A/N: Welcome Alyce to my new co-writer- Seventeenthstar on tumblr, she is doing an incredible job with helping me with the progression with this story.
And also I want to thank Richie for Editor (:
As always I love hearing what you guys think, I adore reviews and I don't care how nasty they could get but it helps us out a bunch.
So don't forget to comment and follow and as always stay sinning (;
Chloe's gaze moved on to study the features on Max's face. She could tell she was having a bad dream by the crease on her forehead. The way the sun splashed her face made her freckles stand out against her pale skin. Chloe bit the corner of her lip before sighing softly trying to be ever so subtle. Come on dude it was just one kiss, she thought you were going to die… it didn't mean anything. That didn't stop Chloe about thinking about that one lucid kiss. She wished it wasn't just her remembering things. Max was the hero in all of this and how would Chloe be the one to tell her, and then again about Jeffershit, the reason she came to this shithole of a town. No she wouldn't believe Chloe not without any proof but how.
Chloe noticed movement from Max's side of the bed which pulled her out of her thoughts. She was finally waking. Max's parents were staying in a hotel not too far, but Max had elected to stay with Chloe and her parents for a time. Vanessa and Ryan weren't too happy, but Joyce was able to convince them that it was better to stay with them rather than in some random hotel with her now overprotective parents. Chloe watched as Max reached over the side of the bed to grab her pain pills with her working hand and then fumbled with the bottle, trying to get it open with only one hand.
"Shit!" Max swore as the bottle slipped out of her hand and into her lap. She reached down to pick it up again, but Chloe reached out and put her hand over Max's.
"Here," Chloe said, pulling her hand away from Max's and picking up the meds. "Let me help…" It was the least she could do, really, with everything Max had done for her. "Looks like maybe we both need to be medicated," Chloe laughed awkwardly as she opened the bottle and handed Max a pill.
jfc
"Thanks," was Max's only response. She didn't even look at Chloe as she tossed the pill in her mouth and turned over to face the wall.
Chloe felt lost, which was something she was too used to feeling. It was unlike Max to be so quiet, she always had a lot to say. Chloe wanted to shake Max, tell her to say something stupid in perfect Max-Hipster form. She was too tired for this, but she couldn't give up on Max.
"I bet Joyce is making us a killer breakfast downstairs, wanna go down and slay some bacon?"
Max was quiet for a moment and the silence spread over Chloe with a chill.
"No, I don't think I could eat," Max finally responded.
"Come on, Super-Max! You battled Nathan Prescott one-on-one yesterday! I think you deserve a little breakfast celebration! It'll really be a party since Step-Douche is busy at Blackwell dealing with the leftover shit-show going on there."
Max turned to face her, looking a little more like the Max that Chloe knew. "Well, could you bring me up some food? I think I want to stay in here for awhile."
Chloe brushed a bit of hair out of Max's face with her hand, "I'm on it." She stood up and grabbed her jeans from off the floor, pulling them on and grabbing her jacket-which had Max's letters bundled up inside-as she left the room.
Chloe sauntered down the stairs with her hand gliding across the rail until she reached the front door to the garage. The delicious aroma of sizzling bacon and crisp hash browns had Chloe's stomach grumbling. Her nose tracked down the food to the kitchen where Joyce stood over the stove whipping up some eggs. Making an omelet as her ear was glued to the phone, probably checking up on David. Chloe leaned against the wall waiting for Joyce to acknowledge her. Crossing her arms over her chest starting with a pout, when she felt something stiff. Chloe opened her jacket pocket to reintroduce her to Max's forgotten letters.
I have time now, one letter wouldn't hurt me.. maybe it'll help me talk to Max even.
Chloe turned her heel walking down the hallway and unlocked the sliding doors to the backyard, it was a cool, crisp morning, the breeze shook the leaves on the trees around her as she went to the swings. It had been a while since she was down here, vividly remembering the last conversation she had with Max when she was 14. She'd give anything to get through to that Max, she had to try.
Chloe fumbled through another set of letters to figure out the next one in formation. The next one dated only a couple of days after that cute introduction to Seattle.
Dear Chloe,
This week has been insane, you know how I hate this new kid crap; it' like I can't even walk down these stupid hallways without someone giving me crap about being me, I don't know how to be adventurous like you, maybe people would like me more if I was right? I was just thinking.. when does my best friend, the girl I can always count on get her permit? Just think about it.. You can just take a cruise to another state, even bring Joyce along , pick me up and we can go to the beach and take great shots. I really want to feel the sun in my face and not this damp ass weather. Aside from that dad is just showering me with disappointing facts, says the internet won't be up until next week; that means all I've been doing is watching HAWT DAWG MAN reruns. Laugh it up Chloe Price, next time when we meet in duel, I will pulverize you (; Do you remember when you would beat my ass when we played the video game? Btw can you mail me a copy when you're finished with it, mom says it's too violent and doesn't want to buy it for me, she says this is the corruption of all evil :/ like do you believe that? What would a captain and her first mate corrupt against; maybe the world but still. It's not like I will do all the evil doing on my own, I need my best friend at my side, mom got the memo but I'm still top suspect for world domination; according to her. Do you remember that day we were on your swings and you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, then I told you we would go around the world and take pictures, and that you would be my bodyguard? I know we were only joking but I'd love the idea of us taking on adventures together. I'd go anywhere with you by my side.. I have to go I'm getting too mushy for you.
Xoxo your first mate
"Chloe! Breakfast is on the table." Joyce shouted from the dining table,placing an assortments of Max's favorite food. Joyce trying her best to give both girls their distance, even though she wanted to be there she couldn't always, with working in the diner and all.
"Coming!" Chloe replied quickly folding the letter back in the the envelope and heading back inside.
Joyce hurriedly kissed Chloe on her forehead before rushing out to put on a jacket "Now Chloe please look after Max and try not to get in trouble, the Caulfields will be calling in to check up on her. If you can get her to talk to them for a bit.. we need to address what happened back at Blackwell." The busy woman hugged her daughter goodbye and rushed out the door for her morning shift at the diner.
A few moments after stuffing her face Chloe put on a brave face and set up a plate for Max, with all of her favorite things and which included her hostess or so Chloe thought once a upon a time.
"Knock knock, I come baring gifts. Well delish grub, dig in Mad Max." Chloe carefully placed a plate of warm waffles, a side of bacon and hashbrowns on Max's lap.
Max gave her a wary smile "Thanks Chloe.." Thanking her nonchalantly, max fumbled with picking up the fork on her plate, struggling to use her left hand to eat; didn't want to be reminded of the failure that was becoming her new reality.
Chloe bit her lip stepping in. "Here I brought a knife, I swear sometimes these babies look like a fluffy heaven but mom sometimes makes them hard as a rock." She teased taking over for her and taking a bit before she returned the plate over to Max "My professional critic says the waffles are safe to eat."
"Chloe.." Just then her phone started buzzing, at the desk table. It had been a while since Max made contact with anybody from Blackwell, of course her inbox was flooded with messages from her parents, a few from Warren and a couple from her the girls from her dorm.
Chloe sighed walking over to her desk, gliding her fingers over Max's screen; swiping the screen to reveal a message from Kate Marsh "Hey Max, Kate Marsh sent you a message." She looked over her shoulder and turned to Max, a flood of messages came in after that, no matter what the situation Max had appreciated the sweet innocent person Kate was and hoped she'd still be after all of this.
"I think it's urgent. You should probably call her." Chloe cautiously went to sit down next to Max "Maxaroni it's just Kate. You can talk to her." Chloe grabbed Max's hand, slowly uncurling her fingers, placing the phone in the palm of her hand.
"I don't know if I can." She looked over at Chloe her throat becoming immensely dry.
"Chloe .." This had been the most she spoke to her since waking up " I took your place I shouldn't be here." Barely audio, seconds later Max received a voicemail from Kate. Furrowing her eyebrows Max lifted her hand to throw her phone against the wall. Chloe grabbed her wrist gently, slipping the phone out of her hands and pressing play onto the message.
Hey Max it's Kate, I can't believe what happened to you at Blackwell. I can't believe Nathan, what he did to you; you could have died.. Max I need to tell you something. It sounded like Kate was crying, the shallow whisper turned into sniffling. I feel so lost Max, I can't even talk to one of my closest friends because she's going through stuff too. Max.. Do you think it's possible that god is punishing me because I am being so selfish, I am here wallowing in about a stupid video, the video hurts because everyone is treating me like trash but MAX I SWEAR IT ISN'T ME. my mom is disowning me and has forbidden my sisters to talk to me, I feel so alone. This isn't a life worth living, if you can hear this please forgive me and remember I will always cherish you as a friend and a wonderful person. Goodbye.