Joyce is alive, oh god she's alive.

While she did survive the Two Whales exploding, she didn't get out unscaved.

["My injuries don't matter, darlin'. All that matters is that I'm still here for you,"] she reassures when I continually ask if she's alright.

I sigh and nod to myself, wiping a few tears from my cheeks, "Sorry, sorry. I'm just… I'm just so glad you're alright,".

["I am too. When David couldn't get a hold of you, we both assumed the worst"].

I pause and shift in my seat, unsure if I should even ask what's on my mind.

"How's David? Is he okay?".

Mom is quiet for a moment and I find myself starting to worry when she doesn't respond right away.

"Mom?".

["David's fine, sweetie. Just surprised you'd ask considering… well, considering everything,"].

I swallow hard, "I know… but… I just wanted to know. For your sake".

["He's fine. A little shaken up, but fine. He was on a call in some protective bunker when the storm hit so thankfully he was trapped in there durin' the worst of it"].

I let out a shallow breath at the mention of "a protective bunker", knowing exactly what she's talking about.

The Dark Room.

I look towards Max, who surprisingly complied when her parents told her to give me some space. Now she sits anxiously on one of the couches in the living room adjacent from the kitchen, shooting me worried glances every so often. I can see her expression is still one of relief and guilt if such a mix is even possible.

["Chloe? You still there?"] Mom asks, her voice catching my attention again.

"Oh… yeah. I'm here. I um… I meant are you two okay. I- I know the last time we all saw each other… things got heated and…". I let my voice trail off.

["David is still stayin' at a hotel while I'm in the hospital (not that he has much choice) but… I know we'll be okay,"].

"I'm glad," I surprise myself by saying, "I know how happy he makes you,".

Joyce is silent again, but only for a second.

["You've had a real change of heart this week… haven't you?"].

I can't help but chuckle a little, "Huh, yeah… I guess I have. You have Max to thank for that,".

["How is Max? I'm surprised she isn't tryin' to pull the phone away from you,"].

I swallow hard and look at Max again, "Yeah. She... she's okay. (I think) But um, she's taking the whole… tornado thing pretty hard, so… methinks she's gonna be out of commission for a while".

["What's wrong,"] Mom asks, her voice filling with worry, ["Did she get hurt?"].

Shit, I didn't even think about that. What if her rewind fucked with her head so much that she actually hurt herself?

"I… I'm not sure,".

["Well, did you ask her?"].

"Huh, that's kinda the problem. She's not talking, mom. She hasn't said a single word since yesterday..." I say, struggling to keep my voice free from excessive worry.

["Give her the phone would ya? Maybe she'll feel better if she knows I'm alright,"].

I sigh, not really seeing the harm in trying.

Maybe all Max needs in some initiative to get her talking again.

"Hey… Max? Come here for a second would ya?".

She's on her feet immediately, but once she reaches the doorway... she pauses, seeming hesitant to approach me.

I gesture my hand out to her, slowly and reassuringly.

"Joyce wants to talk to you," I whisper softly, watching as she walks up to me.

Max looks at the phone in my hand, then at me, then at the phone again.

"I'll do the talking okay? You can just listen," I say, setting the phone down on the table and pressing the speaker button.

Max nods and sits next to me, keeping her shoulders square and acting like she's trying to make herself smaller than she actually is.

"She's here, mom. We're both here" I say, placing my arm around her shoulders.

["Max, sweetie, can you hear me?"].

She stiffens up for a moment, startled to hear Joyce's thin, raspy voice but nods in response even though she knows no one can see her aside from me.

I hold her a little tighter, doing my best to reassure her that everything is okay, that none of this was her fault.

["You have no idea how glad I am to hear that you two are alright. Y'all got outta town just in time"].

Max swallows hard and continues to nod.

["I want you to know that me and David are alright, okay? The diner has seen better days but what matters is I'm okay,"] Mom continues.

Max nods again but takes a weak breath at the mention of the diner.

["Now listen, I don't know how long it's gonna be before I'm able to come see y'all again, but I want you to thank you for keeping my baby girl safe this through all this,"] she says, taking a quick breath, ["I don't know what I'd of done if I'd lost her"].

A small whimper escapes Max's lips as she tries to pull away, but I hold her still, pressing out heads together.

["Promise me you'll keep on keeping her safe? Trouble always seems to find her"].

I fake scoff, trying to lighten the mood, but of course it doesn't work.

Max is still silent (no surprise there) but she nods and turns to me with a knowing look in her eyes.

She's seen the danger Chloe Price brings, She knows the chaos I create, she understands the pain I cause others.

And she's fine with it… I know she wouldn't have it any other way.

We're close again… just like we were last night.

I can feel Max's warmth and hear her soft breath and it's like time has stopped… like it's waiting for something to happen.

And this time... something does. Max focuses on my face again, eyes darting between my lips and eyes.

I do the same, feeling my heart start pounding harder and harder in my chest.

She leans in… slowly and hesitantly… until our foreheads touch and our noses brush up against one another.

I feel her small hand reach up and rest on my cheek, tucking a stray strand of hair behind my ear with trembling fingers.

I shiver a bit and take a small breath, watching as she begins to close the distance.

It's a quick kiss, scared and timid, a little unsure, but a kiss all the same. I don't say anything when Max pulls away, not wanting to ruin the moment or scare her away.

It takes a second, but soon time catches up to us and I realize that mom is calling out our names.

["Max?"] she says, ["Chloe? You two still there?"].

I blink and finally let Max go, watching as she gets up and takes a few hurried steps back.

"Uh… yeah… we're here. Max… Max promise she'll take care of me," I mutter, reluctantly returning my attention to the phone in front of me.

["Can't Max tell-"].

"I'll explain everything later, mom. I- I gotta go now".

["Chloe is everything-"].

"Everything is fine," I say, cutting her off again, "Just… will you tell David where I am?".

["Um… of course sweetie,"] Mom says, sounding more confused than ever, ["Chloe are you sure you're alright?"].

I nod, "Yeah… I'm fine. We're fine. Just… I'll call you in a bit okay? I need a little bit of time to um… process everything".

["Alright… I love you, Chloe. And I'll talk to you in a while, yeah?"].

I nod again, "I love you too, mom and…yeah… I'll talk to you in a bit".

["Bye,"].

"Bye," I repeat, trying not to sound too emotional.

The other end click out first and I sigh weakly and press my hands to my face.

Max just kissed me, I think to myself, Max fucking Caulfield just fucking kissed me.

"Everything okay in here?" Ryan says suddenly, poking his head into the kitchen for a moment.

"Yeah…," I mutter, "We're all good. Right, Max?".

I assume she nods because Ryan continues talking.

"Glad to hear it. Anyways, Vanessa and I had planned on making a quick grocery run today, but we can stay here if you don't want to be alone. It's a big house and well...".

I don't need to turn around to know that he's looking at Max.

"... We want to make sure you kids are alright".

"We'll be fine, Mr. C. And hey… if you want, I can go to the store for ya. It's the least I can do, since… you're like… letting me stay here and all,".

"That won't be necessary, kid. You're welcome to stay her as long as you need".

As long as I need, I repeat in my head, how long is that? Until Mom gets better? Until David tracks me down and makes me go back to that hell hole?

"We'll be fine," I repeat, swallowing hard, "You and Mrs. C go on ahead, Max 'n' I'll hold down the fort. Right?".

She nods again.

After a moment of silence, Ryan sighs and gives in.

"Alright, alright. Just promise you're going to behave? No Chloe and Max wine tasting session, I mean it".

I chuckle a bit at the odd pang of nostalgia in my chest and finally turn around, seeing a still timid and scared looking Max leaning against the fridge.

"We'll be fine, You have my word".

"I'm going to hold you to that," he say, leaning in and giving Max a quick peck on the cheek, "We'll be back in about an hour or so, so if you need anything, just call. Okay?".

She rolls her eyes and playfully shoves him away, returning her hands to sides.

"Okay. just give us a ring if you want anything special. We'll be more than happy to get it. As long as it's legal, mind you,".

I blush and turn away, relieved that I actually took a shower.

No more weed smell or weed for Chloe.

"W- we're fine, Ryan," I say, using his first name this time.

"Alright, alright we're going. See ya in a bit".

I absently wave him off and sigh again, patiently waiting for Vanessa to finish saying goodbye before joining her husband at the door.

"See ya".

Once we're finally alone, Max lets out a sigh too, and it's loud enough to let me know she's trying to get my attention.

"You… you okay there, champ?" I ask, turning around and watching as her arms tighten around herself.

She doesn't respond at first, she just stares blankly down at her shoes.

"Max?".

She sighs again and nod.

"You want to talk about it?" I ask, knowing that she's probably having second thoughts about that kiss.

Max shakes her head and gives me an odd look before I realize what I said.

I smack my hand to my face, "That was… kinda insensitive, wasn't it?".

She nods a little.

"Sorry,". I know I told her to take her time talking but… this is agony, I think to myself before sliding out of my chair, I need to hear her voice again.

Max's eyes go wide when I walk up to her and she absently takes a step back when I get too close.

"Max?".

She swallows visibly and nods.

I close my eyes for a moment and try not to let my emotions get the best of me.

"I- I need to know what that kiss meant. I need to know where we stand. I- I can't go through this again if you're just going to change your mind".

With a heavy sigh, I reach out and rest my hands on Max's shoulders, holding her firmly in front of me.

"Do you have feelings for me, Max? Those kinds of feelings?".

She looks startled for a moment, like I just asked her and obscenely personal question, but then her expression changes to one of slight hurt.

I watch again as she wiggles out of my grasp and takes my hand in hers, intertwined our fingers together. She then takes my other hand and places it over her heart then places her own hand on mine.

I blink, feeling a steady blush form on my cheeks.

"Max?".

Max looks up at me and I look down at her.

Then... she smiles.

"Forever" she whispers.

My heart suddenly jumps up into my throat and at first, I can't speak. I just look at Max blankly, trying to comprehend her words and the fact that she actually spoke.

"F- forever. Forever. What does that mean?" I ask, eager to get her to continue talking, "Forever?".

But of course... she doesn't say another word.

Max just keeps on smiling.

What do you think it means, dumbass. She said it to you once and she said it again now.

Forever means Forever.

I swallow hard and pull the hand holding hers away, placing it on top of the one that rests on my chest.

"I... I need to know, Max," I say, my eyes clouding up with tears, "I need to know how you really feel about me".

She sighs a little and shakes her head, putting more pressure on my chest.

I let a few tears fall before shaking my head in frustration. "I don't understand, Max! I need you to say it... I need to hear it. I need to know if you really lov-".

My words get cut off when Max leans up and presses her lips hard against mine, her hand moving to the back of my neck as she pulls me down to her level.

All the fear and doubt I was feeling moments ago melting away like like ice on a warm sidewalk.

I pull my hands away and move them to her back, pressing her even closer to me.

The kiss continues for well over a minute, growing hungrier and hungrier by the second until I need to come up for air.

I pull away void of all breath, my mind fizzy and my knees weak. My eyes search hers for reassurance, but all I find is...love.

I swallow hard, feeling a smile pull at the edges of my lips.

"Max... I- I ... I love you".

She smiles and nods, placing her hand on my chest again.

"Forever".