Chapter 3

At 9:30pm, Hannah sneaked out of the dorm and got in her car. She was extra nervous and thought reconnecting with Chloe will not be easy, because… It's Chloe, after all, it was never easy with her.

Hannah took a peek on the right, and noticed the park. Hannah got thrown into nostalgia. Yeah… So much time had passed since that day that had forever changed her life…


Flashback

– That day was promising nothing special – l just sat in the park, trying to take off some stress from my music class and did a pathetic attempt on smoking that shit Nathan gave me. – Yeah, l looked like Sandy from Grease that time, just much more miserable. Soo not my style.


– Suddenly, l heard the familiar voice:

– Is that Hannah Crimsen smoking pot I'm seeing? – It was Rachel Amber, looking perfect, as always.

Hey Rachel… – I remember myself being really uncomfortable talking to her. – Despite that we both were hanging out at Vortex Club, we rarely talked. I actually thought that Rachel was really… weird. Don't know why l thought that, but l still did.

– Is Rachel Amber herself I'm seeing? – Hey Rachel, and no, I'm not smoking, only… Trying to.

– And how's the new experience? – Does the "School's new Angel" actually turned bad?

– The "experience" sucks, can't understand why people like this garbage, – I threw away the pot, and prepared to walk away. Suddenly, Rachel stopped me.

– Hey Hannah, you clearly need some rest – maintain the 4,2 GPA can be incredibly stressful. – I'm now with a friend and we have some beer with us – want some of it, Crimsen?

Right there, l understood that this situation was what l needed.

Maybe l could know how Rachel's really like, and realize my stupid teenage theories were just BS. Also, l wondered who was that mysterious "friend" of hers. Clearly wasn't anyone l knew at the moment.

Rachel took me by the hand, and guided me, to what seemed to be a platform on a mountain. – Never l saw that kind of nature beauty.

– Chloe! – I brought some company!

– Suddenly, a tall and skinny girl appeared, and began critically looking over me. – She dressed "dangerous" and looked like a delinquent, but for some reason, l felt… comfortable around her.

– That was the day l met the one and only Chloe Price.

– And since that day, that stupid mountain platform where Rachel brought us together had become our "special place". – Cliché and dumb, l know.

Flashback ends


Hannah drove close to that mountain, and signed. That platform and the only flashlight were still there. She texted Chloe:

"I'm almost there, you?"

"Waiting, and you are still as slow as before"

"Also: you better bring some good shit with you"

Hannah laughed, and was going up to Chloe.

– Okay Han you got this, just count to three… You are only going to meet your former best friend, who you were not in contact with for almost a whole year… – Ugh, who am l trying to fool, I'm fucking nervous!

She finally was in the right place. Hannah looked over – it was still as magical as before, just much more mysterious with the evening setting.

– Hello there, – Hannah suddenly heard a voice from behind, and almost got a heart attack. She looked over, and saw Chloe. She breathed heavily.

– Hannah Crimsen, once a coward, always a coward, – Chloe said with a sassy tone and Hannah only rolled her eyes.

– You surely had become much more passive, prep. – That Prescott asshole is sure a bad influence on you. – Where's your old "Hannah" sarcasm?

Hannah laughed.

– Somewhere here, – She jokingly and theatrically pointed at her stomach and began pointing at the random places. Chloe smiled.

– Yeah, you clearly are the old Hannah Crimsen, – Chloe moved a little away. – Have you brought some shit with you?

Hannah hated that part of Chloe. But still she understood, that otherwise, there will be almost no chance in getting her to talk.

– Yeah… – Here, – Hannah uncomfortably handed Chloe a pack of some weed and pills.

– Wow! – That's some expensive shit you've got there, Hannah, – Chloe hid the pack in her bag. – Let me guess – got it from your golden ass Prescott?

– No… – Just Nathan forgot it at my dorm and… – Well, l decided that it would be better to not give him that crap back. – I actually, wouldn't even give it to you, Chloe.

– Hannah Crimsen, you had always been a terrible liar, – Chloe patted Hannah on the shoulder and lit up her cigarette. – How's you looking at the idea of going around the place?

Hannah, being embarrassed shook her head. Chloe offered her a cig, but she refused. For now, everything has been going quite decent with reuniting with Chloe. The best thing, that Chloe stayed as her own self.

Hannah and Chloe were waking, with no clear goal and chatting about life.

– So, the legendary Max Caufield and Chloe Price are finally together, yeah? – Hannah asked.

– Fuck yes. Only now l realize, how much l actually missed her all those years - when reunited.

– Well, Max seems like pretty a cool girl to me, and also - she sooo your type – artistic and weird. – In a cool way.

Chloe laughed.

– Max's the best. – I say she is pretty similar to… Rachel. – Only much less stylish.

– Yeah… Rachel...


Flashback

– So, you must be the "famous" Hannah Crimsen, right? – Chloe was clearly curious of me there.I peeked, and saw Rachel watching us, like it was some sort of a comedy show.

– And you are Chloe Price, the famous delinquent who got her butt kicked out of Blackwell, am l not confusing something?

Yeah, l so remembering myself behaving like an old caricature. – I even winked at Chloe… God I was a cliché one.

– You got some wild tongue Crimsen, especially, based on your "prefect" reputation. – I fucking love that.

– I remember Rachel laughing alongside with me. That day, her laugh was the most beautiful thing l saw for a long period of time.

– So Chloe, looks like you and Hannah are going to become amazing friends. – And you know you can trust me. – I have a sharp eye for that.

– Hey-hey, hold your horses, miss Amber, l barely know the Dresses Girl, and you are already pairing us?

– From that moment, l realized, that l want to be those girls friend. – It was all so weird – l didn't knew shit about them at that time.

– Well Chloe, you are kind of right. – Hannah. – If only you answer my question, you will be allowed to hang out with us.

– Well, l give you a shot – impress me with your question, Rachel Amber.

– Yeah, sometimes, l was too overconfident… – Only later l begun to regret my attitude towards life and people.

– Okay… – Hm… – Here! – Crimsen, tell me what shape this cloud is, what form does it seems to you? – Use your artistic mind!

– Rachel Amber, you officially became my N1 in my list of weirdos that day. – And believe that still, no one can top you.

– Well, for me, this cloud looks like a big and a pretty fat violin.

– The best musician in the class at her finest. – I thought you are going to say "gun", and it's clear that it's a gun.

– So, violins for good girls, guns for delinquents?

– Totally. – Yeah Dresses, l begin to like you more and more.

– Well… – Close enough but still great Hannah Crimsen. – Now, l say you are officially allowed to hang out with us. – Rachel barely kept her laugh, and suddenly, her me and Chloe all laughed.


– And just like that, one became three. – Those two girls, just like Nathan made me feel special, made me feel inspired. – And it's the truth, my music peaked with Chloe and Rachel in my life.

Flashback ends


– Hannah! – Hannah, are you listening? – Hannah suddenly snapped out of memories, when Chloe raised her voice.

– Oh sorry, Chloe, l spaced out.

– You high? – Chloe jokingly asked, and Hannah shook her head.

– No, just… – Thinking about the past.

– About Rachel? – Chloe's face changed it's expression to the concerning and quite sad.

– Yeah, so many memories, especially here. – I miss her way too goddamn much. – Chloe turned away from Hannah and lit up another cig.

– Uhm… – Let's jump to another topic, please. – Uncomfortably said Hannah, trying to cover up her trembling hands.

– 'Kay captain. – Said Chloe and climbed on a large boulder. Hannah followed her.

– Well, you asked me to switch the theme? – So… – I see you are still friends with Nathan Prescott the Psycho?

– Hey, Nathan is a great person, actually! – Hannah said, feeling a little offended. – Yeah, Nathan has his… moments, but most times, he is an amazing friend.

Chloe laughed sarcastically, but decided to keep quiet about her "situation" with Nathan for now.

– Well, he definitely has the worst temper I saw in a person ever, and l have to live next to my step-fuck every day!

– Yeah… – Hope David wouldn't give Max any trouble. – I still remember how he reacted when found you smoking – he thought it was me who gave you that pot, because "kill the Vortex brat!"

Chloe laughed even harder.

– Also, Han: thanks for stopping Fuckscott for running after Max. – Chloe laughed. – We would be dead if not for you or Max's geek friend. – I bet 10 bucks he will ask Max on a date after this.

– That's nothing, Chloe. – I promise, l talk with Nathan about this situation and his bad temper.

Chloe rolled her eyes. She looked at the direction of the ocean and sat like this for some time. Suddenly, she said:

– How much l wish that we managed to travel to the past. – You, me, and Rachel, all three, sitting right here, smoking and talking shit with each other… – I will do anything to get those times back.

– I… – I miss those times too, – Hannah said quietly and awkwardly.

Chloe and Hannah randomly decided to shut up, and sat in silence, looking at the ocean.

– Chloe, I missed you, – Said Hannah, finally breaking the silence.

– I missed you too, Hanna-Banana. – Chloe said, looking at some point happy. Hannah tried to hug her friend, but Chloe blocked her attempts.

Hannah and Chloe were talking about their lives, interests and plans. Chloe, for some reason was dodging all Hannah's questions, and asked more about her current life. Hannah looked at Chloe, and felt… Sad? Like it wasn't Chloe anymore, despite that she is real and here, right next to her.


The girls were hanging out up until 2am, and only with the first signs of blue began wrapping it up.

– Still can't believe we are here, talking, – Hannah smiled. – And, you and Max have finally reunited. – I'm just so happy for you.

– Welp thanks, ex-dresses, – Chloe said. – Today l totally have the "Reuniting with old friends" day.

– Listen, thank you Chloe for meeting me here. – I thought you don't want to see my stupid face anymore.

– Well, l kinda missed your stupid face and your shitty humor. – You totally need to meet Max, l sense you will get along.

– Who knows, who knows, – Hannah said with a mysterious tone in her voice.


When Chloe and Hannah got to their cars, the girls waved each other goodbye. Despite them having a good time, they still didn't know how to feel about this meeting. Because, as they didn't speak to each other for a crazy amount of time, they felt, ironically like complete strangers.

Still, their deep hidden friendship was slowly getting out.

Hannah was riding through Arcadia Bay, and purposely was riding below the sea, to see the true night beauty.

– Chloe… – God did l miss her so much… – Hannah thought. – Still the same old unique Chloe – my friend.