CHAPTER: Figure me out.
Max walked in Jam pony about half an hour late. She walked over to the dispatch counter to make her presence known before Normal fired her. " Sorry I'm late, I had to wait for gas."
" Yeah, everyone's always late," Normal, complained.
" What are you trippin' about?"
" I ordered a paper shredder since Friday and I still haven't received it."
" A paper shredder?"
" Yeah."
" Why would you want a paper shredder?" Everything about Normal was so abnormal.
" To shred paper, why else. I've always wanted one just never had the nerve to buy it.
Max wasn't aware that it required a nerve to buy a paper shredder. She rolled her eyes at him. " Can I get a package?"
Normal handed her a package. " Did you know Alec is one third of a triplet?"
Max nodded. She immediately figured out why Alec told him that. Police where still looking for an Alec look alike if they thought there was another one then they wouldn't arrest Ben. " Yeah, why?"
" I saw one of them and he's almost as good looking as Alec?"
Max laughed, " He looks just like Alec."
" No, he's paler. Alec has an even golden completion."
" Sorry I didn't notice. Listen he's going to be here for a while so I was hoping that---you could--- you know---"
" You were hoping that I would give him a job?" Max nodded. " I already did." Max smiled excitedly. " So how come you're so concerned about him, do you like him?"
" No, We just go back. I actually knew him before I knew Alec."
" From where?"
" Ah-- high school." Max lied.
" But in your files say that you and Alec went different high schools. I remember specifically. You went Washington High and Alec went to PS 220."
Max had to come up with something quick. " You see Alec never told you that he was adopted. Ben and I went to school together. When Alec came to Seattle I thought he was Ben then he explained that Ben was his twin and he was adopted. Alec doesn't talk about it much because his foster parents were a little abusive, that's how he learnt to fight so well. He had to learn to defend himself." Max complimented herself in her mind for he wonderful little anecdote while she watched Normal almost break into tears.
" I didn't know he kept so many secrets." The picture of his golden boy having to live under a roof with unloving parents was enough make him shiver.
" Yeah, sad isn't it." Max took the package and walked away before the water works started. She looked at it and frowned. It was for Logan. Why did she have to get packages for him when she didn't want to see him?
******* She crept through the house apartment. She was hoping she could get through this with out having to talk to him but he was the first thing she was as she closed the door behind her. " Hey Logan, package for yah." She threw it at him and he caught it. " Good Catch."
" So how are things going?"
" Okay, I guess. Haven't seen White's face for a while."
" And how is Alec?"
" Alec is good," she said happily. The thought of Alec and Ben being friends made her happy. It would be good for both of them.
Logan felt his hearth shatter as she said that. She seemed so happy to talk about Alec. " Tell him I said hi."
" Okay," Max said and then walked out the door.
*****************************
That night at Crash, Max, OC and Alec sat watching Ben play Sketchy in a game of pool. Max couldn't help but be glad by the way things were going.
" He's making me look bad," Alec complained. " Sketchy is kicking his butt."
Max smiled and punched Alec. " Shut up, he's probably good at something else." She was hoping that amateur dentistry wasn't the only thing.
" You think he could play the piano too?"
" Maybe."
" We'll go by Joshua's and see."
Max gave him a quick warning look.
" Or maybe not." He remembered that Logan was not to see Ben.
Cindy looked at Max and Alec. She could tell they were keeping something from her. " Is there something about Ben that I ought to know?"
" No nothing," Max and Alec said together. She nodded but they could tell that she didn't believe them.
Sketchy came back smiling, " Alec my man, I think I like your clone better than you. Easiest twenty-five bucks I've ever made."
Ben sat between Max and Alec and said only so transgenic ears could hear, " I let him win." They looked at him in surprise. " Well I don't want him to hate me."
" He's not going to hate you if he loses. I beat him all the time," Alec explained.
Ben suddenly felt stupid. He lost money that he didn't need to.
" Since you have some extra cash why don't you sponsor your friends some drinks," OC asked.
" I think I will." Sketchy turned to Ben. " Care to help me bring it back."
Ben got up and followed him to the bar. He bumped into someone just before he reached the bar. He was a little crept out because the guy stared at him for way too long.
Logan looked at Alec waiting for him to say his usual annoying greeting but he didn't even look back at him. The guy had stolen his girlfriend and didn't even have the decency to say hello. He shrugged his shoulders and went over to the pool tables. He was looking for Max. He decided that he didn't need to stop seeing Max just because she and Alec were dating.
He walked over to the pool tables and spotted Max and her usual crowd nearby. " Hey Alec did you blur here?"
Max and Alec looked at each other in horror. What was Logan doing there? He hadn't shown up there since she told him she was seeing Alec. " What are you doing here?"
" Came to hang." Why was everyone being so hostile to him. " What, is that wrong?" Logan asked taking a seat.
Max indicated with her eyes for Alec to go to Ben but by the time he stood up Ben was already putting a pitcher of beer on the table.
Logan looked up at Ben and then to Alec and Max. He stood up and stepped away. He felt fear traveled trough his bones. He had never been this close to a serial killer before. He wished he had a gun to protect him self and Max. " 493?"
Max stood up and went to Logan. " Don't call him that?"
Did she actually know he was around? And she was acting like was a child that needed to be protected. " Max did you forget that he's serial killer, who pulls people teeth out."
Ben went completely white. He couldn't breath. He looked at OC and Sketchy, they looked at him like he was a monster, like he was Normilie. Ben walked quickly away from their gazes.
Max pushed Logan out of the way and went after him.
Logan looked to Alec, who looked annoyed. " You knew about this too?"
" Shut up Logan." He wished he could just slap him. Now he had a world of explaining to do to OC and Sketchy.
*~*~**~*~*~*~**~**~*
Max caught up with Ben out side. He was about to go on his bike but she held him back. " Don't go." Max could see tears glistening on his face. She wiped it away.
" I'm sorry Max. I have to go, I can't stay here."
" Don't take him on, he's -He's a jerk. He just doesn't understand."
" Max they all know now, they hate me now." He wiped the tears away and they were quickly replaced.
" I've known them for years. They won't hate you. They're understanding people." She took his hand. " Ben, please stay?"
She had a tone of desperation in her voice. She really needed him to stay with her. He got off the bike and stood there.
Max hugged him tightly. " Alec's taking care of it I'm sure."
" I can't go back in there. I want to go home."
Max nodded. " I'll come with you."
*********************
Alec had just finished explaining the situation to Sketchy and OC while Logan sat there and listened.
" So Max killed him before, but now he's back and he's good now?" Sketchy asked.
" Yeah they most likely taped into his brain and changed some stuff. Besides he was never really a bad person, he was just confused."
Sketchy nodded. He was trying to be as understanding as possible but he wasn't sure he'd be able to befriend Ben, as he would have before. " That's pretty heavy."
" All he wants to do is be with his sister." OC understood a little better than Sketchy.
Logan looked at them. He was getting really annoyed he seemed to be the only one missing the fact that Ben was dangerous. " We should a least take him to see psychologist. For evaluation."
" Logan, just leave him alone. He's been thought months of that in Manticore. He doesn't need it again," Sketchy said.
Alec smiled, he was most worried about him. " Thanks for understanding."
" No problem." OC and Sketchy said together.
Logan threw his hands up in frustration. " I don't believe this."
" I wonder if he's okay?" OC asked ignoring Logan.
" If I know Max, she most likely carried him home."
" Why don't we go there and tell him that we're cool with him. No need for him to be depressed worrying about not having friends."
" Good idea," Alec commented.
******** They all arrived at Alec's shortly after. Logan came with them for some reason, none of them really knowing why. Alec let them in.
Ben was on Alec's bed and Max was in a chair next to the bed talking to him. When he saw OC, Sketchy and Logan come in he thought they were on a witch-hunt and he was the witch.
OC came up to the bed and passed her finger in his hair to mess it up. " It's okay boy, we understand."
" Yeah, at least I can beat you in pool."
Ben couldn't believe it. These were some of the nicest people he ever met. A tear rolled down his face. And he quickly wiped it away before they noticed. " Thanks."
OC laughed. " You and Alec are so different. I can never picture Alec crying in front of anyone."
Ben managed to laugh. It the short space of time that he'd known Alec he noticed that he had a tendency to hide his emotions away.
" Thanks so much for coming," Max said wiping away a tear that was there.
Alec turned his head away from all the crying. He saw Logan leaving his apartment unnoticed. He wasn't wanted around anyway.
Max came and stood next to Alec outside the door. " Alec thanks for everything."
He turned her around and put his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her head. " I think he'll be alright, he has some of the best friends someone could ask for and a sister that loves him."
Max smiled at him. She was really enjoying this new side of Alec she was seeing. " And a good brother too."
" It's either he's not your sister, or he's not my brother."
" Ok, he's not your brother. Well he has another good friend who just happens to have his face."
He was satisfied with that. He was not related to Max. That would have been wrong. You can't crush on your sister. " That's better."
" So why do you have a problem with him being your brother?"
" Because that would make me your brother. And you're not my sister."
" I know that, I'm glad I'm not your sister."
" Why?"
" Because that would actually acquire me to be nice to you."
NOTE: Do you smell that? I think you do. You know what it smells like?
It smells like Logan is going to do something stupid.
My friend said that I'm writing Ben gay. I'm trying to expand the little bit of his character we saw before he went psycho and just after he died.
So you tell me if he's gay.
Review please.
Max walked in Jam pony about half an hour late. She walked over to the dispatch counter to make her presence known before Normal fired her. " Sorry I'm late, I had to wait for gas."
" Yeah, everyone's always late," Normal, complained.
" What are you trippin' about?"
" I ordered a paper shredder since Friday and I still haven't received it."
" A paper shredder?"
" Yeah."
" Why would you want a paper shredder?" Everything about Normal was so abnormal.
" To shred paper, why else. I've always wanted one just never had the nerve to buy it.
Max wasn't aware that it required a nerve to buy a paper shredder. She rolled her eyes at him. " Can I get a package?"
Normal handed her a package. " Did you know Alec is one third of a triplet?"
Max nodded. She immediately figured out why Alec told him that. Police where still looking for an Alec look alike if they thought there was another one then they wouldn't arrest Ben. " Yeah, why?"
" I saw one of them and he's almost as good looking as Alec?"
Max laughed, " He looks just like Alec."
" No, he's paler. Alec has an even golden completion."
" Sorry I didn't notice. Listen he's going to be here for a while so I was hoping that---you could--- you know---"
" You were hoping that I would give him a job?" Max nodded. " I already did." Max smiled excitedly. " So how come you're so concerned about him, do you like him?"
" No, We just go back. I actually knew him before I knew Alec."
" From where?"
" Ah-- high school." Max lied.
" But in your files say that you and Alec went different high schools. I remember specifically. You went Washington High and Alec went to PS 220."
Max had to come up with something quick. " You see Alec never told you that he was adopted. Ben and I went to school together. When Alec came to Seattle I thought he was Ben then he explained that Ben was his twin and he was adopted. Alec doesn't talk about it much because his foster parents were a little abusive, that's how he learnt to fight so well. He had to learn to defend himself." Max complimented herself in her mind for he wonderful little anecdote while she watched Normal almost break into tears.
" I didn't know he kept so many secrets." The picture of his golden boy having to live under a roof with unloving parents was enough make him shiver.
" Yeah, sad isn't it." Max took the package and walked away before the water works started. She looked at it and frowned. It was for Logan. Why did she have to get packages for him when she didn't want to see him?
******* She crept through the house apartment. She was hoping she could get through this with out having to talk to him but he was the first thing she was as she closed the door behind her. " Hey Logan, package for yah." She threw it at him and he caught it. " Good Catch."
" So how are things going?"
" Okay, I guess. Haven't seen White's face for a while."
" And how is Alec?"
" Alec is good," she said happily. The thought of Alec and Ben being friends made her happy. It would be good for both of them.
Logan felt his hearth shatter as she said that. She seemed so happy to talk about Alec. " Tell him I said hi."
" Okay," Max said and then walked out the door.
*****************************
That night at Crash, Max, OC and Alec sat watching Ben play Sketchy in a game of pool. Max couldn't help but be glad by the way things were going.
" He's making me look bad," Alec complained. " Sketchy is kicking his butt."
Max smiled and punched Alec. " Shut up, he's probably good at something else." She was hoping that amateur dentistry wasn't the only thing.
" You think he could play the piano too?"
" Maybe."
" We'll go by Joshua's and see."
Max gave him a quick warning look.
" Or maybe not." He remembered that Logan was not to see Ben.
Cindy looked at Max and Alec. She could tell they were keeping something from her. " Is there something about Ben that I ought to know?"
" No nothing," Max and Alec said together. She nodded but they could tell that she didn't believe them.
Sketchy came back smiling, " Alec my man, I think I like your clone better than you. Easiest twenty-five bucks I've ever made."
Ben sat between Max and Alec and said only so transgenic ears could hear, " I let him win." They looked at him in surprise. " Well I don't want him to hate me."
" He's not going to hate you if he loses. I beat him all the time," Alec explained.
Ben suddenly felt stupid. He lost money that he didn't need to.
" Since you have some extra cash why don't you sponsor your friends some drinks," OC asked.
" I think I will." Sketchy turned to Ben. " Care to help me bring it back."
Ben got up and followed him to the bar. He bumped into someone just before he reached the bar. He was a little crept out because the guy stared at him for way too long.
Logan looked at Alec waiting for him to say his usual annoying greeting but he didn't even look back at him. The guy had stolen his girlfriend and didn't even have the decency to say hello. He shrugged his shoulders and went over to the pool tables. He was looking for Max. He decided that he didn't need to stop seeing Max just because she and Alec were dating.
He walked over to the pool tables and spotted Max and her usual crowd nearby. " Hey Alec did you blur here?"
Max and Alec looked at each other in horror. What was Logan doing there? He hadn't shown up there since she told him she was seeing Alec. " What are you doing here?"
" Came to hang." Why was everyone being so hostile to him. " What, is that wrong?" Logan asked taking a seat.
Max indicated with her eyes for Alec to go to Ben but by the time he stood up Ben was already putting a pitcher of beer on the table.
Logan looked up at Ben and then to Alec and Max. He stood up and stepped away. He felt fear traveled trough his bones. He had never been this close to a serial killer before. He wished he had a gun to protect him self and Max. " 493?"
Max stood up and went to Logan. " Don't call him that?"
Did she actually know he was around? And she was acting like was a child that needed to be protected. " Max did you forget that he's serial killer, who pulls people teeth out."
Ben went completely white. He couldn't breath. He looked at OC and Sketchy, they looked at him like he was a monster, like he was Normilie. Ben walked quickly away from their gazes.
Max pushed Logan out of the way and went after him.
Logan looked to Alec, who looked annoyed. " You knew about this too?"
" Shut up Logan." He wished he could just slap him. Now he had a world of explaining to do to OC and Sketchy.
*~*~**~*~*~*~**~**~*
Max caught up with Ben out side. He was about to go on his bike but she held him back. " Don't go." Max could see tears glistening on his face. She wiped it away.
" I'm sorry Max. I have to go, I can't stay here."
" Don't take him on, he's -He's a jerk. He just doesn't understand."
" Max they all know now, they hate me now." He wiped the tears away and they were quickly replaced.
" I've known them for years. They won't hate you. They're understanding people." She took his hand. " Ben, please stay?"
She had a tone of desperation in her voice. She really needed him to stay with her. He got off the bike and stood there.
Max hugged him tightly. " Alec's taking care of it I'm sure."
" I can't go back in there. I want to go home."
Max nodded. " I'll come with you."
*********************
Alec had just finished explaining the situation to Sketchy and OC while Logan sat there and listened.
" So Max killed him before, but now he's back and he's good now?" Sketchy asked.
" Yeah they most likely taped into his brain and changed some stuff. Besides he was never really a bad person, he was just confused."
Sketchy nodded. He was trying to be as understanding as possible but he wasn't sure he'd be able to befriend Ben, as he would have before. " That's pretty heavy."
" All he wants to do is be with his sister." OC understood a little better than Sketchy.
Logan looked at them. He was getting really annoyed he seemed to be the only one missing the fact that Ben was dangerous. " We should a least take him to see psychologist. For evaluation."
" Logan, just leave him alone. He's been thought months of that in Manticore. He doesn't need it again," Sketchy said.
Alec smiled, he was most worried about him. " Thanks for understanding."
" No problem." OC and Sketchy said together.
Logan threw his hands up in frustration. " I don't believe this."
" I wonder if he's okay?" OC asked ignoring Logan.
" If I know Max, she most likely carried him home."
" Why don't we go there and tell him that we're cool with him. No need for him to be depressed worrying about not having friends."
" Good idea," Alec commented.
******** They all arrived at Alec's shortly after. Logan came with them for some reason, none of them really knowing why. Alec let them in.
Ben was on Alec's bed and Max was in a chair next to the bed talking to him. When he saw OC, Sketchy and Logan come in he thought they were on a witch-hunt and he was the witch.
OC came up to the bed and passed her finger in his hair to mess it up. " It's okay boy, we understand."
" Yeah, at least I can beat you in pool."
Ben couldn't believe it. These were some of the nicest people he ever met. A tear rolled down his face. And he quickly wiped it away before they noticed. " Thanks."
OC laughed. " You and Alec are so different. I can never picture Alec crying in front of anyone."
Ben managed to laugh. It the short space of time that he'd known Alec he noticed that he had a tendency to hide his emotions away.
" Thanks so much for coming," Max said wiping away a tear that was there.
Alec turned his head away from all the crying. He saw Logan leaving his apartment unnoticed. He wasn't wanted around anyway.
Max came and stood next to Alec outside the door. " Alec thanks for everything."
He turned her around and put his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her head. " I think he'll be alright, he has some of the best friends someone could ask for and a sister that loves him."
Max smiled at him. She was really enjoying this new side of Alec she was seeing. " And a good brother too."
" It's either he's not your sister, or he's not my brother."
" Ok, he's not your brother. Well he has another good friend who just happens to have his face."
He was satisfied with that. He was not related to Max. That would have been wrong. You can't crush on your sister. " That's better."
" So why do you have a problem with him being your brother?"
" Because that would make me your brother. And you're not my sister."
" I know that, I'm glad I'm not your sister."
" Why?"
" Because that would actually acquire me to be nice to you."
NOTE: Do you smell that? I think you do. You know what it smells like?
It smells like Logan is going to do something stupid.
My friend said that I'm writing Ben gay. I'm trying to expand the little bit of his character we saw before he went psycho and just after he died.
So you tell me if he's gay.
Review please.