and it irritates me more, but I can't think of a way to respond to that. I say the only thing I can.
"Just shut the hell up, Alec."
"No, Max. I am sick of being treated like dirt by you. Being blamed for things that have nothing to do with me," he replies heatedly.
"Don't make me kick your ass, Alec" I respond, staring at him.
"Oh no. Here comes the tough-ass attitude. You want to fight me, Max? Go ahead. Let's see what you got," he says while backing up. He goes into the indoor section of the Space Needle. I follow and he sets into fighting stance. I don't move and Alec gestures for me to also take a fighting stance.
"Come on, Max. You've been wanting to kick my ass for awhile. Well, here's a chance."
I take a similar stance as him and eye him. We begin to circle and continue to watch each other, each playing our part as the predator. We pause and Alec raises his eyebrow. Anger builds up again and I strike out first with a kick. He blocks it and I got for a hit. We fight a while longer and I notice that Alec is taking the offense, doing more blocking than fighting. I pause, breathing hard.
"Come on, Alec. Afraid to really take me on?" I look at him, wondering why he's not truly fighting. "It's not any fun to kick the ass of someone who doesn't fight back."
I return to the fight doing a roundhouse. Alec jumps it and his shoe connects with my side. This is more like it. We fight, getting more and more aggressive as we continue sparring.
Finally I hold up my hands and back away breathing heavily. I'm sweaty despite the cool air and I'm exhausted, but I feel great. We both stand there waiting for our breathing to return to normal.
"You've got some good moves," Alec pants and I nod in return.
"You're not too terrible yourself."
Alec grins roguishly and I can't help but smile back. We watch each other a silent minute and the tension that had been so immense earlier begins to return. Not wanting things to become strained again, I begin to turn away. "I'm gonna go." I mumble, but before I can depart, I feel Alec's firm hand unyieldingly on my arm.