A/N: Well, nice to see how some you don't read my author's notes! Anyone
who left their vote out of their review- shame shame!
The "engaged-now" people won; toss up people- please don't do that! Just
give me a yes or no, it's easier for my delusional mind to process! Lol!
I'm working on what scene I'm going to put in. It's not gonna be in this
chapter, but it'll happen in one of the next few- 16 or 17.
________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 15: The Swing of Things
Jam Pony Monday, September 29th 8:15 a.m.
"Well, missy, nice to see you decided to show up this morning," Normal sneered as Max strode down the ramp.
"Don't make me cough on you," Max threatened, remembering the excuse Original Cindy used to cover for her.
"Just what I need, another one of you cretins spreading some disease around here."
"Go piss and moan to someone who cares," Max grabbed the package he tossed her and met up with Cindy by the lockers.
"Hey, boo," Cindy smiled as Max distributed her things between her backpack and locker. "Nice to see you back."
"Yeah, it's good to get outta there. As much as I love Joshua and everybody."
"You got a thing for rich boy's crib," Cindy finished Max's thought.
"You know you love it, too," Max laughed.
"Got Original Cindy there. Nothin' beats real coffee and working power," she laughed. "So, how'd that talk with Logan go?"
"Who told you about that?" Max whipped her head around.
"Three letters, starts with L," Cindy rolled her eyes. "But only cuz Original Cindy asked baby boo what the dealio was! And she wouldn't tell anything other than that y'all spent quite a while on top a' the Needle. So spill," she sat down on the bench and crossed her arms.
"So we talked a little about taking the next step. I think."
"You think?"
"Well, you know. I didn't know exactly what to say, but Logan knows what I meant."
"So he knows you wanna get married," Cindy got hopeful.
"I guess," Max smiled slightly. "But you know, now that it's out there, I don't know what to do next," she joined Cindy sitting down.
"Generally, boo, it involves a diamond ring and a white dress. But you're probably gonna be all waitin' on Logan to pop the question."
"You know me too well," Max sighed.
"Bip bip bip! Socialize on your own time!" Normal leaned over the counter and shouted. As Max passed by the counter, he tossed her another package, "You have three weeks worth of runs to make up for, missy."
"Bitch to your precious golden boy whenever he shows up," Max caught the package in one hand as she unearthed the keys to her bike.
"Ouch, Maxie," Alec jogged into the building and feigned offence before turning to the counter. "Normal, I'm so sorry for being late," he lied. "But if you look on channel three, you won't believe the crash in sector 4."
Normal grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, nodding slightly at the sight. The reporter continued, ".witnesses at the scene described the vehicle spinning out of control and crashing into the checkpoint. A fire broke out and spread to the surrounding cars in the pile-up as well as the platform on which to sector police were standing. The two men were taken to Metro Medical for treatment, but luckily didn't suffer any serious injuries."
"That's what I was stuck in. Took me nearly a half hour just to get up there and show them my ID," Alec pointed to the screen.
"Surprised that kept you waiting," Max crossed her arms.
"Hard to pull off something with TV cameras everywhere," Alec returned. "And don't even start; not all of us get to come from sector nine."
"None of you come from there, you're bike messengers," Normal's monotone voice cut in without looking up from his clipboard as he handed Alec a package. "415 Weston, get going."
"One of us does," he mumbled, taking the box and turning back towards the doorway.
"Somebody's jealous," Cindy laughed, watching Alec speed away.
"Either that or somebody got turned down last night before he got any," Max joined in.
"Look, I don't care where he gets off thinking one of you lives in the high rise district, but what did I just tell you two? Bip bip bip!" Normal tapped his watch with a pencil.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Cindy waved her package in the air as she and Max headed out.
"I don't think I'll ever get him," Max shook her head, referring to Alec.
"Boy's not one to get," Cindy rationed. "But whatever's up his ass now will probably be taken care of by beer and a random blonde tonight."
"True," Max cocked her head in agreement. "See ya in the park for lunch?"
"Don't be pullin' no disappearin' acts on me," Original Cindy waved as Max gunned her engine and rolled her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cedar Ridge Academy
"Now one of the keys to getting your distance is to glide on the water's surface. Don't go too deep and keep it at one continuous motion as you push off. Hands tight above your head in a streamline, and use your toes to push off the ledge," Mr. Franks explained how to do a sit-dive like it was rocket science. "Let's have the far side go first," he pointed to the side of the diving well opposite from him.
Lex sat next to the diving board he was standing on, rolling her eyes and grumbling to herself, "Advanced class my ass."
"You look unhappy," Mr. Franks turned around and scrutinized the expression on Lex's face. "Is there something you wish to share with the class?"
"No," Lex answered curtly, knowing that if she spoke, detention would be inevitable.
"No, I heard you mumble something under your breath and here at Cedar Ridge we have a policy of showing respect to teachers and administrators. Now I'll ask you again, what were you mumbling?" he brandished his small authority as if he were a king.
Formulating a lie, Lex adopted a very irritated expression, "Well, sir," her second word dripped with sarcastic emphasis, "I have a song stuck in my head and wasn't aware I was signing it out loud. Please accept my apologies."
Mr. Franks didn't push it any further, but glared at her for the rest of the period. Later, in the locker room, Lex stood drying her hair and ranting about the class, but this time being sure to keep her thoughts in her head. She almost didn't notice the band of school high life approach her until they had taken their classic stance, hips cocked to the right and arms crossed.
"You were so totally not signing," their ringleader, Illana Lawson, started off.
"Does this little venture of yours have a point?" Lex was in no mood to deal with them today.
"Hey, nobody talks back to a Lawson," another one of the girls in front spoke up.
"You heard her," Illana stepped forward. "Now don't you have something to say to me?" she patronized with a flip of her long blonde hair.
"You mean other than 'fuck off'"? Lex pretended to be dumfounded.
"How dare you talk to me like that! If I tell my Daddy, you'll really get it!" Illana screamed.
"Ooooo, I'm scared," Lex's face was impassive as she shut off the dryer and packed up her towels. "And why would care if I was singing or not? Or can just not find someone else to bitch at?"
"Is that a threat?" Illana held up a fist.
"Or are you jealous? After all, from what I've heard your family doesn't hold the entire spotlight in this city. Oh, but I'd be careful with that fist, you have no idea what you'd be up against," Lex mocked her, getting more and more agitated with the random fights these girls always seemed to pick.
"What is wrong with you? You don't act like a Cale and totally deserve to be one," another one of the sidekicks jumped into the fight.
"Who said I wanted to?" Lex shrugged as she grabbed her sketchbook. "Go cry to ATM. Money always fixes shallow people like you, right?" Lex jeered as she made her way out of the locker room into the art wing across the hall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Midway Bistro Sector 9 12:30 p.m.
Seeing Lex walk in, Jondy waved her over to the table she and Brittany had scouted out. The place was fairly crowded now that the lunch traffic was picking up. Mostly people in business suits rattled off their orders at the counter and remained absorbed in their cell phones or palm pilots, snapping out of their trances only long enough to hand over a crisp bill.
"Hey, hun," Jondy handed Lex a can of Coke. "Gotcha a soda."
"Thanks," Lex threw down her backpack and rested her chin in her hands. "You know, I'm beginning to see why school shootings were so popular pre- pulse."
"Bad day?" Brittany laughed.
"Yeah," Lex took a deep breath. "You go there with any Lawsons?" Lex wondered aloud, referring to Cedar Ridge.
"Unfortunately. Which one do you have the displeasure of knowing?"
"Illana."
"Eww," Brittany grimaced. "She's been that way since she could talk. But I'd hold your tongue. Princess Shira is friends with a Lawson, and you really wanna avoid a face-off in front of Margo. Believe me, you'll never hear the end of it."
"I've never been so happy to be a nobody," Jondy laughed. "I can bitch to who I want, when I want. So long as my boss doesn't find out if it's between nine and five."
"Yeah, lucky you," Lex rolled her eyes.
"Oh, and before I forget, you two wouldn't know why I bummed into Uncle Logan at Boodle and Dunthrone yesterday, would you?" Brittany got excited, referring to the British jewelry store that had opened a shop just before the Pulse in what then became sector nine.
"What?!" Jondy's eye's bulged. "Oh my god," she turned to Lex, "he's actually doing it. And soon!"
"Well, maybe not soon," Lex shook her head. "He'll probably spend forever trying to find the perfect ring for her, you know how he is. And then there's the planning of the whole night."
"Yeah, but he's starting now. Wait, does Max know?"
"He wouldn't do it if she didn't say she wants to get married, but she hasn't been freaking out, so I doubt she knows he was ring shopping. He was looking at rings, right?" Lex asked Brittany.
"Yeah. But he bolted when I saw him; his excuse didn't make it past "Ummm"," she laughed.
"Dammit, why couldn't I have been the one to catch him?" Jondy snapped her fingers. "So what'd it look like?"
"I don't know the exact one, but all the ones in the section he was by were incredible. Darker stones like emeralds or rubies with tiny diamonds around it or on the sides," Brittany described. "They seemed like Max would like them. You know, gorgeous, but not really flashy or busy."
"Subtly beautiful," Jondy agreed.
"Exactly. So where did this come from? I mean, I expected them to get married eventually, but I never got the impression it would be this soon," Brittany sipped her soda.
"They got a little coaxing," Lex answered quickly.
"Coaxing? What kind of coaxing?"
"Well, Max got sick, so I guess spending so much time together forced the to talk about their future at some point, right?" Jondy nodded at Lex.
"Right," Lex agreed, deciding Original Cindy's lie was the most believable. "Call it fate."
Just at that moment, the pizza they ordered came, saving the interrogation from going any further. Lex stayed relatively quiet for the rest of the lunch, her thoughts going back to Logan in the jewelry store. A small part of her felt the same familiar apprehension she had experienced when Logan had first shown up and when they'd moved to Seattle. She wondered whether or not she was ready for them to get married. A wedding would finalize it- no more of the Max and Lex Show, they'd be a family of three. Of course, this also brought on more strongly the impending possibility of a little brother or sister, which also gave Lex mixed feelings. Could she handle this much change this fast? Was it even her place to question it? After all, she wasn't the one getting married, here. As the three finished eating and left the restaurant, heading their separate ways, Lex returned Brittany's hug and forced a smile as she promised to talk to her soon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Penthouse
"Hey," Logan greeted his daughter apprehensively as she walked in. "How was lunch?" He knew Brittany had been there and was worried about what she might have said.
"Good. Brittany says "hi"," Lex paused for a second in the doorway of Logan's office, deliberating whether or not she should question him on what's she been told. Part of her wanted to, but afraid of what might slip past her tongue, she decided against it and just turned away, "I'm gonna go kill some homework." On the ride home, she'd reasoned with herself that when Logan proposed wasn't her business, and it was up to Max to say yes or no. No doubt Max would accept, but that was just something Lex would have to deal with and embrace, nervous or not. But then, she'd also not wanted to get to know Logan and she called him Dad now. She'd not wanted to move to Seattle if Kayla hadn't been leaving for Boston, and the city was honestly growing on her. So why shouldn't having married parents be nice? The more Lex mused over the idea, the more she attempted to unearth the positive, and it wasn't all that hard to find.
As Logan watched her face, he got the feeling there was something she wasn't saying, and he was sure it was about the ring, or at least the ring shopping. Brittany had been gone by the time he'd returned to the store to purchase the one he'd deemed perfect for Max. The question now, was when to give it to her.
________________________________________________________________________ A/N: I'm sorry this one took long again, but in addition to having to write that damn research paper and a surprise essay for English, my over-due writer's block came back to haunt me. But I think I worked through it pretty well, considering. As always, I would like to thank all my loyal reviewers! You guys know how much of a junkie I am when it comes to that! Those that don't click the purple button- please don't be shy! Just let me know you're reading, trust me- it'll make my day! I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors. I did a pretty haphazard job proofreading this chapter.
Chapter 15: The Swing of Things
Jam Pony Monday, September 29th 8:15 a.m.
"Well, missy, nice to see you decided to show up this morning," Normal sneered as Max strode down the ramp.
"Don't make me cough on you," Max threatened, remembering the excuse Original Cindy used to cover for her.
"Just what I need, another one of you cretins spreading some disease around here."
"Go piss and moan to someone who cares," Max grabbed the package he tossed her and met up with Cindy by the lockers.
"Hey, boo," Cindy smiled as Max distributed her things between her backpack and locker. "Nice to see you back."
"Yeah, it's good to get outta there. As much as I love Joshua and everybody."
"You got a thing for rich boy's crib," Cindy finished Max's thought.
"You know you love it, too," Max laughed.
"Got Original Cindy there. Nothin' beats real coffee and working power," she laughed. "So, how'd that talk with Logan go?"
"Who told you about that?" Max whipped her head around.
"Three letters, starts with L," Cindy rolled her eyes. "But only cuz Original Cindy asked baby boo what the dealio was! And she wouldn't tell anything other than that y'all spent quite a while on top a' the Needle. So spill," she sat down on the bench and crossed her arms.
"So we talked a little about taking the next step. I think."
"You think?"
"Well, you know. I didn't know exactly what to say, but Logan knows what I meant."
"So he knows you wanna get married," Cindy got hopeful.
"I guess," Max smiled slightly. "But you know, now that it's out there, I don't know what to do next," she joined Cindy sitting down.
"Generally, boo, it involves a diamond ring and a white dress. But you're probably gonna be all waitin' on Logan to pop the question."
"You know me too well," Max sighed.
"Bip bip bip! Socialize on your own time!" Normal leaned over the counter and shouted. As Max passed by the counter, he tossed her another package, "You have three weeks worth of runs to make up for, missy."
"Bitch to your precious golden boy whenever he shows up," Max caught the package in one hand as she unearthed the keys to her bike.
"Ouch, Maxie," Alec jogged into the building and feigned offence before turning to the counter. "Normal, I'm so sorry for being late," he lied. "But if you look on channel three, you won't believe the crash in sector 4."
Normal grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, nodding slightly at the sight. The reporter continued, ".witnesses at the scene described the vehicle spinning out of control and crashing into the checkpoint. A fire broke out and spread to the surrounding cars in the pile-up as well as the platform on which to sector police were standing. The two men were taken to Metro Medical for treatment, but luckily didn't suffer any serious injuries."
"That's what I was stuck in. Took me nearly a half hour just to get up there and show them my ID," Alec pointed to the screen.
"Surprised that kept you waiting," Max crossed her arms.
"Hard to pull off something with TV cameras everywhere," Alec returned. "And don't even start; not all of us get to come from sector nine."
"None of you come from there, you're bike messengers," Normal's monotone voice cut in without looking up from his clipboard as he handed Alec a package. "415 Weston, get going."
"One of us does," he mumbled, taking the box and turning back towards the doorway.
"Somebody's jealous," Cindy laughed, watching Alec speed away.
"Either that or somebody got turned down last night before he got any," Max joined in.
"Look, I don't care where he gets off thinking one of you lives in the high rise district, but what did I just tell you two? Bip bip bip!" Normal tapped his watch with a pencil.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Cindy waved her package in the air as she and Max headed out.
"I don't think I'll ever get him," Max shook her head, referring to Alec.
"Boy's not one to get," Cindy rationed. "But whatever's up his ass now will probably be taken care of by beer and a random blonde tonight."
"True," Max cocked her head in agreement. "See ya in the park for lunch?"
"Don't be pullin' no disappearin' acts on me," Original Cindy waved as Max gunned her engine and rolled her eyes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cedar Ridge Academy
"Now one of the keys to getting your distance is to glide on the water's surface. Don't go too deep and keep it at one continuous motion as you push off. Hands tight above your head in a streamline, and use your toes to push off the ledge," Mr. Franks explained how to do a sit-dive like it was rocket science. "Let's have the far side go first," he pointed to the side of the diving well opposite from him.
Lex sat next to the diving board he was standing on, rolling her eyes and grumbling to herself, "Advanced class my ass."
"You look unhappy," Mr. Franks turned around and scrutinized the expression on Lex's face. "Is there something you wish to share with the class?"
"No," Lex answered curtly, knowing that if she spoke, detention would be inevitable.
"No, I heard you mumble something under your breath and here at Cedar Ridge we have a policy of showing respect to teachers and administrators. Now I'll ask you again, what were you mumbling?" he brandished his small authority as if he were a king.
Formulating a lie, Lex adopted a very irritated expression, "Well, sir," her second word dripped with sarcastic emphasis, "I have a song stuck in my head and wasn't aware I was signing it out loud. Please accept my apologies."
Mr. Franks didn't push it any further, but glared at her for the rest of the period. Later, in the locker room, Lex stood drying her hair and ranting about the class, but this time being sure to keep her thoughts in her head. She almost didn't notice the band of school high life approach her until they had taken their classic stance, hips cocked to the right and arms crossed.
"You were so totally not signing," their ringleader, Illana Lawson, started off.
"Does this little venture of yours have a point?" Lex was in no mood to deal with them today.
"Hey, nobody talks back to a Lawson," another one of the girls in front spoke up.
"You heard her," Illana stepped forward. "Now don't you have something to say to me?" she patronized with a flip of her long blonde hair.
"You mean other than 'fuck off'"? Lex pretended to be dumfounded.
"How dare you talk to me like that! If I tell my Daddy, you'll really get it!" Illana screamed.
"Ooooo, I'm scared," Lex's face was impassive as she shut off the dryer and packed up her towels. "And why would care if I was singing or not? Or can just not find someone else to bitch at?"
"Is that a threat?" Illana held up a fist.
"Or are you jealous? After all, from what I've heard your family doesn't hold the entire spotlight in this city. Oh, but I'd be careful with that fist, you have no idea what you'd be up against," Lex mocked her, getting more and more agitated with the random fights these girls always seemed to pick.
"What is wrong with you? You don't act like a Cale and totally deserve to be one," another one of the sidekicks jumped into the fight.
"Who said I wanted to?" Lex shrugged as she grabbed her sketchbook. "Go cry to ATM. Money always fixes shallow people like you, right?" Lex jeered as she made her way out of the locker room into the art wing across the hall.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Midway Bistro Sector 9 12:30 p.m.
Seeing Lex walk in, Jondy waved her over to the table she and Brittany had scouted out. The place was fairly crowded now that the lunch traffic was picking up. Mostly people in business suits rattled off their orders at the counter and remained absorbed in their cell phones or palm pilots, snapping out of their trances only long enough to hand over a crisp bill.
"Hey, hun," Jondy handed Lex a can of Coke. "Gotcha a soda."
"Thanks," Lex threw down her backpack and rested her chin in her hands. "You know, I'm beginning to see why school shootings were so popular pre- pulse."
"Bad day?" Brittany laughed.
"Yeah," Lex took a deep breath. "You go there with any Lawsons?" Lex wondered aloud, referring to Cedar Ridge.
"Unfortunately. Which one do you have the displeasure of knowing?"
"Illana."
"Eww," Brittany grimaced. "She's been that way since she could talk. But I'd hold your tongue. Princess Shira is friends with a Lawson, and you really wanna avoid a face-off in front of Margo. Believe me, you'll never hear the end of it."
"I've never been so happy to be a nobody," Jondy laughed. "I can bitch to who I want, when I want. So long as my boss doesn't find out if it's between nine and five."
"Yeah, lucky you," Lex rolled her eyes.
"Oh, and before I forget, you two wouldn't know why I bummed into Uncle Logan at Boodle and Dunthrone yesterday, would you?" Brittany got excited, referring to the British jewelry store that had opened a shop just before the Pulse in what then became sector nine.
"What?!" Jondy's eye's bulged. "Oh my god," she turned to Lex, "he's actually doing it. And soon!"
"Well, maybe not soon," Lex shook her head. "He'll probably spend forever trying to find the perfect ring for her, you know how he is. And then there's the planning of the whole night."
"Yeah, but he's starting now. Wait, does Max know?"
"He wouldn't do it if she didn't say she wants to get married, but she hasn't been freaking out, so I doubt she knows he was ring shopping. He was looking at rings, right?" Lex asked Brittany.
"Yeah. But he bolted when I saw him; his excuse didn't make it past "Ummm"," she laughed.
"Dammit, why couldn't I have been the one to catch him?" Jondy snapped her fingers. "So what'd it look like?"
"I don't know the exact one, but all the ones in the section he was by were incredible. Darker stones like emeralds or rubies with tiny diamonds around it or on the sides," Brittany described. "They seemed like Max would like them. You know, gorgeous, but not really flashy or busy."
"Subtly beautiful," Jondy agreed.
"Exactly. So where did this come from? I mean, I expected them to get married eventually, but I never got the impression it would be this soon," Brittany sipped her soda.
"They got a little coaxing," Lex answered quickly.
"Coaxing? What kind of coaxing?"
"Well, Max got sick, so I guess spending so much time together forced the to talk about their future at some point, right?" Jondy nodded at Lex.
"Right," Lex agreed, deciding Original Cindy's lie was the most believable. "Call it fate."
Just at that moment, the pizza they ordered came, saving the interrogation from going any further. Lex stayed relatively quiet for the rest of the lunch, her thoughts going back to Logan in the jewelry store. A small part of her felt the same familiar apprehension she had experienced when Logan had first shown up and when they'd moved to Seattle. She wondered whether or not she was ready for them to get married. A wedding would finalize it- no more of the Max and Lex Show, they'd be a family of three. Of course, this also brought on more strongly the impending possibility of a little brother or sister, which also gave Lex mixed feelings. Could she handle this much change this fast? Was it even her place to question it? After all, she wasn't the one getting married, here. As the three finished eating and left the restaurant, heading their separate ways, Lex returned Brittany's hug and forced a smile as she promised to talk to her soon.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Penthouse
"Hey," Logan greeted his daughter apprehensively as she walked in. "How was lunch?" He knew Brittany had been there and was worried about what she might have said.
"Good. Brittany says "hi"," Lex paused for a second in the doorway of Logan's office, deliberating whether or not she should question him on what's she been told. Part of her wanted to, but afraid of what might slip past her tongue, she decided against it and just turned away, "I'm gonna go kill some homework." On the ride home, she'd reasoned with herself that when Logan proposed wasn't her business, and it was up to Max to say yes or no. No doubt Max would accept, but that was just something Lex would have to deal with and embrace, nervous or not. But then, she'd also not wanted to get to know Logan and she called him Dad now. She'd not wanted to move to Seattle if Kayla hadn't been leaving for Boston, and the city was honestly growing on her. So why shouldn't having married parents be nice? The more Lex mused over the idea, the more she attempted to unearth the positive, and it wasn't all that hard to find.
As Logan watched her face, he got the feeling there was something she wasn't saying, and he was sure it was about the ring, or at least the ring shopping. Brittany had been gone by the time he'd returned to the store to purchase the one he'd deemed perfect for Max. The question now, was when to give it to her.
________________________________________________________________________ A/N: I'm sorry this one took long again, but in addition to having to write that damn research paper and a surprise essay for English, my over-due writer's block came back to haunt me. But I think I worked through it pretty well, considering. As always, I would like to thank all my loyal reviewers! You guys know how much of a junkie I am when it comes to that! Those that don't click the purple button- please don't be shy! Just let me know you're reading, trust me- it'll make my day! I apologize for any spelling or grammar errors. I did a pretty haphazard job proofreading this chapter.