"Aren't you supposed to be taking it easy. I was there when the nurse told you to be careful about pulling your stitches."

Chloe worrying about me was adorable. Then again most things about Chloe were.

My parents insisted they take me home from the hospital. I didn't put up a fight mainly for the sake of my mom. Chloe followed in her truck and the second we got to my house I took off with her.

"I'm just sitting here. How much more easy can it get?" I posed.

Chloe shook her head as she watched the road, "I mean, you probably shouldn't be taking on the town after just getting out of the hospital."

"Well I don't plan on taking on the town."

Chloe gave a quick glance at me, "You don't?"

"Nope," I rolled down the window and let the cool wind whip across my face. "Just the world. So long as I have you by my side."

"Always." She replied with confidence. "So what's the plan then."

"Let's see…" It felt like there was so much to catch up on. It felt like I spent months in that hospital. I missed out on all the post show parties and Vortex Club meet ups. I might be out of school for a few more days, but that doesn't mean I can't still drop by.

"How does crashing Blackwell sound?" I asked.

"Um, stupid." Chloe replied honestly. "You have the rest of the week off. Why go to school when you don't have to."

"There are parts I miss." I waved my hand outside the truck, surfing the air. "And I do have other friends I haven't seen since the show."

Chloe stayed quiet for a few moments, "Alright, Blackhell it is."

The truck stopped as we hit a red a light. I leaned up against the door and kicked my leg over to Chloe's thigh. She tilted her head over to look at me. I couldn't tell what she was feeling, but something was up.

I gave her a smile and a wink. I could see her cheeks tense up slightly as she held down a smile.

"Going to Blackwell that bothersome to you?" I asked.

The light turned and the truck accelerated forward.

"No." She replied plainly.

I tilted my head, "No?"

She gave a quick look at me and gave a wide eyed shake of her head and then turn back forward.

Whatever was going on with Chloe I didn't like it.

"Pull over." I told her.

Chloe did a double take between me and the road, "What? Pull Over?"

"Yes."

Chloe pulled the truck down a side street and put it in park. Her eyes then turned to me worried. "Are you okay?"

"No." I said crossing my arms. "Something's bothering you and you're not telling me."

"That's what you- I'm fine." She responded unconvincingly.

I stayed quiet and stared her down.

"Seriously," she gestured out to the road in front of us, "I'm taking you to Blackwell. That's all."

"Us." I corrected.

Chloe looked at me confused, "Us?"

"Yes. Us." I slid myself next to the girl. "You are taking us to Blackwell. We're crashing Blackwell together. It's been over a week since we've stomped the grounds. Just imagine how dull it's been for everyone without the alluring Rachel Amber and badass Chloe Price."

Chloe's eyes searched my own. Trying to pick out why I was stressing our partnership in this endeavor. "I… guess pretty dull."

"Exactly." I nudged her before moving back to the other side of the truck, "So let's hit it Price."

Chloe put the truck back into gear and turned around to continue the journey to Blackwell.

I never had a friend like Chloe growing up. I had friends. People I'd hang out with. Go to parties with. But never someone who I felt really cared about me and my life. And I guess I hoped I could have the two groups coexist. Everyone in the play had good things to say about Chloe stepping in and sympathized after they found out she got expelled for me. Well Victoria of course was still a bitch, just like with everyone, but honestly who gives a crap about how Victoria feels.

We pulled up to Blackwell and found a spot in the parking lot.

Chloe pulled the keys out and looked at me, "Alright so where to first."

I looked out the window and up at the buildings. It felt weird to be back here after everything. More accurately, So much about me has changed, but everything here seemed the same. I was starting to think I shouldn't have come here so soon. I looked back at Chloe who was still watching me, waiting for my response. This trip wasn't about me though. This was about us.

"Let's hit the drama room. Everyone's been waiting for a chance to thank you and talk about the show." I said.

Chloe shook her head, "I don't really have anything to say. It was just something I did."

"But you killed it. You nailed every line after just minutes of looking at the script. People just don't do that."

Chloe leaned her head back against the seat, "I just… I don't know what happened."

"I wish I could do what you did." I told her.

"What?" Chloe sat herself upright.

"Seriously, everyone spent months working and preparing for that show. The way you handled it. Just walking out on that stage like it was nothing." Chloe was able to conquer a world very different from her own with ease. And it looked like my world was changing fast around me.

"I don't know what to say." Chloe scratched the back of her head and her eyes stayed down as she continued, "I just focused on… ya know, doing my best for you- and er the uh show."

"Hey," I called softly prompting her to lift her head and look at me. "You. Kicked. Ass."

Chloe let herself smile, "Thanks."

I returned the smile, "Ready to kick some more then?"

"They already kicked me out right? What more can they do?" Chloe's warm smile twisting devilishly.

I gave a wink and opened the door, "That's my girl."

No sooner had I stepped out of the truck that someone else was calling my name.

"Rachel Amber!?"

I turned to see the school security guard Skip Matthews walking down the steps into the parking lot. Skip was always pretty cool for a security guard. Technically Chloe and I didn't have business to be on school grounds, but I can't imagine that stopping me from being able to visit.

"Hey Skip!" Chloe called out from the other side of the truck.

"Chloe?" Skips voice went from curiosity to worry, "You're not suppose to be on school grounds."

"She's with me Skip," I started to explain. "I'm sure you heard she had a surprise appearance in the play a few weeks ago. Well she had left some of her things backstage so they got collected up and stored in the drama room. We're only now just getting to picking it up because of my hospitalization."

His face became sympathetic, "Oh yeah, I heard about what happened. Glad you're alright. Did they ever find the guy who did it?"

I looked at Chloe. In her explanation of what happened at the Mill there were a few details that still I haven't gotten a real answer to. Chloe told me she got knocked out in the middle of a fight between Damon and Frank, but when she came to they were both gone. There always seemed to be more to the story but I never pressed it and Chloe never offered.

Chloe's eyes shifted from me to Skip, "No, but if I stabbed the DA's daughter I'd get the hell out of town too."

"No kidding." He agreed. "Alright you two just try to stay out of trouble. I don't want drama during my last few weeks."

"Wait? Last weeks?" Chloe questioned.

"Yea, our latest song is starting to blow up. And this job is just starting to get heavy on me. So I put in my two weeks and in about a month Pisshead is hitting the road." Skip announced proudly.

"Holy shit." Chloe let out.

"Congrats." I added.

"Thanks, so yea hope to see you guys at a show in the future." Skip commented but half asking.

Chloe and I looked at each other in a nonverbal communication if that's something the other one would want to do.

I smiled and turned back to Skip, "Could we get backstage passes?" I asked.

Skip gave a shrug "Hell, I don't know. I'll do my best though."

"Looking forward to it." I told him.

"Definitely," Chloe agreed. "Shoot me a text when you guys have a date set for an Arcadia Bay show."

"Will do," he replied stepping off the side of the path up to the school. "You guys are cool, just don't burn the place down."

"Never" I replied innocently as I snuck a sideways look at Chloe who responded with a tilt of her head.

I pulled Chloe into the building. Blackwell was far from my favorite place to be, but it was still the same as when I left. And when so many other things aren't... It's just comforting. Familiar Anti-drug posters and flyers for lost items decorated walls and bulletin boards. A picture and article from a newspaper in a display case caught my eye though. I dragged Chloe behind me as I approached the board. It was a picture of the cast of "The Tempest" at the end of the show. It was a print article talking about the show and Chloe and my's performance.

"Hey, check this out." I said to her pulling her up to the glass.

I watched Chloe examine the newspaper clipping.

"It's funny," she began, "Never imagined I'd be in a newspaper… ya know for something actually good. Only thing I could imagine people putting up of me are wanted posters." Her eyes sunk as she finished the sentence. "I don't think I should be up here."

"Why the hell not?" I told her putting my hand on her shoulder. " You deserve it. You can do anything. You just need the right supporting cast." I gestured to myself in the picture.

Chloe's eyes looked into mine. I could see the warm glow of appreciation in them.

"So you're saying I'm the lead actress?" she questioned with a tone of sarcasm.

"Absolutely, I've spent less than a month with you and I'm already blown away with what you've done and who you are. Blackwell, Arcadia Bay, nobody is ready for who you are Chloe."

Chloe's eyes slid away in mild embarrassment. "Guess we should find elsewhere then?" She posed.

Elsewhere, leave Arcadia Bay behind. That's still the dream. To actually be apart of the world and not tucked away in the corner of nowhere.

"We will." I reached down to grab her hand again, "We'll find someplace hella perfect. Bright sun, warm water-"

"Metal bars." A voice interrupted.

Chloe and I turned to see Victoria standing in the hall.

"Oh sorry, did I interrupt your escapism." She crossed her arms.

"Don't you have class to attend." Chloe shot back.

Victoria looked back at Wells' office and then at us, "I finished early helping principal Wells. He was so impressed with my work that he let me get out early. He probably isn't accustomed to having such an efficient assistant." her eyes locked onto me.

She was taking her shots at me. But they were completely missing. I turned my head to Chloe who was focused on Victoria. I could see the tense of anger on her face. She was taking the dig more personally than I was. This is why I didn't care about anything Victoria had to say to me. There was nothing she could do to take Chloe away from me. And at this point what else really matters.

Chloe began to reply, "Ya know Victoria how about you-"

"Please excuse us." I interjected, "Chloe and I were just going to see Mr. Keaton and the cast. Enjoy your free time Victoria."

Chloe looked at me confused, and Victoria narrowed her eyes. I just grabbed Chloe's hand and began to pull her toward Mr. Keaton's classroom. I didn't need Victoria calling for Wells and getting Chloe in trouble just as we got in the building.

Victoria called after us, "So what, are the two of you a thing now?"

I waved my hand over my shoulder, "Bye Victoria."

Chloe lifter her hand up as well, although hers was mostly in a fist with a particular finger extended out.

We walked the empty hall together. Occasionally glancing into classrooms as we passed by. A few curious gazes following us as we walked by.

A slight pain filled hit me. The realization that this was something that wasn't likely to ever happen again. Chloe is not a Blackwell student anymore. No possibility of having classes together. No meeting up at each others lockers. No dorming as upperclassmen. We've spent so much time together the past two weeks and come Monday I'll be spending half the day here… Without her.

As we approached the doors I could feel Chloe pull back a bit.

"What's up?" I asked.

Chloe pulled her lip to the side in nervous thought.

"Hey, talk to me." I said softly to her.

"I just," Her eyes wandered around the hall. "Feels weird."

I caught on to what she was trying to say. She didn't feel like she belonged here. Or maybe there was more. Maybe she wasn't feeling like she belonged here with me.

"Well…" I grabbed her hands and spun her around with me. My injured arm gave a throb of pain but I did my best to ignore it. "Don't feel weird."

"Oh just don't feel weird. Why couldn't I think of that." Chloe commented with heavy sarcasm.

I stopped spinning. "A good friend would say 'we don't have to be here if you don't want to.'" I slowly backed up against the door to Mr. Keatons classroom still holding one of Chloe's hands. "But a best friend…" I opened the door and pulled Chloe slingshotting her into the room.

I looked past the stumbling Chloe into the room. With all the plays done for the year it looked like things were being packed up and inventory being taken. Mr. Keaton was at his desk with Steph, while Hayden, Nathan, and Juliet were loading and stacking boxes. Everyone froze and looked at Chloe nearly falling into the room after I pretty much tossed her in.

"Chloe?" Steph let out breaking the silence. "What are you- Rachel?"

I stepped in behind Chloe. "Hey guys."

"Oh Rachel, it is most splendid to see you" Mr. Keaton chimed.

The room broke out in everyone coming up and expressing how happy they were to see me. It didn't seem like anyone knew what actually happened which I was thankful for. The less I had to think about all the bullshit the better. After a few minutes I noticed Chloe still standing near the door quiet.

"Okay, okay." I called out quieting everyone around me. "I know I've been missing for little while but I didn't come here for me." I squeezed myself out from the group and wrapped my arm around Chloe. "Chloe was busy taking care of me in the hospital so she too missed out on all the congratulations and after parties. So I want you all to shower her with everything she deserves."

Mr. Keaton stepped up to Chloe, "My dear allow me to express my most sincerest thanks and appreciation for your assistance. You were quite at home on the stage. A shame we couldn't explore the spirit within you more in your time here at Blackwell."

Chloe gave a quizzical look before understanding what Mr. Keaton was saying, "Oh, no. That's all right. It was a one time thing. Just a favor for a friend."

Mr. Keaton gave a disappointed but understanding nod.

"Speaking of friends." Nathan said, "when did the two of you even become friends?"

Chloe's eyes shifted to me. Unsure of what exactly to reveal.

"We met at the Firewalk concert a few weeks ago." I answered honestly.

Nathan's face showed that he wanted more information but didn't press.

"Wow, so the two of you got into mill. Very cool." Juliet commented.

I elaborated the tale, "It was little crazier than I thought. Chloe recognized me from school and kept me company and it all just sort of snowballed from there." I turned to Chloe and smiled. She replied with a roll of her eyes at my story.

What's with the look Chloe. I mean I didn't lie.

Juliet gave a look at Chloe, "Wow Chloe, that was pretty cool of you."

Chloe stuck with my account of events, "Yea well, Can't let anything happen to the princess of Blackwell."

The group laughed.

Hayden turned to Chloe, "Yo, but seriously Chloe you saved the show. Thanks"

Juliet jumped in to, "No, yea Chloe you did amazing."

Chloe's face blushed slightly, "Thanks you guys. But you all really did the work."

"We did, didn't we." Nathan said gesturing around the packed up room.

"Hey," I let out, "I was stabbed you know," I pulled down the side of my shirt on the injured arm to reveal the bandages, "Right here."

Everyone but Chloe gave a flinched reaction.

Nathan's eyes then shifted to Chloe, "But she didn't."

"She doesn't even go here anymore," I defended, "and she's the reason I was even able to be in the play."

Nathan just eyed the two of us. What the hell was his problem?

"Simmer down now," Mr. Keaton said breaking the rising tension, "We are all grateful for Chloe's assistance. Rachel, while you're here can I talk to you about next year's fall production?"

"Of course," I stepped out from the group and followed Mr. Keaton over to his desk.

"I was thinking we could open next season with A Midsummer Night's Dream? A few artistic changes to accommodate a smaller overall cast, but I believe it could be attainable. What are your thoughts?" Mr. Keaton asked.

Shakespeare again? It is more palatable than The Tempest was, but still fairly dry. I want to try something fresh, something more modern. My eyes became distracted as I looked to see Chloe conversing with Steph. The body language, how they glanced around but never at me. I had the sneaky suspicion I might be the subject of whatever it was that was being said.

"Rachel?" Mr. Keaton said bringing me back to his question.

"Yes sorry, I was just thinking. That would be a fun way to start off the season, but how about switching it up later in the year then. Try something modern or even an original work?" I posed the idea to him.

Mr. Keaton hesitated a moment before replying, "It would be a way to traverse a new artistical path. I fear though the ambition of others in the talent pool at Blackwell might not be as grandiose as your own my dear."

"Have faith, Mr. Keaton, people may surprise you," I looked again toward Chloe who was still talking with Steph. Her eyes turned and caught mine for a moment. I gave her a quick smile which she returned.

"Well we will have time to develop plans for next year. Maybe a new star will rise above Blackwell." Mr. Keaton said his gaze wondering upward as if tracking said star.

"So Rachel," Juliet called from the group of her, Hayden, and Nathan, "When are we going to actually have you back? Please tell me you'll be back before schools out."

"I'll be back on Monday, but I might take my time depending on how long it takes you all to finish up in here."

Nathan gave a disgruntled look that I ignored.

"But seriously I'm sorry I've had to miss helping clean up the set and everything." I looked around the group. "I've missed you guys." I stepped through the group back over to Chloe prompting the chatter between her and Steph to stop.

"Don't be getting mushy on us now." Hayden commented.

"Blame this one," I gestured over at Chloe. "This big softy has been rubbing off on me"

I noticed Steph's eyes snap to Chloe and search for something.

Chloe gave me a push on my right shoulder. "Hey, who's the expelled delinquent here?"

I gave her a side eye, "The big softy."

The group gave a light laugh. I was happy to see Chloe getting comfortable.

The bell rang and we all started saying goodbye when Nathan singled me out.

"Hey we're going to throw a Vortex Club party for the leaving Seniors, will you be able to make it."

"Hell yea. When and where?" I could use a party after the past few weeks.

"Sunday of graduation weekend. We're going to set up some tents and a bonfire on the beach." He explained.

"Sounds great. Just let me know if I can do anything to help." I offered.

"Not going to be too injured." He commented

"I'll do my best." I replied.

I looked into his eyes. Nathan was complicated, and wore his attitude on his sleeve. It wouldn't be the first time there'd been some unspoken issue he took with me. It usually faded in a few days. When not being a dick he was actually pretty cool to talk to.

Nathan looked to Chloe and back to me, paused for a second and then just walked past the two of us out of the classroom. Guess Nathan is taking issue to my friendship with Chloe. Jealousy maybe?

I turned to Chloe who once again seemed to have a slight sourness to her.

"So… Vortex Party." She commented sheepishly.

"What, don't like parties?" I said as I pulled her along back into the Hall.

"Parties are great." She said unconvincingly.

We moved through the crowded hall back toward the entrance. Sliding between students. I wanted to press more but it would be hard in the middle of all this. We we're just about to walk out when a deep voice cut above the hallway commotion.

"Chloe Price."

We both froze and turned to see Principal Wells standing outside his office.

"Being expelled means you are not allowed on school property without permission." He explained in his deep serious tone.

Chloe opened her mouth to respond but I cut in first.

"Principal Wells this is my fault. I asked Chloe to take me here. I asked for her assistance in returning some items from the play that I wasn't able to do until now."

Wells looked over Chloe and I. "Regardless. Chloe I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Yea, we were just leaving" she responded coldly. We both turned to continue leaving.

"I was hoping to have a word with you Ms. Amber." Wells said to me.

We stopped and looked at each other.

"Go ahead." I told her softly, "I'll catch up."

She gave me a look that told me she'd stay with me. I just winked at her and turned to face Wells.

"Of course." I replied to him.

He held out his arm gesturing to his office door.

I stepped in and crossed the outer room into his personal office and took a seat.

He walked in circled to his desk and stood for a moment before taking a seat himself.

"Ms. Amber I don't make it a habit of becoming involved with my students personal lives." He paused in thought over his next words. "You have always been an exemplary student, but I can't help but have noticed a change in recent weeks."

"Principal Wells I-" I began.

"Please Ms. Amber let me finish." He cut in.

I nodded and went quiet.

"By no means do I want to pressure you or attempt to instruct your out of school social behavior. Your recent friendship with Chloe Price has me concerned though." The sternness in his face and voice now broke slightly. "Not only has your behavior in school slipped but it appears your very health has been at risk." He paused and took a breath, "I hope you take this time off to think about the path you are on now and how it could affect your future."

I took in his words. There was so much he didn't know, but he was trying to help. "I will Principal Wells. Thank you for your concern."

"I look forward to seeing you in class again. And your performance in the Tempest was exceptional." He congratulated trying to ease the tension.

"Thank you, it was really a group effort."

He stood up from his desk, "I can't wait to see what next year holds for you. Please enjoy the rest of your time off and heal quickly." He held out his arm gesturing to the door.

I stood up taking his cue, "Thank you." I turned and walked out of his office. I caught Victoria outside the girls room eyeing me with a slight smile on her face.

I just turned and left the building.

Victoria was going to be a problem. Nathan seemingly being moody over my relationship with Chloe could be another. Not to mention Chloe's attitude with Blackwell and the Vortex Club. And what was she and Steph talking about. I have to get Chloe to tell me what is going on.

Maybe it's time we head back to the Junkyard for some more "therapy."

A/N I did not mean to get so stalled on this chapter. Hope it doesn't seem too filler-y for you guys. Thanks again for the reviews and comments. Seriously they make my day.