a/n: hey, thanks for your reviews! Especially since I've been in a writing funk lately. I'll try and update this one quickly, since Halloween is right around the corner!
Okay, well you all guessed it! Here's Alec's entrance into the fic...
Chapter 2: Bets
As OC opened the door, she was pleasantly surprised to find it wasn't a whining neighbor, but 2 friends standing before her. "What are you two doin' here?" she asked.
"Hello to you, two, Cindy," Alec greeted as he stepped inside.
Sketchy followed Alec in, nodding to Cindy, "Hey, we thought we'd stop by to see what's going on."
Alec nudged Sketchy at his comment.
"I mean, to say, Happy Halloween, of course!" Sketchy corrected himself.
OC eyed them both suspiciously. "Uh, huh." But she didn't question their true intentions, and instead returned the comment, "Happy Halloween! Where's your costumes?"
Alec smiled, "I'm going as a genetically-engineered killing machine escaped from a government lab."
OC gave Alec a look.
"Just kidding!" Alec commented. "I haven't decided yet."
Sketchy glanced at the two of them, feeling like he'd missed a joke or something, but didn't comment. He was too eager to brag about his costume. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am going as the Lord of Darkness!"
"Diablo?" OC guessed.
"What?" Sketchy asked, upset that she didn't get it, "No. Dracula."
OC laughed, "Boo, Dracula aint no lord of nothin'. He's just a blood suckin' rodent-man."
Sketchy defended his idea, "I think not, Cindy. You will witness true terror later tonight."
"I think I'm witnessin' it right now," she joked, before stepping inside.
Alec smiled noticing the kettle, "Aww, how nice, you made me fresh coffee." He poured himself a cup.
"No!" Max declared, but it was too late. He'd already taken a big gulp of it. He spit it out, though, at the sight of her.
"Max!" he said, taking note of her blond hair and sequined face.
Max glared at him. Just the person she did not want to see while looking like an idiot.
"Max," he began.
"Shut up!" she demanded.
"But, I didn't even say any-"
"Shut up!" she repeated.
"Max, I haven't-"
"I do not want to hear any comments at all from you about my appearance. I've had a hell of a day, and it's barely begun, so just save it."
"Max," Sketchy greeted, looking shocked, "What the hell happened? Oooh, is that your costume in there? Let me see!"
"Sketchy!" She began, warning him without even saying anything.
"Well, you just said for Alec to shut up," Sketchy replied innocently. "Damn, I like your hair, though. But what are you going as, a star?"
"A star?" Max asked, confused.
"Or maybe a light bulb… you're so bright, with that blond hair, too."
Max rolled her eyes. Idiots, she thought, both of them. What the hell were they doing there, anyway?
Sketchy poked his head in the bag. "Nice! The bride of frankenstein! Excellent choice, Max! But, you'll have to ditch the wig and the whole star thing. Are you going to a pre-party as something else?"
"Just because I could go as some freak because of how awful my hair is right now does not mean that I will. I have other plans anyway, I might not go to Crash."
Sketchy frowned, "I am thoroughly disappointed, Max. Scott is coming as Frankenstein, so see, you could be his bride."
Alec interrupted their conversation with the loud sipping of his coffee.
"You know, that's my coffee you're enjoying," Max pointed out, frowning at him.
Alec made a slightly scowling face at her, rejecting the taste. "Enjoying isn't exactly the word I would use. What the hell did you put in this, rat poison?"
Max glared. "Well, no, but you're making me wish I had."
"Ouch, Maxie. That hurts. You don't mean that," he commented, as he held his other hand to his heart in mocking concern.
She rolled her eyes, "Look, I don't have time for this. As you both can see and got a good laugh out of, I'm a mess right now, and I have to get ready."
"So…you're not a light bulb?" Sketchy asked, continuing his questioning of her costume.
"I never laughed," Alec commented. "But it is very tempting," he added with a huge grin.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, getting to the point.
"We just wanted to make sure everything went according to plan," Sketchy answered, looking pleased with the situation.
"What the hell does that mean?" Max asked.
Alec shook his head, "Nothing! Sketchy just means that he wants things to go according to plan. You know, Crash tonight? We were making sure you ladies didn't forget and were still coming."
"Damn straight, I'll be there," OC replied.
"What do you mean make sure, I never agreed to going in the first place," Max reminded him.
"Well, you should come," Alec insisted.
"Why?" Max asked, while eyeing him, wondering what his intentions were.
"Because!" Alec declared, "That is such a great costume! Very original, a light bulb! You know, you've always been the light of my life, Maxie! But I really think you'll have some difficulty pulling that off. I think I'm gonna have to go with Sketchy on this one, and pick the bride of frankenstein. I think you are more believable as that."
Max shoved him, "Get out!"
"Hey!" Alec protested.
"Get going!" she insisted.
Alec turned to her, "So, should I save a dance for you tonight?"
Max only shoved him further along to the doorway. "Don't hold your breath!"
"Max, that hurts me!"
Max glared at him, finally shoving him past the doorway. "You know, you really don't wanna see me tonight, PrettyBoy, cuz when I find out the real reason why you stopped by here, I'm gonna kick your ass."
Alec's eyes widened with slight worry, but before he could reply, she had slammed the door in his face.
------
OC had been cleaning up Max's face for only 5 minutes, when there was another knock on the door.
Max sighed in frustration. "Now this time, it's definitely our neighbors."
"I'm on it!" OC offered, answering the door again.
"What the hell are you doin' back here?!" she asked Alec, who this time was there alone.
He stepped in, even though she hadn't welcomed him in. "Max!" he said.
Max turned to face him, looking more annoyed than ever. "Did you not get the hint when I told you to get out?"
"Well, the whole pushing me out the door was a pretty good clue," he commented with a smirk.
"Then what are you still doing here?" she asked.
"Listen, I think it's pretty obvious that Sketchy and I rigged your apartment," he admitted.
Max's eyes lit up with anger. "I knew it!" She glared at him, "You are just really lucky that I'm in a hurry and am trying to look nice right now. But I promise you, I am going to get you back later!"
"It was Sketchy's idea!" Alec defended.
"Yea, and I'm just supposed to believe you?" Max asked, not looking convinced.
"Look, it was a lame idea, I admit, but Sketchy paid me a good 20 bucks to do it."
Max only looked more upset, "20 bucks?! To ruin my night?! You've been reduced to that? Gee, what happened to your bigger scams? Guess life in the scum-lane isn't as profitable as it used to be. And anyway, why would Sketch want to do that to me? I thought we were pals!"
"Ouch, Maxie. Scum-lane? I don't think I deserve that. Anyway, Sketch made a bigger bet, that he could get you to show up to Crash tonight as the bride of Frankenstein, hence the hair and the costume."
Max looked confused, "What? Just how many bets are there tonight about me looking like hell?"
"Well, Sketchy said to name any costume to get you to be tonight, and Scott threw out the bride of frankenstein, for 50 bucks."
"But he's giving you 20 to help? So a $30 profit?"
"Hey, profit is profit, Maxie!"
She frowned, more upset than she probably would have been without an explanation. The real one was ridiculous.
"So you're telling me that I look like shit, and am close to jeopardizing my mission tonight with Logan for $20!"
Alec frowned, "Wait, what mission with Logan? Look, I felt bad by how stressed you are. I want to help. I really don't feel like going to Crash anyway."
Max cocked her head in disbelief, "Right. And what about your 20 bucks that was so important for you to come mess with my apartment?"
Alec shrugged, "Most of that was just for fun. Like leaving the water on."
"You ass!" She exclaimed before slapping him upside the head, "Do you know how long it took to get that hot water!"
OC interrupted, "Girl, are we gonna finish fixin' you up, or what?"
Max nodded, and then looked to Alec, "Why are you still here? I have nothing left to say to you."
"Let me help," Alec repeated. "Look, When are you supposed to meet Logan for this mission?"
Max looked at her watch, frantic. "In 40 minutes! Oh my God!"
"Okay, fill me in. I'll go with you."
Max eyed him, not liking the idea much, but didn't refuse. He owed her, after all, for how horrible her morning had been, and with 2 transgenics, Logan was sure to be safe.
OC fixed her up as she told Alec the details.
After hearing the story, Alec decided to grab a spare change of clothes and come back within 15 minutes.
Max tried telling him not to bother, but before she could, he was out the door.
-------
Just as OC finished cleaning up all the glitter off of Max's face, there was another knock on the door.
"Boo," OC was about to offer again.
Max stepped forward, however, "No, I got it this time."
She walked to the door. "Alec, I swear, if you don't leave me alone I'm going to-" she paused, seeing her upset neighbor staring back at her.
"Oh, and what are you going as, a hooker?" The gay man in front of her quipped.
She actually smiled. Finally, that meant, she did look her part. "Yes," she answered.
He flitted his hand in her face, "Girl, do you know what you've done to my ceiling?"
OC came forward, "Can I help you?"
"Did you pay for this…girl," he asked OC, motioning to Max, "Because I bet she was pretty expensive, and so is my furniture that's currently being dripped on, so I would really appreciate some type of reimbursement from you."
OC glared at him, "Don't be talking to my suga like that! And what the hell are you goin' as tonight? Project Runway's reject? Look at that outfit. Take it as a blessing. You should be spendin' more benjamins on your wardrobe instead of on ya furniture."
The man looked embarrassed and shocked at her rude comment.
Max smiled, "I'd go shopping with you, if I didn't have another appointment."
That gave OC an idea, "How about I go shopping with you. I have some time before the night arrives and it's time to party."
The man warmed up to the idea, "Oh, what the heck, why not. I do like your style."
"Thanks, suga!" OC accepted his compliment.
She then turned to Max, "Boo, wait for Alec."
Max gaped open her mouth, "What, why? No, he's completely unreliable."
OC frowned, "Girl, you know it's safer with Golden Boy at ya side. He'll be here."
Max shrugged. "Whatever, he's got 10 minutes, then I'm out of here."
OC smiled, "Fair enough. No worries, Boo, He'll be here."