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*****

"I'm never going food shopping with you again, *ever*." Kendra scowled at Max. She was definitely not her favorite person at the moment.

"Oh, come on! You say that every time, but then a week or two later, you're busting down my bedroom door and draggin' me off to some damp hellhole to get your precious imitation beef."

"This time I mean it!" Kendra tightened her hold as the dingy canvas bag started to slip from her arms.

"Whatever."

"It true, whether you believe me or not."

"I don't."

"Well, fine."

"Fine."

"Fine!"

Kendra had pulled Max out of bed that morning to get food, but she had disguised it as 'a roommate-bonding trip.' It was her day off and they hadn't been spending a lot of time together. Truthfully, she was a little scared to go downtown by herself. Having someone like Max around sure made things easier, but then again, what happened earlier was *not* easy. Nor was it fun. Max had grumbled the whole trip and that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part came later.

"Why are we going to your boyfriend's place again?"

"Logan's not my boyfriend."

"Whatever." Kendra mimicked Max's earlier comment and shrugged her shoulders. It was kind of hard while holding a hefty bag.

"What me to carry that?"

"No, I got it." Kendra took a moment to examine her surroundings. She noted the nice furniture in the lobby and the vast array of green plants. "So why are we here?"

"Logan paged me. Couldn't find a payphone, so we are stopping off to find out what he wants."

"We?" Kendra snickered. "I don't think that *both* of is need to *see* what he wants, if you catch my drift."

"A dim-witted blind man can catch your drift."

"That was my intention." They were standing in front of the shiny elevator, waiting for it to arrive. It was sure taking a long time.

"I thought you were mad at me."

"I am."

"Oh." Max nodded in understanding.

"You still suck, a LOT, but no need to rub it in."

"I'm feeling the love."

"Save it for your man."

"He's not--"

"Denial." Kendra flashed a triumphant smile as Max's face contorted into a glower. The elevator dinged and the double doors opened to reveal a clean interior. Both of them stepped in. Max stood on the right side and pushed the button that went to Logan's floor. The elevator doors closed and they were the only people in it. As the hum of the elevator started, both girls stood still and waited.

"You sure you don't want me to hold that?"

"Yes."

"It looks heavy." Max put her hands in her pockets and looked thoughtfully at Kendra, only succeeding in making her more annoyed.

"Thanks for noticing."

Max had enough. If Kendra was going to be such baby about what happened earlier, then she wasn't going to be nice. It wasn't her fault that her roommate fell on a squirrel. Not *totally*.

"Look, I'm sorry Kendra. All right?"

"No, it's not all right."

"How can I make it better? Tell me where it hurts."

Kendra let out a frustrated groan. How was she supposed to forget about what happened and move on when Max was not taking her seriously? "It's gonna 'hurt' if I kick your ass, and that's gonna happen if you open your mouth one more time."

Max smiled and scoffed. "Yeah, like *you* can take me on!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

Suddenly the elevator stopped. A few creaking and squeaking noises could be heard through the walls. Max didn't even seem fazed in the slightest. It was just another annoyance in her day.

"What happened? Max! Do you know what happened?"

Max squinted at Kendra and said, "That elevator stopped, genius."

"I know that!"

"Then why did you ask me?"

"Why did it stop?"

"Do I look like 'elevator maintenance guy'?"

"Use the emergency phone!" She shrieked.

"Calm down and lower the decibels!" Max reached out and grabbed the phone. She punched a random button and waited for the other line to pick up.

"Well?"

"Hold on, geez!" She waited impatiently with a hand on her hip and the other one clutching the phone loosely. "Hello?"

Kendra could only hear one side of the conversation.

"Yeah...we're stuck...I know that...yes, I know THAT too. What? No, I'm not sure...what? You're kiddin'...when I get out I'm gonna...no...I'm not...look buddy, you better be jokin' or else I'm going to haul your ass...what? No, it's not that time of the month...shut up...yeah, you have a nice day too."

Max hung up and slouched down to the floor.

"Well, what did he say?"

"We're gonna be in here for awhile."

"You're joking."

"That's what I told him."

"How long?"

"Three hours, max."

"THREE HOURS!" Kendra's eyes bulged out of her head. Her scream caused Max to cover her ears with her hands.

"What did I tell you about that?"

"That is all YOUR fault!"

Max leaped up to her feet and was on the defensive. "How is it *my* fault?"

"Remember the squirrel?"

"You still sore about that?"

Kendra shook her head in disbelief. "Still sore? It happened just a half an hour ago!"

"It's gonna be okay."

"That's not the point!"

"What is then?"

Kendra's mouth hung open. She was at a loss for words.

"Ha!" Max threw out triumphantly.

"Shut up! I don't want you to talk to me anymore!"

"Okay, I won't. I've been hoping for this day to come."

Kendra placed the canvas bag full of 'groceries' on the floor and sat down the corner farthest away from Max.

"Aren't you gonna saying something?"

Kendra muttered something in Japanese and looked darkly at Max.

"What?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"I thought you weren't speaking to me."

"I'm not."

Max made a face and stuck out her tongue. "Baby!"

***An hour later***

They had been sitting in opposite corners without making any eye contact or talking, and frankly, Max was getting bored.

"Kendra?"

Kendra shot her an evil look.

"I'm sorry. For real this time."

In a small voice, Kendra replied, "Really?"

"Yes."

"So you didn't mean to elbow me onto the squirrel?"

"Honestly, I was aiming for that spiky haired freak. I got you on accident. I guess my temper got away from me, again."

"Is the squirrel gonna be okay?"

"Definitely, like all rats, they come back, with their buddies too."

"He is not a rat."

"He?"

"Yeah."

"I'm not even gonna ask how you know that." Max smiled. Seemed like she reached a truce with Kendra.

"Max?"

"What?"

"Why is it taking so long?"

"Something about it being a safety hazard and how they need to get a specialist to come in." She shrugged her shoulders.

"That takes three hours?"

"Apparently."

***Approximately two hours later***

"Your turn." Kendra said as she bit into a hard piece of bread.

"Okay...um...who is Mr. Nice Ass? The guy that Original and I have been hearing so much about?"

"Oh! He's a guy I met."

"And?" Max flailed her hand impatiently.

Uh...okay, he's really nice, as nice as men can get, and he's a...um...yeah."

"A what?"

"Something." Kendra replied evasively.

"A what? C'mon, you can tell your buddy, Max."

"A dog walker."

Max snorted and rolled on the ground laughing. "Ser...Seriously?" She clutched her stomach tightly and tried to reign in her laughter. Didn't work.

"It's good money."

"Does he...uh...pick up after his clients?"

"I don't know!" Kendra was not amused. "It's not funny!"

"Yeah, that explains the reason why my stomach hurts like hell." Her laughter subsided somewhat and she shakily sat up across from Kendra.

"Now, my turn to ask a question."

"Okay, shoot."

"Logan."

"What about him?" Max's laughter was totally gone.

"Well, since we're sort of on the subject of nice butts, how's his?"

Max choked and started coughing loudly. "What?"

"You heard me."

"I wouldn't know!" Her cheeks were burning and she knew that she was turning pink.

"Haven't you ever *looked*? I mean, he's not in a chair all the time, is he?"

"No, but..."

"But what?"

"It's Logan!"

"So?" Kendra prodded Max. "C'mon, spill. You know the rules."

"Okay, so maybe I peeked, ONCE."

"And?"

Max wrung her hands nervously. "Do we have to talk about this?"

"Yes!"

"Uh...it was nice. Had butt-y characteristics."

Kendra raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"

"Uh huh."

"Naw, I think there's more."

"There isn't."

"Don't lie."

"I'm telling the truth!"

Kendra shook her head. "Nothing leaves this elevator, Max. I promise."

"Really?" Her reply was hesitant and very un-Max-like.

"Yeah."

"Okay, well he was just finishing his physical therapy and I was over there doing what I usually did and Bling was helping him into his chair."

"Then what?"

"I checked it out."

"And?" Kendra had a grin on her face that looked like the cat that got that cream.

"It was *very* nice, okay?"

"How nice?"

"Let's just say that he would put Mr. Nice Ass to shame."

"No way."

"Yes way. It was...wow."

Kendra laughed. "You're drooling."

"Am not!"

Just when she was about the open her mouth again and fire off a retort, the elevator started moving and the phone started ringing.

Max reached up and grabbed the receiver. "It's about time! Took ya long enough...yes...yes...no shit, Sherlock...uh...I suppose...No, I gotta pee. I remember you too, don't think that I won't come and beat...no...okay. Bye."

She hung up and saw Kendra's expectant look.

"He says the elevator's working again."

Kendra merely rolled her eyes and muttered something else in Japanese.

"That better not be directed at me."

"It's not."

The elevator came up to Logan's floor and gently stopped. Both girls stood and stretched their legs. The soft ding vibrated through the still air and Max picked up the canvas bag.

"I got it, babe."

"Thanks."

The doors opened and the stepped out to see Logan and Bling sitting in the middle of the hall.

"Waiting for us?" Max threw Kendra an amused glance.

"Are you okay?" Logan had concern written all over his face.

"I was only stuck in an elevator. I'm still alive, Logan."

"That's what I told him." Blind piped up.

"What happened in there?" Logan questioned.

"We ate, we bonded...oh! We talked about you a bit." Kendra innocently smiled at Logan.

"Really? Good things I hope."

"Uh huh, very good things." Kendra looked over at Max and silently nudged her to say something.

Max got the hint and nodded, agreeing with her. "Yeah."

THE END

***** Don't ask me where I came up with "squirrel" or "dog walker". I have no idea! :-)