Chapter Eleven: Chaos Theory, Part 3

The tension from the David/Chloe situation lingered over the group as they continued to watch Max's story unfold. Emotions were running high and it would only take one push to tip anyone of them over the edge, Chloe especially by this point. God only knew how she would react to learning about Rachel… nothing good, that was for sure.

Max and Chloe's next location was the Diner, the brunette taking the chance to review what they had found on David's laptop. "Listen, when I went through David's laptop, I found pictures of Rachel and Frank… being more than friends."

At that suggestion, Chloe frowned. Why would Rachel mess around with someone like Frank? He must be twice her age, a total deadbeat. Teasing maybe, but nothing serious. Most likely, she was trying to take advantage of his drug connection. The blonde in question had noticed the stifled rage flickering in Max's eyes. Was she about to get exposed? If so, Chloe would react a certain way and there was nothing Rachel could do. She wouldn't blame or hold it against the bluenette.

Max took a deep breath, trying to remain stoic. Out of all the people who had hurt Chloe the worst, Rachel would be right up there at the top… alongside herself. While she didn't know the full picture between Rachel and Chloe, she was still angry. Trust was fragile. The screen flickered again as she considered her own betrayal of trust, snapping her out of guilt ridden thought.

Honestly, neither Victoria nor David doubted what they already knew and had seen of Rachel. Others, like Kate and Warren, didn't know what the think about the suggestion.

Chloe shot her down almost immediately, hands tightening around the steering wheel. "Right. No way, Max. She was just posing to tease Frank."

"If you're not going to believe me, why don't we check out what Frank has in his RV?" Max suggested, pointing it out as the RV came into view.

"What's that gonna prove?" Chloe asked irritatedly as she pulled into the Two Whales' parking lot.

The brunette bit her lip at the increased tension. "Frank has Rachel's bracelet. What else does he have in there?"

"Motherfucker better not have anything. For his sake," Chloe growled as the truck came to a stop. "Let's check the door. Frank gets so wasted he sometimes forgets to lock it."

They both got out of the truck, approaching the beat-up RV. "I can't believe you hung out with him."

"Not anymore. We have to be casual ninjas here…" Chloe rattled the RV's locked door, getting an aggressive bark in response. "Shitballs. Okay, here's the plan. I'll go to the diner and distract Frank by telling him I have his money, but he needs to come with me. Then you come in and rewind so Frank doesn't see me, then you tell Frank he needs to check out his RV and then you rewind after you get the key, and… uh… and..."

Everybody got lost trying to follow the hastily explained 'plan', even Chloe. Warren's eyebrows came together in confusion. "I'm no expert here, but this does seem over-complicated."

Rachel nodded in agreement with the summary. "I agree. Never become a professional criminal… not without me there to help at least."

"I don't see how you would help anything." Victoria's comment was surprisingly tame, clearly having learned to keep her snide, inflammatory marks to herself.

Matching her mild tone, Rachel simply shrugged. "Let's put it this way, I wouldn't make it any worse."

Joyce passed a glance Chloe's way, glad she wasn't particularly good at criminal planning. Otherwise, she'd be risking more than parking tickets. "I'd be impressed if you could."

"I think we all would be," Taylor echoed, with Courtney seeming to agree.

Chloe narrowed her eyes at the overwhelming doubt. "At least I was trying to help."

"That is true," Kate added, coming to her defense.

"I'm glad at least someone can see that," the bluenette mumbled under her breath.

Max smiled at the long-winded and confused plan. "Chloe, I got this. I'll be right back."

While Chloe was busy getting something to pacify Frank's dog, Max kicked off her attempts to get Frank's keys. She entered the Diner, approaching his table and slamming her hand down to get his attention.

He stopped eating, looking up from his plate with cold, angry eyes. "You have serious balls, little girl. But hanging out with Chloe, playing with guns and dressing up like Rachel doesn't make you cool or tough. What the fuck do you want?"

"How do you know these are Rachel's clothes?" Max pushed to get any information she could.

"Because she looks beautiful in them and you look like ass," Frank stated matter-of-factly. "You're lucky I took that gun from you…"

That statement made Chloe scoff. "I don't know if lucky is the right word there."

"It's not," David grumbled, watching the exchange. As far as he was concerned, Frank was a dangerous man – a menacing drug dealer who may have a connection to Rachel's disappearance. Not to be trusted.

"If you do plan to go inside Frank's RV, I'd bet the gun is still in there somewhere," Rachel pointed out casually. She doubted that he had time to either use or sell it on yet.

Joyce didn't know whether to feel more relieved or worried by that. Chloe was just as likely to hurt herself, maybe even more so. "I don't know where it's safest, to be honest…"

"Thanks for the faith, mother." Chloe didn't even sound surprised by the doubt.

"You can hardly tell me you're careful with it," Joyce insisted. "Even if you were, guns are still dangerous."

"And it's so much safer with Frank than me," the blue-haired punk retorted sarcastically. It was too late to back down now.

"You know what I mean and don't play the guilt trip card," the older woman sighed, getting increasingly frustrated.

The argument was slowly escalating out of control, Chloe's composure strained. "If you're so opposed to guns, maybe you shouldn't have let any into the house in the first place."

Joyce opened her mouth to protest, deciding against it. Her daughter did have a point. While she shouldn't have taken the gun, it shouldn't have been accessible. They were both at fault here so it was pointless arguing. Besides, she didn't have the energy or will to fight anymore.

"Grab your keys and let's check out your RV…" Max ordered with surprising confidence.

"Let's not. You fucking creep me out." Done with humoring her interrogation, he returned to his food and ignored her.

In other words, Max, no keys. Next came a balancing act of information – between Nathan, a police officer, and Frank – to get the right answers. Eventually, she managed to get his keys on the table, pulling a swipe and rewind.

"Can I ask how this is any simpler than my plan?" Chloe asked incredulously, watching the complex display. Admittedly, it was pretty entertaining to watch Nathan reaction to her knowing things she shouldn't.

"It worked, didn't it?" Max shrugged, mentally preparing herself for the trip inside Frank's RV.

"Mine could've worked," Chloe grumbled, frustrated. "We didn't give it a shot."

The stubbornness brought the ghost of a smile to Max's lips. "Maybe if you looked like you could understand your own plan, we would have. And you have a track record of bad plans."

Key brought, now back to Chloe. She headed outside, saving Alyssa from getting drenched by a passing car on the way.

Chloe stood by the RV, bone in hand. When Max dangled the keys, the bluenette grinned. "I should have known. The Amazing SpiderMax."

"I couldn't have done it without Frank. Now let's get in and out." Max took the bone from Chloe, throwing it into the parking lot with all the force she could muster. "Get the treat treat, boy!"

There was no need to give them this choice. It had no bearing on the overall story and nobody would throw the bone into the road, especially knowing the outcome. Why waste a rewind on such a small choice?

As planned, the dog raced after the bone giving Max and Chloe time to enter Frank's RV. The interior was filthy. The sink full of dirty plates and empty beer bottles. A greasy pizza box sat on the side, a couple of old slices leftover with an unwashed knife on top. The windows had been covered, letting only a few thin slivers of light through.

Victoria's nose wrinkled in disgust. "I suppose this was to be expected. It might even be worse than Price's room."

"It's definitely worse than my room, thank you very much," Chloe stated firmly.

Warren gave the RV a comparing look. "Let's be real, they're both pretty bad."

Tired of being at the center of judgment, Chloe snapped. "And who asked for your opinion?"

He held his hands up in the universal sign for surrender. "No need to rip my head off…"

"Damn, I thought my room was a shit hole," the bluenette muttered to herself.

"You're not a creepy drug dealer," Max reminded her.

"Frank has issues, but he's not creepy… At least I didn't think so until I saw him with Rachel's bracelet." Sighing, Chloe sat down in the driver's seat, hands on the steering wheel. "Oh, we could cruise everywhere in this bad boy." She glanced back over her shoulder at Max with a grin. "Can you see us heading down the coast to Big Sur and beyond?"

"Yes, we'd probably be tearing up the highway," Max smirked smugly. "And you'd probably want me to kiss you again… Chloe, we're on a schedule. We need clues about Rachel."

The bluenette shook herself back to reality before shifting over to the computer. "I know. Just daydreaming. You go scope out the area while I hack his computer for info."

"Oh yes, because now is a good time to be daydreaming," Rachel added sarcastically, turning to Chloe with a broad grin. "About what, I wonder?"

"Whatever you're implying with that smug grin of yours, the answer is definitely no," the blue-haired punk interrupted abruptly.

"Aw, but you didn't even hear my theory yet," she whined to prolong the teasing.

Chloe rolled her eyes. "I don't think I have to."

"Or want to," Victoria was quick to interject, having no desire to hear what Rachel would come up with.

"Fine, it seems Chloe's secrets are safe… for now." Rachel threw an over-dramatic stage wink Max's direction, trying to get a reaction. Unfortunately for her, the brunette wasn't in the mood to humor her.

Wandering around, Max headed into Frank's bedroom. She noticed a loose vent panel, using the knife from the kitchen to prise it open. Inside was an unassuming black book. Flicking it open, her eyes widened at the pictures and notes tucked within – all suggesting Rachel and Frank were close… and having trouble in paradise.

As each item was revealed, the tension in the room increased tenfold. Nobody dared to say anything. Not even a snide remark or a denial. Even without the full context, it was easy enough to assume that Frank and Rachel's relationship was more than a simple buyer/seller one. Yes, there had been rumors and theories but nothing concrete. However much they might not understand or want to accept, it was hard to deny such decisive evidence.

Sifting through, she pocketed the book and returned to Chloe's side. Reluctantly, she handed the book over and watched the bluenette's aura shift from confusion to anger. "It makes me ill that Rachel posed like this for Frank… or wrote him love letter… I can't believe she was banging Frank! Rachel straight up lied to my face! Why didn't she say anything?"

Unlike her on-screen counterpart, Chloe stared in stunned silence. Her heart dropped, stomach dropping. This… couldn't be real. No way. It just wasn't possible. She just couldn't accept it. If it didn't make sense, it wasn't true. But Max wouldn't lie to her, which meant… she turned to Rachel, wanting her to say something, anything. Even if it was an excuse, a lie. Instead, she received silence. If all this was true… Rachel was yet another person who betrayed her.

With the increasingly darkening atmosphere, the rest of the group kept their opinions to themselves. This situation had a high potential to go nuclear without third party input.

Max bit her tongue, knowing this had nothing to do with her… logically, anyway. Emotionally, that was a whole different story. Honestly, she was just as angry at herself for defending Rachel. She should have been supporting Chloe, not trying to 'diffuse' the situation. Chloe had every right to be angry. The brunette should've let her say her piece while reminding her she wasn't alone.

Max winced at the harsh tone. "Because she knew how you would react."

"Then she wasn't much of a friend, huh?" Chloe snapped angrily. "Just another person who shits all over me. Why does everybody in my life let me down? My dad gets killed, you bail on me for years, my mother gloms onto step-fucker… now Rachel betrays me..."

"Chloe, Rachel is missing. Nobody betrayed you," Max mentioned softly.

"Bullshit, who hasn't?! Fuck everybody!" After this explosive display of anger, Chloe stormed out of the RV.

"Chloe!" Max called after her, quickly following outside just in time to watch her hurl Frank's keys onto a nearby roof. The second the brunette got in the truck, Chloe sped off down the road tears in her eyes. Awkward silence ensued. "Chloe, you can't keep blaming me and everybody for everything wrong in your life. It's so not fair."

"I gotta blame somebody. Otherwise it's all my own fault. Fuck that," Chloe mumbled, eyes firmly focused on the road ahead.

"So now it's Rachel's fault too?"

"Jesus, she was banging that pig Frank! Bitch lied to my face, Max!" Her expression and voice were the very embodiment of betrayal. "I can't trust anybody again. Everybody pretends to care until they don't. Even you!"

Hearing that a second time hurt even more than the first. Every word cut deep, made worse by the wavering voice and hopeless expression. She wanted to turn away, shut her eyes and cover her ears… but that would be irresponsible, childish. This wasn't about her; it was about Chloe.

Rachel winced at the anger. While she had expected it, seeing it was very different. All the lies and secrets were starting to come crashing down around her. Now, she had to deal with the consequences. She did sneak a glance at Chloe, who seemed numb and unresponsive. Almost trance-like.

Joyce was shocked, to say the least. The two girls had been thick as thieves, inseparable. For David, this wasn't a huge surprise. He had never trusted Rachel Amber. Being right was a hollow victory. Normally, Victoria would unleash all manner of snarky insults, taking great pleasure in declaring that she had been right about Rachel all along. Now definitely wasn't the time for that.

"Chloe Price, you better take that back. Right now." There was something unusual in Max's tone, stern but also hurt.

"Okay, fine… But you just don't understand. It's like I'm being punished by the universe…" she muttered, emotionally drained.

Hesitantly, Max glanced over at her. "So who do you most want to blame?"

"My fucking dad of course… hello!?" Chloe snapped, a deep frown forming.

Out of all of them, the bluenette was the most shocked by her own outburst. When she got angry, she often blamed other people… but she never really meant it. William hadn't chosen to leave, he never would, which made it much harder to accept. It just… wasn't fair.

Max could almost see her friend's thought process watching the emotion fueled journey. This was so much to suddenly dump on her but it was necessary to understand what she had done next… yet another memory she had little desire to relive. After the photo rewind, things had spun out of control.

At William's name, Joyce's face fell. If only he were here now, none of this would be happening. It wasn't his fault, it never would be, but she just wished things had been different. A fresh start would be welcomed… or a second chance. She had mostly come to terms with the direction her life had gone after William's death, but she still found herself wondering.

"You blame William? Really?" Max asked incredulously.

"Yes, I do. Damn right," Chloe asserted as she continued to drive. "He chose to go out of that door and leave me forever."

"Chloe, your dad didn't choose to… 'leave' you," the brunette tentatively corrected.

"I know that, Max. My mom actually blames herself… just because she wanted a ride home from work. Sometimes even I blame her…" The anger in her voice gave way to mild resentment and resignation.

Joyce glanced at her daughter, not taking any of this personally. Still, it hurt to hear. What Chloe had said was true. She did blame herself for the accident. It was hard not to when the sole reason William had gone out was for her. That doubt returned every now and then, eating away at her even after all these years.

Although he didn't show it, David had noticed the change in Joyce. She hadn't mentioned William much since they had met, but every now and then she brought something up. He hadn't wanted to push too hard, so let her be. She clearly loved him a lot. Unfortunately, their story had ended in tragedy, followed by years of rage and fighting. David wanted to reach out… but it might just make things worse. Maybe one day he'd get it right and hopefully it wouldn't be too late.

"No, you don't."

Chloe shook her head. "Yes, Max, I do. Do you know what it's like to wait for your father to come home when you're a kid… and he never does?"

Max's expression softened at the heartbreaking question. "No, of course not. But I was with you that day. It was just a terrible accident!"

"I wish that made me feel better. But ever since he died, my life has been dipped in shit." Her voice wavered; fluctuating between anger, bitterness, and melancholy.

"You don't want to hear this, but you're still here. Alive. With me. And that's no accident." Max compelled her to listen, trying desperately to find a way to fix this horrible situation.

"You're right. I don't want to hear this," Chloe mumbled, her expression stony and emotionless. She had closed herself off from the world, and Max. There would be no further conversation on Chloe's part about this.

"Chloe, I can't do this out on my own. I need you with me. And Rachel needs you…" Her pleas fell on deaf ears as Chloe pulled up outside Blackwell.

When the bluenette refused to look at her, Max reluctantly got out and watched the truck speed off down the road.

This was all too much for Chloe. Whatever the hell was going on with Rachel was one thing, but the mentions of her dad were the final nail in the coffin. Tears stung her eyes, a lump forming in her throat. Without saying a word, she stood and all but ran towards the exit. Somebody was shouting after her, maybe a couple of people, but that didn't slow her down. If anything, it made her move faster. Far away from her problems and the truth. The question was, how far would be enough?

Max reached out, intent on stopping her, but her mind clouded as everything fell apart. The pain sent her to her knees, voices filtering and echoing in her mind, not all of them coming from the room. The more she resisted, the more she realized how at her limit she was. No matter how many times she stretched out her hand to rewind, she hit a power wall and felt a sharp stinging in her mind, saw flashes of white light. A low, pathetic groan came from her throat as her body reacted to the relentless force. After a few more attempts, she had completely worn herself down but at least she was still conscious.

This time, she had to be there for Chloe.


Hello, cliffhanger. Tune in next time for the final part of Chaos Theory.