"How bad's this gonna hurt, exactly?" Max asked nervously. Chloe spun around in the revolving stool, tapping her index to her chin.
"Probably just a quick pinch, that's usually how it goes," she said. "Won't be as bad as these guys." She pointed to her chest. "Bras and bleedy nipples don't mix super well." Max scowled at the imagery. The curtain sectioning off the room swung open as a slender girl with dreadlocks appeared. The brunette surveyed the woman's tattoos, hovering on a vibrant, pink jellyfish on the girl's throat.
She looks so badass. I wish I could rock that look.
"Jennifer!" Chloe greeted, standing up to give the girl a hug. "How's it going?"
"You know, man, just hangin' out." She smiled with half lidded eyes. She focused on Max and nodded. "So who's the cutie?" Chloe grew a small smile and pushed the girl's shoulder.
"That cutie is mine, thanks very much." She stood behind Max and placed a hand on her head. "This is Max, she's getting her nose done."
"Hi," Max greeted sheepishly, holding her hand out for Jennifer to take.
"Jenny," she responded, taking her hand. "Cool, so you ever have any work done before?"
"No..." Max shrugged. "Figure if I'm going to be with her, I might as well look the part!" Chloe rolled her eyes and gently pushed Max's head away.
"Well, nose is a good place to start. You thinkin' like bridge, nostril, septum?" She put on blue latex gloves, pulling the wrist of the second one to give a comical smack.
"Nostril," Max said, fidgeting anxiously. "You'll tell me the truth...how bad is it gonna hurt?"
"Just a quick pinch," she said, as if rehearsed. Max crossed her arms and pouted.
The grand piercing conspiracy. The GPC.
"Gonna be so sexy," Chloe cooed, bending down to place a kiss in her hair.
"Shakah! Brah! Shakah! Brah!" Max chanted, pumping her fists. Jennifer stood back with an amused expression.
"Down, killer," the punk laughed, ruffling her hair.
"So, we can start with a ring but you can change it after it's healed," Jennifer said as she plopped onto the stool.
"That's cool, that's what I want anyways." She patted her knee. "Um, I know you probably get people that say this fifty times a day but I really like your tattoos."
"Aw, thanks!" She shot across the room on the rolling stool and picked up a cotton swab, dousing it in a solution. "They're addictive, I don't know how Chloe doesn't have more."
"Been thinkin' about it," Chloe replied. "I dunno, might get something else pierced first."
Chloe with more piercings? Mm...yes, please!
"Right on, that works too." Jennifer turned to her with a dorky smile. "How did those titty piercings turn out, anyway?" The blue haired girl flushed and covered her face. Rolling her eyes, the piercer turned to Max. "Sorry, guess I should be asking you."
"You did some fine work, Jenny," Max laughed as the woman rubbed the cotton swab on her nose. "I mean it's like," she held her hands up, bending her fingers to a flat angle, "Chloe's boobs and Sistine Chapel, neck and neck."
"That's one hell of a compliment!" Jennifer grinned, rolling backwards to grab the needle and clamp. She regarded Chloe. "I like her."
"She's alright," Chloe agreed, prompting Max to stick her tongue out.
"Alrighty, let's do this." Jennifer rolled toward Max with the needle in her hand. The brunette frantically reached out for Chloe, who took her hand.
That is fucking huge.
"It'll be over before you know it," Chloe assured with a warm smile.
"I think I'm pretty scared," Max giggled quietly. Jennifer chuckled and situated the clamp.
"You're handling this way better than Chloe did her first time, anyway," she said.
That sounds like a story I'd love to hear.
"Man, shut up," the punk complained with a pout.
"Alright, take a breath and you're just going to feel a quick pinch." Max's grip tightened on Chloe's hand as she closed her eyes. There was a quick, sharp burn. "Annnnd voila!"
"That's it?" Max asked, opening her eyes.
"Hell yeah, man, veni vidi vici." She scooted back and pulled her gloves off. "Dude, open your goddamn eyes." Max looked to find Chloe gritting her teeth with her eyes clamped shut.
"You had a worse reaction than me!" Max laughed, tugging on the punk's hand. She peeked one eye open and let out a huge sigh.
"I uh, didn't want to see you in pain," she admitted, using her free hand to scratch at her head.
Too fucking cute.
"How's it look?" Max asked her.
"See for yourself!" Jenny rolled forward with a mirror. She held it out so Max could see the hoop in her nostril.
"Woah!" She laughed excitedly. "I look awesome!" She turned her head left and right with a big grin.
"You look like I'm gonna ravish you in a second," Chloe quipped, jokingly biting her lip.
"Easy, you two," Jennifer chuckled.
It looks so cool! And it barely hurt at all! I could just get like, a million more! Right now!
"I could get more! Right now!" She exclaimed, deciding to make her thoughts known.
"That's the adrenaline talking." The piercer handed her a ziploc bag. "Your shampoo and stuff is in here along with care instructions." She leaned back, resting her elbows on the counter behind her. "I miss hanging with you, man," she said to Chloe. "Justin and all the guys still behaving?"
"Behaving is...not the word I'd use?" Chloe laughed as she helped Max to her feet. "But yeah, we had some good times. I, uh..."
"Look," Jennifer interrupted, shaking her head. "I'm really sorry about what happened to Rach. I still can't believe it. And then you get shot? The fuck is wrong with the world?" Max felt Chloe suction into her side.
"Yeah, it's uh...pretty fucked. But I'm doing better now. All healed and everythin'."
"Well, that's good, at least." Jen glanced to the side. "How's Frank holding up?"
"Frank is...doing okay, I think." Chloe grabbed Max's chin and pulled her head forward so she could analyze the piercing. "He's not really selling anymore, so I'm not sure what his plans are for money but...I think he's alright. I saw him not too long ago."
"Fucking wild," she said with a thoughtful frown. It slowly morphed into a smile at Chloe teasing Max. "You two are pretty adorable, you know that? We should hang again. You too, Max. I'd love to hear about what else goes on in the Blackwell world."
That could be fun!
"That'd be cool," Chloe said as she smacked Max's butt for good measure, causing the girl to yelp. She gave Jen a ferocious grin. "And I know we're adorable, thanks."
"You really didn't have to pay for it." Max warmed her hands on the cup of coffee. "I have some money."
"Hey, dude," Chloe said as she chewed on her pastry, "I'm making crazy money at the Two Whales. Just let me be your sugar momma."
"Pour some sugar on meeeeee," Max sang quietly, wiggling her hips. She glanced around the shop. "Starbucks are so weird. They're like all the same, yet it still feels like they're only authentic in Seattle." She took a sip from her cup. "Is that the most hipster thing I've said today? Probably."
"Definitely," Chloe corrected, reaching across the table and grabbing Max's hand. "How's your nose feel?"
"It's a little sore but I think the badassness of it outweighs the pain." She scrunched her nose and winced. "Oooh man, that's tender."
"It will be for a little while, but we'll make sure to keep it clean and all that. It'll heal in no time." The punk snagged Max's coffee and took a swig. Max smiled at Chloe's continued use of 'we' and how studiously she had read the care instructions when they got into her truck.
A little more than a month ago, you'd never believe this was the same girl. All of this caring, loving nature has just been hiding under snarkiness and pettiness for five years... And now it's all mine!
"You're somethin' else, you know that?" Max said, eying her dreamily. Chloe cocked an eyebrow in intrigue.
"Somethin' else good or somethin' else bad?"
"Well, good, duh! I just mean you're amazing." She giggled and puckered her lips.
"Gimme dat," Chloe said playfully, standing and leaning across the table to receive her kiss. "And of course, you're amazing too, I suppose," she said as an afterthought. "JK, you're the best ever. Like, I dunno..." She smiled with her tongue between her teeth. "Like no one ever was."
"Now that's going to be stuck in my head!" Max groaned, slapping her palm on the table. "Dang it."
Tocatchthemismyrealtesttotrainthemismycause...blaharhahraharh...
"If you get a new piercing, what will it be?" Max asked after a moment, slipping her foot forward to rub along Chloe's. The blue haired girl looked up in thought.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. There's a couple I've wanted but I was always so strapped for cash that it wasn't practical. I mean, fuck, this thing was a fortune." She held out her arm, twisting it so Max could see her sleeve.
"I never asked what made you get that," she said. "I mean, I think it's totally wicked and sexy, but still."
"Just wanted some ink." The punk shrugged.
"There's got to be more to it than that. Like, what does it mean?" She wiggled her fingers. "I mean, blue butterflies..." Chloe's eyes went wide.
"Holy fuck dude, I never even thought about that!" She gripped into her arm as her brow furrowed. "That's...man, this is really fucked up in retrospect." Max giggled and reached for her arm, placing her hand over the punk's.
"I think it's just another link in the chain of our crazy ass destiny." Her fingers threaded into Chloe's.
"Crazy is our thing," Chloe laughed. "I was, admittedly, pretty high when I first thought up my sleeve. Dad always really liked those butterflies. We went to the zoo once, shit, I think you were even with us, and he lost his mind at the butterfly enclosure."
"Wow, I remember that!" Max grinned. "Man, we saw all kinds of crazy shit that day and all he could talk about were those butterflies." She shook her head. "I can't believe I forgot about that."
"Yeah," Chloe smiled. "Goddamn butterfly wings. At any rate, like I said, I was stoned when I first thought it up but then even when I was sober I was kind of feeling it, so I went to to Jenny and had her sketch it out for me. The skull is...well, it's just supposed to be a memento mori thing. Which like I said, in retrospect is a bit iffy."
Remember that you must die... Hm.
"That is kind of..." Max shivered, then willed it away. "Well, luckily you and I had the upper hand on fate." Chloe leaned forward with her elbows on the table, perching her chin upon her interlocked fingers.
"Right," she said with a smirk. "Fuck time, fuck destiny, you're cool, fuck fate, I'm out." Chloe winked at a man walking by giving a disapproving glare due to language.
This would make a great shot.
"Hold it there," Max demanded as she sifted through her bag for her camera. The punk's eyes cartwheeled in her head, but she remained still.
"Make me famous," she snarked as the camera clicked.
"Grahamcracker!" Chloe called as they approached the dorms. Warren stood by Brooke with his hands in his pockets as she flew her drone. He smiled upon seeing them, waving enthusiastically, though she didn't even look up.
"Warren!" Max screeched as she skipped to him. "Notice anything different!?" She held her arms out and posed.
"Oh damn," he said, cringing. "That looks like it hurt."
"Not even kind of," Max responded cockily as Chloe caught up to them. "Hey Brooke! How goes drone flying?"
I will fly you again some day, little drone.
"It goes well!" The tiny drone moved in circles in the air. "Warren wanted me to look at the top of the Tobanga for some reason, but any excuse to take her around is good with me."
The Tobanga? What are you up to, Warren?
Max narrowed her eyes at Warren, who simply nodded in confession.
"Just wanted to see if there was anything interesting up there!" He laughed somewhat shakily. "Like a price tag or something." He looked at Brooke nervously, but she didn't notice.
"Can...can I fly this thing?" Chloe asked, entranced as it whirled through the air. "Can I ride it?"
"No and...no?" Brooke laughed.
"Fair enough, thought I'd give it a try." She wrapped an arm around Max. "So what are you kids up to tonight? Doing anything fun?"
"Homework," Brooke droned.
"Raiding," Warren said.
"Yikes, you guys are too hardcore for me," Chloe laughed. She regarded Max. "Maybe Kate's doing something fun, we can chill with her?"
"That'd be fun!" Max chirped, nestling into the punk. "Damn, it's getting chilly fast. Winter is coming!"
"Niiiice," Warren said with a sleazy grin. "You know nothing, Max Caul-"
"Please, get away from me!" Kate screamed, running in a full sprint from the main campus. Behind her were two men, one carrying a microphone and one lugging around a big camera. She saw the four of them and charged their way, immediately ducking behind Chloe as she reached her.
"What's going on?" Max asked, taking a step forward.
"They won't leave me alone!" She cried, clinging to Chloe's jacket. "They keep trying to interview me."
Oh hell no.
"Hey fuckers, get out of here," Chloe shouted nonchalantly, though the men pressed onward.
"Miss Marsh, if you'll please just answer a few questions! Mark Jefferson is set to begin his trial process shortly and we'd love to hear anything you have to say on the matter." The man gave his best attempt at a smile, but it might as well have been painted on.
"Sorry, I'm not sure you heard me," Chloe grumbled, her voice thorny with anger. "I said get out of here." As if she didn't exist, the man with the microphone dipped around her.
"Miss Marsh, what exactly did Mark Jefferson do to you in his infamous Dark Room?" The cameraman followed his movements, keeping Kate in his sights.
"Hey man, come on." Warren placed a hand on the man's shoulder.
"Don't touch me, you little brat. I could sue you," he barked, causing Warren to recoil.
"Please, please, leave me alone," Kate whimpered, pressing her face into the punk's back. A strange tension rose around them, as if a thousand bowstrings grew taut simultaneously. Max's blood began to burn like fire. She felt her hands ball into fists.
I'll fucking kill them.
"Leave her alone," she commanded, pointing at the man with the camera. The sun reflected off his greasy ponytail, giving him a perfectly scummy aura.
"Fuck you," the cameraman spat. "Let us do our job."
Woah, what? Who the hell are these guys?
"Ooookay," Chloe laughed disbelievingly. She cracked her knuckles. "Look, you guys get the fuck out of here now or I'm going to shove that microphone down your throat." She took a step toward the anchor as Kate slid behind her.
"That's a threat," the man said, his teeth bared wickedly. "And it's on tape." The crazed look in his eyes reminded Max of a starving coyote.
"Leave her the FUCK alone," came a voice. Victoria closed the distance from the dorm landing to the man in a blink of an eye.
"I'm just doing my job," the man said with a vile snicker. He turned to the cameraman. "Can you believe these fucking kids?" The man with the camera merely chuckled in response.
"I said leave her alone," Victoria growled, her fists binding tightly. She stepped up to him, her face very close to his. Out of the corner of her eye, Max saw Brooke catch her drone and spin toward the two men.
"And I said," he began, his voice stuttering messily, "I'm just doing my job, you dumb. Little. Cunt." The man began to laugh, as if realizing what he said was overboard. Max felt a pang of memory of Jefferson acting the same way. "Just let me talk to the girl and-"
A petite fist, clad with several extravagant rings, ricocheted off of the man's nose. He stumbled backward, instinctively smacking a hand to his face. Blood began to ebb from under his hand.
"You fucking bitch," he wailed, clutching his face. He took a step toward her, but Victoria pounced, knocking him off of his feet and to the ground.
"Victoria! Wait!" Kate shrieked. Max gasped, covering her mouth.
She raised her fist, slamming it down two more times, each successfully bashing the man's bleeding nose. The man with the ponytail quickly – but gingerly – set the camera down and lurched toward her. Warren swooped in between them, pushing against the man's chest to stop him. There was a stunned silence as Victoria rolled off of the anchor, breathing heavily and shaking.
Woah, holy shit, Victoria.
"Wooooooooo!" Chloe cheered, a triumphant grin on her face. "Fuckin' hell yes!" She pranced over to the camera, lifting it off the ground. "Get that all on camera?" She asked the ponytailed man, who was now kneeling by his wounded partner. He simply gawked at her, his brain not registering everything. Chloe held it above her head.
"You'll be arrested, all of you," the bleeding man spat as he sat up. The punk simply rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, heard that one before," she said dryly, spiking the camera onto the pavement, breaking it into two parts. Warren pulled Victoria to her feet, the girl wincing as she moved her hand.
"What in the world is going on here?" David shouted, running toward them. His eyes were wide with concern.
"Security!" The camera-less-man cried. "These kids just attacked us and damaged our property!" He looked at the men, then at the group, his eyes narrowing on the trembling Kate.
"What were you two doing here?" He asked.
Oh, please, David. Please help us out here.
"We were just trying to get an interview with Miss Marsh here and her hooligan friends attacked us," he coughed through the blood. Both men were now on their feet, the one with the broken nose shaking with rage.
"Hooligan?" Chloe asked sarcastically, an eyebrow raised. David glared disapprovingly, holding his hand up to shush her.
"And did she give you permission?" David's voice was cold and tough.
"No!" Kate screamed. "I asked them to leave me alone so many times!"
"I see," David said. He turned to the bleeding man. "Did you know that Blackwell is private property?"
"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" The anchor cursed, his teeth soaked with blood. "They attacked us!"
"Well, it sounds like you were harassing Kate here." David motioned to the girl. "As I'm sure you understand, that's a bit of a sore subject around Blackwell these days." He shrugged calmly. "Sounds like self defense to me."
"Unbelievable," the second man said. "The bitch with the blue hair broke my camera!" David's expression swirled into a dark void of rage. He took a hurried step toward the man.
"I don't appreciate the way you're talking," he said, poking the man in the chest. "Like I said, Blackwell is private property. You're trespassing. Miss Marsh told you to leave her alone, kindly, I'm sure, and you followed her. That's stalking. You hurled curses and derogatory terms at these students. Sounds like harassment to me." He looked over the broken camera on the ground, grinding his teeth in anger. "You know, we take issue around here when people misuse their cameras." That particularly seemed to strike a nerve in everyone. He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "Now, unless you have clear evidence that these students attacked you unprovoked," he pointed to the camera, "it seems like you don't have much of a case on your hands. If you are still interested in talking to the police, most of whom I'm friends with, I'll be happy to wait with you in front of the school to make sure you hand over that tape. Unedited. I'm sure there's nothing on there that would implicate you."
David you are a fucking BADASS.
The two men glanced at each other, both scowling. Finally the bleeding man relented, nodding his head and offering a twisted, crimson stained smile.
"We're good," he said, holding up his hands.
"Now there we go," David said with a smile. "That wasn't so hard, was it? Allow me to escort you two off the premises." David clapped a hand on each of their shoulders, turning quickly to shoot a smile at Chloe. The one man recovered his camera, in pieces, before they were marched away. Everyone stood in shock, slack jawed.
"If I had a dick..." Chloe finally said, shattering the silence, "I would have the biggest fucking justice boner. Nothing could hold me down."
"Well, that's gross," Max laughed, turning to Victoria. "Victoria, Jesus Christ, what was that?" The blonde's eyes were wide, her hands trembling.
"Uh..." She swallowed, glancing around anxiously. "I don't know."
"It was amazing is what it was!" Warren shouted, raising his hands. "That was so badass!"
"That was sick," Brooke agreed, cradling her drone. "What a bunch of assholes."
"Vic!" Kate squeaked, engulfing the girl in a hug. "Thank you so, so much. That was incredible. You're my hero!" She buried her face in Victoria's chest and, maybe Max was just seeing things, but she could swear the girl was blushing.
"Are you okay?" Victoria asked Kate, her voice stumbling.
"I'm great now! I can't believe you did that for me!" Kate pried herself from Victoria and looked around at the rest of the group. "All of you stood up for me! I've never felt so loved before. Thank you so much!"
"Well, we do love you, Kate." Max gave a small smile. She reached beside her to hug Chloe, but the punk was gone, standing next to Victoria.
"Oh man," she muttered with a sour face. She looked at Max knowingly. "Well, I found out what we're doing tonight." She gently grabbed Victoria's wrist, with the girl cringing as she did so, and held up her black and blue hand. "Gotta go to the hospital, I'm pretty sure she broke her hand."
"Fuckin' gimme," Chloe growled, slamming her palm on the vending machine. She sighed and turned to Max. "Babe, this thing is holding your Doritos hostage."
Oh no, my white knight has run into an obstacle.
"That's okay," Max quietly laughed. "Thank you anyway." She turned beside her and placed a hand on Kate's back. "You okay?"
"I just feel bad!" Kate whined, clutching some tissues. "She hurt herself because of me!"
"Not because of you," Chloe corrected, taking a seat across from them. "For you. There's a difference, trust me."
"Those guys were serious assholes, man. What the hell." Max stretched her legs out. "What a way to abuse a camera."
"That's going around lately," Kate said quietly, looking down. It was a sad, morbid truth. Between David's surveillance, Kate's video and Jefferson's psychotic passion project, cameras were doing a good job of gaining a negative reputation. Max even felt herself become somewhat intimidated by the camera that sat in her bag.
No, Chloe helped me remember that cameras aren't the ones at fault. It's the people behind them.
"I just..." Kate began, shaking her head. "Why? Why is it so fascinating to capture other people's suffering?" Max reached beside her and grabbed Kate's hand, issuing a slight squeeze. "The Native Americans thought cameras could steal your soul...I'm not sure that they were wrong."
"Don't let people ruin it for you, Kate," Max whispered. "I use a camera. So...so does Victoria. We're not bad people. We try to find the beauty in the world. Those guys are just..." She furrowed her brow, searching for an appropriate adjective. "They're just fucking evil. A gun or a sword or...a camera. That's just the weapon they chose." Kate seemed to think it over, her grip on Max's hand tightening.
"She kicked his ass, man!" Chloe added giddily, rubbing her hands together. "I was totally going to do it but, dude, seeing Victoria fucking Chase get her hands dirty was quite a treat."
"I don't like violence." Kate frowned. "I wish it didn't have to come to that."
"Hey guys," a tiny voice said. Max looked up to see Victoria standing in the doorway with a splint on her hand. She still looked somewhat shell shocked.
"Vic! What happened? Are you okay?" Kate asked as she sprung to her feet.
"Fractured my hand?" She posed it more as a question. "Gonna have to wear this for a little while." A ditzy smile appeared on her face. "But I got painkillers, so right now I'm feelin' pretty okay."
"Those things are dope," Chloe said, getting to her feet. "They made me really affectionate though. I was constantly thinking about jumping Max's bones." The brunette opened her mouth in shock, then laughed, pushing Chloe's shoulder.
"Victoria, I'm so sorry." Kate hugged her tightly. "You got hurt for me."
"That's okay," Victoria chuckled quietly. "I'd do anythin' for ya." Her face immediately turned red, but Kate didn't seem to notice. Chloe raised her eyebrows, curious.
"Hey," Chloe whispered into Max's ear, snaking an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "Have you noticed anything, I dunno...super fuckin' gay about Victoria lately?"
"Huh?" The brunette asked. She thought for a moment. "You don't think..."
"I fuckin' think," Chloe responded with a grin. "This is too good." Max surveyed the two blondes.
No way...but then again, it kind of makes sense? Maybe those pills do bring out the affectionate side...
"I hope this doesn't become a big deal," Victoria pouted, relishing Kate's hug a moment longer. "Really not what I want to deal with."
"Too late for that," Max said. "You know how Blackwell works. I'm sure Principal Wells is waiting at the door to canonize you."
"Aaaand," Chloe added eagerly, "Brooke's drone was recording the whole thing! Not that we'll show it around, but it'll be good for a laugh later."
"Fucking great," Victoria spat. She turned to Chloe. "Hey, it's totally cool if you don't want to but...could you give me a ride to pick up my prescription? It's codeine." She laughed. "I'll even share."
"Of course I'll give you a ride!" Chloe slapped her on the shoulder. "But maybe so it isn't as cramped as it was on the way here, Kate could sit on your lap? Gotta give your hand some room to breathe." The punk turned to Max, unleashing a conniving, extravagant grin. Victoria turned dark red once more.
You are terrible! Buuuuuut my interest keeps me from intervening.
"That's okay with me," Kate said coolly, if a little oblivious. "Maybe on the way back we can get ice cream?"
"I feel like a soccer mom," Chloe complained, looping her arm with Max's. "Cartin' all my kids around."
"Ice cream sounds fucking immaculate right now," Victoria added.
"Aw," Max chuckled. She kissed Chloe on the cheek. "Let's take the kids to get ice cream, dear."
Gonna get orange cream or...pistachio...or...double chocolate!
"Yes, darling," Chloe purred, rubbing her nose on Max's cheek. Victoria squinted for a moment, blinking slowly.
"Hey nerd," she said, pointing her splinted hand at Max. "You got your nose pierced. It looks nice."
"Thanks!" Max beamed, tilting her head to and fro.
"For a while I was thinking about getting my vulva pierced, like just for the hell of it," Victoria said nonchalantly. She stopped and looked around, narrowing her eyes. "I don't think I was supposed to say that out loud?" Chloe began to howl in laughter, palming the girl's pixie cut. Max began to laugh as well, though Kate merely blushed.
"Don't worry, man, I've thought the same thing!" Chloe admitted. "But at the end of the day, it sounds super goddamn scary. As badass as it is, I don't want anything sharp down there." She slowly rolled her head toward Max, who by this point was good at bracing herself for when Chloe said something a little much. "Except for Max's tongue, that is."
And there it is.
"This is not soccer mom conversation," Max jokingly scolded. "I want to talk about ice cream. What kind you going to get Kate?"
"Uh," Kate giggled, covering her mouth, "I know it just completes the stereotype, but I kind of just like vanilla." Chloe puckered her lips and shook her head, trying to hide her laughter.
"Maybe," the punk said with a shit eating grin, "if you just experimented with other flavors, you'd find that you prefer them?" Max's eyes went wide as she let out a sharp 'ha!'
After Victoria signed out at the desk, the four of them wandered outside, sort of lazily listing to the left and right, bullshitting and laughing. Max's phone began to ring.
"It's Warren," she said to the group. She put it on speakerphone. "Hey dude."
"Hey," he said. "How's Victoria?"
"Oh god!" Chloe screamed in a panicked tone. "Everyone's dead! There's blood everywhere!" The other two girls tried to hide their laughter.
"Speakerphone, cool," he said sarcastically.
"I'm okay, Warren," Victoria's voice was soft. "Broke my hand, but overall okay. Thanks...thank you for asking."
"Damn, that sucks." There was a small pause. "Me and Brooke watched it again on her tablet, like what the drone caught. You really fucking smashed that guy." He laughed a little. "Gonna have to stitch an S to your chest now."
"So much fucking blood, I'm gonna puke!" Chloe shouted, whirling in circles. "Limbs everywhere! It's like a Black Sabbath concert!"
"No S's, please," Victoria begged, her eyes following the spinning punk. "I just want to get past this."
"Yeeeeah," he elongated it nervously, "about that. It's all over the school already."
"Dammit," she spat, closing her eyes. "Now people are going to think I'm nice."
"Wow, what a tragedy," Max quipped, giggling. The blonde simply groaned in response.
"Now it's raining exploding baby hands!" Chloe fell to her knees, committing to the act. "Oh for the love of god, won't someone think of the babies!" Kate waddled over to her and sympathetically pet her head.
"It'll be okay," she assured, nodding.
"Today is the weirdest," Max commented, watching Kate and Chloe. Victoria nodded her head slowly.
A/N: Well, well, looks like little miss Chase packs a punch. I've been thinking of this one for a while now but was unsure of where to place it in the story. Watching Nightcrawler this weekend kind of pulled it out of me.
I'm a liiiiiiiittle nervous that this one doesn't make sense or isn't coherent. Not sure why, exactly, but hopefully it holds up okay! I'm pretty excited about what this opens up down the road.
At any rate, thanks for reading! Love you guys!