XXI - Sleep over
They were getting close to Chloe's house, Max realized. She felt some jitters as she tried to remind herself again that she had not been there for years, not just a few weeks. It was going to be tricky. To look surprised at Chloe's room, but not too much as to make the punk girl suspicious. She tried to remember what her reaction had been the first time, but it was completely lost in the background of drama, detective work, scare, frantic panic over Chloe's several demises, complete trauma at being tied and abused in a dark bunker and so on...
Yep, I had it rough really! I wish they had a Time travel PTSD program somewhere!
During the first part of their trip, she had felt Chloe's eyes glancing at her now and then. She knew the girl was probably checking if she was alright. Hell, she knew she didn't look alright too! She had started to feel like Chloe had some suspicions too concerning the half-truth she had told, not to mention the outright lies, her friend's brow showing this light crease when she considered something. Max remembered seeing it quite often when Chloe's dad had been pulling pranks and all, her friend considering whether he was messing with her or not, which wasn't always easy because William had been goofy even when he was serious.
Max had thought carefully about telling or not telling Chloe the truth about that fateful week. In the end, she had decided to keep it to herself, at least for now. She wasn't sure she was in shape to mess around with time in case she had to prove herself to Chloe, and she didn't want Chloe to feel bound by the decision and love expressed in the other timeline.
And let's avoid the awkward, 'well I managed to save your dad too, but then I had to kill you in return' situation.
Most of the time though, Chloe was concentrated on her driving, both hands on the wheel, eyes always checking around. It was completely out of character for her rebellious punk persona, but Max rather understood why Chloe was like that.
I suppose when you lose someone important to a freakish car crash, you are extra careful when you drive.
Being a careful driver didn't mean Chloe was only concentrating on the road. They had chatted, hummed songs, Max even saw the girl beat the tempo of one she seemed to particularly like on the wheel. To Max' delight Chloe seemed to be as energic as she always knew her.
Things had calmed down a bit though. Max was not sure why, but Chloe had turned all thoughtful. As Max looked at her, Chloe was leaning on the side, her elbow propped against the side window and her head resting on her fist, while the other hand remained on the steering wheel. Her face seemed a bit sad, as if she had dark thought, or maybe painful ones. Through the window Max could see the sea shore with the promontory and the lighthouse. She took her camera out of her messenger bag and trying to be as discreet as possible, started to frame her shot. Carefully she pressed the button and the camera whirred as it spit the small photo.
Chloe blinked and looked at her. "Hey not fair Caulfield! You should warn me, so I can show you my best side!"
Max smiled as she shook the picture in front of her. "Oh, trust me this was your best side!" She looked at the image forming on the paper and with a nod showed it to Chloe. "See?"
Chloe took a quick glance at the picture her cheeks slightly blushing. "Okay true! You do have talent! Still you should avoid surprising the driver when on the road."
Max nodded. "Dully noted."
A few minutes later the truck parked in front of Chloe's house. Without thinking about it Max' eyes rose to check if the surveillance camera she remembered, was still posted on the wall. She noticed only a few holes where the metallic plate had once been.
Maybe with that story over, David's paranoia has finally withdrawn.
"Yeah hasn't changed much, has it?"
Max turned to look at her friend and shook her head. "Not really no. I thought it would have been painted by now but..."
Chloe nodded. "Yeah, I dunno why Step-douche never really got around that."
Chloe stepped out of the vehicle and started to prepare the chair as Max let herself slide down, resting on her crutches and feet for a while. She still couldn't hold herself on her legs or move long distance, but she wanted to use this chance to practice.
She waited a moment until the wheelchair was ready and then shuffled slowly to sit in it.
"You made progress. It's good." The bluenette remarked.
Max shrugged as she placed the crutches across her legs. "Well yes, but not as much as I'd like, or think I could."
"It will get there." The punk responded, taking Max' duffel bag.
Max nodded and started to roll her chair toward the door, waiting for Chloe to open it.
As she passed the door, Chloe called in the house. "Yo! I'm home! And I brought a street racer girl with me!"
Max chuckled at her friend's antic. Yeah, she really didn't change at all!
She rolled her chair through the door, the maneuver tighter than she would have wanted, and further into the familiar house, letting Chloe close the door.
Joyce poked her head through the kitchen door and smiled happily. "Max! I'm so glad to see you! I hope this week wasn't too hard!"
Max blushed a bit as Joyce ran to her and hugged her. "No, it was fine Joyce! Of course, I'd have done without the cart, but at least I got a big ass room now so..."
Joyce nodded and waved toward the living room. "Come on in! You know you are like at home here!"
Max smiled looking around. "Thank you, Joyce. It hasn't really changed, it's nice!"
Joyce frowned a bit. "Thank you, kiddo but we both know the house could use a bit of work."
Max shook her head. "No really, it feels like I never left."
Joyce chuckled. "Okay. I know you will probably spend most of your time upstairs seeing that all the amenities are there, but dinner should be ready soon so why don't you both enjoy some time down there for a bit."
Chloe nodded. "Sure ma... I'll go put her bag in my room and be right back."
Max nodded and rolled her chair, looking at the pictures at the wall.
Yeah really is the same as that week.
She heard the front door opening and turned around to see David stepping in in his uniform.
"I'm home!" he announced before her looked up and spotted Max. "Oh, hi Maxine. I forgot you were coming this weekend, sorry."
Chloe chose that moment to return. She jumped the last few steps, landing with a loud bang as she interjected.
"It's Max! Never Maxine!"
Both girl looked at each other and laughed as Joyce called from the kitchen. "Oh dear! It's been a while since I last heard that!"
It took a moment for Max to calm down, especially since David Madsen had grunted unhappily at being reprimanded by Chloe.
"Hello Mr. Madsen. It's not really a big deal." She finally managed to say. "And thank you for having me."
Chloe chuckled and went to join her with bouncy steps. "Not his choice to make! You were part of the house before he was anyway!" She reached to high-five Max, who shook her head and gave it to her.
"Don't be a dork!"
"Who you calling a dork, nerd?"
"You, Doofus!"
"Oh, is that right, hippie?"
"Punk!"
"Hey that's not even an insult to me!"
Both girl laughed again while both parents shook their head.
David scratched his head and moved toward the stairs. "I'm going to get changed. I'll pick up the sheets for the pull-out couch while I'm at it."
Chloe frowned. "Dude! You finally going to use it instead of polluting my mom's bed?"
Joyce rolled her eyes. "Chloe..."
David sighed. "Let's not fight tonight okay? I just want it to be ready, so Max felt comfortable tonight."
Chloe took a step toward him putting her fist on her hips. "Dude no way! Max sleeping in my room as she always did!"
David pointed at the stairs. "It would be easier for her if she didn't have to climb those, Chloe!"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure, I mean of course the bathroom is upstairs, so I guess she'd need to hold it in for the whole weekend... But well..."
Joyce looked at David as she added. "She got you there, David. It would be easier for Max if she spent most of the time upstairs. Not that it changes the fact Max always slept with Chloe and I don't see why it should change."
David grunted and raised his hands in surrender as he climbed the stairs. "Fine! Fine! I guess I forgot about the bathroom issue."
Chloe turned to face Max raising her fist in victory which made Max giggle at her banter.
Joyce shook her head although her smile showed she was actually amused and happy to see her daughter smile and laugh again. "Chloe, although I hate to rain on your parade, could you set the table for dinner while I finish cooking?" She moved back the kitchen as she added. "You can go choose a place Max. I'm sure you are tired after your first week back at school."
Max felt that Chloe was about to complain but she just bit her lip at the mention of Max apparent exhaustion and moved to the kitchen. Leaving both Price women to their work, Max rolled her chair close to the table and reached to pull a chair slightly back. She went to park her wheelchair in a corner, locked the wheel in position and then started to stand with her crutches.
She was halfway to the table, moving her legs carefully while most of her weight was on her arms, when she heard Joyce. "Dear Lord Max! There was no need to push yourself like this! You should just have stayed in your chair!"
Max let a little grunt as she kept moving, her voice slightly strained, more from trying to keep her arms steady than the sorta walk she was doing, as she said. "It's okay Joyce... I need to practice... And I want it to be like it was before..."
Joyce shook her head slightly amazed by the stubbornness of the girl she remembered as shy and withdrawn. She moved closer, watching over the brunette as Max moved.
Max was glad when she finally sat down and set the crutches on the side of the table. She felt she had made progress with that this week. She could slightly raise her feet now, not enough for her to be able to climb stairs yet, but enough that she could take what looked like an awkward trembling step without her feet shuffling on the floor or catching in the carpets or something.
Joyce came over and made sure Max was all set as she said. "Really, Max, you should not push yourself. It will come back in time."
Max nodded silently, not really eager to argue the point anyway. Chloe came with a pile of plates and silverware and started to set them up around the table. "Let it go Ma... She kinda found a way to become stubborn while she was away. At least as far as trying to live as she wasn't injured is concerned."
David chose that moment to enter the dining room. He frowned a moment as he caught the last words of the conversation but elected not to say anything. He moved and took his place at the table beside Max.
Probably to avoid being beside or in front of Chloe.
The dinner itself was quiet and nice. Joyce had made a nice pot-roast, which seemed to annoy Chloe somehow although the punk didn't voice her feelings, and everyone ate more or less in silence. Max wondered if it was how David did things or if it was just how things had evolved out of the tensions between him and Chloe. The contrast with the joyful and animated meals she had with William and Joyce when younger made it all the more awkward.
When everyone was finished. David rose with a 'it was delicious Joyce as usual' and headed for the garage. Chloe helped Joyce with the dishes while Max stayed seated at the table, then she excused herself and went outside searching her pockets.
Joyce joined Max at the table. "So, tell me, how are things kiddo?"
Max smiled. "Not too bad considering."
Joyce nodded. "Yeah you really scared us. Well you and Chloe both, but hers was a flesh wound. You got the scariest one."
Max nodded. "I... suppose yeah. But then I guess I'm glad it ended up this way."
Joyce shrugged. "I can understand. And well, yeah, I'm happy Chloe's alive and well. But I would still have been horrified if you had not made it Max."
Max blushed. She understood, after all if she had seen Joyce as a second mother, Joyce probably saw her as a daughter.
"Anyway, I'm glad to see you back." Joyce looked at the window, watching Chloe leaning on the fence smoking. "I haven't seen her laugh like she did earlier since William's accident and you left for Seattle." She smiled softly "I know Vanessa wanted you to go back, so well I'm glad you decided to stay."
Max nodded looking at Chloe fondly. "I ... had my reasons. Beside I can't really let mom coddle me all my life."
Joyce chuckled. "Oh, I wish you would teach that to Chloe! But yeah, I guess you are right. Although I understand where your mother stands. It was certainly hard enough for me when they told me Chloe was hurt. I imagine how hard it was for your mother, especially with the several scares, and your current condition."
Max shrugged softly. "I understand, but still. I just couldn't leave. I had to stay. I couldn't let this beat me."
Joyce nodded proudly. "Good! That's a good way of looking at it." Max kept looking at Chloe, enjoying how her friend looked lost in her thought as she smoked looking at the sky.
She felt Joyce's eyes on her and turned to face the older woman.
"So, tell me, how are things between you two? I had a feeling there were still some tensions now and then."
Max sighed, wishing Joyce didn't have such keen eyes for human relationships. "Yeah... I guess it's my fault though... I mean, I understand she is upset that I didn't write or call all those years."
Joyce waved dismissing hand. "Not your fault kiddo. And I'm sure she knows it too. You didn't choose to move, nor when you would do it. And I'm sure you had your hands full in Seattle too." She leaned back in her chair. "Besides, Chloe been angry at everything since her father died. I'm not sure she has really moved on. I didn't help. I had to move on to be able to keep on going. I met David and I hoped it would help her. But, I suppose she was not ready."
Max shook her head. "You couldn't stop living because she was not ready Joyce. I mean you do have right to try and be happy too I guess."
Joyce nodded. "Yeah I know. And I'm not apologizing for my choices." She sighed softly as if dismissing the negative thought. "Anyway, it's nice to see you so close again, to see you still like each other as if time had not passed." She looked serious for a moment. "I hope you can be a good influence on her Max... You take care of her okay Kiddo?"
Max nodded. "Of course, Joyce, you didn't have to ask."
"Good! Now tell me what has you both all so distant and all! I mean when you were kids you were hugging playing all the time!"
Max sighed and looked out the window as Chloe lit up another cigarette. "I don't really know Joyce... I think there is those five years to begin with. Then, I think she feels guilty I got hurt."
Joyce looked out for a moment and back at Max. "Yeah I suppose that would put a damper on things. How do you feel about this?"
Max lips curved slightly. "I feel a bit guilty for those five years of course. But I think Chloe should not feel guilty for my injuries. I choose to try and protect her, to risk my life for her."
Joyce studied Max' face attentively. "Yeah I can see that. I guess those five years didn't really change how you felt for her right?"
Max shook her head and look down. "I... Dunno Joyce... It's ... complicated."
"Well she's important to you, that is obvious."
Max blushed and nodded silently.
"So, what's the matter? I mean you and her have been best friends nearly all your lives. It's normal that you care about each other, right? No need to be awkward about it kiddo!"
Max groaned and dropped her forehead on the back of her hands pressing her face on the table. "It's not that... I... I love her Joyce." Her voice was softer, almost a whisper.
Joyce shrugged. "Of course, I mean you are practically sisters."
Max shook her head slightly. "I mean, not like sisters or friends love. Like, Love love."
Max heard Joyce holding her breath a moment as she processed the news. "I see... Does she know?"
Joyce's voice was warm and devoid of any judgement, making Max relax and realize she had actually tensed up as she waited for the mom's reaction.
"Yeah... I kinda... blurted it out when she visited me at the hospital..."
"Oh god!"
"Was not my plan... I think the painkiller had me a bit unaware, I told her I was staying for someone, in addition to the whole 'don't want to let them win' thing... She started to tease me, not letting it go... "
"Yeah that's Chloe. Always pushing."
"I was tired... Sore... I mean I had just woken up, literally from being dead if I understand how it happened. And I had just learned about... you know." Without raising her head, she moved a hand pointing toward the corner with the wheelchair. "So, I... blurted it out to shut her up..."
Joyce nodded softly. "And what did she say?"
Max groaned again. "Nothing... Not a word for the reminder of the month."
"Oh... I suppose I found it strange she refused to go see you, although she did ask how you were doing."
"We discussed it a bit when she came to pick me up... asked that we be friends for now."
"Well, then don't worry too much kiddo. Let things go their own pace. Leave her time to sort things out and then you will see if what you have is a happy life or a broken heart okay?" Joyce reached and patted Max back comfortingly.
Max sighed as she said in a tired voice. "I ... Sometimes, I wish I had not made it you know... Died for the one I loved... Might have been easier."
Joyce froze a moment. "Don't say that Max! A lot of people are glad you made it! And I'm sure Chloe is too! Be..."
Chloe's voice interrupted her. "You sure I'm what, Mom?"
Max tensed on the table.
Shit! Please Dog, don't let her have heard all of it please!
Joyce raised up to stand. "Glad that Max is back in our lives, Chloe."
Chloe bounced and reached to hug Max. "You bet I am! I got my best friend back!"
Max forced herself to smile as she rose up. And Joyce laughed softly. "Okay girls! Why don't you move it upstairs? And don't stay up too late too, Max still need her rest to recover fully." She added the last part looking at Chloe meaningfully.
"Yes mom!" Chloe said rolling her eyes as she helped Max moving to the Wheelchair.
Chloe pushed the wheelchair toward the stairs. She stopped at the bottom and thought for a moment. "Okay Caulfield. I guess we have no choice, but you will totally have to pay me back somehow." As she talked Chloe moved in front of her and dropped one knee. "Hop on! I'll piggyback you to the bed and then I'll come back for the chair."
Max pondered but seeing no real alternative other than crawling her way up, she moved to hang on her friend's back. "Thanks Chloe." She said burying her face in Chloe's back as the tall girl reached to grab her legs before she stood up.
Once the move upstairs had been completed, that teeth had been brushed, clothes changed, the girls chatted a moment before exhaustion caught up to them. Max slowly drifted asleep lulled by sound of Chloe's voice, the warmth of her presence and her sent on the bedsheets.
A/N: So well here it is Chapter 21! Surprise its a 2 for 1 day special!
No more seriously once I settled on what I wanted to happen, what discussions I wanted to show, it came all naturally. I started early afternoon and by 9pm I had over 3600 words lined up, reached a point where I could actually split the tales of the weekend sleepover. So here you are with the first part of that particular weekend.
You will have the rest soon! Maybe not in the next days, but I hope by the next week end.
Enjoy this chapter though and do not hesitate to post reviews or comments, or even take your best guess at what will happen in the next chapter! could be fun to see if you have the same vision as I do!