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Thank you to wildwolffree17 for betar'ing.

Chapter 1

Max and Original Cindy sat at their usual table at the back of Crash near the pool table, nursing their beers. Max found it fun to just chill with her girl and not worry for a few hours about anything. Lately she'd been so stressed by everything. White was constantly on her ass; between helping other transgenics, looking after Joshua, and doing Logan's 'Eyes only' stuff, she felt like she was stretching herself too thin: she had no time for herself anymore. The virus thing with Logan was the most pressing thing, and it worried her the most

"Why's it gotta be so damn hard?" Max suddenly exclaimed, surprising OC. "We've been through so much together… him getting shot, the Eyes Only stuff, me getting recaptured, and now the virus - it's just one thing after another."

"Boo, you know as well as I do that everythin' happens for a reason. You just gotta be patient – all things come in good time," OC said to her friend

"Yeah," Max sighed dejectedly. "But maybe it's a sign. I mean it's gotta be – our whole relationship, whether it can be called friends or something more, started because I felt guilty that he was shot. And if that isn't a bad omen from the start then I don't know what is," she persisted.

"Now, sugah, you know you gotta come correct on that. I ain't seen you on TV pulling no trigger; there is just no way in hell you could feel guilty about that," OC insisted.

Max didn't know what else to say or add to that comment so she stayed quiet.

"Where is he anyway? I thought you two had plans?" OC asked curiously

"Oh, he cancelled saying something about meeting an informant," Max answered dismissively.

"He with Blondie?"

Nodding her head and taking a sip, Max answered, "Probably. I mean they're practically attached at the hip."

"And that don't bother you?" OC inquired.

"Nah, he ain't the cheating type unlike another guy I know. Logan loves me and he's always going on about how we're gonna beat this bitch and finally be together," she said, smiling slightly.

"Okay, that's nice. See all you gotta do is have faith, and about the other guy you know: well, I think he's experimentin' with all these honeys - wait 'til he finds himself a keeper, and trust me when I sayhe won't step out of line."

"Geez, OC! Do you hear yourself?" Max laughed. "This is Alec we're talking about; the guy refuses to keep a girl for a week - how's he ever gonna commit?"

"Trust me on this, Boo, Original Cindy knows what she's talking about here. Don't let his façade fool you - when he finds himself a keeper, you'll see, and I'll be there to say I told you so," OC answered confidently.

Unbeknownst to Max and OC, Logan had just walked in holding Asha's hand. They walked through the crowds together and found a small table in the corner where they could have their privacy and not be interrupted by who they thought were low-life's all around them. Deep down, Logan hated Crash because it represented everything he hated: the low life minimum wage workers who spent all their money (which wasn't a lot, anyway) drinking themselves into stupors. He never understood why Max loved it here or why she even chose to associate herself with such people. She was a beautiful girl, with the brains and the body, and she could find a better job anywhere but she chose to stay in the rut. If only she would follow his example and mingle with better people than 'the gang,' he would be so much happier.

The funny thing was, even though he had been creeping around with Asha for a while now, and he was holding her hand out in the open on the table and kissing her, Logan did not believe that he was cheating on Max. It's not like we even have a proper relationship I mean if she touches me or I touch her, I die, he thought to himself. That still didn't mean he wanted Max to see them together. Or at least on some level. Smirking, he thought, It would break her heart, she's so into meHe looked around cautiously, and when he didn't see her, he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. Then he turned his attention back to the pretty blonde who would lay her life on the line for him.

"Damn, where's Sketchy and Alec tonight? It's kinda dry, huh?" OC asked

"Dunno….they probably went to that strip joint again. I'm gonna grab another pitcher," Max added. She grabbed the now empty pitcher and made her way to the bar, signaled to the bartender for another pitcher, and turned around to sweep the place with her back leaning against the bar.

TBC