Victoria huffed in exasperation as the pen fell from her grasp. She stared at it, as if her gaze could will it to burst into flames.
"I don't know why you keep trying to write with that hand," Max laughed. She turned the page of the book in front of her, her eyes bulging at the new display of information. "I'm never going to learn this in time for the test."
"Left handed people are evil," Victoria said matter-of-factly.
"That's actually a thing," Kate giggled, sitting down and completing the small circle. "The bible says that." She plopped her book in front of her, leaning over to check what page Max was on. "I'm not sure I agree with that, of course."
It had been a few days since Victoria's valiant defense of Kate and Blackwell had been feasting on the details. Max assumed it was partially because, though it had been more than a month, the Jefferson/Rachel/Nathan debacle still hung over the school like a storm cloud and everyone, including staff, was chomping at the bit to find a new, positive event to cling to. That didn't make it any easier for Victoria, however. She seemed to genuinely loathe the attention, not even secretly cherishing it while putting up a front. For someone who was always so concerned with being the 'hot topic' at school, Max found that odd. Now, Max, Kate and Victoria sat in Max's room, studying for an upcoming test.
"Where's your gal pal, anyways?" Victoria asked, laying down on her side. "I don't think I've seen you two apart since you first hooked up." Max couldn't help but grin at that.
"She said something about 'letting me have girl time' and then she just kinda laughed condescendingly," she said, thumbing back a page to check her information. "I think she picked up an extra shift at work, too."
"Oooh," Victoria smirked. "We should totally go and harass her after our study hall."
"Mmn, maybe," Max said. "Kate, how do you think you're going to do on this test?" The small blonde puckered her lips and thought for a moment.
"I'm not sure, it's a lot of info for one section. Usually I just pray and God gives me the answers!" She began to laugh, but cut it short when the other girls didn't. She cleared her throat. "Sorry," she said in a small voice. "I'm trying to include more levity with my faith."
"Then pray, girl. Pray like the fuckin' wind," Victoria giggled. She sighed and rolled on to her back. "These pills are crazy good but I'm almost out. Then it's over the counter bullshit." She blew air through her lips. "Can't believe I broke my hand." Kate grimaced.
"Sorry," she said quietly. Victoria snapped her head up, glaring at the girl.
"I told you to stop being sorry!" She held out her splinted hand and shook it vigorously. "It was worth it, I'm just being dramatic." Max smiled when she saw the little smiley face Kate had drawn on it – the only signing Victoria had allowed.
There's definitely a story brewing here...man, this might be the craziest thing in a long list of insanity.
"What did your folks have to say about it all?" Max asked, shifting her legs beneath her. "I imagine there's cause for alarm when the princess heir to the Chase family suffers injury."
"Ha!" Victoria spat, holding her left hand up and spreading her fingers. "I dunno, they were worried, I guess. It's hard to get them to pull their heads out of their asses for the most part. Like," she popped her lips, "I'm not even going home for Thanksgiving because they're both so invested in the Chase Space at the moment. I doubt they'll even have dinner together." She looked at Max. "That's kind of sad, right?"
"I guess some people just have different priorities," Max responded, shrugging.
"Yeah..." She said thoughtfully. "What about you guys, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?"
"Having it with Chloe and her family!" Max beamed. "My mom was kind of bummed, but she's also embarrassingly into the idea that we're dating, so she understands. I kind of felt bad, but I know she'll cook a big dinner for my dad anyway."
I'll miss her cooking but...I'm SO excited to spend my first 'family' holiday with Chloe. And Joyce's food. Yummers.
"I'm having it with my family," Kate added, furiously swiping a highlighter over a specific line in the book. She regarded Victoria. "You could have Thanksgiving with me! We're not too far away. It would be fun! And they're already very big fans of yours." She winked as she pointed to her hand.
Oh snap.
"Oh, I uh...I don't know, Kate." Victoria furrowed her brow. "I'm not sure your family will like me. I'm not really big into..." She cut herself off. "I don't practice religion. So I don't know if that'll fly, you know?" Kate stared at her, her big brown eyes absorbing the light in the room.
"Meh," she shrugged, "screw 'em!" Max and Victoria exchanged a look of shock before both burst into laughter.
"Kate Marsh!" Max laughed incredulously. "I cannot believe you just said that!"
"The mouth on this one!" Victoria added with a grin.
"I just wanted to see your reactions," Kate admitted with a small smile. "But really, they'll like you just fine. If they say anything at all, they'll have to answer to me!" She shook her fist and crinkled her brow.
"Hell hath no fury like a Kate Marsh scorned, I guess," Max snickered, reaching for her phone. She tapped on Chloe's picture to view the new messages.
Chloe: have fun at study camp nerd
Chloe: make sure u play those educational they might be giants albums to really set the tone
"This girl is such a bitch, I swear to you," Max scoffed, then smiled. "Love her so much though."
"Oh wow," Victoria said, her interest piqued. "You guys are saying 'love' and everything?" Kate slowly turned her head toward Max.
"Uh, yeah. Why?" She gently flipped her phone in her hand, shrinking a little under their gaze.
"I don't know, that just seems soon. But...I'm happy for you. Really." Victoria awkwardly stressed 'really,' as though making it a point to prove she was sincere.
I guess that's true...to everyone else, we've just been dating for a little while. But they don't know the truth.
"What's love feel like?" Kate asked suddenly and bashfully, slowly bouncing her index fingers together. "Romantic love, I mean."
"Oh, wow, uh..." Max contorted in confusion. "I don't know, it's just really nice. Warm. Like you're always wearing a coat that makes you perfectly comfortable. Or just like, every song you hear or movie you see reminds you of them in some way, no matter what it's really about. Colors seem a little brighter?" She cringed, then snickered. "Dang, I sound high as balls. What do you think, Vic?"
"Wouldn't know," she said flatly, angling her textbook on her chest. "Never felt it."
"But you've been in many relationships!" Kate prodded innocently. Victoria returned a somber smile.
"Just because you're like...with someone doesn't mean you're really feeling love," she said. "I don't think I've ever loved and I sure as hell know no one's ever felt it about me. Sometimes you just like to...pretend, I guess." She turned back to the book as Kate pouted.
What the hell since when am I the guru on a subject like this?
"I can actually hear The Smiths playing," Max said, trying to lighten the mood.
"And heaven knows I'm miserable now," the girl quipped back. It was silent for a moment.
"I know someone will fall in love with you, Vic. I'm sure of it!" Kate leaned forward and patted her leg comfortingly.
"Thanks, Kate. That means a lot..." She flipped the book flat on her stomach and grimaced. "I have not retained a single bit of information. We suck as study partners."
"Well, that's because this is secretly therapy," Max laughed. "It's like Punk'd but instead of a prank, you face your inner demons. At only a hundred bucks an hour, might I add."
"What a steal!" Kate pumped her fist jovially. "I'm gonna come to you instead of my current doctor."
"How's that...going, by the way?" Max asked, pulling a pillow from her bed and hugging it. "Feel like it's working?"
"Yeah, it helps a lot to be able to talk to someone," she said. "And the medication I'm on doesn't hurt, of course." She reached into her small purse and pulled out a translucent, orange bottle, giving it a proper shake. "Happiness in a bottle!"
"What kind is it?" Victoria asked, shifting to her side.
"Mmn, Zoloft," she said. "It's an SSRI or something," she added with a shrug.
"Cool, same," Victoria replied. "I used to take Lexapro but it made me grind my teeth. I had to wear a rubber mouth guard." She snirked. "Looked like such a dork." She stuck her index finger and thumb into her mouth. "Talf li'e a morof too." The girls all laughed.
Vulnerable Victoria is really something amazing. She's so fun to be around. Maybe this is what Taylor always sees?
"I didn't know you were on antidepressants," Kate said.
"Yeah, it's kind of just whatever...part of my life now. I feel like everyone here is fucked up in one way or another. It is art school, after all." She patted her stomach. "It's like, all the rage."
"I've been thinking about going to a therapist," Max added quietly. "Just to, you know, talk some things out." She chewed her lip in thought. "What does that say about us? That we all need therapy?"
"I think it just says that we're addressing our shit," Victoria said. "I dunno, maybe it's because my parents indoctrinated me into it when I was young enough to not question it, but it just kind of makes sense to me. We get physical check ups every year, why wouldn't we do it with our mind? I just, uh..." She quickly glanced at Kate. "I take it pretty seriously."
Right. Nathan.
"That's a very good way of looking at it," Kate cheered. "I think it's perfectly natural...I mean, there's some reservations about it from my family. But I'm slowly learning that not everything the bible says is worth its weight in gold."
"Yeah, I dunno," Max mused. "At the very least, maybe try and figure out this fucking," she rigorously shook her book, "concentration issue!" She began to laugh. "I've always had trouble focusing on things. Needed like an extra ten minutes in grade school to do tests."
"I could just give you Adderall," Victoria said. "Shit is beautiful, it's like being in a bouncy house of ideas."
Hmmm...
"Maybe I'll take you up on that," the brunette responded. "But still, I might go to the school counselor and see what she has to say. About anxiety and all that."
"She's a lovely woman," Kate added. "She's very good at not making your problems seem small, which I really appreciate!" She suddenly sighed and buried her face in her hands. "I forget everything I just read."
"You guys have been reading!?" Max snarked. "This whole time!?"
"Yeah, dude." Victoria threw her book to the side. "Fuck this. Let's go annoy your girlfriend."
The three girls, huddled together in the brisk air, watched as the school bus drove off. The November weather was slowly but surely injecting the cold, stealing away the comfort from the uncharacteristically warm October. To combat this, Max had begun wearing Chloe's beanie whenever she had left it in her room. Not only did it make her think of Chloe and provide a way of 'showing off' their relationship, but now it actually functioned the way it was meant to!
"Gettin' too cold for my bones," Victoria complained, tugging the collar of her expensive jacket with one hand. "I like the tropics. The beach."
"I kind of like the colder months," Kate said, looking up into the gray sky. "I think they're pretty."
"Pretty bullshit," Victoria whipped back, smiling playfully. Max stared through the window of the Two Whales, watching as Chloe smiled and nodded at a customer. Her heart swelled at the sight of her.
"Man, I don't remember the last time I ate here." Victoria briefly tapped a finger to her chin.
"Probably used to much fancier places, huh?" Kate asked.
"Guys, shut up, I wanna go hug my girlfriend!" Max pouted facetiously, stomping her foot and pointing at the building.
"Wow. Okay, brat, lead on," Victoria mocked.
They shuffled into the diner, Max leading the way to 'her' booth where she always sat with Chloe. She sat alone on one side as Kate scooted in next to Victoria.
"Man," she heard Chloe say loudly from the kitchen. "This jukebox sucks a righteous one, Pete. Can't we get some good tunes for it? I've spent all my quarters keeping Don't Fear the Reaper on loop and I'm starting to hear the guitar riff in my sleep." There was an inaudible grumble in response. "Yeah, I know you're super into Toby Keith. You should just cut the shit and get his face tattooed on your chest." There was another more playful grumble. "Yeah, totally, I know a girl, I'll give you her number," she laughed. After a moment, Chloe came through the doorway, stopping when she saw the three girls. She gasped and grew a brilliant smile.
"Baby!" She squeaked, galloping over to the booth and sliding in next to Max, constricting her tightly in a hug. "How is?" She asked, nuzzling into the brunette's cheek.
"I'm kay," she responded, returning the cuddle. "Many hungry, though. And miss," she said with a smile, booping the punk's nose.
"Is...is this English?" Kate asked Victoria with an eyebrow arched. The girl simply shrugged in response, dumbstruck. Max felt herself blush.
Oh god, we sound like drunk toddlers.
"Hey kids," Chloe greeted, flinging a hand downward to tangle with Max's. "How did studying go?"
"What studying?" Victoria asked. "We didn't study shit."
"It was rather unproductive," Kate agreed, reaching across the table for a sugar packet. "Though we did get some good emo talk going."
"Damn, that's my specialty," Chloe laughed. "Shoulda been there." She turned toward Max. "You gonna be okay on your test, babe? I know you're worrying about it and if these," she dismissively waved at the two girls across from her, "clowns can't help you, I could try tomorrow if you want." Max unleashed a toothy grin, craning her neck to kiss the punk on the forehead. Chloe had been, surprisingly, pretty supportive and at times strict when it came to Max and school.
"Sure, we could give it a try, but it's not their fault. I was the one derailing the conversation." She winked at Victoria.
"Figures," Chloe sighed. "I had to fall for the bad girl from the wrong side of the tracks. My little Molly Ringwald heart just can't take your rebellious nature." She suddenly perked up. "Oh, fuck. I forgot I was working." She scrambled to the counter and retrieved three menus. "Here's your shit," she said, flopping them on the table as she reclaimed her seat.
"Been busy today?" Kate asked as she opened the menu.
"Eh, not busy but not slow," the punk responded, absentmindedly pulling on the drawstring to Max's hoodie. "Dana and Trevor came in earlier, so that was entertaining at least." She leaned out from the booth, surveying an eating woman across the diner. "By the by, she's still really hammering that double date thing so I guess we should do that soon."
"Well, what should we do?" Max asked, spinning her menu on the table. Kate leaned toward Victoria and smiled, pointing at something in the menu.
"Not sure. Movies or something..." She quickly sprung from her seat, darting over to the woman.
"Are the burgers here any good?" Victoria asked, scanning the menu.
"Best in Arcadia Bay," Max responded in her best trucker accent. Kate at least had the generosity to fake a giggle.
"I'll get that, then. I want a fat, hunk of meat."
"That sounded pretty promiscuous," Kate said with a smile. "I would specify cow when you order." Victoria turned to Max with the most neutral expression.
"This bitch," she said flatly. "All the sudden she has jokes."
Yeah, well, you busted your hand for that, Vic.
"Kay, dorks," Chloe declared, reappearing. "You guys know what you're getting?"
"Grilled cheese, please." Kate flashed a bright smile.
"Erm...can I just get chicken tenders? With buffalo sauce?" Max asked, batting her lashes.
"Half pound cheeseburger, medium, extra side of pickles aaaaaand," Victoria puffed out her lips, "eh, fuck it, coat my fries in cheese." She looked around at the rest of the group. "What? I'm hungry and I want to be fat, stop."
"Alrighty then." Chloe rolled her eyes. "And I'll grab some drinks for you guys, too." She seemed to zone out for a second, chewing her bottom lip. Her head suddenly seized in alert. "Woah, I just had a weird 'how the fuck did I end up here' moment." She glanced around the Two Whales, sighing. "I blame you, Max. I really do."
"You know, I'm okay with that," Max laughed, reaching for her necklace. "I'll take that bullet."
"Aaaaand I am officially off!" Chloe squealed in delight as she yanked her apron off. Kate clapped quietly in congratulations. The punk quickly scooped up the empty plates and scurried to the kitchen. She reappeared with her hands in the air, showing everyone that her work was officially done.
"You know, it gets me so hot to see you all work-y," Max teased. Victoria offered a small barf noise.
"Don't even play," Chloe said. "I'll ride that train so hard, just wear my apron every time we hang out. It's basically the American equivalent of the French maid thing."
"French maid thing?" Kate asked. Chloe turned to her, her lips clamped shut tightly.
"Don't ask," Victoria said, allowing the punk to relax. Max's phone skittered across the table as it vibrated.
Dana: DOUBLE DATE 2MORROW NITE
Dana: MEET AT FOOTBALL FIELD
The football field?
"Huh," Max said. "Apparently our double date with Dana and Trevor is tomorrow night...they said meet at the football field? For what?"
"Ooooh!" Chloe clapped her hands together. "This will be a fun double date. She means the bleachers. That's a pretty big smo..." She slowly turned to Kate, her voice screeching to a halt. "S'mores spot. We make s'mores there." Kate narrowed her eyes in amusement.
"Well, that sure sounds fun. Can I come along?" She only let the question linger for a moment, but it was enough time for both Max and Chloe to squirm. "I'm only joking! I know that you guys smoke marijuana. It's okay."
"Don't you mean the devil's lettuce?" Victoria asked with a smarmy smile.
"More like 4/20 praise it," Kate replied, pumping her hands in a 'raise the roof' fashion, dissolving into a giggle near the end. "I don't even know if that makes sense," she admitted with a smile.
"Man, Max," Chloe said, sliding in next to her. "We have a double date two days in a row! Aren't we the busy couple?" Max watched as Victoria's face scrunched in disapproval.
Oh yes, keep stoking that fire, babe.
"Well, if we're being technical, you were working, so this was pretty much just a normal date with me as the third wheel," Max added.
"Tricycles are so fun though!" Kate exclaimed. "I used to have this big red one when I was little. Had little streamers coming out of the handle and everything." She turned to Victoria, who was stewing in a scarlet shade. "This was a fun date, Vic! Thank you!" Chloe's mouth formed into an awe-inspired open smile as she rested a hand over her heart.
Kate, I can't figure out if you're in on the joke and just cruel or wonderfully oblivious.
"Whatever, you're welcome, shut up," Victoria scowled. Outside, the school bus pulled up for its last rotation of the night. She sighed a breath of relief. "Kate and I will just hitch back on the bus so you can ride with your bitch." She flipped a hand at Chloe, who simply smiled and responded with 'that's me!'
"Sounds like a plan to me!" Kate stood from the booth and shook each of her legs. Victoria quickly followed after her.
"Uh, here's tip," she said, throwing a ten dollar bill in front of Chloe. The punk frowned.
"I don't want this." She scooped it up and held it back out for the girl. "You guys are friends, I don't expect a tip." Victoria furrowed her brow, clearly having some sort of internal war. Finally, she sighed and took it back.
"Thanks," she said. "I had a lot of fun today, Max. Just kind of hiding from all the attention."
"Agreed!" Kate added. "Even though we are bad study partners...We can try again!"
"I had fun too, you guys. And good chat about mental stuff, I think I'll go to the counselor tomorrow." At this, Chloe perked an eyebrow.
Kate and Victoria exchanged their goodbyes, with Victoria even giving Max and Chloe a hug. After a moment of silence watching the bus pull away, Chloe bounced up from the booth and headed into the back. Max looked through the window, staring at the lighthouse.
Et in Arcadia ego... Even in Arcadia, there am I. You can never escape the lighthouse.
"Before we go," Chloe said, appearing from the back with one arm in her jacket while the other side flopped in the air, "I'm gonna leave a present for Pete." She shoved a hand in her front pocket and shambled over to the jukebox. Meticulously, she slid twenty-five quarters into the slot, then hammered on the button for a minute. The guitar riff for Don't Fear the Reaper began to seep from the ceiling, with the punk giving a triumphant grin.
"Oh for crying out loud, Chloe!" A voice called from the back. Laughing, Chloe scrambled over to Max and tugged on her arm, pulling the girl hurriedly outside.
"So, uh...you mentioned something about the Blackwell counselor in there?" Chloe asked as the truck lurched out of the parking lot.
"Yeah..." Max glanced out the window. "I mean, obviously I can't really talk about the why's but I can at least bring up the anxiety and stuff." She scrunched her lips. "Do you think that's a good idea?"
"I think you should do whatever you need to," Chloe responded, glancing at the radio as her fingers danced along the buttons. "Whatever helps you, babe."
"I'm hopin'," Max said. "I mean, on one hand I don't really want any of this to get into my record, but on the other...I hate being so nervous. At the very least, I figure I'd talk about my focus issues. ADHD or whatever. Now that you're nagging me about being good at school, feel like I should address it."
"Huh," Chloe said. "I didn't know you had problems with attention span."
"Sorry, what?" Max asked, turning to her. "Kidding, sorry," she said, laughing at Chloe's pout. "Yeah, I've always had trouble concentrating in school." She giggled. "I mean, yeah, I'll play WoW for eight hours straight but put me in a classroom and my focus goes to shit."
"Kinda funny that you're a photographer, then." She smiled as the radio finally offered a song she liked. "I mean, isn't eighty percent of what you do focusing?"
"Never thought of that," Max said. "I guess that's true..." She felt beside her and pat her bag.
"Oh dude, fucking sick!" Chloe gripped the knob on the radio, cranking the volume way up as a new song came on. "Love this song!" She shouted. Max smiled, sneaking her camera out of her bag.
Feels like all I do is take pictures of Chloe these days...and I'm totally fine with that.
"Hey!" Max shouted. "Gimme that sexy smile!" Chloe quickly turned to face Max, tilting her head back in feigned disgust when she saw the camera.
"Can't keep your eyes off me, can you?" She yelled back, returning her gaze to the road. She gained a patented, Chloe Price smirk. "Here you go," she said, stretching her arm toward Max with a middle finger raised.
"Is that an invitation?" Max asked, snapping the photo.
"Such a damn brat," Chloe laughed, shaking her head.
A/N: Kind of just a fun, chill chapter after the excitement from the previous one. I like writing 'chill' Victoria a lot!
As always, thanks for reading! :*