-7 months later-
September… how the fuck can it be September again?
God, it's nearly been a year since Max and I left Arcadia Bay, a year since we were reunited…wowzers.
I have something big planned for us, something I promised a long time ago.
The plan is to take Max down to California for the month, take her on that road trip down to Big Sur and beyond. While we both could use a vacation, this trip is also a gimmick to get her outta of Oregon since along with our one year anniversary of being a couple, is the one year anniversary of the destruction of Arcadia Bay.
I honestly don't know how she's going to handle it, I mean… she's already been through so much. Max and I have already done our grieving, accepting the fact that people died and being thankful that people lived. But we don't bother to check who. Frankly… I don't want to know whose what, and I know for a fact that Max doesn't want to know either.
She wakes up sometimes… in a cold sweat, screaming my name in a blind panicking to the point where she can barely breathe. Other times she just wakes up in tears, softly sobbing to herself until I hold her, reassuring her that everything is okay.
I get the nightmares too… vivid ones. Once that makes me wonder if Max actually managed to find a way to bring us both back in time. Sometimes, I'm back in the bathroom with Nathan pinning me against the wall, his gun jamming in my stomach and others I'm back on that fucking cliff, the ice cold rain pelting on my skin as Max and I watch Arcadia Bay get ripped to fucking shreds.
We never really talk about what happened or what we see in our dreams, but I don't think we really need to… or want to.
Some things are best left unsaid.
"Hey, Max?" I ask one night as I'm lying in bed, watching as she flips through one of her old photo albums, "Your dad's not planning anything for your birthday… is he?".
She shrugs and shifts around on the edge of the mattress, continuing flipping through the album, "Not that I know of. He might just come visit or something… why?".
I smile and tap her elbows with my toes, "Well, I sorta had an idea".
That gets her to turn around, an impish grin on her lips. "That can't be good".
I stick my tongue out at her and wait until she turns around and faces me.
"What's up?".
"Well, we've been together for almost a year, and your birthday is coming up soon… so… why don't we finally take that road trip we've been talking about?".
"The one to Portland or…".
"Big Sur and Beyond, Max. Good ol' sunny California!". Max blushes and turns away a bit.
"I… I'm not sure about California but… a road trip sounds nice. Maybe it'll help me get back into the swing of things when it comes to taking pictures".
I furrow my eyebrows in confusion for a moment, but then let them settle.
"Why no Cali? I thought we were past that".
"You know why, Chlo… I don't feel right intruding on something that means so much to you… and… her,".
I swallow hard, "You wouldn't be intruding, Max. You'd be joining us… well, me".
She scoffs softly and sighs, "I know… I know, Chloe. I just...that's your dream, not mine. And our dream was to go to Portland, and look where we are!".
"Well… dreams change," I say, softly, "Hmm, tell you what. How about we pick a direction, hop in our shiny new truck and just drive".
"Just… drive?" She repeats with intrigue.
"Just drive, drive until we find somewhere... for us".
Max looks over at me again and smiles, "I like that idea… just us,".
"Us, and the open road".
"That sounds fun,".
"Of course it'll be fun!".
"Because you're there?" she asks with a smirk.
"You bet!".
Max rolls her eyes and laughs, "Ya know, this actually might be the best idea you've ever had".
I smile mischievously. "I am pretty amazing aren't I?" I say, grabbing the pillow out from under my head and throwing it at her, nearly knocking her off the bed.
"You bitch!" She laughs, grabbing a pillow of her own and hitting me with it.
"Oh, It's SO on" I reply as we continue our pillow fight, laughing like the idiots we are.
This goes on for a while until we abandon the pillows and play-wrestle in each other's arms until I basically have Max pinned down beneath me.
We just stare at each other for a few brief moments, our breathing slightly labored.
Max is the one who makes the first move, placing a hand behind my neck and forcing my head down until my lips meet hers.
"Hmph!" I mumble, my words muffled by the sudden gesture. But that sure as hell doesn't stop me from returning the favor.
"You know, for someone who only been in the dating game for less than a year, you're pretty fucking good at initiating make out," I choke out between heated kisses.
Max simple hums in response, a smile gracing her lips when I flip her around, placing myself on the bottom. "You've taught me well, plus… you're kinda irresistible," she says, finally allowing herself to take a breath.
I smile and give her a quick peck on the lips before lying back down on the bed, "You know, it's weird hearing all this flirty stuff coming from you".
"I know," Max replies, lying down next to me, "It's kinda weird for me too. I've never really felt that kind of way for anyone aside from you,".
"Well, I should hope so! You know, me being your girlfriend and all…" I say with a cheeky grin.
She scoffs and rolls her eyes, "You know what I mean,".
"I know".
And just as fast as the heated moment came, it passes without a second thought.
"So, tell me more about this trip," Max says as she curls up closer to me, her head resting on my chest.
"I don't know, It's sorta a birthday gift and vacation all rolled into one. Plus, I want to get out more, you know? See the world".
"God, the way you put it, it sounds like you're trying to run away from something".
When I don't reply, she then turns to me with a worried look.
"Are you trying to escape something?".
I sigh and still don't respond, this time shifting slightly away from her.
"What's wrong Chloe...are… are you worried about something? Talk to me..." Max continues, sounding genuinely worried.
"I... I'm worried about you, okay? I just… *sigh* I don't know what to do about… you know... that," I admit as I turn away, avoiding her gaze.
Max lets out a little sigh, and nods.
"Oh…".
"Yeah," I reply, keeping my gaze off of her.
"I was wondering when you were going to bring that up,"
I look up with little surprise.
"I-is that what this trip is really about?" she asks, "To escape?".
I nod in shame, that's basically all I wanted to do... escape from our past.
"I'm sorry. I just... I'm just some stupid kid trying to run away from things that scare me. I'm a coward".
"That's not stupid," Max says sternly, "And you're not a coward".
"I am! I can't even fucking talk to you about this!".
"Neither can I, Chloe" she protests, "We're both scared... but we can be scared together. We can face this together".
I scoff softly, "Together forever right?".
"And till the end of time,".
"Till the end of time," I repeat again.
"I still think we should go,".
I raise an eyebrow, "Really?".
"But instead of trying to escape, let's go for us, ok?" Max says, leaning in to kiss me again.
"For us" I whisper, closing the gap between us.