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 his first love and that changed 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

Chapter 17 – Memories are back

Alec tried to listen to what Mia was saying, but his attention kept flying towards Max.
"She's driving me crazy! Why is she here? She is supposed to be avoiding me, and here she is, always in my face. I don't get it…" – Alec had to admit to himself that he was confused. He didn't understand any of it. But, in a way that excided him as well. He wasn't that fond of predictable people. They were boring to him. And Max was totally different.
Mia kept babbling while Max was pretending to be occupied with papers.
"I can't believe I'm doing this…I feel like an idiot! I mean, I'm taking every occasion to be in the same room as him. And he is here with a girl. An idiot, but a female idiot." - She turned her attention over to Mia who raised her voice, "So, anyway, I was, like, who are you to tell me what to do? You're not my boss! You now how men can be sometimes, right? What am I saying, you are a man! Ha ha ha!" – Mia started to laugh hysterically.
"Idiot! – Max muttered quietly, but Alec heard her of course. Although he was also having trouble listening to what Mia was saying and agreed with Max's statement, he needed to say something. "What did you say?" Max turned to him realizing he had heard her. "Well, I said you are a man…" – Mia continued. "Not, you, Mia" – Alec yelled then lowered his voice. – "This one here seems to have something to say."
"This one?" – Max thought to herself. – "Unbelievable…"
" I don't have anything to say. I was just doing my job."
"How come you and I have totally different points of view to what your job really is?" – Alec implied to everything Max has done, and not just this.
" Well, I guess that is because we lived in two different worlds over the years."
Alec kept staring at her his anger rising. He thought his debate with Max was over, but she wanted more.
"Mia, leave us, please." – Alec said not even moving his stare from Max, who matched his stare.
"OK." – Mia simply said and left. The door closed behind her very quickly so OC couldn't see anything.
"Oh, crap, I didn't know he was with someone in there! I screwed up everything! – OC said to herself not realizing Sketchy had approached her.
"Screwed up what? Why are you staring at that door? Have you finally lost it? Or are you trying to get out of this ridiculous work by playing insane?"
"Shut up, fool. Just, forget it. Let's go. You're gonna help me move the couch." – OC said pulling Sketchy by the hand. Only he had something else in mind.
"Let me just ask Alec something and I'll be right…" – he started to walk over to the door, but OC tightened her grip and yelled:
"NO! I mean, I really need your help. Talk to your friend later, boo. Alright?" – OC hoped he would not ask any questions. Sketchy took one last glance towards the door and although he felt something was off, he decided to play stupid as always. The advantage of playing a fool is that everyone seems to ignore him when something's up and he liked that.
"Cool."

Max stood in front of Alec with her arms crossed. Her face showed no fear and she didn't feel any. Nothing good comes from being afraid. And although Alec had somewhat of a mad look on his face, that didn't bother her. All of the sudden his face softened. But he had a tired look on his face.
"Why are you doing this, Max?" – he asked.
Her firm stare also softened as she reflected his glance in her eyes.
"Doing what?"
"This! Doing this! I thought you were going to ignore me and stay out of my way...You know what, now that I'm actually saying this out load it sounds ridiculous. When did you ever stay out of my business?" – he asked but mainly speaking to himself.
"Look, Alec…" – she started.
"Please, just don't explain. I don't need that. I heard way too many explanations already."
Max looked at him not knowing what he was saying, not knowing both OC and Joshua spoke to him about his feelings.
"Fine, I'm not going to explain. I just want to say that you were right. Me running away would be a mistake. Now I see that."
Alec showed no apprehension on his face.
"Fine, can you go now?"
"Why do you want me gone so much?" – she suddenly yelled scaring herself as well. – "I don't wanna leave."
"Then I'll leave." – was Alec's last remark as he left grabbing his jacket in the process.
The door closed and Max hit one of the cabinets making a lot of noise. Suddenly OC burst in.
"Boo, what's the matter?"
"Look, OC, this was a mistake. He isn't ready to forgive me yet." – Max explained throwing herself into the chair.
"Look, boo, trust me on this one. Waiting won't make anything better. You could grow even farther apart. Even hate is a feeling. Ignorance is…nothing. Come on, let's go do some chores and will talk some more." – OC said as she pulled her friend from the chair.
"Fine. But, let's just do the work. I'm not in the mood for talking."
"OK. We'll talk at Crash tonight." – OC said and started to walk out of the office.
"Crash?" – Max stopped in her tracks. Flashes of last night popped into her mind. Alec playing the piano, he with his shirt off, his staring at her.
"Yes, Crash. You know that place where we go every….oh, I get it now! You're afraid your boo will be there, right?"
"Actually, I'm afraid he won't be there because of me. I mean everything went on right there."
"Well, we'll see. " – OC simply said. – "And if he comes, that could be a good sign. Maybe the place will give him some memories."
Max thought about that for a second and she knew that she will certainly have something to think about. Crash is like a trigger for her memory.
"You know what, OC." – she smiled. – "I think you may be on to something."
"You see, I told you can count on me. But, I will still run like hell if things get rough."
"Understood." – Max replied as they walked together out of the room. Max looked around the place, but Alec was no where to be found.
"Well, let's hope you come tonight, Alec."

A/N – well, do you like it? Ha, do you? Come on, tell me what you think! I know you want to!