HIGHSCHOOL MISSIONS
A/N: Ok, I hate leaving author notes at the beginning of the stories but you guys left me no choice. Some of your comments where rather rude, someone even said they had voted a few times without reading the story! So I'm forced to take measures and now you can only review if you're logged in. I hate doing that because I know some people can't log in so if you want to vote but can't email me at black_4ngel@hotmail.com and I'll take your vote into consideration.
Chapter 2
Planning
_______________________________________________
Max and Alec rode their bikes back to Jam Pony in silence, when they got there Max sighed and buried her face in her hands.
"Max?" Alec leaned over and took one of her hands in his.
"What am I going to tell Cindy?" Max whispered.
"Max, we ARE coming back. You just have to say goodbye for a little while" Alec whispered back, but deep down he knew there were thousands of things that could go wrong and a chance they wouldn't get out of there alive.
Cindy rode her bike into Jam Pony then.
"Max, go talk to her. I'll lock the bikes and talk to Normal" Alec offered.
Max nodded and walked away.
"Cindy, can we talk?"
"Sure Boo, what's up?" Cindy asked while rummaging around her bag
Max looked around "Not here, can we go somewhere?"
Cindy looked up from her backpack "Max, what's wrong?"
"Noting I just... We really need to talk" Max sighed, she looked tired and older somehow, as if she had aged overnight.
"Ok, let me change and give my sheet to Normal and we'll take off."
Max nodded and waited while Cindy changed. She kept an eye on Alec talking to Normal.
"What has Alec done now? Will you look at Normal's face? He looks like he's about to cry!" Cindy came up behind Max and placed an arm around her shoulder. "Ok sugar, let's go!"
Max walked behind Cindy towards Normal's desk. Alec was just leaving.
"I always knew you'd be a bad influence to my golden boy!" Was all Normal said.
"Normal just... lay off will you?" Alec took Max's hand and led her away from the desk.
Max rested her back against the wall and Alec stood in front of her. "Have you talked to Cindy?" He asked.
"Not yet." Max said.
"Ok Boo, let's get you out of here!" Cindy took Max by the elbow and pulled her out the door.
"Ok Boo, what's up with you and your boy?" She asked once they where outside
"He's not my boy, how many times have I told you that?" Max snapped.
"Ok, ok, chill. I'm just saying you looked all cozy with him back there."
Max started to walk away so Cindy fell in step behind her. "Mind telling me what's going on?"
"Let's go home, I'll tell you when we get there."
*************
"So let me get this straight. You are leaving your home to go after some bad guys who have nothing to do with you?" Cindy asked Max.
"Pretty much. I'm saving lives Cindy! You have no idea of what will happen to those kids if we just stand here and do nothing!" Max put her coffee cup down and turned around to look at Original Cindy.
"So you are just going back to school for how long?"
"I don't know, as long as it takes. I just hope we can pull it off." Max ran her hands through her hair nervously.
"What do you mean? Of course you can pull it off!" Cindy got up from the couch and took her hand. "Come on, let's go get you packed."
"It's just that... I've never been in school before, I mean not counting Manticore and a few months when I was with my foster parents but that was a long time ago."
"You've never been in school?" Original Cindy asked, clearly impressed.
"Didn't need to, I already know everything there is to know, and what I don't know I can pick up from a book on my own." Max shrugged
"Well I'm sure you'll be fine, and you're going to do great and bring that bitch down ya hear me?" Cindy opened her arms and Max hugged her tightly.
"God I hope you're right. I'm worried about Alec though, what if he blows our cover?"
"Boo, I'm sure he will do no such thing, that boy has training." Original Cindy reminded her.
"I know but..."
There was a small knock on the door, it opened to reveal Alec and Sketchy standing there.
"Max, I just wanted to come by and say goodbye. Alec told me you two are moving away together. I had no idea you two where a couple!" Sketchy rushed over to Max and hugged her.
Max was a little surprised put recovered quickly. "Yeah, it all happened so fast." She stared at Alec and mouthed "I'm going to kill you!" He just shrugged, a smirk plastered on his face.
"Well I'm happy for you two. When are you leaving?"
"Soon." Alec answered "I should probably go pack or something. You coming baby?" He raised his eyebrows at Max.
She tried very hard to keep from slapping him.
"Let's go. I'll be back later OC." Max grabbed her bike, slipped on her leather gloves, and left with Alec close behind.
*************
"Logan?" Max looked around the apartment for him but he wasn't there.
"Max, there's a note by the phone." Alec grabbed the yellow piece of paper and read out loud.
"They moved the interview for this afternoon, I had to leave right away. Be back tomorrow, check my email and see if you have been accepted. I'll call tonight and let you know how things went. Go to Sebastian's at five. Have him do something about your barcodes and see if he has any more information for us. Logan"
Alec dropped the note and walked to the kitchen "Damn, I hate getting my barcode removed, it stings like hell. Oh well, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. Want anything to eat?"
"Sure" Max sat down in front of the computers and checked Logan's files.
*************
Logan arrived at his interview in time, wearing a suit and tie over his exoskeleton.
"Well Mr. Cale, your curriculum is impressive and everything seems to check out so, welcome to our team!"
"Thank you Mr. Smith." Logan shook the white bald man's hand and sighed with relief.
"You can start next Monday. Do you have a place to stay?"
"Yes. I bought a house nearby recently."
"Mr. Smith?" A small guy who whore glasses and a brown suit knocked and entered.
"What is it Stuart?"
"About the two new students, we have no available rooms sir."
Mr. Smith stood up "What about apartments?"
"Noting within a ten miles radius."
"Well then I'm afraid we're going to have to reject them. Too bad, they seemed like good students."
"They can stay with me!" Logan offered.
"With you?" Smith raised an eyebrow.
"In my basement. It's really big. It has a kitchen, a bathroom and plenty of space. I was thinking of renting it since you don't even have to go into the house at all, it has it's own door. I could rent it to your students."
"Are you sure? I mean wouldn't you mind seeing this kids all day?" Mr. Smith sat back down and waited for Logan's answer.
"As I said, The basement is completely independent from the main house." Logan reminded him.
"Well ok," He glanced down at the folders in his hands "Maxine Jane, Alecsander. Welcome to Chicago's private boarding school."
"You don't mind a boy and a girl sleeping in the same apartment?" Logan asked, not really sure why.
"Not at all, the bathrooms and dorms in here are co-ed, builds character and gets rid of inhibitions." Mr. Smith got up from his big chair again and offered his hand to Logan.
"Well, I think we're done here. I expect you here bright and early Monday morning for the first day of school."
Logan shook the man's hand and was just about to leave when Mr. Smith stopped him.
"Oh, just one more thing. Stuart here will go with you to check out your place, we need to. School policies."
*************
"It's a great house Mr. Cale" Stuart admired the big brick house from the outside. It had two stories plus a basement and an attic. The kitchen was huge and the living room had a fireplace.
"Let's check out the basement." Logan suggested.
The basement was big too, but there where no walls except for the ones around the bathroom, it was simply one huge room. It looked more like a big hotel room than a basement. The walls where white, there where small windows all around the top of the room, they had blue shades. The small kitchen was in one corner, the bathroom was on the oposite corner, there where two queen sized bed, one infront of the other and two comfortable blue couches.
"Well, this seems pretty nice to me. Mr. Cale, it seems like you've got two new house mates!"
Again, Logan sighed with relief. Part one of their plan was done.
*************
BEEP
Max glanced up from the computer and stared at the fax machine but didn't move.
"Max, is that..." Alec walked into the office carrying two sandwishes.
"I think so." Max was still staring at the machine.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Don't just stare at the damn thing!"
Max nodded and reached for the piece of paper. She held it in her hands and read it over quickly.
"It's from Logan"
"Well..." Alec waited.
Max tured around to look at him, the piece of paper still clutched in her hands
"We're in"
*************
Alec sighed and handed a sandwish to Max "That's good right?"
"Yeah," Max took a bite of the sandwish and smiled "Mmm, this tastes great! I didn't know you where a cook!"
"Max, it's a sandwish! No one can mess up a sandwish!" Alec took his sandwish to the living room and sat down on the couch to eat.
"I can" Max said under her breath.
"How?" Alec asked her surprised.
Max cursed Alec's hearing inwardly. "Once, I confused mustard with..."
"Yeah?" Alec leaned forward on his seat.
"Peanut butter"
Alec laughed so hard he rolled off the couch. "Peanut butter Max? That's impossible!" He managed to say between laughs.
"Apparently not" She said "What do you want me to say? They are both yellow!"
Alec only laughed harder. "No they are not! Peanut butter is brown! And besides, mustard yellow is a color on it's own!"
Max groaned "Remind me never to tell you anything again! Now come on, we have to go."
"Go where?" Alec took one big bite from his sandwich and grabbed his jacket.
"Sebastian's."
*************
"I think Logan has his information right. They are using different tecniques on that school." Sebastian computarised voice filled the room.
"Such as?" Max was lying face down on a stretcher. Alec was removing her barcode with a laser.
"They provide free coffee for their students, classic music sounds at all hours..."
"Music?" Alec leaned forward a little.
"Mozart, Vivaldy..."
"But why?" Max tensed and gripped the metal of the stretcher. Alec saw this and stopped for a moment, caressing Max's hair and the fading lines of her barcode, willing her to relax.
"Music is supposed to increase learning abilities. If they want perfect soldiers they need to have them learing fast."
"Maybe that's how they are controlling them," suggested Alec.
"How much progress have they made?" Max asked.
"It's still a norma school Max. Popular teenagers, couples, homework, parties, sports..."
"So we actually have to act like normal teens?" Max visibly tensed again but Alec was already done. He motioned for her to get up and she did with his help. He then laid down on the stretcher and Max picked up the laser.
"You two will do fine, It will probably be best if you manage to get into the popular crowd. Some of the strongest and cleverest kids hang out with that crowd. You need to be on top of things."
"Great, we get to be snobs!" Max said sarcastically, "I need to go see Original Cindy."
*************
Two hours later they where back at Logan's place with Original Cindy in tow.
"I think I need the curls back." Max announced.
"We need to cut your hair then," Cindy looked around "I need a pair of sissors."
Alec frowned "Curls?"
"You'll see" Max winked at him and he smiled.
"Here we go! Come with me to the bathroom boo." Cindy took Max's hand and guided her over to the bathroom.
Alec staid behind, wondering what was going on inside that bathroom.
Half an hour later the door opened and Original Cindy stepped out. She walked over to the kitchen and opened a couple of drawers.
"Looking for something?" Logan asked from the doorway.
"Hey, look who's back!" Alec greeted him.
"Yeah well, grabbed the first plane back. Where's Max?"
"In the bathroom. Where can I find a rubber band in here?" Cindy rumaged around the drawers but came up empty handed.
Logan grabbed some maps that where rolled up together and removed the rubber band holding them together before handing it to Cindy along with a white box he was carrying. He handed another box to Alec.
"School uniforms. Tell Max to try it on, I hope it fits it might be a little small. Only thing I could come up with in such short notice."
Cindy nodded and took the things back to Max.
"School uniforms?" Alec wondered out loud.
"Navy blue skirts for the girls and pants for the boys, button down white shirts, blue and red tie on winter along with a blue jacket and knee high white socks for the..."
The door opened again and Max walked out. Her hair was shorter, a little below her shoulders. Soft curls adorned the ends while her hair staid straight at the top. She was wearing the button down shirt, top two buttons undone, the skirt was quite small, a few inches above her knees.
"...girls." Logan gulped
"What did you want the rubber band for?" Alec asked once he got his ability to talk back.
"Oh!" Max piled her hair on top of her head and tied it on a long phonytail.
The guys just stared at her and she giggled. "I feel so stupid"
"Don't" Logan told her.
"You look beautiful" Alec whispered.
Max whipped her head around to look at him and Alec cursed inwardly, remembering her supreme hearing.
Original Cindy raised an eyebrow "Well boo, I'm out of here. But I'll be back in the morning before you leave. I want to have a chat with this two nice gentleman."
Max nodded and walked Cindy to the door.
"You gonna be over tonight?" Cindy asked her.
"I don't know, we might not be done."
"Either way, I'll see you tomorrow boo."
"Yeah. Night Cindy."
"Night boo."
*************
Max didn't go home last night. There where plans to be made, arrangements to be settled, things to be talked over and desitions to take.
At around four am they finaly managed to rest a little after desiding that Max and Alec would fly to Chicago on Sundy while Logan would drive over there the next day.
They had spend some time packing Logan's stuff, some books and electronic stuff, things from the kitchen and other much needed things.
Logan had called Blig, asked him to come over and take care of Eyes Only for a while.
"Logan, you should get some rest. Long drive tomorrow." Max reminded him.
Logan dropped a newspaper wrapped plate on the box he was filling and stood up. "You're right. Let yourselves out when you're done... On second thought, you can just crash here. It's nearly morning anyway."
"Ok, I won't sleep anyway. You can take the guest bedroom if you want Alec."
Alec just nodded but didn't look up from the cristal glasses he was packing.
"Ok, good night Logan" Max called.
"Good night."
Once Logan was gone Alec moved his load of boxes to the living room where Max was packing some books, leafing through them and choosing the best ones.
"Hey, think we should take this boxes down to the Aztec? Logan's got to leave pretty early tomorrow." Alec suggested.
"Ok, sure! It'll be easier to carry more boxes than humanly possible without being seen" Max grabbed four boxes and carried them to the door. Alec followed her with an armful of boxes himself but had to put them down to open the door.
"Thanks" Max said when Alec held the door open for her.
"Let's hurry, there are still a few boxes to pack." Was Alec's response.
Once they where on the elevator Max took some time to study Alec. They had grown closer but still fought constantly, Max realised it made her feel alive.
Alec closed his eyes for a moment and Max studied his handsome features. He seemed... tired.
"Alec are you ok? You look like you could use some rest"
"I'm fine, no shark DNA in my cocktail remember? I just haven't been sleeping well for a while."
Max nodded "Nightmares?"
"No, lady friends you know? Super stamina, I'm an all nighter!" Alec chucked but Max looked at him in the eye and waited for him to say something else.
Alec sighed "They aren't too bad, and not that often, but whenever I wake up after one of them I can't go back to sleep and that kind of ruins your day you know?"
Max nodded "Psy obs?"
"Some of them. How bad are yours?"
"Pretty bad, one of the reasons I don't sleep. Reindocrinaton, lost siblings, the works."
Alec whistled slowly
"Alec, which ones are your worst?"
"The ones about Rachel." Alec answered sincerely.
"You really loved her didn't you?"
The elevator doors opened then and Alec dashed out. "Come on Max, lets get this things into the car."
Max sighed and followed him.
*************
"Hey Max, think we should pack all of Logan's CD's or leave that up to him? Because I'm sorry to say his taste in music and mine are way too different..."
Alec stepped into the living room half an hour later and found a sleeping Max lying on the couch, an old book on her hands.
Alec smiled and walked over to her. He picked her up, careful not to wake her, and carried her to the guest bedroom. He removed her boots and covered her with the sheets.
"So much for not sleeping" He whispered. He staid in the room, just watching her sleep for a few minutes. She looked like an angel.
Alec felt the sudden urge to bend down and kiss her. He leaned forward slowly, taking his time. A few inches away from her mouth he stopped and kissed her forehead instead.
"Night Max" He whispered before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Max opened her eyes slowly and whispered into the empty room "Night Alec."
_______________________________
A/N: Ok, I hate leaving author notes at the beginning of the stories but you guys left me no choice. Some of your comments where rather rude, someone even said they had voted a few times without reading the story! So I'm forced to take measures and now you can only review if you're logged in. I hate doing that because I know some people can't log in so if you want to vote but can't email me at black_4ngel@hotmail.com and I'll take your vote into consideration.
Chapter 2
Planning
_______________________________________________
Max and Alec rode their bikes back to Jam Pony in silence, when they got there Max sighed and buried her face in her hands.
"Max?" Alec leaned over and took one of her hands in his.
"What am I going to tell Cindy?" Max whispered.
"Max, we ARE coming back. You just have to say goodbye for a little while" Alec whispered back, but deep down he knew there were thousands of things that could go wrong and a chance they wouldn't get out of there alive.
Cindy rode her bike into Jam Pony then.
"Max, go talk to her. I'll lock the bikes and talk to Normal" Alec offered.
Max nodded and walked away.
"Cindy, can we talk?"
"Sure Boo, what's up?" Cindy asked while rummaging around her bag
Max looked around "Not here, can we go somewhere?"
Cindy looked up from her backpack "Max, what's wrong?"
"Noting I just... We really need to talk" Max sighed, she looked tired and older somehow, as if she had aged overnight.
"Ok, let me change and give my sheet to Normal and we'll take off."
Max nodded and waited while Cindy changed. She kept an eye on Alec talking to Normal.
"What has Alec done now? Will you look at Normal's face? He looks like he's about to cry!" Cindy came up behind Max and placed an arm around her shoulder. "Ok sugar, let's go!"
Max walked behind Cindy towards Normal's desk. Alec was just leaving.
"I always knew you'd be a bad influence to my golden boy!" Was all Normal said.
"Normal just... lay off will you?" Alec took Max's hand and led her away from the desk.
Max rested her back against the wall and Alec stood in front of her. "Have you talked to Cindy?" He asked.
"Not yet." Max said.
"Ok Boo, let's get you out of here!" Cindy took Max by the elbow and pulled her out the door.
"Ok Boo, what's up with you and your boy?" She asked once they where outside
"He's not my boy, how many times have I told you that?" Max snapped.
"Ok, ok, chill. I'm just saying you looked all cozy with him back there."
Max started to walk away so Cindy fell in step behind her. "Mind telling me what's going on?"
"Let's go home, I'll tell you when we get there."
*************
"So let me get this straight. You are leaving your home to go after some bad guys who have nothing to do with you?" Cindy asked Max.
"Pretty much. I'm saving lives Cindy! You have no idea of what will happen to those kids if we just stand here and do nothing!" Max put her coffee cup down and turned around to look at Original Cindy.
"So you are just going back to school for how long?"
"I don't know, as long as it takes. I just hope we can pull it off." Max ran her hands through her hair nervously.
"What do you mean? Of course you can pull it off!" Cindy got up from the couch and took her hand. "Come on, let's go get you packed."
"It's just that... I've never been in school before, I mean not counting Manticore and a few months when I was with my foster parents but that was a long time ago."
"You've never been in school?" Original Cindy asked, clearly impressed.
"Didn't need to, I already know everything there is to know, and what I don't know I can pick up from a book on my own." Max shrugged
"Well I'm sure you'll be fine, and you're going to do great and bring that bitch down ya hear me?" Cindy opened her arms and Max hugged her tightly.
"God I hope you're right. I'm worried about Alec though, what if he blows our cover?"
"Boo, I'm sure he will do no such thing, that boy has training." Original Cindy reminded her.
"I know but..."
There was a small knock on the door, it opened to reveal Alec and Sketchy standing there.
"Max, I just wanted to come by and say goodbye. Alec told me you two are moving away together. I had no idea you two where a couple!" Sketchy rushed over to Max and hugged her.
Max was a little surprised put recovered quickly. "Yeah, it all happened so fast." She stared at Alec and mouthed "I'm going to kill you!" He just shrugged, a smirk plastered on his face.
"Well I'm happy for you two. When are you leaving?"
"Soon." Alec answered "I should probably go pack or something. You coming baby?" He raised his eyebrows at Max.
She tried very hard to keep from slapping him.
"Let's go. I'll be back later OC." Max grabbed her bike, slipped on her leather gloves, and left with Alec close behind.
*************
"Logan?" Max looked around the apartment for him but he wasn't there.
"Max, there's a note by the phone." Alec grabbed the yellow piece of paper and read out loud.
"They moved the interview for this afternoon, I had to leave right away. Be back tomorrow, check my email and see if you have been accepted. I'll call tonight and let you know how things went. Go to Sebastian's at five. Have him do something about your barcodes and see if he has any more information for us. Logan"
Alec dropped the note and walked to the kitchen "Damn, I hate getting my barcode removed, it stings like hell. Oh well, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. Want anything to eat?"
"Sure" Max sat down in front of the computers and checked Logan's files.
*************
Logan arrived at his interview in time, wearing a suit and tie over his exoskeleton.
"Well Mr. Cale, your curriculum is impressive and everything seems to check out so, welcome to our team!"
"Thank you Mr. Smith." Logan shook the white bald man's hand and sighed with relief.
"You can start next Monday. Do you have a place to stay?"
"Yes. I bought a house nearby recently."
"Mr. Smith?" A small guy who whore glasses and a brown suit knocked and entered.
"What is it Stuart?"
"About the two new students, we have no available rooms sir."
Mr. Smith stood up "What about apartments?"
"Noting within a ten miles radius."
"Well then I'm afraid we're going to have to reject them. Too bad, they seemed like good students."
"They can stay with me!" Logan offered.
"With you?" Smith raised an eyebrow.
"In my basement. It's really big. It has a kitchen, a bathroom and plenty of space. I was thinking of renting it since you don't even have to go into the house at all, it has it's own door. I could rent it to your students."
"Are you sure? I mean wouldn't you mind seeing this kids all day?" Mr. Smith sat back down and waited for Logan's answer.
"As I said, The basement is completely independent from the main house." Logan reminded him.
"Well ok," He glanced down at the folders in his hands "Maxine Jane, Alecsander. Welcome to Chicago's private boarding school."
"You don't mind a boy and a girl sleeping in the same apartment?" Logan asked, not really sure why.
"Not at all, the bathrooms and dorms in here are co-ed, builds character and gets rid of inhibitions." Mr. Smith got up from his big chair again and offered his hand to Logan.
"Well, I think we're done here. I expect you here bright and early Monday morning for the first day of school."
Logan shook the man's hand and was just about to leave when Mr. Smith stopped him.
"Oh, just one more thing. Stuart here will go with you to check out your place, we need to. School policies."
*************
"It's a great house Mr. Cale" Stuart admired the big brick house from the outside. It had two stories plus a basement and an attic. The kitchen was huge and the living room had a fireplace.
"Let's check out the basement." Logan suggested.
The basement was big too, but there where no walls except for the ones around the bathroom, it was simply one huge room. It looked more like a big hotel room than a basement. The walls where white, there where small windows all around the top of the room, they had blue shades. The small kitchen was in one corner, the bathroom was on the oposite corner, there where two queen sized bed, one infront of the other and two comfortable blue couches.
"Well, this seems pretty nice to me. Mr. Cale, it seems like you've got two new house mates!"
Again, Logan sighed with relief. Part one of their plan was done.
*************
BEEP
Max glanced up from the computer and stared at the fax machine but didn't move.
"Max, is that..." Alec walked into the office carrying two sandwishes.
"I think so." Max was still staring at the machine.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Don't just stare at the damn thing!"
Max nodded and reached for the piece of paper. She held it in her hands and read it over quickly.
"It's from Logan"
"Well..." Alec waited.
Max tured around to look at him, the piece of paper still clutched in her hands
"We're in"
*************
Alec sighed and handed a sandwish to Max "That's good right?"
"Yeah," Max took a bite of the sandwish and smiled "Mmm, this tastes great! I didn't know you where a cook!"
"Max, it's a sandwish! No one can mess up a sandwish!" Alec took his sandwish to the living room and sat down on the couch to eat.
"I can" Max said under her breath.
"How?" Alec asked her surprised.
Max cursed Alec's hearing inwardly. "Once, I confused mustard with..."
"Yeah?" Alec leaned forward on his seat.
"Peanut butter"
Alec laughed so hard he rolled off the couch. "Peanut butter Max? That's impossible!" He managed to say between laughs.
"Apparently not" She said "What do you want me to say? They are both yellow!"
Alec only laughed harder. "No they are not! Peanut butter is brown! And besides, mustard yellow is a color on it's own!"
Max groaned "Remind me never to tell you anything again! Now come on, we have to go."
"Go where?" Alec took one big bite from his sandwich and grabbed his jacket.
"Sebastian's."
*************
"I think Logan has his information right. They are using different tecniques on that school." Sebastian computarised voice filled the room.
"Such as?" Max was lying face down on a stretcher. Alec was removing her barcode with a laser.
"They provide free coffee for their students, classic music sounds at all hours..."
"Music?" Alec leaned forward a little.
"Mozart, Vivaldy..."
"But why?" Max tensed and gripped the metal of the stretcher. Alec saw this and stopped for a moment, caressing Max's hair and the fading lines of her barcode, willing her to relax.
"Music is supposed to increase learning abilities. If they want perfect soldiers they need to have them learing fast."
"Maybe that's how they are controlling them," suggested Alec.
"How much progress have they made?" Max asked.
"It's still a norma school Max. Popular teenagers, couples, homework, parties, sports..."
"So we actually have to act like normal teens?" Max visibly tensed again but Alec was already done. He motioned for her to get up and she did with his help. He then laid down on the stretcher and Max picked up the laser.
"You two will do fine, It will probably be best if you manage to get into the popular crowd. Some of the strongest and cleverest kids hang out with that crowd. You need to be on top of things."
"Great, we get to be snobs!" Max said sarcastically, "I need to go see Original Cindy."
*************
Two hours later they where back at Logan's place with Original Cindy in tow.
"I think I need the curls back." Max announced.
"We need to cut your hair then," Cindy looked around "I need a pair of sissors."
Alec frowned "Curls?"
"You'll see" Max winked at him and he smiled.
"Here we go! Come with me to the bathroom boo." Cindy took Max's hand and guided her over to the bathroom.
Alec staid behind, wondering what was going on inside that bathroom.
Half an hour later the door opened and Original Cindy stepped out. She walked over to the kitchen and opened a couple of drawers.
"Looking for something?" Logan asked from the doorway.
"Hey, look who's back!" Alec greeted him.
"Yeah well, grabbed the first plane back. Where's Max?"
"In the bathroom. Where can I find a rubber band in here?" Cindy rumaged around the drawers but came up empty handed.
Logan grabbed some maps that where rolled up together and removed the rubber band holding them together before handing it to Cindy along with a white box he was carrying. He handed another box to Alec.
"School uniforms. Tell Max to try it on, I hope it fits it might be a little small. Only thing I could come up with in such short notice."
Cindy nodded and took the things back to Max.
"School uniforms?" Alec wondered out loud.
"Navy blue skirts for the girls and pants for the boys, button down white shirts, blue and red tie on winter along with a blue jacket and knee high white socks for the..."
The door opened again and Max walked out. Her hair was shorter, a little below her shoulders. Soft curls adorned the ends while her hair staid straight at the top. She was wearing the button down shirt, top two buttons undone, the skirt was quite small, a few inches above her knees.
"...girls." Logan gulped
"What did you want the rubber band for?" Alec asked once he got his ability to talk back.
"Oh!" Max piled her hair on top of her head and tied it on a long phonytail.
The guys just stared at her and she giggled. "I feel so stupid"
"Don't" Logan told her.
"You look beautiful" Alec whispered.
Max whipped her head around to look at him and Alec cursed inwardly, remembering her supreme hearing.
Original Cindy raised an eyebrow "Well boo, I'm out of here. But I'll be back in the morning before you leave. I want to have a chat with this two nice gentleman."
Max nodded and walked Cindy to the door.
"You gonna be over tonight?" Cindy asked her.
"I don't know, we might not be done."
"Either way, I'll see you tomorrow boo."
"Yeah. Night Cindy."
"Night boo."
*************
Max didn't go home last night. There where plans to be made, arrangements to be settled, things to be talked over and desitions to take.
At around four am they finaly managed to rest a little after desiding that Max and Alec would fly to Chicago on Sundy while Logan would drive over there the next day.
They had spend some time packing Logan's stuff, some books and electronic stuff, things from the kitchen and other much needed things.
Logan had called Blig, asked him to come over and take care of Eyes Only for a while.
"Logan, you should get some rest. Long drive tomorrow." Max reminded him.
Logan dropped a newspaper wrapped plate on the box he was filling and stood up. "You're right. Let yourselves out when you're done... On second thought, you can just crash here. It's nearly morning anyway."
"Ok, I won't sleep anyway. You can take the guest bedroom if you want Alec."
Alec just nodded but didn't look up from the cristal glasses he was packing.
"Ok, good night Logan" Max called.
"Good night."
Once Logan was gone Alec moved his load of boxes to the living room where Max was packing some books, leafing through them and choosing the best ones.
"Hey, think we should take this boxes down to the Aztec? Logan's got to leave pretty early tomorrow." Alec suggested.
"Ok, sure! It'll be easier to carry more boxes than humanly possible without being seen" Max grabbed four boxes and carried them to the door. Alec followed her with an armful of boxes himself but had to put them down to open the door.
"Thanks" Max said when Alec held the door open for her.
"Let's hurry, there are still a few boxes to pack." Was Alec's response.
Once they where on the elevator Max took some time to study Alec. They had grown closer but still fought constantly, Max realised it made her feel alive.
Alec closed his eyes for a moment and Max studied his handsome features. He seemed... tired.
"Alec are you ok? You look like you could use some rest"
"I'm fine, no shark DNA in my cocktail remember? I just haven't been sleeping well for a while."
Max nodded "Nightmares?"
"No, lady friends you know? Super stamina, I'm an all nighter!" Alec chucked but Max looked at him in the eye and waited for him to say something else.
Alec sighed "They aren't too bad, and not that often, but whenever I wake up after one of them I can't go back to sleep and that kind of ruins your day you know?"
Max nodded "Psy obs?"
"Some of them. How bad are yours?"
"Pretty bad, one of the reasons I don't sleep. Reindocrinaton, lost siblings, the works."
Alec whistled slowly
"Alec, which ones are your worst?"
"The ones about Rachel." Alec answered sincerely.
"You really loved her didn't you?"
The elevator doors opened then and Alec dashed out. "Come on Max, lets get this things into the car."
Max sighed and followed him.
*************
"Hey Max, think we should pack all of Logan's CD's or leave that up to him? Because I'm sorry to say his taste in music and mine are way too different..."
Alec stepped into the living room half an hour later and found a sleeping Max lying on the couch, an old book on her hands.
Alec smiled and walked over to her. He picked her up, careful not to wake her, and carried her to the guest bedroom. He removed her boots and covered her with the sheets.
"So much for not sleeping" He whispered. He staid in the room, just watching her sleep for a few minutes. She looked like an angel.
Alec felt the sudden urge to bend down and kiss her. He leaned forward slowly, taking his time. A few inches away from her mouth he stopped and kissed her forehead instead.
"Night Max" He whispered before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Max opened her eyes slowly and whispered into the empty room "Night Alec."
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