Max:

The funeral seemed like it lasted forever. Max stood around, watching Warren talk to his father and other known associates of his mother. He avoided questions about Max, leaving her to make small talk.

The questions they'd ask were usually about their relationship. Max's curiosity peaked everytime this was brought up. One thing Max learned quickly, was that artists had no sense of privacy. Even she got tired of them asking about her.

Unfortunately, these artists are vultures. They sensed every hesitation in Warren's answers, and they interrogated them even harder. Max eventually had enough. She told them they were only friends, and that seemed to satisfy them.

She likes Warren, but he could be a pushover.

After about an hour, Warren's dad approached them both. He hugged Warren rather stiffly and offered Max an awkward handshake.

"I'm glad you two could come," Daniel Graham offered in a hushed tone.

"Me too, Dad."

"Wouldn't miss it," Max added. She internally cringed after hearing her own choice of words.

Daniel didn't seem to mind. He said a few more words to Warren before leaving. Warren led Max outside into the setting sun. It was cold outside, and Max shivered in her dress. Warren shed his suit jacket and put it over there. Max couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face.

The two of them scrambled to his car. Warren started the engine and turned the heat on.

Then, they just sat there. Warren made no move to go anywhere. Max turned to him from her seat, concern plain as day on her face. "Are you okay, Warren?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said a little too quickly. He seemed to think something over for a second. "Do you have anything else to do today?"

Max frowned. She remembered promising Chloe she would come over after the funeral. She just wondered why he wanted to know. "Yeah, I promised a good friend of mine I'd visit her after the funeral."

"Would she mind if I came too? I promise I won't be a nuisance."

Max was surprised. Not just by his question, but by the vulnuerability in his tone. Although, it shouldn't have surprised her. The boy just lost his damn mother for Pete's sake. He didn't want to be alone. Deep down, she understood that.

"You're never a nuisance, Warren," she reassured. "Let me just text her so she's not surprised. You know where South Washington is?

"Yeah, I know where that is."

"Cool." She dug her phone out of her purse. She had put her phone on silent during the funeral service. She had five missed calls and a text, all from Chloe.

"Step on it, Warren."

Chloe:

She tried to scream, but she couldn't get anything out from under his hand. She tried to move her upper body, do something to get away from Eliot.

Eliot didn't say anything else. Instead, he made a noise in the back of his throat. It was almost like he was getting off on Chloe's desperation.

He knew he had Chloe trapped. Even with her excercises, she simply didn't have the arm strength to overpower a fully grown human male pinning her down.

With a hand still under her mouth, he removed his other hand holding her wrists to the bed. He struggled only for a few seconds to lift her shirt and bra up and unbutton her jeans.

Chloe did her best. She tried to thrash and shake him, but she was powerless.

She could see his excitement. She could sense his pleasure in her predicament. She closed her eyes, just wishing for it all to stop.

"Get the fuck off of her."

As suddenly as it had begun, Eliot's body weight was forcefully shoved off her. Chloe opened her eyes and pulled her arms over her torso, simeltaneously shielding her body and drawing deeper within herself.

She recognized the voice long before she saw the angel that came to her rescue.

"Rachel," she muttered to herself.

The next few moments happened in a blur. Rachel carried a lamp that stood just next to her computer desk. Eliot yelled that the blonde was a "crazy bitch!" but left before sustaining any significant damage from Rachel.

Chloe could hear through the ringing in her ears Rachel yelling at Eliot. "If you ever come back again, I'll kill you myself!"

Rachel came back to Chloe's room. Her face was beat read, and she was left panting from the adrenaline and physical exertion. She looked ferocious, like a mama bear protecting her precious cub.

"Oh, Chloe." Rachel's voice broke as she approached the blue haired girl. Gently, Rachel climbed onto the bed and wrapped her arms around Chloe's shaking body. The girl in questioned flinched, but soon relaxed into the hold.

Rachel laid down next to her on the bed. Chloe buried her face deep into Rachel's chest. Not long after, Chloe couldn't stop the sobs that rocked her body. She stopped holding onto herself, and spread her arms around Rachel.

She clung onto her protector like her life depended on it. Rachel, for her part, gently ran a hand through her friend's short hair. She soothingly shushed her, while simeltaneously reminding her that it would be okay.

Rachel was patient. She let the vulnerable girl cry herself out. Now Chloe just felt numb, but she embraced it.

She brought a hand back around. She grabbed a hold of Rachel's black t shirt. She had to make sure that she was here. The scent she smelt was Rachel. She was no longer trapped under the horrific body weight of that monster.

Rachel had saved her. She had arrived just in time.

She was tired though. Tired of being broken. Tired of being lost. Tired of constantely being a damsel in distress. But she wouldn't have anyone else come to her aid.

There was no one else she would rather hold. No one else she would rather ball her eyes out to.

She continued to cry herself out for a few more minutes. Rachel continued to stroke her hair, unbothered.

"I'm sorry if I fall asleep." Chloe could feel Rachel's chin move above her noggin.

"I'm sorry about everything."

"Don't be," Rachel yawned. "It's not your fault. Remember that. You didn't ask for any of this."

Chloe took a moment to digest this. "But-"

"But nothing. You didn't ask to paralyzed. You didn't ask for Eliot to do what he did, the asshole."

"I know. But it's just-"

"Stop. Just be Chloe, okay? This world fucking sucks, don't let it break you."

Chloe hesitated. "You sound like a hallmark card."

Rachel chuckled dryly. "That's because I'm tired. I get all ranty when I haven't slept for like 30 hours."

"Jesus." Chloe sat up using her arms. She gazed down at Rachel. The girl just layed under her, obviously exhausted. The blonde laid a gentle hand on Chloe's cheek. Chloe reflexively leaned into the touch.

Her thumb gently scraped her cheek. "Eyelash," she clarified. She didn't remove her hand.

Chloe snorted the snot up her nose. Immediately, she regretted that decision. It sounded disgusting ti her. "Why haven't you slept?"

Rachel sighed dejectedly. "Long story short: my mom isn't actually my mom, and my dad is a selfish asshole."

"Fuck them."

"That's the punk I like to see."

Chloe just smirked.

"I need a favor, my blue haired rebel."

"What is it?" She was ready to help Rachel in any way possible. She had done so much for her.

"I need to crash here. Please. I swear I'll be gone by morning. I just somewhere warm to close my eyes. I don't want to go back home."

"Say no more." Chloe didn't want to hear Rachel plead anymore. It made her sick imagining her sad. "You can crash here. I'd like the company anyway."

Rachel kissed her cheek. "You're the absolute best."

Chloe blushed scarlet. She tried to hide it with a smile, but realized it would never work. "I try. I owe you so much."

"No, you don't. Chloe, you've kept my life sane since I've met you. The only good thing I've done you might need repaying you're already repaying for. I mean, fuck, coming over here is the only thing I look forward to."

"You mean that?"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. I owe you."

"You don't owe me anything."

"I do. Come here."

Chloe felt shivers. She watched as Rachel closed her eyes and decreased the gap between them.

Her lips were like pillows. Like soft, cotton candy on her already swollen lips. They kissed, yet in a passionate rhythm. Their tongues tickled each other. Goosebumps rised on Chloe's forearms.

Thoughts of Eliot were forgotten. Thoughts of her ineptitude were forgotten. She had become lost in Rachel. The girl had single handedly broke her apart and reshaped her. And she loved it.

Rachel broke their kiss. She crashed her head back down on the pillow. "I'm going to pass out. Tell your parents I said hi."

"Will do."

Was she having an out-of-body experience? So many things were happening so fast. It was unfathomable how her life had gotten to this point.

She needed Max. She would put some sense to this bizarre situation.

Sure enough, Rachel was sound asleep. She quietly navigated herself out of her grasp and into her wheelchair. She grabbed her phone off the floor. It must have fallen after, well, everything. She wheeled herself out of the room and to the front door. She locked herself and Rachel in and called Max.

She called her numerous times. Each time it rang before going to voicemail. Chloe sighed, exasperated. She obviously must still be at her obsession's mom's funeral. She felt bad for the dude, but motherfucker, she needed her best friend.

In the end, she just left Max a text. She went back to her room and put in a different movie. She laid back down on the bed, next to Rachel. The girl grabbed Chloe, as if she were her favorite teddy bear. Chloe just grinned and let her drape an arm around her.

It looked like she would have to wait.

Max:

They arrived just minutes later leaving the funeral. Max's stomach grew raw with anxiety for her friend. She could only hope that she was okay. She messaged her friend, telling her she was on her way.

It just didn't feel like they were moving fast enough. It was only minutes but it felt like hours. It was enough time for her to decide that she had been a terrible friend.

It all started when she moved to Seattle. Without Chloe to back her up, to make her feel brave, innocent Max was fed to the wolves. Within a week, she had earned the ire of the most popular girl in school, Heather. And Heather had a posse, and a violence fetish. She routinely harrassed and belittled Max.

Max had no one. She was afraid to go to anyone, even her parents. She grew accustomed to brusies. Wearing makeup to cover her ailments. To make herself look pretty, and less like a chicken legged freak.

She gave herself a personality. When she left Arcadia Bay originally, she was always a plain, preteen girl.

Then, she was fed to the sharks. Nobody could save her, except for herself. She drew into herself. Max forced herself to become more cold hearted, even malicious. She couldn't afford to be compassionate. To show weakness was to earn another punch. Another taunt. Another cruel nickname.

Then, two miracles happened. Heather got in trouble for shoplifting. Her parents weren't happy with their "little angel" becoming a "hardened criminal". They moved out of Seattle and settled into Aberdeen. At least that's what she heard.

Just like that, the social hierarchy of her old high school was shattered. No one was able to step in and take Heather's place. But from those ashes, Heather's openly lesbian, badass friend, Isabella asked her out.

Max had never had a relationship at that point. But, she had always been curious. Bi-curious to be exact. And Bella was always drop dead gorgeous. She was the take no prisoners, punch you in the mouth, type of badass. In a way, it almost reminded her of Chloe.

She said yes, and as it turned out, they were good together. They dated for four months, before Max found out the truth. Max was the girl Bella hung out with to avoid others. The girl she'd call when she wasn't happy. The punching bag if she were upset. The girl to have sex with if she couldn't find anyone else.

Max could have never ended it on her own. Not then anyway. Another popular boy, Noah saw her bruises one day. He confronted Bella for her.

Then they started dating. As it turned out, Noah only wanted her for her body. Ironic how they can bully her for it, then want to use it the second they believe they had a chance.

At that point, Max had had enough. She snapped then. Maxine was born on that day. The day she exposed Noah for who he truly was.

Over the next two years, Maxine slowly gained popularity. She immersed herself in drugs and alcohol. She became the ruler of her body, even if the nights she spent with the boys and girls never gave her lasting happiness. She never let anyone else hurt her again.

Quickly, Max learned that people only wanted to be near you for three reasons: to make themselves look better in the eyes of the social ladder, to have sex with, or both. She took these lessons with her back to Arcadia Bay.

The moment she arrived, she made the school her bitch, not the other way around. Soon, she had most of the school in the palm of her hand.

But she wasn't happy. Max never wanted power. She never asked to be feared. She never campaigned to be Queen Bee. All she wanted was a place to belong. To be respected. That's all she ever asked for.

Along the way, she supposed she lost sight of it all. As she saw the familar sight of the Price household in front of her, all Max could feel was bile in her throat.

What have I become? she thought to herself.

If Chloe knew her past, would she forgive her? Would she understand why the Max she knew now is so much different than the Max she knew that left so many years ago?

She glanced sideways at Warren. It was a miracle that someone like him even wanted to be around her. He wasn't tainted like she was. He withstood all the bullying, all the assholes, and he refused to change who he was. She couldn't stop admiring that about him.

Max couldn't help but want to show him who he really was. She wanted him to see the nerdy side of her. The dork she repressed for years. She wants to take him up on that joking offer to watch Final Fantasy. She wants to take him to the drive in or something.

"We're here."

Max blinked at him to answer. His voice had brought her back to reality. She unbuckled her seatbelt. She rushed out of the door, remembering that she was urgently needed.

"C'mon," she urged. She tried to keep the stressed tone out of her voice. "I'll introduce you to her."

"Okay. How long have you known this…?"

"Chloe." Max couldn't help but smile. "I've known her since I was a little kindergartener. We were best friends all the way til I moved to Seattle. I honestly can't wait for you to meet her." Even she was surprised by the enthusiasm in her tone.

"Well, I can't wait to meet her." Warren smiled. It was enough to make her worries fade away. At least, just a tad. "I'm sure she has a lot of stories of you two growing up."

"What are you implying?" she asked suspiciously.

"That she has stories of you doing something stupid."

Max gave him an evil look. He just laughed. She texted Chloe she was at her doorstep.

It's unlocked.

Max put her phone away. "By the way, Chloe's paralyzed."

"It's not a problem."

"Cool. I just wanted to let you know."

Max opened the door to the house. The living room was empty, as expected. She took a risk by taking Warren's head. He allowed her to lead him to Chloe's room.

What she wasn't expecting, was Rachel crashed on Chloe's bed. Even more surprising was Chloe entagled with the girl. Although she shouldn't be shocked, she knew Chloe had a thing for her. She only guessed Rachel returned the favor.

Chloe looked up at the two crossing her threshold. It occured to Max she probably should've warned Chloe before showing up with Warren. Chalk it up to her being a bad friend, again.

"You must be Max's…" she hesitated on seeing their intertwined hands. "Friend."

Max let go of Warren's hand. She felt ashamed of herself. Chloe must've thought she only went to the funeral to further her relationship with Warren.

"I'm Warren. It's nice to meet you. Max has told me so much about you."

That was a lie. But Max was grateful for it. Chloe's features marginally relaxed.

That drew Max's attention to her friend's features. Since when did she dye her hair blue?

Max remembered when they were little kids playing pirates. Chloe always proclaimed herself Captain Bluebeard. Her favorite color had always been ocean blue. It suited her. Even at a young age, she had been obsessed with blue hair.

Max grinned, thinking back on the memory. Chloe saw it, and she sent her a confused look. "Was the funeral that fun?"

Warren turned pale while Max shook her head vigorously. "No, your hair. It looks good."

Her friend subconsciously raised a hand to her hair. She seemed to recall that she dyed it. A small smile lit up her features. "Oh yeah?"

"Yeah," Warren added. "It really compliments you."

Chloe beamed at him. "Thanks, Warren."

"Do you mind if I ask what's wrong? Max had me break the speed limit multiple times to get here."

Of course, Warren would be anal about breaking the speed limit. Max tried not to let it show that she completely forgot that Chloe had been so desperate to get them here. She seemed like she was alright now, what possibly could have happened?

Chloe's expression darkened. She bit her lip and looked down at Rachel. That same girl quietly snored into Chloe's pillow. Chloe bit her lip. "A whole lot of shit."

"Well," Max grabbed the chair by Chloe's PC setup and motioned for Warren to grab a chair from the kitchen. "Warren and I have time."

As Warren returned with a chair, Chloe hesitated. It seemed like she wasn't sure if she wanted to share her problem with him in the room. Max considered asking for Warren to leave the room, but after a breath, Chloe told her story. She told them that she was bored at home, especially after her parents left. Since Max had to go with Warren to the funeral (she offered her condolences), and Rachel was busy, she felt lonely and bored. She texted Eliot and he showed up.

Aside from the normal curiosity, like how did Rachel end up here and where Eliot was now, Max had a bad feeling where this story was going.

She told them what happened between her and Eliot. How Rachel had come just in time to save her.

"Jesus," whispered Warren.

"Oh, my god, Chloe." Max stood and hugged her friend. Chloe welcomed it gracefully.

"I don't know what would have happened if Rachel hadn't shown up," Chloe sighed. "I really owe her."

"I should've been here. I'm a terrible friend."

"Don't do that, Max. Don't blame yourself. You had to go to the funeral."

Max shakes her head. "Not just that. Since I've come back. I've come over, like, twice? And the only other time you've seen me is when I'm absolutely trashed. I should be better for you."

Chloe almost looked startled. She wasn't expecting a heartfelt confession. "Where is this coming from?"

"I'm just…" Max stuttered. She looked at Warren. He seemed interested in her answer. She realized that although her and Warren had gotten to know each other over the last week, he didn't know who she really was. He knew she was secretly a nerd, yeah, but he wasn't aware of the dork inside. The girl he's known for the past few months is not the girl she is.

"I'm just trying to do better."

Chloe nodded. "I get that."

She looked down at Rachel. She tucked a loose hair behind the girl's ear. "Rachel's staying over. I guess she's having issues with her parents. She's going to try to sleep."

"We can go if you want," Warren offered.

"No," Chloe replied, a little too quickly. "I, uh, need you guys to keep me company. At least maybe until my parents get home? I don't want to be alone."

"Oh," Max nodded. "Okay. We'll find something to do. Do you have anything in mind?"

"Yeah. Tell me a story."

"A story?"

"Yep. Something from Seattle."

Max thought. At first, she tried to think of a funny story. Something pertaining to a friend she knew. Kristian maybe. But she decided against it. Now was a good time as any to tell them how she really felt about Seattle. It was time for them to understand Max Caulfield.

She licked her lips. They had suddenly become insanely dry. "Let me tell you about Seattle…"

She told them everything. She didn't spare any details about her experiences. Max couldn't bear to look at either of them as she spoke, but she could sense their empathy and understanding as she talked.

She felt strength, however. It felt good to let go. To shed the mask that she had worn since September. It felt good to be raw, naked and exposed to the world.

"I'm sorry, Max," Chloe muttered. "I didn't know."

Max shook her head sadly. "I didn't want you to know. You were stuck here for so long after I left, after the accident. I wanted you to believe I was living the best life possible. That I was the same Max that left Arcadia Bay when I was thirteen."

"You still are, you know. No matter how many clothes you buy, or how much weed you smoke, you're still going to be my best friend."

Max felt like she could cry, but she willed herself not to. She glanced over at Warren, who watched her with a sympathetic look. He was making a face Max couldn't recognize. "What are you thinking?"

"I'm thinking that I feel like an asshole for what I said the first night we studied."

Max shrugged. "It was justified. I'm not that great of a person."

Both Chloe and Warren made noises of protest. Max looked back and forth. "What?"

"You can't say that after what you've done for me," Warren pointed out.

"What do you mean?"

"Taking care of me after Damon beat me up, getting the Vortex Club to stop bullying me, going with me to the funeral. The entire Vortex Club knew, or at least had an idea that Stella was using me to buy her weed, but you were the one who exposed her."

Max stared down at her shoes. Suddenly, she was feeling bashful. "I just did what anyone would have done."

"Not anyone, Max." Warren shook his head sadly. "Not anyone else."

"You did what you did to survive," Chloe added. "You can't blame yourself for that."

Max bit her lip. Their words had made her feel better. It wasn't the outcome she was expecting. Warren placed a hand on her shoulder. And she smiled at him.

"So," Chloe cleared her throat to grab their attention. "Are you two a thing now?"

Max and Warren exchanged a sideways glance. Despite Warren already saying they were friends, Max couldn't help but want more than that. The thing was, what did Warren want? Did he feel it was too soon after Stella, after his mom's death?

Max wished she wasn't so selfish.

"No."

"I don't think so."

Chloe looked back and forth from the two of them. She must have decided not to push the issue. "Okay. Well, I think Rachel and I are a thing now."

She told them about their conversation after Rachel chased Eliot away. She told them how Rachel felt indebted to her.

Max beamed. "I'm so happy for you Chlo. You deserve it."

"I'm happy for you too," Warren chipped in. "Even though I don't know you that well."

Chloe yawned before holding up a grin. "Thanks. I am too. I'm also tired all the sudden."

"Well," Warren stood. "You've had an eventful day. We can leave if you want."

"Or," Max stood. She wasn't just ready to leave. She found that she missed Chloe. She missed hanging out with her. But she also wasn't ready to go back to Blackwell. "We could stay the night. It'd be like old times, except with Rachel. I can grab the air mattress while you guys sleep on the bed."

Chloe nodded. "Yeah, that sounds cool. Mom and Dad would love for you to stay."

"Alright," Warren took his turn to stand. Max had almost forgotten he was here, and now she felt guilty for it. "It was nice meeting you, Chloe."

He had picked up his chair and started to head for the door. He had almost crossed the threshold before Chloe's voice stopped him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa."

Warren turned, the chair still in hand. "Yeah?"

Chloe smirked. "Who said we were kicking you out?"

Warren:

It took some convincing, especially from Chloe, but they managed to convince Joyce and William to let Warren stay. Perhaps it was because they saw a lot of William in Warren, or because they were glad Chloe finally had a social life. Chloe even speculated that they let him stay because they felt sympathy for his mom's passing. But, in the end, they let him stay, on the condition they all stay in Chloe's room.

Rachel stayed asleep the entire time. Turns out she really had been up for a long time. She was out like a light the entire time. Chloe fell asleep not long after the air mattress had been set up.

Because of the lack of room, Max and Warren were forced to share the air mattress, not that Warren minded too much. Max had changed out of her nice dress in favor of some of Chloe's clothes. She wore a light green cupcake shirt, and grey shorts. He had pointed out that the shirt was cute as a joke, not realizing the comment would cause Max's cheeks to burn brighter than the sun.

Warren changed too. He borrowed William's clothes. He wore a plain grey t shirt, and black basketball shorts. He caught her staring at his legs, but chose to ignore it. He just hoped she didn't notice him.

The boy and girl faced away from each other on the mattress. Warren stared at the white sheets that made up Chloe's bed. It was either that, or the full moon casting a dim light into the room. He supposed he could stare into the astronomy.

His thoughts were a jumble again. Only this time, they kept returning to one thing. Max.

Her smile, her laugh, her voice. They were the things that were keeping him up.

Warren understood many things. He was a prodigy, no matter how much he despised the label. He understood dark matter. He understood particle physics. He understood and could easily teach Chaos Theory. He knew so many things.

But there was one thing he didn't understand: Max Caulfield. At first, she was an anomoly. She was the first person to make him feel focused. To feel human. Now, in such short time, she was becoming something more.

He had had relationships before. From platonic to romantic, he had them. None of them were as strong as this… thing. None of them made him feel this way.

His skin ached to touch hers. His eyes begged to gaze at her for centuries

He shifted from his position on the air mattress. It's not that it was uncomfortable, it was fine. But he couldn't shut his mind off.

He turned to find Max's irises focused directly on his. Her face turned to one of concern.

"Can't sleep?"

With just two words, his fatigue had diminished. His mind became clearer.

"No," he answered. "You?"

Her eyes shone in the dim, natural light. Her face was gorgeous in every way. He loved the way her hair framed her face. "Me either. Too many things on my mind."

"Care to share?"

"Not really," Max whispered. "I don't want to wake them. But why can't you sleep?"

Suddenly, everthing was clear. "I just feel like I'm missing something."

"Really?" Max mused. "I do too."

Warren could only stare. He could hear his heart beat in his chest. He could feel every noise fade away into the backround. He closed his eyes, the image of Max's irises burned into his mind.

He felt soft lips push into his own. Somehow, he knew it was going to happen. He brought his hand up to cup her face.

They kissed quietly yet passionately. She tasted like hope. Serenity.

She climbed on top of him. She straddled his waist, their lips never breaking apart. His hands moved to her hips and came to a rest.

Maybe Warren would never understand what effect Max had on him. Perhaps he'll never know. But this, this was enough.