Authors Note: Oh wow have I abandoned you guys or what? I am so sorry everyone. Just been drudging through college, had a bunch of people die, and now I got a painting due soon that isn't even half finished... falls down Any how, I'm back to work on this story just to let you all know, incase you're still interested. I'm workin' on my own private fanfic library right now online. When it's complete, I'll post the link and you can see my much larger collection there. This is a short chap, I know- but I'm workin' on the next one while you're reading this most likely. Enjoy.
Max sipped her coffee, not really tasting it. She was on break. It was the third week she had been working with Alec. Just as she was thinking about how much she wanted to kick his ass for stealing her share of the doughnuts that morning, the arrogant sandy haired X5 took a seat next to her.
"Hey there miss Max." He grinned.
She was lost in thought.
"What- no sunshine smile this morning?"
She brought the mug to her lips and drank down it's warmth. Feeling the grainy powder run down her tongue and in between her teeth. Still no flavor.
Alec rolled his eyes. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice, "What is goin' on in that head of yours?"
Max shook her heard and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Just thinkin' about 'you no where' and what really happened."
"That's what's got you down? Max- the place is gone... You made sure of that." He dismissed the topic simply. Just as he was about to mention how much he wanted to get with one of the new girls, Max brought him back to what she was saying.
"That's not what I'm talkin' about." Max shrugged, stretching her tense shoulders.
He exhaled dramatically "What is it then?"
She took another sip, before continuing. "Something happened to me back there Alec."
"Yeah? You went in to CYOPS and had thousands of volts of electricity blasted through your body."
"How did-"
"there were rumors." Alec answered quickly, sparing her the shame of knowing the truth- that he had heard her screams three halls down.
"Oh." She looked away. "That's not what I'm talking about either."
"Care to give a guy a hint?"
She lowered her voice, "I think I'm going crazy."
"What?"
"Seriously Alec. I think I'm going crazy. I keep having these weird ass dreams." She looked at the bottom of her coffee mug. "Like memories or something..."
"about what?"
Already she could feel the tears coming to the rims of her eyes. It was so easy, too easy to confide in Alec. He was the perfect resemblance of her brother Ben. Ben who had been such a bright and lovable child while they were growing up in that hell hole. And yet Alec was just Alec, a smart ass.
She shook her head, "I gotta jet."
Alec watched helplessly as Max excused herself and left her mug of instant coffee. She slung her pack over her shoulder and cleared her throat, "It's funny-"
"What?"
"Before, I woulda kicked your ass this morning for taking my food."
"Oh? What stopped you?"
She shrugged, "Guess I just wasn't in the mood."
It was then that Original Cindy came over. "You see it too boo?"
"See what?"
"The hurt in my gurls eyes suga." OC said softly.
"Yeah," he nodded.
Cindy finished up Max's abandoned drink. "That place broke that girl let me tell you. Never thought it could happen in a million,but it did in just a few months."
"I don't think she's broken exactly." Alec started.
"How so?"
"Because she wouldn't have survived some of the stuff Renfro did to her." He turned to Cindy and with all the seriousness he could muster, "I know whole units who were killed during that CYOPS program of Renfro's. They were test subjects, obviously, but still."
He shrugged and checked the clock, "What joy, two hours down, another ten to go."
"You goin' on twelve today?" Cindy asked surprise.
"Yup, Sketch called in and Normal decided to give me the honor of covering that guys hang over."
"Suga you gonna be tired. Next time Normal try's that again, you tell him to come an have a word wit sista gurl. I set him straight." She winked with the final sip of the now luke warm liquid.
Alec laughed, "Ha- I'll remember that. And I'm not so tired anyhow."
"Why's that?"
"I don't sleep."
Spoilers: Hang tight, there's going to be a big moment coming up in the next couple chapters... Max will finally admit that her nightmares are in fact memories.
