Lighthouse

(Flashback: late summer 2013)

The next few weeks went by very fast. Chloe and Rachel bade Max goodbye as she left for Los Angeles to study at UCLA. Chloe and Max sent each other record numbers of text messages, and called each other often via Skype, with Rachel joining Chloe. Rachel made serious progress on her physical recovery. Chloe started working at the diner alongside her mom, sometimes bringing Rachel along. The lawyer hired by James Amber was working with Rachel on her future testimony.

The therapy sessions with Mrs. Grant gave Chloe and Rachel an outlet for their issues. However, Chloe continued to have anxiety attacks and Rachel kept suffering from nightmares. But both Chloe and Rachel were in agreement that it would be worse to not talk about the things that had happened. Blackwell came through with official honorary diplomas for both Chloe and Rachel. Kate Marsh visited the Price residence a number of times to talk with Rachel.

Rachel's 19th birthday was celebrated on the 22nd of July with family and friends. It was a low key event and Chloe and Rachel shared an intimate moment after everyone else had gone home. They weren't ready to go all the way yet, but the next morning they did shower together.

The Blackwell trustees finalized the fund for Mark Jefferson's victims and their families. The promised amount was not going to make Chloe and Rachel rich, but would afford them a new start and would allow them not to worry over money issues for at least a year.

It was Friday afternoon, late August 2013. Chloe sat at her desk in her room and was very busy with some handiwork. Rachel walked in, wondering what Chloe was doing. Chloe looked up and to her surprise saw Rachel standing there.

"Hey Rachel, I didn't expect you just yet. I'm still busy."

"What are you doing, Chloe? Are you making something? Can I see it?"

"Not right now, Rachel. I am not finished with this yet. I will show it to you later, I promise. And I really thought your therapy session would take longer so I'd have more time."

"Physical therapy was good today, Chloe. I think I'm making real progress. The therapist was very optimistic, and she said I wouldn't need much more intensive work, and we can go over to lighter sessions soon. Also, my eyes are starting to get used to daylight again. Maybe I can come help you and Joyce out more often? I feel really good now. What are we going to do tonight?"

"I want to take you to the lighthouse tonight, so we can hang out there. If we get there on time, we could enjoy what Max calls "the golden hour", and maybe we can talk. I want to talk to you about something, but not here in this house. They say tonight's sunset is going to be especially beautiful, on account of the relative positions of the sun and the moon. Or something like that, I'm no expert."

"I'm curious to hear what you want to talk to me about, Chloe. I've been to the lighthouse before, but only a few times, and the last time was years ago. When are we leaving?"

"Right after I finish this thing here. Can you give me some space? I don't mean to be bitchy, or anything, but I have to complete this, it's essential for tonight."

"I'm curious now. I'll wait for you downstairs, Chloe, and watch some TV or something. Let's hope the weather stays good."

"I think we can park the truck right here. I want to walk the entire path with you, Rachel. Can you do it?"

"As long as you are here to support me, and hold my hand, I think I will be fine. But let's take it slow, Chloe."

"Did you see Max's pictures, Rach? I'm so jealous right now. I can't wait to get to L.A. with you."

"Those pictures were beautiful, weren't they? She's really got an eye for it, Chloe. It wouldn't surprise me at all if she became famous."

"My Spidermax deserves it. She isn't even going to need those classes. But I like seeing her get her geek on with her camera. Maybe one day we can ask her to make some pictures of the two of us?"

"That would be really cool. I bet she can make you look even more beautiful than you already are. I can't stop looking at you, Chloe Price."

"Come on, Rach. You're far more beautiful than I am. You're a true model. I still feel so awkward and overwhelmed when I'm near you."

"No Chloe, don't demean yourself. When we get to Los Angeles, and when we start going out to clubs and concerts, all the guys over there are going to go crazy over you. I am willing to bet that one day, some dude is going to walk towards you and he'll say "excuse me miss, but you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, do you want to come and have a drink with me?" And he will be hoping for a lot more than that. And you are going to have such a look of surprise on your face."

"Don't laugh, Rachel. I seriously cannot see that happening, I'm sure he's going to pick you. You're far more in tune with L.A. style than I am."

"I'm going to be proven right, Chloe. He'll wait for your answer, and then I will step in and say "back off, she's with me". And then I will give you a kiss, right in front of him. I'll take your hand and we'll walk away. You're going to be a heartbreaker, Chloe."

"All I can say to that, Rachel, is that I will bet all the money I don't have against that happening. But I do like the idea of having a good time with you, often. And we'll do all the things we couldn't do for the last year or so. We have a lot to catch up on."

"It's so beautiful here, Chloe. I love walking towards the lighthouse with you, this path is so gorgeous, the scenery, everything. And I can't help but notice you look more nervous than normal. Do I have to be worried? It doesn't matter. I want to ask you a question, Chloe. How did you know?"

"Emm... Rachel, you're going to have to help me out here, how did I know what?"

"Let me put this another way, Chloe. How did you know you were into… girl-on-girl, so to speak?"

"Maybe I always knew I was gay, deep down. Looking back at certain situations, I might have had a crush on Max when I was probably far too young for such things. But after my dad died, and Max left for Seattle, I was so alone. In 2009 I first met Eliot. He was different from the douchebags I usually saw at Blackwell. He asked me out to see a movie, and later we went to see concerts and did other stuff. But even while I was with him, I only ever pleasured myself thinking of girls, like Pris from Blade Runner.

But it was really cool to hang out with Eliot. I think he was in love with me, and was already imagining a future for him and me. He wrote poems about me, they were intensely beautiful. He was there for me when I needed someone to be. My mom certainly liked him.

One evening, after a concert, we ended up in his room. And I guess it just sort of happened, not planned or anything. It was actually not a bad experience at all. He was so gentle, he really eased me into it. It was awkward, to be sure, but kind of weirdly pleasant. But in the end, it just didn't do anything for me. After the sex, he put his arm around me, and we fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up first. That's the moment I knew who I was, romantically speaking. I felt so sad, because I'd have to tell him it wasn't going to work out. And it wasn't his fault. He never treated me like shit. He deserved better than me starting to shut him out. I didn't know any other way than to start ignoring most of his calls. And not much later, Firewalk happened, and you, Rachel.

I saw Eliot a few more times, we talked a bit but I was friendzoning him. I felt guilty over it, but knew it couldn't be any other way, I just wasn't into him or any guys really. He kept trying for a while.

The last time I saw him is when he tried to invite me to the Tempest play. I ended up going with you, and we both know what happened next. He must have seen us on stage."

"He might have. He sounds like a nice person to hang out with. I'm glad for you, Chloe, that you had someone to hang out with when you needed it. I think that someone as friendly as him will be able to find another girl. Maybe he already has."

"I certainly hope so, Rachel. He deserves it, and it will make him forget about me. And now that we're on the subject, how did you know you were into girls?"

"Probably longer than I am realizing right now, Chloe. You know the situation I grew up in. A successful father, a perfect mother, and all the expectations that came with that. I didn't yet know the story about my biological mother, but part of me had suspected for a while that something weird was going on. Father was going away from time to time, and my not-my-real-mom wouldn't tell me anything.

At school I kept acting the part of the perfect daughter. I was getting great grades, worked hard to become popular, hung out with the Vortex Club crowd, and I had dreams of being a human rights lawyer, or something else that would impress people. You also know I was modelling on the side, and I was acting in Mr. Keaton's plays.

I dated a few Vortex Club guys. But not Nathan Prescott, though he did ask for a date. I went all the way with two of those guys. Both times happened in the months before I met you, probably when you were dating Eliot. But neither experience was any good at all. Both times made me feel really sick, afterwards. I was still trying to tell myself I was into guys, but it wasn't true. I was in denial, I realize that now.

I worried what my parents would think if they found out I was gay, what people in school would think. I worried about my image. And then I noticed you. I'd seen you around before, but I was increasingly attracted to you, Chloe. I looked for ways to get close to you, because I was afraid to just walk up to you in school.

You see, Chloe? You weren't the only one being overwhelmed by someone. Once I heard you were going to be at the Firewalk concert, I decided to go too so I could meet you there. I bought a new outfit especially for the occasion. And there you were. After Frank chased those skeevy guys away, we had the time of our lives that night, didn't we? It was kind of like our first date, and it was awesome.

Chloe, you made me feel that I could be myself. You still do. With you, there was no need to act out and for me to pretend to be someone I was not. It was a whole new experience for me, I even started playing with myself at night whilst thinking of you. And despite your awkwardness, you were so direct. You told me you felt more than a friendship, even when we barely knew each other. When I said I wanted to leave Arcadia Bay, you immediately offered to come with me.

I guess that for a while, I didn't treat you the way I should have. I should have shared my feelings with you, all of them, instead of hanging out with Frank. Maybe part of me was still trying to deny who I really was. Also, my home situation didn't exactly improve after my parents told me the truth, did it? But all the time, I swear, I was only into you. Always thinking of you, and ways I could get out of Arcadia Bay and take you with me. And soon, we will."

"I cannot wait, Rachel. Look, we're almost at the lighthouse, you must be tired. We can sit on that bench near the edge, the sun is already going down."

"It really is beautiful here, Chloe. I can see why your friend Max calls it "the golden hour". It's wonderful being here with you, and only you. And look at that sky, and those colors, I've never seen that before. Thank you for taking me here tonight."

"Rach, I told you I had something to say, remember? I'm not really very good at these things, but I cannot wait any longer. I've been thinking this over for some time. When should I do it? How should I do it? I have to admit, I brought you here for a reason."

"Now you got me really intrigued, Chloe. I love that look on your face. Tell me."

"Please Rachel, I'm nervous enough as it is. So I'll just go ahead with this, and see where it ends. Rachel Amber, we've known each other for about three years now. If there is one thing I learned in those three years, is that I cannot bear not being with you, not seeing you. You're always on my mind. And the reason is very simple. This isn't a crush anymore. I am in love with you Rachel, hopelessly so. I'm long past the point of no return.

I know we're in the middle of a process. Your physical recovery, my anxieties, your nightmares. It will take a lot of time, and there will be ups and downs. I want us to create many happy memories, to balance out all the bad stuff that has happened. We won't forget what happened, but we will give it a place. And I know it's maybe way too early to be asking you what I'm going to ask, but I'm going to do it anyway, I can't wait, I'm sorry."

Chloe got up from the bench and went on her knees, taking Rachel's right hand into hers.

"Rachel, I feel that the best way to do these things is if we do them together. I hope I can keep it dry, because I'm about to have a breakdown, so I best say what I have to say now. Rachel, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to grow old with you. I want us to be happy together. I want all these things, I know it sounds greedy. Together we can deal with all the issues. I can't imagine ever being with someone else. Rachel Amber, will you marry me?"

Rachel was quiet for a few moments. Chloe was anxiously awaiting her answer, barely able to breathe.

"As your friend Max would say, Chloe, "wowser". I knew something was up when you were acting so secretive earlier today, but I didn't guess this. I thought you wanted to talk about Los Angeles. But I won't leave you hanging here, waiting for an answer. Remember when I went on my knees during the Tempest? It was kind of like this, except less official. I want you to know, I also want to spend the rest of my life with you. My answer is yes, I will seek to make your happiness the greatest in the world."

And with that, Chloe broke down in tears. Rachel held Chloe's head against her body, comforting her.

"Dearest Chloe, right now I feel more in love with you than ever before. Take all the time you need. I think I'm about to start crying myself."

"Sorry about this Rachel, I know I'm a drama queen, and way too emotional. And I almost forgot, I brought something for you. Here it is. I hope you like it."

"A necklace? Chloe, it's so beautiful! You made it yourself? It's amazing. Do you want to put it on me?"

"I made two of these necklaces, Rachel. I'm already wearing mine, I guess I wasn't thinking because maybe I should have given it to you first? I'm still too nervous. But let me put this one on you now."

"It doesn't matter, Chloe. It's gorgeous. I love it. It is the best present I've ever had. Now I feel really sad I don't have anything for you. Wait… I have this. I can give you one of my favorite bracelets. Let me put this one on you now. Give me your hand, Chloe. There, now we match in necklace and bracelet."

"Thank you so much Rachel. I love this bracelet. I don't think I'm going to stop crying for a while, but they're tears of happiness, because right now I'm feeling better than ever."

"We'll get married in Los Angeles, Chloe. I am thinking Santa Monica, near the water. We should do it either before or after the trial, but we can talk about the time and place later. Because now, I want you to come sit next to me again, and let's enjoy the rest of this evening together."

Chloe put her arm around Rachel. And as the sun went down, both young women knew they were now officially committed to each other. Rachel put her head on Chloe's shoulder, and it wasn't until long after midnight that the two returned to the Price residence, on their way to their joint future, together forever. All during the night, Chloe held Rachel in her arms, feeling on top of the world.

PS

I think it makes sense that Chloe is the one who "pops" the question, as she is clearly more impulsive and direct. I suppose that sometimes a person just knows when it's the right moment.