In the days since they had arrived in Seattle, Chloe had grown much more comfortable in front of the Caulfields. Max knew this would be the case, of course, but it still registered as a bit of relief that it happened sooner rather than later. She liked to tease Chloe about her nervousness, but truthfully, she knew she'd be acting the same way if the roles were reversed. In the end, she just figured that meant they both really cared about things being okay, which was certainly not a bad thing.

Luckily, Chloe also hadn't had another dream since their first night there. They avoided the subject as much as possible, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult to do so. Deflecting with humor or covering up with kisses only went so far when it came to nosebleed inducing dreams and ghostly animals popping up everywhere. Max had to wonder if it would just be something they had to deal with from now on. Which...wasn't impossible – they were strong, but it was obviously less than ideal. More than anything, it just hurt to know Chloe was struggling.

They spent the early part of the day wandering around a portion of Seattle. They had decided to tackle Chloe's tourism needs in sections, so they'd spend each day exploring a certain area, then be back home before it was too late so they could just relax. Truth be told, there wasn't a whole lot to look at on this particular day, but they did take a trip to the Chase Space and Max enjoyed getting into technical art talk with Chloe. Or maybe at her. She wasn't sure which.

"The Chase Space," Chloe mused as they pulled into Max's driveway, "kind of awesome, right? Though I do wonder why they don't just plaster Victoria's pictures everywhere."

"To hear her tell it, they're more concerned with quality of art rather than...I don't know. Her," Max said, following Chloe to the front door. "She has to earn her spot there."

"That's kind of harsh," Chloe responded. "I guess I get it, but it still feels like one of those...things, you know?"

Her parents sound very...detached. I guess I really am lucky.

"Yeah, I know," Max said. She opened the door and stepped inside, tugging off the damp hoodie and hanging it on the coat rack. "I'm kind of excited to see her later, though."

"So am I!" Chloe pinched the bottom corners of her open flannel and held it open. "Hey, do you think people roll their eyes at me for dressing like this here?"

"I doubt anyone cares," Max laughed, "the whole grunge thing is kind of a pride of the city. Plus, it's been like...how many years? Flannel is just hipster style now."

"Cool," Chloe said, tugging her hair tie out and shaking her head, sending her hair in a flurry. "When do your parents get home?"

"Mom should be in the next half hour or so?" Max clicked power button on her phone to double check the clock. "Yeah, around there."

"Hmm..." Chloe smiled as her eyes drifted toward the steps, "a half hour can be a long time if you're strategic."

Yeah, you're a regular grandmaster at chess.

"Oh can it?" Max asked, crossing her arms with a smirk. "And whatever do you plan on doing in that half hour?"

"I mean, I dunno," Chloe said, her voice slow and prowling as she placed her hands on Max's waist, "there are...options." The door suddenly swung open, and Chloe let go, stumbling backwards.

Her reaction time is really impressive.

"Oh, hey girls," Vanessa said, smiling brightly at them, "how was the sightseeing?"

"I think it was okay," Max chuckled, stealing a glance at Chloe, "we just kind of wandered around. You're home early."

"Yep, they let everyone go and I sped out of there like," she clapped her hands, then shot one forward, "the Flash." She quirked an eyebrow. "That Flash? That's right, right?"

"Yeah, he's quick," Chloe laughed.

"Okay, cool," Vanessa responded with a small look of relief, "your father would have my head." She removed her jacket and hung it up next to Max's hoodie.

"Seriously, he and my friend Warren would get along so well," Max snickered, following her mother into the kitchen. "They could battle for biggest nerd on Earth."

"Warren might win that, actually," Chloe said, "he's got like...an eidetic memory for that shit." She hung her head. "Stuff. For that stuff."

So smooth.

"You can see why she gets into so much trouble." Max gestured to her.

"Vaguely," Vanessa said, happily fixing herself a cup of tea. She turned back to them as she waited for it to brew. "What time is your friend getting here? Will it be in time for dinner?"

"Oh! I think so," Max said, "I'll have to call her. And send her directions..."

"You should give her the wrong address," Chloe suggested, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously.

"That's just mean." Max shook her head, smiling as she brought the phone to her ear.

"Hey," Victoria answered.

"Hi Vic, my mom was wondering if you'd be here for dinner?" Max waved a hand at Chloe, who was making faces, and turned away from her.

"Uhh, sure," Victoria mumbled something under her breath, "is that okay?"

"Yeah, of course," Max replied. "You can come whenever."

"Alright, that's good," Victoria said, "I'm already kind of over it here."

Damn, she really doesn't like her house much.

"Aw," Max laughed quietly in a pitying way, "well, I'll send you the directions to my place. Or did you need us to pick you up?"

"Nope, I'm good! I can use one of my parents' cars," she said.

"One of," Max chuckled with a roll of her eyes, "alright, I'll text you. See you soon."

"Later hater," Victoria responded, then ended the call.

"Dinner?" Vanessa asked, turning her thumbs up and down, "yay, nay?"

"Yay," Max confirmed, tapping on her phone, then stopped and looked at Chloe. "Dinner at my parents house with Victoria freaking Chase?"

"I don't even know what's going on anymore," Chloe laughed, lackadaisically flitting her arms out.

"Ooooh," Max said, her voice taking on the lilt of seeing someone get into trouble, "I see a Victoria pulling in."

"Damn, already?" Chloe asked, joining Max by the window.

"She said she was hungry," Max chuckled. She backed away from the window, leaving the smudge of her nose on the glass. "Come on, let's go harass her!"

"Oh my god, that's like my favorite thing to do!" Chloe cheered, clapping her hands together with a smile.

She followed Max outside and, when she noticed Victoria wasn't paying attention, crept up to her car. She hunched down so that she was below the window, and gestured to Max. When Victoria looked up, Max gave a friendly wave. Chloe jumped up, shouting and holding her hands above her head. Victoria jerked backward in her seat, a hand shooting to her chest to contain her heart as a muffled "fuck!" could be heard all the way at Max's doorstep.

Wow, I think I saw her soul leave for a second.

"Jesus," she growled, swinging the door open so that it collided against Chloe's thigh. "Do you want to give me a heart attack!?"

"Of course not," Chloe said, resting her arms on the top of the door as she peered in smugly, "I'd never do such a thing."

"Hi, Vic!" Max called, waving again. The girl looked in her direction, narrowing her eyes at Chloe's accomplice.

"Hello," Victoria said dryly, stepping out of the car. She looked Chloe up and down and made a 'pfft' noise, then hugged her.

"How's it goin', Vaporub?" Chloe asked, squeezing her arms tight against Victoria's lower back.

"Can't wait for that one to run its course," she snirked. "I'm alright." She gestured to the car. "I stalled out like twice which kind of pissed me off." Chloe strained her neck as she looked over Victoria's shoulder.

"I didn't know you could drive stick," she said, sounding a bit impressed.

"I don't prefer it." Victoria bumped her hip into the door to close it then surveyed Max's house. "Damn, this place isn't half bad."

Nice backhanded compliment.

"It's like you in house form," Max shot back, giving Victoria a hug of her own. "Come on, dinner's almost ready and we have to do the whole introduction thing." Chloe got behind Victoria and placed her hands on her shoulders, steering her as they walked back inside.

"Parents," Max called, "you have to meet my friend."

"I don't have to do anything, Maxine," Vanessa teased, coming out of the kitchen and wiping her hands on her apron. The fact that her parents wore matching aprons when they cooked together was one of those little things Max thought played a part in 'good marriage.' "Hi, honey, I'm Vanessa."

"Hello," Victoria held out her hand, "I'm Victoria Chase."

"Nice to meet you, Victoria Chase," Vanessa giggled, taking her hand. "Do you have a last name?"

Oooh, mom burn! The most deadly of all.

"Uh..." Victoria's mouth drew into a straight line and she exhaled from her nose. "That was weird, wasn't it?"

"A little," Chloe said, flicking her finger through Victoria's hair.

"We're rubbing off on you," Max added, then followed Vanessa into the kitchen. "Dad, this is Victoria."

"Hey there," he said, not immediately looking up as he chopped vegetables. Once he had finished, he properly turned to greet her. "Ryan," he said, shaking her hand.

"I didn't get a handshake," Chloe said, feigning a pout to Vanessa.

"You would have been so worried if that's all we gave you," she responded.

"That's...well, you got me there," Chloe laughed. "I'd be like, 'oh my god, they don't want to hug me!' and probably cry in my truck for a half hour."

"Hmm," Max turned to her, "we've never shaken hands before. I want to see." She extended her hand.

"Ooh, okay," Chloe took it, then locked her knees and conjured a confused expression, "now what!? I don't understand!"

"I think we're supposed to...move?" Max wiggled her elbow, keeping her hand in place.

Heheh, this isn't even how you do it.

"I really hope you're not rubbing off on me," Victoria said, watching with a sad look in her eyes. She turned to Vanessa. "Your home is lovely. Thank you so much for inviting me for dinner."

"Oh, of course!" Vanessa took a spot next to Ryan and started handling a knife. "Any friend of Max's is more than welcome. Did you bring a change of clothes?"

"Yeah, my bag's in the car," she said.

"Want me to grab it?" Chloe asked. Victoria looked her up and down.

Aw, so helpful.

"Oh, that'd be nice, actually," she said. "Backseat. I'll unlock it."

"Cool, bee-arr-bee," Chloe said, prancing off.

Once she heard the door close, Victoria went to the window by the door and beckoned Max to join her. She waited until Chloe was leaning in the backseat, then pressed a button on her key fob, sparking the car alarm. Chloe jolted, smacking the back of her head on the top of the car.

"Don't fuck with me," Victoria said, grinning.

"She just keeps talking about how Easter is on the 20th this year," Vanessa said, plunging her fork into a piece of chicken. "She's so excited about it."

"Wow," Max said, crinkling her brow, "Grandma is...really full of surprises these days."

"She's been looking up all these baking recipes," Vanessa chuckled with a shake of her head.

"Heh, should get Max to send her the one she used," Victoria added, swaying back and forth happily as she ate.

Oh, what? Victoria!

"Dude." Max hissed, whacking Victoria in the shoulder much harder than she intended. She looked her mother in the eyes and pursed her lips. Then to her father, who only looked back, subduing a smile.

"Sorry," Victoria muttered.

"Speaking of full of surprises," Vanessa said. "Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?"

"Still...still your little girl," Max answered, blushing as she looked down.

"I'd like to..." Chloe circled her hands around each other, "just cut this one off at the root and say please still let me sleep here."

"We have a tent you could pitch out back," Ryan snarked.

"That's fine," Chloe said, relaxing, "I know how to make fire."

Metaphorically as well.

"Changing subjects," Max said quickly, "how about this food, right? It's very edible."

"It actually is delicious," Victoria said, "thank you again."

Thank you for playing along.

"No problem," Vanessa said with a smile. "Max tells me you're a photographer as well? Your parents own the Chase Space?"

"Yes," Victoria nodded, "I'd like to become a professional. I've wanted to for as long as I can remember."

"She's really good," Max added, then smiled impishly, "she's my rival."

"Max is better," Chloe said, sticking her tongue through her teeth as she smiled at Victoria.

"You have to say that," Victoria pointed her fork at Chloe, "I bet you Kate would say mine are."

Pfft, dream on!

"I don't even know if that's true, honestly," Max snickered. "Not that she doesn't think it, but that she might be too much of a pacifist to actually say it. No matter how much you kiss up on her."

"Kate Marsh?" Ryan asked, letting out an 'ahh' as he set down his glass of wine.

"Yeah," Chloe responded, "she and Victoria are an item. Like...probably rare but not quite epic?" She looked to Max for her assessment.

You're playing too much WoW.

"Oh, I didn't know that," he said, then smiled knowingly, "so, your best friends are also a girl-girl couple."

"It's kind of their fault?" Victoria laughed, "I've never been with a girl before and...and Kate definitely hasn't but these two managed to shake everything up enough that it just kind of happened." She looked back and forth, somewhat surprised. "I've never talked about this to adults before."

"We're adults!" Chloe argued.

"Ehh..." Max flattened her hand and turned it left and right.

"Well, I'm glad you feel comfortable with us," Vanessa said. "It's nice to know everything's going well in the romance department!"

"Yeah..." Victoria frowned, then regarded Vanessa thoughtfully. "Did Max tell you guys about when she met Kate's parents?" Max sighed from beside her.

You are hitting all the wrong notes here, Vic.

"I don't think so?" Vanessa said, turning to Max.

"It didn't...go well," she responded, "Kate's family is super religious. Her mom screamed at me and basically told us we were demons."

"What?" Ryan's face contorted angrily. "Are you serious?"

"It wasn't awesome," Chloe added with a sad nod. "They're real big on the whole...fuck rainbow flags thing." She sucked in a sharp breath and banged her hand on the table. "I am so bad at not cursing!"

"It's fine, Chloe," Vanessa chuckled. She looked back to Max with a serious expression. "Her mom really freaked on you guys?"

Freaked out is putting it lightly.

"Yeah," Max said, "like, it was this huge thing. Kate didn't talk to her mom for almost a month."

"That's terrible!" Vanessa said. Then, with a spark of realization, she regarded Victoria with pity. "So her parents don't know."

"Nope," Victoria confirmed, slouching in her seat. "I understand, but I don't really know how long it's supposed to be a secret."

"Fuck. Them," Ryan said, his voice deep and pointed. Chloe smiled and pointed at him, as if to say 'aha!' He sighed and ran a hand through his beard. "I know it's not that simple, but...god is that infuriating."

"I'm sure when the time is right, it'll all work out," Vanessa said. "I know it all sounds like parent mumbo-jumbo, but love tends to find a way."

"Love..." Victoria mused, then looked back at Vanessa. "Thanks. I hope so."

"So like, what did you guys do here for fun?" Chloe asked, lying on the bed as she tossed a plush softball to herself. "There had to have been a...thing?"

"I don't know," Victoria replied, pulling on a loose fitting T-shirt to act as pajamas, "I mean, my friends and I would chill at the mall a lot."

Ah, yes. The mall loiterers. An invasive species.

"I didn't do a ton," Max said, sitting on a little alcove by the window, "you know, mostly home stuff." She looked at Victoria. "Do you keep in touch with any of your friends from here?"

"Not really," Victoria admitted, "kind of just fell off from each other once I left. It can be hard to keep contact." Max scowled and glanced at Chloe, then guiltily looked down into her lap.

Ouch.

"Well, I'm sure we're way cooler than your lame Seattle friends," Chloe said, kindly ignoring the awkwardness of Victoria's statement. She sat upright and tossed the ball at the girl's head. "Right?"

"Surprisingly, yes," Victoria chuckled, picking the ball up and throwing it back. She came and sat next to Chloe on the bed and leaned into her. "It's going to suck when we graduate. Have you guys thought about that at all?"

"No..." Max frowned, "I think I've been purposely ignoring it. It's going to be weird."

"Yeah," Victoria nodded, "it's cool that most of you guys will still be in Arcadia Bay for the summer but..." she crossed her arms and pouted with sincerity, "I guess I'd be coming back here?"

That...really kind of blows.

"I mean, we can visit each other," Chloe offered, nudging Victoria, "we don't have to do the falling off thing. The distance isn't that far. I don't even know why you fly, honestly. It probably takes the same amount of time with all the airport shit."

"It really might," Victoria said, "I don't know, driving that far by myself seems kind of lonely. At least in a plane you're surrounded by other people." She looked between Max and Chloe. "Promise we won't drift apart?"

"Promise," Max said, finding a bit of comfort in being able to say and mean it.

A small sliver of repentance.

"Okay..." Victoria smiled. All at once, their phones chirped with a text message, but Victoria was the only one who had hers on hand. "From Katie," she said, then quirked an eyebrow when she opened the message. "It says 'I love him so much!' and its a picture of Warren petting a dog?" She faced the phone toward Chloe and a strangled, surprised sound escaped from her throat.

"What the fuck?" she asked, tearing the phone out of Victoria's hands. "Max... You need to see this."

Nice to hear Kate and Warren are keeping each other company.

"What is it?" Max came over to Chloe and peered down at the phone, instantly muttering 'oh my god.'

"What is with you two?" Victoria asked.

"This dog is..." Chloe shook her head and handed the phone back, then got up to get her own. "His name's Pompidou. He belongs to Frank Bowers."

"Are you serious?" Victoria glanced between them for confirmation.

Kaaaate, what are you doing?

"As a fucking heart attack," Chloe responded. She pressed on her phone a few times, then held it out in front of her as the dial tone rang on speaker.

"Chloe?" Kate's voice came through the receiver.

"Uh, hey Pumpkin," she said, her face tightened up in uncertainty, "we got your picture..."

"Yeah! Pompidou is so cute!" Kate said. There was the sound of a familiar, gruff voice in the background, followed by Kate answering "Chloe."

"Kate," Max said slowly, reflecting Chloe's expression perfectly, "I'm sure you can understand why this is a little...surprising to us."

"I guess so, yes," Kate replied, "I wanted to talk to him." Chloe flailed her hand as if to say 'no shit.'

"Hi, sweetie," Victoria said, her voice kind as she shook her head with exasperation.

That's not a good look...

"Oh! Hi, Vic! You at Max's?" she asked.

"Yep..." Victoria hesitated, "is everything alright?"

"Yes, everything is okay," Kate said calmly. The sound of a button beep could be heard, and the background noise became a little clearer.

"Hey guys!" Warren's voice sprang through the phone.

As cheery and oblivious as always.

"Hey Warren," Max snickered, clapping a hand to her face, "what's up, dude?"

"Nah, nothing. Kate wanted a lift to Frank's..." he laughed at something only he could see, "he's pretty cool."

"Yeah," Chloe said, still staring into the floor with shock. "Uh...well, I guess we just wanted to check up on you. Make sure everyone was okay."

"Thanks guys," Kate said, "we're all okay. Promise."

"Cool, cool," Chloe responded, "we'll let you go."

"Bye Katie," Victoria said, flopping back onto the bed with a sigh.

"Bye guys!" Kate replied, and the call was ended.

"Fucking plot twist," Chloe said, dragging a hand through her hair.

Shyamalan strikes again.

"Seriously, what the hell is that?" Max asked, then turned to look at Victoria.

"I cannot believe she did that without telling me!" she growled, pounded a fist into the mattress. "What if it didn't go as well as it did?"

"I mean, I don't really think there was too much to worry about," Chloe said, trying on her soothing tone. "Frank like, loves Kate and from what Max said, she doesn't hold any ill will toward him."

"That is not the point!" Victoria hissed, sitting upright. "Why doesn't she tell me when she makes these big decisions?!"

"I'm not sure she knows she's supposed to," Max said, shaking her head. "You have to remember how inexperienced she is."

"It seems kind of fucking obvious," Victoria responded.

"So..." Chloe sighed, "I guess you didn't talk to her about this yet, then?" Victoria stared at her for a moment, then looked down. "Dude, you have to tell her that this is bothering you. Seriously."

Funny the theme of trying to protect each other only causing more problems. Funny. Ha. Ha.

"I know..." her head drooped backwards, "I know. I know."

"You're sort of enabling it, at this point," Max added. "I know that sounds harsh."

"I have to do it when we get back," Victoria said, nodding to herself with reassurance, "I can't take this anymore."

"Uh..." Max joined them on the bed, cradling her elbow nervously, "how are you feeling about the whole 'just friends' thing?"

"Oh, that," Victoria chuckled joylessly, "I don't even know what to do with that." Max and Chloe exchanged a sober look, then Chloe wrapped her arm around Victoria.

"It'll be okay," she said, "you guys are way too fucking cute together for it to not be." She narrowed her eyes for a moment, then began typing on her phone. "I'm texting Frank to call me when they leave. I want to hear what happened."

"Good idea," Max said. She leaned forward to look at Victoria. "You okay, Vic?"

"Is there some place I can smoke?" she asked. "I need a cig like a motherfucker."

"Yeah," Chloe said, standing up and patting Victoria on the knee, "I've been walking to the corner of the street. I could use one too." She smiled at Max. "See you in five? Or ten depending on how many she needs?"

"Sounds good," Max replied, smiling as Chloe bent down to meet her lips.

As Max walked into the living room where her parents were, she shot Warren a quick text to get his take on the encounter. With a sigh, she plopped down on the loveseat and leaned back.

Well, this is an out of left field development.

"Where does Chloe keep sneaking off to?" Ryan asked, not taking his eyes off the television. He brought brought several chips to his mouth, crunching them loudly.

"Smoking," Max replied. "She doesn't want to do it near the house."

"That's thoughtful of her," Vanessa said with a smile. She held the bag of chips out. "Want any?"

"Yeah, sure," Max said, getting up and dipping her hand into the bag. "What are you guys watching?" she asked as she chewed.

"Orphan Black," she responded, "we're catching up on some episodes. Have you seen it?" Max shook her head. "You should check it out, it's really good."

"I'll look into it," Max said, sitting back down and eating another chip.

"What are you girls going to do tonight?" Ryan asked.

"I don't know, probably watch a movie or something." She smirked. "Gossip?" Vanessa turned back to her with big eyes.

Knew that'd grab her attention.

"Really!?" she asked, "can I come!?"

"Prrrobably not," Max laughed. Vanessa snickered in response, not expecting any other answer.

"We have ice cream in the freezer if you guys want some," Ryan said, pointing over his shoulder to the kitchen. "Hot fudge to go with, too."

"That sounds kind of tasty," Max giggled. The sight of her parents snuggled closely together on the couch filled her chest with something warm, especially when comparing it to Victoria's situation. "You guys are really great, you know that?"

"Yes," Ryan responded.

Thanks, Dad.

"It's nice to hear, though!" her mother added, winking in her direction.

"How long are you guys going to stay for graduation?" Max asked.

"Not sure, maybe a few days?" Vanessa said. "It'll be nice being back in Arcadia Bay. I miss it. Seattle lacks the..." she moved her hand in search of the right word, "magic?"

"Mmn," was as all Max could say in response. She heard the door open and craned her neck over the the back of the loveseat, watching as Chloe and Victoria came in. "Hey."

"Heeeey babygirl," Chloe said, bending down to give her a kiss on the forehead, "talked to Frank while we were out there."

"How was that?" she asked, sitting back upright and turning in her seat.

"It was fine," Chloe answered. She put a hand on Victoria's shoulder. "She's calmed down now too."

"Everything alright?" Max's mother asked.

"Yes, sorry, Mrs. Caulfield," Victoria responded. "Uh...marital problems." Vanessa snorted.

"I can relate," she said, speaking through the corner of her mouth in a comedic fashion, elbowing Ryan in the side.

"Love you too," Ryan replied dryly. "I was telling Max there's ice cream if you guys wanted."

"Oh god," Victoria said, placing her hands on her stomach, "I need ice cream more than anything else in the world right now."

"I can relate," Vanessa repeated in the same exact cadence as before.

"I'm a koala bear," Victoria chuckled, her arms and legs wrapped around a giant pillow she'd stolen from Max's bed.

"You have chlamydia?" Chloe asked, cackling as she ducked the pillow being thrown at her.

"What movie?" Max asked, dragging a CD booklet across the floor and unzipping it. "I'm no Warren but I have some good stuff." Victoria crawled over to get a look.

"You own Eraserhead?" she asked with laughter.

"Of course I do," Max responded, sticking her nose up snootily.

What kind of pretentious person do you take me for?

"I imagine this is just filled with artsy shit," Chloe snickered, scooting next to Max.

"Maybe a little," she admitted, turning the pages.

"Not Eraserhead," Victoria said adamantly, then planted her hands behind her, "other than that, I don't care."

"Lemme pick one at random." Chloe yanked the booklet to her. She covered her eyes and flipped through several pages, then jabbed her finger down. When she opened them, she snirked. "Beauty and the Beast it is."

Artsy...right.

"Stockholm Syndrome: The Movie," Victoria snarked, "sure, let's do it."

"I'm going to sing all the songs, just to warn you," Max giggled, crawling to her television and slipping the disc into her DVD player.

Following through on her threat, Max sang along with each musical number. About halfway through, they finally decided to satiate Victoria's lust for ice cream and each made themselves a sizable bowl drenched with hot fudge. To Chloe's delight, not even a mouthful of ice cream stopped Max from humming along to the songs. Upon finishing the film, Max reclined onto the floor and smiled.

"I like how Gaston probably gets impaled and everyone's just kind of cool with it," she said.

"Seriously, Disney movies are so fucked up," Victoria respond, an eyebrow raised as she watched the credits scroll on the screen. "Didn't the hunter guy in Tarzan hang himself by accident and you could just see his swinging body?"

Oh yeah, that one was...rough.

"Hella rad," Chloe laughed. She thought something over, then smirked. "I wish Sean Prescott had a Disney villain death."

Woah.

"Chloe..." Max looked at her uncomfortably, "I know we hate him but...that seems kind of wrong."

"Fuck that, the bastard should rot," Victoria spat. "I almost wish he never had a chance to get arrested. Hope he slips and breaks his neck."

"Jesus, that's dark," Max said.

"Or like," Chloe giggled, "what if he was just being all pompous and...Prescott-y and the sheer evil inside of him made his head explode!" She threw her arms out. "Pop!"

"Toss Jefferson in there, too," Victoria replied with a scathing tone.

Alright, maybe him.

"Okay, that one...is a little harder to defend," Max admitted. Though she thankfully didn't think about it too often, the memory of her time in The Dark Room still hung from her ribs in a nauseous swirl whenever it did come to mind.

"Absolutely him too," Chloe added, her own voice crackling with fire. Max reached hand beside her and took Chloe's.

"Do you think we can do a Ouija board or séance or something to curse them?" Victoria asked.

"I actually own a Ouija board," Max laughed. "I mean, it's my dad's but..."

"Holy shit, get it!" Chloe hopped up and down.

What, seriously?

"Alright, alright," Max chuckled. "Would you like me to procure a spooky candle as well?"

"Yes, please!" Victoria said, "and fill me up on ice cream?" She held the bowl out, wielding massive puppy eyes.

"Anything else, mistress?" Max mocked, eying the girl was a straight face.

"I'll ring my bell if I think of anything," she responded with a smile.

"Who should we call?" Victoria asked, licking her spoon.

"Jimi Hendrix," Chloe said matter-of-factly, pantomiming playing a guitar, "I would like to speak with him regarding Purple Haze."

"Cool," Max said, waving the match to put it out, "that sounds like a good use of the paranormal."

"Um, does it not to you?" Chloe asked. "Are we breaking up right now?"

"Yeah," Max replied casually, "later, bitch."

"Marilyn Monroe," Victoria said, "we should figure out how she died."

That one's not half bad.

"Fell down a manhole, I thought?" Chloe said, looking at Victoria with confusion. The girl leered back at her.

"You two," Max grumbled. She placed the planchette on the board. "Are my friends super lame?" She gasped as she slowly moved it to the 'yes' lettering.

"Oh, it's busted," Chloe pouted. She waved Max's hands away and took control. "Am I going to get hella rich?"

"It's not a fucking Magic 8-Ball," Victoria laughed. Chloe furrowed her brow grumpily and stared at her as she moved it to 'yes.'

"Sick, maybe it's not broken," Chloe said happily, then she looked at Max. "Why does your dad even have this?"

You should see the random stuff he has in the attic...

"He's a weirdo?" Max giggled.

"Let's call Oscar Wilde," Victoria suggested, "I bet he has some interesting things to say about the afterlife."

"Fine, sure," Max said, rolling her eyes, "put your damn hands on the thing." Once they did, she cleared her throat. "Oh, Oscar Wilde, uh..." she squinted, "what's up?" Their hands collectively glided to a B then an A, followed by P and O.

"Bapo," Chloe said, then she lurched across the board and bopped Victoria on the nose. "Bapo!"

"Maybe that's Irish slang for 'just chilling,'" Max mused. She motioned for Chloe to put her hand back on the planchette and closed her eyes. "Are you in heaven or hell?"

"That seems like a rude question," Victoria said, glancing at Max as they moved the planchette. It moved to C then R then U then finished with M, F, and I. "Crumfi..." Victoria pondered. "Well, that kind of sounds like comfy. Maybe that means heaven?"

Maybe clouds are so comfortable they had to make a new word.

"Ha!" Chloe pointed to nowhere in particular, "I knew sodomy wasn't a sin!"

"Hmm...let's see," Max said, thinking it over, "what is my favorite color?" She smiled impishly, "I don't really even know, so it's a trick question." Again, they dragged the planchette. W. E. L. R. M. Q.

"Welermk," Chloe chuckled, "maybe that's a color only fish can see."

"Well, it's my new favorite," Max laughed.

"I got one," Victoria said. "How about 'will Max and Chloe keep their promise that we'll all meet up no matter the distance?'"

Vic...

"Dude, really?" Max asked, frowning.

"You have to allow me some level of insecurity," Victoria argued, holding out her hand.

"Fine," Max said. "Will Chloe and I keep our promise to get together with Victoria no matter what?" Chloe snickered as the planchette slid across the board. S. K. H. H. U. D. J. I.

"Skoody," she said. "Skoody, that's yes in ghost language."

"Good enough?" Max asked, eying Victoria with sincerity.

"Alright, yes," Victoria laughed. She pulled her phone out and scrunched her lips together in concentration.

"What's up?" Max asked.

"Just sending a goodnight text," Victoria replied.

"Aww, Dicktoria is so cute," Chloe teased, once again leaning across the board and tapping her nose. "Bapo!"

"I think we're good on that," Victoria said, "no more bapo."

"Deal," Chloe chuckled. "Hey, wanna see something cool?" She licked her thumb and index finger, then pinched the flame of the candle, putting it out.

"Woah, badass," Max said with feigned awe, "you're basically a superhero."

"Flame Woman," Chloe nodded, holding her hands out like claws, "I am a vigilante."

"The name needs work," Victoria laughed, setting her phone down. "Man, I'm kind of beat."

"Yeah, same," Max said. She reached behind her and yanked the blankets from her bed.

Must be warm cocoon.

"You don't have to sleep on the floor with me," Victoria snickered. Max glanced at Chloe, then back to Victoria.

"We do," she said seriously. Victoria's eyes went wide, then she nodded slowly.

"Is your impulse control that bad?" she asked Chloe.

"Impulse what?" Chloe replied, coiling the blanket around herself. "I've never heard of that."

"Please don't let me wake up to the sound of..." she made a look of disgust, "whatever the sounds would be."

"Yeah, I promise," Max laughed. "Hands above the covers."

A/N: Alright, right off the bat I'll admit I stretched the Ouija board thing, but it was something my friends and I would do and I had a lot of fun writing it. A bit of self indulgence, if you'll allow it :p

So, yeah, pretty chill and goofy chapter! It's interesting to use Max's parents in the context of actually being "on screen," I'm enjoying that. I'm thinking maybe one more chapter covering this spring break with the Caulfields and then we'll move on back to Arcadia Bay. Don't worry though, it won't be the last we see of the Caulfields.

As always, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it! I'll see you guys for the next chapter!