"Okay, that's that," Max declared, setting the pillow down at the head of her bed and taking a step back, "I feel like we're leaving the place about as good as we found it." She and Chloe had spent the better part of an hour straightening up her room, and making the bed with clean sheets had been the last step.
"Phew, glad that's done," Chloe remarked, half sitting on the edge of Max's desk, "Cleaning is not a thing I'm used to doing. Cleaning bedrooms, anyway. I'm not bad at washing dishes."
"I figured it was the least we could do," Max replied, scooping up the pile of old sheets and starting for the door, "We had the time, and with us staying here for three months and everything, I figured we could at least not make Mom and Dad clean up my room." Chloe followed her out of the bedroom, closing the door behind them as Max started down the stairs.
"Uh-huh, sure," Chloe snarked, "Here's what I think: You didn't want your parents to have to pull the sheets up off your bed, because they're drenched in our sweaty, sexy funk." Max blushed and rolled her eyes. Not that Chloe was wrong, though...
"You're gross," Max mumbled, opening the door to the laundry room, "But yeah." Chloe snickered.
"I do think it was also a good thing to do, though," Max continued, dropping the sheets into an empty hamper and leading Chloe out of the laundry room, "Campsite rule: Leave it better than you found it."
"Eh, fair enough," Chloe remarked, shrugging, "I mean, after we've been crashing here for a few months, I guess it was the least we could do." Max shut the door to the laundry room and turned to face Chloe, standing on her tiptoes to steal a quick, playful kiss.
"Glad you agree," Max replied, smiling and squeezing Chloe gently, "I want you to be welcome here in the future."
"Likewise," Chloe stated, putting her arms around Max's slender waist, "I mean, I'm just assuming here that we're gonna be visiting your parents again at some point in our lives."
"Yes," Max agreed, "I will be coming back to the place where I spent most of my adolescence and where my parents live at some point. And, since I don't like letting you out of my sight for too long at a time, you'll just have to come with me."
"I'll work on my baking skills, then," Chloe replied, "Your mom was starting to like my cookies. Maybe I can, like, pay rent in pastries and shit if you come back here after you graduate." The thought of moving back in with Mom and Dad wasn't super appealing to Max, but it had always been something she'd kind of assumed would happen for a little bit, at least. Staying with Chloe did complicate that, but they had months to figure out where exactly they were going to go once she was out of the dorms.
"Hopefully we'll have a better plan than just 'crash at my house,'" Max pointed out, giving Chloe one last squeeze before releasing her and stepping back, "Assuming one or both of us can find a job or something." Chloe shrugged, sliding her hands into her pockets.
"Sure, I'll start my career as a stockbroker," Chloe joked, "In the meantime, are you ready to head out?"
"Yes," Max reported, smiling, "We can now embark on our great adventure." The two made their way to the foyer, pulling on their coats and lacing up their shoes before grabbing their bags and stepping outside. Max turned and pulled the front door close after them, locking it, and then stepped back to look up at the house.
Four and a half months ago, Max had left for Arcadia Bay, sitting in the back of the car. Had it really only been that long? It was cliché, but it felt like forever ago. Four and a half months ago she'd been so nervous, but so excited. God, four and a half months ago she'd been excited to work with Mark Jefferson. That made sense at the time, but now the memory almost made her sick. She wasn't sure what was gonna happen to him. She didn't really want to know, honestly, so long as she never had to see him again.
Turning her back to the house, Max took out her camera and snapped a selfie. It wasn't like she was never coming back. In all reality, she'd probably be returning in a just a few months for Spring Break. Or maybe she would do something else this year, like a San Francisco road trip with Chloe or something. But even in that case, Max would probably end up back at home for at least a little bit after school ended. She still wanted to snap a picture to capture the moment, though.
"Okay, are you ready?" Chloe asked as Max climbed up into the cab of the truck, stowing her bag behind the seats. Max looked down at the developing polaroid in her hand. As the image emerged from the grey, she smiled, satisfied with her work. She couldn't be sure without comparing it to the photo she'd taken back in late August, but Max couldn't help but feel like she looked different in this picture, like she stood a little taller and looked a little more confident.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Max replied, reaching over and taking Chloe's hand, "Let's go." Chloe smiled and nodded, then started the engine.
