Prologue: Let's never look back

The road was pitch black but the stars gave a few light, though barely. The headlight of a truck bothered the serene setting, laughters bothered the quiet night, and for a moment, giving it life.

The bluenette driver couldn't stop grinning at her blonde companion who also can't stop smiling. "Holy shit, Chloe. I can't believe it!" The smaller girl exclaimed.

That's the sixth time you said it, angel.

But the punk can't seem to let the words out, because– well– she's right. Even Chloe is still feeling stuporous.

Me neither, Rach. I still can't believe it, we're really leaving Arcadia Bay… for good.

"Alright, alright, okay." Rachel let out a breath, trying to calm herself down, but no more further let out another series of giggles. "It took us this long but… we're finally free!"

"Three years too long." Chloe muttered. Silly to think that they'd planned this the first time they've met, even sillier to think that for a bunch of lost children, they're actually doing it.

They're finally leaving that toxic town.

"Hey," Rachel said softly, too softly that Chloe wouldn't even notice if she hadn't touched her arm. "It has been a long, rocky years but…" She gripped gently on her arm, quirking the side of her lip. "We're here, and no one will stop us — is stopping us."

"Unless of course if your parents started looking for you, or you know, step-dildo started hunting me down like I'm a loose psychopath. I swear to god, that asshole is keeping me like a prisoner."

The blonde only shook her head, her infamous blue feather earring swaying with it, "Fuck them."

She started smirking at Chloe and suddenly put her head out the window, "You hear me, Arcadia Bay?! Fuck you!" The thrilled teen then flipped the air behind them off, the punk laughing.

Letting out a breath, Chloe put her hand out the window beside her, feeling the air — feeling the gradual change, reminding her that it is happening.

Chloe felt like she's on repeat.

But, whatever. Rachel's right, fuck them.

Letting in a breath, Chloe also shouted out the window, "Fuck you, Arcadia Bay!"

"Yes!" Rachel only laughed boisterously.

The truck swooshed through the chilly air. The night was young, but so were they. They felt like they can conquer anything.

oOo

The truck stopped in the middle of the road for a while, Chloe didn't know how it happened but suddenly they're chilling with a bunch of college students in a middle of a road trip, camping out in a middle of nowhere.

Shit, that's a lot of middle.

Chloe leaned against the hood of her truck, her left arm is tucked under her right one holding a lit joint. The air was chilly, but the camp fire made it warm… kinda.

The bluenette just stared at the scene in front her, a group of friends gathered around the burning wood, sharing stories, bottles in hand, others have cigarettes, some music playing out of their car. They don't know their names and she doesn't know theirs, but they trust both girls enough to let them in their camp, apparently.

Rachel is happy enough to oblige and, unsurprisingly, they went along great. She's already laughing with them as Chloe can see.

And Chloe is staring at Rachel a lot.

As if sensing her, the blonde looked up at Chloe, then smirked at her. Standing up, she went closer to the bluenette.

Her golden mane swayed — Chloe can already feel the softness just by looking at it — her blue feather earring seemed to popped with the warm hue the fire provided. Rachel wore a fitting grey high-necked tank top, her black bra straps showing. For some reason, Chloe moved her eyes to her hips, swaying nicely as she walked towards her.

It's probably because of the denim shorts she's wearing… or her red flannel hugging beautifully against it…

Or maybe you're just too gay for this girl. Jesus Christ, Chloe.

"What's a girl like you doing out here alone?" Rachel crossed her arms, smirking coyly at the punk girl. Chloe only chuckled, shaking her head at the girl in front of her. She's already used to flirty Rachel… but she still doesn't know how to react to flirty Rachel. At all.

Said girl put her arms beside Chloe, resting it on the hood behind the punk… and now she's close to her. Very close.

With their nose touching, both of their eyes half-lidded, Rachel murmured, "C'mon," The girl started grinning, flashing her teeth then grabbed both of Chloe's hands, "Let's dance."

Once near the raging fire, the crowd of friends hollered, but the girl with blue locks didn't seem to bother neither did the blonde, she's stuck staring at the girl in front of her already dancing to whatever music was playing.

Her angel.

Chloe can feel her own fire raging to life. For a moment, she just stood there in awe before Rachel gracefully moved towards her, still dancing beautifully. The girl danced around her companion, touching shoulders, placing her hand on the punk's hips, kissing her neck, smelling her hair.

The pot Chloe smoked admittedly worked wonders but… more admittedly, this is better.

So, so much better.

Chloe smiled, content.

oOo

Chloe can hear the soft whispers of the wind. It wasn't chilly, not warm either. Or maybe it's a mix of both, you'd feel the cold then the warmth. And it goes like that, a tango of temperature, she suppose.

Yep, smoked too much for the night.

Both girls were laid down on the trunk of Chloe's blanket-and-pillow-filled truck. The group of friends were already asleep in their tents, but the camp fire still cackled softly in the background. Chloe gazed at the stars, Rachel gazed at the girl beside her.

Sighing, the blonde moved closer to the girl, wrapping her arms around her waist and resting her head on the nook of her neck, their legs tangled together.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rachel hummed.

Chloe quirked the side of her lip, as if she would tell her that she's thinking about temperature for crying out loud. But she opened her mouth anyway, "Have you ever think that we'll never leave that shithole? Or what if we never did?"

Rachel only scrunched her nose, "Thinking deep there, Chlobear." She smiled either way, "But I'll bite," The girl adjusted her position, resting her head on the bluenette's chest this time.

"You know what I think?" Rachel said softly, tracing with her fingers on the older girl's sleeve tattoo. "That this happened for a reason." She continued, her fingers trailing the curves of each vine. "And if we never left the bay?" She abruptly stopped her fingers, "Something must have happened if that were the case."

Chloe hummed, "Good or bad?"

"Neither," Rachel then shrugged, "Either. Who knows."

The smaller girl then stretched, making that sound when you... well… stretch. To the other girl's surprise, Rachel suddenly sat on her stomach, her face looking at her bewildered ones, the blonde curls tickling Chloe's face. "Isn't pillow talk suppose to be after making out slash love?"

The older girl only widened her eyes more. Years with Rachel, and she's still not used to her crudity. The girl on top of her giggled, "You're too cute, you know that?" She leaned down and pecked Chloe's lips. Once apart, both girls stared at each other, half-lidded.

Then Rachel kissed Chloe with full force, holding her right cheek, and the latter girl moaning.

A world where you and I never left that place? That'll suck ass. That world can go fuck itself.