Chapter Four

Victoria's POV

Friday, November 20th, 2013, 3:32pm

I was packing up what I would need for this weekend. Looking over the outfits I had set out. I made sure that each one would do well to keep me cool during the day, was up to the most recent trends but was also practical for spending most of my time in the middle of nowhere. I also had three different bathing suits set out, one for each day that we would be by the lake. Next to all of this, I had a pile of various bras and panties that I had to choose from.

I wasn't expecting anything to happen with anyone this weekend. Even if I wanted something to happen with a particular selfie ho. What I wouldn't give to taint that perfect little virgin image of hers. I don't know why, but the fact that she'd never been with a boy, or girl, in a sexual way was a real turn on for me. Maybe I just loved the idea of corrupting someone.

Wow, super deep and creepy of you, Victoria. I shook my head to clear it, deciding that I would pack my newest underwear to take with me, just incase I needed to try and make Max jealous or something. I mean, I really didn't want to make her jealous. I just wanted to be close to her. I wanted her to feel the same way I felt about her. I knew that would never happen in a million years, but still. A girl can dream, right?

I was folding up my clothes to put in my suitcase when I heard a knock at my door. I sighed, setting down the shirt I had been folding and walked toward the door to answer it. When I opened the door, Taylor was standing outside with a smile on her face and two cups of coffee in her hands. I couldn't help smiling as I let her in.

Taylor was my best friend in the entire school. Well, besides Nate, but he was in prison now, so I guess it was hard to say that we were pals after he killed someone. Taylor knew more about me than most people and I really trusted her. She knew that I wasn't as much of a bitch as I pretended to be and was willing to accept me the way I was. I usually talked to her about whatever was on my mind at any particular moment, but I hadn't told her about Max. I wasn't sure how she'd react to the idea of me having a crush on Max Caulfield of all people. Or how she's react to me being gay. I mean, she wasn't a bigot or anything like that, but I didn't want her to feel uncomfortable around me. Then I'd be all alone again.

"Hey," Taylor said, pulling me from my thoughts. Her blue eyes filling with concern as she stepped into my room. "Are you ok? You look a little out of it today and you've been acting weird all week." I couldn't help the small laugh that escaped me as I closed the door behind her and took the coffee that she handed me. It was still warm.

"I just have a lot on my mind," I said softly, trying to look more confident in my words than I felt. Taylor sat on my couch, smiling a little as she looked up at me.

"What's up?" She asked, sipping her coffee. I knew I could trust her, but how would she react? Well, I had to tell her something. But if I lied and she found out, she might be even more pissed than if I had just told her. I took a deep breath and leaned against my door, looking down at my coffee.

"Well," I started hesitantly. "I… I um… You know Caulfield?" I asked, angry at myself for not being able to speak normally. This wasn't even that big of a deal. Right? Taylor nodded and laughed a little.

"Yeah," she said, leaning against the back rest of the couch. "Aren't you like obsessively trying to seduce her?" The response made me freeze up and I almost crushed the coffee cup in my hand. I could feel my cheeks heating up.

"What?" I shouted, standing up straight. "No way! She's stupid and ugly and has absolutely no fashion sense whatsoever! Why would I be trying to seduce her?"

"Well, you did invite her on the trip this weekend," Taylor said in a somewhat defensive tone. "I just figured that you wanted to get in her pants, that's all." I paused, biting at my lip as I thought of what to say next. I hated saying these things about her, but I hadn't thought before I spoke. I didn't think any of those things. I loved her stupid freckled face and all those deer shirts she loved so much. I mean, she wasn't a fashion genius, but she made up for that with how caring and thoughtful she was and how amazing her photos were. But I couldn't let my reputation fall apart because of a crush. That just wasn't an option.

"So you'd be ok with me liking Max?" I asked slowly, testing the waters a little. Taylor shrugged and smiled at me a little.

"If it makes you happy then I'm in on supporting you," she replied, taking a long sip of coffee. "As long as it's within reason, anyway."

"And Victoria Chase being gay for Maxine Caulfield sounds like something that falls within reason to you?" I asked, a little surprised by Taylor's calm and level headed response. Was she always like this? Or had she just gotten a little high before coming over? I couldn't tell, but that was besides the point. Taylor laughed and rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, Vic," she said with an exasperated sigh. "Get over yourself already! Max is a good person and honestly, anyone would be lucky to have her. You're also really fucking awesome and anyone in this universe would be a total idiot to turn you down. Plus, you guys would be a really cute couple." I was so surprised that I thought my coffee might just slip from my fingers and spill all over the floor. She was being serious. I had no idea that Taylor ever thought any of those things. I moved over and sat on the couch next to Taylor, meeting her eyes.

"You really think so?" I whispered, trying to convince myself that maybe this was all a dream or maybe I was just losing my mind. I'm not really sure why those options would be preferable to being with Max, but in that moment they would've been easier to accept than anything else that was happening. Taylor smiled at me and nodded.

"Yeah," she said gently, putting her hand on my shoulder. "If being with Max is what you really want, tell her. The worst thing that could happen is that she says no."

The thought of Max turning me down made me even more nervous and kind of angry. But I suppressed the thought, burying it deep down with all of the other unwanted thoughts that had come to pass.

"Thanks, Taylor," I said softly and stood, setting my coffee down on my desk as I went back to my bed to continue picking out clothes for the weekend. Looking down at the underwear I picked, I took a pair off of my bed and held it up for Taylor to see.

"Do you think that Max would like these?" I asked, grinning a little. Taylor looked up and laughed, almost spilling her coffee.