"Youth" by Daughter
"Are you serious?" Chloe asked, indignant as Max walked behind her to see the layout in the Price house's living room, "Dude, David, we are not tweens anymore. This is fucking ridiculous."
The couch had been made up with a couple blankets and a pillow, evident to both girls as a bed for Max while she spent the holiday with Chloe. Having left the dormitory keys at the table beside the front door, Max thought for second about making a dash for the door to grab those very same keys back. David's probably already got them in an ultra-secret safe or somewhere nobody but him can reach. Ugh, this is hella bullshit. Why yes, David, we are totally going to sleep together and get down with the "unholy fornication". Jesus fuck, this is why you get called "stepdouche". Sighing as she watched Chloe start to disassemble the makeshift bed, Max heard noise coming from behind them and craned her neck to see Joyce walking in through the front door. Arms laden with bags of groceries, Joyce saw her looking and smiled when Max walked over to the front to help Joyce out.
"Thanks, Max," Joyce said as Max took one of the bags and a jug of milk, "At least someone here knows the meanin' of actually 'helpin' out.' Chloe says she'll help and then just makes smartass remarks the entire time."
"I actually helped, you know!" Chloe shouted from the living room area, "An' don't think I can't here ya, jerks! Talkin' 'bout me behind my back is no bueno!"
Max giggled, a sly grin on her face that was exchanged with Joyce. Max remembered how Chloe's own Southern accent would pop in on occasion when she was irritated and not paying attention. I totally forgot how "Southern Chloe" sounded. Wowser, she sounds the exact same. I wonder if she even noticed that she broke into her accent…
"Yo, Chloe!" Max hollered from the kitchen as she helped Joyce put everything away, "You want some Southern Comfort to go with that Southern drawl?"
"Wha… Oh, shit!" Chloe cried out, Max hearing her stomp over to pop her head around the corner with narrowed eyes and a thin-lipped expression of irritation, "Shaddup, hippie."
"Mah werd," Max teased, fanning herself with an imaginary hand fan as Joyce faced the stove to hide her grinning, "Ah do dec-lay-ah, this weathuh is jus' too much!"
"Max…," Chloe warned, "I know where you sleep."
Max snorted at that attempted threat and grabbed a wooden spoon from the drying dishes. Wielding it like a sword, Max sprang from where she stood and lightly smacked Chloe on the forehead. You might've been Captain Chloe, but I was always the better buckler of swash. Bouncing on the balls of her feet, Max dodged Chloe's reaching arms and smacked Chloe on the butt only to duck when Chloe swung a fist. Having realized she'd likely gone too far, Max ran around her opponent from where she and Chloe were going at it by the sliding door and quickly returned the wooden spoon to its rightful place in the drying rack.
"Trying to actually slug me is a bit much, Chlo," Max said, walking over when she saw the pout and averted eyes on Chloe's face, "Aww, why are you sulking? I'm the one you tried to actually punch?"
"…S'why I'm 'sulking', jerk," Chloe said as she stuffed her hands into her pockets, "That, and you were always better at sword-fighting."
"High praise? From you?" Max asked, a hand to her chest with a look of disbelief on her face, "Wowser, you really do feel bad for trying to hit me. I'm the one who started it, whacking you on the head and your bum."
"…Whatever," Chloe said, pulling her hands out to ruffle Max's pink hair as she changed the subject with a smirk, "I'm surprised Joyce didn't say anything about the bubble gum hair you're sporting, dude."
"If she's hangin' around you, Chloe," Joyce called out from the kitchen, "I just figured it was only a matter of time. It looks nice on you, Max, though I am a little surprised that you'd do something like that."
Taking Chloe's hand, Max dragged her partner-in-crime over to the kitchen to assist Joyce with the preparation for tomorrow's Thanksgiving dinner. Memories of her own parents being here as they all sat down to a joint Caulfield-Price holiday feast filled her mind with the scent of sweet potatoes, corn fritters, mashed potatoes dripping with butter, and turkey. Turkey. Turkey sammich, turkey chowder, turkey surprise…, Max thought, chewing her lip in anticipation as well as to prevent herself from drooling at the thought of getting her hands on Joyce's cooking. Joyce's food is always amazing, but when it's a holiday she really goes all-out. Turkey. Want. Now.
"Soooo," Max said, sidling up to Joyce as she checked on the thawing turkey, "Joyce, what are you planning on fixing to go along with th-the turkey?"
"Don't think I don't remember how you'd sneak off with small pieces of the turkey, Max Caulfield," Joyce said, a sidelong glance aimed at Max from the corners of Joyce's eyes, "I got my eye on you, kiddo. Mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, some of my dinner rolls-"
"Wowser-"
"-and a surprise, to go along with the turkey," Joyce said, looking over her shoulder to see Chloe snicker at how absentmindedly Max stared at the uncooked turkey, "Pumpkin pie with pecans for dessert. That's all you get for a preview, Max."
"Awwww," Max said petulantly, a pout on her face as she gave first Joyce and then Chloe her best puppy dog eyes, "No fair. Ganging up on the guest. I see how it is. Thought you'd have my back, Chloe, but I guess some things never change."
"Don't try and guilt me, Caulfield," Chloe said, leaning against the counter with an impish grin on her face that soured when she glanced over at the living room before looking at Joyce, "There's no way Max is sleeping down here, Mom. What is David's problem?"
"I don't know what he was thinkin', doing that," Joyce said, still facing away from them as she shook her head, "He's just old-fashioned, Chloe. Max, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by-"
"What's this?" David asked, his voice raised, as he walked out of his workshop to see his makeshift bed not only disassembled but tossed, "Chloe, I swear, you push and-"
"Dude, there's zero chance of Max having to sleep down here when my bed is more than big enough for the two of us. Hello? Sleepover, man," Chloe said, a scowl on her face as she walked over to hold Max's hand, "She's my best friend. How is her staying downstairs on our tired-as-fuck couch cool?"
"Chloe, really, it's-"
"No, Max, it's not cool," Chloe said, walking over with Max in tow as she stared down her stepfather, "Max is staying with me."
"You don't get to dictate terms to me, young lady," David said, the ire in his voice increased when Chloe snorted at "young lady".
"Both of you, lower your voices and calm the hell down," Joyce said, having come from the kitchen to Max's relief, "Max can stay with Chloe in her room. She's going to be here for the entire holiday break and it is a little nonsensical considerin' how long they've been friends, David. Just relax, and enjoy the holiday with us."
Max watched David mull over Joyce's words, his hands clenched into fists at his side. This is like some bizarro version of when Chloe, Joyce, and I had stood up to David over the surveillance… Oh, oh fuck, does he have the cameras up still…? Her eyes widening, Max saw David look at her and figured he mistook her reaction as he unclenched his fists and folded his arms with a grunt.
"Fine," David said, looking at Max, "I know… I know that I'm being something of a dick, but you and Chloe better keep yourselves under control while you're here. Some of us still have to go to work in the morning this weekend."
"You're worried we'll be noisy? That is what's behind all of this?" Chloe asked, rolling her eyes as she began to pull Max toward the hallway, "C'mon, Max, let's go upstairs and avoid the mega-drama. I need to…unwind…"
Max headed up the stairs with Chloe ahead of her, the familiar "Keep Out" sign getting a snort from her as Chloe's warning was seldom actually paid any attention to. Heading through the open door, Max heard it close behind her and turned with a surprised look on her face when she saw Chloe lock the door with a bolt. When did you do that? Does David know you're making your room into your own little fortress? Looking around, Max noticed other changes to Chloe's room.
The suitcase of beer bottles and other random garbage was gone, the suitcase itself now snuggly next to Chloe's laundry bag under her shelves. The floor itself was surprisingly less cluttered, the magazines and newspapers having been stacked and set against a wall. There aren't any Rachel Amber flyers, Max thought, She got rid of them. Guess she wouldn't need them anymore, but still. It's weird, not seeing Rachel's face around anymore. Wonder what spurred this on… The bed actually made, Max watched Chloe fall onto it and immediately pull a joint out of her jacket pocket as she lit up and toked. Glad that hasn't changed, Max thought to herself as she continued to look around.
"It's not like you haven't been in my room since you've been back, man," Chloe said, blowing a smoke ring as Max looked at the tidied room, "Dude, I cleaned, okay? It's not the fucking end-"
"Oh my Dog," Max said, stopped in her tracks as she looked at what was next to the old TV now shoved into the corner on its makeshift table, "Chloe… You still have your Super Nintendo?"
Looking over, Max watched Chloe's smirk widen into a grin as she sat up and put the half-smoked joint out in a nearby ashtray before joining Max over by the TV. Seeing the look of glee on Chloe's face, Max looked back at the video game console and box of cartridges next to it. You not only still have it, but you have way more games than I remember? This…This is so cool! Getting down onto her knees, Max pulled the box to her only to have it snatched out of her hands as Chloe took it and squatted down next to Max.
"Mine," Chloe teased," eyeing Max with a mock wariness as she looked through her collection of old games, "Lady down the street was having a yard sale and I got these on the cheap. Dude, she didn't even know what she was selling! I've got so many games we always wanted to play, it's nuts!"
"Chloe, this is…," Max said, her voice fading as she began to laugh.
"What?"
"You're a hipster gamer."
"What? Dude, this shit is classic. Shut yer face."
"'I was into retro gaming before it was cool'," Max said in a joking voice, snorting as she laughed when Chloe growled, "You're totally a gaming hipster, but this is cool enough that I'll stop teasing."
"You damn well better, some of these games are multiplayer and I don't feel like dealing with your backseat gaming bullshit," Chloe said, a smile slowly making its way onto her face as Max scowled, "You totally backseat game! I still remember how you were when I was playing Super Metroid!"
"You didn't know where to go! You were trying to get to the end without getting the Varia suit and-"
"See? See?"
"…You were being foolish," Max said in a huff, pouting, "I was just trying to help, you asshole."
"Whatevs," Chloe said as she got back to her feet and returned to her bed, patting at the spot next to her, "C'mon, Maxie. You need to chill as bad as I do."
"Chill is definitely in order," Max said as she sauntered over to Chloe's bed and fell face-first onto it, a snicker from Chloe bringing a smile to her face, "…Got another? It's impolite to toke by yourself when you have company."
"You know pot etiquette? God, I've either created a monster or something hella cool," Chloe said as she produced another joint and passed it to Max. Lighting up her own half-finished joint, Chloe took a quick puff to keep it lit and used her pot to light max's doobie, "So. What to do, what to do…"
"Um, bake?" Max asked, taking a small drag. Used to her e-hookah and nicotine, smoking an actual joint was still hard on her despite getting her hands on one every now and then, "Wowser. I'm really glad I get to spend Thanksgiving break with you, Chloe. It's nice, no school or anything like that. Just you an' me."
"No homework?" Chloe asked, lying down next to Max. When she saw the pleased look on Max's face, her eyes widened, "Max Caulfield, the master procrastinator, did all her homework in advance? I…I am floored by this. Why aren't we getting interviewed by the evening news? Where's CNN when you need it?"
"Ha, Chloe. You're so funny," Max said, rolling her eyes as she took a puff of her joint.
"Seriously, this is newsworthy. Joyce'll flip her shit even, you're so notorious for waiting until the last fucking second to do anything homework-related."
"People change."
"…I guess so."
The distant tone in Chloe's voice made Max's brow furrow and she looked over to see Chloe staring up at the ceiling as she smoked. Not understanding why her friend had become so contemplative, Max shrugged and smoked away. She'll tell me whatever's on her mind when she feels like it.
"What do you want?" David Madsen asked as Max knocked on the open door leading into his workspace.
"You don't have to be mean," Max said, her face neutral as she reigned in her frustration with Chloe's stepfather, "I just want to talk to you."
"…Fine. Close the door, then," David said, turning around on his stool to face Max as she shut the door behind herself, "…Max, I'm…I'm sorry for giving you so much shit. You took a bullet for Chloe, and I don't know many people who'd be willing to do that for another person. I…I'm just not that great with people."
"I know," Max said, her tone even as she spoke, "David, you need to treat Chloe better."
"Max, that's a step too-"
"You hit her," Max said, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched David's right eye twitch, "You hit Chloe."
"…She just…I try to be a good parent, but…," David stammered before gathering himself together, "This isn't a discussion I should be having with you, Max."
"You're right," Max said, walking over to stand a couple paces away from Chloe's stepfather, "It's something you need to sit down and discuss with Joyce and Chloe."
Max still remembered David coming to her rescue, saving her from death at the hands of Mark Jefferson. She knew David could be so much better, knew that he wanted to be. Without Jefferson to chase after, David seemed aimless to Max. It's like he can't think straight without some mission to work on, Max thought to herself as something else came to mind.
"…I know you have cameras in the house, surveillance cameras," Max said, watching David nearly fall off his stool in reaction to Max's words, "You need to get rid of those, David. Spying on your family won't help you be a better husband and parent."
"You need to leave, Max. Now," David said, the anger in his voice faltering, the look in his eyes more worried than angry.
"You take them down…," Max said, as she backed up to the door and twisted the knob, "Take them down, or I tell Joyce and Chloe. I should've told Chloe already, but she's already been through so much. Quit… Quit fucking yourself over, dude."
Max left David with his jaw dropped in surprise as she closed the door behind herself. Seeing Chloe come around from the kitchen, an intense look on her face, Max gulped as Chloe eyed her warily.
"…What were you doing in step-prick's lair?" Chloe asked, "Max? Max, I want to-"
"I was just…," Max said, slumping her shoulders as she realized she had no way out of this, "Chloe, I told him to stop treating you like shit."
"…You did what? Said what?" Chloe asked, eyes widened in surprise as she looked over Max's shoulder at the closed door before eyeing Max, "Holy… Holy shit. Is this some of the Mad Max from that thing you told me about? There's no way you're this hardcore by default."
The "thing" Chloe mentioned was Max's time-traveling back in October, a reference that Max neither needed or wanted. The memories were forever there, on the edge of her mind to pop up every now and then when she least expected it. Left to her own devices, Max didn't experience too many flashbacks or nightmares. It's when something déjà vu-ish happens, or when Chloe brings it up, that I get the worst nightmares. Alone in the Jefferson's dark room, or being unable to stop Chloe from heading to Rachel's grave after they'd been at the Vortex Club party, the nightmares were memories played on loop, alternating with Max's memories of the nightmare reality she'd experienced before they'd reached the hill. Before Chloe and I… Max pulled herself away from that particular train of thought and looked into the eyes of the girl standing before her. This is my Chloe. This one, right here. She's all I need.
"You know you're gonna have to play big spoon, now," Max said, a weary smile on her face as realization took shape on Chloe's face.
"Oh, I completely forgot how hella bad your nightmares get when that shit is brought up, Max. My bad," Chloe said apologetically, nervously rubbing the back of her neck, "Um, supper's ready, by the way. Mom whipped up some breakfast stuff, what with tomorrow being Thanksgiving and all."
"Are there waffles?" Max asked, wide-eyed and smiling as she took Chloe's hand and walked quickly to the kitchen. Seeing the stack of waffles sitting next to a large bowl filled with scrambled eggs, Max couldn't help but let out a squeak and she gripped Chloe's hand a little more tightly.
"Damn, Max!" Chloe said, Max looking over to see her friend wincing. Quickly letting go of Chloe's hand, Max was surprised when Chloe latched back on. "Dude, just…just ease up. Didn't know you had Hulk strength, fuck."
"Sorry," Max said, frowning at having caused Chloe any kind of pain, "Um, want to take a seat? I'll fix your plate up for you."
"You don't have to do that, Max. Plus, you're the guest," Chloe said much to Max's surprise as Chloe walked over and fixed up Max a Belgian waffle with whipped cream and strawberries. Seeing Chloe get herself a mouthful of the Reddi Whip, Max snorted and walked over to fix Chloe up a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and a couple slices of buttered toast, "Max, I said you didn't-"
"I just want to, so hush," Max said, cutting Chloe off.
"Hey, Mom?" Chloe asked, switching plates with Max so they were carrying their meals and not each other's, "Max and I are gonna chow upstairs."
"I figured as much," Joyce said, looking over her shoulder as she folded an omelette, "I'm sorry, Max. David really does try. He just…doesn't always show that he cares in the best way."
Nodding, Max took the lead as she headed back upstairs with Chloe behind her. Closing the door behind them, Max walked straight over to the bed and sat cross-legged as she eyed the deliciousness sitting on her lap. This…This must be my karma. I'm going to have an insanely hella break and go back to Blackwell to find my room trashed just like it had been back in October. I'll walk into photography class to find him waiting to ask me about Daguerreotypes or whatever the fuck else. Waffles for supper and Thanksgiving dinner the next day are preludes to the apocalypse. Noticing Chloe hadn't joined her at the bed, Max tilted her head when she noticed Chloe eating over at her desk.
"Chloe?" Max asked, the questioning tone in her voice getting her friend to look up at her.
"Mmm?" Chloe's mouth was full of eggs and bacon as she tried to respond. Swallowing, she glanced at Max before looking down at her food again, "Um, s'up?"
"Why are you sitting over there?"
"No reason."
"Bullshit," Max said, sitting her plate on the bed as she leaned forward and eyed Chloe, the other girl still unwilling to look up at her, "What's going on?"
"I'll…I'll tell you later."
"Huh-Uh," Max said, knowing that Chloe would likely keep avoiding whatever was bothering her, "Just tell-"
"Max, why did you say what you told me you said to David?" Chloe blurted out, "I mean, I'm hella appreciative but I can stand up for myself, y'know."
"…It wasn't like that, or for that reason," Max said, taking offense at Chloe's indignation, "I can't be mad that David hit you? I can't be mad that he treats you like shit?"
"I just… Max, you don't need to save me. I'm not… There's no storm here," Chloe said, her voice quiet, and Max sprang to her feet.
"This isn't about that," Max said, her voice hinting at her growing anger, "I didn't do it because I thought you needed saving. I did it because it was the right thing to do. I…I think maybe I should eat downstairs, let-"
"No, wait!" Chloe said before she sighed and put her plate on the desk. Scratching at her azure hair, Chloe's shoulders sagged and she looked up at Max with watery eyes. "Max, please don't go. Ugh, I'm fucking everything up. Ugh!"
"Chloe? What is going on with you?" Max walked over to her friend and held Chloe in a hug, confused at Chloe's sudden emotional display. Chloe's not usually like this? Is it really what I said to David? Is she that upset over it? Feeling Chloe going limp in her arms, Max frowned and leaned her head on Chloe's shoulder before walking her to the bed. Lying Chloe down carefully, Max grabbed her plate of half-eaten food and set it beside Chloe's as she took Chloe's seat by the desk and watched. Chloe had gently pushed her away once they'd reached the bed, and Max didn't know what to do. What'd I do? Is standing up for you so fucking wrong? Are you that goddamn stubborn? Jesus, Chloe, I was just trying to help…
"Max… Could you, maybe, give me some time to myself. I, um, I got some stuff going down in my head that requires solitude," Chloe's request upset Max, but she had asked the same thing of Chloe a month ago so she knew it would be incredibly hypocritical if she refused. Nodding silently, Max took her plate of food and headed downstairs.
Max saw Joyce watching her from the living room as she sat at the dinner table. Picking at her waffle, Max took a few bites and before she set the plate aside and laid her head on the wooden tabletop. Running her hands underneath the table, Max felt the faint engraving of her initials and Chloe's. We did this when we were 10, your dad left a steak knife behind after dinner one weekend, Max thought as she remembered the tree stump they''d also engraved. The hilltop, the lighthouse… There's so much to say of memory already, coming to your old hometown after so long a time. Never mind the time travel. Frowning from all the confusion earlier, Max didn't notice Joyce sitting across from her until she looked up and nearly leapt out of her seat.
"Wowser, Joyce," Max said, a hand to her chest from the earnestness of her surprise, "What is it with Prices and making me jump?"
"Sorry, Max, but I saw you over here moping and couldn't just sit by and do nothin'. You are like a second daughter to me, after all," Joyce said, her smile only managing to worsen Max's mood, "Oh, c'mon, Max. Can't be that bad-"
"Joyce," Max cut her off, pausing before she said in a low voice, "Joyce, I like Chloe. In a non-friend way. Like, a… a romantic way."
"Oh," Joyce said, eyes wide for only a moment before she regained her calm, "Wow. Max, I… I didn't know you were like that."
"…'Like that'?"
"I don't mean anything bad by it. Just an old lady trying to make sense of something that kinda came out of nowhere."
"You're not old, Joyce."
"Nice save," Joyce said, and Max blushed as it dawned on her what she'd just said only a moment ago. Digging her hands into her hair, Max laid her head face-first on the table again and groaned.
"Too late for hidin', kiddo," Joyce said with a rueful chuckle, "Does Chloe know?"
"Oh, she knows," Max said, rolling her eyes as she sat up, "For worse, to be honest."
"Oh?"
"You know Chloe, Joyce. Likes to joke, to tease," Max said as she leaned her elbows on the tabletop, "Your daughter is… She's frustrating, but I don't help. I'm so confused sometimes about where we stand. I know where the line is between what we are and what I wish we were, but it's like Chloe shows up and everything blurs. Like, there isn't a line. There's just Chloe and all these ripples around her like she changes everything in my head just by being there."
"Sounds like more than just a crush, sweetie," Joyce said as she reached over and took Max's hand, "Have you told her things like this? Have you explained yourself well enough?"
"I… No, probably not," Max admitted, a sheepish look on her face as she shook her head, "I told her things, but didn't explain. I talked at her, not to her or with her. God, I'm so fucking stupid."
"Well, how about this?" Joyce said, walking over to the fridge and returning with a couple slices of her pumpkin pecan pie, "I figured if I didn't make a little extra you and Chloe would just tear into it tonight. Give her a little time to herself upstairs, and when she's ready head up with these."
Max smiled wearily and nodded before heading outside. Taking a seat on the swing, Max pulled out her vape and toked as she lazily swung. Maybe friendship is all I should aim for. I really just want Chloe in my life, to be honest. She's my best friend, and I've gone through so much just to be with her. I am with her, and I need to accept that this is likely as far as we'll go. I don't want to risk pushing her away or making her too upset.
Still.
I love her. More than that, I'm… I'm in love with her. I'm in love with Chloe Price. Blue hair, tattoos, occasionally shitty attitude, quick to joke: somehow, you put all that together and I just fall apart a little inside when she looks at me and smiles like the world is gone and it's just-
Max paused in her thoughts, brought back to her senses by the feeling of her phone vibrating in her pocket.
CHLOE: I'm sorry for tripping, dude
MAX: Don't be
CHLOE: I should be, though. I keep fucking things up
MAX: I don't help that situation, all this back and forth. Wowser, amirite?
CHLOE: haha, true dat. Gimmie some time, woman!
CHLOE: …MAX! OHMIGOD!
MAX: What?! Did you find some dank weed under your bed? Or, in that case, overly rank weed?
CHLOE: Get your bony ass up here! Time NAO
MAX: Chloe…?
CHLOE: NOW, Max!
Max leapt out of the swing, e-hookah left by the swing as she dashed across the backyard and nearly broke through the sliding glass door before she swung it open hard and ran down the hall. Not paying attention to the look on Joyce's face or David's, Max made it to the stairs and saw Chloe staring down at her from the up top with an excitable grin on her face as she seemed to barely keep still. Max felt like her powers had returned, time moved so slowly as she took the stairs two at a time. She's going to kiss me, and it'll be for reals this time. She's… No, don't get your hopes up, Max. It could be something else hella important.
Like what? I'm getting sick of waiting for Chloe to figure things out.
It felt like forever to Max, the watery, puffy eyes and smile on Chloe's face bringing her to tears as she finally finished ascending the stairs and fell into Chloe's open arms as her friend giggled. Joining in the giggling, Chloe's laughter always having been infectious to her, Max looked up from where her head rested against Chloe's chest and saw an elated grin on the bluenette's face.
"Okay, the Max Signal was lit, Chloe," Max said as Chloe pulled her into the bedroom and closed the door behind them, "What's the big emergency-?"
"Dude, I got accepted to Bay City College for next spring! I…," Chloe stammered, scratching at her beanie as Max's jaw dropped in surprise, "I wanted to surprise everyone tomorrow at dinner, but I had to tell you first! I've been taking GED classes since October…since you saved me, and I just got the news that my application was accepted. I mean, they'll just be online classes-"
"Chloe, that's amazing!" Max said, her hands squeezing Chloe's as she looked at her friend in wonder, "You're… You're moving on, past all this bullshit! D'aww, my widdle Chlo-Chlo is all grow'd up…"
"…Please don't call me that," Chloe groaned in an attempt to convey her irritation despite the grin on her face, "Dude, 'Chlo-Chlo' is to me what 'Maxine' is to you. Names better left unspoken, man. Besides, I got into Bay City College! They're small, but they have a promising art program and I can always double major in math to cover my ass-"
"Chloe," Max said as she pulled Chloe to the bed. Max stood before her friend and put both hands on the excitable girl's shoulders, "You. Will. Be. Awesome. Best of all, you'll be here still, right? So, when I graduate from Blackwell we could totally go to the same college!"
"Hella yes, we could!" Chloe said as she pulled Max down onto the bed with her.
Both girls laughed until their throats were sore, Max's nagging worry about how Chloe might feel for her left at the wayside as she put her best friend's need for her partner-in-crime first. I can wait, Max thought as she watched Chloe smile up at the ceiling, a hopeful look on the punk's face for what Max imagined must be a long time.
To Be Continued...
Busy busy comic busy writing other stories busy editing other people's stuff for them busy
Hello, Author's Note, my old friend.
Well, I'm honestly just hoping that you are enjoying this. If you're aren't by this point, I don't know what to tell you. Max has gone through a lot, so the development of her character past what consisted 5 days in her life is a given to me. I'd like to think we only got a hint at how Max really is in the game, if her journal is any indication. Sure, she started off shy in Chrysalis - by the time of Dark Room, however, she was a lot more open and sure of herself. Just look at how she acts toward Victoria if you decide to blame her for Kate. Damn!
All that said, I will see you all later!
Stay Hella, Cinnamon Rolls! :D