"Oh lord, Max, what happened to you?!" Joyce came closer and Max couldn't really do much. There was no way she would run from Chloe's mother but she also didn't want to answer any questions, including the one asked just a second ago.

"I fell. On glass." Max decided. She looked at the injury. Three claw like marks on her arm from her shoulder to her elbow. It felt like fire and itch with irritation. She winced as Joyce tenderly touched her arm, trying to examine it in the dim light.

"Its fine, Joyce. I don't think it's all that deep."

"Nonsense, Max. It can still be infected." Their eyes met. Max knew there was never a time a person could win an argument against this woman and she wasn't going to try her luck. Silently she let Joyce lead the way inside the Two Whales.

"How long have you been back in town, five years and no word from ya makes seeing you here a shocker?" Max watched at Joyce bandaged her arm. It still stung after the peroxide was added but it was more annoying than painful.

"Two days. I was just settling in before I decide to have reunions with old friends." Complete lie. In truth Max just woke up at the beach and as soon as she caught wind of Heartless she been busy. She still didn't know how many of them were in her sleepy hometown and it disturbed her.

"Well I'm sure Chloe will be thrill to see you again. She been needing a good friend these past few months." Once Joyce mentioned Chloe, guilt washed over her like a wave. Max couldn't even look Joyce in the eye. It's been five years and Max barely thought about her friend back home. But for her defense she didn't get much lax time. As soon as she had arrive to 'That World' it was nothing but training. Hell she couldn't even grief her own parents' deaths.

"I'm sorry. Just, a lot had happen over the years."

"Oh, Sugar, you don't have to explain yourself to me. I'm sure Seattle had you so captured with it had to offer that you got distracted."

Max looked up and offer a small smile. "Yeah. I suppose so. But still, that doesn't help with the guilt."

"Well you don't mind it now. It's great to have you back to us," Joyce smiled." Well that should do it."

Max looked down, having not noticed that Joyce had patched her up. She moved her arm, the bandages made her arm more resistant to move but at least the bleed had stop and it was just a dull throbbed.

"Thank you, Joyce."

"Don't mention it." Joyce watched as Max reached over for her vest. The zip up she had under it; now tied around her waist. Joyce finally studied the teen. After five years, Max clearly grown into a cute girl. But there was something about her. Maybe it was how on guard she seem, of her watchful eyes as f excepting something to pop out of nowhere. Not to mention her story on tripping and falling on glass was rather… Well Max wasn't that great a lying. She was a open book most of the time.

"Joyce?"

The waitress snapped out of her thoughts and looked at Max who was looking at her with a confused expression on her face. Well it sure was better than that alerted face she had on. For that moment Max looked like Max.

"So Max, what are you doing back home? Are you part of that fancy Blackwell Academy? I heard they have a great photography class with some big shot photographer."

Max let out a small chuckle and shook her head." Yeah I heard about that place, but no I'm not going to school."

"Maxine Caulfield don't tell me you're skipping out of school, young lady."

Max chuckled and shook her head, hands up in surrender." No, nothing like that Joyce, honest."

Truth was Max haven't been in a regular school since eighth grade. Yes she was educated when she was taken in but it wasn't exactly the education one would expect. And Max sure wasn't going to talk about her past any time soon.

"You see a building next to the school I went to was torn down and so our school ended up with rat infestation so they closed the school down until they got it under control. Besides it was close to Spring break so I guess I got an extended vacation."

Talking about lying out of her ass. But it sounded convincing. Stuff like that happens, right?

Joyce seem to take the answer and nodded. "Well I'm glad you decided to spend time here with us. Chloe needs a good influence in her life."

Again, guilt came over Max but she smiled." Yeah. I gotta admit though she looks rather good in blue hair." She giggled when Joyce groaned and rolled her eyes. Max shrugged.

"Well Max, I gotta get back to work. You're welcome to stay around and have a nice dinner. I can take you home with me and you can sleep over, if that's okay with you."

Max just nodded. Honestly she was tired and needed rest. She still needed to look for Ven so they could figure out what was going on. No doubt Heartless were here in this town but they had to find where the source was. Max out of the bathroom, following Joyce before going and finding a lone booth to sit at.

"Chloe! Get down here!"

Chloe groaned as she woke up from the sound of her mother's voice. It was dark in her room, only the moonlight giving her lightening. Chloe wasn't even sure when she felt asleep but her music was playing, on the first track once more.

Chloe groaned, rubbing her eyes just as her door barged over, David walking in.

"Chloe, you're mother called you. You are expected to come when summon, soldier!"

Ugh, again with this military bullshit. Chloe glared tiredly at her stepfather." Give me a break I just woke up like ten seconds ago."

"Just come down stairs, and that's an order." David turn and left, not bothering to close her door.

"Pfft, I know where you can take that order and shove it at," she mumbled before getting up. Chloe sighed before getting up and leaving her room.

Her mother was in the kitchen, putting groceries away when Chloe came in.

"'Sup Joyce," the rebel greeted looking over what her mother had bought. She saw chips and reached for them. After all she did kind of had the munchies. Joyce smacked her hand away.

"No Chloe."

"Oh c'mon don't be like that." Chloe whined being childish. Joyce rolled her eyes. Go on now and get. Something is waiting for you in the living room."

"What is it?"

"For goodness sake, Chloe just go."

Chloe grumbled and rolled her eyes, going and seeing an all too familiar face sitting on the sofa.

"Max?!"

"Hey, Chloe." Max stood up rubbing the back of her head awkward.

Suddenly everything that happen that day came rushing to Chloe. Nathan. Point a gun at her then turning into the black thing. How Max came barging in like nothing and fought that thing with some weird weapon. Chloe had many questions but didn't know where to start.

The two best friends were quiet, just admiring each other. Max just stood and seem to be bracing herself for something. Then Chloe noticed the bandage on Max's arm. Specks of dry blood on the wrap.

"What happen to you?"

Max shrugged," Tripped, got cut by glass…"

"So earlier what was that…"Chloe flashed back to earlier and how Max came out of nowhere like a damn superhero and chased off whatever the hell that thing was. Sure the punk-rock chick wanted answer but right now…

Max stumbled back as she was tackling in a hug. She blinked, confused. Surely she expected Chloe to go off on her, yell, hit, something. Not this. Yet Max wasn't going to ask any questions and wrapped her arms around Chloe's waist while her taller friend engulf her in a bear hug, swaying gently.

"See Max, told you she would miss you," Joyce came walking in with a smile. The two best friends pulled back, Chloe looking almost relived and Max unsure what to do with herself. The feeling of awkwardness was building between the two teens yet Joyce seem clueless about it.

"So… How long you been back?" Chloe asked, rubbing the back of her head while Max shifted on her feet.

"Um, last night. I decided to expire town a little bit today." Though in translation, Max meant that she came crashing into the ocean from the sky and washed up on shore and since she woke up that next morning she was looking for her friend, Ventis and chasing Heartless when they popped up. But Joyce and Chloe didn't need to know that. For one they would think she lost it along with not believing her.

"Ah, well. Nice to see you got some kind of fashion sense besides your boring clothes."

Max pouted, "Not even two minutes and you insult my clothing, so Chloe."

Chloe grinned,"Ya know it."

A/N: Hey! Sorry for the wait I got side tracked with school and video games. Anyways hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Remember to read and leave a review of what you think of it. See ya!