Chapter 25 – Looking Forward
"Max! wait up!" Chloe called out as her girlfriend angrily stormed past her and toward the front door of the Price household as fast as she could waddle these days.
"Maxine, where are you going?" The older woman questioned, following close behind from the small corridor to the kitchen, her tone partly confused and partly guilty sounding.
But both voices fell on deaf ears as Max hadn't even hesitated or acknowledged that she had heard either of them as she approached the door.
"Dammit." The punk sighed as the chubby girl shut the door with not quite a slam but loud enough to clearly show how angry the usually calmer of the couple was in the moment.
"Chloe, I'm sorry, I didn-" Vanessa tried to apologise to her, but Chloe cut her off, annoyed herself at what the older woman had said to upset Max.
"It's not me you should apologise to!" The punk quickly chastised her partner's mother as she grabbed her keys from the bowl by the door and barrelled out of the house and into the driveway where she found Max already sitting in the passenger side of the bench seat of her truck.
Clambering in beside her, Chloe turned in her seat so she was facing the shorter girl. She could see the frustration, but as much as Max was upset, she was more resolute that emotional it seemed.
"Hey," She tentatively broached, still not sure what would be the best thing to say under the circumstances. But instead of the expected response or outpouring of explanation, she received a request in return.
"Can we go to the lighthouse?" Max asked as she reached out to hold the offered hand squeezing it gently as a smile slowly grew out of the frown that had originally been present.
She knew Max wasn't exactly the fragile type, but it wasn't every day that her girlfriend stormed out on her parents after an argument, and certainly wasn't something she had been expecting to happen considering Max's usually shyer nature. Although maybe she shouldn't be surprised as Max had certainly become more confident over the last year.
"Lighthouse it is," Feeling more comfortable with the task of driving now that she knew this wasn't going to be a tear-filled journey, Chloe turned back toward the wheel and started the truck up. Hearing the engine roar to life she playfully nudged the girl next to her eliciting a giggle before they settled in for the ride.
The afternoon sun was high in the sky on the main street as the truck smoothly rolled along. The work Chloe had put into it these last few months had improved the ride significantly. It felt like it would now easily make the journey out of town in a few days without risking either ripping itself apart or either of them contracting tetanus from the now repaired rusted out panels that had previously covered the exterior.
They had already made a stop at the diner to grab some lunch so they were armed with plenty of food as they arrived at the car park. It was empty as expected. They had come to realise as kids during the summer no one else ever really bothered to come all the way out there when the beach was much closer and often took advantage of that.
As usual, Chloe took care of the bags before moving around to Max's side, stopping to admire the sight of the now pretty damn chubby brunette tugging her shirt down once more that day, the shirt having ridden up with the movement of getting out of the truck. It was a pretty regular occurrence now that her belly was hanging much lower and her shirts were definitely not getting any looser around her middle.
If anything, the shirt she was wearing today was doing a particularly bad job of covering her belly even when fully tugged down as a strip of underhang was still visible.
"Just let your belly hang out, babe, not like that shirt's gonna last much longer anyway." Chloe couldn't help but comment with a wolf whistle.
It was as she finished saying the words that she then remembered the entire reason they were out there instead of packing up boxes. Giving an apologetic grimace as she rubbed the back of her neck, "Shit, that probably isn't the best subject right now is it?"
Max shook her head, but not in agreement with Chloe's concerns as she giggled. "I like it when you make comments, dumbass."
"Hey, who you call dumbass?" the punk rebuked in an exaggerated manner, feigning offence as pulled her girlfriend in close, her arms wrapping around the plump body of her partner. Feeling her rolls squish between them.
"You," Max replied rolling her eyes before relenting and leaning into the embrace, "but you're my dumbass."
With her longer legs, Chloe couldn't help but stride out as they ascended the hill, but for Max, she found it harder than before to keep up. Even on flat ground, she was finding her walking pace slowed significantly with the extra weight, especially since surpassing 200 lbs. What was getting a lot harder to ignore was the fact she felt like she was getting a bit out of breath despite only walking for a few minutes at this pace. So she slowed down even further and fell behind trying to make it easier on herself.
It was times like these that she wished she had kept up some sort of exercise routine, but that was soon quashed by the realisation she would have to intentionally make herself uncomfortable like this repeatedly for there to be any impact on her fitness level.
She needed a break for a moment.
It didn't take long for Chloe to realise Max wasn't just on her heels. When she turned around to check on her, she could see her girlfriend had propped herself against a tree to rest for a moment, her chest rising and falling a little heavily as she was clearly finding the small amount of exercise more difficult than the much fitter and physically active punk. Again, her belly had caused her shirt to ride up, and her face was tinged red through exertion. Chloe knew she could have some fun with that.
"Hey slowpoke," She called out as she returned to the level section of path Max had stopped on. Asking with a raised eyebrow and impish grin "Having trouble keeping up?"
"We don't all have legs that are a mile long, how about you slow down?" Max joked back as she felt her breathing calm down, only to grow heavy once more as the fitter girl moved in closer, her hands easily finding the exposed strip of belly
"You sure it's not because of all this?" She asked, squeezing a handful of belly roll, "weighing you down, making you slow?"
Max smiled sheepishly as she knew Chloe was enjoying herself, and she couldn't exactly argue. The extra fat was seriously having an effect on her, as was Chloe's comments with how warm and tingly she felt right now.
"I mean, sometimes I'm still surprised when I see just how big you've gotten for me." Letting her hands roam further round, toward the plump and overflowing love handles, as she continued to lovingly caress the expanse of flab between them. "You're so soft and round, babe. I'm so proud of you."
With that, Max pulled the taller girl down into a kiss. It was a kiss filled with a slow-burning passion rather than an urgency demanding more as they let the moment draw out for what felt like forever. When they finally parted, both of them were a little out of breath as they rested their foreheads together.
"C'mon, fat girl," Chloe urged as she stood up straight again and took a step back, "Let's get to the top and you can rest while I take care of you."
"OK, but let's just slow down the pace," Max pushed herself off the tree, once more adjusting her shirt.
It took then another ten minutes of walking at a slower pace rather than the five it would normally for them to finally reach the summit. The punk's arm slung over the shorter girl's shoulders letting the tubby girl lean into her for support as they approached the bench and overlook.
"Don't make me move for a while…" Max grumbled though taking deep breaths, glad to finally have somewhere to sit down and rest as she plonked herself down and leaned back, letting her belly spill out as she relaxed. "I'm not built for exercise like that anymore."
Chloe chuckled at the sight, sitting down beside the out of breath girl, "I can see that. Next time I'll make sure to bring a mobility scooter for you, how about that?"
"Funny gal aren't you," Max swatted her arm in response, and grumbled in an exaugurated manner, "Now where's my lunch, you promised food and I'm starving."
"Don't worry, I got you covered. Wouldn't let you go hungry, would I?" Chloe reassured, grabbing one of the bags and removing several items. "I had a couple of those two for one vouchers on the cheeseburgers so there's plenty for you."
Max happily took the first burger box offered. Opening it up, besides the double cheeseburger, she saw it was piled high with chips and onion rings as well. At the sight of the food, her stomach rumbled loudly in anticipation, especially knowing there were several more boxes of the same and dessert still to come.
It didn't take long at all for Max to make her way through the rest of the meal. Chloe having finished her single burger box had turned her attention toward her chubby overfed girlfriend, rubbing her belly as more of it became exposed as Max filled it completely.
"That's it, babe," She encouraged as Max made her way through the last of the enormous cream-filled donuts. Her hands giving a slight massage to her expanded gut. "You're doing so good eating all of that. Just a few more bites."
With the last bite finally put away, Max chugged the rest of her milkshake and leaned back against the bench again, sighing contentedly as she was satiated and happy in that moment.
"Relax, let your belly settle." Chloe comforted as she moved in closer to sling one arm over Max's shoulders and cuddle in while her other hand remained on her plump middle. This allowed her to easily lean in and whisper, taking the opportunity to tempt the greedy photographer, "I love seeing you eat like that. How does making a stop for more on the way back sound? I could buy some more cakes and pastries, feed them to you, fill you up like a properly stuffed piggy?"
That elicited a moan from her partner, between the feeling of her belly being filled, Chloe's hands all over her, and the thought of being stuffed to bursting point like that. Unfortunately, reality this day would not allow for it, however.
"As much as I'd love to, we can't today I'm afraid. Still gotta have dinner with our parents," Max replied, disappointment in her tone as she frowned slightly. Although part of her was tempted by the idea of showing back up looking even more stuffed than she was already.
"Yeah, I know…" Chloe acknowledges softly, not sure what to say as they hadn't really talked about what happened earlier.
"I know it must be a bit of a shock for them, seeing me in person. Even though I've skyped with them a few times recently so they shouldn't have been too surprised." Max grumbled, "I mean I've gained a bit more since the last call but still…"
Chloe hummed in agreement, softly rubbing the further exposed, wide and, roll of belly in a calming manner. Letting her partner have the space to vent.
When Max spoke again, she didn't get angry, her tone was more wistful with some frustration at her parents' behaviour. "It's just like at Thanksgiving last year and when we skyped them at the start of summer, they kept bringing it up until I told them to stop and I thought they'd have remembered I didn't want to talk to them about it but…"
"I kinda told your Mom off when we left earlier," Chloe admitted, realising she hadn't mentioned calling her out before now. As much as she cared about Max's feelings first and foremost, she didn't want to be on bad terms with the woman she might call her mother in law some day.
"Ugh, I can't wait to be at college and have no one know I used to be so skinny. They won't know anything other than me as I am now." Max continued. "I can relax and not have to feel like I have to defend myself to everyone."
"True. Plus, when you get even fatter, it won't be as much of a shock. Plenty of students gain the freshman fifteen at least." Chloe added, trying to cheer Max up a bit about it.
Max smirked and rolled her eyes; it was obvious Chloe had a bit of a one-track mind at times but thinking about it, she was right. "Yeah, although I think I gained mines a year early."
"I'd say you way overachieved there babe, I mean just look at all of this!" Chloe replied as she rubbed her hand over the mountain of fat that is Max's belly pushing her shirt up to uncover it all. Dropping her voice, she continued in a seductive tone, "Such a porker already, although, if you wanted to repeat your performance this year again, I'd be more than happy to help you with that."
Max giggled, and swatted at the punk's hand playfully, but allowing her to continue her fondling of the massive mound of blubber, enjoying the attention. Smiling lovingly up at her girlfriend, she responded to the offer, "If I let you feed me all the time, I'd be the size of a house in no time I bet."
"You know it sista!" Chloe enthusiastically agreed as the pair snuggled closer into each other, enjoying the peacefulness in the mid-afternoon sun and ignoring the rest of the world's existence for a while longer.
However, before long, Max felt it was time to face up to the ignored barrage of text messages and missed calls on her phone. Pulling out her phone with some difficulty since her jeans were skin-tight these days.
Missed Call – Mom 12:38
Missed Call – Mom 12:41
Missed Call – Mom 12:43
Mom 12:45
Maxine, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Your father and I are just worried about you. Please call me back.
Dad 12:58
Pumpkin, we're sorry. I know you don't want to talk about things like that with us. I just want to know you're ok, but you're right we shouldn't be harassing you about it.
Dad 13:09
I've had a word with your mother so don't worry about us just now, enjoy your afternoon with Chloe and hopefully we'll see you at dinner later? Sorry again that we upset you.
Dad 13:10
Ps. I've packed up the last few boxes, so you and Chloe just need to sort out whatever is left in her room when you get back.
"Everything ok?" Chloe asked, her tone hopeful there was no more drama as she watched Max quickly type up a reply.
"At least Dad seems to get it," Max replied handing her phone over to let Chloe read the messages. "Plus he finished up the packing for us."
"Score, storming out like that was a power move right there," Chloe exclaimed, she could be lazy at times too and packing boxes upon boxes had been stressing her out over the last few days realising how much crap they both had and that she was unable to throw anything away if there was even a slight sentimental attachment there.
Chuckling in response, Max took back her phone and struggled again with her pockets to put it back, having to hold back her belly a little to do so. "I think we should probably head back."
"Sure, just give me a minute to tidy up and we can head back down." Standing up, Chloe made quick work of trashing the boxes and rubbish into a single carrier bag to bring back with them to the bin.
With that done, she offered a hand to her girlfriend who was still leaning back on the bench, her belly still exposed to the world where Chloe had lifted her shirt earlier. "Ready to go?"
Taking hold of the offered hand Max began to stand up, something that she had noticed her belly making harder to do without shifting forward slightly particularly when she was full like this. However, with Chloe's grasp on her helping to haul her up she stood up in one smooth motion this time.
"Damn, if you get much heavier, I'm gonna need to work out more to keep up with you, babe," Came the teasing commentary once she had steadied herself in the punk's lightly muscled arms. "Although, maybe I like the idea of you pinning me down with your blubbery body. So enormously heavy I can't lift your rolls let alone move you."
Max blushed a little but knew she wanted to make that happen more often. Especially as she had surpassed doubling her original weight since they began this journey together. The thought of being that huge was turning her on, but she knew for the moment it was fantasy, but maybe down the line, the idea intrigued her.
After a few moments lingering in the embrace, the moment came to an end as the pair began to walk, or waddle in Max's case, hand in hand back down the trail. Not bothering to pull her shirt down until they go back to the truck. Even then it was a fruitless endeavour as the fabric just rode back up when she climbed into the cabin.
"You know," Max began, rubbing her belly a gently, "I'm still kinda hungry, can we stop off at the ice cream shop before we head back?"
With a grin, Chloe happily agreed to the request, and the pair set off. Heading back to the Price household, quite possibly for the final time before leaving Arcadia Bay and beginning the next chapter in their lives together.