Chapter 7

"Does he always take this long in the shower?" Max asked as she and Ava stood outside the bathroom waiting to get in that morning.

"Yeah."

Finally the door opened steam escaped the room as Alec looked at Max and Ava leaning against the opposite wall. Their arms were crossed and they both wore an annoyed expression. "Max and mini-Max, that's just scary." He said walking away to his room.

That morning Max opted to help Ava take a bath and get ready before doing the same. And even after all that time Alec was still in his room getting ready. Worse then any girl, Max thought as she and Ava joined Shane at the table.

Alec joined them five minutes later heading straight to the coffee pot only to find it empty. He turned and narrowed his eyes at Max.

She bit her lip to keep from laughing, "You take long showers and I drink coffee. Next time don't be such a bathroom hog." She blankly said as she flipped though the newspaper.

Alec grinned; Max had no idea what she was getting herself into. This means war. He scanned the table and saw a hot mug in Shane's hands. "You don't need this."

"Hey!"

"You're fifteen that's too young for coffee. You'll thank me one day for this." Alec spoke before leaving the room.

"Fine." Shane said more to herself. "I'll just go take a shower."

"There might not be any hot water." Max warned though she knew for a fact there wasn't since her own shower had been cold to the touch.

"There never is, I'm use to taking cold ones." Shane said before leaving.

"Hmm we'll have to change that." Max said spotting a smile on Ava's face. She was all for getting Alec back on his shower abuse. Now all they needed was a plan.

Max and Alec arrived late to Jam Pony having argued the whole way and also arrived together, Normal noticed this. "Missy Miss what'd I say about corrupting my boy?"

"Not my fault, it's his fault I'm late." Max curtly explained walking away from her boss. "Damn hot water hog." She mumbled but with his enhanced abilities Alec heard and wouldn't just drop it.

"Coffee thief."

"You were just being lazy you could've made more but instead you went with stealing." Max stopped in her tracks and faced the other X-5 with no plans on dropping the subject either. Even though everyone began to look at them.

Alec shrugged. "Maybe I just like to steal."

Max narrowed her eyes. "I bet you do." She remembered Logan's near empty apartment. "Because you have no morals."

"Nag, nag, nag! Geez Maxie lay off for at least an hour. You're killing me here." Alec said as he headed to his locker.

"Not as much as I'd like to kill you." Max said before spotting OC grinning at her. "What?"

"You got issues Boo, should I expect you back home tonight?"

"What? No. Alec's a pain in the ass, my ass but I'm having a good time with Ava, the arrangement is working when it comes to her. And Shane's great too it's just Alec, he's so---ugh!" Max slammed her locker closed.

"Uh-huh."

"Uh-huh what?" Max questioned as they walked outside together.

"Nothing."

IIII

Alec rode with Sketchy most of the day. Back at Jam Pony he tried yet again to get Alec to come out with them. But this time Alec considered it.

Ava was doing better at night, Shane didn't mind watching her and if anything she could just call him. With the stress of the last few days he needed a break. "Yeah sure man I'll be there." He promised before heading home.

After dinner Max and Alec spent time with their daughter and even watched a movie together. Once she was asleep they both had plans. "I can't escape you today." Max groaned when she found out they were both headed to Crash.

"You should consider your self to be so lucky."

Max rolled her eyes. "When pigs fly."

"Hey you never know with all these things Manticore whipped up." Were Alec's parting words before he revved up his bike and made his way to Crash.

IIII

Max was glad to see Logan there after they had left things so tense when she told him about her move. "Hey." She greeted as she joined him at the table.

"Hey, I didn't expect to see you tonight."

Max followed his train of thought. "She's asleep so I thought I'd come out and unwind a little."

"That him?"

Max next followed his stare to the pool tables where Sketchy and Alec played. "Yeah. Shane an X-6 watches Ava when we're at work or out." She explained to clear up any confusion.

Logan nodded. "Your own little transgenic family."

Max began to get upset with his attitude, she had been trying to make peace, "You have nothing to worry about. We're all just trying to look out for Ava and give her some sort of stable while she still has a chance we didn't have. I won't let you turn that into a bad thing."

Logan sighed and ran his hands down his face. "You're right I'm sorry. It's just a lot to adjust to but you're right this is about a little girl that needs you."

Max smiled. "Thank you."

She and Logan had a couple of drinks and talked like they used to; with ease. An hour later Alec appeared at her side. "I think poor Sketch is gonna cry is he losses again. What do you say Maxie, wanna try your luck?"

"Stop calling me Maxie." She was prepared to tell him next to go the hell away but a little idea formed in her head. "Wanna up the stakes?"

Alec grinned. "What do you have in mind?"

"I win and you limit your showers to fifteen minutes and you also have to let everyone else go first. We get dibs before you, for a month."

Alec placed his hand over his heart and exhaled sharply. "You drive a hard bargain. And if I win?"

Max was almost scared to ask. "What do you want?"

"Hmm ok you get dish duty for a month, glasses, bowls, pots, the whole nine." Alec had a few dirty little jokes but noticed Logan sitting there and opted not to cause any problems.

Max rose from the table. "Deal."

-

Isabelle A.