It didn't take very long for the bus to arrive at The Two Whales. Once the bus stopped and the door opened Max stepped onto the sidewalk and took in the sight of the diner. Tears formed in Max's eyes as she looked at the diner. After all that time being held in that room she never thought she'd see the place again. After a few minutes of holding back her tears Max finally started walking to the doors of the diner.
When she walked through the doors she took note of everything. Almost everything was how she remembered. The jukebox still sat in back playing a song she remembers listening to in this diner. The Booths looked exactly the same. The only difference it seemed was a tv that was on the otherside of the diner.
Max walked over to the booth that she always sat in as a kid and sat down. She looked through the window to the side of her and spotted the lighthouse that she woke up at. 'I have so many good memories there. Like pretending the bench up there was a pirate boat. That was so much fun especially since it was with Ch...'
"Max?...Max Caulfield, I never thought i'd see you here agai..." Joyce didn't even have time to finish her sentence before Max bolted to her feet to attack Joyce with a hug. She was desperately trying to hold back the tears that once again sprung forth. Joyces arms closed around Max in a very tight hug.
Max pulled back after a few seconds and looked at Joyce. "You have grown so much since i've last seen you. But I guess five years will do that to you." Joyce had a big smile on her face. Two words in that sentence kept bouncing back and forth in Max's mind. When she was first brought to that room she was keeping track of the days but then she lost count. She new it had to be at least a year maybe two but FIVE!
Joyce seemed to notice how Max zoned off for a few seconds but didn't say anything. Quietly Max spoke "Has it really been that long." Joyce seemed to be looking right through her. Max was glad that they weren't still hugging because Joyce would probably be able to feel her heart beating as fast as possible. 'This was a bad idea. Joyce has always been able to read me like a book. She is probably gonna figure out something is wrong.'
"I know what you mean, dear. It really doesn't seem that long does it." Joyce said as she got out a notepad and pen. "Did you just get back today?"
Max's voice was louder when she was talking this time. "Actually I got here yesterday. I'm not exactly sure of the time since I crashed right when I got to my dorm room." While she was talking she sat down in the booth again and looked up at Joyce.
Joyce, now looking down at Max said "Have you been by the house yet today. I know someone who may be happy to see you."
"No... I haven't yet...I...Thats one of the reason I came here actually. I was kind of hoping that I would...run into her here."
"Thats probably for the best, Max. She can be a bit of a grouch in the mornings." Joyce was smiling brightly at her. "You know seeing you here almost made me forget about my job. So what would you like to eat."
"Oh... I'm not eating. I just came her to see the place since I haven't been here in so long."
Joyces smile grew as she said "Of course your going to eat something, darling. I can't let my favorite customer go hungry now can I. This will be on me. And don't even try to refuse. I will not let you walk out of here without that belly full."
A wide smile appeared on Max's face as she said "Well. I haven't had one of your delicous Belgian Waffles in five years."
"coming right up." Joyce said while wrighting down the order. "I'll bring you some coffee while you wait."
"Thanks Joyce." Max said with a smile on her face. With that Joyce disapeared only to reapear with a mug in her hand.
"Here you go. Your food shouln't take to long to get done." Joyce then walked away again and left Max alone at her booth. She was looking out the window again. After many minutes of just watching cars pass Joyce set her food down on the table.
"Thanks again Joyce. I'm so glad to be back here. especially since I get to eat your delcious cooking again." Joyce just laughed at that.
"You really should think about stopping by the house today."
"I will Joyce. I probably will head over there right after this meal." Joyce nodded. They both looked up towards the doors as it rang. A girl with blue hair walked through the doors just then. She had a tattoo going down her arm. Joyce was watching Max as she looked at this person up and down. 'That girl looks so familiar. I wonder where i've seen her' Max's brow furrowed as she tried to place the girl. It was kind of hard since she couldn't fully see the punks face since she was looking away from her. Once the Punk looked over towards Max she finally knew who it was. Her mouth dropped open when she realized who it was. The punks mouth doing the same as their eyes locked onto eachothers.
"Chloe?" Max said quietly still trying to process how different she looked. Chloe walked up to the Booth that Max and her mom were at. Max's heart pounding a million miles a minute the closer she got.
"Max...How...When did you get back in town?" Joyce had backed up a little giving them a little space but still watching the exchange. Joyce was still unsure of how this would go. She was hoping that her daughter would be nice but she also knew that Chloe had been mad at Max for a while now for leaving Arcadia.
"I got back Yesterday. Then crashed pretty hard at my dorm...I was just about to...um...go to your house."
"Sure." Chloe replied sarcastically. Chloe was really trying to play nice. But after five years of nothing. Not even a hello. She couln't hold back the sarcasm that ouzed from that one word. Though Chloe had only just seen Max again. Had just heard her voice since five years ago. She was already terrified of loosing Max again.
Max was looking at Chloe while she looked down at the table. Her brow furrowed and then she looked up at Max again. one side of her lipped turned up and she said "I knew my first mate couln't stay away forever." Chloe was now full on smiling. This made Max smile to. Joyce then left them in piece seeing how Chloe was in a good mood. "So how was Seattle?There must of been tons of stuff to do there."
Max gave a confused look before she remember that her family was suppose to move to seattle. Thats were they were heading before the accident. Before that horrible man took her and left her parents to die. Before Max could think about her parents to long she tried to form a reply to Chloe's question. "It wasn't all that interesting. I mean...I didn't really have any friends there...I was...It was pretty boring there. It would have been a lot better with my best friend there." Max was watching Chloe. Watching her reaction. Chloe's expression seemed to flash to anger.
"Sure, It probably would have been a lot better with your best friend. its even fun to call or maybe text that best friend." Chloe's sarcasm was back. She just couldn't help herself. She was really hurt that Max hadn't made an effort to contact her in those years. Max looked down at her food. tears forming in her eyes. Chloe could easily see those tears. She didn't want to make her cry. She just was having troubles controlling what came out of her mouth. "Shit...I'm sorry Max...I just...Wish you would have said something to me over the years. A text. Maybe an Email. Something." Chloe's eyes started to water a bit to as she said this. She blinked rapidly to make them go away. Max then looked back up at Chloe. Chloe's eyes quickly scanned over Max's face. She's still as cute as ever. Even after five years. Chloe then smiled to herself then asked. "Hey, after your done eating do you wanna come to my place? I mean... You haven't been there in a long time. And.. It's always been pretty much you home to."
At that both there smiles grew. Max looked at her breakfast than up at Chloe. Max nodded while saying "Ya... but didn't you come here to eat something to." With that Chloe flagged down her mother ordering the same thing as Max. Max finished her Breakfast before Chloe's even arrived. Chloe then devoured her breakfast. Max giggling at how fast Chloe seemed to eat it. With that they both got up and headed for the door.
"After you Maxaroni."
"Why thank you Che."
They then both left the diner while giggling at there old names for each other.
