Nathan's eyes appeared to pop out of his head. Victoria decided to meet him somewhere slightly private and she decided upon the emptied outdoor pool at the school. Once she'd dropped Max's word he'd had some sort of panicked reaction. He looked like he was trying to keep his calm while attempting not to freak out all at once. "Nathan, I need to know what's going on." Victoria asked, no longer addressing him as Nate. That was name for a person she thought she could trust.
Nathan glared at Victoria. "Is that really how y-you're gonna talk to someone only trying to protect you? Whatthefuckever, Vic. I'm not gonna stand for this…" Suddenly he sat on the ground and said, "It's over. Max will get Jefferson and I arrested and it'll be over then." A look of defeat was on his face. Or was it defeat? Part of it appeared to be impressed, shocked, and afraid. Nathan was not doing this out of his ill-will for the world. He deserved salvation like Kate, too. Max Caulfield would make sure Nathan was happy again.
Not only would she do that. But she would save all of these people, who definitely deserved it. Victoria, however, deserved an answer. "Nathan, what do you mean trying to protect me?" Victoria asked with concern in her voice. It was evident that Nathan here knew something she didn't. He didn't mind lifting his head up and facing her with a grim frown. So much wanted to be let out of his system. Finally it could be released. All because of Max Caulfield the savior.
"Mark… I mean… he took pictures of all theses girls… I helped… you were next Victoria, you! Rachel got overdosed… Kate shouldn't be the way she is now…" Nathan cried out. Eyes appeared to be firmly shut. His face appeared battered and lifeless to Victoria. Why did he look so dead suddenly? Nobody beat him up. He'd been here the entire time and his face had been completely normal.
"Gosh, Nate, I never would've guessed you were a hero." Victoria said this shakily. Any other day she would've felt hurt. Something… something changed that. Whatever would've hurt her didn't now. She knew how she felt. She grabbed Nathan closed and hugged him very tightly. His prompts, his subtle notions that a problem needed solving. Finally Victoria knew what her purpose would be. Max Caulfield proved to her that she had to go and save Kate. Nathan needed Victoria now. Mr. Jefferson… he had been the cause for Rachel Amber's disappearance. And now, Victoria was putting all of these pieces together.
"You don't hate me? I'm so happy that you don't hate me. I thought you'd never want to talk to me again, Vic." Nathan was paralyzed by Victoria's words. Nothing ever felt more wrong. This entire interaction could've been the result of some distortion of space-time. And it was. Little did either of them know. They did not need to know. Instead of attempting to understand Victoria's reaction, Nathan embraced it. This broke something within Victoria. Now it was clearer than ever that Max Caulfield was a friend. Maybe she'd risk her own life just to save Victoria. Somehow, she felt being Max's friend was the respectful thing to do.
"So I guess I won't be winning that contest anytime soon, huh?" Victoria murmured. Two Vortex members feeling raw emotion consume them because of Max Caulfield. A few days ago, that would've been more than a 'what-if'. It was completely farfetched. Days ago Victoria didn't think she'd willingly talk to Max. Things have been different these past few days. Max's entire demeanor was not her usual one. This one was so much more intriguing. That was why it drew Victoria in. Not because she was concerned about Max. If she was, then she would've had no trouble being concerned about Kate.
"Yeah, I guess you won't be. I wouldn't be the re to watch you win anyways." Nathan mumbled sadly. It was true; no questions asked, Nathan would be somewhere away from Blackwell for a while. Surely his rich father would get great lawyers and cover the entire thing up. One thing that will never be covered up is Nathan's reputation at Blackwell. Making himself such big news was what ended his chance of making more friends. Or did it?
Nathan could always make friends with Warren and Max. They would be there. Victoria wouldn't leave him to burn out so soon. That was made clear by this interaction. Yet one thing did remain unclear.
"Nathan, how did Max know and why did she care?" The two of them had slowly widening eyes. Perhaps they'd always be more innocent than Max Caulfield. Nathan may feel that his problems are intense. Victoria may hate her own shtick. That doesn't make them so bad, really. Nathan has a rich father who has abused him, yes. But Max felt emotions for all of their lives ending elsewhere. For wanting to keep Chloe Price alive. A God complex has been brewing in the mind of an artist. Honestly, who was to say if Max would ever stop and take another shot?
Taking a break from her everyday fears, Max Caulfield would like to spend each second that she does not believe she needs for something else with Chloe Price. Friends do not matter as much as Chloe does. Martyrs like Max need their prize. Chloe is Max's prize, what holds her together. Her price. Victoria and Nathan do not know this and do not need to know. Knowledge of Max's power shall be limited to Chloe. Maybe that's simply hopeful thinking.
Out of all people to assume that Max was a God of some sorts, it was Nathan Prescott. "Damned if I know. But the chick - she left a photo of a butterfly in the bathroom, right before she decided to jump out as Chloe's back-up. There was this cold ass stare she gave me. I don't like admitting that Caulfuck is cool, but there's… something else to her." Chills ran down his spine as Victoria nodded in agreement. Whatever Max was something else. How would they determine whether she's worth their trust or not?
"Just a few days ago, I saw her. With this drained expression. I couldn't help but FEEL something when walked past me. A cold air, I guess? I snapped a picture of her walking away all closed off from the dorms. It was… a photo op. Good or bad? I don't know." Victoria wouldn't admit it now. By the drained Blackwell pool with Nathan. As of now she believes that she'll still never want to be Max's friend. That she'll never feel sorry for her. Would she admit it in the days to come? Because they were going to be crazier than the storm Max Caulfield didn't want to accept.
They will be crazier than anything Nathan has ever said or thought. "You know, I'm a bit worried that she'll kill us. After all we've done, shouldn't she hate both of us?" Nathan asked with fear in his voice. These two didn't see the interaction here coming but they weren't ashamed of it. Something about it snapped them back to reality. They are only humans, who still expel waste from their bodies and get a little down at times. Nothing about them makes them superior to Blackwell students realistically. Instead they use things that should be irrelevant to gain the high ground.
But the higher a person is, the deadlier their fall will be. Is Max going to be the person to push them both off into the abyss forever?
Then again, that's paranoia talking. Max did not seem to be the type of person to do this.
Victoria nodded at Nathan, suddenly feeling her grip on reality weakening. "Nathan, I'm so scared." Victoria decided to sit down and comfort Nathan. This was also to comfort herself. The two of them wanted to relax and forget all about the horrors of today. All about Max Caulfield and her knowledge. All about the most horrifying thing of all, that Victoria tried her best to ignore - her role model and his true identity.
