Hey guys, this one will be a little bit angsty, but the result will be worth it. Then it can be more fluffy, cute stuff.

The title will make sense when you read the chapter, it's not a mistake

Enjoy.


Kate's POV

Oh, Victoria. You're so sweet.

'You didn't have to get me anything.'

Victoria looks at me intently.

'I wanted to.'

I carefully unwrap the present and gasp.

'Victoria…'

Inside is a new sketchbook. I examine the pages of the sketchbook. It is really high quality paper. I look up incredulously at her.

'I noticed that when we went to that art shop, you were looking at the sketchbooks. I figured you needed a new one, so…'

She even picked the exact one I was pining over.

I hug her.

'Thank you. This is the best.'

She stands completely still for a few moments, then I feel arms wrap around me.

'You deserve it.'

Kate's Room

Let's test out this new sketchbook.

I sit down at my desk, grab a pencil and start doodling absentmindedly.

Drawing is a great way for me to just forget everything and relax.

I sigh.

Today was so great. I never thought I would ever be hanging out with Victoria Chase of all people.

I stop mid doodle. I have drawn Victoria and I from our adventures the other day. We look really content. I smile at the memory.

I feel…strange looking at it.

I sit there inspecting the drawing, trying to put my finger on it. We eyes widen in sudden realisation.

Wait. Do I…?

I sit there, staring blankly at the paper.

No, that can't be it. We've just been spending a lot of time together recently, that's why. She's been really sweet, friendly and considerate.

I can feel myself involuntarily smile. I shake my head and rub my temples.

What is wrong with me? I can't…it's not…I…oh…I think I like Victoria.

My face drops, my mind whirs, my heart beats erratically.

I like Victoria. Really like her…maybe even…

It suddenly gets harder to breath.

What would my church think? What would mom think? I can't…

My throat constricts. I feel tears stinging my eyes. I hug my knees tightly.

Breathe, Kate. Panicking isn't going to help you now.

I try to get my breathing under control.

Ok, Kate. Maybe…maybe this is just a passing thing. You're confused, because you aren't used to Victoria being nice to you. That's it. You're just over analysing everything. Just ignore it and it will go away…I hope. Maybe…maybe I should go see Max. She always knows what to do.

I get up and exit the room. I turn to Max's door and bump into someone.

'Hey, watch where you're…oh hi Kate.'

I start to notice things I hadn't before.

Her eyes, usually derisive, now are gentle and soft. Her usually slightly smug grin transformed to a genuine smile…her lips…

I can't do this right now. I'm sorry, Victoria.

I run back to my room, slamming the door. I slump down it and place my head in my hands. There is a knock at the door.

'Kate? What's wrong? Please, let me in.

I'm scared, scared of what would happen if I did.

Max's POV

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

I open my bleary eyes. I feel around clumsily for my phone. I unlock the screen and look at the time.

1 am. Who knocks that late? Maybe they will go away if I ignore them.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

I feel the bed move slightly. Chloe shifts slightly to face me. She opens her eyes a fraction.

'Maaaaaaaaaaax…who the fuck is that?'

Her voice is heavy with sleep.

'I don't know.'

Chloe grabs something from my bedside table and throws it at the door.

'Fuck off. Some people are trying to sleep here.'

With Chloe around, you can kiss any hopes of order goodbye. She just has to look at something and it breaks.

'Chloe, I would appreciate if I had some stuff left in my room that is intact.'

She points at the door.

'Tell whoever is knocking at the door that. I wouldn't have to throw anything if they would just give up.'

The knocking gets louder and more impatient. Chloe groans.

I guess I'd better go see who it is. I don't think they will give up.

'Ok, I'm coming. Jeez.'

I go to get up, but am pulled back. Chloe has grabbed my waist.

'Max, don't go. You're warm.'

Trust me, I am well aware of this fact. I had finally gotten to a decent temperature. It's so cold this time of year at night. I don't want to brave the cold, however I have little choice.

'Oh, I am glad that is the reason you don't want me to go.'

She smiles sleepily.

'There might be other reasons too, but you do make for a nice hot water bottle.'

She snuggles up to me. I roll my eyes.

'I need to get to the door before someone breaks it down.'

Chloe tightens her hold and whines.

'But Max…'

I sigh.

Why do you always have to be so awkward, Chloe? It's already hard enough getting out of bed, without you making it more difficult.

'Do you want to get back to sleep? We won't if someone keeps knocking.'

Chloe exhales and loosens her grip.

'I hate it when you use logical arguments against me.'

She turns over and settles down. I reluctantly stand up and stumble over to the door. I open it to find Victoria slumped against the wall, her head resting on her knees.

What happened to her?

I place a hand on her shoulder.

'Victoria?'

She sniffles.

'Max, Kate won't talk to me. What did I do wrong?'

Well, I didn't expect this.

'What happened?'

She looks up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

'She ran away when she saw me.'

That's strange. Kate doesn't usually do things like that.

'Can you think of anything that might make her behave that way?'

Victoria places her head in her hands.

'That's the thing, I can't. Maybe…maybe she has just decided that she doesn't forgive me anymore. I don't blame her.'

I sit down beside Victoria and place a hand on her arm.

'Kate wouldn't do that, and you know it.'

Victoria sighs.

'Then…what is it?'

I sit there thinking for a few moments.

Dog, I'm too tired to think. My brain is on stand-by.

'I'll see if I can work it out. Leave it to me.'

Victoria offers me a small smile.

'Thanks Max.'

Victoria looks down at the floor momentarily.

'I really appreciate it. You're helping me, and you don't even have to. I've been such a bitch to you. I'm sorry.'

I grin at her.

'No worried. We have to stick together.'

She nods.

'Yeah.'

A shoe flies past us.

'Keep it down out there. I'm trying to sleep.'

Chloe gets really grumpy when she is woken up prematurely, the consequences of which I am all too aware of.

I offer Victoria a small smile, which she returns. I bend down and grab Chloe's boot and re-enter my room.

Operation interrogate Kate starts tomorrow. Interrokate. Did you just think that Max? Right now, sleep, before you make any more terrible puns.

I knock on Kate's door. No answer.

This doesn't look good.

'Kate…Kate it's me, Max. Are you o…?'

I am suddenly pulled into the room.

'Max, I need to talk with you.'

Kate looks worried.

'Sure.'

She sits on her bed and beckons me over. I sit down. She worries her bottom lip with her teeth.

'I…I think I like Victoria.'

Well, that sudden.

Kate looks so conflicted.

'Great?'

Kate swallows.

'Max, I'm scared.'

'Of what?'

She sighs.

'I'm scared of what my Church will think, of what my family will think…'

I grab onto Kate's hands.

'Kate, listen to me. There is absolutely nothing wrong with liking Victoria, no matter what anyone else says.'

She looks away momentarily.

'But…'

I squeeze her hands and she looks up at me.

'Who cares what they think? Their judgements aren't important. They are twisting things to make themselves feel better about the shit that they do. If they have someone else to judge, then they don't have to look at themselves and realise that they are not perfect.'

I smile at her.

'You aren't hurt anyone by liking Victoria, in fact by trying to deny everything, you'll end up hurting her and yourself. You don't want that, right?'

Kate shakes her head vigorously.

'No. I don't want to hurt her.'

She looks at the floor.

'She might not even like me.'

I can't help but laugh at that. Kate looks at me with confusion.

'Are you sure we are talking about the same Victoria Chase? It is so obvious to me. The way she looks at you, the way she smiles when you're around. There is no way she doesn't like you Kate.'

I look at her tenderly.

'You've been through enough shit, don't you deserve some happiness?'

Kate launches herself at me, breaking down in my arms.

'Oh, Max. I've been so stupid.'

I gently stroke her hair.

'No you haven't. You just needed some guidance.'

She loosens her grip on me slightly and disengages.

'That is the second time you have saved me from myself. Thank you.'

I shake my head.

'Kate, you saved yourself. I just gave you a push in the right direction.'

I grin at her.

'Besides, if we're all going to hell for being gay, then Chloe and I are getting the express train there. They won't be able to ship us there fast enough.'

Kate laughs.

'You are silly, Max.'

I smirk.

'It got you smiling didn't it?'

I'm glad Kate trusts me. I wouldn't want her to feel alone. Not again.

'Just go have a talk with Victoria. She thinks she did something wrong and that's why you ran away.'

Kate's brow furrows.

'What? Why would she think that? That isn't it at all.'

Because she likes you a lot Kate and that's what happens. You start overanalysing every little action and word.

'I know, but she has it in her head that she has done something wrong.'

Kate stands up.

'I should go sort this out right now.'

She gives me a quick hug.

'Thanks Max. I know I can always count on you.'

'No problem.'

Kate's POV – Outside Victoria's Room

My heart races.

I need to sort this out right now.

I knock on Victoria's door.

'Victoria, can you let me in please.'

The door slowly opens.

'Kate…'

She looks like she has been crying. She tries to hide it, but I can tell. I walk up to her and embrace her.

'I'm sorry I ran away. It's not your fault, it's mine.'

I can feel arms enveloping me.

'That's ok. Do you want to talk about it?'

I nod. Victoria guides me into her room and sits me down on her bed.

This is harder than I anticipated.

Victoria sits there patiently.

'I…I think…I think I like you Victoria.'

Her eyes register shock for a moment.

'I was scared about what everyone would think if I admitted it. I still am a bit, but both you and Max have helped me to see that I shouldn't care about what other people think. I should just do what makes me feel happy…and…'

I can feel Victoria's hand on mine. I look up to see her smiling face.

'Kate, what you've said just now is more than I could ever have hoped to hear. I was so worried that you hated me. The more time we spend together, the more I realise that I like you too. I wasn't sure if you felt the same and I felt like I didn't really have the right to after…'

I place my hand on Victoria's cheek. She leans into my touch, closing her eyes. She places a hand over mine, interlacing our fingers, her voice little more than a whisper.

'I didn't want to mess things up for you.'

We are so close. I'm scared, but I don't want to leave. I'm not running away anymore.

'You haven't.'

Victoria opens her eyes and licks her lips.

'Kate, can I… can I kiss you?'

My heart beats erratically.

Do I accept who I am?

'You don't have to if you don't want to, but…'

I lean forward and softly place my lips on hers. Her eyes widen for a second and then she gently begins to move her lips against mine. I feel shivers down my spine. Voices echo in my head, judging me, but I ignore them.

Nothing will ruin this moment…

I shift closer to her, trying to bridge the gap between us.

I want to be close, as close as I can to her. In her, I can find a safe haven from the world.

Victoria pulls away, opening her eyes and looking me directly in the eyes. I smile at her, a smile she returns.

'Well, that happened, huh?'

I giggle.

'Are we speechless, Miss Chase?'

She looks slightly dumbfounded, yet content. Her eyes shimmer. I hadn't really noticed how blue they were before. It's one of those things you need to get up close to see.

'Kind of, yeah.'

Did that just even happen?

I can feel a wide smile creeping onto my face.

I can't even describe how I'm feeling right now.

I look at her.

'What now?'

She takes my hand, tracing circles gently with her thumb.

'Now we take it slow. We ignore what everyone else think and we just focus on us.'

I smile.

'I think I can handle that.'


We finally got there. Things are happening. There will be more fluff from here on out I think. I just didn't want to completely ignore everything from the game. Now things have been resolved mostly, it's a better time for cute shit.

Thanks to a lion the just wants some love for the whole Kate internal struggle idea of liking girls. I didn't want to make it too heavy. I did a more intense one in my story The Last Life of Us is Strange and it nearly broke me. That whole fanfiction broke me.

I am so sorry for the interrokate thing. That was bad. What was I thinking? I'm sure it's something Max would say.

I hope you enjoyed reading this, have a great day and see you next time.