As Max made it from one sector to the other, she couldn't stop thinking about the looks that Logan had been giving her lately. It was like he was seeing beyond her, through her and didn't like what he saw. Now she knew why. He was seeing a killer, a murder. Like Ben said, "A wolf in sheep's clothing." Suddenly Max noticed that the road began to look funny and she felt something crawl down her cheek. She couldn't decide who she hated more Manticore, Logan or herself. Max pulled off the main road and drove into an alley. She parked her Ninja and slid down the wall. Covering her head in her hands, she cried. Ashamed of what she was and who she could become.
"And when I opened the door, there she was only wearing a dish towel," said a strangely familiar voice up the alleyway followed by a chorus of laughter.
Max turned her head curiously to the sound. It sounded like a pack of stupid males where coming down her way and from the smell in the air they seemed to have been drinking at little. Although Max wasn't one to pick fights, she wished that they would come down here to ruin her day. She felt like she needed some type of release from all of the stress she was feeling. The guys passed in her line of vision. One turned his head down the alleyway and stopped. Moving toward Max with his head to the side, he had a very confused look on his face.
"Max?" he questioned coming over. Max expanded her pupils to get better look at the guy who just called her name.
"Sketchy? What are you doin' here?" she replied getting up.
"I could ask you the same question," he said with a dopey grin on his face.
"Yo, Sketch!" called one of his boys from up the alley. There were three of them all wearing jeans in varies states of wear and tear.
"Fellas, come down here, there's someone I'd like you all to meet."
"So, you didn't answer my question," Max stated trying to past the time until Sketchy's friends got closer.
"You know me, Max," he said with a little cocky swagger, "I'm just hanging with my boys."
Max put a 'Yeah, right.' Look on her face, "I didn't know you had boys."
"I can't hang around the Jam Pony crew all the time. I must have a life outside of my work."
"Gentleman," Sketchy said turning to his friends behind him, "I'd like you to meet the beauteous bad-ass, Max. Max, the guys."
"Wass up," she greeting curtly.
"Heeyy!" said one.
"How U Doin'?" asked the other.
The last of Sketchy's friends remained silent, only acknowledging Max with a nod. Max quickly decided that she liked him the best, aside from Sketchy of course, her brother of sorts.
"Max," Sketchy started, attempting to wrap his arm around her, "You know it's dangerous for a girl, such as yourself, to be running the streets this time of night."
"Sketchy, first of all, GET OFF ME!"
Sketchy stumbled back.
"Just tryin' to be a supportive friend."
Max just shook her head, "You can be supportive without touching me."
"I'm sorry," Sketchy said stumbling closer with his arms wide.
Max put her hands up, "That means no hugging either."
Sketchy cocked his head to the side at her and squinted, "Max, have you been crying?"
"It's nothing," she replied.
Sketchy turned to his friends, "Guys, I'll check up with you later."
They grunted and went about their way.
"Don't spoil your fun on account of me, Sketch."
"You were there for me, now I," he said point to himself, "for you."
Max let out a breath of surprise, "Sure, whatever."
"No, I'm serious, Max," he replied waving his arms madly, "Whatever you need."
Max leaned back and crossed her arms, "Aiight. I guess need you to answer a question."
Sketchy nodded.
"Do you think I'm a good person?"
"Most definitely."
"What if I told you I had once killed somebody?"
Sketchy was quiet for a moment.
"When those signs were up with your face, I told O.C. and Herbal that it kinda looked like ya. But Herbal said, and I quote, "Max's a righteous woman wit no malice in her heart for nobody," he replied in a horrible Jamacian accent. Max couldn't help, but laugh at her friend's attempt to imitate Herbal.
"Things happen, Max. What goes down, goes down. But Herbal was right. You're good to ya peeps. You wouldn't be cryin, if you wasn't hurtin' and maybe what hurts you so bad… is part of what makes you so good to us."
Max cracked a small smile, "For a drunken idiot, you're sure makin' a lotta sense."
"I have my moments," Sketchy replied proudly, straightening up his back. Then he grabbed his stomach as he lurched over and puked his guts out.
Max shook her head again, "Just when I was starting to respect him."
She walked over to him and waited until he finished.
"Let's get you home," she said and led him to her bike.
"And if you puke on my baby, I ki…" she paused.
"Just don't do it." She finished and revved her bike and left.
