Chapter Ten - Talentless
Welcome back parties were supposed to be happy occasions, ones filled with stupid stories and broad smiles. Deep down, Max knew this. But thoughts of Logan and a blonde woman were closer to the surface and a pitcher of beer was close to her fingertips. She drank her beer silently, only half listening to the stories Sketchy was telling. She stared at a crack in the wall and sipped her beer, feeling as if it hurt too much to think. But all she could do was think - think about missed opportunities and about Logan's hands running through blonde hair.
She finished off her glass and reached for the beer pitcher. Original Cindy slapped her hand away.
"You had enough," her friend admonished.
Max shook her head. She could still feel. She hadn't had enough. "I'm not drunk."
"Yeah, okay," Original Cindy said and rolled her eyes. "Boo, I just watched you drink three pitchers almost entirely by yourself. That makes a girl drunk."
"But not me," Sketchy added in with a belch.
"That's straight up disgusting," Cindy said and shook her head.
"I'm not drunk," Max said and poured herself another glass. It was the truth. It took more than a few pitchers to get her drunk. Another pitcher would have had her only merely buzzed. Sometimes she hated her DNA.
Original Cindy wrenched the glass from Max's vice-like grip. Max had let her. Something within her told her that her answers didn't lie in the bottom of a beer glass.
Original Cindy leaned over to Max so that no one else could hear her words. "Look, I know why you're down. You're upset 'cause of what I told you at work today and I know you ain't gonna stop bein' upset until you sort that bitch out with your man."
"He's not my man."
"Original Cindy calls bullshit," Cindy replied then took a sip from Max's glass. "Why don't you go and talk to him. These jokers are faded - they won't notice you leave."
Max looked at her friend. "Thanks."
Max stood and put her jacket on. She walked to the exit, but stopped when she Kendra at the bar. She was barely smiling as some Neanderthal in a muscle shirt was all over her. Kendra had nearly matched Max for drinks, which meant that she was in no state of mind to make the decision Max guessed she was thinking about. She walked over to the guy and tapped him on the shoulder.
"You need to leave her alone now."
He looked at her and gave her a "screw off" look, then turned back to Kendra.
She grabbed him by the shirt collar and pulled him off the stool discreetly so that no one would notice her show of strength. "I said now."
"Oh, screw off," the guy grumbled and pushed Max.
Max rolled her eyes. "I'm in no mood to deal with this right now. I suggest you get up and leave my friend alone before I stop being so nice."
"Hi, Max," Kendra greeted sloppily.
The man fished a five-dollar bill from his pocket and waved it in her face. "Here's five for you to leave me the hell alone. Maybe I'll leave another one on the dresser for the morning."
"That's my last nerve," Max said and shook her head.
She moved closer to the man so no one could really see her actions, then kneed him in the stomach and then again in the grain. Once he had doubled over, she brought her brought her elbow down sharply on the side of his face. He dropped to the ground and whimpered. She stepped over him and helped Kendra up from her seat.
"Where we goin'?" Kendra asked. Max could smell the alcohol on her breath.
"I'm taking you home," Max told her.
They stepped over the man (with Max giving him a good kick) and managed to make it to Max's motorcycle without much difficulty. The ride back to the apartment was interesting to say the least. Max had to keep a careful watch on Kendra - and had to stop once so Kendra could vomit over the side. Once they reached the apartment, Max got Kendra some water and crackers, then settled her into bed.
"Sorry I ruined your party," Kendra said quietly. She had sobered up a little - very little.
"You didn't," Max told her. "Get some rest. I'm gonna go back out."
Kendra nodded and made herself comfortable.
Max walked through the shower curtains that separated Kendra's room from the rest of the apartment and paced the length of the living room.
Finally, she decided to make a big mistake and go to Logan's apartment.
She flew through town on her motorcycle at twice her normal speed. She reached the parking garage in record time and left her bike near the Aztek - a little routine she had sorely missed.
The elevator ride was hell and the walk to his door was even worse. As she stood in front of his door, she felt the bile and beer rising in her stomach. She swallowed hard and knocked almost just as hard. She heard footsteps approaching the door and again felt like vomiting.
When the door opened, she expected she would vomit all over Bling - but the footsteps hadn't belonged to Bling.
She found herself face to face with an enemy worse than Manticore - a blonde.
"Can I help you?" the woman asked.
Max stared at her.
Leaving was a talent.
And Max found herself talentless.