Alec had been acting strange for days, skipping beats like an abused record, letting wise-crack opportunities pass him by. Max hadn't playfully slapped him for saying something inappropriate or full of innuendo in a couple of days. Even Normal's deifying couldn't seem to lift his spirits. Something was wrong.
"Hey, boo," Original Cindy started, taking out her messenger bag from her locker. "What's up wit' cha boy?"
Max closed her locker and fastened her gloves securely. "He's not my boy, OC," she began, "and, I don't know. He's been weird for a couple of days."
Original Cindy slipped on her knit hat and walked by dispatch. Normal handed her a package, and she tossed a glance over her shoulder. "Maybe you should find out the dealio," she said. "See you at lunch."
As Original Cindy left, Max looked over to Alec, who was militantly stuffing packages into his pack. She approached Normal. "Hey, where's Alec goin' today?" she asked in a hushed tone.
Normal spied her carefully. "Sector eight," he eventually said.
"Load me up on sector eight," Max said, stretching out her hands.
"No way, Missy Miss," Normal said, adjusting his glasses. "I'm not sending you out with him; you'll just upset him more."
"I promise, I only want to know what's wrong," Max defended. "Maybe I can help him."
A few minutes later, Max and Alec were out the door, headed to sector eight.
"Everything okay?" Max asked, once they were relatively alone. "You've been kinda depressed. I've been kinda worried.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Alec said, giving Max what he thought was a reassuring smile, but was really that same Manticore mask she had worn when she didn't want to get to the details of whatever was bothering her.
"Alec, I'm your friend. Don't lie to me and tell me everything's alright. I know better," Max tried to offer a comforting look, but he wouldn't even look at her.
"I don't want to talk about it, okay?" he said, matter-of-factly. He rode ahead of her and she sped to catch up. Why can't she just drop this?
They rode through an alley and Max maneuvered in front of him, then turned her bike sideways as if to roadblock him. "Alec, please tell me what's wrong."
Finally, his tired eyes caught hers, wide with concern.
"Did you bribe Normal for sector eight packages?" he asked.
Max pressed her lips, refusing to answer, which was answer enough for him.
"Max, when I said I don't want to talk about it, it's because nothing can be done."
"It's Rachel, isn't it?" Max studied his face. His eyes seemed watery, but he would never let a drop fall.
"She died one year ago today."