Just Wondering
Chapter Three: Feeling the Heat.
Surprisingly, Max actually found herself enjoying the rest of the day with Alec. Of course it was full of their trademark witty banter and teasing, but Max felt that something had definitely changed. It was less bitchy and more affectionate than usual. As much as Max hated to admit it appeared that Alec was right. For although it was a bit strange knowing that she had kissed him, and that she wanted to do it again, for revenge purposes only of course, and that she knew Alec was secretly plotting how to make her 'rue the day' she had ever tried to mess with him . . . they seemed to be getting on like friends. And not just friends, really good friends, the kind that knew everything about the other and confided in each other, something that a week ago she would have said her and Alec were definitely not.
So by the time Max got back to Jam Pony for her lunch break she was in a genuinely good mood. Something that only happened in very rare occasions and never in work. Which is why when she walked over to OC smiling, OC immediately wondered what was going on.
"What's up with you? You look all... glowy."
"I just got back form rounds with Alec," said Max, putting her bag in her locker.
"Ok something doesn't add up. You have spent the whole day with Alec, and now you are smiling, laughing, generally looking happy and there is a suspicious absence of swearing, moaning and bitching about Alec who from here looks unbruised. Overdose or under dose?" asked OC looking genuinely worried and testing her friend's temperature with the back of her hand. "What? Can't I just be in a good mood?"
"Not on a normal day and definitely not on an Alec filled day."
"Well it appears OC you don't know me as well as you thought," she said walking off and for the first time in her life, OC didn't know what to say.
"What'd you say to my girl?"
"Excuse me?" asked Alec knowing exactly what OC was talking about. Things had definitely been different between him and Max today and so obviously, OC had assumed he had done something.
"She is acting all weird and well I'm guessing it is your fault," she said confirming his suspicions.
"What kinda weird?" he asked playing dumb.
"She's in a really good mood."
"And?"
"She has spent all day with you," said OC slightly frustrated that she didn't appear to be getting the peculiarity of the situation across to him. "And I want to know why she is acting so strangely!"
"Look I don't know or particularly care why," said Alec indifferently. "You never know, maybe she finally gotten some, if so about time and good for her plus if it keeps her off my back well then it really is all good so I truly don't see the problem here."
Original Cindy pondered this for a moment before realising that she had been interrogating Alec without reason. Even if he was the reason for her change in mood, why was she complaining?
"You know I think you are right boo and I say we take full advantage of this situation. I mean Max is my girl and all but she was sure as hell stuck in a depressed rut and in case it doesn't last too long I say we show her all the fun she has been missing."
"Damn straight! You can definitely count me in, hell any excuse to go a little mad," said Alec getting excited at the idea of a good night out. "We should do something different for once."
"For sure."
After a few minutes of silence throughout which Alec and OC were attempting to think of something to do before Cindy said, "Crash at eight?"
"Sounds good," said Alec.
"And I'm sorry about going at ya there, it's just usually when you two have to do rounds together Max is usually pissed off and well when I heard yous were working together today I worked out a few good comforting and advisory phrases. A 'Why don't' you try and get to know the boy better' and a 'you know Alec, selfish as ever,' depending on her level of anger. Some of my better work, if I do say so myself, its enough to give an opinion and make sure she can't turn on me."
"And here's me thinking that you were just effortlessly wise and by the way I am not selfish!" protested Alec.
"Sure, good luck convincing yourself there pretty boy, OC'll catch ya later," she said walking away, smiling at his lack of self-awareness.
That night at half seven, Max was to be found in front of the mirror putting on . . . make up! She had just finished curling her hair and was now applying considerable amounts of black eyeliner. When OC had informed her that they were going to Crash she had found herself asking if Alec was going and when it turned out that he was, Max found herself with a sudden desire to make a bit of an effort.
But why was she going to all this effort? She wondered. 'Not for Alec, that's for sure' she thought. She raised an eyebrow at herself in the mirror. 'Oh please!' said the other voice I her head, the annoying, truthful one that she didn't like. 'Ok, maybe I am doing this for Alec . . . but only to make any revenge all the sweeter. Me just sitting there looking like this and him knowing he can't have me is the perfect torture.' Pleased with her justification to herself she put down the eyeliner and stepped back from the mirror giving herself the once over.
"Damn, girl," said OC coming out of the bathroom, still putting earrings on. "You really pulled out all the stops tonight, any reason in particular?"
"No, just wanted a change. I kinda realised how much I missed my curls, which look good with the extra length."
"You have been so different today," commented OC.
"Good different?" asked Max.
"Great different, I'm not sure what has changed but I sure hope it stays that way. There is nothing I love more than seeing you happy boo and it has been a while."
Sharing a hug the two best friends smiled. "Ok," said OC. "Lets go show them what we're made of." Grabbing their jackets, they were out the door.
Walking into Crash, Max and OC knew everyone in the room was watching them and they lapped it up. Max headed towards their usual table while OC grabbed a pitcher of beer from the bar.
Looking around the room Max noticed that Alec hadn't arrived yet. Before she could get too lonely, Sketchy came down and sat beside her. "Whoa Max! what's up with you?" rolling her eyes Max smiled, "Nothing Sketch, so you up for a game of pool, you never know I might even let ya win a few, boost your confidence before you loose a week's wages to Alec later."
"Sure," said Sketchy, getting up and heading towards the pool table. After a few minutes of playing, Max looked up at the door again, just like she had been doing since she arrived, but this time she saw Alec entering Crash, causing her to miss a very basic shot.
"Shit Max! How'd you miss that? Even I could have hit it!" exclaimed Sketchy. "Sorry Sketch," she said still staring at Alec. "Hey, don't be, I actually have a chance of winning now!"
"Yeah," said Max distantly. She watched Alec carefully as he entered, heading straight for the bar and sending a few knee weakening smiles to the girls that sent looks his way. Looking round the room she caught Max's eyes. He smiled and gave a small wave before Max looked away hurriedly, embarrassed that he had caught her staring at him.
'What do ya know?' thought Alec. 'Max 'queen bitch' Guevara actually blushed,' he thought, smiling with self-satisfaction.
He ordered a pitcher of beer and brought it over to the table were OC was sitting. "Looking good Maxie," he said with a wink as he passed her. "Hey, don't call me that," she said, tough girl attitude firmly back in place.
"Sure thing Maxie," he said.
"Ugh!" said Max, angrily.
"Oh and by the way, if you though dressing up and looking as fine as you do tonight was going to distract me from my revenge you were sadly mistaken, MAXIE," he whispered to her before walking of. With a smug, grin on his face, 'oh yes, this is going to be good.'
Five minutes later Max was still playing with Sketchy and watching Alec, who to her annoyance still hadn't made his move. 'Whatever that may be,' she thought. Looking up she saw someone else sitting at the table with OC and Alec. 'Oh no, this can so not be good,' thought Max beginning to panic. It was Logan. She watched on as OC left them and headed to the bar. 'Really not good.'
"Hey, guys, room for one more?" Alec looked up to see Logan standing there waiting expectantly. 'No," he thought but sighing, he thought the better of it and simply said, "Sure."
Logan sat down and looked about the bar, "Is Max here."
"Uh no that's her clone over there playing pool with Sketch," retorted Alec. 'Dumbass.'
"Oh," said Logan, "She looks different."
Looking between Logan's creepy, slimy, smile and Alec's pissed off expression, OC decided to excuse herself.
"If you fellas don't mind there is a honey over there that Original Cindy would like to get better acquainted with," she said leaving quickly.
Although Alec was irritated with OC for ditching him and leaving him with possibly his least favourite person, it meant that now he could play. He had racked his brain all day to think of a way that he could make Max squirm, but had came up blank so although it did not fit in with the theme of their now trademark torture Alec figured that this would be the next best thing.
If there was one thing, he knew for certain, it was that Max was watching him anxiously afraid of what he would say to her 'not-like-that' on again off again boyfriend so he figured that there was no reason to have her fears unfounded.
"So Logan buddy, there is something I think you should know . . . it's about Max and I don't think you are going to like it."
'What the hell are they talking about?' wondered Max who due to lack of concentration was getting her ass whooped by Sketchy. Ending the torture of not knowing what was going on Max 'accidentally' potted the eight ball. "Whoopsie! My bad, you win Sketch."
Not even waiting for a response, Max left and headed to the table that Alec and Logan were occupying. "Hey Logan," she said.
Getting up with an angry look on his face, Logan looked at her, "I don't want to talk to you Max," he said.
"Huh, why?" she asked uncertainly, with a feeling that Alec had something to do with the reason.
Alec sighed, "I told him Max."
"You did what?" exclaimed Max, her eyes bulging and her foot aching to make contact with Alec's ass.
"I had to Max, it was unfair of you not to tell him so I had to do the right thing, it was just eating me up inside Max," he said so convincingly that if it wasn't for the cocky grin he flashed her when Logan wasn't looking she would have believed him.
"I just can't believe that you would do this to me Max," said Logan whose eyes were welling up with tears and he stormed of before they could spill.
"Logan, wait!" Max called after him. "Oh my god Alec, why do you have to be such an asshole?" she practically screamed at him.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you always have to be such a bitch," said Alec defensively. "But look before you go running after him and make a total mess out of things you should know that . . ."
"Are you kidding me? I think you have made enough of a mess thank you very much. God I know you swore revenge but I never thought you would do something like this Alec, before it was all a little harmless teasing but oh no you had to retaliate with something that would actually have consequences."
"But Max, listen to me . . ."
"Ah but I forgot that you didn't care for consequences or for anyone but yourself," she said running after Logan.
'Fine,' thought Alec, who was angry and hurt by what she had said. 'She can ruin her relationship for all I care.' He got up, went to the bar and ordered another drink.
A/N: Ok I know that this chapter wasn't like the first two but this needed to be done. Only another two chapters to go and they will be more like the first two I promise.
Chapter Three: Feeling the Heat.
Surprisingly, Max actually found herself enjoying the rest of the day with Alec. Of course it was full of their trademark witty banter and teasing, but Max felt that something had definitely changed. It was less bitchy and more affectionate than usual. As much as Max hated to admit it appeared that Alec was right. For although it was a bit strange knowing that she had kissed him, and that she wanted to do it again, for revenge purposes only of course, and that she knew Alec was secretly plotting how to make her 'rue the day' she had ever tried to mess with him . . . they seemed to be getting on like friends. And not just friends, really good friends, the kind that knew everything about the other and confided in each other, something that a week ago she would have said her and Alec were definitely not.
So by the time Max got back to Jam Pony for her lunch break she was in a genuinely good mood. Something that only happened in very rare occasions and never in work. Which is why when she walked over to OC smiling, OC immediately wondered what was going on.
"What's up with you? You look all... glowy."
"I just got back form rounds with Alec," said Max, putting her bag in her locker.
"Ok something doesn't add up. You have spent the whole day with Alec, and now you are smiling, laughing, generally looking happy and there is a suspicious absence of swearing, moaning and bitching about Alec who from here looks unbruised. Overdose or under dose?" asked OC looking genuinely worried and testing her friend's temperature with the back of her hand. "What? Can't I just be in a good mood?"
"Not on a normal day and definitely not on an Alec filled day."
"Well it appears OC you don't know me as well as you thought," she said walking off and for the first time in her life, OC didn't know what to say.
"What'd you say to my girl?"
"Excuse me?" asked Alec knowing exactly what OC was talking about. Things had definitely been different between him and Max today and so obviously, OC had assumed he had done something.
"She is acting all weird and well I'm guessing it is your fault," she said confirming his suspicions.
"What kinda weird?" he asked playing dumb.
"She's in a really good mood."
"And?"
"She has spent all day with you," said OC slightly frustrated that she didn't appear to be getting the peculiarity of the situation across to him. "And I want to know why she is acting so strangely!"
"Look I don't know or particularly care why," said Alec indifferently. "You never know, maybe she finally gotten some, if so about time and good for her plus if it keeps her off my back well then it really is all good so I truly don't see the problem here."
Original Cindy pondered this for a moment before realising that she had been interrogating Alec without reason. Even if he was the reason for her change in mood, why was she complaining?
"You know I think you are right boo and I say we take full advantage of this situation. I mean Max is my girl and all but she was sure as hell stuck in a depressed rut and in case it doesn't last too long I say we show her all the fun she has been missing."
"Damn straight! You can definitely count me in, hell any excuse to go a little mad," said Alec getting excited at the idea of a good night out. "We should do something different for once."
"For sure."
After a few minutes of silence throughout which Alec and OC were attempting to think of something to do before Cindy said, "Crash at eight?"
"Sounds good," said Alec.
"And I'm sorry about going at ya there, it's just usually when you two have to do rounds together Max is usually pissed off and well when I heard yous were working together today I worked out a few good comforting and advisory phrases. A 'Why don't' you try and get to know the boy better' and a 'you know Alec, selfish as ever,' depending on her level of anger. Some of my better work, if I do say so myself, its enough to give an opinion and make sure she can't turn on me."
"And here's me thinking that you were just effortlessly wise and by the way I am not selfish!" protested Alec.
"Sure, good luck convincing yourself there pretty boy, OC'll catch ya later," she said walking away, smiling at his lack of self-awareness.
That night at half seven, Max was to be found in front of the mirror putting on . . . make up! She had just finished curling her hair and was now applying considerable amounts of black eyeliner. When OC had informed her that they were going to Crash she had found herself asking if Alec was going and when it turned out that he was, Max found herself with a sudden desire to make a bit of an effort.
But why was she going to all this effort? She wondered. 'Not for Alec, that's for sure' she thought. She raised an eyebrow at herself in the mirror. 'Oh please!' said the other voice I her head, the annoying, truthful one that she didn't like. 'Ok, maybe I am doing this for Alec . . . but only to make any revenge all the sweeter. Me just sitting there looking like this and him knowing he can't have me is the perfect torture.' Pleased with her justification to herself she put down the eyeliner and stepped back from the mirror giving herself the once over.
"Damn, girl," said OC coming out of the bathroom, still putting earrings on. "You really pulled out all the stops tonight, any reason in particular?"
"No, just wanted a change. I kinda realised how much I missed my curls, which look good with the extra length."
"You have been so different today," commented OC.
"Good different?" asked Max.
"Great different, I'm not sure what has changed but I sure hope it stays that way. There is nothing I love more than seeing you happy boo and it has been a while."
Sharing a hug the two best friends smiled. "Ok," said OC. "Lets go show them what we're made of." Grabbing their jackets, they were out the door.
Walking into Crash, Max and OC knew everyone in the room was watching them and they lapped it up. Max headed towards their usual table while OC grabbed a pitcher of beer from the bar.
Looking around the room Max noticed that Alec hadn't arrived yet. Before she could get too lonely, Sketchy came down and sat beside her. "Whoa Max! what's up with you?" rolling her eyes Max smiled, "Nothing Sketch, so you up for a game of pool, you never know I might even let ya win a few, boost your confidence before you loose a week's wages to Alec later."
"Sure," said Sketchy, getting up and heading towards the pool table. After a few minutes of playing, Max looked up at the door again, just like she had been doing since she arrived, but this time she saw Alec entering Crash, causing her to miss a very basic shot.
"Shit Max! How'd you miss that? Even I could have hit it!" exclaimed Sketchy. "Sorry Sketch," she said still staring at Alec. "Hey, don't be, I actually have a chance of winning now!"
"Yeah," said Max distantly. She watched Alec carefully as he entered, heading straight for the bar and sending a few knee weakening smiles to the girls that sent looks his way. Looking round the room she caught Max's eyes. He smiled and gave a small wave before Max looked away hurriedly, embarrassed that he had caught her staring at him.
'What do ya know?' thought Alec. 'Max 'queen bitch' Guevara actually blushed,' he thought, smiling with self-satisfaction.
He ordered a pitcher of beer and brought it over to the table were OC was sitting. "Looking good Maxie," he said with a wink as he passed her. "Hey, don't call me that," she said, tough girl attitude firmly back in place.
"Sure thing Maxie," he said.
"Ugh!" said Max, angrily.
"Oh and by the way, if you though dressing up and looking as fine as you do tonight was going to distract me from my revenge you were sadly mistaken, MAXIE," he whispered to her before walking of. With a smug, grin on his face, 'oh yes, this is going to be good.'
Five minutes later Max was still playing with Sketchy and watching Alec, who to her annoyance still hadn't made his move. 'Whatever that may be,' she thought. Looking up she saw someone else sitting at the table with OC and Alec. 'Oh no, this can so not be good,' thought Max beginning to panic. It was Logan. She watched on as OC left them and headed to the bar. 'Really not good.'
"Hey, guys, room for one more?" Alec looked up to see Logan standing there waiting expectantly. 'No," he thought but sighing, he thought the better of it and simply said, "Sure."
Logan sat down and looked about the bar, "Is Max here."
"Uh no that's her clone over there playing pool with Sketch," retorted Alec. 'Dumbass.'
"Oh," said Logan, "She looks different."
Looking between Logan's creepy, slimy, smile and Alec's pissed off expression, OC decided to excuse herself.
"If you fellas don't mind there is a honey over there that Original Cindy would like to get better acquainted with," she said leaving quickly.
Although Alec was irritated with OC for ditching him and leaving him with possibly his least favourite person, it meant that now he could play. He had racked his brain all day to think of a way that he could make Max squirm, but had came up blank so although it did not fit in with the theme of their now trademark torture Alec figured that this would be the next best thing.
If there was one thing, he knew for certain, it was that Max was watching him anxiously afraid of what he would say to her 'not-like-that' on again off again boyfriend so he figured that there was no reason to have her fears unfounded.
"So Logan buddy, there is something I think you should know . . . it's about Max and I don't think you are going to like it."
'What the hell are they talking about?' wondered Max who due to lack of concentration was getting her ass whooped by Sketchy. Ending the torture of not knowing what was going on Max 'accidentally' potted the eight ball. "Whoopsie! My bad, you win Sketch."
Not even waiting for a response, Max left and headed to the table that Alec and Logan were occupying. "Hey Logan," she said.
Getting up with an angry look on his face, Logan looked at her, "I don't want to talk to you Max," he said.
"Huh, why?" she asked uncertainly, with a feeling that Alec had something to do with the reason.
Alec sighed, "I told him Max."
"You did what?" exclaimed Max, her eyes bulging and her foot aching to make contact with Alec's ass.
"I had to Max, it was unfair of you not to tell him so I had to do the right thing, it was just eating me up inside Max," he said so convincingly that if it wasn't for the cocky grin he flashed her when Logan wasn't looking she would have believed him.
"I just can't believe that you would do this to me Max," said Logan whose eyes were welling up with tears and he stormed of before they could spill.
"Logan, wait!" Max called after him. "Oh my god Alec, why do you have to be such an asshole?" she practically screamed at him.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you always have to be such a bitch," said Alec defensively. "But look before you go running after him and make a total mess out of things you should know that . . ."
"Are you kidding me? I think you have made enough of a mess thank you very much. God I know you swore revenge but I never thought you would do something like this Alec, before it was all a little harmless teasing but oh no you had to retaliate with something that would actually have consequences."
"But Max, listen to me . . ."
"Ah but I forgot that you didn't care for consequences or for anyone but yourself," she said running after Logan.
'Fine,' thought Alec, who was angry and hurt by what she had said. 'She can ruin her relationship for all I care.' He got up, went to the bar and ordered another drink.
A/N: Ok I know that this chapter wasn't like the first two but this needed to be done. Only another two chapters to go and they will be more like the first two I promise.