Max sat back in the chair and took a sip of her coffee as the Skype call dialed. After a moment, a window opened up, revealing Ryan and Vanessa Caulfield huddled together with big smiles.
Oh man, I've missed those faces.
"Maxine!" Her mother greeted, waving frantically at the camera.
"Hi guys," she responded, smiling herself. "Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving, kiddo," her dad said. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good! Just relishing the long weekend before more school. Homework has been extra sucky lately." She leaned forward and smirked. "Mom, I love your hair! When did you get it done?"
"Well, thank you, Max," she said, whipping her hair to the left and right. "How nice it is to know someone noticed." Her father sighed and buried his face in his palm.
"Said I was sorry," he grumbled.
"Dad, it looks totally different! How did you not notice?" Max laughed. She shook her head, tsking.
"Can I plead blindness?" He squinted, glancing toward the bottom of the screen. "The little Skype clock says we've been talking for two minutes and you guys are already ganging up on me. It's like you never left." He chuckled. "That's not true. We miss you like crazy." Her mother nodded in agreement.
"Miss you guys too," she said, reaching for a piece of paper on her desk. "Hey look, I made something for ya." She held up the paper, an outline of her hand with poorly drawn turkey features. Back when Max was too young to even form memories, her father taught her how to draw a turkey using her hand. Somehow, this spiraled into a yearly, quirky tradition. "Bet you thought I wouldn't make one since we weren't together."
The Caulfield 'Hand Turkey' lineage shall continue!
"The tradition's alive!" Her father exclaimed, grinning. "That makes me so happy. What's its name this year?" Max scrunched her lips to the side, unleashing a 'hmmm.'
"Not sure, I've been teetering back and forth between Argyle and Ferdinand." She turned the paper toward herself and surveyed it. "What do you think, Mom?"
"I think..." She puffed out her cheeks, then released the air. "That's a tough call. I'm gonna put my vote in for Argyle."
"That sounds good to me," her dad said.
"It is decided!" Max said, using an ominous tone. She grabbed her pencil and quickly scribbled the name beneath the turkey. She showed it to them one more time, providing proof of his new name. "So," she began, plucking the plastic lid to her coffee, "what are your guys' plans for today?"
"Well, your Nana's coming over for dinner," her mom said. "So I'll have my hands full, of course. She's been obsessed with this Cornish hen thing she saw on television a few weeks back. Nevermind, of course, that I've literally had the turkey for two months." She pursed her lips. "I'm just going to tell her that they all merged together like that Vorpon cartoon your dad loves."
"Voltron," he corrected. "Vanessa, it's Voltron." He snickered as he shook his head. "And you know me, I'll be watching football!" Her dad gave her a thumbs up. "Some decent games on today. Pittsburgh against Baltimore! Who you got?" He asked. Max rolled her eyes as if the question was ludicrous.
"Pop, always Baltimore. They're named after Edgar Allan Poe! How can I not root for that?"
"Fair enough, should've known better," he laughed.
"Your nose looks so cute!" Her mother suddenly squealed, poking her finger at the camera, briefly turning the screen black. "How does it feel? It looked so red and sore in that picture you sent us."
"It's okay!" Max lightly tapped her piercing with her finger. "It doesn't really hurt anymore, just when I have to turn it." She chuckled. "Though I do panic every time I sneeze, like I'm gonna blow my whole nose off."
"Oh gosh." Her mother recoiled. "That's not a good image. My baby walking around with a big hole in her face."
"I dunno," Ryan laughed. "You wouldn't have stuffy noses anymore! But nosebleeds would be an issue." Max winced at that, but luckily they didn't notice. "So what about you, kiddo? What are you doing today?"
"Chloe's coming to pick me up soon," she said, blushing a little. "Joyce is making a feast apparently."
"God," her father said, closing his eyes. "I still think about her pumpkin pie sometimes. Out of nowhere, I'll just be talking to someone at work and it'll pop into my head." Her mother rolled her eyes, nudging him playfully.
"This is why I don't make it," she quipped. "It'd never live up to the expectations. You'll have to deal with the sweet potato pie."
"That's good too," he said, grinning dreamily. "I just like pie." Max snickered.
"You know," she said, drumming her fingers lightly on her desk, "I'm...kind of nervous. This is like our first real holiday together. Feels like a big deal."
"That's a good nervous," her mother said. "It's so exciting when you first start dating someone! Then you get married and they grow a beard." Her dad pouted, rubbing a hand along his chin. "I'm joking, Ryan. I've grown to really love this whole lumberjack shtick." She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Guuuuys," Max huffed, waving her hand. "No lovey dovey in front of your daughter, please." Her mother arched an eyebrow at her teasingly. Suddenly, the door behind Max swung open.
"Awwwww shit," Chloe shouted, channeling her inner boxing announcer, "baby, you fuckin' ready to put a bunch of ugly bird into that hella cute tummy of yours!?" Max turned to her, her eyes wide. She nodded to the laptop on the desk. "What," the punk asked, strolling toward her, "did I catch you watching gross porn? I told you not to watch any of that latex, vacuum sealed shit without me, Maaaaaa- " Her voice carried on without her consent as she stopped dead in her tracks. Her brows crinkled together as she saw Max's parents quietly staring at her. "Oh god," she yelped, turning a dark scarlet color. "Oh god, oh god!" She quickly turned around and scrambled back out the door, slamming it behind her.
"Well..." Max said, popping her lips. "That happened."
On the 'worst things you could possibly say while I'm Skyping my parents' scale, that was probably a sixteen.
"Was that Chloe?" Her mother asked, a small smile appearing on her face. "She looks so different!"
"That was her." Max nodded. "That was crazy, man, she was like the Roadrunner. Big plume of dust and everything."
"Well, tell her to get her ass in here so we can say hi!" Her dad shook his head, laughing. "Hella cute tummy, Jesus Christ, it's like another language."
"You still say groovy," her mother said, prodding his shoulder.
"Well, sometimes things are just groovy!" He argued, holding his hands up in defense. Max turned back to look at the door to her room.
"I'm...going to get her," she said. "Sit tight okay?"
Max slowly opened to the door to the hallway, spotting Chloe immediately. The punk was pacing in circles, muttering to herself with her hands tightly wound through her hair.
That's about what I expected, yeah.
"Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck," she mumbled, her eyes crazed.
"Babe?" Max quietly closed the door behind her. "You uh, okay?" Chloe turned to her, her face still red.
"Oh god, Max, that was so embarrassing! Do your folks hate me now? That was the worst! Oh god, oh god!"
"What!? No, they want to talk to you!" She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's okay, dude, just breathe."
"No. No no no." The girl feverishly shook her head. "I can't look at them in the virtual eye after that!" She clawed at her eyelids. "Agh, why am I the worst. No, just tell them my head exploded from embarrassment."
"Hey," Max said sternly, poking her in the chest, "you knock it off. Be my girlfriend and go talk to my parents." Chloe looked down at the floor sheepishly, then sighed.
"Ooookay," she said. She glanced back up at Max as she awkwardly rubbed her arm. "Um, can...I get a hype kiss?"
"Define a 'hype kiss,'" Max said, crossing her arms.
"Like, you know, a kiss that'll psych me up and make it so I don't want to vomit." Chloe let out a little smirk. Max tilted her head to the side, releasing a toothy grin.
"Oh, fine," she said as if it were trouble. She slowly moved to Chloe, reaching her hand up to cup the girl's cheek. As their lips met, Max pressed her weight forward, pinning the punk against the wall. She worked her mouth open, snaking in her tongue as Chloe gripped her by the waist. "Okay," Max said as they broke the kiss. "Good? Ready?"
"Not really," the blue haired girl admitted. "But it did get you to kiss me, so I'll take it."
As the two reentered the room, Max could hear her parents having some kind of discussion about their dinner, with Ryan speaking fondly of the array of desserts he would soon devour. She approached her laptop, with Chloe dragging her feet behind her, and pulled out the chair.
"Ahem," she said, faking a cough and snagging her parents attention. She glanced at Chloe and nodded at the chair. With a small sigh, the punk sat down, shrinking under the gaze of her parents.
Poor Chloe, I don't remember the last time I saw her this nervous.
"Uh, hi, Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield," she said. Max's mother lurched toward the screen, an open mouthed smile on her face.
"Chloe! Oh my god, that is you!" She regarded her husband with disbelief before turning back to the camera. "You look so different! I love your hair!"
"Thanks," she said, blushing. "I know I look kind of...rough these days."
"What!" Max's mother cried. "You're freaking gorgeous!"
"Oh, gosh." She blushed further. "That's really nice of you..."
"Chloe..." Ryan said, his voice stern and quiet. His gaze was steely.
"Uh, yes, sir?" She asked. Max could tell she was holding her breath, her fingers twitching together by her side. Slowly, he brought his wrists together, opening his hands to create a shadow puppet version of an animal maw.
"Crocodile," he said softly. Chloe gasped. A large grin fought to the surface of her cheeks.
"You...you remember that?" She asked.
Max recalled that when they were much younger, her parents had been watching the movie Lake Placid late at night. She and Chloe had snuck into the room, hellbent on seeing their first R rated movie. They hid in the back of the living room for a grand total of five minutes before Chloe became so frightened that she began to cry, alerting Max's parents to their presence. Afterward, her father would often make this gesture and playfully chomp onto Chloe's shoulder or head. It was one of those endearing things that sprouted between family, blood related or not.
"Of course I remember that," he said. "That movie was awful!" He smiled warmly, slinging an arm around Vanessa's shoulders. "How are you, Chloe?"
"I'm...good," she said. "Great, actually. I can honestly say I've never been better." She quickly turned to regard Max behind her and smiled, taking the girl's hand into her own. "All thanks to your daughter." Max's mother let out a small squee of excitement.
"This is so incredible," her mother said. "You two reconnecting after all this time and falling for each other. Ah, so dreamy." She pressed her palms into her cheeks and grinned. "So adorable," she sighed.
"Mom," Max protested, rolling her eyes.
"No, no, she's totally right," Chloe laughed. "You are pretty dreamy."
"No lovey dovey in front of your parents," Max's father laughed. "This is a two way street, guys." Chloe giggled and rested her chin in her hand, staring at the screen. Tears began to collect themselves in the corners of her eyes.
"Man," she said quietly, slowly shaking her head. "I have missed you guys so much." Max's parents silently took it in, with knowing, somber smiles. Chloe chuckled as a few tears escaped, racing down her cheeks. "Really, really missed you," she added.
"We've missed you too, honey," Vanessa said. "We couldn't be happier that you're back in our lives." She shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe how much you've grown up!"
"Still got a ways to go," Chloe replied shyly. "But I'm getting there, yeah." Somewhere off to the side of Max's parents, a phone began to ring. Her mother flung her head back in annoyance, rolling her eyes as she did so.
"Max's Nana," she said grumpily. "She's been calling every twenty minutes." She turned to her husband and pouted. "I guess that's our cue to sign off. Chloe, it was so amazing seeing you. I hope we'll get to see you in person soon! Gonna hug your freakin' head off."
"Aw, don't do that," Max puffed out her bottom lip. "I need her head or else she's just going to bump into things constantly. She actually does that a lot anyway."
"Hey, shush." Chloe pointed at Max, then turned back to the laptop. "You can hug my head off anytime. I'd love to come visit you guys."
"And tell your mother we said hi," Max's father added. "We both miss her."
"Will do," Chloe responded, nodding happily. "She'll be thrilled, I'm sure." The phone began to ring again, with Max's mother huffing in exasperation.
"Okay, Mom! I GET IT!" She screeched, holding her hands out like claws. "Max, if I ever start calling you three times an hour just to talk about the new set of commercials I've seen, please tie me to a hot air balloon and let me float away."
"Duly noted," Max said.
"Have a great Thanksgiving, kids," Ryan said. "We love you both." Her mother chimed in with her own 'I love you,' waving giddily. Chloe gasped.
"Love you too, guys," Max said, giving a dorky salute to the camera.
"I...I love you guys too!" Chloe said hurriedly, frantically reaching out for the laptop. The Skype call closed, leaving the two girls quiet for a moment. The punk turned to Max. "Holy shit, they said they love me!"
"Of course they did." Max bent down to wrap the girl in a hug. "You're the person making their daughter's life actual heaven on Earth. Why wouldn't they?" She gave the girl a soft kiss on the cheek.
"Fuckin' wowser," Chloe said, her eyes twinkling in thought.
"I've returned!" Chloe declared as she walked into her house. "And I've brought a baboo Maximus-Rex with me!" Max snickered, taking off her jacket and hanging it on the coat rack. She rubbed her hands together for warmth.
"It's about time," Joyce said, leaning out from the kitchen. She smiled at Max. "Hi, sweetie, Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving," Max replied. Chloe scampered down the hall and into the living room. The brunette wandered into the kitchen, her eyes lighting up at all the food. "Holy cow, Joyce."
"I might have overdone it this year," she admitted with a laugh, wiping her hands on her apron. "But it feels special, you know? Like I might finally have a peaceful holiday with my family..."
Aw, Joyce...who knows how long you've been waiting for this.
"Dammit, Chloe! Stop standing in front of the TV!" David shouted from the living room.
"But I really need to stand in this exact spot for very intricate reasons," she playfully argued back. "It's super important, David." Max could hear the man laugh.
"Well, as peaceful as it's going to get," Joyce finally added with a shrug.
"I'm glad, Joyce," Max said. "Thank you for letting me have dinner with you guys."
"Of course!" She said. She pulled Max into a tight hug. "You're part of the family, you're always welcome."
"That...means a lot." Max nuzzled into her embrace, savoring the comfort.
Mom hugs are super underrated.
"This is so weird," Chloe said, leaning against the door frame. "Our parents are so all in on this. Like, if this was Vegas, they'd be throwing their life savings at the dealer." She lurched forward from the wall and took a step toward her mother. "I talked to Max's parents on Skype a little bit ago. They told me to tell you hi and that they miss you."
"Oh," Joyce said quietly, bringing her hand to her chest. "I do miss Ryan and Vanessa. We had a lot of good times." She smiled somewhat sadly and nodded. "Please, Max, do make sure you tell them I miss them too. A whole lot."
I guess I forget that they were close too...
"Absolutely." Max rested her head on Joyce's shoulder for a moment before her phone buzzed, pulling her attention away. She glanced at the screen and gasped, then began laughing.
"Who is it?" Chloe asked, dipping her finger into some sort of dessert. "Your parents texting you to secretly tell you I'm an asshole?" She giggled as she licked the icing off her finger.
"Oh hush," Max said, swinging her foot at the punk. "No, what we have here is something I like to call 'The Chase Meltdown.'" She tapped her phone, holding it out to Chloe.
Victoria: THIS WAS A MISTAKE HER FAMILY IS HORRIFYING
Victoria: WE HAD TO GO TO CHURCH AND I DRANK ALL THE WINE
Victoria: I DIDNT KNOW I WASNT SUPPOSED TO
Victoria: SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOS SOSOSOSOSOSSOSOSO
"Holy shit!" Chloe burst into laughter. "That is fucking gold. She drank all the Jesus blood! Oh my god, I will never let her live that down."
"You might even say you'll crucify her for it," Max chirped proudly. Chloe's laughter immediately halted as she stared at the girl.
"Bad Max," she said, lightly swatting the girl on the head. "No joke, no mouth, no, no."
"Fine," Max huffed, crossing her arms. "Enjoy your thirty pieces of silver, asshole."
"Joyce, this looks incredible," David said, rubbing his hands together eagerly. The four of them sat around the table, adorned with something Max could only identify as a banquet. Her eyes shimmered at the sight before her.
Turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, some corn, green beans...
"Thanks, hon," Joyce said as she took a seat. She held up a bottle of wine. "Would you girls like some?" Chloe snirked, her thoughts obviously drifting to Victoria. "What?" She asked, suspicion in her voice.
"Nothing," Max said, tapping Chloe's leg with her foot under the table. "Chloe's just bein' dumb. I'd love some, thanks." Joyce narrowed her eyes for a moment, then shrugged, pouring Max a glass. Chloe reached forward to grab a biscuit, but Joyce's mother-senses gave her ample time to slap the girl's hand away. Max snickered as Chloe pouted.
Like Spider-Man but instead of climbing on buildings, she knows when you're misbehaving!
"Not yet," she scolded. "We're going to go around the table and say what we're thankful for." Chloe groaned and rolled her eyes, falling against the back of the chair with her arms crossed.
"We never had to do this before," she argued.
"Well, that's because..." Joyce's expression softened. "I'll go first, then." She cleared her throat and reached out both arms. Max immediately took her hand, though Chloe stared at it for a moment in a typically bratty fashion. Finally, she sighed and took her mother's hand. "I am so thankful that, for the first time in what feels like forever, I can have a Thanksgiving dinner with a real family. It took a long time and some harrowing experiences, but finally we're together with no screaming, no drama...no fighting. It might not seem like a lot to you," she briefly glanced at Chloe, "but this is all I've ever wanted. To feel like a family again." Max felt a slight squeeze on her hand. "I'm also thankful that Max has finally come back into our lives. Sweetie, you've done so much for all of us here, and I love you like you were one of my own."
"Wowsers, Joyce," Max said quietly, blushing and shrinking into her shoulders. "Thank you."
"Of course, Max." She squeezed her hand once more. "Would you like to go next?"
Oh jeez, performance anxiety. Breathe, breathe.
"Um, okay." Max took a small breath. "I'm, uh, thankful for...pretty much everything. I - I don't mean that to be a cop out. Just that...I've been thinking a lot about, well, everything lately. Just life in general. I'm thankful for being back in Arcadia Bay, for meeting back up with Chloe, for being here with all of you right now. I guess I'm just thankful I'm right where I want to be?" She frowned and shrugged. "Sorry, I don't do great on the spot. Just nice to feel like I belong somewhere."
Well, that was lame.
"That was perfect, Max," David said, briefly patting her on the shoulder. He took a quick swig of beer, then cleared his throat. "I'll go now. I'm uh, sure you know what I'm going to mention," he said. The energy around the table took a momentary dip. "I hate thinking about it and bringing it up just as much as the rest of you, but..." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment, opening them back up and focusing on the blue haired girl, startling her. "I'm thankful for you, Chloe. We could have lost you not that long ago and...I don't know what I would have done. My heart would be broken. But I'm thankful that even though it was a terrible price, it brought us together. I could always see how beautiful and happy you could be with other people and just, that you're finally allowing me into that space..." He cleared his throat once more and swiped at his eyes. "Dammit, Joyce, I think you used too many onions." Max looked at Chloe, who had the same expression as someone who had just been caught doing something they weren't supposed to.
Well, David totally just stomped my thankful speech and I ain't even mad. That was awesome.
It was silent for just a moment, with David staring off at the far wall, recollecting himself. Chloe, clearly unsure of what to do, simply turned back to the food and slowly reached for a biscuit again.
"Chloe," Joyce said quietly. "You have to go now." The punk glanced at her, continuing to inch her hand closer to the biscuit. "Chloe!" Joyce raised her voice, laughing as she shook her head.
"Ugh, okay, fine," she said, letting her head droop backward. Max could already feel her lips curling into a smile at whatever smartass comment Chloe was cooking up. She rested her elbows on the table, cradling her head in her hands. "I'm thankful..." She grunted. "This isn't fair. I have too many things." She turned to her mother, looking her up and down. "Fine, you first, mother dearest." She pointed at her accusingly, causing Joyce to recoil. "I'm thankful for you just fucking existing..." She glanced to the side, debating her use of swearing, then shrugged. "For years you've tolerated my insane anger, all my shitty, stupid rebellion that did nothing but give you headaches. I'm thankful that you even kind of still love me after all the times I've screamed at you and said shit I obviously didn't mean."
"Chloe..." Joyce interrupted, but the punk waved her hand dismissively.
"Nah, this is Pandora's Box of mushiness, you can't stop me now. Look, I'm thankful that you were strong enough to pick up the pieces after Dad died, because I obviously wasn't. You dragged me kicking and screaming through one of the worst things a teenager can go through and only now can I really appreciate it. You're a goddamn superhero, seriously." Chloe pointed at the food. "Look at this! This is ridiculous! And you cooked it up like it was no big thing. How do I even get to be as cool as you? It seems impossible!" She flailed about in a frustrated manner. "I'm thankful that all the shitheads at the Two Whales look at me and grumpily say I'm just like you. That's seriously rad. I love you, Mom."
Joyce remained silent, her eyes wide and contemplative. David let out a small chuckle as he reached for his beer.
"Oh, think that's funny, huh?" Chloe asked, whipping in his direction. He slowly set the bottle back on the table, a look of fear in his eyes. Her tone severely betrayed the words she was using.
Woah...Chloe is on a kindness rampage...this isn't what I was expecting.
"You," she said, shaking her finger at David, "well don't I just owe you the biggest fuckin' apology ever? I treated you like a fucking monster all because you committed the horrific crime of...gasp, making my mother happy!" She laughed and shook her head. "Dude, I'm sorry, okay? For all the years I actively tried to piss you off. I'm thankful for you too, really. You were there for my mom when she needed it. You made her happy again." She glanced back at Joyce, who sheepishly exchanged a look with the even more bashful David. "She deserves the world and you're trying so hard to give it to her, and I'm thankful for that. Thankful that you didn't just spend two months with me and say 'fuck this' and bounce. So many quote, unquote 'men' would have done that, but you stuck around. That means a lot. And..." She closed her eyes, tapping two fingers to her forehead. "I'm thankful you were trying so hard to look out for me. And for keeping an eye on the Rachel thing. For taking your job seriously and actually caring about us. And just for being so fuckin' cool, you know? I, uh..." She stopped talking for a moment, working up some nerve, her fingers nervously fiddling together. "I love you, David." His jaw slacked open as she said it, as if the wind were knocked out of him. "David...I dunno, Dad-vid? Yeah, you're Dadvid, now. Fucking deal with it," she snarled. She smirked and sat back, finally turning to Max.
Oh god, this is the most confusing thing ever. I'm so nervous.
"Max," she said quietly, reeling in her all of her rambunctiousness. "I'm thankful for you. For everything you are. You're my hero, my light, the only thing that makes sense in this crazy world." Max began to smile as they made eye contact, Joyce and David fading out of her periphery. "Life is super fuckin' strange, and I don't think anyone knows that better than you and I. We've been through so much that nobody will ever understand. I'm so, so thankful that you're sitting here in front of me. I was waiting so long, just hoping and dreaming you'd come back to me. And you did! You did..." She sighed dreamily, now wiping at her teary eyes. "Thankful for every second I get with you. Thankful that time has been on our side, that I've gotten a second chance..." She playfully shrugged. "Or ten," she admitted slyly.
It was perfect, the words meaning something so much different to Joyce and David than they did to Max. She felt a foot slowly rub against hers.
"Max, babe, sweetie, darling," Chloe said, reaching across the table and taking her hand. "I am so, so fucking thankful for every breath you take, every smile you bless me with, every kiss you give me, every goddamn hippie song you show me. Max..." She smiled, squeezing the brunette's hand tightly. "I love you."
I am just...can't words...
Max's face was burning with love and sweetness and every good feeling someone could experience. It was silent as Chloe's blue eyes acted as magnets, flashing all the same emotions they did the time they kissed each other with their eyes open. She could see from the corner of her sight that Joyce was rubbing at her face, letting go of a sniffle.
"Well, I think that-" Joyce began, but Chloe cut her off.
"In conclusion!" She shouted, holding her index finger in the air. "I'm fucking thankful for all of you. You," she pointed at Joyce, "you," she pointed at David, "and you," she said, landing on Max. "Thankful, thankful, thankful. Okay, Mom?" She turned to her, baring her teeth in a victorious, crazed grin. The punk slammed her hands on the table and began to laugh maniacally. "Whew!" She said as she fanned herself. "I need a fucking cigarette!"
"Get enough to eat?" Joyce asked Max as the two of them washed dishes.
How can you possibly ask me that in seriousness? You watched me eat three plates!
"Yes, too much," she admitted with a chuckle. "I think I could be the stunt double for the boulder in Raiders."
"Oooh," Joyce cooed, wiggling her hips. "Harrison Ford was such a hottie in that movie. William was obsessed with it, wanted to get a hat and whip and everything."
"I still have a crush on Harrison Ford." Max laughed as Joyce handed her a new plate to dry. "Like, I mean even currently. Earring and all."
"He is working that silver fox angle, huh?" Joyce giggled. She stopped washing for a moment, a quiet small creeping over her face. "I blame you, you know?" She said, turning to Max.
"Blame me?" Max asked, feeling nervous. "For what?"
What did I do now?
"For the way she is now," she said, her smile expanding into a grin. "Chloe. She's just been a whole new person since you've been back. I guess you could attribute some of it to her, uh, brush with death but..." She shrugged. "I think it's you. It's all you. You left her..." Joyce shook her head. "No, you had to leave her when she needed you the most. It's not your fault, of course. But, years go by, you two don't talk at all and then, like magic, you're there for her just when she needs you the most again...like the universe was righting a wrong." She craned her neck, trying to peek into the living room. "Who knows, maybe I'm over thinking it, but I just think it's really amazing. Writers wish they could come up with something so unbelievable."
You're not too far off, Joyce. Though, the universe did need some convincing.
"Yes!" David boomed from the living room.
"Woo! That guy sported so good just now! I have no idea what's going on!" Chloe added with enthusiasm.
I should totally freak Chloe out and talk about sports. She'd never expect that.
"And that," Joyce pointed to the living room, "is just another miracle on top of it all." She chuckled quietly. "I think I just about gave up on those two ever tolerating each other, let alone bonding and liking each other." She smirked. "Dadvid, huh? It has a ring to it."
"Chlo loves her nicknames," Max laughed. "I think she secretly has a notepad somewhere with hundreds of variations on Max that she can call on anytime she wants."
"Wouldn't surprise me," Joyce said a little dryly. She looked down at the sink and groaned. "I think that's enough for now. I didn't even know we had this many dishes! I'll let the rest soak for a bit." She wrapped Max in a hug, kissing her on the head. "Thanks for helpin', hon."
"Anytime, Joyce."
"Hey, uh, can I has?" Max turned around to see Chloe gently swinging an unopened wine bottle by the neck like a pendulum.
"You already had some," her mother said, crossing her arms as she smiled.
"But, Mommy..." Chloe brought the bottle to her cheek, sending out intense puppy eyes.
"Fine," Joyce said. "Only because it has been about ten years since you've called me that and I miss it." She surveyed the blue haired girl. "Where does the time go?"
"You'd have to ask Max," Chloe giggled, grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her toward the steps. Max gasped, then laughed as she shook her head.
You think you're so clever, don't you?
"Okay," Chloe said, sitting on her desk as she smoked a cigarette. "What about Elliott Smith verses Reznor?" She blew a smoke ring, tapping the cigarette so the ash fell into the ashtray.
"They wouldn't even be fighting," Max replied, sitting on Chloe's bed, gently swishing a wine glass around. "Those two were built for collaboration, if only Smith were still alive." She took a small sip of the wine. "They kinda look alike, you ever notice that?"
And they BOTH look like Snape. A Harry Potter musical would be pretty sweet... Someone should call Trent Reznor's people.
"Trent's way hotter," Chloe said with a grin. "But I think you might be on to something. Could you imagine like, a mash up of Starfuckers, Inc. and Between the Bars?" She wiggled left and right, the ember on her cigarette bursting with red as she pulled on it.
"No, I really can't," Max laughed. "I was thinking more Hurt and Oh Well, Okay."
"Sure, go with the safe choice!" Chloe stamped out her cigarette, letting it roll into the ashtray. She leaned behind her and shut the window. "It's gettin' cold, man!" She shivered as she walked to the bed, flopping down on top of Max. "Make me hot," she teased.
"That's your job," Max quipped back, quickly tickling the girl's ribs, causing her to roll off of her. "Blue is the warmest color, after all."
"Is that the new lesbian movie?" She asked, reaching for her glass of wine. "I mean, I just don't know if we can relate to that type of material."
"Well, certainly," Max giggled. "You and I are more the American Psycho type, I feel." She chuckled to herself as Chloe accidentally spilled wine on her shirt, reminding her of the night she received her lap dance.
That...that was a good night. Siiiigh.
"Gotta return some videotapes," Chloe mumbled as she swiped a thumb on her shirt, scowling when she only smeared the stain. "We should watch it, though. Both of those, actually...like back to back. I like emotional whiplash."
"I'm almost positive it's already on your flash drive." Max took another sip. "Warren's a teenaged guy, of course he has the lesbian movie. Though in fairness, he said he read the graphic novel and that he hated the ending, so maybe it isn't on there." She shrugged, going back in for yet another sip.
"This wine is kind of good, huh?" Chloe asked after downing the rest of her glass. "Or maybe I just like anything with alcohol." She snickered into her hand. "That's a great attribute to have, right? Where's my RPG where I can increase that stat?"
"I think it's good," Max said, handing Chloe the bottle. She snirked and held out her hand in mock sophistication. "This vintage Arcadia Bay has been aged for three hundred and nine years, juiced from only the sassiest and most plump grapes." She took a small sip, swishing the glass in a circle. "Yes, you can really experience the strength of the vine from which the grapes grew." She pointed at the glass in Chloe's hand and nodded encouragingly.
"Right, right," the punk laughed, taking a sip from her newly filled glass. She struck a similar pose to Max. "What's truly fabulous about this particular batch is the light, airy texture only possible when made on a President's Day. It breathes against the tongue, seemingly replenishing the rich flavor." Max squawked with laughter, then pulled her hand down in front of her face, regaining her composure.
"And it's remarkable," she said, gesturing to the bottle, "that they managed to bottle on a President's Day over a hundred years before that holiday even existed!" Max giggled as she neared the end of the sentence, prompting Chloe to join in until they were both in hysterics.
"Okay, okay, sorry! I didn't take into account your fucking three hundred year brewing time," she laughed, burying her face in one of her hands.
"Dammit, Chloe!" Max waved her hands around frantically. "If we're ever going to get our wine connoisseur careers going, we need to be on the same page!" She huffed, shaking her head. "Napa Valley don't play that shit."
I love how me and Chloe can just riff on a dumb idea forever.
"So," Chloe said, slinging a leg over Max's lap after they both calmed down, "our first big family holiday together as a couple... I'd say it was a success, right?"
"Hella success." Max nodded in agreement. "Uh, hey," she said, scooting over so their hips touched. "That was some serious ranting down there. It was so confusing. It was like a greeting card sentiment wrapped up in a Carlin bit." She gingerly began to rub Chloe's foot.
"Heh, yeah," the blue haired girl snickered. "I guess it was all bottled up and my mom's little 'let's be thankful, gee whiz' thing popped the cork." She shrugged. "Because I'm the kind of person who bottles up positive feelings!" She furrowed her brow. "I think I almost blacked out during that whole thing, I was talking so fast."
"Well, I just wanted to say it was amazing. And you said you loved me in front of Joyce and David."
I wonder what they thought of that...
"Because I do, dumb dumb," Chloe said, booping Max on the nose. "I do wonder though," she looked up in thought, "like, when people hear us say we love each other, do they just think 'aww high school sweethearts, too bad they'll never make it?' Because that's obviously a thing and all, but..." She leaned forward, bonking their foreheads together. "We're timeless, we're not just ditzy highschoolers playing at puppy love."
"Well, I guess we'll prove them wrong with time," Max added, then scrunched her nose. "The word 'time' has pretty much lost all meaning, huh? Feels like every sentence with it has three or four interpretations. We're a pretentious literature teacher's wet dream."
"Pretty sure Hemingway is a literature teacher's wet dream," the punk mused. "Teachers everywhere must be constantly jacking-slash-swiping it to that guy. He fished with a machine gun!" She acted as though she were holding a rifle, jolting her shoulders as she quietly mumbled 'bang.'
"Okay, first of all, super gross," Max laughed, pouring herself some more wine. "Second of all, uh, I dunno...gross. Just gross." She arched an eyebrow. "Wait, swiping it?"
"Yeah, like a DJ, yanno? Like..." Chloe placed her hand over her crotch and made a few quick 'scratch' motions.
"Oh god!" Max doubled over in a burst of giggles. "That is tremendously unflattering!" Chloe laughed with her, elbowing her in the side.
"Hey, it's not! It's natural, man!" She narrowed her eyes, her lips growing taut. "Hey, do you think, uh, Kate...?"
"Noooooo we're not doing this!" Max immediately began to chug her glass, her cheeks turning red. Chloe grinned at her with an eyebrow raised.
Wine is good wine is good wine is good don't think about Kate pretending to be Skrillex wine is good
"Like, I said, it's natural! You know god totally doesn't think it's a sin, he was probably so stoked when the first person discovered it. Just like 'yeah, buddy! You go! I'm so proud of ya!'" She glanced to the side, losing herself in thought once more. Max brought the glass to her lips again, shaking her head before Chloe could say any more. "No, no, but listen," the punk argued, waving her hand in a 'calm down' fashion. "Do you think Victoria does it with our little Christian friend in mind?" Max lowered the glass and 'hmm'd.'
Now that's actually a pretty good question.
"There does seem to be something going on there, huh? At least from the Victoria side." She lightly tapped her finger against her glass.
"Uh, yes!" Chloe excitedly said. "Babe, that girl is head over heels for Kate. Like, I'm not even sure she really knows it yet, but it's definitely evident from her body language and her little Freudian slips."
"But..." Max said, scrunching her lips to the side. "I don't know, that seems like a really bad move. Kate has been so amazingly cool about us, but I still don't really know where she lands on the whole 'smite the queer folks' issue. Plus, she's made comments here and there about being into guys, so I don't know..."
"Oh," Chloe said with a knowing, sarcastic smirk as she gripped Max's shoulder. "If only there were some way for a person to like both genders! If only we could invent such a thing! I mean it's not like we are sitting here right now, proof of the very concept! " She drooped her head to the side. "Seriously, dude?"
"Oh yeah," Max giggled, snuggling into Chloe. "I forgot!" She quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Still," she said with a shrug, "I don't know how Kate feels about that. There's a lot of different hoops to jump through for that to even be a thing. And I mean, who's to say it's not just a passing fascination for Vic? Maybe in a month, she'll be into someone else."
"Could be," Chloe said, finishing her glass off once more. "I just think it's cute, is all. I mean, if it ever took off, then they'd also be having their first family holiday together. How cool is that?"
"Oh shit," Max chuckled, springing up from the bed and heading toward the desk. "That reminds me, I should see if I have any more texts from her." She tapped her phone, her eyes bulging as the screen lit up. "Okay, wow," she laughed. "I have a litany of texts from over the course of the day."
Victoria: I've prayed every prayer thats ever existed
Victoria: Her sister is really cool tho, she likes fashion
Victoria: now her grandmother is talkin shit on black people :/
Victoria: LOL! Kate told her to hush and she did
Victoria: her sister is NOT cool. she thinks Lady Gaga is a demon
Victoria: I ate all the stuffing idk
Victoria: YOURE NOT EVEN READING THESE
Victoria: Grammy Marsh back at it with the racism. Booooo.
Victoria: just fucking wrecked her little cousin in hopscotch
Victoria: FAMILY PICTURES FUCKIN NO
Victoria: I ate all the pumpkin pie idk
"This is like a timeline of a Lovecraft protagonist, just a slow descent into madness," Max giggled as she tossed Chloe the phone. The punk looked over it, mouthing the words as she read them, her smile growing bigger with each passing second.
"Welp, this is the best thing I've ever seen," Chloe said, her eyes ablaze with joy. "Think about the kind of person Vicky is, would she really put up with shit like this if she wasn't super invested in Kate?"
"I guess not," Max agreed. "I just...hope it works out with no one getting hurt." She sighed and glanced at the bottle sitting at Chloe's feet. "How much is left?"
"Um," she reached down and grabbed it, giving it a gentle shake. "Enough, I guess."
"Enough for what?" Max asked. Chloe twisted her head, cracking her neck. She smiled.
"Enough for me to do this, sucka!" She brought the bottle to her lips, tilting her head back as she drank. She let out an exaggerated 'ahhh' as she finished it.
"Well, that wasn't very chivalrous." Max pouted, pushing Chloe's shoulder. "I'm officially cross with you."
"Oh really?" Chloe raised her eyebrows. "Then I guess you don't want any of this," she said, leaning sideways off the bed and digging through her bag. She brought out another bottle of wine.
"I uh, I'm uncrossed, I've just realized." Max bared her teeth awkwardly and shrugged.
Fuck, foiled by my own sarcasm!
"Oh, sorry." The blue haired girl waved her hand. "This was for me to share with my very agreeable, very kind and very sexy girlfriend but I can't seem to find her." She brought a hand to her forehead as if shielding the sun and slowly scanned the room.
"Okay, smartass," Max laughed, lightly slapping the punk's leg. "Please share?"
"Oooh, I like when you beg," Chloe said cheerily, wiggling her shoulders. "But alas, it looks like I'll be the only one indulging in this beautiful, old fruit juice."
Hmph, okay then, you butthead.
"You know what? Fine, what-fucking-ever!" Max feigned anger, throwing her hands in the air. "That shit's only been aged for two hundred years, that's pussy shit." She broke character for a moment, giggling when Chloe opened her mouth in shock. "Yeah, I said it, what you gonna do about it?" She poked the girl in the chest. "Someday I'll be chilling with Dionysus while you're stuck with all the little people." She scoffed. "Two hundred years, that's ridiculous. That's basically water!"
"Woah, woah, woah!" Chloe waved the bottle around. "Jesus Christ, I'm sorry! You can have some!" She grumbled as she tore the plastic from the rim. "Chillin' with Dionysus without me, what the fuck, man." She threw the plastic onto the floor, sighing with mock bitterness. "Probably hurt the wine's feelings, Max, poor thing is trying as hard as it..." She stopped talking as she felt Max's hand slip under her shirt.
"Hey..." Max said quietly, leaning in toward Chloe. "You have wine on your shirt..." The punk glanced down at it, a grin blooming in her cheeks.
"You know...I've actually been waiting for you to pounce on that." She set the bottle back down on the floor.
"Well then you are very patient," Max whispered, slowly pulling Chloe's shirt upward. "Funnily enough, I've been waiting all day to pounce on you." Chloe's eyes went wide as she blushed.
Aha! Yes, I'm getting so much better at this.
"Wait, wait," Chloe protested, sliding out of Max's grip. The brunette pouted, a small tinge of anxiety prodding her chest.
Did...did I do something wrong?
"No, don't pout, I just gotta lock the door." Chloe quickly pulled one of Max's hands to her lips, then skirted away to the door, locking it excitedly. She turned back to face Max, eagerly wiggling her fingers. "Well, Max, about that wine..." She tugged her shirt off and threw it toward her hamper. She brought her index finger to her chin as she thought. "I think I'm a little bit buzzed," she admitted. "You know what that means?"
"Actually no," Max giggled as she shrugged. "You have to pee?"
"Nope! I...wait, do I?" She furrowed her brow as she began hopping up and down. "Nope, don't have to pee. But, um..." She reached for the button of her jeans, undoing it and then the zipper. She shook her hips slowly, letting her pants slide around her ankles. "Would you maybe be interested in a show, darling?" Her voice was low and silky. She stepped out of her jeans and stalked toward Max. The brunette's heart sped up as excitement crept through her bones. "I can guarantee you the best seat in the house, if you need persuasion."
"I'm in the mood for a show, I think," Max managed to stutter. She quickly finished off her glass then smiled. "What's it...uh, what's it rated?"
Please be R, please be R, please be R!
Chloe smirked as she gently pushed Max onto her back. She straddled her, taking off her bra and dropping it onto the brunette's face. She bent down, tracing kisses from Max's neck to her ear. Slowly, she sucked on her earlobe, causing the girl to shudder.
"Well," she whispered into her ear, giggling in a heavenly way, "let's just say it has not been approved for all audiences."
A/N: Goodness this is a long one!
Max's parents are basically a blank canvas of characterization, but I figure they must be goofy and fun for Max to have turned out the way she is. Can't wait to write them more later on!
Not much more to say, just hope you guys like this chapter! Thanks again for reading and being so awesome! XOXOXOXO