The next few days Alec called in sick but I knew that couldn't be it and that there must be something really wrong. I decided to talk to Max to see if he was OK. "Hey Max how is Alec I mean he's been out for a while" I asked. "He's dealing with some things he'll be OK. Why are you so worried about him you barely know him." she said. "He reminds me of someone I once knew a long time ago. I just wanna make sure he's OK." I said. "Oh. Hey what happened to your friend?" She asked "I don't know he never came back." I replied.
The next day at Jam Pony, Max approaches Alec at the lockers. I listened to to their conversation. Max said, "Hey." "Hey, Max." Alec said. "Listen...if you ever want to talk..." Max said. "About what?" Alec asked. "About anything." Max replied. Smiling Alec asked, "Now why would I want to do that?" Max replied, "Just consider the offer open."Alec said. "All right. Listen...thanks for saving my ass." "You're all right?"Max asked. Smiling, after a pause Alec replied. "I'm always all right." I could tell he was lying to Max but most of all to him self. I saw him walk away. I realized I would have to get closer to them to gain their trust.
At Crash, Original Cindy carries some beer and joins Max and Sketchy at the pool table. Logan is writing something nearby. Alec is collecting money from a guy he has just beaten at pool. Alec says, "Thanks for playing. It's always a pleasure. (Chuckles) Who's next? Anybody? Sketchy, what do ya say, buddy?" Sketchy replied, "No, man, I already owe you two paychecks." Alec said, "I'll let you break." Sketchy said, "No. Nope." Alec said, "I'll play left-handed. You can blindfold me." Sketchy replied "No." Alec said, "No? Okay." He looks at Max. Max said, "Nobody likes a showoff, Alec." Alec said, "Max, come on. Fifty bucks and you get to humble your old buddy Alec. What do you say?" Max replied, "Yeah, right." Alec said, "Well, thanks anyway. Anybody?" He Asks different people. I said, "I'll play I'm always up for a game of pool I'll break." Alec said, "Yeah." I said, "Rack 'em." Alec glad to find someone to play said, "Ha ha! It's all right." Max says to Sketchy, smiling "Move over." Max sets her drink down behind Sketchy and watches the game. I breaks and sinks several balls. Alec whistles. I sink another ball, and as I line up my next shot, Alec leans in very closely to watch. I said, "Alec..." Alec said, "Yeah?" I asked, "Could you stand back?" Alec steps back, and I make the shot. Alec said, "Well, well, well. Not too shabby. (As I'm about to shoot again) Can I, uh, get you another beer?" I reply, "No." Imisses the shot. Alec smilies and says, "You sure?" Sketchy said, "He's gonna run it now." Alec sinks three shots in a row, blowing on his cue stick afterwards. He sinks another shot and laughs, then jokingly indicates his cue stick. Alec said, "I just wanna play it. It's just like a guitar, you know? It's beautiful." Alec lines up his next shot. Alec says, "Corner pocket." I said, "You're sure you don't want to try a bank shot?" Alec said, "Oh, no. No, no. I'm sure." Alec misses the shot. Alec said, "Hmm. Maybe not that sure." He chuckles and I sink a shot and then lines up his next one. One ball is directly between the cue ball and the one I need to sink. Sketchy, and Alec lean in closely to examine the table.Alec says, "Tricky shot." Sketchy says, "Yeah, you can do it." Alec says, "Sketchy, where's the love, huh?" I'm trying to concentrate and say, "Guys..." Alec said, "Hmm?" I say, "Beat it." They step back. I hit the cue ball so that it jumps over the first ball and sinks the second. Max says to Original Cindy, "You gotta admit, that was pretty cool." Iline up a shot at the eight-ball. Alec said, "Hey, Jane--another fifty bucks says you miss this shot." I reply. "You're on." I sink the shot. Max smiles. Alec chuckles and forks over the money. Max says, "Nice game." I reply, "Thanks." Max hands Logan a beer and their fingers come very close to touching. They both look up in alarm. Sketchy says, "Dude, you rock!" He then high fives Logan. Max says to Logan, "Go wash your hands." Sketchy says, "What? I'm clean." Logan hands Sketchy the beer and steps into the bathroom. I listen in from the spot where i'm at with sketchy. Alec asks, "What's going on?" Original Cindy said, "The whole love-bug dealio. After Jane beat your ass, Max handed him a beer and they might have touched and dosed him with the virus. And now would not be a good time for one of your smart-ass remarks." Logan comes out of the bathroom and smiles, trying to reassure Max. Logan said, "I'm okay." Max exclaimed, "I could have killed you." Logan replied, "But you didn't. Want to get a drink?" Max said, "Better not risk it. Um...I'm gonna go home." Then she leaves.