Max stood in front of the Two Whales diner, her hands still sweating. I'm super nervous... W-What if Chloe doesn't want to be friends anymore? I wouldn't blame her, but... After a few deep breaths, Max steeled herself and entered.
The diner was the same as Max remembered it. It hasn't... changed at all, I still remember where Chloe and I always sat. Max sat down at the booth, glaring at her leg for bouncing. Fucking nerves..., she thought. She brushed her fingers over the table and thought about many of the discussions, hijinks, playful teasing, everything. I miss those days... Fuck you, deity who doth control awkward timing.
"Max?" Joyce asked as she, loosely, held a coffee pot. Oh, shit, did I almost make her drop that?
"Hey Joyce," Max replied with a shy smile.
"What... Are you back in town?" Joyce asked.
"Yeah, I got a scholarship at Blackwell, so I'm staying... For good this time."
"That's wonderful, Max," Joyce replied as she poured a cup of coffee for the brunette.
"Joyce, I am SO sorry about William and how I left things... I mean Chloe lost just her father and then me... If I had-" Joyce put her hand on Max's shoulder, stopping her mid-sentence, "No, Max, don't blame yourself, the accident wasn't your fault. If anyone should blame themselves, it's me, I asked for a ride. And Chloe's not angry at you, either, Max. She's angry at me and her step-father."
"What you mean?"
Joyce told Max the whole story; how she remarried, and how their relationship's not the same anymore. She also told her how Chloe's been doing, how she lives in Blackwell's Dorms. Shit. Chloe had a girlfriend. Well, that's awesome... I'm happy for her, I only hope I can be her best friend again...
Max played with her spoon, and peered outside, still thinking of the many good memories and adventures her and Chloe gad. This time, her thought was interrupted by her phone.
Max didn't look at the caller ID, expecting her mother, but the voice on the other end made her momentarily regret that; it was Captain Bluebeard herself, Chloe… I remember calling her before, but I didn`t think she`d call me back!
The two spoke for a good while, long enough for Max's coffee to get ice cold, and apologized to each other; Max was surprised they didn't even argue, she'd expected a publicized screaming match.
The conversation was like it was 2008 all over again. They laughed, they cried, though Max didn't like that part, hearing Chloe cry was not fun, and in the end, Chloe asked to meet face-to-face... That very day.
After Max hung up, she wore a legitimately painful smile; so bright was it, she ventured a dead puppy wouldn't make her frown. Okay, that's a lie, I'd be bawling for hours. I attempted to pay for my coffee, but Joyce simply waved me away and out the door.