Warren: i really need that flash rn. don't make me go ape and climb to your window
Perks of being on the third floor. No way Ninja Warren can get up there.
Anyways, the towing company came and hauled off Chloe's truck. Turns out we actually have one now, since it came pretty quick. Usually you'd get one from Tillamook. Guess that's nice to know even though I just came for Blackwell and Chloe. Well, if I'm being honest. It really was only for Blackwell. I lean on the railing, my thin jacket barely doing anything while hers is all bundled up with a heavy leather jacket as she joins me. Lucky ass.
"At least the view's nice, right?" Her eyes stay locked on to the skid mark that her truck left when we stopped. "How's Blackhell going for you?"
If missing work and sleeping in so much that the principal is worried about me is anything to go off of, then I am a-okay. "I like the school. Not the students."
"I see you have met, " she throws her hands up, "the bitch. " One glance at my cocked head and she elaborates. "Victoria. Privileged blonde. With all the fancy schmancy camera shit."
I sigh deeply out of jealousy and annoyment. "Unfortunately."
"Wanna know something funny?"
I nod and stuff my hands into my pockets, teeth chattering.
"So a couple years ago, I literally just met Rachel I think. And the day before the play or something, we decided to skip school and fuck around the town. Next day comes, and I get called into the principal's office and he's like, hella mad. So then she comes along and takes the blame for it." Wow. That's awesome. Guess she won't be like Victoria like I was so worried about. "Principals like, 'Well, you can't be in the play if you're encouraging this behavior'," she says in a deep mocking voice.
"Sounds a lot like Wells." I mean, she got everything right. Except he's nicer to me. It makes sense since I'm a goody two shoes and Chloe's a… baddy two shoes.
"Mhm. So now she's out of the play and I feel like an asshole because this play was really big and everyone wanted to watch…" Her voice trails off as she looks past me and at a pair of headlights. She points at it, saying, "that would be our ride."
The car comes in, doing a very illegal u-turn and stopping at an angle beside us. The evening sun shines on the dark purple coat as the driver side door opens and what I can only assume is Rachel stepping out in an oversized hoodie. "Your chariot has arrived," she says, giving me a smile. Woah, this is actually my first time even seeing her instead of just glances.
Chloe meets her in front of the car, leaning and whispering something in her ear. Thanks, guys. Rachel nods before giving her a light slap on the shoulder. We all jump in the car, me in the backseat of course and mentally preparing to daydream. The radio turns on to some pop music that I probably heard on my last day in Seattle. I lean forward a bit to read the title running across the small screen next to some dials. Looks like Team by Lorde? Sounds like it too. I faintly whisper the lyrics, taking a looksies around the car. Compared to Chloe's car, this is like a freaking palace, and smells like one too. Wait… is that a panda keychain hanging under the rearview mirror? That is so cute.
Rachel leans back into her seat, one hand on the wheel. "Max, right? In the dorm across from Victoria?"
"Yeah," I respond. I don't know if she somehow knew I'm shy or… that's probably what Chloe whispered before we started driving. Good looking, Chlo. "You don't live at Blackwell?"
"Nope. With my parents. The dorms are really only for anyone taking the two year program." The sound of the road fills the air for a moment before she looks in the mirror at my camera. "So you're the one taking all those pictures, huh? I've seen some that Jefferson showed me in the dark room. "
I speak yet nothing comes out. My peripheral vision flashes black and blue and red and all these other… images. What the hell is going on? I look outside the window and see a darkened sky. It rains. I look forward and there's no one. Everything is frozen in time. The roar of the wind outside parades around me, my chest tightening. I reach to clutch-
"You doing okay back there, Max?" Rachel says as she gives Chloe a side eye.
Uh, what? Just blanked out for a second, nothing major. "Mhm."
Chloe turns around fully. "You looked like you saw some freaky shit just happen."
"Yeah, just a little tired."
She turns towards Rachel and kicks her feet up on the dashboard. There's something in the way they look at eachother. Can't really describe it apart from just saying it straight up, and I don't think that she's the type to be… y'know. Gay. "Did I tell you? Me and Max go back hella far, to when we were kids."
"Oh my god, that's awesome. How did you guys meet?"
Honestly, I really don't remember, and shrug my shoulders at Chloe who's clearly hoping I would answer. She wiggles her little shoes around before answering. "I think it was lunch at the elementary school we went to. Came up to her because she looked lonely and gave her a jelly bean."
Oh yeah. Mind you, not a bag of jelly beans. Literally one jelly bean. Blueberry flavored. And it was still tiny when my hands were even smaller than they are now.
"She eats it and I think I just sat down next to her. We started talking and never really stopped ever since…" Her voice trails off. I know exactly what she wants to say next. And with how long they've known each other, Rachel probably knows too.
She indicates into the lane on the left hand side and lets out a quiet chuckle. "Yup, sounds like the Chloe I know.
Even though I'm pretty sure she has a ton of friends, it's still nice someone else took my place as the really close friend. Would feel pretty shitty to come back and realize that she was alone the whole time. I mean, I was kinda lonely when my family moved to Seattle. And super duper lonely when I came back apart from Warren and maybe Kate.
Oh shit. Kate. Getting coffee together. Oh God, I just left two people hanging. The guilt from earlier in Chloe's car builds up again and I slouch in the seat to the point of being out of view in the mirror. I take out my phone and quickly start typing in our messages.
Hey, rlly sorry about ditching the coffee thing: Max
Kate: It's OK. Lot of homework anyways. We could go tomorrow if that's ok.
Damn. She sounds really down. Put that in my schedule, Future Max. Get that girl some much needed coffee. And you need some too after today. First inevitably seeing my best friend from half a freaking decade ago, to hanging out with one of the popular girls who happens to also be really close with said friend? Recipe for knocking the hell out and waking up late for class.
Arcadia Bay lights up through the night sky as we enter through the main road, turning right into Blackwell only minutes away. A soothing silence falls over us as we get closer. The awkwardness from before leaves through my cracked open window. This totally feels like when Mom and Dad would take me on a drive to one of the beaches in Seattle. Butterflies in my stomach as I watch the street lights and houses zoom by on the way to our house, with me all tuckered out and wanting to go to sleep.
The car pulls over on the side and I quietly get out to try not to kick anything in her unusually neat car. Guarantee Chloe makes it extra messy whenever they drive together. Not like mine would be clean either.
The passenger side window rolls down and Chloe looks at me with a smile. "It was hella cool to see you again, even if my truck ended up all sorts of fucked up. Welcome back to Arcadia Bay, Max."
Rachel peeks her head out to wave as they slowly began to drive off. "If you need anything, just know even if I'm with those Vortex Club gals that you can just come up to me. I know they're not exactly people that you'd want to be around, but I try to be the one that makes everyone play nice. See you around." Soon after, I could see the headlights turn into what is probably Chloe's house, if she still lives there.
After nearly two months of social anxiety kicking my ass and grades getting low, this is okay. Getting to know a popular Vortex Club member and becoming friends again. But tomorrow is definitely hang out with Kate and retrieve Warren his flash drive filled with unimaginable horrors and apparently my… photo's day.
Yeah. That was an uncomfortable thought that made me shudder when I saw that folder this morning. Really hope that's not why he needs it urgently.