Reality returned to Max sluggishly, like a train slowly making its way to the end of a tunnel. Eyes closed, she became aware of the sounds of the world around her; the sounds of the birds singing in the trees around the dorms, sounds of the other girls moving around, and the sound of light breathing inches from her face.

Wait, what?

She concentrated, and became aware of a weight on her chest, like a restraint. She felt her breath begin to quicken as she opened her eyes, but then relief washed over her and she sighed happily as she saw that the weight on her chest was actually Chloe's arm, which must have flopped over Max sometime during the night. She turned her head right to see Chloe, sleeping soundly, her whole body on her left side (hence the arm flopping across Max) and her face just inches from Max's. Again, Max felt her breathing quicken, but this time for a whole different reason. Her proximity to Chloe was intoxicating. She took a slow breath in, breathing in Chloe's familiar scent, trying not to move, trying not to ruin this perfect moment.

I love you, Chloe.

If there had been any doubt before now, as Max gazed on the sleeping face of her best friend, all doubts were washed away instantly. Chloe had stolen her heart.

But do you feel the same way?

Max had noticed the odd hint, as if Chloe had been testing the water. Like, the previous night, Chloe had asked Max which locker room she wanted, boys or girls? Of course, Max had replied girls without hesitation, and she could have sworn there was a smidgeon of a smirk on Chloe's face as she did so. And, several of the comments that Chloe had made while they were in the water.

In the water.

Max couldn't help herself blushing again as she remembered the sight of Chloe clad only in her underwear. She turned her face away from Chloe's, as if scared the heat emanating from it would wake her friend. She couldn't help but smile.

Things seem to be falling into place quite nicely this time around. We'll gather the evidence today and get Nathan and Jeffershit out of the picture, and…

Next to her, Chloe sighed in her sleep and wriggled slightly, the movement causing Max to gasp as Chloe's arm inched higher on her chest.

Oh, Chloe, if you only knew what you do to me…

Looking at the clock, she could see that it was mid-morning. She yawned, realising they would have to get up soon, but at the same time not wanting to disturb Chloe. Carefully, she lifted Chloe's arm off her and rose, collecting her shower things and heading out quietly. The showers were empty and twenty minutes later she slipped back into her room to find Chloe still sleeping. She couldn't help herself but climb back into bed, turning on her right side to face her friend. Chloe, sensing the body weight next to her, automatically wrapped her arm around Max, causing the younger girl to blush furiously again.

"Mmm, you smell nice," murmured Chloe, sleepily, wriggling up close to Max.

"Morning, Chlo," said Max, and Chloe opened one eye, smiled, and then opened the other.

"Well, that's one of the best wake-up sights I could ask for," she said, glancing down at Max's lips, just centimetres from her own, and biting her bottom lip. "It, uh, could be a little better, though," she continued, somewhat hesitantly.

"Oh?" Max's initial disappointment at Chloe's statement was quickly replaced as her mind raced.

Does she mean what I think she means?

"Well, yes, as it goes. In fact, I want the best wake-up call I've ever had, and I want it now," said Chloe, impishly, once more glancing down at Max's lips.

"And what would that be?" said Max, her heart beating furiously.

"Kiss me, Max," said Chloe. "Kiss me awake. I dare you. No, I double dare you." She closed her eyes once more, puckered up and waited.

"Chloe Elizabeth Price," said Max, very hesitantly, the blood pounding in her ears, but knowing that the time was right. It was now or never. At her full name, Chloe opened her eyes again. "You dare me? Or you want me to?" Max asked, her face still cherry-red.

"Max?"

"It's a simple question," said Max, glancing down at Chloe's lips as well. "If you dare me to, that's one thing. If you double dare me, that's another thing. But if you want me to, well, that's something else entirely."

"Max?"

"What?"

"You talk too much. Just shut up and kiss me," said Chloe, leaning her head forward and then, magically, wonderfully, their lips met and Max's brain fired off neuron after neuron as she realised with joy that this was not just a chaste peck on the lips like last week.

I'm kissing Chloe, and she's kissing me back!

A joyful moan sounded deep in Max's throat as the kiss intensified and she closed her eyes too, enjoying the moment for what it was. Both a moment, and a beginning to something wonderful. Eventually the kiss ended and she opened her eyes to find Chloe watching her, biting her lip again, her eyes searching hers for approval, not rejection.

This is it, Max. Don't fuck this up. You've got one chance to make an impression here, so…

"Wowsers!" she breathed.

Great. Just great, Max. Well done. Points for style there.

She looked at Chloe to see a huge grin and a softening of her eyes. "Max," she said, still hesitantly. Feeling brave, Max cupped Chloe's cheek with her left hand and smiled.

"Chloe, you've no idea how long I've waited for that," she murmured.

"Not as long as me," replied Chloe, pausing. "Why do you think I was so upset that you left?" Max gasped.

"You…" she looked closer at her friend. "Really?" Chloe closed her eyes and nodded sadly.

"Yeah, although it took you actually leaving for me to admit it," she said. "I was wondering whether I should say something, but then you didn't get in touch and…" Chloe stopped speaking as Max pressed her lips to hers once more. "Now, I don't mind that sort of interruption," she said when the kiss had ended once more.

"Chloe, I'm so…"

"Don't you dare apologise, Max," said Chloe. "We're here now. Right now. This is… perfect, so don't you dare spoil my perfect moment."

"Okay," said Max, smiling softly. "So… are we… I mean, am I, we…"

"A couple?" Usually so confident, Max couldn't help but notice that Chloe's confidence seemed to have deserted her, leaving only a vulnerable teenager. It was a side of Chloe that she thought perhaps only she had ever been allowed to see, although maybe Rachel as well, but it was a wonderful side. It proved that, underneath all the bluster, there was a teenage girl, with teenage emotions. "I'd like that more than anything Max, but it takes two, and I don't think I can answer for you this time. So, do you want it, Max? Do you want to be… mine?" Chloe's eyes searched Max's once more, but this time Max decided to dispense with hesitant, shy Max. This time she knew exactly what she wanted, and, finally, it was within reach.

"Yes, Chloe, I am yours," she breathed. "Yes, oh, yes, Chloe, and three times yes."

"Dude," said Chloe, "you need more practice in maths. That was like, four times? I mean, I know I'm hella cute and blow your mind, but I never realised I could disrupt the natural laws of mathematics. Just knowing that…" Once more, Max shut her friend up with a spontaneous kiss that deepened and intensified as they wrapped their arms around one another for their first official kiss as a couple. It wasn't any less intense or magical as the earlier kiss, and again it left them both breathless when they finally broke for air.

"I'm guessing this didn't happen last week," said Chloe, a little later. They were still in bed, laying in each other's arms, enjoying the closeness and intimacy. Max shook her head.

"No, although you did dare me to kiss you," she said, "actually around about this time." She glanced at the clock. "Yeah, about this time last week."

"I dared you?" Chloe smiled. Well, smiled more, if that was possible. "I wondered what you were going on about."

"Well, daring me to kiss you was like last week, but like last week it was just a quick peck and sort of… chaste. But, as I suspected, the dare was only an excuse this time. I wanted to kiss you, Chloe, I just didn't really know how to… well, I'm not exactly forward with things like that," she said.

"Well, yeah. I mean, I thought I was being clever, but I guess I was kinda transparent," laughed Chloe, and Max grinned.

"Yeah, last week we were at yours, we'd escaped David at the pool and went back to yours for the night. The following morning, you dared me to kiss you, but then you chickened out when I did."

"No way!"

"It's true! I don't think you were expecting it. But it was… nice," said Max, shyly, "and I might have rewound a couple of times…"

"You didn't!" shrieked Chloe. "No fair! You mean you've kissed me more than I've kissed you? How is that even possible?" Max giggled.

"Well, I… I liked kissing you," she said shyly, leaning in once more. "And it was the only chance I had, or I thought I had. We did have one real kiss last week," she said, sobering. "Just before you… before I… came back here. It was going to be our… last opportunity." Chloe could see that Max was getting worked up at the memory, so she tightened the hug and planted a kiss on her (girl)friend's forehead.

"It's okay, Max, I'm here now. And after what just happened, you'd better believe I'm not going anywhere. Plus, it's my turn to interrupt you with a kiss. And another," she said leaning in for a kiss. Max smiled.

"Yeah. Just… when it came down to it, I found I… couldn't go through with the plan. I'd like to say I had it all planned out, but the truth was that I couldn't watch you die. Not after… Chloe, I'd just admitted to myself exactly how I felt about you. We'd just shared the most magical kiss. I chickened out, but after I'd got over it, I thought perhaps I could win-win." She smiled and looked deeply into Chloe's eyes. "And I have."

"Me too, Max," said Chloe, kissing Max once more. "You know, I could get used to this," she said, sampling Max's lips again. "Damn girl, you learn fast." She looked at Max curiously. "Who was your teacher?"

"For what?"

"This," said Chloe, kissing her again.

"Um, you mean kissing?" Max looked uncertain. "You're my... I mean, I've... I've never..."

"Max Caulfield, are you saying I'm first?" Chloe asked with a soft smile. When Max nodded shyly, Chloe pulled her close for a cuddle. "Max, don't ever be ashamed of that," she said.

"But I don't know... I mean, you're more..."

"… experienced? Max, take that with a pinch of salt. I mean, sure, I've been with a couple of boys before, but I never felt anything like this," she said. "I mean, this is totally intense. Plus," she continued, with an evil grin, "if you're inexperienced, it just means we need to practice." She leant in for another kiss, which Max was only too happy to oblige. "A lot. Max, I'm honoured to be your first," she said. "We've all the time in the world to learn everything about each other."

"Everything?"

"Well," said Chloe, biting her lip again. "I mean, not straight away, but you know..." Max smiled.

"Chloe, please don't be mad, but I don't think I'm ready for that yet," she said. "I've never actually been in a relationship before. I want to take it slow, do it right, okay?"

"Max, don't ever change," said Chloe, smiling and caressing her girlfriend's cheek. "This doesn't feel like anything I've ever felt before, I want to do this right as well. But I need to know that I can kiss you, and cuddle you."

"Whenever you want," said Max, feeling brave enough to lean in for a kiss herself, and she and Chloe lost themselves in each other for a while.

"So, what's the plan for this morning?" said Chloe, a few minutes later. "I mean, I'm totally down for nothing but this, but I know we've things to do."

"I know," sighed Max. "But it will soon be all over, then we'll have plenty of time for each other." She yawned deeply, causing Chloe to do the same, and reluctantly got up. "We need to collect the evidence today, then we can figure out again where Nathan took Kate and Rachel. Then we can go to David with what we have, stop Nathan and Jeffershit." She smiled. "I guess being suspended has its benefits. I can worry about the evidence… and you… I don't have any classes today." She looked at Chloe critically, peering one side and the other. "You need a shower," she said, leaning in and sniffing her friend's blue hair. "You go get a shower, I'll get us some coffees, and we can plan the day. I know we'll need Kate and Tori, but they have classes today so we won't have their help until later."

"Okay, that sounds like a plan," said Chloe. "Towel?"

"There's one over there," said Max. "It's not totally clean, but it'll do in a pinch." She stood and walked to the door. "How do you want your coffee?"

"Like my men," said Chloe. "Strong and black." She looked at Max, trying to hold in a laugh at the expression on Max's face, and failing miserably. She fell on the bed, hooting with infectious laughter and Max soon joined her. When they'd calmed down, Chloe looked at Max. "After last night, I think a black coffee would be absolutely perfect." She nodded. "Go on. Go get it. I'll see you in a few."

"Kiss me goodbye?" said Max.

"Sounds good to me," said Chloe, taking her girlfriend into her arms and kissing her deeply. When they broke, Max was flushed, smiling and more than a little breathless. She left the room and skipped gaily to the cafeteria.

Wow. Is this... real? Have I achieved my fourth objective?

She couldn't help but grin all the way down the stairs and across the courtyard.

I have a girlfriend. I. Have. A girlfriend. And it's Chloe.

My Chloe. My. Chloe.

I like how that sounds.

"Miss?"

Max was brought back to reality by the server in the cafeteria.

"Oh, sorry," she said, shaking her head. "I was miles away."

"You looked it, miss," she said. "What'll it be?"

"Black coffee and a latté to go, please," said Max, hopping with excitement from one foot to the other. She couldn't wait for the server to finish with the coffee. Her money was out and on the counter well before the server had finished, and as soon as the coffees were ready, Max thanked her and began walking quickly back to the dorms. However, as she rounded the corner of the pool building, leading to a secluded part of campus, a shadow fell on her and she half turned.

"Good morning, Max," said a very familiar voice and Max froze, her whole body stiffening at the sound of the voice, refusing to move. "Interesting reaction," said the voice, drawing near as Max felt a sharp sting on the side of her neck. "That's something we'll have to discuss a little later." Max felt the world drawing in, vaguely aware of the two coffees as they dropped from her hands and spilled on the floor. The world around her grew smaller and narrower, as her vision blurred and failed, and somewhere along the line her legs failed her, a pair of strong arms holding her up as everything faded to black.