Rachel's service concluded peacefully. Some lingered in the parlor to discuss everything while others seemed to leave immediately. Max and Chloe sat on the opened bed of her truck, the latter puffing on a cigarette. Max wasn't especially fond of the smoke smell, but in the past week she had grown to equate it with Chloe, so in a way she found it comforting. It was quiet, both pairs of eyes still red from the crying.
"Well, I'm fucking exhausted." Chloe said as she exhaled a plume of smoke. Max watched it twist in the air.
"My eyes feel like they've been repeatedly punched by Ryu," Max remarked, her voice far away.
"Yeah, and for a bit you looked like you took a Shoryuken to the fuckin' face. What happened in there?" Chloe brought her knee up, resting her arm on it. She was clearly worried.
"I don't know...I just started thinking about everything and I started to have an anxiety attack. But it was just different, I don't know. I didn't tell you about the nightmare I had, did I?" She too brought both knees up and rested her cheek on them, wrapping her arms underneath her legs. Chloe shook her head, the cigarette dangling from her lips. Max closed her eyes tight. "It was like...real. It was so unlike any dream I've ever had. It was when I passed out on the way to the lighthouse."
"Go on," Chloe insisted, wrapping one arm around the brunette's waist.
"That whole time I was out, it was like I was present somewhere else. It was this fucked up...broken reality. Like I broke time. It was some serious Jacob's Ladder shit. I don't really know how to explain what I went through but...it fucked me up." She sighed and shook her head. "I don't know, I really don't know how to describe it, but the point is I started to get that feeling again. Just this choking, in Death's crosshairs kind of feel." She shivered and leaned into Chloe.
"That just...makes me more confused, Max. You think just thinking about whacky time shit made your nose bleed?" Chloe took a long drag, the ember bursting with red.
"Maybe? I honestly don't know, Chloe. I stopped trying to understand anything last Monday. But it's like everything is made of glass." Max held her hand up as if on a wall. "And it could just shatter into a million pieces at any moment..." Her voice trailed off as her hand moved in circular pattern. She turned to Chloe. "I think time might be like that, or the universe or whatever. It's this fragile, beautiful thing that can break into infinite pieces of these like disjointed moments." She shrugged, working up a small smile. "Maybe, anyway."
"Yikes, okay let's calm it down, Nietzsche." Chloe giggled as she rubbed Max's back. The brunette scowled.
"You asked," she said.
"Sorry, sorry," the punk frowned. "It's just hard not to deflect with humor. It's one thing to uh..." She thought for a moment. "Postulate? About shit like this, but when you've been through what we've been through it's all a little too...real, yanno? I shouldn't be so snarky all the time. I could work on that?" She phrased it like a question, as if willing to do anything Max wanted. The small girl shrugged.
"No, it's okay. I know it sounds crazy anyways. Besides," Max smiled, nudging Chloe. "You being a smartass is one of the reasons I love you."
"You know, every time you say that out loud, in my head it's like 'WOAH STOP EVERYTHING DID YOU HEAR THAT?!'" She grinned, letting the last of the smoke leak out through her teeth. She raised an eyebrow as she flicked her cigarette away. "What are the other reasons!?"
"You're such a dork. You want that in research paper form?" Max slid a finger along Chloe's cheek before booping her nose.
"Yes, yes." The punk used a mischievous tone, wringing her hands together. "And you must cite your sources!"
"Ah, well one of the reasons is that I love kissing you. I guess I should do some research?" Max responded slyly.
I'm getting better at this flirting thing. Maybe?
She kissed the blue haired girl, letting the confusingly gross yet enticing taste of ash fill her mouth. It had only been two days, but they were falling into a wonderful chemistry when it came to kissing. Max almost always brought a hand to Chloe's cheek, and the punk often snaked an arm around the girl's waist. It was a routine Max was excited to settle in to.
"Oh, Max! Uh, sorry, I was-" A small, stumbling voice interrupted the kiss. Max opened her eyes to find Kate standing in front of them, a light shade of red blooming in her cheeks. Max yelped and pulled away from Chloe, straightening herself out. Her own face grew dark red. Chloe looked between the two, amused.
"Kate! Hi! Hey. Uh..." Max looked around, wide-eyed. "Soooo..." She let the word trail on for a while. "You know Chloe, right?" She gestured to the punk, her cheeks feeling very hot.
"Sup?" Chloe offered casually. Kate shyly waved back, a look of innocent fear in her eye.
Okay, NOT how I was going to tell Kate. Shit...Ah, what the hell.
"Chloe and I..." Max began, her hands whirling in circles around each other. "We're..." She could see Chloe's giant grin from the corner of her eye.
Oh she is fucking loving this awkwardness.
"Practicing CPR? That's a good skill to know..." Kate offered with a smirk. "You never know when someone's going to drown in a truck bed!" She put a hand to her mouth and giggled, clearly proud of herself. Max immediately relaxed.
"We're dating." She said calmly.
"Only took ten minutes to get it out of ya, Maximus," Chloe laughed, tapping the invisible watch on her wrist. Max stuck her tongue out at Chloe. "Woah, not in front of Kate, dear." The punk held her hands up defensively before looking at Kate. "I swear, this one will not tone it down," she said, pointing at Max. The two other girls blushed simultaneously.
"You're awful," the brunette chided. Kate eyed the couple and smiled.
"I won't say I'm not surprised," she admitted. "But you two are pretty cute together. There's a good...contrast!" Her face flickered with darkness for a moment. She turned to Chloe. "How are you feeling? I was so scared when I heard Nathan shot somebody!" She held her hands on her chest, over her heart.
"I'm a tough motha fucka, Kate." Chloe stretched out in the truck, a smirk on her face.
"Oh please, she has been such baby about it!" Max rolled her eyes, waving a dismissive hand. The punk pouted.
"She was shot!" Kate yelped. "I'd be a baby too! I hope you've been taking care of her!" She waggled a finger at Max. Chloe burst into laughter.
"Ha ha, Maxaroni!" Chloe sprung off the truck and ducked behind Kate, peeking over her shoulder. "Kate's on my side and you can't have her back!" She blew a raspberry at Max. The brunette noticed Kate cringe a bit at what she assumed was the cigarette smell.
"I'm sorry about Rachel," Kate said to Chloe. "I know you were close. I always saw you putting up those posters." She preemptively wiped her eyes. "It's so scary...that could have been-"
"How are you feeling, Kate?" Max cut her off before she could finish the thought, exchanging a look with Chloe.
"I'm better." Her voice was tiny. "It's hard but...everyone has been so kind to me. Especially you, Max." She regarded the brunette with a warm smile. "I'm going to go see a doctor soon...my parents are staying up here for a little while. They want me to come home but...I'm not sure that's the best idea." She blinked her eyes, tears washing in from the corners. "I just don't want to be known as the girl Mark Jefferson drugged and took pictures of..." She bit her lip. "Reporters keep trying to interview me and I just want to forget this ever happened. If I could go back in time..." Each syllable stabbed at Max's heart..
No Kate, trust me...
"Hey, Kate." Chloe moved in front of her and placed both hands on her shoulders, hunching down a little so they were eye level. "I wasn't able to save Rachel before it went too far...but you're here. We still get to keep you!" She shook the blonde gently. Kate looked on dumbfounded as Chloe grinned. "I know we never talked much...ever, but you're Max's friend and so now you are mine. I'm included in the contract." She said snarkily. "And we..." She waved her hand back and forth between her and Max. "We are going to protect you. If you want to stay in Arcadia Bay while this gets worked out, we've got your back. "
Max watched the conversation unfold, a warm feeling spreading in her chest. The rough and mean punk was cherishing everything Max cherished.
Chloe you...wowser.
"Oh, th-thank you, Chloe." Kate rubbed at one of her eyes. "You're so much nicer than you look!" She immediately clasped a hand to her mouth, her eyes screaming with regret. Max squawked in laughter as the punk stood up straight.
"That's right, I'm like a...like a cactus!" Chloe proclaimed. "I look super prickly but I also have flowers. But that'll work out in your favor." She winked. "You get any trouble from hack reporters, you tell me and I'll take care of 'em." Chloe shook her fist.
"Oh no! I don't want anybody to get hurt!" Kate squealed.
"I won't hurt them, Kate." Chloe laughed. "But I can give quite the verbal lashing."
"It's true," Max said coolly, nodding her head with eyebrows raised. "She's a real fucker when she wants to be." Kate blushed again, but in an Oscar-acceptance-speech kind of way.
"Thank you, both of you." She wrapped Chloe in a hug, the blue haired girl flinching at the surprise of it. Max giggled to herself as Kate's face contorted in disgust from the smell of smoke. "I'm going to go out to eat with my folks," she said as she released Chloe from the hug. "But I'll see you tomorrow, Max? In school?"
"Of course, Kate." Max hopped off the truck bed to give Kate a hug herself. The quiet girl waved to the both of them as she walked to a group of people, Max recognizing some of them from the photos in her room. The two girls lazily clambered back up into the truck bed, this time snuggling into each other.
"The hell was that?" Max asked, laughing.
"What?" The punk looked confused. "I thought she took it well!"
"No, I mean...that comforting momma bear thing?" She gave Chloe a small kiss on the cheek. The girl just shrugged in response, voicing a mushed up 'Idunno.' She held Max's hand.
"I mean, I guess it's just that...I had that dream, you know? With you and her up on the roof? I saw how hopeless and scared she was. So, when I saw her I kinda just wanted to hug her until her head popped off." She rested her head against Max's. "But I thought that was probably inappropriate, so instead I figured I'd let her know we care about her. That works too, right?"
Max had managed to push the idea of Chloe seeing her memories out of her mind. It made her feel very exposed and a bit sick to her stomach. But in this scenario, it had worked out and as Chloe had said, it brought them closer – something she wanted with an immense passion.
"It was amazing, Chloe. Thank you."
"But don't think I'm turning into some softy, hippie. I will maintain these cactus barbs!" She bared her teeth in feigned savagery, holding her hands up like claws.
"Uh huh," Max snickered. "Well I guess since you're a cactus I don't have to water you that much...Chloe?" The blue haired girl was staring out past Max, her eyes filled with unreadable emotion. Max followed her gaze to an RV parked down the street. "Frank..." Max sighed, pressing a palm into her temple.
"I should go talk to him..." Chloe's stare unwavering.
"Okay, but listen to me," Max began. "Chloe!" She snapped in front of the girl's face to get her attention.
"What. What?"
"I never told you this but...if there's a chance of you seeing it in a dream, I can't keep it a secret." Max was fiddling with Chloe's fingers. The punk looked uncertain.
"What is it, Max?"
"When we went to get Frank's client book from him, it didn't go...well the first time. Remember I asked you to ditch the gun?" She was gnawing at the inside of her cheek. Chloe nodded her head.
"Well, you...ugh, fuck." She felt her throat tighten up in anxiety. "You killed Frank and Pompidou." Her nails were probably digging into Chloe's hand, but she couldn't help it. Chloe just looked at her, her brow furrowed.
"I killed him? I wouldn't do that. Why would I do that?" She shook her head incredulously. Max wrapped Chloe in a hug.
"I was in danger..." Her voice was quiet. "You did it for me." Their eyes remained locked together, with Chloe's gaining some tears.
"Then..." Chloe said after a moment, sighing her words. "Then I did the right thing at the time. I would do anything for you, Max." She leaned forward a bit to kiss her girlfriend's cheek.
"I don't want you to kill for me, Chloe," Max said somewhat angrily.
"Not fair," Chloe said, her gaze intense. "You would have killed a whole fucking town for me if I asked. I know that. Do you?" Max looked down sheepishly.
"But...you didn't," she whispered. Max's head suddenly felt like it would explode.
This is too much emotion for one day.
Chloe placed a hand under her chin, lifting her head up until their eyes met.
"But you would've," the punk said in a quiet, embarrassed tone. "And it doesn't matter now, anyway. Frank's alive. Everyone's alive. And I know that he's hurting. I just want to check on him." Max planted a small kiss on her temple.
"Okay. Should I stay here? He doesn't know who I am in this timeline and I don't want to make it like, weird."
"Nah, come with me. Have to introduce you at some point, right? Might as well get it out of the way." Chloe smiled at her. "I wanna show you off, anyway."
"Oh, so I'm a prize now?" Max asked, bemused.
"Yep, a big ol' sexy, gold trophy," Chloe teased. She slid out of the truck and raised her hand to Max. "Shall we, my dear?" Max eyed the RV, remembering Frank's reaction in the diner.
Poor Frank...this is going to be rough.
She forced a smile, taking Chloe's hand.
"We shall."
Max stood close to Chloe as she knocked on the RV door. A muted barking started up and was quickly silenced but Frank's voice. The door swung open, Frank rolling his eyes at the sight of Chloe. She wore a big, pained smile.
"What do you want?" He asked, his voice gruff. His eyes were very red.
"Hey Frank," Chloe said taking a small step forward. "I just...I just wanted to check in on you." He squinted at her. Pompidou snaked between his legs out into the parking lot and jumped up on Max.
"Well hey, little guy," Max said, rubbing Pompidou's belly.
"Who's she?" Frank asked, nodding toward Max, his voice not leaving its bitterness.
"This is Max." Chloe walked over to the girl and slung an arm around her. "She's my girlfriend!" She proclaimed with a big smile. Frank stared for a moment before laughing.
"Well shit, Price, I never expected you to hop the fence. I guess once you give every guy in Arcadia Bay a try you might as well switch sides." He laughed, pointing at the blue haired girl. She clenched her fists. Max felt dizzy for a moment.
How...many guys?
"Oh fuck you, dude. I came over here to see how you were holding up since, yanno, Rachel is DEAD. I wanted to make sure you didn't have a fucking gun in your mouth. Looks like I'm the asshole." She shook her head viciously before turning around, ready to storm off.
"Chloe, hang on," Max said, catching her by the arm.
"Wait, wait, I'm sorry." Frank held his hands in the air. "That was a total dick move, Chloe. I'm sorry." Chloe glowered at him, the fire burning in her eyes. "Kid, I am sorry. Just...I'm a fucking mess, okay?" Frank waved his arms around. Max stepped forward.
"Chloe told me how close you were to Rachel. I'm very sorry for your loss." She extended a hand. Frank looked at it cautiously, before grasping it and shaking.
"Yeah, I am too..." He noticed Pompidou slowly walking in circles around Max. "Pompidou seems to like you. Do you...like dogs?"
"I love dogs!" Max said, kneeling down to pet Pompidou. She looked at Chloe who still seemed to be seething with rage. Frank smiled at Max, an expression she wasn't quite sure she'd ever seen him make, before he sniffled and began to wipe at his eyes.
"Do you uh...you guys wanna come in?" He held out his arm behind him, presenting his RV. Chloe shifted her feet, the burn in her eyes not yet faded.
"We'd love to," Max said, grabbing Chloe's arm and pulling her inside.
"I don't have much to drink...just beer and soda," Frank said, shuffling through his small fridge.
"Soda sounds good, thanks," Max offered. Chloe just shook her head.
"Christ, Chloe, give me a break. I said I'm sorry." Frank grimaced as he handed Max her drink. "You know I can't handle this kind of shit." He fell into the driver's seat, legs swung over of the side. She huffed and tilted her head at Max, one eyebrow cocked. The brunette took her hand.
"Frank," Max said. "How are you doing?"
Damage control. Damage control. Need to smooth this over.
"I...I don't know. It still doesn't seem real. I thought..." His voice buckled. "I thought she just ran away, you know? I kind of expected that, at least." He stared at the wall, his gaze many miles away from the RV. Suddenly he sobbed. "They didn't let me in!" He stomped on the ground while slamming one hand into the dashboard before burying his face in his hands. "I didn't even get to see her!" The fire in Chloe's eyes was immediately extinguished.
"What?" She stood up. "Why the fuck not?" She clenched her fists again, this time for Frank's benefit. He began to cry hard, wiping at his face with his sleeve.
"Look at me, Chloe! Everyone knows I'm a piece of shit! Why would they want me in there?"
"But you were her..." Chloe hesitated a moment, before quietly sighing. "Her boyfriend." Frank looked up at her, a look of desperation in his eyes.
"Do you..." He swallowed. "Do you know how she died?" Max felt herself tense up. Chloe looked to the side, then down at the floor.
"Nathan Prescott killed her." She said bitterly.
"No, do you know HOW?" His expression was pained. He grabbed at his hair, flustered. "I killed her. I sold that fucking psycho those drugs. It was my fault." The sentence trailed off into blistered sobs. Max shot Chloe a look and nodded. No words needed, Chloe understood her message. She approached Frank and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It is not your fault," Chloe said. Max could see in her eyes that the blue haired girl didn't quite believe it herself. "Frank, it wasn't. You couldn't have known it was going to end up like that."
"What kind of person am I?" Frank asked no one in particular. "I sold him date rape drugs, Chloe. How many other girls went through that because of me? I'm a fucking monster." He began sobbing again. Chloe looked at Max with wired eyes and mouthed 'help me.'
"It was just a bundle of fucked up circumstances," Max said quietly. "I didn't know Rachel, but from everything Chloe has told me, I know she wouldn't want to see you like this." She shrugged at Chloe who gave her a thumbs up.
"Yeah, dude. You and I both know Rach, more than anyone, was totally into the 'everything happens for a reason' thing." Chloe continued patting his shoulder, wincing a bit at her poor comforting skills.
"Don't tell me this shit was predestined. I don't go for that," he said, venom in his voice. Chloe squatted so she was eye level with Frank.
"Frank. Look at me," she commanded. He lifted his head slowly, gazing into her eyes. "I'm sorry that this happened. I am. You know she meant a lot to me, too." Max felt a bubble of jealousy spring up, but squashed it quickly. "If you want, the first time you visit her, I could go with you. For support." He stared at her, looking more exhausted by the second. She smiled and gave him a soft punch on the shoulder. "Us misfits have to stick together, don't you think?"
"I...I'd actually like that. Thanks, Chloe." He let out a long sigh. "This is fucked up, man."
Max watched the two as they quietly repaired their friendship, bonding over a girl they both loved who could no longer love either of them back. Chloe's awkward but ever growing sincere attempt at comforting Frank made Max smile. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back.
There's another miracle for you, Rachel. How many is it to be canonized?
Suddenly, Max's phone buzzed. Glancing at Chloe and Frank once more, she turned her attention to the screen. She had a text message from Justin.
Justin: yo max I saw you were with Chloe. Trevor and I were wondering if you wanted to hang out? Mostly us guys who used to chill with Rach and Chloe. Dana and Juliet will be there too.
Max smiled to herself, excited at the opportunity to become closer with her classmates, but feeling slightly guilty because of the circumstances. The punk stood in front of her, her arms crossed.
"So, hey, Frank kind of wants to be alone for a little. You ready to head out?" She wore her usual smirk, but her eyes were loving. And red.
"Sure, Chlo. Actually, Justin just texted me. He wants to know if we wanted to attend a little powwow in honor of Rachel. Are you up for that?" She rocked her body left and right as if it would coerce the taller girl. Chloe laughed lightly.
"You know what, fucking why not? I bet they have weed. I could, uh..." She scratched the back of her head, blushing somewhat. "I could use some 'o that." Max giggled, shaking her head. As they stood up to leave, she turned to Frank.
"I hope you feel better soon, Frank. It was nice to meet you."
Even though we've met...I'll never get used to this.
"Yeah, you too, Max." He said, looking more through her than at her. Then he snickered, pointing at Chloe. "Make sure that crazy bitch doesn't get into trouble, alright?" She heard Chloe huff behind her, but she could tell she was smiling.
"I'll try, but she's pretty feisty," Max laughed.
"Oh hey, look what I got you guys!" Chloe exclaimed, holding both middle fingers up.
"That's my Chloe," Max said, rolling her eyes.
A/N: Well this took waaaaaaaay longer to update than I wanted, and it's still just a fraction of what I intended the original chapter 5 to be. Sorry about that, guys. Sometimes I just get bogged down. I'm going to try and be more consistent! I think the right way to do this is release shorter chapters more frequently, but we'll have to see what happens.
At any rate, hopefully this chapter wasn't too bad. We've now reached the "Max reconnects with everyone" stage of the story. Coming up next - stoners, cheerleaders and a reporter! Stay tuned!
And sincere thanks for all people who actually read this! It's already far surpassed anything I expected. You guys rock!