A/N: Hey, to be honest, I'm back on my hella sad shit and, right now, I feel very insecure and it's making it very hard to write and release these chapters because I feel like they're really shitty! I don't know what to do, though, because I want to take another hiatus and do the editing again for chapters 20 through 52, I think are the chapters? In fact, I might as well fix the first 19 again because I'm that insecure about them. Just for clarity and make everything feel natural again. If I don't update for a week from now, then I'm on editing hiatus again. Thinking about this story makes me sad sometimes because I feel like I'm not putting in enough effort.
Sorry, enjoy.
I woke up the next morning to both Chloe and Rachel cuddling me, making it very impossible to get out and escape from. I shifted in my position, uncomfortable and making me realize that my arm was asleep under me, trying to worm my way out. I couldn't think of how Chloe's reaction to me being in the same bed as them would be. I didn't have to wait long, though.
"What the hell, Max..." She mumbled, but she didn't let go of me. She just glared at me with her tired eyes. "When did you get here?"
"Sometime around two and three AM?" I replied. "Rachel brought me in here, I swear. She wanted to be sure I really fell asleep."
It felt weird having Rachel's arms around my waist and Chloe's around my shoulders. It was very telling of how they slept when it was just the two of them.
"I believe you." She let me go, scooting away to stretch. Now it was weirder being spooned by Rachel Amber herself.
"Feels nice?" Chloe asked me.
"I think so? But, this is your girlfriend, so I should really get out, shouldn't I?"
"Duh, Max."
Not wanting to bother her, I slowly took her arms off of me and scooted away towards Chloe. "I'm still freaking out."
"Why?"
"Kate wants to ask me something today. I have to see her an hour before class. I'm so... ugh." I couldn't help but end with a heavy sigh.
Maybe it really is nothing... She's waiting a day to tell me! So, it has to be important! Okay, okay... bed... Chloe... my desk...
"Don't sweat it." She patted me on my arm. "You'll be fine!"
"Right..." I had a little more hope now that four people told me everything was going to be okay. It was still persisting in the back of my head and it really did feel like I was getting kicked in the head, but at least I was more positive than negative.
I had some time to prepare myself before I had to go before five. Chloe and I got out of bed and got started on making coffee, not in a fancy machine like Kate but in a can and instantly grounded, and sat at the dining table. Chloe's legs was sprawled out, making me cross my ankles and tuck them under my chair.
"Sleeping was one of the best feelings I've ever felt last night..." Chloe groaned. "This proposal thing is making me lose my shit..."
"Come on, you got this. You don't even have anything to worry about. You know she'll say yes, right? Like, no shit?"
"I know, but she deserves something hella awesome and huge!"
"Then... ask Joyce for help. Or, better yet, ask Sera. They know what you're planning and they're moms. Moms always know what to do."
"I thought I was your mom and I have no clue what the hell I'm doing!"
"Then not all moms know."
She huffed, folding her arms and placing them on the table, "I think I'm about to barf."
"Gross, don't do that in front of me." She shoved me after that comment.
After drinking down our coffee, Chloe and I left Rachel again and went outside, driving around San Francisco and started putting her plan together.
"Mom, I think the truck could make it all the way to here!" Chloe spoke loudly to her phone in the cup holder. "I was the one who fixed it, remember?"
"What exactly do you need it for?" Joyce's voice was on speaker, and she sounded very confused. "I really don't think it will, Chloe."
Chloe huffed, "It's for the proposal for Rachel, mom! Oh, and I need some clothes too!"
"What clothes?"
"I'll text it to you, but the truck is hella important. Can you please talk to David or something?" Chloe slapped her hand down on the steering wheel, agitated.
I felt awkward sitting there listening to this go down, hearing Chloe slowly but surely getting more irritated about her truck and Joyce increasingly becoming more alarmed with her requests, yet also accepting it.
"Is Sera partaking in this?"
"Fucking duh, mom. I'm gonna talk to her too. Just figure out the truck and I'll text you the rest." Before Joyce could reply, Chloe said, quickly, "okay, love you, bye!"
Chloe stopped at a stoplight and ended the call.
"I'm dizzy as fuck, is that normal?"
"Why would you say that while you're driving?" I said with worry hanging on every word. I had to grab my wrist tightly to stop my hands from shaking.
"Okay, okay, call Sera." She handed me her phone as she started to drive again. I set up the call, finding hers in a sea of names and pictures. I put it on speaker as the ringing started. While that happened, I checked my phone: no text or call.
"What?" Sera answered.
"Hey Sera, I need a favor."
"Is it for Rachel and your proposal?"
"What else would it be?"
"Okay, I'm listening." Sera said with a heavy sigh. "What do you need?"
"Uh... The nightlight thing, mostly." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Right, the one you shoved a giant flashlight into?"
"Yeah, it makes the stars look better that way. And bring yourself, you won't want to miss this."
She snickered, "Why, yes, I want to be there for my beautiful Rachel. If this proposal's terrible, I'll never let you hear the end of it."
"That's a lot of pressure."
"That's what a proposal is, Chloe Price. I'll call Rachel now. Good luck on your side."
"Thanks... I guess." Chloe's shoulders slumped down. Sera hung up first, allowing us to release an exasperated groan. I let my head fall onto the headrest.
"She's really... something else."
"I know, but that's my future mother-in-law, so I can't be so mean." Chloe said that with a small smile. "Hey, I don't wanna barf anymore."
"That's good, what made it better?" I smiled back, lifting my head off the seat.
"Rachel Price sounds good." Her smile went away instantly. "Oh god."
"Don't puke!" I lifted my hands defensively, as if that would save me. She continued to drive as she made gagging noises, driving all the way to my school, swerving into other lanes while also speeding. I held onto my chair and bag for dear life as this continued on, luckily, empty streets.
Listen, we were three hours early. To help Chloe calm down, I brought her into the school building and letting her pick a snack from the vending machine. There were so many choices, choices I've chosen at least once (except for granola bars), I especially eat the chips. Despite how unlucky I was with getting them.
"Does Rachel count as a snack?" She was tugging on her shirt, as if she couldn't breathe. In a way, yes, she was a "snack."
I hummed, looking into the machine, "I don't see a "Rachel Amber" in here."
She rolled her eyes, "Wowser Max, got any more jokes?"
"I got hella jokes."
"Just get the fucking chips."
Letting her put money and push the buttons, avoiding my bad luck, she grabbed the yellow bag and we went into the cafeteria for her to eat and watch on the TVs inside. It was always a cartoon show or some anime, even though no one was watching.
"This place is full of nerds..." Chloe said as she bit into a chip.
I was going to disagree, but to be honest, it was true, so I agreed.
"Do you still want to puke or do we have to get you a drink too?"
"Can you get me one?" She asked as she watched the TV.
It was my turn to roll my eyes. I stood up and left into the hall again, walking towards the vending machines again. Thank god, I never have any issues with cans and soda. I grabbed a classic Coca-Cola for her.
Release the Kra-can! I thought that every single time I get a soda, with no regrets.
As I grabbed it and was going to leave, I crashed into someone. Someone kind of tall, but my forehead definitely hit their chin.
"Hey Max, you alright?! You really have to watch where you're going!"
"Oh, Warren, it's you! I really should, sorry about that." I chuckled at myself. It couldn't hurt to stand and talk for a bit.
"That's a-okay! It's been a while! How's you and Kate?" He had wire rolled up around his arm and was holding two more in his hands.
"I—uh I'm getting there." I forced a laugh. "How's you and... Nathan, right?"
"Yeah," he nodded, but with more of a nonchalance about it, "he's mad at me. When is he never mad, am I right?"
"What's he angry about?"
He lifted his hands as he shrugged his shoulders, "Something about me, I presume."
I was contemplating whether I should ask for his advice or not. I thought about it as he was explaining how his boyfriend has been upset for the past three days. Having another opinion, right before it happened, also wouldn't hurt.
"That's awful and all, and I hope you guys work it out, but can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything, Max." He started to fix the black wires and roll them up.
"I'm gonna talk to Kate later today and I've been feeling pretty nervous about it." I wasn't making it sound like it was a huge deal, even though it was, in my mind. I felt uncomfortable standing, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. "I might be overreacting, right?"
"Not exactly," he shook his head, "It sounds serious from what you're saying. It's alright to be nervous. Did she say it was bad or something?"
"No, she just said she wanted to ask me something. That's scary to me..."
"Then your feeling is okay! Just stay calm and just be ready for anything." He took a deep breath, showing me how to calm down. "You're Mad Max, you can do anything."
I actually smiled. His words were reassuring and it was more encouraging having another opinion. I tapped my finger on the can in my hand, reminding me that I had another task to do. "Thanks, but I have a delivery to complete."
"Good luck on that talk with Kate." He smiled back and went back to his work.
A sense of relief washed over me as I walked back to the cafeteria, where Chloe was impatiently waiting.
"Where the fuck did you go? Narnia?" She snatched the can from my hand.
"No! The, uh, can got stuck."
"How did you do that?"
I just shrugged my shoulders and went back to watching the TV.
For the next three hours, I was distracting myself with watching the bright, magical cartoon show and being on my phone. Neither helped with the sinking feeling in my stomach, but altering between the two was all I could do. Chloe was hella distracted, chewing on chips, chugging down her shoulders, and watching the TV. I wouldn't doubt if that was her way to cope with the worrying, nervous feeling she was having too. Sometimes I felt like the question was going to be life-changing and it might hurt, but at the same time, I felt like it was going to be something simple and I was overreacting after all. I watched the time on my phone, waiting for the time count down and change. Achingly slow, as it did when I was nervous.
It hit five o'clock.
"Go get her, Time Maxine." Chloe crumpled up her bag of chips. "She's waiting."
My head fell as I groaned, saying the usual "Max never Maxine," but still, I stood up and walked down the hall with as much confidence I could muster. As I pushed the door, slowly enough to not make any noise, there Kate was, sitting on the curb with her head down. I took light, but far steps up to her and then lightly tapped her on her shoulder. She looked at me with her eyebrows raised and wide stare, then changing into a grin.
After exchanging greetings, I sat down next to her. The first thing I noticed on her was how pink her cheeks were. And they were becoming redder, like she was feeling sick.
"Did you sleep okay?" She asked me first.
"I guess. I was stuck in between Rachel and Chloe, but I slept. No scary forest nightmares, thank dog. What about you?"
She sighed, lifting her knees to her chest, " That's good, I would hate for you to have that for another night. I had a difficult time. Even though I'm the one asking you something, it still scares me too."
"Are you getting sick?" On instinct, I pressed my hand to her forehead and then the back of my hand to her cheek. She was very warm.
"What?" She felt her own face, pulling away from my touch. "Oh, no, I'm fine. I've been wanting to ask you this... Well... two questions."
"Sure, what's up?" My heart was going a mile a minute as I rested back on my hands.
"How do you feel about what I did? Answer truthfully." She leaned in, curious.
I had no clue. My mind drew a blank the moment she asked. "Oh, the kiss thing? How do you feel about it?" I wanted her answer while I thought of my own.
"Truthfully... I do feel a little bad about what I did. I didn't want something like that to happen just because I was dared to do it." Her cheeks became redder in an instant. "I didn't hate it—I mean, not like I didn't want to or what I'm saying—" She cut herself off, cupping her cheek to feel the warmth of it. "I was happy, I am happy! But, I just wanted to ask..."
I couldn't help but chuckle. It grew louder, to the point that I had to hold my own stomach, "I'm sorry, Kate. To be honest, I nearly lost my mind! I kept asking Chloe and Rachel, but I'm happy too! Don't be so worried, Kate!" I grabbed her into a hug. "You even asked to kiss again soon, so at least I'm ready, right?"
She laughed too, hugging me back, "It's making me nervous, actually. I feel so flustered seeing you now. And I talked about you to Chloe like that! I was so embarrassed!"
"Whatever, I'll just be sure to not taste like coffee again."
After she giggled and her cheek kept growing redder, she pulled away, "... That wasn't our first kiss, wasn't it?"
I played dumb. I knew what she was talking about, but I didn't know she would ask. "W-what do you mean?"
"When you slept over! Come on, Max, Chloe asked me for my lip balm just to look at it, that meant something!"
I stammered; not a single understandable word came out.
"She even emphasized that it was strawberry flavor. We kissed then, didn't we?"
"I-I," I cleared my throat as my voice cracked, "I think so. Or else, your cheek feels weird."
Kate giggled again, "Nope, that wasn't my cheek at all. If you tasted strawberry, then I recognize coffee anywhere."
I could barely look her in the eye and it was obvious she couldn't look into mine either. In fact, her blush hasn't went away yet. I started to feel mine warm up too, feeling a hundred degrees hotter.
"Was that your second question?"
"I guess kissing you has been stuck on my mind."
A/N: Review and shit!
