When Max reached Blackwell, she took a detour from her room to make a stop at the nearby cafe Kate had gone to before, The Hot Spot. It had been too long since her last coffee fix. Max knew that she could and should get food there too, but also knew she wouldn't, even if she couldn't even remember the last thing she ate. Too much was going on for her to realize she had a problem.
She hovered at the door, worried about who she might see, and just wanting to get back to the safety of her room. After debating with herself for several moments, the brunette relented that it would be quick and followed someone else in when the door opened.
Max got in line and already regretted not going straight to her room, but leaving suddenly would feel more awkward than staying. When someone stepped in place behind her, she knew she was stuck with her decision. Max glanced at her phone, and saw with disappointment that she still had no text from Kate. The anxious brunette perused the ads and announcements against the wall next to her and took one flier, folding the paper and slipping it into her bag.
When she was able to move forward, Max was now able to see around a corner and so she gave a glance. The girl shared a startled stare with Victoria Chase who sat at a table, uncharacteristically alone. They both froze in the moment. Victoria tried to recover, a smile seemed to creep up uncertainly, but then was replaced by her usual smug expression, but then was quickly again switched with a look of guilt and then she turned away. Max was unable to think and could only watch as Victoria struggled with her reaction. When the blonde turned away, Max finally processed through her thoughts and made a decision. With a laser focus, she left the line and went straight to the other girl. Victoria had turned forward again when Max was almost at her table and so met her gaze with even wider eyes than their first look. The typically confident girl seemed ready to bolt.
"Victoria," Max said.
"Oh...hey, Max..." Victoria was trying to not show her fear, but wasn't putting on an arrogant show to hide it. The brunette knew then she made the right decision.
"Can we...talk?" Max said, ending a little less bold than she started.
"Uh yeah...sure. Have a seat."
"Actually...private would be better."
"Hold on, let me finish my coffee. Just sit for now."
Max did not move.
Victoria sighed in frustration and said, "Please?" though sounded sarcastic.
Max narrowed her eyes and slowly sat.
At first they did not speak. Max broke the silence, saying, "So, where are Courtney and Taylor?"
Victoria looked annoyed at the question and replied, "I can do things without them, you know." She took a sip of her drink.
Max rolled her eyes. "Sure," she said, not hiding her skepticism. "It was just a question."
"Well, I don't know really and don't care. I needed to be alone right now, but here you are."
"Uh, yeah. Well, sorry to interrupt your me time, but this is kind of important."
"Can't you just tell me now? No one gives a shit, Max. Everyone is focused on themselves, like most normal people." Victoria took another sip and crossed her legs, trying to contain her agitation.
Max kept calm and replied, "No. I'll wait."
"You're too stubborn, Caulfield."
"And you're not, Chase?"
Victoria smirked. "I am, but for good reasons and because I'm usually right."
"Oh, not always?"
"Even the greats made mistakes."
"And you're one of the greats?"
"Obviously. I knew you were smart, Max," Victoria half joked. She took another sip and continued, quickly becoming serious. "Almost done. Listen...I want to get past, well, our past. I..." Victoria seemed to struggle to continue her sentence. "I probably would have died that day if you hadn't come. I heard that you led Madsen there."
"How do you know that?"
Victoria hesitated, but spoke low, "I talk to the Prescotts. More since Nathan..." she trailed off and becoming somber. "More lately, and they know everything the cops know, so...yeah." She took one last sip and put her empty cup down. "So...just thanks...for saving me."
Max said, "Of course. I'm so glad I could. It...could have ended so different."
Victoria nodded, but appeared anxious. She seemed unable to maintain her open sincerity and so said, "Alright, it's time. Let's just go to my room."
Max said nothing but silently got up with Victoria. She led the shorter girl out of the cafe. Max looked back once, a little disappointed in missing out on coffee. It would have to wait.
They walked most of the way in silence. Max could tell it really bothered Victoria, but the blonde appeared too hesitant to continue the conversation. As they approached the building she finally worked up the courage and said, "So, Max...we are basically alone now. What is this all about?"
"I need to ask you something."
"Okay..."
"We're almost there. Let's just get to your room."
Victoria opened her mouth as if to speak, but then closed it. She was not used to this confident Max who seemed like a girl on a mission.
They finally got to Victoria's room a couple minutes later. She opened the door and closed it behind Max who immediately sat on the bed. The brunette was looking downward as if she just ran out of determination when she reached their destination.
No one spoke for several awkward moments and so Victoria said, "So...we're here," waving a hand in the air.
Max sighed and after a pause said, "Look, Victoria...we have a lot more we should probably talk about someday, but today...I need advice."
Victoria wore her surprise plain on her face and she visibly relaxed. "Oh?" she said.
"Yeah..." Max sighed again. "We both went through some heavy shit and maybe I'm stupid, but I feel like I can trust you, well...now. Am I being stupid?"
Victoria answered with quiet sincerity, "No, Max. You're not being stupid. You are one of the last people I would hurt now." She seemed very uncomfortable being so vulnerable with her honest feelings said out loud.
Max sensed her genuine candor. "I think you might be able to help..." Max thought to the rumors of Victoria's sexuality and believed that if they were true, the moody blonde may actually be able to give her some direction. It still felt a little crazy opening up to her, but she didn't want to tell an actual friend yet and something told her that telling Victoria would be okay.
Max continued, hesitantly, "I...like a girl and I don't know how to tell her or even if I should." The shorter girl kept her head down but looked over to Victoria.
The blonde bit her lip with a look of perplexed calculation, as if trying to decide or figure out something.
Max did not notice as she continued her thoughts. "She might not even...you know...like girls too, but I feel like she does...maybe?"
Victoria seemed to have decided something and then stepped over to sit next to Max.
"And what are you afraid of?"
Max scrunched her lip and said, "I don't know..."
"Rejection? Embarrassment?"
"Maybe, but it's not just that, I-"
Victoria cut her off with a hand that turned Max's face towards her own and the other hand slid up the shorter girl's thigh. Max froze in confusion.
"You don't have to be afraid, Max..." Victoria said in a low sultry voice and then, before the brunette knew what happened, Victoria's lips were on her own, kissing her passionately.
Max put a hand firmly on the blonde's shoulder to give herself leverage to push away.
"Wha, wha...wait a second..." Max sputtered out, still in shock.
"Too fast? I'm sorry, I...I've been such a bitch to you and...I've been waiting a long time for that."
"Victoria..." Max was able to get a clear mind enough to know she was about to feel horrible for what she was going to need to say.
"No...it's not that...I'm so sorry. I-"
"You weren't talking about me..." Victoria became rigid, mortified now by her realization.
"I'm sorry," Max said again. "I should...go." She got up and went to the door. The brunette looked back once and Victoria didn't see Max's look of pity as she remained on the bed with her hands covering her face.
Max mouthed Fuck! as she strode as quickly as she could, back to her room.
Stupid, Max, of course she thought you were talking about her! It's so obvious, why were you so vague? You're just the stupidest person to ever go to Blackwell. Fuck!
Max made it to her room and as soon as she closed the door behind her, she had a sudden horrible thought.
Did I just betray Kate? No...no. Victoria kissed me, I didn't kiss her and I stopped it.
But you enjoyed it, didn't you? an accusing voice came in, speaking for her guilt.
No! Maybe? She's a pretty girl, but I don't feel anything for her. Kate's the only one I want to kiss. So...do I tell her? But we aren't even together now...yet? So, no...but I still feel guilty.
She was not sure what she would do. While swaying with uncertainty, she got a text from Kate.
Kate: Hey Max! I'm finally done with everything. You said you were meeting your parents at the Hot Spot at 3 right?
Fuck! I forgot...
They were going to meet right at the same place she just encountered Victoria. She felt a renewed surge of guilt. Max looked at her phone and minutes started passing by without her being able to formulate a response. Before she could think of something, Kate texted again.
Kate: I was thinking we could go there now since we only have a few minutes before 3. Are you in your room?
Max looked up at the time display and was still surprised to see Kate was right.
Fucking hell, no...no no no...I'm not ready!
She breathed out a short sigh of frustration and then went to look at herself in the mirror before leaving. Somehow, this preparation made her realize that Kate, the girl she wanted to be with, was meeting her parents for the first time. A whole new set of nerves increased her anxiety, but then she thought more about it.
Kate is perfect. They're going to love her.
She settled back down a little, still a little more apprehensive about the meeting. She had to pull it together and reply though.
Max: Yeah I am here
Kate: Great, be there in a minute!
Max felt overwhelmingly nervous, wishing she had not just immediately told the truth about being in her room. It felt really hard to lie to Kate though. Realizing this fact about herself made her even more anxious.