Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, just an idea, but trust me you can't get anything from that! Leave me to live in fiction
Summary: Set after "The Berrisford Agenda". Alec said goodbye to hit first love and that chainged him forever. Can he open his heart to someone else? Or will it stay closed forever? What will Max think about him from now on? He is a changed man now... A/M
To ontheDL – Don't worry, I will try to get old Alec back! But, he's still in pain, since it only passed a few days since his experience with Rachel. But, keep reading and reviewing OF COURSE! This means much to me!
To Aur – I'm glad you loved my last chapters. I hope you will keep reviewing. Goodluck with your school. Yap, I still remember how boring it was.
To Katherine – Since I figured you know what will happen with a letter, I will delay that moment for a little bit. :) Or at least it's final moment. If you have some suggestions, write on my e-mail, so that can be a secret. I would love to hear them. Thanks.
To Bruna Le Fey – It was not my intention to torture anyone (not much, anyway), but I just wanted to keep things interesting, you know, cliffhangers at all. I hope you still like it. And my new chapter as well. I want to know about it, soooo review again!
To Lakergirl - I wouldn't put in any better than you. Exactly what I'm thinking, but still getting there.
Well, on with chapter 5!
Chapter 5 – Letters and friendsMax entered Crash for the second time that night. She looked at the bar glad to realize that Alec was still there. It looked like he hadn't move an inch. Slowly, she headed toward him, trying to think up something to say. Normally, she never had trouble making conversations, but tonight was different. He was no longer the same Alec she knew, that everyone knew. Or at least she didn't see him like that anymore. Like he was a prey, she slowly started to approach him, as if he will notice her, he'd diseppear. But than, she heard someone calling her name.
Startled, she turned around, and saw OC with some girl sitting at the table, drinking beer, and appearing to have a good time. She took one last look at Alec before heading up to OC.
"Hej, OC, what's up?"
"Hey,boo. Meet my friend Leila." – OC said pointing at the girl next to her.
"Hi, Leila, nice to meet you. – Max shook Leila's hand, and turned back to OC. – "Look, I just wanted to apologize for my behavior today. I didn't mean to yell at you. It was just... one of those days, you know? Promise I will tell you later about it."
"One of those days, huh? Not in heat again, I hope?" – OC winked at Max, which confused Leila.
"No, no,no. No heat... just life itself." – she sighed.
"Well, good than. I was beginning to think I will have to lock you in the house again. – OC laughed. – "OK, boo, you'll tell me later. Oh, just not tonight. – she winked at her again. – "I'm staying at Leila's tonight."
"Yeah, no problem." – Max said smiling at OC. Suddenly she felt kind of lonely. OC had someone, and was happy. She couldn't go over to Logan's 'cause that would only make her feel even worse.
"See you later, than. I'm going to see if Alec wants some company." – Max said pointing at Alec.
"I wouldn't count on than. He seems funny the entire night. I asked him to join me and Leila before, but he refused. Said something about...needed to be on his own. First time I saw him refusing two girls, despite they're gay"– OC just shrugged.
Max looked at Alec with determined look in her eyes.
"Yeah, well, I'm gonna go over. See you guys later." – she said and left for the bar. While she was getting closer she felt pensive. She was almost petrified. "OK, heart, calm down, he doesn't know about the journal. He doesn't have to know. Be cool."
Alec felt her approching, hair rising on the back of his neck, but didn't even look up when she sat beside him.
"Hey, Maxie" – he said still not rising his eyes from his drink. – "Care to join?"
First she was looking at him not knowing if he even wanted her there, but than he spoke. Not looking at her, but still.
"How the hell did he know it was me" – she wondered.
"Yeah, what the hell?! Day was a big mess..." - she sighed thinking about everything that happened; first her braking into Berrisford mansion, spilling Rachel's perfume all over her which affected Alec, than finally reading Rachel's journal. She took off her jacket and ordered her drink. She took a sip, than turned to him, but didn't know what to say. They were quiet for a few minutes, but than Max spoke.
"Shouldn't you be on your double date with those blonds?"
He smiled.
"Nah, I decided Sketchy should have some fun. It's not fair that everytime we go out girls stare at me and my gorgious body and he leaves with nothing." May just rolled her eyes, but remembered Rachels words about Alec's body as well and felt strange. She couldn't resist looking up and down , checking him out. "Well, OK, he is a strong man...I can see that even with his clothes on..."- she felt warmth rising to her cheecks. She quickly looked away, grabbed her drink and drank it all shivering, "I shouldn't be thinking about him like that. He's a friend."
Alec felt her eyes slowly moving across his body. Was she checking him out?
"What Maxie? Like what you see?" – he said smirking as he looked at her for the first time that evening. He stopped: "Was she blushing? Couldn't have...Nah, probably just the light."
Max just looked away, trying to regain focus. She sighed, and not been able to find right words to justifie herself, she just smacked him on his shoulders. Like she did many times before. It was like a habbit.
"Shut up! And for the record, I wasn't checking YOU out, I was checking....hm...your warddrobe." – "God, I really suck at this!" – she thought not believing he accually caught her watching him.
"My warddrobe? Really? I never took as a fashion freak." – he smirked at her not believing a word she said, but he didn't want to make her mad, or she will really kick his ass.
Or, worse, she could leave...
"Yeah,well, you learn something new every day." – she quickly responded wishing they could change the subject. – "Where's that bartender? I need another drink. Hey, you! – she waved to bartender.
"She's really nervous. I wonder what's that about. I guess I shouldn't wonder... I knew she will never see me the same again. She must thinks I'm weak, and doesn't know how to act around me now. I guess our relationship will never be the same after last day. It will be just work." – Alec thought while bartender poured them another drink. He raised his glass at her, asking:
"Shall we drink for something?"
Max raised her glass at him, finally regaining her posture.
"Sure. What shall we drink for?"
He thought for a second remembering his recent conclution.
"To...a...buisness partners!"
She took a long look in his eyes, frowning a bit, not knowing from where his words were coming. But she didn't like them. At all. "Buisness partners?" – she thought. – "He thinks of me as a buisness partner?!" That made her , not mad, as much as disappointed and sad. But she saw his sadness as well.
He was starting to lift his glass to his lips, but her hand stopped him.
She placed her hand gently on his, letting it rest there.Than said quitly, looking directly at him, almost as she was trying to convince him.
"To friends."
He looked at her hand, than in her eyes, while breathing heavily. He felt true closeness with her now, maybe for the first time since they've met. He smiled a little and nodded.
"To friends."
Logan started his car still thinking about his recent conversation with Max. She was acting strange and he could tell something was bothering her. He missed her today, since she didn't come to see him. She didn't even responded to his call immediately. And that was not common. Normally, she would never miss as opportunity to see him. And than she rejected his proposition to come over.
"She won't mind me coming over there." – he thought as he headed toward Max's appartment.
He got out of his car, looking up to see that all the lights in Max's flat was down. "Maybe, she was really tired. Although she doesn't need that much sleep..."
He headed upstairs, thinking what excuse will he come up with. "I'll just tell her that I was in the neighbourghood...yeah, right, that's conclusive...I'll just tell her I got a tip on some weird actions in town. Yeah, that would work." - Thinking that, he was already at the door. He took a deep breath and knocked. There was no answer. "She must be tight asleep. Maybe she's sick." He knocked again, but still no response. He took his keys out of his pocket, remembering he had a key to her appartment. He couldn't believe he was ready to break in, but, he just wanted to see her, to make sure she's alright. She can yell at him, but he still won't mind. So, he put his key in the lock, slowly turning it, and opened the door. They made a little sound, but he still didn't hear anything from inside. "There's no way she didn't hear that." – he thought now worried. He entered inside, closing behind. He was trying to find the lamp in the dark, but bumped into some objects on the way. Finally, he found it and switched it on. He looked around seeing that no one was home. "Where is she? And where's OC for that matter?" – he sat down on the couch thinking how he must look pathetic. – "She's probably out with her friend, and I'm here like a lunatic in the middle of the night breaking in. Nice one, Cale."- He ran his hands through his hair, beginning to stand up. But, than his eyes caught something on the floor. "What's that? A letter?". He picked it up, and saw it was adressed To Simon. Since it wasn't sealed, he opened it, feeling a pinch of jealousy. "Who the hell is Simon?" When he opened it, he saw that this wasn't Max's handwritting, and felt relieved. But, when he saw the signature, he realized for who this letter was. It was signed with: Love, Rachel.
He didn't want to read the letter so he just placed it back in the envelope. "What's Max doing with Alec's letter?" – he thought. He sniffed it a little and relized it was sprayed with some sweet perfume. He smiled and wondered how would it be to smell something like this on Max. Not knowing should he just leave the letter where he found it, he began pacing through the living room. "Maybe Alec came here for something and dropped this accidentely. Yeah, that's probably it. And he probably wouldn't want Max to see it... I will just give it back to him tomorrow."
With that thought, he headed toward exit, but relized he didn't turn off the lights. As he was turning them off, he couldn't help but wonder:
"Where are they?"
And with that, he was gone.
Well, I hope you liked it. There is a lot more to come. Will Logan return the letter to Alec? What will happen in the bar? Wait to see......and review
