Chapter Eight
The moment Chloe and Kate were out, Rachel walked in. Company was the last thing Max needed; she was having a hard enough time trying to get people's orders and remember them.
"Hey, Maxaroni," Rachel said, sliding onto the stool closest to the cash register. "What'cha doing'?"
"Working." Max didn't mean for her tone to be so sharp, but with everything that had happened, it was hard to sound otherwise. "And my head is fucking killing me," she complained. She hadn't used her powers. She didn't even know if they were still with her.
Rachel laughed, though it sounded more awkward than anything. "Have you seen Chloe around? I mean, I know you have, given your guy's relationship and all, but where is she?"
"She and Kate went somewhere. They had plans."
"Ah, probably off to rob some grocery store," Rachel mused.
Max didn't ask. She didn't want to know. Not even a little.
"Anyway," Rachel continued. "I just wanted to talk about what happened in your dorm room the other day . . ."
No. Not there. No way in hell was Max going to discuss drugs in the Two Whales, where any customer or Joyce could listen in. But, despite what she believed, the world she lived in was not hell.
"You do know what I was trying to take, right?"
Max had a pretty good idea.
"I think you got a pair of drugs mixed up. Frank deals a certain kind to Nathan, specifically for . . . reasons, but what Victoria had was just heroin spiked with whatever the hell Nathan always puts in the party supplies," Rachel explained. "Sure, what Frank already has is great, but—"
"I'd rather not talk about you burning years off your life," Max cut her off, before walking off to refill a customer's cup. She knew the Two Whales didn't allow free refills, but she just needed to get away from Rachel.
When she stepped back, Rachel was leaning against the counter, arms crossed as she glared at the air.
"Just like Chloe, and fucking Kate. You're judging me, but you think you guys have your lives in order. You're a fuckin' orphan, Max."
Orphan was hardly the word Rachel was looking for. Max had been seventeen when her parents died; she was practically an adult. It still hurt, regardless. Max had just found out her parents were gone. At least she managed to find out on her own. No-one had to blurt it out.
They hardly talked the rest of the time. Rachel sat, perfectly still. She didn't tilt her head until the restaurant was empty, with an exception of the workers. She turned to Max. Max seemed a bit lost, but managed to place each dollar and coin in their right place without much reorganizing.
"I'm sorry," Rachel said. "I shouldn't have said that."
"No, you shouldn't have."
Rachel wanted to snap again, to tell her to just accept the damn apology. Why was Max so much worse than everyone else? Couldn't she have at least just given her the cold shoulder—Chloe Price-style?
With how deep their relationship was, Rachel was surprised they didn't speak in sync.
Rachel changed the subject. "So, how have you and Chloe been?"
"Pretty good."
"'Pretty good'? Come on, Maxi. I want details."
"I . . . I don't know," Max said honestly. She had read far enough in her old diaries to know where she and Chloe had been. They just hadn't had as many special moments as far as she's been aware.
"Second thoughts?" Rachel asked.
"No! Never!" Max snapped. "Chloe means the world to me, and I wouldn't give up where I am now for anything." Now, all Max had to do was say that to Chloe. Simple.
Rachel pulled off a pretty good smirk. "You just don't want to tell me how physical you two have gotten."
They hadn't done anything more than a kiss on the cheek.
"Or are you still virgin Max?"
Just as Max opened her mouth, to say some totally-not lame comeback, Rachel jumped and turned her head toward the windows.
Chloe's truck pulled up.
"Uh, I need to head out. I'll see you later, Max," Rachel said, and bolted the wrong direction, toward the cluttered back room. Sure, there was an exit back there, but Max was pretty damn sure it was locked.
Chloe had insisted on Kate sleeping over at her house, while she and Max went back to Blackwell. It had become awkwardly quiet, as Kate took it the wrong way. She didn't say it out loud, but it was pretty clear in the way her cheeks heated up.
When they arrived at Blackwell, they didn't have to do much more than walk quietly to the dormitories. No-one was out, thankfully.
Once in Max's dorm, they both laid down. It took a lot for Max not to put her arm around Chloe's body, to pull her closer for comfort. As right as Max felt it would be, she didn't want to push it too soon.
Chloe turned over, to face Max. Her breath hit Max's face. It was sweeter smelling than usual, and it only tempted Max further. They remained silent for a long while. Way too long, before Chloe finally talked.
"Kate and I raided the store's candy isle. I may or may not have to work at the grocery store for a little while for not paying for the candy," Chloe explained the surprisingly fun mini-adventure. At least, she took it as an adventure.
That explained why her breath smelled like candy.
"I'm not really tired, to be honest. All that sugar, and the Monster got me hyped up."
Yeah, Max finally recognized the Monster on Chloe's breath. It was fitting.
There was too much tension in the room, between the two friends. Max refused to help it. All she wanted was the buzz of emotion she knew she would get from touching Chloe's lips.
Chloe's lips . . .
Max was staring at them. They looked so perfect, and she almost scooted closer, to give Chloe a hint. She was so close. The feeling of her sweet breath. The crumbling emotions in her eyes. The steadiness of both their hearts.
It didn't last long.
Chloe cupped Max cheek, and Max showed just how much she wanted what Chloe was offering by leaning closer.
The steadiness in their chests didn't last. Their eyes closed. And they stopped each other's breaths when their lips met.
There was nothing but the raw emotion Max made sure to make clear when she wrapped herself around Chloe, pulling as close as possible.
It wasn't slow, and didn't last nearly as long as Max had imagined her first kiss with Chloe would be. The length was the only let-down, but that was made up for when Chloe kissed her again.
And again.
And one final time.
When they parted for the final time, both panted unevenly, but could easily catch their breath. It felt so easy to hold each other. It was no shock when both felt themselves in one another's arms.
Even though she was feeling charged and ready to do anything but sleep, spilling emotions and letting her guard down so much made Chloe feel drained. Just that fact that Max had kissed her was enough to make Chloe feel that way. She sighed, motioning for Max to flip to her other side, so she could spoon her.
They fell asleep.
Note: Did it come too soon? I can never tell.
