Chapter Thirty Eight: An Understanding

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She had no idea what Rachel Amber was doing upstairs with Maxine, but Victoria didn't like it under any circumstances.

Sure, Rachel might have had an interest in keeping Maxine and her together, but Rachel also had a big fucking mouth and the audacity to assume that she could talk about anything she liked and would get away with it. Mostly because that usually was the case for literally everything she did. No one dared challenge precious Princess Rachel and if you did, her personal bitch girl would snap on her behalf.

For now Price and Victoria had disengaged from each other. Price wandered off and was charming Ryan and Vanessa from the sounds of it. She was probably regaling them with old memories and new stories. It seemed as though she was already reintegrating herself back into their hearts in an attempt to push Victoria back out of the limelight. She was probably putting in the good word for Rachel so that Rachel would be far better received because it was obvious as fuck that Vanessa wasn't going to be swayed by a smile and a nice pair of tits like Ryan instinctively was.

So there Victoria sat, all alone in the kitchen, scrolling through her phone and attempting not to have a panic attack at the thought of all her efforts with the Caulfield's going up in smoke because of Chloe fucking Price and by extension Rachel, her anger flaring as she heard Maxine's sweet laughter from upstairs. That was laughter SHE should have been the cause of.

Victoria sighed and berated herself. Now she was just being petty, and jealous of Rachel. Something she had no business to be. Not now that precious Rachel had gone ahead and gotten tacky fucking tattoos probably at the behest of her tacky and trashy girlfriend. Victoria, on the other hand, was unblemished Goddess and fucking hot. Rachel wasn't competition anymore, she was just another Arcadia Bay trash queen. Why would a goddess like her compete with someone like her anyway… Maxine would know she'd be trading down and-

Mentally Victoria screamed at herself; she was doing again! God-fucking-dammit she needed a cigarette to calm her nerves. She just… hated this. Hated the idea of having to be vulnerable in front Rachel and Price (especially Price) because of her relationship, or whatever it was with Maxine.

She had to be rational about all of this now. If she wanted to survive the rest of the summer with Rachel and Price breathing down her neck, she had to be. Rachel and Price were pretty faithful to each other. The likelihood of them plotting to undermine her so they could steal away Max seemed unlikely. So why exactly was she this worked up over it?

The only answer she seemed to have right now was that these two had the ability to spill things she didn't want to and considering their sordid history, Victoria doubted very much that either of them were too keen on being tactful about her secrets. Maxine might have been okay with a one-off display of forgiveness for the lie, and while Maxine knew how awful she could be, that didn't cover everything. The details they could spill… the fact that they had saved her from an overdose, the bitch behavior she not only condoned, but encouraged and rewarded in her friends.

Victoria had a mountain of reasons for Maxine to cut her losses and run; and everyone but the Caulfield's knew it.

So there she was, right back at the beginning; having to go out of her way to shine up the egos of those two ruthless bitches. Worse yet, Maxine felt obligated to shine up them as well for her failures. She would not put it past Price (Rachel still had her reasons to keep Victoria around) to deliver an ultimatum to Max: Chloe or Victoria.

If it came down to that, and If Victoria was being honest, she would not be the least bit surprised if Maxine chose Chloe. Victoria was, after all, a blip on the radar compared to their brief time as friends… or whatever.

So, Victoria did what Victoria did best. She expected the worse; she tempered her expectations with a terrible doubt. Even if she had Rachel in her corner, Rachel's first priority was Chloe's happiness and if Chloe suddenly decided she wanted Victoria exposed so that Maxine could see what Victoria was before she met her, then Rachel would shift back to Chloe's side faster than she could blink. Alliances with a manipulator were always something to suspect for treachery.

"You know, you could join us if you want to."

Victoria looked up from her phone and ceased her commiserating as she realized Ryan was in the kitchen once again, a pitcher of lemonade in hand and a couple of glasses in the other. His words might have been spoken lightly, but there was a concern etched in his expression. It was sort of like he was genuinely worried for her self-imposed exile. Perhaps he was. In the time that she had known Ryan, she had observed him to be nothing less than the archetypal Dad... Dad jokes and all.

Unable to stop herself, Victoria smiled slightly. She was seeing exactly where Maxine got her compassion from.

"Thanks," she said, fumbling to show off her phone to Ryan. "I'm just… I'm just making calls and organizing things on my end so that Rachel and Price… Chloe can stay over."

Ryan's expression lightened at the mention of Chloe, and Victoria just wanted to run away as yet another person she had come to like had fallen back under the charms of the punk so quickly. She supposed that she had to be fair to Ryan for his history with Chloe, but it was just so fucking obnoxious that Chloe could just worm her way into the hearts of everyone. Everything felt like a battle to Victoria to gain any semblance of respect from others.

Some people were naturally charismatic, some weren't… and apparently Victoria fell into the latter category.

Victoria averted her eyes back to her phone so that Ryan had an excuse to leave. He did not take the way out. He instead stood there for a moment before he set the pitcher and the glasses down and approached her. He sat down next her, his eyes still examining her, making Victoria uncomfortable from just how concerned he appeared to be for her. Not a lot of people in the world did something like this for her. The presumption that Chase could never be shaken was an image that prevailed partially due to her own behavior. The truth was a little more human than that.

"It's nice of you to put aside your differences with Rachel and Chloe for Max," Ryan addressed her in a low reassuring voice which killed Victoria's urge to refute. "It shouldn't be needed to be said, but I know she appreciates it... as do I and Vanessa, and yes so does Chloe…"

As Victoria rolled her eyes at the mention of Price, Ryan merely smiled. Victoria felt like he and by extension Vanessa knew that something was different about Maxine and her, but neither of them were about to voice it until Maxine decided it was time to at least address it. It left her in an awkward place of sitting there with a Dad whose daughter she had grown to be fond of.

"Yeah... I'm a real fucking saint," she muttered, not at all caring that she as swearing in front of an adult who wasn't her parents. "Feel free at any point to explain why I want to just hog Max to myself, why I think Chloe has no right to hide behind any excuse she has as to why she didn't contact Max either… I'm not good at all."

She felt stupid and a little overdramatic, but that was just how she felt about all of this. It was stupid, childish and stupid for someone who was nearly seventeen years.

"Besides Rachel and you, there is no one in this home who is not to blame for their absence from each other," Ryan replied, his voice steady as always. "Don't take the burden of unfiltered honesty alone. I think you're a better person than you give yourself credit for, Victoria."

Ryan emitted a humourless laugh as Victoria sat stunned by the reassurance he had offered her. It was… nice to have the validation.

"Believe it or not, all of this wasn't exactly a transfer of upper middle class wealth from Arcadia Bay to here," he pressed on, sweeping his hand across the kitchen. "I had to make a decision for my family, and it's going to bother me for a very long time to come to know that it had such an effect on others… It all should have been handled better then it was."

Ryan's words slipped away from him and he fell silent as a pained expression formed on his face. It appeared as the memories of had happened finally catching up to him. He was not weepy, or apologetic for the decisions he had to make, but he was filled with an obvious regret.

"Vanessa and I owe so much to Chloe, to Joyce and to William. More than the girls realize, I think…" he trailed off and hastily added in a much more official tone. "…Anyways, do you need anything?"

Victoria looked up and noticed that the kitchen was no longer private. Price had walked in and without a single word of acknowledgement to either of them as she went to pour herself a glass of water. Her very presence was an irritant to Victoria. She was having a moment with Max's father and here Chloe was interrupting it.

"Actually yes…" Victoria spoke up, reverting her eyes once again back to Ryan. "Would it be okay with if Chloe and Rachel leave their truck here? I know that its stinking trash heap, but it's not exactly Mercer Island material..."

The words made Chloe stiffen up as the slight against Chloe's vehicle hung over everyone's head. Next to her, Ryan looked completely startled by the viciousness laced into Victoria's voice. She didn't want to do it, but her annoyance at the punk girl overrode all common sensibilities she possessed.

"Wow you went ahead and said it," Ryan said a little startled. Nonetheless he looked to Chloe, who was pissed and added. "Chloe, when you take off you can park it in the garage."

Chloe looked ready to freak out, but she realized quickly that the two of them obligated to be on their best behavior. Especially when Maxine's father was sitting right there, looking both startled and amazed by just how much tension the two of them could build in such a short span of time. It even surprised Victoria somewhat.

"Sure thing, Ryan," Chloe found her voice again, as well as her seemingly unshakable confidence. "Arcadia Bay trash sticks together. Not like some posers we know..."

Victoria's cheeks tinged pink as Ryan and Chloe used their history to tease and taunt Victoria. Ryan was probably more innocent, but Chloe meant it. It seemed like she was lording her poorness over Victoria as though it was something Victoria had never experienced was well inside Price's modus operandi. She hadn't… but Chloe didn't have to rub it in her face.

"So it would seem," Ryan spoke through the laughter as she stood up. He glanced to the thoroughly embarrassed Victoria and smiling lightly, he dropped his arm around her shoulder and added. "Don't worry, Victoria, I got your back… everything you want to know about Chloe's childhood is yours."

That shut Chloe up nicely, and with that the triumphant smirk returned to Victoria's face. It was a very wonderful feeling to have this level of support on her side.

"I think you told enough already…" Chloe muttered mutinously at Ryan as he released he grip on Victoria grabbed the pitchers and glasses once again.

"Oh I'm just getting warmed up, kiddo…" he replied lightly and with a wink to Victoria, Ryan left the suddenly flustered Chloe and the reinvigorated Victoria Chase.

Perhaps it was all not quite a lost cause after all.

…

…

As Ryan left the room, Chloe stood there in silent contemplation at the smug as fuck Vic-bor-ia Chase sitting at the counter, her phone in one hand and her other fixing her stupid ugly pixie cut with the other.

To say that she was coming to terms with Victoria Chase not only as Max's friend, but as apparently as something resembling her pre-girlfriend was difficult to rectify. The two of them lacked anything in common. Victoria was a domineering rich, popular girl fucking degenerate and Max was, by all she saw in the whole five hours since they reunited, was a bit of a straight edge with a hipster complex. It was everything that Victoria railed against, and yet here she stood in the Caulfield house trying to make nice with Chloe and Rachel for real.

But no matter how hard Victoria tried, it was something Chloe was going to let go. Not until she was sure that Max was safe even sharing the same room with that snake in cashmere, who had in three weeks seduced Max to her side. She was definitely not about to draw any sort of comparisons to herself and Rachel.

That certainly wasn't what was happening here; not at all… not at fucking all.

Chloe simmered her annoyance once again. She remembered her promise to Rachel. She would not stir up a dramatic showdown in front of the Caulfield clan. The last thing she needed to do was embarrass herself any further after fucking Bitch-toria successfully goaded her into a fight in front of Max and her parents.

So she stood there, staring at the slinky Blonde, who continued to just stare at Chloe like she was not worth. There was an intimidating power to Victoria, which Chloe would never admit to, but it scared the living hell out of her. At times it rivaled Rachel's ability to twist her up. He two of them, it felt almost impossible to keep up with them. Perhaps that was why she resorted to rage. It was the only emotion she had that could even begin to compete with the likes of Rachel and Vic-whor-ia…

With everything on her mind, Chloe could not help but wince. Perhaps that wasn't a good name to use… it would bother Max, and in spite of her mistrust and dislike of Victoria, she was not going to denigrate Max like that.

Chloe watched in silence as Victoria pushed herself off the seat, her arms crossing over her chest as slinked forward to face down Chloe. There was no fear of the stronger girl, no shyness, it was a projection of power which Chloe one hundred percent fucking believed was real. She did not have Max or Ryan and Vanessa, or even her deal with Rachel to keep her from going full tilt at her.

"Back for another round, Price?" she glowered, her voice low and silky. It was toned in a way which startled Chloe in a way she never had expected.

"Yeah," Chloe spoke as she glanced back to see if Vanessa or Ryan were close by. "We have bidness to discuss before those two come back."

Victoria blinked as Chloe rubbed her neck. That… didn't come out quite as smooth as she thought it would be. The only good that came from it was the expression of annoyance which flashed over Victoria's face, but even that wasn't what she wanted right now.

"What the fuck ever," Victoria snapped back as she pushed by Chloe. "Can we wait until you're done talking like a complete fucking idiot?"

Chloe stepped back several paces and blocked Victoria's path once again. Victoria's anger flared as she stopped and crossed her arms over her chest. She stood there in silence, glaring sharply at the punk girl keeping her away from heading upstairs to interrupt Rachel and Max's time together.

"I'm serious here. You got off lucky because Max is too nice a person to not let it just slide. I don't have that problem," Chloe informed Victoria, her tone biting as she stepped forward to intimidate Victoria a little more. "I don't know what the fuck you two are, but I promised Rachel that I would be nice to you; but fair warning, if you hurt Max again. If you lie or just be your usual fucking awful self, I will hurt you."

Victoria narrowed her eyes. Her expression softened for a moment as she carefully inspected Chloe for what she had said to her. It wasn't a respect which cooled her down. Victoria was too much of a fucking snob for that. No, she cooled down because she seemed to respect the sentiment.

"If I hurt Maxine again, I'll present myself to you voluntarily," Victoria moodily promised. "Is that all you needed to say to me?"

Chloe bit her lip and nodded. Yeah… she supposed that was the only thing that really needed to be said. It was probably for the best. The sooner they were back to not talking to each other the better. Her cards were laid plainly for Victoria to see.

As Victoria cleared her throat, Chloe turned back to face her… apparently it was her turn to talk.

"I get that you fucking hate me, and to be honest you are a fucking pest I could do without too," Victoria muttered out loud to the older girl. "But I care for Max, and if that means I have to put up with her choice in a friend, I'll do that for her."

Without warning and quicker than Chloe's hung over mind could react, Victoria reached out and grabbed Chloe by the collar of her shirt and dragged Chloe down to her knees. With widened eyes Chloe stared up into the fury of Victoria Chase.

Chase's grip tightened and she leaned forward, their noses nearly touching.

"I want you to fucking remember before you get self-righteous like you always do, that at any point in the last four years you could have picked up the phone, but you didn't," she growled brutally at Chloe, who remained shocked at the position she was in. "Instead you moped around like you always do; and let's face it. You were moving on from Max until Rachel meddled into your affairs. Now here you are, not only just reasserting yourself into her life, but purposefully trying to fuck up everything I have spent this summer building with her: a friendship, a potential future career… something more… but no, the nostalgia train is rolling for you, and under most circumstances I would be fine with Maxine wanting to rekindle a friendship, but here you are trying to make her hate me."

As resistance from Chloe built up, Victoria went silent and gave Chloe a solid shake, breaking her attempt before it even got underway. If Chloe did anything, there would be a fight and the illusion of civility between the pair of them would be broken, and neither of them wanted that. So Chloe relaxed and glared up at the girl, attempting to remain cool in the face of a growing uneasiness she felt at the sight of Victoria's terrible rage.

Victoria blinked, and exhaling hard, she let go of Chloe's shirt. She did not move however, choosing to give her freedom, but not to undermine her superiority over Chloe. It was strange. She didn't look satisfied, but there was no guilt for her actions either.

"I know that you've only ever had Rachel as a friend these past few years, and she'd condone this behavior because it benefits her, but in case you forgot. Isolating her, playing mind and guilt games… turning people against each other; that isn't what a friend does," Victoria spoke again, her voice simmering back from the rage she held before. "The worst part… the absolute worst part is that you needed this fucking lesson from me of all people."

As she returned briefly back to silence, Victoria backed away from Chloe, and with that, Chloe immediately launched herself back up to her feet. She wanted nothing more than to reach out and start fucking swinging at her for this embarrassing moment.

But she didn't. Not when deep down she felt a truth ring out from Victoria's words.

"I'm sorry that you lost your Dad, Price. I truly am. But losing him doesn't give you a free pass to shift all the blame to Maxine, like somehow she's the only guilty party because that would be so fucking typical of your inability to accept responsibility for your own role in the missteps," she continued. "Yes, she fucked up, but she was in just a fucked up situation with Ryan having to take her, and while she did wrong you fucked up too if you really wanted to be her friend by just giving up; So you better keep that in mind before you start arbitrarily shitting on her for her part in the future."

Too stunned to speak from Victoria referencing her father, Chloe remained glaring as the two of them heard footsteps and Rachel's laughter approaching them. Running out of time, Victoria stepped close again and poked Chloe hard in the chest. Her expression reformed into rage as she stared down Chloe once again.

"And by the way, if you hurt Maxine, or make her cry or guilt her so badly that I never get to see her smile again untainted by you, I will fucking bury you at sea, you miserable bitch…" she hissed only loud enough for them to hear it.

As Max and Rachel entered the kitchen, the anger in Victoria's face vanished. It was replaced with joy as she turned away from Chloe and directed her attention to Max, who stood there a little bemused at the sight of Chloe and Victoria standing as close as they were. Rachel was staring too, but she was a tad more wary at the sight of them.

"Hey there hipster girl, ready to go?" Victoria greeted Max like she hadn't been a complete fucking lunatic moments prior. "Sleepover with all my new BFFs! Tonight is going to be such a blast!"

Max looked as though Victoria had grown a second head. She glanced to ?Chloe next, who shrugged and smiled as confidently as she cold, like everything was alright and Victoria hadn't spooked the shit out of her.

"Sounds good," Max finally spoke to Victoria as she turned back to her friend once more. "I'm going to go say goodnight to Mom and Dad… coming?"

Victoria smiled and together, Max and Chloe left the kitchen to seek out Vanessa and Ryan. With them gone, Rachel and Chloe were left standing alone; Rachel looked like she wanted to laugh as Chloe struggled to remain in control of her growing anger.

"What was that about?" Rachel asked coyly as the two of them watched Max and Victoria leave the kitchen.

All Chloe could do was groan at the fucking mess she was in. The situation with Victoria was so fucking fucked. She seemed to have pulled out all the stops, and as much as she might have hated her, she had to sort of respect her commitment to striking a balance between compassion and being a total cunt

"I think we came to an understanding… at least for tonight," Chloe muttered back as she wrapped an arm around Rachel's waist. "Remind me to never fuck with Victoria for real. Bitch is crazy… crazier than you."

Chloe watched as Rachel's coy look turned into one of smug satisfaction. It was almost as if she actually seemed to approve of Victoria's behavior.

"I think you're just mad she put you in your place," Rachel pointed out as she reached up to kiss Chloe's cheek. "You do know you might have deserved it, right?"

Rachel pulled away and followed after Victoria and Max, one finger gesturing her to follow, but leaving the taller girl a little stunned. Once again Chloe groaned as she ran her hand over her face briefly before she followed after her girlfriend. Silently she hoped that Victoria's display wasn't something Rachel had encouraged her to do…

Scratch that… Chloe fucking knew this was Rachel's handiwork.

…

…

Sorry this took so long to come out. My laptop finally died on me after years of service. I have a new one coming in on Monday or Tuesday, so I have been writing on a phone, which sucks. might have more errors than usual as a result. Sorry again.

Thanks as always for reading, and I'll see you hopefully sooner.