Chapter 2

Alec, Biggs, Lianna, and Quinn walked into the grand ballroom, astonished at how beautiful the room looked. A lot of hard work and effort had gone into making the evening a success, and from the looks of the happy people twirling on the dance floor and the smiling faces milling about, they had no doubt it was. Each of them immediately began to search the room for their friends in the sea of faces.

Biggs watched as Max scanned the crowd. He grinned in amusement at the way her eyes flitted over Alec's body, her face showing approval. When Alec's eyes met hers, she flushed, casting her gaze down to the floor, to her friends, anywhere but at him. Then Alec continued the game, his eyes following Max's every move, an almost hungry look adorning his face. But as their eyes met for the second time, it was Alec's turn to look away.

Glancing back and forth between his two friends, Biggs couldn't resist a jibe. "Those two are pathetic."

Quinn regarded his friend questioningly. "Whatcha talkin' about?"

"Look at those two. They can't stop looking at each other for five minutes," Biggs replied, nodding his head in Max's direction.

"Oh them? Yeah. And can you believe they think no one knows?" Quinn snorted in disbelief at the absurdity of it all.

"See? Absolutely pathetic. When are they gonna get a clue?" This charade of stolen glances from across crowded rooms and such had been going on for far too long in Biggs' opinion.

"When we give 'em one." Quinn's sly smile and mischievous eyes hinted at a plan brewing in that devious mind of his.

"And just what, pray tell, are you suggesting?" Biggs raised his eyebrows and quirked his lips into a knowing grin.

Turning towards Lianna, Quinn said, "Yo, Li! You gonna help me out here?"

"What do you want me to do?" Lianna rubbed her hands together in anticipation.

"How 'bout we play 'em against each other?" Quinn motioned to the pair on the floor.

"I'm likin' this already." Biggs' grin grew into a full-on smirk at the implications of Quinn's suggestion. "What's the plan, my man?"

Quinn lowered his voice conspiratorially. "I think I'll take Maxie for a spin on the dance floor." Both men looked to Lianna expectantly.

"Hmm," Lianna replied, smiling. "And I should probably go talk to Alec about the new plans for the heist or something."

"Not only will this be helping them, but I'm gonna love seeing the looks on their faces! This is gonna be priceless."

Quinn clapped a hand on Biggs' back. "Helping them? Biggs, man, we're lightin' a fire!"

"You know what they say about playing with fire..." Biggs began, leaving the rest unsaid.

"Hey, gettin' burned don't bother me, so long as the two of them get a friggin' room already!" Quinn laughed, and turned away. "Wish me luck!" he called as he began to walk in Max's direction.

Biggs laughed. "He's gonna need it. Alec'll beat the shit outta him...if he's lucky!"

Lianna's lip twitched into a fake pout. "What about me? I'm the once facing the wrath of Max!"

With that, Lianna turned away from Biggs and headed toward Alec, who was seated on a couch across the room. "This had better work," she muttered under her breath.

Quinn walked over to Max, his tall, lean body oozing sex appeal. "Hey Max."

"Hey Quinn," she began without looking at him. Suddenly her head snapped towards him, and her face contorted with varying emotions. "Why the hell are you guys here? Something go sideways with the heist?" She was quickly vacillating between anger and concern. She glanced at Alec once more, seeming to check him for injuries.

"Chill Max! Everything's cool. Last minute change of plans. The heist had to be put off."

Max flushed in embarrassment, but quickly recovered. "Oh. I just..." Sighing, she changed the subject. "So, whaddaya think of the party?"

"Well, I hear that you, OC, and Sketch are responsible for all this," Quinn responded, his hand sweeping the room. "It's lookin' good."

"But seriously," Quinn began, dipping his head close to her ear after seeing Alec out of the corner of his eye. "Who picked the music? The Locomotion is just...old."

"I'll give you three guesses at that one, and two of 'em don't count." Laughing, Max pointed to Normal.

Quinn groaned in frustration. "Damn. Tell me there's gonna be fun music, please?" he pleaded. "C'mon Maxie! I can't dance to the Locomotion!" he said, blue eyes sparkling as he winked at her. "And I really wanna dance," he paused and leaned in slightly closer, "with you."

"I think something can be arranged," she replied, slightly puzzled. I wanted to have fun...dancing is fun. She stole a quick glance in Alec's direction. He was sitting with Lianna on the couch, laughing at some unknown joke. A tendril of anger flared up in her as she took in the sight.

"Who's a guy gotta bribe to get some decent music then?"

Determined, Max cupped a hand over her mouth, and yelled out to Sketchy who was playing DJ for the night. "Sketch, get us some bump and grind, will ya?" Alec looked up from his conversation with Lianna, surprised, and Max's lips curled into a smug grin as she led Quinn to the dance floor.

Yo, I'm just too much, I flow too sick
I be on top of the snare, all over the kick

"This beat more to your liking?" she asked.

Quinn lowered his voice slightly, seductively, and rumbled in her ear as he put an arm around her slender waist. "Much."

Max draped an arm lazily around his neck, letting one dangle by her side. "Mm-hmm," she purred as they began to dance. She realized with a start that she'd never noticed how sexy Quinn was. Tall and lean, with chiseled muscles, his radiant blue eyes that seemed to see right through you. Sexy. But not nearly as sexy as Al Max's eyes widened as she realized where her train of thought had been headed. She shook her head to rid it of the thought.

Quinn placed his hands on her hips, pulling her close, grinding slowly to the music. "So, Maxie, how've ya been? We haven't talked in a while."

Max tried to lose herself in the rhythm, utilizing the feline grace with which she'd been endowed. "I've been alright, given the givens. Mostly, anyways..." Her thoughts wandered to her earlier seizure crisis.

"Things with Logan still strained?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Yeah, but, I expected that, you know? I mean, you break up with a guy and tell him you're seeing someone else..." Max paused, reflecting on her own words. "But that isn't really an issue..." surprised at the truth in her words. When did I stop worrying so much about this?

"What do you mean?" Quinn's face furrowed into a puzzled expression.

"I guess...I just got tired of it all. Worrying about what he's thinking of me. I guess I just realized I don't care anymore. I've got other things to deal with..." Max was surprised at herself; she wasn't one to open up and do share-time. At least, not with anyone except Cindy...or sometimes even Alec.

"You worried about TC? Don't be. Alec, Biggs and I have everything under control." He paused when the implications of her words finally hit. "Wait, I thought the whole break-up deal was a sham. Are you telling me that it's really over? You and Logan...?"

Max was silent for a moment, letting the concept wash over her, then smiled. "Yeah, I guess it is. Funny, I thought it would hurt more."

The song ended and a different, faster beat began.

"Loves funny that way. Maybe...never mind." Quinn turned his head away, breaking their eye contact.

"Maybe what, Quinn?" Max and Quinn's bodies picked up the pace, moving as one to the faster tempo.

"I dunno. I just-" He shook his head and smiled. "Well, I guess I was wondering if maybe it hurts less because..." he paused, hesitant, "maybe there's someone else?" He lifted his eyebrows, giving her a shy smile.

For a reason unknown, her gaze was drawn to Alec with her friend's words. Then she realized what he'd said, and that shy smile...and she panicked. "Oh, um...I...no, there's no one else right now," she sputtered as she tried in vain to hide her dismay.

He whispered in her ear. "I didn't mean me, Maxie. Though god knows you're hot enough," he grinned.

The comment earned him a playful slap on the shoulder. Quinn glanced quickly out of the corner of his eye and saw Alec watching them intently. He smiled and pulled Max closer.

"Men," she snorted. "You're all dogs."

"Aw, Max, you wound me. You really do!" He reached out a hand to push away a few stray hairs from her forehead. "If you wanna talk, I'm always here for you." He hoped she'd take the bait.

Max sighed and peered around Quinn's shoulder, her eyes settling on Alec dancing with Lianna. A pang of something hit her. Anger? Could it be jealously? No!...Maybe? "Yeah, I know you are. But I don't think I've even figured it out for myself yet." She shook her head, exasperated.

Pulling back slightly, Quinn looked at her. Speaking just loud enough for Alec to hear, he traced a finger along her jaw and lifted her chin. "You wanna go back to my place?" He lowered his head so it was parallel with hers and smiled gently. "Private drinking party at Casa del Quinn?" His eyes turned serious as he added, "Sometimes thinking out loud helps. Maybe I can help."

Max silently wondered whether he meant help her think, or help distract her from her thoughts. One look in his direction, seeing him laugh genuinely, seeing the way he and Lianna looked so...intimate, and the question no longer mattered.

"I might just have to accept that offer," she replied, smiling mischievously even though a conniving voice in her head was telling her that she just wanted to make him jealous.

Quinn wore a genuine, happy smile. "Let's go!" Laughingly, he took her hand and led her off the dance floor, nodding almost imperceptibly at Biggs as they walked past him.

Lianna walked up to Alec casually and took a seat on the couch next to him. Working like a charm, she thought when she saw the annoyed look on his face as he watched the show Max and Quinn were putting on out on the floor.

"Hey," she said simply, putting her elbow on the back of the couch and supporting her head with her hand. She smiled as she saw him physically jerk back into reality upon hearing her words.

"Hey." Alec flashed her a quick smile. "Having fun?"

"As always," she replied, grinning. "How 'bout you? Thought you'd be chatting up some female and be halfway to her place by now."

Alec smirked and gave a dry chuckle. "Think I've had 'em all."

"Of the human variety, I've no doubt. But you haven't tried many of the transgenic femmes..." she trailed off, hoping her subtlety would not go unnoticed. This is fun...when I don't think of how many ways Max can conjure up to kill me.

A cheeky grin spread across his face and his eyes twinkled mischievously. "You hinting at something, Li?" He let his eyes rove over her in a blatantly sexually suggestive way. "'Cause I might just be interested."

Damn, I'm good...maybe a little too good. "Really?" She drew the word out seductively. "'Cause I might just be...interested too." Her eyes followed the same path over his features as his had over her own.

He licked his lips. "You wanna dance?"

"Definitely." Her eyes flicked over to the bar where Biggs was sitting, watching them. His expression was something she couldn't quite read. Maybe he's jealous. She mentally snorted at the thought. She stood up, accentuating her finer feminine assets as she did so, and took Alec's hand.

Alec walked slowly backwards onto the dance floor. The music was a fast-paced rhythm, easy to dance to. He pulled Lianna close to his chest, resting a hand on her hip and another on her lower back. He stole a glance in Max's direction to see her in a similar position with Quinn and he tightened his hold on Lianna in reflex.

He leaned close to her ear. "Is this a little ploy to get Biggs jealous? 'Cause if it is," he grinned, noticing Biggs scowling across the room, "I think it's working."

Lianna decided maybe this would be even better than trying to seduce Alec for real. This way she wouldn't have to shut him down at the end of the night. Plus, making Biggs jealous would be a definite plus.

"Busted," she laughed, grinning at him. "You really think it's working?" She didn't even have to feign the shy, worried voice and expression as she asked.

Alec laughed. "Biggs? Are you kidding? He's practically spittin' fire, honey." His eyes darkened and took on a faraway look.

Over-identify much? she thought as she saw that Alec's gaze was on, not Biggs, but the pair currently engaged in an almost explicit dance.

Almost subconsciously, it seemed to Lianna, Alec increased his own pace and tightened his hold on her waist. If he keeps looking at them, I'm gonna lose a pant size.

"Alec, what's up? Something wrong?"

Startled, Alec looked down at the beautiful girl in his arms. If not for Biggs...I might consider it. She had dark, wavy hair, a small but wonderfully curvy figure, and large, expressive green eyes. Yet no matter how much he appreciated her looks, she wasn't Max. Where did that come from? Why was I...oh, right. Words. Answer.

"Um, no," his voice was oddly hollow. Alec cleared his throat and continued. "I like dancing with you."

"'Cause that was so convincing." Lianna rolled her eyes, then looked up at the man holding her. His deep hazel eyes, usually so full of life and mischief, were clouded by something close to confusion. Hmm...wonder what he's thinking about. "Come on. What's on that twisted mind of yours?"

Raising a hand to cover his heart he smirked. "Twisted? Hmmm. Yeah I suppose it is." He leered at her, winking suggestively. "Wondering what you'd say to a threesome with Biggsie, there?"

"Always figured you guys had a thing going," she replied teasingly, lightly slapping at his chest. "Besides, Lianna, Lola...they do sound alike. I know how the weak male mind can confuse things like...words."

Alec looked at her in shock. Had he said that to anyone else they'd have smacked him good. Or maybe I'm just used to Max.

"Is that a yes?" he teased back.

"Don't you just wish it was?" She chuckled and rolled her eyes once more before taking on a more serious expression. "Alec, seriously, stop with the tactics. I took that class too; Changing the Subject 101. So, are you gonna tell me what's wrong, or do I have to pull a Max and beat it out of ya?" She smiled, trying to reassure him.

He licked his lips subconsciously at hearing Max's name. He looked intently at Lianna, his eyes serious. He tittered ruefully. "Am I that transparent?"

"Not most of the time. You work so hard on keeping up the charming, smart-ass facade." She tilted her head in the cocky manner he so often affected. "'I'm always alright,'" she imitated. Her words were sarcastic, but the tone was more concerned. She willed him to open up to her, something she knew he would avoid at all costs.

Alec couldn't understand why, but he felt himself opening up to her. "I don't know. I guess," he ran a hand shakily through his hair, "I'm a little confused." Did I just admit that? He looked away from her in embarrassment.

His eyes fell on Quinn, who was leading Max from the floor and towards the exit. Alec caught Quinn's words, the tone seductive and suggestive. 'You wanna go back to my place?' Why, that little SHIT!

Lianna watched as Alec's expression went from slightly confused to all out shocked and raging as Quinn led Max off the dance floor. She, too, had heard Quinn, and had to fight to keep the amusement from showing on her face.

"Alec? You still with me here?"

Alec shook his head as if to clear it. "Yeah. Um, do you wanna go someplace else?" he suggested, holding her gaze. "You know, get Biggs more riled up?" he added quickly.

Throwing a look over her shoulder at Biggs, Lianna saw that he did seem very angry. Serves him right, she thought unreasonably. "That depends."

Alec cocked his head and eyed her questioningly. "Are you gonna tell me what's up?" she asked softly.

"You're not gonna give up are you?" he chuckled softly.

"Wasn't made to be a quitter." Lianna smiled, and pulled back slightly, taking Alec's larger hand in hers. "You need to talk, I need to make Biggs fall all over himself in a jealous rage; it works out wonderfully."

Alec sighed resignedly. "Alright. You win. But only if I get to do this," he grinned.

Lianna eyed him suspiciously. "Do what?" she asked hesitantly, not sure if she wanted an answer. This is Alec, after all.

Alec knew he was digging his own grave but threw caution to the wind. He turned, pulling Lianna with him, so that he had a clear view of Biggs over her shoulder. He then leaned down and kissed her.

Pulling back slightly, his face resembling the Cheshire Cat, he whispered, "Now that wasn't so bad, was it? And believe me, the way Biggs is looking at you now? It did the trick."

Lianna fought down the instinctive urge to hit the man devilishly smiling down at her as her eyes followed Alec's. Biggs had looked angry before; now he was glaring at Alec with a murderous gaze. If looks could kill, Alec would be dead several times over.

Turning her head to face Alec once again, she glared at him. "You are so gonna talk now. If it weren't for that priceless look on Biggs' face, you would be in a world of hurt right now, just so you know."

Alec laughed heartily. "Fine! Don't get your panties in a twist! It was just a kiss, Li, between friends." He paused a minute and hugged her. He lowered his voice and his whisper tickled her ear. "Besides, I didn't use tongue!" Before she could react, he made a mad dash for the door.

Lianna shook her head, chuckling to herself. She took one last look at Biggs, who was about to get up off his chair, and still looking very pissed. Lianna put her hand to her lips and blew him a kiss, laughing as she ran off after Alec.

Biggs glared after Alec's retreating form as he saw Lianna run after him. He knew she was acting. She has to be acting, right?

Cindy approached from the sidelines and took in the scene playing out before her. Putting a hand on his arm, her words were soft and gentle. "You look like you could use a drink," she said, handing him a glass of scotch. He could only wonder where it had materialized from.

Biggs put a hand to his head and rubbed his temples. Muttering, he replied, "I think I'm gonna need a couple bottles." He turned his head to his friend and flashed a small smile. "Thanks, Cindy."

"Well, Original Cindy got an idea how we can remedy that," she said, taking him by the hand. "Drinks are on me, soldier-boy. Whaddaya say we hit that hole called Crash and you can tell Original Cindy just what's goin' on?"

Biggs eyed the girl. She's offering 'cuz she cares. Besides, who else ya gonna talk to? He sighed in exasperation. "Fine. But on one condition."

"What's that?" Cindy asked, smiling.

"I buy the first round," he offered shyly.

"You're on, boo." After a moment she pursed her lips. "Aiight, you got a ride? 'Cuz Original Cindy aint walkin' nowhere in these heels," she pointed to her boots. Biggs laughed and nodded. The two headed for the door. It's gonna be a long night, thought Biggs as they left the party. A really long night.

Song lyrics belong to Jadakiss...not us. :(

TBC

Chapter 3