Before you begin reading, I'd like to thank the user by the name of Random Useless Info for being my beta-reader for this chapter. Thank you. Now Enjoy. - X
I heard knocking on the door. Opening my eyes, I found myself in my dorm room. Something was different, though; everything felt weird and muted. Almost as if someone turned down the saturation of my life. Everything just seemed to blend together.
"Max!... Max!" More knocking and my name being called. I couldn't tell who was saying it though. They sounded distant.
Slowly I stood up, walking to my door. It felt a lot further away than usual. The knocking turning unto banging, the yelling of my name turning into screaming. My heart started racing and I found it harder and harder to continue forward. But I did. Slowly I reached out to the door and opened it. Darkness came flooding through the doorway into my room like a massive leak of water. Yet it didn't push me back nor drench me.
No one was there and the banging stopped. But the yelling of my name didn't. It sounded so distant into the darkness. Then, as fast as a bullet, someone came hurtling at me through the darkness. It wasn't attacking me, it wasn't even facing me. It was more like it had been thrown back at me. The body hit my chest first, throwing me back across the room with it, hitting my desk was a crash then we both fell to the ground, the body on top of me. Then the most horrible thing I have ever heard. A low loud roar tore into my eardrums until the sounds became as muted as the room. Through the door, just able a stick the front part of its head in was a giant dark lion. In part of its mane that I could see and on the top of its head was chunks of what looked like wool torn right off a lamb.
"Max.." I could just hear the body below me whimper. I still couldn't make out who it was as everything began to blur and the roaring got louder.
"Max.." The body sat up but I still didn't know who it was as it looked down.
"Max!" It jumped on me, pushing my shoulders back and yelling into my face as loud as the roar. With the roar. Slowly I could make out the blonde hair and those perfect lips. That's when I noticed my eyes were open and I was awake. Victoria wasn't above me, she was beside me, still fast asleep. My breathing steadied as the realization that what had just happened was just a dream.
I sat up slow as to not disturb Victoria. I could faintly hear the birds chirping outside. At least it wasn't in the middle of the night. I take this moment to look around the room. It was set up differently than the others. Maybe this was the room Victoria always stayed in when she came here. Some pictures of her and friends were hung around the room, just tacked to the walls. In some she looked a bit younger, though she still had short hair. Not as short as now, but still pretty short.
"Victoria-oh," I turned and looked at Victoria's father poking his head in the room. I thank whatever god or almighty power out there that both me and Victoria are wearing clothes. "Wake sleeping beauty up in ten. We've got school to catch." Then he closed the door and his footsteps disappeared down the hall.
"He's so annoying." I heard a hoarse mumble and looked down at Victoria. She had a slightly annoyed and tired expression on her face with one eye open and glaring at the door. Then she looked up at me with a tired smile. "Ten minutes he said?" There's the first smirk of the day.
"Yup." I nod and without warning she pulled me down towards her, crashing our lips together. So far, I'd have to say this morning was going pretty well.
We ended up waiting twenty minutes before getting up, making it where we had to skip breakfast so we could make sure we had everything together and ready before we had to leave. Then we carried all our bags, and Vivian in her little carrier, out to the car. Just as I was setting our bags in the back and Victoria was strapping in Vivian's carrier, Mr. Chase came driving out of the underpass garage. Instead of a gleaming black limo, it was a sports car. Gleaming, black, and clearly very expensive.
"Really?" Victoria said loud enough for her father to hear as he stepped out of the car and walked over to us.
"I didn't feel the need for a limo, if that's what you're on about." He said, looking over Victoria's car as she waited with her arms crossed. He seemed to be checking how clean it was, both the inside and out.
"Are you quite done, father?" She said, subtlety mocking the way her dad talks, though either he didn't seem to notice or he didn't care.
"Almost, darling, do be patient won't you?" Or perhaps he's playing along? "Alright," He stood up straight looking Victoria dead in the eye. "Would you like to follow me, or me follow you?" I was confused for a second.
"You follow behind me, I don't trust you know where you're going." I am no longer confused.
"Alright, I'll wait for you, then. Don't take all day, please." He then headed back toward his car as we got in Victoria's car.
"I really am sorry about him." She said as she started up the car.
"It's alright, family are like that." I said with a smile as I looked out the window.
"I was talking about his attitude." I laughed a little, thinking it was a joke since she would act like that sometimes before all this. However, I stopped my laughing when I saw her eying me. "Really?"
I coughed a little to stop my laughter and gulped as I looked out the window again. "S-sorry." She sighed and pulled out onto the road, her father's car behind us.
Nothing too notable happened on the drive back to town and the school. Once we crossed the border though it was like the whole atmosphere changed. Everything got a little muted and the sky went from blue to more of a gray color. We were definitely back at school.
It wasn't until we got to school did things pick up. We pulled into the student parking lot and almost as soon as we shifted into park Taylor and Courtney came running up to the car. Victoria rolled her eyes as she stepped out. Looking towards them, she crossed her arms and leaned over onto the top of the car, her chin resting on her arms.
"I'm back, bitches!" She smirked at them as they got closer and she could hear their giggles.
"You have so much to catch up on, V! And I am not talking about class work!" Taylor said excitedly and Victoria let out a huffed sigh of a laugh.
"Mind briefing me later? We literally just got back." Both Taylor and Courtney respond with 'oh's and parted ways, walking away. With a heavy sigh, Victoria sat back down in the driver seat, leaving the door open as she leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment.
"You okay?" I raise an eyebrow at her and she lets out another sigh.
"It's too fucking early for this." Then a hand slammed on the top of the car above Victoria's open door, as a bent-over Warren peered into the car at us.
"Hey, ladie-Ow!" Victoria punched him in the ribs and pushed him out of the way to stand up out of the car. "What was that for!?" Warren yelled, stepping out of her way as she stepped out. I stepped out of the car as well, looking over to them on the other side.
"For scaring the shit out of me!" Then she punched him in the arm, this time some added strength behind it gaining another "Ow!" from him. "And that was for hitting my fucking car!"
"Sorry." He mumbled, constantly moving back to get out of her way as she opened the back seat.
"Max, want to grab the bags on that side?" She asks me, now ignoring Warren completely.
"Alright." I then open my side of the car and grab the bags, but stop a moment to watch Victoria let Vivian out of her carrier.
"There you go." Victoria says softly as she pets Vivian then grabs the now empty carrier and the rest of the bags then starts heading towards the dorms, me in tow.
"So how was your little vacation, Max? Watch any movies?" I swear the only thing me and Warren talk about anymore is movies.
"Yeah, actually. Victoria picked out some really good ones, I was pleasantly surprised." I smiled, catching a glance of Victoria's reddening face.
"Really? Like what?" Warren asked excitedly.
"You can ask her later. We're at the dorms now, so you need to leave." Victoria said sternly, Vivian letting out a loud meow at her feet. I'm starting to think Vivian is turning into Victoria.
"Aww, alright. Talk to you later Max!" And off he went.
"You know, he could have come in with us." I nudge.
"I know that. But I don't like sharing." She says matter-of-factly, shooting me a smirk.
Once we got to our floor, it was clear to me that not much has changed, though it is a bit more hectic. Doors were open half way, dirty laundry here and there, Dana and Juliet arguing. Yup, we were back. One thing I noticed that wasn't the usual was that Kate's door was open. And the light was on?
"Heya Kate." I push the door open a little with my bag.
"I'll be in my room." Victoria says to me as she walks past.
"Hey Max." Kate says in her same monotone voice. She was sitting in front of her computer reading emails, it seemed.
"I heard you're planning a picnic for your family when they come up to visit?" I just realized I don't think I ever talked to her about that with so much stuff going on.
"Yeah. Hey, would you like to come with me?" I was a little surprised by the question.
"Really? You want me to come?" It sounds rude, but I'm shocked. Flattered, but shocked nonetheless.
"Yeah. I thought about asking Chloe, but my family would hate her," Makes sense with her blue hair, tattoos, and her sailor's mouth. "Rachel has that investigation still going on and all, and well, no offense but I don't really see Victoria as a friend."
"Understandable." I hate to admit it, but even after apologizing to people Victoria can still be a bit… How do I say this without sounding like an ass…? A bit… Bitchy. And mean.
"So want to come with me? You don't have to if you don't want to, really. They are a bit much."
"Don't worry, Kate, I'll go with you. It'll be fun!" I smile at her and she laughs a little. I like making Kate laugh, even if it's not much.
"Thanks Max, it just might be. Well, you should probably do something with those bags." She points out. I completely forgot about them. And half of what I'm carrying is Victoria's.
"Oh right," I laughed at myself a little. "See ya later, then."
"See ya." Then I finally make my way down the hall to Victoria's room. She's sitting on her bed, while Taylor and Courtney were seated on the couch and at the desk, respectively. Surprisingly enough, or not, all three of them were busy looking at their phones. The bags were already discarded to the side and emptied, and they're all talking about different things, it sounds like.
"And so, he said he didn't care what she thought, then she slapped him right in the middle of class!" Courtney said. I noticed it was the first actual sentence I'd heard her finish since I walked in.
"But 'you-know-who' didn't speak up? I thought they all had class together." Taylor questioned.
"No, she switched classes because of that one girl." Victoria chimed in.
"The one who slapped him, or the other one?" Taylor asked.
"Neither, actually. The one who threw that guy's skateboard in the street." Victoria answered.
"Ooh, the hot one?" Courtney chimed in again.
"No, the one that always wears the beanie." Taylor chimed in.
"None of them are my type, honestly." Victoria said, leaning forward a bit and resting an elbow on her knee as she puts her chin in her hand. She glances up at me in the doorway then back at her phone then quickly back to me with a smirk on her face as she straightens her seating posture.
"Then what is your type, if your not into skater boys?!" Courtney said excitedly giggling a little, clearly not noticing my presence as she continued to lounge in the desk chair, looking at her phone.
"Courtney!" Taylor yelled, putting her phone down and looking at her. I think she noticed me when I walked up.
"What?!" Courtney yelled back, looking at Taylor then at me. "Ooh, my bad." Her face starts to redden with embarrassment.
"Here's your last bag." I say to Victoria, putting the bag next to the doorway.
"About time." She said with a little attitude but a smirk on her face as she leaned back, propping herself up with her hands. Her smirk then slowly turned into a mischievous smirk like she was working on a secret plan in her head. I feel like she only acts like this when we're around people.
"Welp, I'm gonna go to my room now, soo," I trailed off as I slowly backed out of the room, trying to escape whatever plan Victoria was cooking up.
"Wait a second, Max. Come here." Victoria stopped me, and of course I was going to listen to her. What's the worst that could happen?
She worked her way to the edge of her bed and smiled at me as I walked over. Once I got into arms length she reached up and grabbed the thin collar of my tee-shirt and pulled me towards her, crashing our lips together. As she did this I could hear Taylor and Courtney giggle behind us.
"Gah, won't you two at least close the door before it gets any further?" Victoria may have visibly rolled her eyes at the comment, but I mentally did as I recognized the voice. I looked over to the doorway where Victoria was already looking where Brooke stood, her arms crossed and her face having a mix of annoyed and angered on it.
"Maybe don't stand in the doorway and watch like a creep." Victoria said with so much venom in her voice that I thought I'd get poisoned.
"So, you rather I come in to watch, is that what you're saying?" Brooke shot back, switching her balance to her opposite leg.
"What the hell, you pervert!" Victoria retorted, pushing me slightly to give her room to stand up and put her hands on her hips as she got a little bit closer to Brooke and the doorway.
"You're the one who's making out to an audience!" Brooke pointed out, gesturing behind Victoria to Taylor and Courtney.
"Hey, we were just hanging out!" "That's what happens when you hang out with friends and one of them is seeing someone!" Taylor and Courtney both said at the same time as they both stood, taking a step before crossing their arms and putting their hands on their hips.
"Hey, hey, let's just calm down a moment, please?" I said, gaining everyone's attention. I come up behind Victoria, putting my hands on her midsection and moving her over gently so I could get face to face with Brooke.
"Sorry, Brooke. Did you want something?" She glances behind me, probably eying Victoria, who I'm sure is glaring daggers at her.
"Warren wanted to hang out. He wouldn't come in here himself, for some reason." Of course.
"Why didn't he just text me?" I blurt out without thinking. And Brooke, not being one for subtlety, of course answers with the most obvious reason.
"I don't know. He said he didn't want Victoria to kill him. Why is he so scared of you?" She shifted her attention to Victoria.
"Want to find out?" Victoria challenged. I sighed inwardly, readying myself to stop things if stuff got physical.
"No, you'll probably try to kiss me or something." I was not expecting that.
"What?" Victoria was utterly confused as well. At this point I think Taylor and Courtney were just watching, though I have no doubt they were also confused.
"Come on! Really?! Everyone who isn't a part of your popular Vortex cult knows it! You might have been going out for a while and went wherever it was you went together, but we all know this has to be some big set up." Brooke said it like she was explaining how two plus two worked.
"Shut up." Victoria mumbled, her anger starting to boil.
"You went from hating her guts for no reason to sleeping with her." Brooke continued.
"Stop talking." Victoria mumbled a little bit louder through her teeth. I could feel her anger starting to emanate from her body. This can't be good.
"The sad part is I think you fell for your own trap, with all that apologizing you did. But you'll see that you'll always be the same old Victoria and you'll break her heart. And you won't even care, because you're the queen bitch." I think I just heard the echo of the last straw breaking.
"I said shut your fucking mouth." Victoria didn't yell but did say it clearly and the anger was simply rolling off of her words. "You don't fucking know me," She continued, taking a step forward and stopping when I put a hand on her waist. "So, I suggest you get out of my sight before I gouge your eyes out of that genius head of yours." She sounded so intense and honestly scary. I don't think she's even ever spoken like this to Chloe.
"Fine." Brooke said after a moment of just watching Victoria then she walked away. Victoria let out a deep sigh.
"Can today just end?" Victoria said dramatically as she spun around and started back over to her bed then stopped and looked to Taylor and Courtney, the latter of two still seeming shocked by what just happened while Taylor was looking at her phone again. "Wait, why isn't anyone in classes today?"
"Oh right, that's what we were going to tell you earlier but forgot. Classes for today were put off for questioning and Rachel Amber's investigation." Taylor clarified. And of course, like what always seems to happen, someone knocked heavily on the doorframe of Victoria's room. Standing there was Chloe's step-dad, or should I say step-douche.
"Can I help you?" Victoria asked with a little bit of attitude as she crossed her arms.
"Victoria Chase, you're wanted in the principal's office." He said, clearly not wanting to be dealing with this.
"Yes, sir. Can I take a minute?" She says, very respectfully I might add with an undertone of attitude.
"No. I'm to escort you. Come on." He says again. Victoria looks to me uneasily and, against my better judgment, I step up.
"Er, uh, is it alright if I walk along with you two?" He looks at me and at first I think he's going to say no, but he lets out a sigh of defeat.
"I don't care. Come on." And we follow him out.
"So," Victoria starts casually. "Why exactly am I being called to the office?"
"You'll know when you get there. For friends, you two don't talk a lot." He said, casually. He's probably not excited to be escorting someone to the office.
"Oh, we're closer," Victoria smirks at me. "Than friends." I'm beginning to think this is how she gets her kicks.
"I don't understand kids these days saying their friends are sisters and stuff like that. That's not how it works." He sounds almost grumpy, and me and Victoria laugh a little at his obliviousness.
Once we get to the front of the building we split up, Victoria and Step-douche going in the school while I left to wander around looking for Warren.
"Hey Max! No Victoria?" He sounds almost happy about the last part.
"No, she was called to the office for some reason." I say, sitting down beside him. I look at his notebook and nearly go blind seeing the complicated math I don't understand one bit.
"Huh, weird. But it's nice to have the Max alone for a minute!" Again, so excited. I laugh a little.
"Yeah, kind of weird feeling though."
We talk for a little while longer, and then everything begins to crumble. It seemed like everything was just coming into normalcy, but it's like there's no such thing as that in Arcadia Bay anymore. We heard the sirens first, then saw the lights getting closer. Everyone on the grounds who were hanging out with friends or studying stopped what they were doing and looked up. Two police cars pulled up to the school. Then I blinked and everything was back to normal.
"Max? You okay?" Warren's voice faded back in.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just.. Tired." I don't know what that was but it felt close.
"Surprise!" Victoria yelled, putting her hands down hard on my shoulders and I jumped hard. She laughed at me getting scared that wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning into my back and bringing her head around to kiss me on the check.
"You two are so gay!" Warren yelled. He made gagging noises, but his face was turning red; that made me uncomfortable.
"Isn't that the point?" Victoria questioned with a smirk as she noticed Warren's face. I'm not sure if she took it as him being into it or him being jealous, or maybe even both. She then put her finger under my chin and turned my head towards her. Then what did she do? I bet everyone can guess. She kissed me, hard and passionately. I don't like using that word, it's so cliché, but that's what it felt like.
"M-maybe you guys s-should, y'know… Get a room...?" I heard Warren say as Victoria continued kissing me. We were obviously making out at this point, and I swear I could feel the intensity of Warren's stare grow by the second to the point of being unbearably uncomfortable.
"Alright." I said, stopping Victoria as we smiled at each other then she flashed a grin at Warren. Yup, she was definitely trying to taunt him. I like her methods but I hate her reasoning.
"Welp, I guess that means no show for you, big guy! Bye!" And she grabbed my wrist, pulling me away.
"Later Warren!" I yelled back at him, he still with a dumbstruck and reddened face.
As we got closer to the dorms we steadied our pace and walked together. Now that that passed she seemed to have a more solemn look on her face. Before I could ask what happened in the office she spoke.
"I was questioned." She started, pausing a moment before continuing, probably deciding how she was going to word what she was trying to say. "I was questioned about what happened to Rachel."
Before I could ask anything, she continued. "There were two cops and like a detective or investigator. They were using the principal's office but he wasn't allowed in the room. My dad was there with some lawyers too, but they made my dad wait outside."
"Are you okay?" I said, concern showing in my voice and on my face. She had an odd smile on her face. It was like an unsure, uneasy smile that was scared, but also a little happy. Her eyes almost seemed to pass through me, and gave me shivers as they met my eyes, her pupils dilating slightly.
"Max, I think they know who did it." I had a feeling that wasn't all she was going to say. "And I'm terrified at the answer."