Chapter 2

Max and Chloe found two seats by the entrance and sat down. Chloe had grabbed herself a Diet Coke and a Twinkie for the raw sugar rush. Max had picked up a Capri Sun and a bag of fruit slices that was actually in the kids' section but it was what she fancied so she'd told Chloe to shut up and deal with it. Once they'd finished eating and had started to feel a bit more with it, their thoughts and conversations turned to the festival and what they were going to do over the next couple of days in regards to continuing their trip. They'd already decided the rough outline of things: ask Vanessa for the money today once they'd checked into the hotel, enjoy the festival when it started and spend the next day shopping for a suitcase and replace all their spare clothes and toiletries they'd lost. Their personal items were gone. There was no helping that. They'd just have to sort that out as best they could once they got back home. But what was exciting them at that moment was the thought of the festival itself.

"You know, the whole three in the morning thing reminds me of a wedding that Rachel and I went to." Chloe said once she'd got back from throwing their stuff in the trash. "I mean, it wasn't an actual wedding since gay people weren't allowed to get married in this country until 2015. But that didn't stop them from throwing their own unofficial ceremony with a friend marrying them. And the party was something else. I tell you now, if you're ever invited to anything like that you don't even think about it you just go!"

"What happened?" Max asked, almost dreading the answer. That dread then blossomed like a lily as a grin spread across Chloe's face.

"Well I was sat with her at one table while everyone else was at their own tables and then this Michael Jackson impersonator came on-stage and started doing his routine with these two guys pole dancing on each side of him and one of those spark fountain fireworks going off in the background while we were inside the building! I thought there was going to be a huge fucking fire! Then Rachel got up to go to the restroom and came staggering back ten minutes later in a seriously bad way. Apparently she found a bowl of candy on the way back and started helping herself and that 'candy' turned out to be this awesome 90s-style MDMA that's fucking expensive to get hold of and that they were saving for nearer the end of the night. Because she'd brought it on herself, we just stuck her in a corner and let her sleep it off and they had to evaluate what was left and break out the rest of it early. I say this much: that 'candy' worked. It worked phenomenally!" Max let out a sigh. She was flattered that Chloe felt she could open up about her time with Rachel. She'd never minded her talking about previous partners, especially when sharing happy memories since she'd had so few of them once Max had moved away. And from the look on her face, this was definitely a happy memory.

"I don't even have to ask whether you took some. So what happened?"

"Okay, so this guy who'd been acting as best man called Antoine told us that we were going to party until three AM. It was seven-twenty. This guy was calling three. I had my doubts. Then they handed out the tablets that were left and told us to take them on the count of three. The guy next to me didn't want his so I told him to just act drugged up and took his too. For the next six hours at least my little Chemistry-loving brain couldn't stop trying to work out that if Arcadia Bay was inside the nucleus of an atom then where would be the electrons orbiting it? And how big would the protons and neutrons be? Would they be the size of buildings or the size of cars? And what would be the element that they formed? And my mind was doing all these wondrous things when in reality I was sitting in the corner guarding Rachel like a blue-haired dragon lady guards treasure. And it wasn't even because it was Rachel. It was because the little bitch had stolen my cigarettes and I didn't want her handing them out to anyone else or losing them. We went until about ten past four. Antoine was right. It was an amazing party. Steph was so pissed she couldn't be there! Then I got back home. Joyce and Sergeant Pornstache went ballistic and I was grounded for about a hundred years. Which lasted maybe a hundred seconds because this is me." Max had to hold her sides for fear they'd split open as tears rolled down her cheeks and her breath left her to the degree she couldn't even laugh anymore. At one point she doubled over to her right so far that Chloe had to grab her and pull her back onto the chair, holding her close until she was able to breathe again.

They continued their small talk until their ride showed up. When it did, it was about forty minutes ahead of time and chased by a fanfare of sirens as the police and two fire trucks blasted past. The cab that pulled up was a battered old thing that reminded them a lot of Chloe's truck in many ways. The key one being that one look was enough to make them nervous about getting in. Even more so when an overweight man in a brown button-up shirt that was stretched to the maximum over his stomach and a cowboy-style hat like an old Western movie. The handlebar moustache completed the look and from one glance at Chloe, Max could tell she didn't know whether to laugh to run. A feeling she herself had to admit she mirrored as they walked outside to meet him.

"Hello there, ladies! Name's Eddie. I run this here gas station. Was supposed to be my day off, but I just can't sit still when there's folks in need of helping. That Angie's a lovely girl, ain't she?"

"She really is." Max nodded, deciding to take the initiative but also cutting to the point. "Is there a hotel in this town we can check into? We'd like to rest up after everything."

"Well there sure is!" Eddie beamed as he opened the back door for them to climb in. "I'll drop you off out front. It's just a short hop from here. And I trust Angie told you about the festival?"

"She did." Chloe replied, trying to grin through everything and only managing a sickly grimace. Still, Max had to applaud the effort. It was more than she'd expected from her in this situation and she was really trying to be polite. That was more than Chloe would have done as little as a year ago. She'd really got better at warming to people as they'd spent time together. The two of them climbed into the back and Max gently rested her hand on top of Chloe's as Eddie drove towards the town. He kept on talking about the festival but they tuned out once they'd got enough of a picture of how big the event was for the whole town. It wasn't long before they pulled up in front of the hotel and got out. The place looked nice enough. Very old-fashioned and quaint with flowers blooming so heartily that they spilled out from troughs on the windowsills and even a bird feeder hung up just above one of the windows.

"Thanks, Eddie!" Max called to him, waving as he drove off.

"A bird feeder?" Chloe asked, snapping Max back to reality. "Are you fucking serious?"

"What?" Max laughed, shoving her playfully. "I like that they actually care about nature. This place is pretty rustic."

"Yeah, it's hipster heaven." Chloe sighed. "Shall we check in?" Max nodded and took her by the arm as they walked inside, glancing around to get the feel of the place as they approached the front desk. The concierge had his head down and was sorting through registries as they approached and Max cleared her throat to let him know they were there.

"Good to see you, finally." His voice was little more than a mutter as he worked and it was slightly off-putting. But Max was determined not to be deterred.

"We were hoping to check in?"

"Check in?" he repeated as though perplexed. "Why? You know where our room is, babe."

"Excuse me, what the fuck?" Chloe cut in angrily. The presence of a second voice caused him to look up in alarm to see Max and Chloe looking down at him- or glaring in Chloe's case. He was a young guy who looked to be in about his thirties with sandy hair and glasses. And he was now absolutely terrified.

"Oh, I'm ever so sorry!" He gave a laugh that sounded as nervous and forced as it was. "I thought you were my wife! You must be those two I've heard about? With the exploding truck?" Max felt Chloe flinch at her side and decided to press on.

"I take it news spreads fast here? Yes, we're Max and Chloe Caulfield-Price."

"Oh yes, gossip spreads like unspecified viruses of unknown origin." His expression became more relaxed and genuine now that the conversation had taken on a different direction. However his choice of words had confused Chloe.

"What 'unspecified viruses'? What are you on about?" she asked.

"Well if I told you that they wouldn't be unspecified then, would they?" Max couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. One thing that she'd always loved was how easily Chloe had always walked into her jokes and the thought that this guy had so easily just found that weakness meant this could be a fun couple of days. "I'm Carl Shaw. I would say I trust you had a pleasant trip but we both know the answer there. Now, I've had my wife Ronnie set aside three options for you. We have two single beds, one double bed or two separate adjoining rooms."

"We'll take the double." Chloe said firmly. Carl wasted no time grabbing the key and throwing it to her.

"Cool. I'll show you the way up. Look, I don't know if it's too soon to be asking for favours, but maybe we could try and avoid any mention of my little mix-up getting back to my wife?"

"How about this: we don't tell your wife and you don't try pulling moves on mine, okay?" Chloe asked, wrapping an arm around Max protecting her. At that, Carl hurriedly checked his guest book again and noticed that their last names were the same. As this new revelation clicked home, he went visibly pale.

"I- I am so sorry!" As he spoke he hurriedly got up and made his way around the desk to them. "Well I think that's a more than acceptable deal. If you'll allow me to take your-" He stopped short as he got ready to take their cases, realising there was nothing there. "Where are your bags, if I may ask?"

"In the truck." Max sighed, rolling her eyes. It took a second for it to click, but Carl eventually got what she was meaning.

"Ah, right. I'm with you. Okay, well I will escort you up to your room and then I'll have a toothbrush and some toothpaste sent up to you as compliments of the house as an apology for our little misunderstanding. Tonight's meal will also be half price since it's festival night. Full price breakfast in the morning, though. I'm afraid we don't accept over-spending at the festival as an excuse."

"That's more than fair." Max nodded. After a few goodbyes and well-wishes he left them in peace to enjoy their stay and they were finally able to unlock their door and head inside. Chloe practically staggered into the room and flopped forward onto the bed, hitting it hard and bouncing slightly in the process. Max shut the door behind them and walked over to her, sitting down next to her and resting one hand on her back. Eventually, she rolled over and faced Max properly and the brunette could see tears in her eyes.

"Max, I-"

"It's okay." Max assured her as she shuffled onto the bed properly and pulled Chloe over to her so that the taller woman's head was resting in her lap like she'd done a bunch of times before. Once she was sure that they were both comfy, she began to sing. It was a song she'd heard before during an anime they'd watched together that Chloe had adored and that particular song had jumped out at Max. She'd take it upon herself to learn the full version so that she could use the lyrics that Chloe didn't know in just such a time as this.

"All thoughts that plague the mind

They live inside this box, confined.

Awaiting one faithful day

When they'll deceive us all.

Don't be above your daydream

Never lose faith in your vision!

Just believe in your dream

Even if it may lead you wrong!

I'll sing my heart out to overcome the distance

A bridge of silence to carry our song!"

As Max looked down, she realised that Chloe had fallen asleep. That was fine. After driving all day and then everything they'd been through in the last hour alone, she'd more than earned a rest.

"Dream well, sweetie."