September 9th, 2013

Victoria sits next to her customary table in Jefferson's classroom, absently chewing the inside of her cheek in thought as she reviews the message again. The words on the screen haven't changed at all since the last twenty times she's read them, but still she feels as though she's trying to decipher a foreign tongue, or glean some hidden meaning from a cryptic cypher. After a while she sighs and puts her phone away, pursing her lips in annoyance. Of course, she was overthinking things as usual. The invitation was simple enough, after all. Innocent even.

Not that I could accept it anyway, even if I wanted to. How would that even look, Victoria Maribeth Chase just sitting there in front of everyone, having a gay old time with… I mean, what would people even THINK?

The word "date" certainly gave her a fluttery feeling, but given the Christian outlook on same-sex relationships it was obviously not meant in that context. Also since there would be a third person involved, who…

Wait…

Her eyes narrow with suspicion as they dart up to peer at the girl sitting just in front of Taylor, wearing a blue hoodie with yellow collar and her long dark hair pulled back in a pony tail.

There's no way that she and Stella are… right?

She unlocks her phone and reviews the message for the twenty-first time.

There had been some… potential there. Or at least Victoria thought there was. She and Kate were among the first few students to move into the dorms the week before class started and there seemed like a vibe. Flirty, fun. And a bit bittersweet too, for some reason she couldn't quite place. But then once classes started things got awkward. Victoria felt like Kate was maybe trying to avoid her.

I probably pushed things a bit too far. Misread things and made her uncomfortable. I didn't realize she was religious at the time, so…

Then a few days ago Victoria saw her putting up Abstinence Awareness flyers, which may as well have said in big, bold print: 'VICTORIA CHASE YOU ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE.'

At least she hoped that was the case. Victoria was pretty confident in her "game", as it were, but if it turned out that she actually drove someone to taking an abstinence pledge that might not be something her ego could survive.

I bet they're staging an intervention or something... "Praying the gay away" or whatever. Homophobic assholes...

Some amount of time later she gets the vague sense that someone is standing nearby, but doesn't pay it any mind until she hears a polite cough. Looking up to inspect the person who is looming over her, Victoria groans internally.

Max fucking Caulfield.

Life as a Blackwell Academy senior had been going pretty much according to plan for Victoria. She'd expected, of course, to clearly establish herself as head bitch on campus from day one, which was accomplished easily enough. She and Nathan had spent most of junior year scheming and forging alliances in preparation for taking over the Vortex Club, the most prestigious student group in a highly prestigious art school, and with last year's crop of seniors gone there was nothing standing in the way of the pair becoming the de facto Queen and King of the club, and thus the school itself. Sure, there were some pains in the ass who would be difficult to schmooze or coerce that were also too popular or well-connected to kick out of the group, but with the combination of Chase and Prescott money and sheer force of will, they wouldn't be too challenging to work around.

The Vortex Club had started out as an anti-bullying group back in the 80s, but these days it was mostly about drinking and partying, and with her and Nathan at the helm even the nominal activities in the previous direction were a thing of the past. No one had time for that bullshit, anyway.

To top it off she was near the top of her class academically (ok sure she let her minions do some of her coursework but only for the pointless classes no one cared about), and there was no one to stop her from catching the eye of Mark Jefferson, her photography teacher and hopefully future mentor. Mark was a highly respected photographer in his own right, who had taken time off from taking the art world by storm to try his hand at teaching the next generation. Having him in her back pocket could launch her entire career… plus, he was pretty hot, so if she needed to get him in her 'front pocket' to help things along, well, c'est la vie!

Then Max ("oh, no, never Maxine, I'm far too cool and quirky to use my full name!") Caulfield had to roll up in her shitty little Subaru hatchback with her Polaroid camera and her Payless shoes that she still managed to pull off and her ice-blue eyes and dumb model face and her je ne sais quoi and her magic mouth that always said the right things to make everyone just love her. Even Taylor, Victoria's most loyal acolyte, liked Max… as evidenced by the several times they'd had their little chats under the tree in front of the Girl's Dorms when she didn't think Victoria was looking. She was annoying and charming and nosey and perfect and Victoria hated her instantly.

But it seemed like Victoria was the only one who did (well, save for Courtney – no way was she going to take to a girl who looked like she'd never even heard of Sephora much less shopped in one), as even Mark Jefferson just absolutely jizzed himself over her style of art that ahem "manages to capture an air of unreality to the scenes she photographs, as though showing the viewer a glimpse of a hidden world just behind the curtain". The worst part was that she managed to do it all without seeming like she was even trying. Plus, she knew her shit. Sometimes Victoria would raise her hand with a smug smirk and perfect answer to one of Mr. Jefferson's questions locked and loaded and Max "teacher's pet" Caulfield would beat her to the punch, giving the exact same answer like she could read Victoria's mind or something.

Not that Victoria minded having a rival per se. She was ambitious, driven to be the best there was at anything she does. Having competition elevated her, and it's not like anyone else in this school was even close to her level. Evan Harris, insufferable hipster that he was, was the only other person in Jefferson's class who was serious about pursuing photography as a career.

Sure, fine, Max could be a rival or whatever… she just didn't have to be so good at it right off the bat, did she?

So… yeah, Max fucking Caulfield. Standing over her. With her arms crossed over her petite chest, staring at her with those amused sapphire eyes and that smirk that says 'I know exactly what you're thinking.' Perfect!

"Well if it isn't the selfie-ho of Blackwell. Something I can do for you, Maxine?" Victoria asks, eyebrow raised.

"Actually, there is Vickie, but I don't want to interrupt you if you're planning a hot date or something."

Victoria chokes a bit but tries to cover it by turning her head to the left and coughing into her hand. She definitely doesn't turn her head to the right, where Kate Marsh has been sitting in her usual spot next to the window, making happy little humming noises and drawing in her ever-present sketchbook since Victoria arrived. Mainly because 1.) it wasn't that kind of date and 2.) it wasn't happening anyway and 3.) every time she did look at Kate, like literally every single time, it was uncanny, the girl would look back at her and give her one of those shy little smiles that made her eyes seem to twinkle and Victoria did not need that shit right now with Max fucking Caulfield staring right at her.

Instead she feigns an apology. "I'm so sorry, my allergies must be acting up again. It is basic bitch season after all… anyway, what makes you say that?"

"Oh well just that you've been staring at your phone and gnawing on your lip ever since I got to class." There's that smirk again.

"So, you've been watching me the whole time? Wow, creeper much?"

A little shrug. "I dunno, what if I was?"

Victoria resists the urge to grit her teeth. One of Max's worst qualities was that it seemed like no matter what Victoria said, no matter how many barbs she threw, she could never get a rise out of her. She'd just smirk, or grin, or roll her eyes, but she always had that same cool vaguely-amused look on her face. It was infuriating.

Instead Victoria sighs dramatically. "Not that I can blame you or anything, I mean" she moves her hands up and down as if putting herself on display. "But… what would you know about dating, anyway? Some of us can actually get laid without having to throw ourselves at Mr. Jefferson on a daily basis, you know?"

Max laughs in that way that says 'I'm the only one in on this particular joke' that annoys Victoria to no end.

"Don't you mean 'Mark'?" she asks with a surly smile. Victoria's eyebrows shoot up to her hairline and her jaw drops open with outrage.

This bitch…!

The petite girl holds up a placating hand. "Kidding, but… no… I'm not really into older men."

The way Max said "older men" got Victoria's radar pinging just a tad. She couldn't quite tell if the brunette was emphasizing the "older" or the "men" more… it could've gone either way. Heh.

Interesting… I was actually starting to wonder if she was asexual or whatever. Or just frigid.

Victoria crosses her own arms now. "Well now that we've had a nice long chat about our sex lives or lack thereof, is there something you actually want, Caulfield?"

"I, uh…"

Max looks down for the first time since their interaction began, and allows her right arm drop, left hand still clutching at the opposite elbow.

Wait… is she actually nervous? Ice-Queen Maxine, having human emotions right in front of me?

Literally incapable of resisting the urge to exploit a sign of weakness, Victoria snaps a finger in front of Max's face to try to throw her off further. "What are you having a stroke or whatever? Need me to go get the nurse? Spit it out Caulfield, Mr. Jefferson will be here to start class any minute."

Max actually blushes slightly.

What is this I don't even

"I… wanted to ask if… we could work together on this week's photography project."

…

Victoria blinks.

Max looks down at her shoes again.

Victoria squints suspiciously.

In the corner of her eye she can see Taylor's head begin slowly turning toward her, as though she was trying to get a better look at a feral cat but was trying her best not to scare it away at the same time. Victoria does her best to ignore her.

"You…" she points, "want moi", she lightly touches her chest for emphasis, before pointing back at Max again "to help you… with photography?"

Max looks conflicted, as though for once in her entire life she's having trouble finding the words she wants to say.

Victoria's intensely aware of the fact that Taylor has now fully turned in her seat to watch this unfold, and is grinning at her while resting her chin in one hand, elbow propped on her knee. She does not give her the satisfaction of looking in her direction.

This… has got to be some kind of trap, right? Is she trying to sabotage my grade or something?

Eventually, Max sighs. "Look, I know we've got this whole friendly rivalry thing going,—"

"I never said friendly—"

"—BUT I've always respected your work. You have a great eye, a lot of your shots are even… Richard Avedon-esque."

Victoria is shocked, momentarily struck dumb. "He's… one of my heroes. Thanks Max."

Max carries on with the hard-sell. "Plus, your framing and compositional skills are way beyond mine. And this week's project is candids, which I'm not especially strong at. I'd really just love to learn from you."

Victoria is experiencing the struggle of a lifetime to control the muscles of her face well enough to keep from smiling. She does her best to keep her lips pursed instead. For her part, Max's smirk and those cool amused eyes have returned.

Shit. She has me on the ropes and she knows it.

"So… whaddaya say? Want to work together this time and maybe put a little friendly in our rivalry?"

Victoria does look to Taylor finally, her friend, her best-est buddy since Freshman year, to swoop in with the save.

The heartless monster is just grinning back at her, waggling her eyebrows like a maniac and jerking her head in Max's direction like 'oh come onnnnnn Vic, what do you have to lose?'

Shit-balls bitch damn FUCK.

She gives Taylor her best 'you are SO dead' look, which is of course summarily ignored. She then heaves out a sigh and makes a show of coolly inspecting her nails, before graciously acquiescing. "I suppose a little collaboration between peers would be… acceptable. When shall we get started?"

Max grins widely. "Thanks Victoria! I've got a history test to study for tonight but… how 'bout tomorrow, after class?"

She thinks of tea and hazel and red lips as she hesitates to answer for a moment. Then she thinks of a gold cross, and hurriedly closed doors.

"Yeah… sounds good."

Max rests her weight on Victoria's table by leaning in on her right hand, and when she speaks next her voice is low, conspiratorial.

"By the way… I don't think your friend likes me very much."

"Who, Taylor? You must be high."

Also I never liked HER very much anyway and she's DEAD

But the brunette just shakes her head and casts her eyes to the left. Following her gaze, Victoria sees Kate still sketching away, her jaw clenched tightly as though she's concentrating especially hard on her work.

As if on cue, Kate looks up to meet Victoria's eyes with her own, and gives her one of those sweet, sweet smiles. Then she looks at Max and rolls her eyes before turning back to her drawing.

Victoria sighs, but at least tries to make it sound like an exasperated one. "Oh, Katie and I are–",

Elsewhere in the room a pencil clatters to the floor as Max mouths the word 'Katie?', one eyebrow raised.

Shit. "Kate and I are just dorm neighbors. If I had to guess though, she's probably allergic to basic bitches as well. I'm just polite enough to try to hide it."

Now Max rolls her eyes, standing up straight as Mr. Jefferson walks in. "Sure."

The brunette hesitates. "So, anyway… tomorrow after class, then?"

"Yep, I'm… actually kind of looking forward to it. Au revoir."

"Great…" Max says, and flashes that crooked grin one last time before leaving to take her seat. "… it's a date. "

Victoria feels her cheeks flush despite herself, and finds that she spends most of the rest of the class racking her brain to try to figure out whether she'd somehow just gotten played. It's not until Mr. Jefferson unexpectedly calls on her with a question that she has to stammer out an answer for like a simpleton that she finally decides to set those thoughts aside for now.

Max fucking Caulfield…

October 10th, 2013

The trip back to Blackwell Academy from the police station was far more sedate than the trip up. No pedals to the floor, no frantic phone calls. No screeching in frustration and laying on the horn at a group of school kids or old ladies or family of ducks or whatever daring to cross the road while Victoria needed to rescue her Max.

Now the green eyed blonde simply drives in silence, lips pursed and brow furrowed with worry, her Audi cruising at a solid five miles below the speed limit. Here and there casting furtive glances at the small, suddenly frail looking girl sitting to her right, staring out the passenger side window.

Maxine… Max? Caulfield? Max-churian Candidate?

Maxine hadn't said two words since they'd gotten in the car. The only sounds between them were the hitching of the brunette's breath as she occasionally reached up to wipe fresh tears from her cheeks.

Victoria desperately wants to ask her… anything. Everything. Are you ok? What happened? What can I do to help?

But if silence is what Max needs right now, the girl who loves her dares not break it. So, she drives.

Max hadn't been the one to exit the police station earlier after Victoria put her phone away. At least, she hadn't been the first to do so.

Before that a middle-aged couple, both blonde, both vaguely familiar in a way Victoria couldn't put her finger on, had been the ones to push through those heavy glass and metal doors. The man was handsome, with a strong jaw and blue eyes that, even red with tears and wracked by sadness, still shown with quiet, graceful kindness. He had his arm around the sobbing woman to his right, doing his best to gently guide her down the stone steps that led down to the parking lot.

Then the woman looked up at Victoria, still leaning against her Audi in wait, and her blue eyes hardened into a baleful glare.

It was the second time Victoria had been glared at that day. The first was shortly after she'd sent Warren scurrying back to his desk in chemistry class. That glare had come from her lab partner for the week, Brooke Scott. The bespectacled girl with the red streak in her long black hair and the constantly shitty attitude. For the life of her Victoria couldn't figure out what the chick's problem was.

But whatever. That glare would at worst have been accompanied by a passive-aggressive sigh or some devastatingly salty-bitch type comment.

This one screamed 'felony'. Victoria felt the momentary urge to flee, but fought to steel her nerves. Not without Max.

But the familiar man with kind eyes just continued to gently cajole his wife into following him, until they reached their car, an older-model sedan that appeared to have seen better days. The tires squealing as they pulled out of the lot a touch too fast were the only outward sign that the man at the wheel was in as much a desperate state as his wife appeared to be.

As the car sped past, a flash of blue drew Victoria's eye and she followed it down to a spot on the asphalt just between her and the doors. Squinting didn't help at all, so she pulled out her phone to access the camera, sliding her fingers outward on the screen to zoom in. There on the grimy asphalt lay the crumpled form of a blue butterfly, it's one functioning wing moving in a slow, helpless flapping motion. It momentarily struck her that this was the kind of shot Nathan would have been all over, were he here. He had a flare for the macabre. She couldn't bring herself to take it.

Finally, the doors began to KA-CHUNK open again and, finally, this time it was Max's face blinking into the sunlight as she timidly stepped outside. She was being flanked by a tall man in a smart business suit. Not Helena Ortiz, obviously, she likely wasn't even in-state yet (hell, she didn't even need to be in the country to get shit done), but almost certainly a junior associate. He was leaned in to speak something into her ear, and Max was nodding along in response, but her eyes were scanning the lot. When her eyes settled on Victoria they lit up with relief in a way that just broke the blonde girl's heart, and when Max sprinted over and nearly threw herself into her arms, sobbing into Victoria's neck while whispering 'thank you, thank you, thank you so much', she just knew that everything would be ok. She had Max back. They'd figure the rest out together.

As she put the Audi in gear to reverse out of her parking space, though, Victoria's green eyes were once again drawn to that spot of blue in the sea of black, now motionless thanks to whatever cruel design of fate that placed the poor creature first in the wake of that sedan as it sped away, and finally in the path of Max's worn converse sneakers as she ran to the girl who loved her. And Victoria couldn't help but think in that moment as she eased onto the road and back towards Blackwell Academy that it was the saddest thing she'd ever seen.

"Where…" Max finally croaks, uttering her first word in several minutes as they drive down the seaside road. Her left hand is pressed to the passenger side window that she's staring through, and her voice is quiet, distant in a way that makes Victoria's stomach lurch.

"… where did the whales go?"

Victoria looks past the girl at the coastline beyond, and all she sees is sand, waves glistening in the sunlight, and a few people walking along the beach. She tries to keep the confusion and worry from her voice, and only half succeeds as she responds.

"Um… I don't know, the ocean?" Where else are whales supposed to be? Seaworld?

For the briefest moment she thinks she can smell something foul on the air, putrid like the scent of rotting fish left in a dumpster behind the market. But it's gone as quick as it came. Victoria makes sure all the windows are fully rolled up, regardless.

Max doesn't say anything else for the rest of the ride, and rather than press her any further Victoria just reaches out and takes hold of her left hand. She bites back tears of relief at the feeling of Max squeezing hers in return.

Max is still glassy eyed and out of it as they walk back to the Dorms from the student lot, though at least she appears to know where she is, which seems like a good sign. Victoria still walks with her right arm around her back and her left hand on Max's arm, doing her best to be comforting while at the same time shielding her from curious eyes as best she can. Her plan is just to get to Max's room without incident, get her comfortable, order a pizza or something and just talk. Or not talk, whatever she needs. Should be simple enough, right?

Of course, it isn't that simple, it never is, because the universe hates Victoria Maribeth Chase and will twist itself in knots to make sure not a single one of her best-laid-plans ever goes right.

It isn't until she pushes open the stairwell door leading to the dorm's 2nd floor that she hears the commotion.

"WHERE IS SHE?!"

"Get your fucking hands off of me you CRAZY BITCH or I'll…!"

Juliet and Dana, nosy bitches that they are, are standing in their own doorways watching the scene unfold. Alyssa too is standing halfway out of the entrance to the girl's bathroom, hand covering her mouth in shock.

All three are looking down the hall in the opposite direction, toward Victoria's room. Where mother-fucking Kate Marsh is slamming Nathan Prescott back into the wooden frame of the open doorway, the silk of his shirt twisted in the grip of both her delicate little hands. The look on his face is a twisted mixture of anger, indignation, and no small amount of terror.

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO TO ME!" her voice is wild, cracking and nearly rising to a shriek on certain syllables. Kate slams him back again, hard enough that Victoria can hear the thump all the way back here. "If you HURT her, I'll… I'll FUCKING…!"

"What the FUCK is going on?!" Victoria finally snaps, now halfway down the hall. Max, thank God, hasn't even seemed to have registered the insanity going down in front of them, but she'll be damned if she's going to let this freak-show drama make her mental state any worse.

Kate's head whips around so fast at the sound of Victoria's voice that she's half surprised she didn't hear it snap. Those big eyes, wild with fury and red from the tears streaming down her face, widen in recognition. She let's Nathan go so fast it's as though she was never touching him in the first place, both hands rising to her mouth as she makes a startled, high-pitched little "oh..!" sound, half-exclamation and half-relieved sob.

Nate remains with his back pressed against the doorframe as though he's still being held there by invisible hands. Some of the rage drops from his face, his eyes darting between Victoria and the still nearly-catatonic seeming Max with confusion and worry.

After a pregnant pause they both start talking at once.

"VICTORIA! Oh thank God you're ok I—

"Your fucking psycho dyke just went off and—

"I was so worried and he was in your room and I thought—

"She better step the fuck off or I'll—

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! Both of you!" Victoria doesn't even bother trying to keep the disgust from her face as she shoots them one final glare before opening Max's door and guiding the far-too-quiet girl inside. After gently depositing her on her bed, she quickly steps back out. She doesn't turn to face the dumb-struck pair standing in her own doorway until she has fully closed Max's door behind her, but when she does it causes both of them to take a step back, Kate into the hallway wall and Nate further into her room.

Victoria seethes at them through gritted teeth. "Ok, listen up! You, Single White Female?" she points a shaking finger at Kate. "Where I am and who is in MY room is none of YOUR fucking business, and you better get that through your crazy fucking skull before Wells and I have a little talk about our chat yesterday. Got it?"

Kate, her hands still covering her mouth, legs shaking beneath her like a foal just figuring out how to stand up straight, nods her head hard in the affirmative. Though if the fucking weirdo was even the slightest bit intimidated by Victoria's threat it doesn't show in her eyes, which are still wide shimmering pools of tears and relief and pure, unbridled joy.

Nate was beginning to give Kate a smug 'yeah take that, bitch' sneer, but he flinches backwards when Victoria's furious gaze and pointed finger turn to him. "And YOU, Mr. Big-Man-On-Campus? Now I'm really fucking glad you didn't pick a fight with Warren yesterday because if you can't even deal with a little 120-pound girl HE'D have probably beat your ass into the ground! Mommy's not always going to be here to rescue you so maybe it's time to grow the fuck up and handle your own shit!"

His mouth is agape for a few seconds after her tirade ends, but then he clenches his jaw and his eyes harden, taking on a… dark kind of glimmer that Victoria had only seen in the boy a few times before.

"Yeah… sorry Vic…" he says as he squares himself up, seemingly trying to gather up whatever dignity he has left. Finally, he turns and stomps down the hall, casting a glare in Kate's direction as he growls "… this isn't over, bitch."

If Kate even registered his threat, she shows no sign of it. She just keeps those big, tear-filled hazel eyes locked on Victoria, even as her quaking legs finally give out and she slides down the wall to her knees. Even as Victoria disappears back into Max's room and closes the door behind her.

Max is still a bit glassy eyed a few minutes later as Victoria is fussing over her, wiping up tears and make-up stains from her face with a damp cloth, and digging out some fresh, comfortable clothes from the girl's closet. As she kneels down on the floor to help the brunette out of her shoes, she finally speaks up with a small, sad voice.

"You really should have been nicer to Kate… I used to love our little tea dates…"

Tea dates? I've never heard of Max even hanging out with Kate, much less drinking tea together.

Victoria's brow furrows with confusion, but she doesn't voice it. Instead she tries to focus on the task at hand, unrolling the sweat-damp socks from Max's feet.

"… would you like some? Tea, I mean? I'm sure I can find some if…" Victoria finally says, motioning for Max to lift her arms up so that she can help her out of her top.

I mean, I thought they kinda have more of a… mutual disdain thing going.

Pulling the top over her head, she hands the girl a comfy looking t-shirt with a silhouette of a doe on the front.

But Max is blinking rapidly now, shaking her head as though trying to clear the cobwebs while she slides the new shirt on.

"... tea?" she asks, crinkling her nose in disgust as though she hadn't just been going on about how much she liked it and ok Vic, deep, calming breaths. She's clearly out of it, you just need to be patient.

"uh… no thank you... Some coffee would be good though…"

"Of course," she says with an encouraging smile, giving the girls hands a squeeze. "I'll go start the Keurig and be right back. Do you need help with the pants?" She can't help but give a playful wink at that, hoping to make Max smile.

She does, and then rolls her eyes.

"I think I can handle that myself. I'm not helpless, Vic."

"Sure, sure," Victoria coos as she rises to her feet. "Can't blame a girl for trying, though, right? Sit tight, je reviens de suite."

Victoria takes the couple of minutes while the coffee is brewing to clean herself up a bit, to make herself a little bit more presentable. Deciding she doesn't want to take time to change her own clothes, she settles for cleaning her face and teasing her hair back into place.

When she walks back into the room with a steaming coffee in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, she can hear Max on the phone. "yeah… yeah, great… I'll see you soon. And… Mommy…?" her voice starts to hitch and takes a high, child-like pitch at the last word, and Victoria's heart breaks for her all over again. "I'm so sorry I… yeah I know but… ok. Ok, I love you too. Dad too. Bye."

Victoria sits beside the sniffling girl as she hangs up her phone, and hands over the coffee which Max gratefully accepts. They sit and drink in silence for a few minutes, Victoria trying her best to just be there for her. After a while, she gently rubs her back and asks "… have you eaten anything? I could order a pizza…"

Max shakes her head "Oh, no it's fine… I had some stuff from the vending machine, and… Mom and Dad will be here in an hour and a half or so, they'll probably want to eat then. How about you…?"

"Um, yeah… I raided the vending machine too. We probably just missed each other." She tells the white lie with a smile on her face. She's starving, sure, but she really doesn't want to take her focus off of Max unless she needs something. She also does an admirable job at hiding her disappointment at the fact that Max doesn't extend the Mom & Dad dinner invitation to her as well.

'Thanks Victoria, call me Ryan. And you're... a friend of hers?'

Another awkward silence, then Victoria finally says "so… we definitely don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to, ok? I just want you to know I'm here to listen, if you do. And… whatever it is, it won't change anything, ok? I promise I'll be here no matter what."

Max's chin starts to quiver as fresh tears make the trek down her cheeks. Victoria gently takes her hand and tries to reassure her that it's ok, she doesn't need to say anything at all, but the brunette shakes her head. "No… I want to talk about it."

And she does.

Victoria listens on as Max recounts the events of the past twenty-four hours. From blacking out in the middle of their conversation in the courtyard, to having absolutely no memory of what happened between then and the following morning. Of waking up that morning to find herself in a strange room, in a familiar home, and seeing the face of the friend she hadn't seen in more than five years.

And then… the horror of finding out the friend she was sitting next to, as if she'd just appeared at her bedside by some kind of magic or cosmic force… was dead.

Victoria cries along with Max as she hears about how the girl screamed when she realized Chloe was dead. Screamed and begged and shook her shoulders, pleading for her to wake up. And then Chloe's parents ran into the room, and then they were screaming too. Screaming for Chloe. Screaming at Max, asking her what she did. Why she did it. And Max had no answers because she couldn't remember anything, she didn't even know how she got there in the first place.

An ambulance. Paramedics. Questions. No answers. A morphine injector. Police. More questions. Still no answers. "We need you to come with us to the station, miss."

Victoria can't even begin to comprehend what the sobbing girl at her side must have been going through, is still going through, how absolutely terrifying of an experience that must have been. To just wake up to something terrible and not know why any of it is happening and then everyone telling you it's your fault and you just need to admit what you did and for God's sake why did you kill her, why?

And dear lord does Victoria feel like the biggest asshole to ever exist when she thinks about how, that whole time that Max was going through this hellish experience, Victoria was making it all about herself. She doesn't feel the need to tell Max anything of that, though… the poor girl has enough on her plate already.

At some point in the disjointed, rambling mess of a story, Max mentions the family's last name, and Victoria feels like the world further drops out from beneath her feet.

"Wait… your friend is Chloe Price? Chloe Price is dead?"

Max looks like she's choking back yet another sob as she nods. "You… you knew her?"

Victoria smiles ruefully, thinking of a bright young Sophomore with a mouth like a sailor and a heart as big as they come. A pain in the ass that could work every last nerve in Victoria's body, until a tragic car accident stole her future and left her quadriplegic.

"Yeah… we weren't close or anything, but I saw her around a lot in school. She seemed like a really good kid." She can't help but giggle as one particular incident came to mind. "She could be a bit of a CUNSN though."

Max looks at her quizzically, head cocked to the side. Victoria waves it off. "Nothing… just an inside joke we had." Victoria dabs at her eyes with an already sodden handkerchief. "I… didn't know you knew her either."

"She was my best fucking friend in the whole world..." Max is breaking down again, doubled over with the force of her sobs.

"Oh, Max…"

"She was my best fucking friend and I abandoned her! I moved away and left her all alone! I didn't visit her, even when I moved back here for school… and now she's DEAD, Vic, and it's all my fault!"

Victoria is rubbing Max's back, running fingers through her hair, squeezing her hand, doing anything she can think of to calm the girl down. "Max, shh, no... that can't be right. You wouldn't do something like that, there's got to be some kind of mistake. Faulty equipment, or maybe a nurse fucked up or one of her parents and they're just blaming it on you…"

"William and Joyce would never do that."

"And, what, you would just kill your best friend? You're not a serial killer Max."

Max looks at her solemnly. "I don't know… I've been thinking about it all day but… if I saw that she was in pain, and she had no way out or no one else to help her… maybe I would…?"

Victoria hadn't thought of it like that, but Max's explanation makes sense. If Max or Nate or Taylor or Courtney were hurting that much…

"The worst part… the worst part is I didn't even get to say goodbye. Now she's dead and I'll never be able to tell her how much I still care about her."

Victoria pulls her in close, guiding the brunette's head to her shoulder with her right hand.

"No, Max… look, if what they told you is true, that you were… talking and watching movies, even going to the beach with her? I'm sure you told her all of that Max. I'm sure you told her every single thing you've been meaning to say. And if you knew she was going to die I'm sure you did get to say goodbye. And maybe someday when you've dealt with how traumatic this must be, maybe you'll remember that perfect last day you gave her."

Max is still wracked with guilt and grief and sadness, but, after a time, she nods. It's the first glimmer of hope Victoria has seen in the girl all day. They sit there just like that for a long while, with Max just quietly crying into Victoria's shoulder, the blonde's right hand soothingly brushing at the brunette's hair.

At one point she feels her phone buzz, and realizes she had forgotten to silence it before she came back in the room. She hesitates when she sees it's from Nathan, but eventually taps to open it.

Nate – Yo V…

Sry bout earlier. U r right I can handle my own shit.

Hope Max is ok. Tell her we r here 4 her. – 10/10 4:55 PM

Nate – Hey… don't wry about coming 2 party 2night

I got this.

U stay in w/Max & take care of ur GF. :) – 10/10 4:58 PM

Victoria can't help but smile and give an amused eyeroll at what she sees.

'Take care of my girlfriend'... thanks, Nate. I will.

Still smiling, she turns to relay Nathan's well-wishes to the girl at her side... when she finally sees it.

Her relationship with Max had always been three steps forward, two steps back. Any progress they made was hard fought, with Victoria usually taking on the more aggressive role. Which she was ok with, for the most part. Her name is Chase after all. But it always seemed like Max would pull away a bit after each step. And so this dance would continue, at times even getting to a point where Victoria wondered if Max was losing interest... until the girl would finally surprise her with a kiss, or a sweet word, or a suggestive touch. Always just enough to keep the blonde coming back for more.

The most frustrating thing about dating Max Caulfield was that it seemed like no matter how many sweet nothings she whispered, or how many grand romantic gestures she made, she could never get a rise out of her. Her sapphire eyes would always reflect that same cool amusement, or a lusty smolder, or something unreadable, mysterious. Despite her outward show of confidence, deep down Victoria knew that her insecurities often ruled her, and never seeing the emotion that... well, that she would have wanted to see... it was nerve-wracking. She never quite knew where she stood.

But now, with Max staring back at her, Victoria can finally see what she's longed for all this time. Deep down, behind the grief, and hurt, and fear, is that shining glimmer in those beautiful blue eyes that looks an awful lot like love.

Before she realizes what she's doing, Victoria is leaning in and planting a gentle kiss on Max's salty, tear-stained lips. And for a moment she feels as though she has everything she ever wanted.

But now Max is pulling away from her, quickly. Far too quickly. And she's off the bed in a flash and facing away from her, covering her mouth with her hands.

Victoria is beside herself with guilt. "Oh, God, Max... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to move so fast, I..." She is standing herself, now, and reaches out to reassuringly squeeze Max's arm, but the brunette pulls away.

"I'm... I'm so sorry Victoria..." her shoulders are shaking, her voice once again choked with tears.

Victoria clutches her hands together to keep herself from accidentally pushing the fragile girl any further. "No, babe please... you have nothing to be sorry for, you're going through so much right now!"

"But I do!" she cries, rounding on her now, and Victoria can see the intense guilt marring the girl's pretty face.

It hits her, finally, like an avalanche. Victoria's eyes go wide, and try as she might she can't fully keep the hurt from her voice. "Chloe, she... she was more than your best friend."

Max covers her face with her hands and sobs again, nodding her head as she does. She's still shielding her eyes from Victoria when she speaks again, voice tortured and miserable.

"I didn't realize until... until after the accident, I think. And by then, it just felt like I was too late. I was too scared to tell her, because I knew I was too much of a coward to see her like that, day after day, knowing we could never do what we'd dreamed about all those years..."

Victoria tentatively reaches out to grasp Max's arms with gentle hands. "Max... of course it's hard for me to hear that so suddenly, but... it's ok. Everyone has a past, God knows I do. If you need time to work through this I under..."

"No, Vic, you don't understand!" Max is shouting now, pressing her palms to her temples in frustration. "I can't do this anymore! It's not fair to you!"

Victoria's hand flies up to her mouth, as though to hold back the pained wail that is trying to form there as she at last fully comprehends what Max is trying to tell her.

That look just now, that glimmer of love that shown through the pain... it wasn't for her.

It was never for her.

"It was always Chloe..." Max sobs, as though answering the unvoiced question.

Victoria is stepping back, now, shaking her head as though doing so will stop it from being real. All those sweet moments they shared. Whispered words, stolen glances...

Her voice is high and breaking as she pleads "but... you knew, didn't you? You knew I was falling in love with you..."

Max works her mouth wordlessly, before settling for a miserable nod.

"And... and when we made love?"

Max turns her head to the side, unwilling to meet her desperate stare.

"Maxine, please...!"

"I thought..." Max's voice is so, so small. She still won't look Victoria in the eye.

"I thought I could prove to myself that I didn't love her anymore."

Victoria knows she should just run from this, run as far and as fast as she can, but she's unable to move. She's barely able to breathe, her chest is constricting so tight. In her minds eye she can see the future she'd imagined her and Max sharing together in a series of still frames, like photographs. Graduating Blackwell. Sharing a room in college. Taking the photography world by storm.

Those images just seem to melt away before her, as though held to an open flame. And in their place she sees the life Max should have had, with Chloe. The life she desperately wants. Two pirates conquering the seven seas, together. And in those photos Victoria can see the light of love in Max's eyes that she had always been denied.

Max is reaching for her now, stepping forward, reaching out with a hand she means to be comforting. "Victoria, I'm so, so sorry. I swear, I was going to tell you, that day that I..."

But Victoria bats the hand away, hard. She can't handle Max's pity right now. She has no more room left in her for shock, or sadness, or grief over the loss of a love she never really had to begin with.

All that's left is fury.

"It's fine!" she sneers. "Whatever, right? Just another fucking hook-up, right?"

Deep down, Victoria knows that what she says next is unfair. Unforgivable. A small part of her begs herself not to do it, it won't help, it will only make things worse. But she's been hurt, desperately so. And despite all the therapy sessions and mindfulness exercises and coping mechanisms she's worked on with her Doctor who has three PHDs, when Victoria Chase is hurt she only has one way to respond. And that's to attack. And to keep attacking until the thing that hurt her can't ever do so again.

And now, after all this time, Victoria can finally see the chink in Max's otherwise impenetrable armor. The weakness she's literally incapable of stopping herself from exploiting.

"I guess I'm lucky, though, aren't I?" she growls through her tears, locking her furious emerald eyes to Max's anguished blue.

"We see how things turn out for the ones you truly love."

Victoria doesn't even feel the slap that rocks her head back and makes her ears ring, not until much, much later. She can only think one thing as she stares into those wild sapphire eyes - eyes that are now filled with rage and betrayal and so much pain - before finally turning to stalk out of the room and slam the door shut behind her.

There it is.

Victoria Maribeth Chase finally managed to get some emotion out of Max fucking Caulfield.