Prescott Dormitory, Max's Room:

Taylor opened her eyes to a slit, as the morning yellowish rays penetrated through the thin veil of curtains, making the blonde cover her eyes with her arm. She didn't want to move just yet, as her body was a bit slow in catching up with her brain. The sleepy exhaustion was evident on her face. For next few minutes, she just laid still on her bed. She removed her arm slowly and gazed owlishly around the room, and saw an assortment of Polaroid photos, and posters. 'When did I get these posters?' A confused thought ran through her head.

'Wait… this is not my room.' Realization struck her and she got up almost abruptly and turned her head to her side. A mop of short brunette mane was visible under the duvet. 'Oh…' Fully awake now, she remembered that she was in Max's room. The tomboy was still in a deep slumber and had her back turned towards Taylor. Her steady breathing was synced with the rising and falling of the covers.

Taylor couldn't help but feel an admiration for the brunette. The events that happened yesterday at the beach. How selflessly she defended the blonde from the bullies, helping her to repent for her mistakes and then in Chloe's house. A soft smile grew on Taylor's face. But, then she remembered the shower. Heat rose on her face as her ears pulsed with the rising heartbeat.

'Gosh… did last night really happen?' Remembering how boldly she acted yet how delicate she felt under Max's touch. She did have her fair share of flings, she was an adult after all, but remembering how she was melting into Max's arms, it was like a new experience for her. Her thoughts weren't helping with the crimson hue over her cheeks, 'I was so driven by her. I still can't wrap my head around it.'

Now fully awake, the blonde figured that she had to get up. It was a lazy Sunday morning and her habit of getting up early despite weekends would end up in Vortex club parties. Disregarding her jumbled to and fro thoughts about the club and Max, she slowly and carefully moved the cover, trying her best not to wake Max. It was nice that the room temperature was not chilly and the floor was wall-to-wall carpeted. Taylor's feet touched the carpet and she slowly got up, fixing her tee which she borrowed from Max. It was a size small for her but enough to show just a bit of skin on her waist paired with plain boxer shorts.

As she finally stood upright and stretched her arms up to ease her tensed muscles, she heard Max shuffling behind her. 'Shit! Did I wake her?' Taylor froze for a moment, but when she didn't hear anything, she slowly turned around. The blonde found the brunette had turned over the bed, now facing Taylor and rest of the room, though she was still fast asleep. Taylor puffed an inaudible air, 'Good. I didn't wake her just yet…' but her brows raised in surprise, 'Wait, is she…?' She thought as she noticed Max had her thumb in her mouth loosely and gently sucking on it.

'Whoa, she sucks on her thumb in her sleep? I mean, like, kids do that, right?' She thought through her surprise, 'maybe she had a thing…' Taylor opted to not giving it too much of her already limited brain capacity in the morning. She did, however, think that the tomboy looked actually pretty cute like that, with a thumb in her mouth and her pearly teeth peeking out with the slight smile. She was clearly either happy or was having a pleasant dream. 'She deserves to dream about something nice, considering what happened last night with her…' As the blonde recalled Max's frantic state, how frail and scared she was, showing not a single semblance of her usual bravado. Taylor felt a shiver at that thought remembering the brunette's broken sobs, before disregarding it, giving room for better ones, like how cute Max looked at this moment.

Taylor bit her lower lip to subdue a giggle that was threatening to come out. She pondered through a conflicting array of thoughts if she should wake Max up or let her be. But there was also underlying a mischief which the blonde was struggling with, that was to take a picture of the brunette as she was. She tiptoed out of Max's room and rushed to her own while praying the brunette didn't wake up. There was this fluttering feeling in her stomach, which made her snicker as she picked her phone, and rushed back to Max's room. Fortunately for her, Max was still fast asleep. She made sure her phone was set to silent mode, she took the snap and in a silent triumphant, she grinned at her accomplishment.

Taylor took a final look at the pretty tomboy in the bed, before carefully opening the door, again trying her best not to make any noise. The door opened with a small creak, and the blonde sneaked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Breathing the morning misty air, after pocketing her phone, she then set her course for the bathroom.

The hallway was pretty quiet early in the morning. It was Sunday after all. Most inhabitants of the dorm were either sleeping or lazing in their room. Running her fingers through her blonde locks, Taylor pushed the door of the bathroom. The hinges creaked dryly. "The door could really use a little bit of oiling. Maybe I should let the groundskeeper know. What was his name… Simon? Simmons? Samuel? Yeah, I think it's Samuel… I haven't really spoken to him a lot… He seems nice. Weird with his cryptic way of talking, but nice." Taylor said to herself as she entered the bathroom. The cold floor made her hiss a little as her bare feet felt the temperature that coursed through her body.

She turned on one of the faucets and drank a bit of water, before making a cup of her hands and splashing a little on her face, washing away the last of her sleepy daze. Energized, she straightened up and looked at her reflection in the mirror, studying herself. Looking back at her was a cute girl with rosy lips, round plump yet not overtly chubby cheeks. A memory of last night flashed in her eyes, making her smile as she bit her lip. She could clearly see her cheeks turning red. She was still herself, yet she felt everything about her has changed.

She was not feeling worn out or burdened. She was not conflicted and her thoughts were clear. It was all because of Max. She recalled Max's consoling words. In a way, Max saved her and set her free. This feeling brought an overwhelming adoration for the brunette. So much that her deep blue eyes became glazed and watery with that feeling. The long-legged blonde averted her eyes and chuckled at her weak yet happy disposition.

However, the nice moment of ecstatic calm and serenity was broken by the door creaking again, which made the blonde blink away the emotions and turned her attention towards the door. And there she was, the source of Taylor's own problems. The source of her self-doubt, and every cruel and despicable action for the last year. As if the familiar figure was thinking the opposite or even the same thing, still holding the door half open and somewhat looking owlishly towards Taylor, with raised eyebrows.

"Hey…" Victoria said in a low voice. Her tone didn't carry the usually bitchy and coldness but more unguarded.

"Hey" Taylor replied in a completely flat tone, not wanting to engage with Victoria in any way. Not after how she treated Alyssa and even herself. The blonde figured that she might as well return to Max. She walked passed the Pixie without even looking at her direction to the exit of the bathroom, only to be stopped by Victoria's words.

"Wait. Don't—Don't leave, Tay. I want to talk" said the pixie-blonde. Much to the long-legged blonde's surprise, her tone was a complete contrast to the previous day, almost pleading.

'What's this about then?' Taylor thought as she turned around, crossing her arm over her chest and a mild scowl on her face. "Well…? Go on," She said as she made it obvious that she didn't really have any intention to converse with Victoria or had anything to do with her anymore.

"Listen, I… about yesterday. I didn't mean for things to turn that way, okay?" Victoria said as she bored her eyes on her twined finger, not meeting with the long-legged blonde's.

Taylor puffed a cold air through a sigh and asked, "Not be like what?" Her voice contained an evident discontent for the pixie-blonde.

Victoria jutted her jaw forward, "Like this! We were friends. I – I respected you. Hell, I still respect you!" She insinuated this by taking a step closer to Taylor. Though the tall blonde scoffed at this. After all, it was unusual. Victoria actually had respect for anyone else except herself and her being the epitome of holier-than-thou character.

"Are you even listening to yourself, Victoria? Friends? Respect? Do you even know the meaning of these words?" Taylor couldn't hide the rising bitterness in her voice which could very well be the resentment from yesterday's event. "Sure, you might have your criteria of friendship, by pushing people around, threatening them and making them do your snide biddings. Is that what you call friendship and respect?!" She lashed out at the Queen Bee and heck, it felt good to finally speak her mind without immediate fear of repercussions.

The Pixie was not expecting a verbal thrashing from the blonde was caught off guard and was speechless for a few seconds. She shook her head, " No. It's…" Yet again, she averted her eyes, "Yes. You're right. It's not. I…" she paused and swallowed, "I'm—I—Damnit, I'm sorry, okay?" she couldn't hide the shiver in her voice, nor the quivering of her lips. It was the first time, even for Taylor to see Victoria showing hurtful emotion besides sarcasm or arrogance. But, she was not ready to give in to the pixie's apology.

"You're accountable for your own actions, Victoria. Nobody else. You had every chance at every event to stop things and change the outcome into something better. For everyone, even for yourself. But you didn't. You kept pushing people. And you didn't stop. You never saw anyone besides yourself." Taylor was at this point lashing out, one good point after other, finally getting so many things off her chest.

"I—" Victoria tried to say something before being interrupted by Taylor again.

"Just the other day. Alyssa, remember her? The girl that almost drowned? The girl YOU almost drowned? Have you ever considered people have feelings? They can feel hurt, they feel pain, humiliation." At this point, Taylor's own eyes were glossy with tears but she continued, "Take a good hard look in that mirror right there." Taylor said passionately, pointing at the mirror and pausing until Victoria actually turned her head to look at herself in the mirror.

Reflecting in the mirror was a confused and overwhelmed girl. But, even though her quivering lips and sagged shoulders, those eyes were looking back at the pixie with so much contempt and scorn that she couldn't bear to watch anymore and averted her eyes.

"Yeah, that's you. Also, that's the look of someone who almost KILLED another person. A person who hasn't wronged you in any way or anyone else that you care about." There was a silence in the bathroom. Victoria stood speechless with her eyes planted on her feet. There was not even the slightest of the pixie's usual arrogant attitude.

The silence was broken by a cold sigh Taylor exhaled before speaking, "Look, it's not even my right to tell you off as I am as much as guilty as you are. But, everybody is accountable for their own actions. But, we are also accountable for right our wrongs. Nobody is going to apologize on your behalf and nobody will ever accept such an apology, Victoria." Taylor turned towards the door pushing it open, before turning her head back, "Think about who you want to be. Who you want staring back at you when you look into your mirror 10 years from now." The blonde walked out of the bathroom, leaving Victoria to be left alone with her own toxicity.

Taylor headed back to Max's room since it was a free morning, she might as well enjoy Max's company than being bored in her dorm room, now that she was free from the cult of bullies. She twisted the handle slowly and pushed the door peeking inside. The brunette was already up and sitting cross-legged leaning against the wall with her fingers twined together, in some deep thought. Her eyes fell on the blonde and she smiled in a lazy stupor which the blonde replied with her own as she entered the room closing the door behind her.

"Morning," Taylor greeted her.

Max waived her hand, "Hey, morning," Her voice had the morning husk. Shifting to her side, she patted at the empty space, gesturing the blonde to sit next to her which the blonde readily took and propped on the bed.

"Guess what, Max?" The blonde spoke to which Max hummed in response, "Victoria caught me in the bathroom just now."

Max's eyebrows creased together as she straightened up, "Ugh, that tinker bitch will never learn. Did she hurt you again?" The brunette held the blonde's chin and started looking for physical marks worriedly.

Taylor held Max's hand in hers and squeezed affectionately. Her heart swelled with the caring gesture of the brunette and smiled at her, shaking her head, "No, no, I am fine. She didn't hit me or anything. In fact, listen to this, like, she was sorry for hitting me instead."

Max's narrowed her eyes to a slit in disbelief, "Heck no, Tay. Victoria Chase being sorry? Now I am sure the Devil will be wearing winter Prada since hell has frozen."

The blonde giggled at Max's ever so usual nonsensical remarks, "You are silly, Max." she said, "But, yeah, like, she said she was sorry and didn't want things to turn like how they did."

"Wow, talk about 180 degrees. And…? What did you say? Do you believe her?" Max had an uncertainty in her voice. It was obvious that she didn't know Victoria as much as Taylor did. But, as far as she observed last few days, all she saw was a conceited and arrogantly proud girl who had little regard for other people's feelings.

"I… to be honest, Max. I don't know. Like, she was not like this before. Sure, she was proud and all because of her status, but, she was not this cruel. I don't know what happened to her."

"Hmm… well, I'd say, let her be. You shouldn't concern yourself with her, as long as she minds her own business." Said the brunette, to which Taylor replied in a nod and the room fell into a silence again.

"Tay…" Max called for the blonde softly, "About last night…" she said as she had her eyes glued to her feet, not meeting with the blonde.

Taylor remembering the night they spent together, in the showers. Heat again raised on her cheeks but also dissipated quickly as she recalled the brunette's frantic state after her nightmare. She didn't say anything and opted to wait for the tomboy to finish.

Max continued, "I must've freaked you out, huh?" she said pensively, "With all that crap I unloaded on you."

Taylor huffed audibly before reprimanding the brunette gently, "Don't be stupid, Max. If anything, I am glad you confided in me and it will stay with me. I promise." She consoled the brunette with a smile which Max replied with her own. Though it didn't stay on her face for long and she sighed.

"I thought coming here would be better. I'd get over it, I'll do better. But, here I am, repeating the same things. Doing the same shit all over." The brunette's voice carried a dejection and her shoulders slumped.

Taylor shook her head, "You've done nothing wrong, Max. Not then, not even now. You've selflessly put yourself on the front and helping people. Like her, like Chloe, and even me." She said as she squeezed Max's arm to insinuate her point, "If it wasn't for you, I would still be under Victoria's thumb. I'd be doing things I didn't want to do anymore. You saved me, just like you saved her from that toxic relationship. It's her fault that she didn't understand and left you."

Max lifted her head up and looked towards the tall blonde with glassy eyes and a complete unguarded expression, which Taylor saw the previous night and it wrenched her heart even more. Seeing the brunette's lips quiver, she pulled Max into an embrace. The tomboy wrapped her own arms around Taylor's neck and whispered with a dry sob, "Tay, I—I miss her. I miss her so much."

Taylor petted Max's hair and hushed her, "Ssshh—Shh, It's alright, Max. It's alright. She will come back. She will understand." The blonde consoled her, but inside she felt a hatred for this Rachel, whom Max told her about. To Taylor, she was a selfish and inconsiderate person. For all Max have done for her, she repaid it with hurt and sadness for Max. This made her hug the brunette even closer.

They stayed that way before Max finally calmed down and softly pulled herself away from Taylor, sniffing and wiping her eyes, "Man, look at me. Two waterworks session back to back. I am getting soft." She chuckled.

"Not to disregard the matter, I could say I know the real Max Caulfield better than anyone. Like, she is an adorably cute thumb-sucking little crybaby." Taylor chirped at her. Max's jaw fell and her eyebrows arched.

"B-Bullshit. You did not just call me a crybaby thumb sucker, Taylor." The brunette chided the blonde mockingly.

Taylor bared her teeth in a wide grin, "As a matter of fact, I did. Crybaby Max." She stuck out her tongue and teased the brunette.

Max crossed her arms and leaned back a little, "That was not the case when we were in the showers, Tay. When you were crying and moaning my name. Max, oh Max, please, Max…" The tomboy grinned mischievously.

"Oh my god! Shut up, Max!" The tall blonde went full red in embarrassment and grabbed the pillow next to her and threw it at Max who readily caught it before Taylor pounced on the short haired brunette and both fell on the bed.

"No, Tay, it's too early to do that stuff." Max still keeping her antics, adding more fuel to the blonde's embarrassment and she slapped on Max's arm while mirroring the brunette's grin with her own bashful one, "Okay—okay—Time, get off me, beautiful. I gotta go get freshened up," said the tomboy, which the blonde did by getting off Max. Max went to the door before stopping for a moment and snapped her finger as she remembered something, "Oh yeah. Hey, Tay…"

"Yeah?" replied the blonde as she was fixing her hair.

"Do you know any gyms around here? Ya know, kinda want to blow some steam. I've been kinda missing my runs and practice, as much as Momma Caulfield would love me to do that." The tomboy shuddered as she recalled her Mom's nagging voice in her head.

"Oh, we have that here, at the school gym. I don't know if it's what you want. It has sandbags and a ring, but…" Taylor's brows bumped together and formed a scowl.

"But…?" Max cocked her head curiously.

The blonde wetted her lips, "Just like this dorm building, it was built by the Prescotts. Nathan specifically, a 'gift' to his friends, more like his goons." She said nervously.

"So?" Max still keeping her curious tone, trying to understand why it would be a problem if the gym is part of the school body now.

"So?" Taylor repeated, "Max, don't you understand? Like, sure, no resident students are barred from using the gym, but his friends use it too and more often. Considering your scuffle with Nathan, I don't think it's a good idea to go there."

Max quirked her eyebrow before chuckled dryly, "Aw, don't worry about that, sweetheart. I've dealt with their kind a lot. Besides, it's a school, they would be idiots to start a fight in school, don'cha think?" The long-legged blonde didn't reply though her eyes showed signs of worry and skepticism. Max seeing that, sighed, "Okay, fine. How about this? We go there, if they start anything, we'll walk out, flat. No fights, cool?"

This time Taylor sighed, "I don't know, Max, but… Okay, I think that's fine."

Max's face split into a wide grin and she nodded, "Now that's my sexy legs right there." She winked at her, "'k am gonna go get freshened up." Max said before she walked out of her room.

Price Residence:

A stray early autumn breeze waved through the Price residence's backyard, making a few dry leaves danced their way from the lawn, with one of the leaves sticking to Chloe's ankle. The timid blonde picked the leave and twirled it between her index finger and thumb. She was in a deep thought that she didn't notice Joyce slid open the glass door and walked out.

"Penny for your thoughts, hun?" The older Price asked with a soft smile on her face while holding a tray with two mugs full of morning brew of caffeine. She carefully sat next to Chloe and passed her the mug which the blonde took and thanked her mother with a mirthful smile of hers.

Chloe sipped on the hot coffee and hummed softly, "I was thinking about yesterday, Mom. With Max and everyone." She said as she held the mug with both hands and looking in front of her.

"Quite interesting friends you made at school, Chloe. And? Did you enjoy going out?" Joyce asked her.

Chloe nodded enthusiastically, "A lot, Mom. You know, Max is so energetic and can be wacky and over the top most of the time. But, she's different."

"Different?" Joyce asked with a bit of interest.

Chloe hummed thoughtfully, "I don't know, but, you know. Like, she is sort of in her own space and has this charm to just pull people into her own world and change them."

The elder Price smiled, "I certainly can't deny that, sweetheart, when I can see how happy you are." She placed the coffee mug next to her and stretched her arm, beckoning the younger blonde. Chloe shifted closer to her mother and rested her head on her shoulder. Joyce embraced her in her arm and rubbed on her arm.

"She reminds me of Dad, mom. A lot." Chloe said in a soft voice.

"Exactly what I thought. Your father was quite the different person as you put it. And that's what made me fall in love with William." Joyce said wistfully, and both mother and daughter fell into a silence. For each of them, the absence of a beloved father and husband was evident as they both in a sense, haven't gotten over the loss. It was usually Chloe got into a painful silence and Joyce trying to mend her daughter in any way she could.

Joyce continued, "He gave me all the happiness he could, yet he would always tell me that I gave him the most wonderful gift in the world. You. He loved you so much, and always wanted to see you happy and smiling."

Chloe's chest tightened as she inadvertently recalled her hellish days at the school and a trauma she was carrying inside her, which she didn't want her mom to worry about. She couldn't tell her that she had been humiliated and hurt so much that she sobbed in silence calling for her father. Yet, no one saw the wailing silence in her. Remembering these invisible wounds she was carrying made her eyes watery and she sniffed.

Joyce got worried that she might have unintentionally made her cry by reminding her of her father, spoke in a worried tone, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to..."

Chloe left her mother's embrace, sniffed and wiped her eyes, shook her head, "No, mom. It's not your fault. I am fine." She said as she smiled at her mother.

"Are you sure, hun?" Joyce cupped her daughter's cheek in her hand, "You know you can talk to me if there is something worrying you." She said affectionately. Joyce knew Chloe was being bullied in her school but Chloe didn't confide to her, as much as Joyce asked and wanted to speak to Principal Wells about it. But Chloe wouldn't let her do that.

The timid blonde put her own hand on her mother's and again insinuated with a smile, "I'm fine, mom. Seriously. If there will be something, I'll tell you."

Joyce was not convinced, but seeing her daughter was determined not tell her, she didn't prod too much, "If you say so, hun," as she picked her mug and started drinking. The younger Price also picked her mug and sipped on it before her eyebrows arched as she remembered something and pivoted herself facing Joyce.

"Oh yeah, Mom, will you be shopping for groceries today?" She asked.

Joyce hummed, "No, not today, hun. Why? Do you need something?"

"Oh, okay. I just wanted a few ingredients. I had this delicious soft drink yesterday at the restaurant we had lunch. I googled the recipe but we are missing a few things in the fridge. So, I thought…"

"Write them down so I can get them next time."

"Thanks, Mom. I am sure you'd love it too." Chloe said as she grinned in anticipation and went to finish her coffee.

Blackwell Academy Gym

Max, now changed to her sports attire, along with Taylor, pushed open the gym door. Even though Taylor had her uncertainty that it might not go well, but since Nathan or his goon squad wouldn't be around this early, she thought it might as well be okay. Although it was not part of the school's P. Ed curriculum, it could easily be substantiated of the Prescotts brushing off some wads of cash from their banks.

Max surveyed the exercise gym and whistled in amazement, it pretty much had everything a well-established gym could cater. It would be even the tomboy's first time seeing a sports ring in a school gym. 'Well, point to Asscot on this thing at least.' She thought. Nodding, she turned her head towards Taylor, "Nothing money can't buy, huh, Tay?"

Taylor, who had calmed down as they were the only one at the gym, shrugged, "You could say that, Max. The Prescotts are, like, filthy rich for this town."

Max hummed in reply and jutted her chin, "Well then, I guess I'll put these babies to some good use." She said excitedly and started warm-up exercises. Taylor sat on a bench listening to music and browsing her mobile phone. She preferred yoga over extensive physical exercises.

The brunette was already absorbed in her exercise, failing to notice the blonde was yet again taking furtive glances towards the tomboy. Her eyes sparkled as she remembered Max's glistening body under the shower. Feeling a tingling churn in her stomach, she bit her lower lip to dissipate the thoughts and distract herself with her music and managed to drift away in her thoughts.

She almost gasped as Max suddenly came and sat on the ground next to her. She grabbed the bottle next to the blonde, uncorked it and sipped a bit.

"Wat'cha thinking, Tay?" She asked as she wiped her mouth.

Taylor straightened herself quickly, "N-Nothing, just listening to music. Are you done?" she dodged Max's question with her own. No way she was going to tell her what she was thinking. Max being herself, she'll pin her to the wall, metaphorically, of course.

"Nah, just done with warmups." Max thought for a moment, "Sorry for dragging you here, Tay. You can leave if you want to. I know ya don't have interest in this stuff."

The blonde shook her head, "Not at all, Max. I'd rather be with you than being bored in my room. Besides it's not every day, I have a chance to see your work on your mojo." Taylor stuck her tongue out in glee.

Max chuckled at this, "It was quite a happening when I was training with my Dad quite at an early age. My mom, she was and still is against me being, you know, the way I am. But, I am a Caulfield after all. We all are a stubborn batch."

"I doubt that. It didn't feel that on the skype call we had at Chloe's place. In fact, it was warm and funny."

Max put her hand on her head and groaned "Ugh! Gawd, don't even remind me of that. It's their idea of pulling my leg. They always do that, even when I brought friends at home. It would be an awkward moment for me."

"You deserved it. What was that, more girlfriends. Huh?" Taylor narrowed her eyes to a slit skeptically.

Max averted her eyes and laughed nervously, "I've no idea what they were talking about."

"Jeah, right. I don't believe you. You are one big flirt, Max." The blonde said.

"And yet you took upon my offer." Max countered as she grinned mischievously which made the blonde blush and she slapped on Max's shoulder.

"You're impos—" Taylor's words were cut as the door opened and entered a lanky looking young boy with auburn hair along with three other boys around the same age. One of the boys had his arm draped around the lanky boy. They were halfway when they noticed the girls and stopped in their tracks.

"Hey, Taylor. What are you doing here?"

"None of your business, Eric."

"Aw c'mon, babe, you finally came to admit you got the hots for me."

Taylor scoffed, "Keep dreaming, Eric. It'll help you with your delusions." Ignoring the delusional boy, her eyes fall on the auburn hair boy, "Warren? What are you doing with them?" Taylor was surprised to see Warren Graham, one of the few boys who has steered away from Nathan and his gang of douchebags.

"H-hi, Taylor" He waved, although awkwardly.

The douche, Eric, slapped Warren in the back of his head, "Hey, Gayram, who told you to talk to my girl." He slapped him again.

"Hey, stop hitting him!" Taylor yelled at him but Max was looking on calmly, though also trying to understand.

"Who said I am hitting him. We brought him here for a match. To man him up. Isn't that right, Warren?" He squeezed on the younger boy's neck which made him flinch but he nodded. "See, we're just having a friendly match. That's all. Why don't you sit and enjoy."

"Let hi—" Max patted on the blonde's knee to stop her.

"Let me handle it." The brunette said.

"Max, you said no trouble. These assholes are Nathan's friends." Taylor said worriedly.

"Don't worry, Tay. I am not gonna fight. Like they said, they want a match. They'll have a match." Max assured the frantic blonde.

Max got up, putting her hands on her hips as she sized the boys, "Damn, from what factory do they spit out these generic douchebags. I guess the author had one shot space to put you guys on the scene." The goons gawked confusingly, "Oh, don't mind me, just talking to myself. So? What's the story? The boy clearly not willing to have your said match." She asked.

"What's it to you?" The douche, Eric who was probably in charge, asked.

"Not your regular spectator, genERIC. Anyways…" She turned towards the auburn-haired boy, "Warren, right? How about this, I'll tag if you treat me and Taylor breakfast." She said with a cheeky grin.

"Huh?" Warren's jaw was agape as Max offered to take his place. Eric chuckled sarcastically at Max.

"What's up with this bitch. Is she not okay in the head? She wants to fight Eric?" One of the douches said.

"Hey, Gayram, your nick really suits you if you let a girl take your place." The other tagalong said.

Warren shook his head, "No, I—I'll do it." His voice wavered a bit but maybe it was his pride that didn't let him switch.

This time Max was surprised, 'Okay, the kid got balls. I admit that. Let's see how it goes.' She thought. She raised her hands and shrugged, "Fine... if that's what you want. Go, break a leg, kid."

Eric snorted and dragged Warren to the ring. The boy looked helpless as he was pushed into the ring. Max stood by the ring apron with crossed arms, spectating. Taylor whispered in Max's ears, "Max, do something. They brought Warren just to bully and get him beat up."

"What can I do, Tay? He said he'll handle it. Let's see what he does."

"Come on, Gayram. I'll give you the first hit. Give me your best shot." Eric taunted the auburn-haired boy who was clueless but putting up a good bravado he had in him as he lifted his hand into a fist and run headstrong towards the douche with a grunted scream. But all he did was swung at empty air as Eric ducked under easily and put his fist through Warren's guts. Warren fell on his knees and coughed furiously while holding his torso.

Eric leaned to the corner buckle and beckoned at the boy cockily, "Get up, you pussy or is that it?"

If it's for Max, she'd commend the stubbornness of the boy as he dragged himself up, still buckled in, holding his stomach. The douche, still grinning, "That's more like it, you nerdy wanker." He turned his head towards Taylor and puckered his lips disgustingly into a kiss. The blonde sneered at him, but the douche snorted, "This one for you, babe," He said as he drove another punch through the boy's guts. Warren again fell on the ground and in a fetal position. The other bullies cheered their douche leader, who was readying himself to kick Warren. But before he could put through, Max was already in the ring and blocked his leg.

"What the fuck you doin' you bitch." Eric cussed at Max, who for a change was glaring back at him.

"You made your point. He cannot fight anymore. Let the kid go." She said as she helped the boy up. Taylor also joined her in the ring, helping Warren out.

The douche scoffed, "Stay out of this, or am gonna forget you are a girl and bust you up too."

Max sighed deeply, "There you go, generic after all. You want a fight? I'll give you a fight, all to your heart's content."

Eric face split into a cocky grin again as he looked back to the other two and back to Max again, "Fine, don't go crying on me if it hurts."

"Oh, don't worry about me, big boy. Come at me with all you've got." Max grinned back at him, "Tay, help Warren out and give him a sip of water. Not a lot." Taylor nodded.

Max closed her eyes and started breathing slowly, aligning her breathing with her heartbeat. Opening her eyes, she relaxed her muscles with some jerks. Taking a fighting stance, she beckoned the douchebag with her hand and started hopping on the balls of her feet. Eric readied with his fists up, with a confident grin on his face.

He closed in and swung a punch which Max dodged easily with a ducking sway of her head. The douche grunted and threw another wide punch. Max leaned her head back as she hit the grunting douche's stretched arm with her palm changing the trajectory, unbalancing him and threw a straight of her own square on the douche's face. Eric's head snapped back. Holding his nose in his hand, his eyes watered. He shook his head to get out of the daze and charged towards the tomboy. This time, Max throw a front kick right on his torso diaphragm, making the douche buckle in just as he did to Warren, tasting his own medicine.

But unlike him, Max didn't give him a chance. She wrapped her arm around his neck and swept his leg, making him fall on the mat, swiftly straddling him. She pinned him down by putting her arm at his throat, threw a punch only to stop it mere centimeters away from his face, making the douche flinch but instead, Max patted on his cheek.

"You see, big boy. If this wasn't a school, I would've bashed your face to a pulp right here, right now. Be grateful I didn't hit too much on your face, else, you'd had a hard time explaining a GIRL did that to you." She got off him, and stood up, "If you want fights, I'll give you all. But don't go bullying those who can't. It'll only make you look bad." She said as she exited the ring only to find both Taylor and Warren's slacked jaws.

"What?" Max asked with a dangling smirk on her face.

"Max, what was that?" Taylor countered with her own question.

"Blowing off steam, Sexy-legs. He wanted a match. I gave it to him." Max shrugged it off.

"But, Max. What if he tells the Principal."

"He won't. He will not tell anybody that his ass got kicked by a girl. If he has pride, that is. Anyways, Warren?" The astonished auburn-haired boy nodded albeit still confused, "As the deal goes. Breakfast's on you. Let's go. I am starving."

Prescotts Dormitory – Victoria's Room

The room was in an eerie silence, but the magazines on the floor, the scattered photos, and a broken desk mirror were telling a different story. Victoria was lying on her bed, looking up at the ceiling with empty eyes. Tears had left visible streaks on her face, yet she couldn't get Taylor's words out of her head. She was speechless, back then in the bathroom and even now. She was stressed out with the thoughts keep hammering at her conscience. Somehow, she couldn't deny it. She couldn't deny what Taylor had said to her.

'A self-absorbed, conceited and cold-hearted person.' A voice nagged at her. "Argh, fuck this!" she hissed to herself as she got up from the bed, wiped her eyes and started heading towards her door, planning on going outside to get some air. She was too tired and mentally stressed to organize her room.

But as she walked by her dresser, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror on the wall. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared into the room with a blank look in her eyes.

'Come on, Vic! It's just your reflection. Face it, and let's get out of here' she thought for a moment, before turning her attention to the mirror and the reflection looking back at her. It was her, yes, but, it didn't feel like her.

She recalled the previous day's events. What was she doing? Again, she couldn't deny what the other blonde said to her. It was not a biased accusation. Did she even consider Taylor as her friend? If so, why did she treat her like that? She waited, still looking in her own eyes in the mirror as if they held the answer for her. Though all she got was a silence which let her conscience, yet again, seep in with a condescending thought, 'Have you ever considered people have feelings and they get hurt? Did you even consider Taylor as your friend?'

Like one moral dilemma after another, she remembered what she did to Alyssa, which didn't help with the badgering in her head, and she averted her eyes from the mirror. "I really did do it, didn't I? I really… came close to be… a killer…" she mumbled to herself, unable to look at her own reflection anymore.

Her mesmerizing moment was abruptly broken, however, due to the knocking at her door followed by Courtney opening it and marching in. The raven-haired girl's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she saw the condition of the room.

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT? DID I ASK YOU TO COME IN?!" Victoria barked, causing Courtney to almost jump a little. She looked back at her somewhat in disbelief.

"What? No, I—What happened, Victoria?" She closed the distance and placed her hand on Victoria's shoulder, which the pixie shrugged off.

"I'm fine!" Victoria snapped at her again, though a bit more calmly and turned away from her, picking the magazine, completely missing a sly smile on Courtney's face, though as soon as Victoria turned back to face her. Her expression changed to that of a worry.

"Let me help you with this, Victoria." She said in a calm tone. Victoria didn't say anything, which the Courtney took as an affirmative and started collecting the photos sprayed on the floor. A few of them were selfies of Taylor and Victoria together. The sly raven girl's face twitched again, and she sneaked a glance at Victoria, "Oh, you know, I saw that traitor Taylor and that bitch Max, going out."

Victoria cranked her head and glared at her, "I don't fucking care, okay!" Even though she was glaring at her, but her voice felt a bit dejected and cold.

"I understand… Vicky…" Courtney shuffled closer to the pixie, again placing her hand softly on her shoulder, "You don't have to feel bad for Taylor. You did nothing wrong."

This time Victoria's expression softened at the raven-haired girl, who nodded, "I mean, you were her friend, you loved her, but what did she do? She took your friendship for granted. As soon as that bitch Max came, she left you."

"But… I—I did mistreat her." Victoria reasoned with her morality. Courtney shook her head.

"You did not. She was the one who wanted out of the club and your friendship. You only reacted to that. I would've done that too." Courtney kept her sweet tone, countering Victoria's dilemma.

"But, you know I am here for you. I am your friend, Vicky. You don't need Taylor. You have me and we will together see to that traitor Taylor, Max, and Chloe who also cheated on you. They are the wrong ones. You shouldn't feel bad for them."

Victoria bit her inner lip as she looked down in uncertainty. Courtney seeing this as a chance, she wrapped her arm around Victoria, which the pixie didn't deny this time and exhaled a sigh. A lopsided smirk formed on Courtney's face as her eyes flashed.

AN: Ola, Friends. It's been a long time. I hope you guys haven't forgotten your furry friend. Well, yet again, in my defense, I've been going through some tough times, IRL stuff. But, let's not dwell into that. I am back with a chapter.

So, let's talk about this chapter. You might have figured it out that Meta is quite a slow burner, cooking the story slowly to it's prime. So, I want to take my time unfolding the story while advancing it at that pace too. So bear with me.

As I've mentioned before, Meta's AU is like a metamorphic phase for many characters, that are involved, but to good or bad, depends on how their life is influencing them. Which brings us to Taylor and Victoria aka Vicky's scene. I wanted to steer away from complete black and white of the characters ( A huge thanks to LonesomeBard for pointing that shortcoming, it helped a lot. ) So, I've been trying to push the characters more in the 'gray' area. Humanizing them. I'll let YOU be the judge if Taylor should've forgiven Victoria, or what she said was justified even though Vicky was clearly remorseful, but in her own way.

So, Max and Taylor, it's pretty much blatant. I'll take my time in advancing their relationship. A ship, you ask? Currently, I have no idea, let the time tell. Do tell me you didn't saw Meta-Max ( yeah, I dubbed her that ) sucking on her thumb. I just felt adding that as a trait plus also pushing her to more of in a gray area, she's not an invincible fighting T-X from Terminator. She has feelings and can get hurt, again, as I mentioned, I am trying to make her human.

Chloe ( hearts x infinity ) Not much in this scene, except a heartwarming scene between mother and daughter, but this gives way to Chloe's character. What she thought about the events, and how it will influence in her metamorphic phase. Would Max be the catharsis of her current repressing life and bring her out of her shell. Maybe she will... but who knows... we've just started.

The gym, introducing a younger (15 years old ) Warren Graham and how the guys dealing with bullying ( yeah, bullying is kinda one of the themes of Meta ) Max, well while I am trying to make her human, I'm also building her character as this bad-ass chick, but with her headstrong face anyone will have repercussions? Is she not putting herself in danger while making friends and equally making enemies. Again a topic for the future.

And finally, Vicky, torn in half with her dilemma, remorse, and uncertainty, but you've already noticed where she is getting all this bad influence from. Maybe the raven-head girl has been putting ideas in her head. What is Courtney's angle in this? Definitely, there is something going behind the scenes. Let's find out as we go through this journey.

P.S: Thanks to my co-writer, mymusicmanager, to help me 'tone down' the theatrical writing style I have with over the top dialogues. Without him, I would have given you a stage-performance-esque classic drama. LoL. M3 will update his AN later.

P.P.S : The release of future chapters depends on how I do with real life. Life is a bit jumbled up for me, but I squeeze a bit of time to write some. Please review and share your thoughts on this chapter. It'll keep me motivated to write more. ( I am a greedy bear after all ). Until next time.

A/N: Hello, my friends. M3 here.

I'm a man of few words...

First of all, I'm sorry it's taken us so long to get this chapter out. Between both of us having writer's block for a while, and some personal stuff coming up in life, it got a bit delayed... However, we seem to be back at it again now :)

I'd like to thank BB-3 for writing so much and so well. This couldn't be done without him, you all know this!

But I think most of all, I want to thank you all. The readers. The ones who put up with all the stuff we put out there, and who (I hope), appreciates the work we do. It's truly humbling to see so many of you reading and enjoying our story, and I hope we can keep doing it for a very long time yet.

I've kept you on this page long enough, I think.

Again, I wanted to say a huge THANK YOU to all of you, and with that said, I'll see you in the next chapter ;)

Your friend and goofy writer

Mymusicmanager

M3