This is a collection of short stories based in the alternate universe I created for my previous fic - The Other Max.
I strongly encourage you to read The Other Max before reading this fic.
Enjoy!
In response to the question I just asked her, my friend Dana began to crack up as if I had told the funniest joke ever, leaving me stunned, standing still, and looking like a dummy. My arm was still outstretched, holding in my right hand an old audio recorder fully operational.
"Hahaha!" Dana put her hand to her mouth and ducked her head, as she continued giggling. "Forgive me, Juliet, it's just... I'm not used to see you in that pro attitude, it's so funny! Okay, now I'm serious. Can you repeat the question?"
"Again, I'm asking what do you know about the Vortex Club." I didn't give up in my effort to do an impeccable job, and I rephrased the question to my smiling friend and classmate, with the most severe countenance I could.
"Well... I know everyone who party with them ends up stoned and bladdered!" Dana could not maintain her composure during her answer nor a single second, and ended up laughing out loud again.
"Dana, this is serious! I'm risking my semester grades. When I asked you if you could lend me a hand by being interviewed, I wasn't joking."
I had such a big bummer: since I entered in Blackwell academy, and in the absence of any more volunteers, I promised to keep alive the official newspaper of the academy: The Blackwell Totem. I really love all that journalism stuff, and I really enjoy being a reporter, but now that I'm in my last year and my graduation is imminent, writing articles while I'm combining it with my usual tight student schedule is just an uphill battle. I curse the day I decided to undertake this task, but now is too late to regret, and now the brilliance of my academic record is directly linked to the performance I achieve with it. I needed a different story, breakthrough, daring... Finally, in an inspirational night, I decided to open an investigation about one of the most controversial icons of our school: The Vortex Club. So here I was: in front of Blackwell's central building, feeling in my bones a mid-November weather that was becoming colder every day, and beginning the round of interviews with my inseparable friend: the beloved and lively Bigfoot's cheerleader.
If I ask any student around here, just like Dana corroborated me right now, the Vortex Club is nothing more than a group of elitist students who often arrange parties in Blackwell with the principal's seal of approval. Spoiled kids, and wannabe popular students drinking weekend after weekend. I must admit that I am not stranger to all of this, since I have attended several of their events: it seems that if you never go party with them at least once, you are the new Blackwell weirdo. But lately, I prefer to watch them from the sidelines and not get too involved in that party hard lifestyle.
"Honestly, Juliet," my friend answered formally for the first time, "I don't think I can tell you anything that you don't already know. Also, I haven't been partying with them for a while… Remember with all this pregnancy stuff, I can't get high or drunk. That world is over for me now."
"Have you heard something of those 'dark tales' rumors inside the Vortex Club supposedly carried out by some of its most influential members?" The sound recorder was still taping all our conversation.
"Yeah, sure, like everyone else in Blackwell… and that got even stronger since Nathan disappeared. The last thing I heard out there is that the club was directly involved in the Jefferson case, with all that female students kidnap. For sure, I believe that all these are nothing more than mumbo jumbo invented by geeks with too much free time."
"Well, it's true that Nathan disappeared just a few days before the Jefferson case came to light. Although no relationship has been established between the two incidents, it's permissible for people to think that's suspicious. Did you meet Nathan while he was a Blackwell student?"
"You can tell. Everyone here knew him, just as everyone knows that his impeccable record is bought with money from the wealthy Prescott family. Nathan was a troublesome guy, and really out of his mind. He and my stupid ex-boyfriend got along, but how little I knew about Nathan was enough to tell that I don't want him close by."
"I see. And what can you tell me about Victoria Chase? It seems to be another of the club's hardcore member."
"Can I swear...? You know what I think of her, Juliet. We got along well until she proved to be a asshole, accusing me of sexting with your boyfriend..."
"Dana, forget all the personal stuff and stick to the subject, please."
"Look, I don't know, but there's no Vortex Club party without that bitch making her appearance. In fact, if you can stomach it, you should interview her rather than me, Juliet. You'd probably get more valuable information."
"Let's finish it here. Thank you very much for your cooperation, Dana! And... cut!"
I pressed the stop button on the recorder and finally I could relax my aching arm.
"My pleasure, Juliet. I hope you get through this with great grades. And to celebrate... we'll party hard at Vortex Club! LOL! Just kidding!"
"You're such a dork." I elbowed my friend with a smile. "I'd love to shelve this for a while so we could go out and have some fun, Dana, but I'm afraid I must keep on working on it if you don't wanna see my head on a plate."
"Cheer up, Juliet! You can do it! Now I'm leaving. I'm meeting Trevor now!"
"Have a lovely time, lovebirds. Later!"
On second thought, despite my head aches just to think about it, Dana was right: It might be a good idea to interview Victoria. After Nathan, she is probably the most influential person inside the club, so, much as it grieves me to say it, she's now the most appropriate person to get information for my article. I doubt that she even wanted to greet me, but I bit the bullet and set out to look for her all over the campus.
I proved to be diligent in my field, and after a few minutes of searching and a few questions to the students that passed by, I immediately found Victoria's whereabouts. She was in front of the student dormitories, as always, dressed as if she were Invited to the Oscar's ceremony, sitting on one of the steps of the entrance, and chatting with the only two girls in the academy that can stand her: Taylor and Courtney.
"Excuse me, Victoria! Would you mind answering a few questions for The Blackwell Totem?"
The Blackwell's snooty princess looked at me strangely at first, but she changed her expression as soon as I named the newspaper.
"Oh, Blackwell's famous reporter finally recognizes the quality and needs me for her articles!" She stuck out her chest and placed her hand on the back of her head. "What is it, Juliet? Article about photography? Or maybe fashion?"
I heard Taylor and Courtney giggling on both sides around the pretentious blonde. I can't stand them. After the dirty trick they did to Dana and me for which I almost broke up with my boyfriend, I'm out to get them.
"No, it's about the Vortex Club." I tried to hide my disgusted face. "As a usual member, I thought that you could illustrate me about the origins of the club, their activities, and confirm or deny the last rumors that are heard among the students."
Victoria frowned right away.
"All what they say out there is complete and absolutely untrue. The only thing we do at the club are classy and tasteful events accompanied by the best and most select students of the academy. I have nothing more to add." Victoria looked away after her words.
"Then, you deny the rumors they say that Nathan was involved in that students kidnapping and abuse case?"
Victoria winced and looked at me with a threatening gesture.
"That's bullshit, Juliet Watson. Not one more word. Oh! And I advise you, if you're gonna talk about us in your rag, don't do anything silly, or face the consequences. Let's move, girls."
A furious Victoria and her two chorus girls got up and left the area, leaving the stairs to the dormitories clear. Taylor looked at me before retiring, with a tight face and bulging eyes that seemed to tell 'watch your step'. It was quite pathetic.
Nothing really useful for my article came from Victoria's mouth, but the most valuable information she gave me was her silence: that aggressive attitude reveals that the Vortex Club certainly has something to hide. I stood speculating quietly in front of the dorms entrance, when suddenly the door opened, and I saw Max Caulfield going outside. She was one of the photography students with whom I usually don't talk.
There was something strange about that girl. Although I barely know her, I've witnessed how she had undergone a kind of change lately, more or less coinciding with the resolution of the Jefferson case: she shifted her way of dressing, becoming more... alternative, or antisocial, or whatever. She dyed her hair red, and wore striking purple-rimmed sunglasses. What's that girl's deal? She didn't even look at me, and had every intention of going her way as if nothing happened. As she passed before my face, her shoulder touched mine.
"Sorry." Max said dryly, glancing sideways at me.
I stared at her strangely. What's with this freaky girl? I got a bad vibe about her. But wait... she may know something: I've heard that she was a key player in the solving of the kidnapping case, and she had a close relationship with the troublesome and well-known Rachel Amber, that girl recently deceased at Jefferson's hands and preceded by her Reputation as a party animal.
"Max? Wait!"
The red-haired girl, a few steps from me, turned around and answered me with complete carelessness.
"Yup?"
"Uh... could you answer a couple of questions about the Vortex Club? It's for The Blackwell Totem."
As soon as I mentioned the club, Max's expression changed completely. She looked shocked, and almost… scared. As if I had mentioned Lucifer in the middle ages or something like that.
"I'd rather not, for reals."
Great. I'm being nice to her, and she answers me all boor.
"Hey! At least, tell me if you've heard anything about the rumors that Nathan was involved in the kidnapping case!"
This time Max stopped dead in her tracks, and stood in front of me. She sketched a kind of psychotic smile that creeped me out.
"People do nothing but whisper bullshit, but no one has a fucking idea about what really happened. Listen, Juliet, forget that topic and write an article about anything else. Do not reopen Arcadia Bay's wounds. They are still very fresh."
What's that weirdo saying? As she spoke, her voice was playing more and more dramatic. So…. Is it true that the Vortex Club and the Jefferson crimes were interconnected? I must worm all the information I can from this girl, no matter what.
"Max, I don't want to reopen nothing. I'm just looking for the truth. Our academy deserves to know what really happened. You got along really well with Rachel Amber, didn't you? Don't you think she'd have liked Arcadia Bay to know the truth, so there will be no more victims like her anymore?"
"Rachel…"
Max, visibly moved, took off her sunglasses with trembling hand, just like in that Downfall famous scene. My years of experience as a reporter wasn't in vain: I know how to deal with people like her, and touch them emotionally so they'll speak what I want.
"All that is a thing of the past." Max's tone became furious and she stretched her face close to mine. "Leave the dead to rest in peace, Juliet."
"If you're so concerned about the Vortex Club affairs, then we're allies, Max. The articles in our newspaper often help to put pressure on local issues. Think about it: we can make all the culprits pay, and believe me... I won't cry if that stupid elitist club goes to hell."
Max remained hesitant for a while. It seems that my persuasive tactics were paying off.
"If you insist on writing the article of the year... I suggest you gather information about the dark room at the next Vortex Club party. But don't count on me for anything else. I... I just want to forget. And live my life.
"Max, wait!" I waved her, trying to get her attention.
"I've talked too much." the intriguing redhead replied, glancing sideways at me as she put on her sunglasses again, and walked away from me.
Okay, that was bizarre, but at least I have a valuable clue to continue my research. The dark room... I think I read something about it in the articles that were published when the Jefferson case came to light. Isn't it the place where the disturbed professor was drugging and making grim pictures of the kidnapped students? It's clear that Max has much more information that she didn't want to tell. For the moment, in view of how affected she looks after the death of her friend Rachel, I'll leave her alone for a while, but she won't be able to hide from my scathing reporter side for a long time. Precisely, the Vortex Club organizes one of its parties tomorrow, and I'm not about to miss the event.
Weekend, and rest time for everyone... except for me. Walking down Blackwell campus under the moonlight, I headed to the place where the Vortex Club used to set up their parties: The swimming pool facilities. I wish I were here to have a drink instead of working, but this was a unique opportunity to gather information. Before entering, I read a text message Dana sent to my phone in which she wished me good luck, and regretted not being able to be there with me to offer me moral support. That was very nice of her, but I'm used to working alone, and I was feeling a little old for that party lifestyle that characterize the members of the club. I don't want to go as fast as Dana, who is even planning to take care of the creature she's breeding inside her, but my intention is to formalize and settle down as soon as I graduate.
Nobody was surprised when they saw me heading to the VIP lounge, where the most veteran members of the club can be found. After all, my boyfriend Zachary and myself have been habitual until recently. I even dressed for the occasion, with a dark green low-cut dress, a long necklace with colored balls, and several bracelets. I greeted several acquaintances while I moved, as I thought what my first move should be. Besides Nathan and Victoria, I wasn't sure who might be the most appropriate person to answer my incisive questions. Logan was hanging out there. I can't stand him, and less after she bailed on my friend and left her pregnant. I got it! I'll ask Hayden. The voluble football player was sitting on a couch doing his own thing, looking rather zonked out. I remember he got along pretty well with Nathan too, and in his current state, he'll speak for sure.
I walked towards Hayden at a rapid, determined pace, when suddenly, I noticed that someone was clutching my wrist, preventing me from moving forward. I looked back: it was Max, once again.
"Don't do that." Max's sapphire blue eyes pierced me with a stern warning gaze.
A/N: Hi everyone!
I encouraged myself to write this fic mainly for two reasons: give answers to some unsolved questions about my previous fic, and experimenting with different styles and genres. You'll find humor, mystery, drama, angst... all mixed, depending on the tone of the current story and its characters.
This first story about Juliet was too long, so I decided to split it into two separate chapters. This will tie some loose ends about the Vortex Club and Max.
Naughty Max says: "Reviews turn me on so much. Review, please, please, please..."