Birthdays
Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel, not profiting, I need to get a job...
A/N: Sorry I took a while to post, computer was getting fixed. You know how it is, kinda sucks I know... but here it is I hope you like.
Chapter Five
"He what?" OC grinned playing along with Max's outburst. 'My boo is pissed off at her boy, and don't even know why...'
"OC this is not funny!" Max scoffed feeling utterly ashamed at her best friend. 'How could she think this is funny?'
"I just don't understand is all boo" Original Cindy's smile moved from her face to her thoughts. She was having troubles keeping it from reappearing.
"What don't you understand about it? The part where I made a stupid bet with Alec, or the part where he won and is now forcing me into a date?" OC couldn't help it, she burst into hysterical laughter. Max stared angrily at the tiled kitchen floor, as if it would magically give her some help. It didn't.
"This is gonna be weird" Max pouted, gingerly crossing her arms over her chest. OC smiled softly at Max's state, she patted her on the shoulder supportively.
"Boo... my baby boo, don't choo worry bout' it. The boy digs you, it's not the end of the world."
"Yes! It is!" Max dejectedly threw her arms up. "It's Alec... I'm not supposed to go out with Alec. I hate Alec! He's screwed everything up for me!" OC wasn't sure who she was trying to convince.
"You can't fool' me gurl, so don't cha bother wit it..." Max waited expectantly. "Don't tell me you don't know... Max? Well how bout' Original Cindy tell ya... He digs you, and you... you dig him back." OC watched her face flicker with uncertainty.
"But I'm not supposed to" Max whispered in a defeated tone.
"Awe sweetheart... boo... don't choo go all soft and mushy on me. Where's the 'I can do whatevah the hell I wanna bitch' gone to? Cuz right now boo all I am seein' is her sista 'lookee me I'm gonna boohoo.'" Max smiled at her antics. OC could always make the best of a situation. "All I'm saying is you don't have to hide it, and you can't hide it... not from me. It's not a bad thing. You clearly have a torch for him." Max snorted at the remainder of her comment.
Then Max abruptly stood up and groggily walked over to her room. She mumbled something about what to wear, and how ridicules the date was gonna be. OC shook her head in amusement. 'That's my Maxie.'
An hour later...
"I think that's it! Gurl you look fine!" Max stood in front of the bathroom mirror trying to pat down a lock of hair that insisted on twisting out. She wore a red halter top, dark jeans, and black leather heeled boots. It was OC's substitute outfit. Max refused to wear the 'sexy black dress' saying it was cramp her style; OC knew what she really meant was that she would have to forfeit keys to the Ninja to Alec.
Max's makeup was done. She wore eyeliner, mascara, blush, cherry flavored lip gloss and eye shadow that gave her eyes a smoky look. Cindy also insisted to take twenty minutes to curl her hair. It was silently said that Alec took a liking to her hair wavy.
The moment the doorbell rang Max began to panic. "So boo you gonna get it or not?" Reluctantly Max walked to the door and turned to handle.
"Alec... Uh... Logan...? What're you doing here?"
"Max, you can't" he stated bluntly.
"I can't what? Logan, are you ok?" Max retorted, becoming annoyed at the 'unwelcome' visit of her former boyfriend.
"You can't be with Alec, we belong together. We love each other; you don't have to pretend anymore." Logan pulled Max into an embrace and kissed her before she could think about what he just told her.
The moment she realized what he was doing she pulled away "No Logan! What the hell are you doing?" Max spat, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, in disgust. Logan ducked his head and felt a slight pang of embarrassment and bruising to his ego.
"I'm cured Max! I fixed it! We can be together!" Logan smiled as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So what you waltz in here like everything is just gonna work out like your little fantasy. Logan we can't be together, please get that through your thick skull."
"But I thought you loved me, I love you... isn't this what you wanted?" Logan looked baffled and hurt.
"It might have been, but it isn't. Not anymore. Logan we can't, you can't." Her heart was weighing down heavy she didn't like hurting him, but she felt some truth to her words. Tears were threatening. Logan can't see me like this...'
"Why can't we?" Logan persisted in his 'all high and mighty' tone that sent a surge of anger through Max's nerves.
"Asha, what about Asha?" Max thought quickly. Logan looked at the floor, she could tell that she hit a note. "You dumped her didn't you? Don't even bother weighing the fucking consequences? Huh? Well that is your loss I guess. Maybe you should plan it out a little better next time, maybe then you won't screw up so bad!" Max pushed past Logan, shooting him one last glare. "It's over Logan... Deal with it!"
Max ran down the hallway, and then down the stairs. Tears were streaming down her face. She could barely see where she was going. Just as she reached the door to outside she bumped shoulders with him. One moment she is running, next she runs into his solid in the way body. Before she knows it she finds herself wrapped in his comforting embrace. She wasn't sure how long she had stayed there but eventually he spoke.
"Max come on, let's go" she nodded as he lead her over to her bike. He took her keys out of her coat pocket and started the bike engine. She didn't argue about his driving, she just hopped on and wrapped her arms tightly around his middle.
Alec drove around for about an hour, thinking 'what have I done?' He knew it calmed her down, and right now she needed that. Eventually he stopped in front of his place.
"Maxie" he softly whispered hoping she didn't fall asleep.
"Hmm" she mumbled into his back.
"You can sleep here if you want. He won't..." he trailed off.
"Thanks" Max whispered. Pause.
"That means you are gonna have to get off Maxie."
"Right" reluctantly she peeled away from his warmth.
Max was emotionally exhausted. Alec watched her lug her way into his living room.
"You can have my bed."
"You sure? I can..."
"I'm sure" Alec cut her off, in a tone of finality.
"Ok" Max uncomfortably shifted from foot to foot, looking around embarrassed. "Think I could have somethin' to wear?"
"Go ahead, there should be something in one of those drawers. By the way Maxie... you look great." Alec smiled gently while motioning toward the bedroom. He turned to head off to the kitchen.
"Alec" he stopped, turning to face her. "Thank you... really. I mean it, I can be a big bitch sometimes... but you always seem to come through." Max forced a smile and walked up to him. He tensed at first, then relaxing as she wrapped her arms around him. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he pulled her in more tightly.
"Anything for my Maxie" Alec replied jokingly, Max pulled away.
"Goodnight" she smiled wryly at his comment. She knew he meant it, and it made her feel safe... at home.
"Night" he smiled back.
"Oh and Alec... don't call me Maxie" he chuckled. 'That's my Maxie...'
Max woke up, she breathed in the scent that surrounded her. Purely Alec. It made her grin. She heard him creeping around in the kitchen. 'Time to get up.' She rolled off the bed carefully, and tip-toed to the door. She opened the door handle quietly, and spoke.
"Hey you're up already?" Alec visibly jumped. Max grinned accusingly.
"Uh yeah, went to work and convinced Normal that you are sick." Alec looked up from the stove and to Max for the first time. She could make anything look good, she was wearing a pair of his boxers and a t-shirt too big for her. Max noticed him checking her out and felt her cheeks flare up.
" Normal's Boy" she shot good-humoredly, trying to cover up the moment of discomfort.
"Hey! You know I was gonna share my pre-pulse instant coffee, but now I think I should drink it all."
Max walked over to him and whispered cocking her head, "What if I said please?"
"Well..." Max took the opportunity to snatch up his coffee and take a sip. "Hey Max! Get your own!" Alec grabbed it back.
"Fine, you know what? I will." Max grabbed a coffee cup and dipped it into the pot of boiling water. He came up behind her, scooping the coffee powder into her cup.
"There is sugar on the counter if you want some, I don't have any cream."
"That's alright, sugar is good." Max responded. "So... What's up?" She eyed him closely.
He looked away knowing just what she had been talking about. "What's up with what?"
"You're... you're acting all nice... it's weird... quit it." Max snapped a little more harshly than intended.
It took everything Alec had to not protest, but eventually he ground out "Fine."
Max felt really guilty, she knew that she offended Alec. It was just too awkward. 'Alec isn't supposed to be nice... or maybe you just don't notice... shut-up!' Max fought with her emotions.
He was sitting on the couch now. Watching his 'boob-tube' while sipping his coffee. Max watched him intently, as if it was helping something.
'Why is she looking at me that way?' Alec carefully glimpsed at her through the corner of his eye. She was making him nervous.
"Alec?" She impetuously said.
"Hmm..." Alec said in a disinterested manner.
"Last night... how did you know what happened?" She berated.
" Logan told me" Alec stated matter of factly, but he didn't remove his gaze from the TV.
" Logan told you? Logan told you, and you didn't tell me?" Alec could hear her trying to keep her emotions in check. She was failing miserably.
He looked at her now "he didn't want me to... you know it was a secret." Alec whispered the last part. She twitched at his statement feeling the anger rise. He was trying break the tension by messing around... really it was a total bust.
"Since when do you respect Logan's wishes?" He looked back at the TV. Max jumped off the chair she had been seated on, nearly knocking it over. She walked over to Alec, and stood right in front of the TV. "You're lying." Max glowered down at him.
Max's position over him was making him uneasy. Alec tried to stand up, but Max shoved him back down. "Alec" Max prodded.
"Max move..." Max inflexibly put her hands on her hips and glared down at Alec. 'Screw it! Max isn't gonna give it up...' " Logan told me to back off his girl or whatever... you know, he was being all Logany. He told me about the cure, big whoop. Now move Max."
"Stop lying! There's more. You're a shitty liar." Alec and Max only stared at each other for the next few moments. He couldn't lie to her anymore.
" Logan knew where to get the cure... He knew we weren't actually going out, I told him. I helped him, happy?"
"You what?" she was infuriated at him.
"I helped him get the cure" he repeated as if she hadn't heard, slower this time. 'At least then one of us could have what we wanted...'
"Alec why would you do something so stupid?"
"Cuz you were miserable Max! That's why! Is it so hard to believe? What else was I supposed to do?" Alec stood up, this time Max didn't stop him. "I couldn't stand watching you day-by-day baste in the guilt! Especially for him! I couldn't watch you suffer like that. I could tell, it was killing you."
"But it doesn't matter Alec... you said it yourself, we can't be with them... even with the damn cure... I can still hurt him." Max's eyes were brimming with tears, and they began to run down her cheeks.
"Max" Alec watched her forlornly and then pulled her to him. She accepted his offer of consolation and hugged him tightly. They stayed like that for minutes, before Max pulled away.
"God I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... Twice in twenty-four hours huh? Must think I'm a pretty big sob huh?" he smiled. She reached out and touched the wet spot on his shirt.
"It's ok" Alec muttered.
"You know..." Alec waited patiently for her to finish. "Right now I feel more guilty that I don't want to be with him than I do for not being with him for his safety... if that made any sense. I don't really know if Logan and I would have anything. That spark, even with the cure... I don't think it's there anymore... It's not just that I can't be with him, I don't know if... I don't think I... I don't love him." Max said unsure, as if just dawning on the conclusion herself for the first time. 'I think I love you...'
"I hate the smile and gestures that originally drew me into him. I hate the way he thinks he can save everyone and he's some super-hero... I hate how he thinks I'll just open up to him when he asks me if I'm ok. I hate that he uses me. Really I just feel bad that I don't love him like he wants me to."
"You don't have to. People move on, and things change, it happens... Max..." he paused to think. "Seems how we are having this chick-flick moment, I just want you to know that I helped him, cuz I wanted to see you happy" Max caught his gaze and leaned in toward him. He put his hand on the small of her back pulling her closer. He could feel her breath on his cheek. Then she pulled away abruptly, and it was gone.
"I really should um... I should get dressed..." Max mumbled and rushed into his room fumbling with the door.
Alec slumped into the couch, staring at the wall. 'Idiot... she's just getting over him...' He tried to figure out how things got so complicated.
"I think I should go home, OC's probably wondering where I got to."
"I'll come." Max was about to argue, when he finished his sentence. "My bike's still at your place."
"Oh, um... yeah" Max suddenly regretted the previous conversation... it seemed to add to the undesired tension building.
Max and Alec rode in silence. He didn't even joke about driving the bike. Alec jumped off the bike before it could even stop.
Alec started up his bike "See you tomorrow Max."
"Yeah... tomorrow..." Alec sped off before she could say anything else. 'What's up with him?' Deep down, Max had a pretty good idea...
A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing... it is what keeps me writing!