For what may have been the first time in her life, Max found that spring break didn't go by too fast or too slow. It somehow felt like just the right pace and she was happy to say that, aside from Chloe's troubles on their first night, she had enjoyed every moment of the vacation. It seemed that Chloe also felt this way, which was a relief. She loved watching her interact with her parents and seeing just how perfectly they got along. With how welcomed she was in the Price household, it felt wonderful to know the reverse was also true. She was acutely aware of how lucky she was to have this, especially given Victoria and Kate's situation. It seemed like just another possible conflict she and Chloe were able to skip over by some stroke of luck. Maybe they'd earned that much.
Though it wasn't something that was planned outright, she grew to really appreciate the somewhat set schedule they had been keeping during their time in Seattle. In the day, she and Chloe would go sightseeing or do various tourist-y things, and then come home just around the time her parents got off from work so that the four of them could spend time together. This usually took the shape of something low key and free of stress, such as watching a movie or playing board games. It all felt very...domestic, but in a way that was very much welcome.
In fact, the only real time any sort of heart rate was required to increase was when Max's grandmother visited. This of course sent Chloe into a spiral of endearing anxiety, but Max would be lying if she said it didn't worry her as well. Even her mother and father seemed to have formulated something of a strategy to smoothly reveal that she and Chloe were dating.
To her grandmother's credit, when all was said and done she didn't really seem phased by the news, though it was concerning at first that she simply had trouble understanding the concept as a sign of sheer ignorance. Still, once she had grasped it, she merely nodded and said 'okay!' before moving on to another topic. It was like she just didn't care, opting to actually speak with the girls than linger on details. She was attentive too, making sure to disperse her 'tell me about how things are going' questions evenly between Max and Chloe. Max could even see Chloe physically relax as she accepted the traditional grandma peace offering of baked goods – luckily without any special ingredients.
Now, it was the last night they'd be spending in Seattle before leaving the next morning. Since they had gone out to dinner the previous night, which seemed like the proper way to 'end' their visit, they were free to spend the night with yet another casual and intimate evening together, strengthening the bonds that had grown over the last two weeks. Though, they had managed to stumble into a rather awkward activity to send things off.
"Ummm, okay," Vanessa said, the tremor of giggles lodged in her throat as she flipped a black card over. "What made my first kiss so awkward?" Her head drooped backward and she squawked. "Real nice, I'm sure this will be PG!"
"Yes, let's make sure we're all being a wholesome family," Max snickered as she poured wine into her glass. "No underage drinking or anything scandalous."
Pinot Noir, my most favorite friend.
"Figured since it's the last night," Ryan said with a smile, tipping his beer to Chloe. She returned the gesture happily. "Alright, let's see here..." He took a quick swig then set the bottle down, shuffling through his cards.
Do I have any good ones? Hmm. Ha! "Actually getting shot, for real." A little on the nose, but okay.
"Got mine," Max said, sliding her face down card onto the table.
"You know what actually made my first kiss awkward?" Vanessa asked, wiggling her eyebrows with the anticipation of a story within her.
"What?" Chloe turned to her with a big, greedy smile. She slammed a card on the table. "Probably not as bad as my card."
"So, I was about...fifteen, I think? It was Valentine's Day," Vanessa said, flitting her hands whimsically. "I was with this boy who, for the life of me, I can't remember his name. But it was our third date."
"Got it," Ryan put down his card. He leaned back and stared intently at Vanessa with a fake pout. "I wasn't your first?"
"Not with kissing, no," Vanessa's voice crackled in a gremlin-esque fashion. Max furrowed her brow.
Nope. Noooope.
"Oh god, can we not?" she begged. Ryan chuckled and awkwardly took another sip of his beer, avoiding eye contact with Max.
"Anyway," Vanessa said after a small gulp of wine, "we were at the movies. That much I remember. It was Footloose." She hunched down and smiled wickedly. "So, about halfway through the movie, he reaches for my cheek. Very slowly, he guided my face to his." She turned to Chloe, further slipping into her theatrical posture. "Like a proper gentleman, he looks me in the eyes, searching for any hesitation. Making sure that he and I are on the same page. Making sure the sparks are flying..." She waved a hand over her hand grandiosely. "And then, he leans in and our lips meet. It was magical. Then he thinks, maybe he'll take it one step further. He goes...for the tongue." Vanessa stuck her tongue out.
"Mom," Max protested, hovering her hands by her ears, "this is so gross."
"Shut the fuck up, Max," Chloe playfully scolded, tapping her foot against Max's shin under the table, "it's so good." She turned back to Vanessa. "Then what happened!?"
So glad you've gotten comfortable enough to stop trying to hide your cursing, DARLING. Hmph.
"Then," she began, "then I remembered that I was chewing gum." She glanced at Ryan pridefully and sat back against her chair. "And I vividly remember the moment I no longer was chewing gum. And the moment when Scotty..." her eyes went wide, "that was his name! Scotty Marrens! Anyway, all of the sudden, he started to choke." She shook her head with a chuckle. "Really badly, actually. Even in the dark theater, I could see his big, bug eyes panicking. So, I..." She hesitated and buried her face in her hands, "punched him. In the chest."
"You did what?" Ryan asked, completely aghast.
"Punched him!" she repeated, throwing a fist in front of her. "I thought that'd clear his air passage." She shrugged. "Nope, it sure didn't. But he hacked up the gum a few seconds later, groaning in pain from my deadly karate moves, so I guess it did work."
Holy crap, Mom.
"Holy shit..." Ryan said quietly. "Poor guy."
"That's the greatest story I've ever heard," Chloe said, looking upon Vanessa with reverence.
"I think it's pretty good," she laughed. "Haven't thought about it in forever. Needless to say, there wasn't a fourth date." With a pleasant sigh, she turned her head and shuffled the cards in front of her.
"Can't imagine why," Max said. "He probably thought you were going to kill him."
"That sounds preposterous," Vanessa replied. "Okay, what made my first kiss so awkward? Let's see what you guys came up with..." Looking back, she flipped the first white card. "Exactly what you'd expect." Everyone giggled as she nodded to the card as if to say 'well...' She turned over another. "Actually getting shot, for real." Again, they laughed and she revealed the third card. "Oh my god," she howled, rolling her eyes, "shitting all over the floor like a bad, bad girl!" Ryan lurched forward, clapping a hand to his mouth to stop any beer from spraying out as his body convulsed with laughter. "Well, I guess I have to pick that one..."
I didn't even know my parents could use those words in that order. This is surreal.
"Yes!" Chloe pumped her fist victoriously and dragged the cards toward her. "It's mah turn!" She picked up a black card. "I may not look like much, but I fuck like..." she threw the card onto the floor beside her, "nope, I'm not doing that one." She drew yet another. "Nothing says 'I love you' like..."
"Ha!" Vanessa squirmed in delight as she immediately placed a card down.
"That was fast," Ryan said, eying her suspiciously.
"It's a good one," she responded. Max pulled her eyes slowly away from her mother, preparing herself for something horrible.
What are my options this time... 'One of those blowjobs I've been hearing so much about.' OH MY GOD. Okay, either that of 'Being a motherfucking sorcerer.'
"Boom," Max said, throwing her card down. A second later, Ryan added his.
"Nothing says 'I love you' liiiiike..." Chloe repeated as she shuffled the cards, then flipped one over, "Running on a treadmill." She made a 'pfft' noise. "Nothing says 'I love you' like not making me exercise." She flipped another. "Farting all over my face with your tight little...ASSHOLE?!" She looked up in horror. "I don't even know who would be the least awkward to have played that!" With a terrified shake of her head, she turned over the final card, "Being a motherfucking sorcerer." After a brief moment of deliberation, she pointed to the last card. "This one. Sorcerers are dope."
Yusss!
"Baaaby!" Max cheered, hopping out of her chair to give Chloe a hug. "I knew you'd be impressed by my magic!"
"Of course," she replied, then narrowed her eyes at Max's parents, "who...did the fart one?"
"Me!" Vanessa cackled, raising her hand proudly. "I've been waiting for the right time to play that!"
"I...can't believe my girlfriend's mom made me say that," Chloe said as she stared forward with a traumatic look in her eyes.
"You should have seen some of my other cards," Vanessa responded with a wink.
After their game, which included even more outrageous and inappropriate things Max wished she'd never heard her parents say, they moved from the kitchen to the living room and settled into what had become 'their' spots.
"Do you girls want me to pack a lunch or anything for your drive tomorrow?" Vanessa asked, coming to sit next to Ryan on the couch with a bundle of yarn in one arm and two needles in the other hand. Chloe looked to Max for her answer, then shook her head.
"No, thank you," she said, "we'll probably stop somewhere on the ride."
"I can't believe the two weeks have passed already," Ryan said, his tone a bit deflated. "I'm going to miss you two."
Aww, Pop.
"I know," Max replied, "but we'll get to see each other again soon! And you'll be watching me walk to get my diploma!" She pressed her hands to her cheeks and smiled. "It's almost here! No more school for a little while!"
Yes! I'm so excited!
"We really are proud of you, sweetie," Vanessa said. She looked away for a moment, her lip tugging to the side awkwardly. "Have you thought about what you'll be doing after? Are you staying in Arcadia Bay?"
Oh. Hmm...
"Yeah..." Max answered, realizing she hadn't had this conversation with them yet. "That's the plan. I think, um, I think I'll probably be staying with Chloe."
"Hell yeah," Chloe added, burying her face into Max's shoulder, "roomies!"
"That's fine," Vanessa said, "but I'll have you know that we'd like to see you a little more often." She smiled. "If that means us coming down there, that's okay! We just miss you." She pointed at Chloe. "And now we're going to miss her! This is unfair."
"I'm so glad you guys like me, holy crap," Chloe chuckled. "But yeah, seriously. I'm not at all opposed to making this drive more often. It's way easier than I thought." She showed her teeth in a growling expression. "I could have driven up here so...many times..."
Babe, don't go there.
"Point is, we'll be back," Max interjected, squashing Chloe's sentence.
"Good," Ryan nodded, "we just don't want to go too long without our girls."
"More Skype calls too," Chloe suggested. She jerked upright. "Oh! And you'll totally have to come to The Two Whales to let me wait on you! You need to see my skills in action."
"That goes without saying," Vanessa laughed. "We have to get some tasty Two Whales food."
"I don't know how I'm not sick of their food yet," Max giggled, "I feel like I eat it every other day."
"You do," Chloe said seriously.
"It used to be the spot to hang out when we were your age," Ryan said. "Late at night, going in there with friends to get a milkshake or something. I loved it. Those were the days, man."
"It's still like that a little," Max responded. "We always end up going there in groups to harass Chloe." She thought for a moment. "I'll have to introduce you to my other friends! Victoria was probably the toughest pill to swallow, so it's smooth sailing from there."
"Aw, come on," Vanessa said, quirking her head with pity, "she was sweet. I really liked her."
"I'm only teasing," Max laughed, "it's like our thing. Pretending to be catty with each other."
"Pretending?" Chloe snarked.
"See?" Max gestured to Chloe, "catty." The girl made a paw with her hand and swiped it forward.
"As long as she knows," Vanessa said, "make sure you're not hurting her feelings." She began pulling the needle through the yarn masterfully.
Mom advice.
"Trust me, she does," Max assured, "she started it."
"She really did," Chloe added, then pointed at Vanessa. "What are you making?"
"Oh," she said, shrugging her shoulders, "not sure yet. It's just kind of a mindless thing to do."
"We have a lot of just...patches of yarn," Ryan laughed.
"Hey," Vanessa aimed a needle at him, "don't look a gift knitter in the yarn."
"That sounds like a riddle or something," Max snickered.
Idle chat carried them through the next few hours, with occasional silence to pay attention to the television. Around midnight, there was a collective decision to get some sleep and, after saying goodnight to her parents, Max and Chloe went up to her room.
"Ring, ding, ding, ding, dingeringeding!" Chloe sang, bouncing on her knees on the bed.
"That's what they say, huh?" Max asked, lying flat with her head on the pillow. Her finger swiped back and forth on her phone, her lips moving to the left and right as she focused.
"Yeah, I mean, probably," Chloe laughed, finally throwing herself into the mattress. "So, what time did you want to head out tomorrow?"
"I don't know, I was thinking around lunchtime?" Max muttered a 'dammit' under her breath and dropped her phone beside her. "I hate that game."
Seriously, fuck your dumb candy.
"That works," Chloe said, "that way we don't have to get up crazy early." She took hold of Max's hand and rested her cheek in it. "Crazy to be heading back, right?"
"A little, yeah," Max admitted. "But I miss everyone, so I'm looking forward to it."
"This summer we definitely need to come back up here, though," Chloe said. She flipped onto her back and wiggled her pants off. "It has a cool atmosphere, plus my second parents are very cool."
"Told you," Max chuckled, "and you were worried."
"Meh meh meh," Chloe mumbled, nipping at Max's ear. "You're just so fucking clairvoyant, ain't ya?"
"When it comes to you being a doofus, yeah, I am," Max shot back, throwing herself to the side so she rolled on top of Chloe.
"I resent such name calling," she said, smashing her pouting lips against Max's nose. She craned her neck around Max and 'oooh'd.' "Sweet, it lava'd. I love the first 'gloop' ball."
"You're really enamored by that, huh?" Max asked. "Now I know what to get you next Christmas."
"Oh, hell yes!" Chloe smiled wide.
It's cute how such little things can get you excited.
"Then it's a deal," Max snickered. She laid her cheek flat on Chloe's chest. "It's nice to have a starting point."
"And ten pictures!" Chloe laughed, attacking Max's side in tickles.
"Oh god, stop!" Max yelled, involuntarily spewing laughter. Chloe pulled her hands away, then gave her a quick kiss on the nose.
"Your laugh is just like, seriously the best," she said.
"Screw you, dude," Max replied.
"Oooh, okay," Chloe teasingly purred, "flat-head or Phillips?" Max raised her head and stared at her with raised eyebrows.
"Drill," she whispered, then exacted tickle revenge.
"Alright," Ryan said, bent down into the bed of the truck. He hooked a finger in one of the stretchy cables and tugged. "That should keep your things a little more secure." He stood back up and nodded.
"Thanks, Dad," Max said, leaning into him. She glanced at the ground, then back to him and her mother. "I think I feel a cry coming on."
Wasn't anticipating this. Noooo.
"Don't cry, sweetie," Vanessa chuckled, slinging an arm over her shoulders, "we'll see you again soon."
"I know," she said, "still..." She drew in a slow breath, and stretched her hands out at her side in a show of composing herself. "No crying." She looked behind her to see Chloe moving around on the other side of the truck, fidgeting with something in the driver's seat. "Babe? I think it's time to say bye."
"Uh huh, one sec," Chloe replied. Max noticed a strange quiver in her voice.
"Chlo..." she said, creeping around to her, "you okay?" Chloe spun around with a crazed look, her eyes glassy. "Oh, come on!" Max yelled, feeling her eyes well up. "Not fair!"
Dammit, Chloe!
"Allergies." Chloe pointed to her eyes, then hung her head as she laughed. "Yeah, right."
"Come on," Max said, shaking her head with a smile as she led Chloe back to her parents. She stopped and stared at them, her brow knitting together. "Please hug us and make us leave."
"Yes ma'am," Ryan laughed, pulling her into a hug. "We'll miss you."
"Very, very much," Vanessa tacked on as she embraced Chloe. "Give Joyce our love, okay?" She pecked Chloe on the top of the head.
"Uh huh," Chloe whimpered, then her and Max switched hug recipients.
"Drive safe and give us updates," Ryan said.
"Will do," Max responded. She wiped her eyes and smiled. "It's been awesome being back. I love you guys."
"Love you too," Vanessa said, then smirked at Chloe, "both of you."
"Ahhhh Jesus," Chloe shifted her feet, "I love you guys too. This is too emotional. I'm gonna throw up."
Ugh, no. Don't.
"This is like the least sad farewell I've ever had," Ryan chuckled, ruffling her hair.
"Not your call," Chloe mumbled, then stepped back and sighed. "Alright, alright. Let's go."
"Right," Max said. She exchanged two more quick hugs, then climbed into the truck. "We'll call you."
"Sounds good," Ryan said, putting his arm around Vanessa.
"Bye." Chloe gave one last sad wave, then joined Max in the truck. The engine groaned to life and they backed out of the driveway.
"Love ya!" Max called again, waving through the window as they started down the street.
"She has a pool..." Chloe mused as they pulled into the driveway. "I guess it's not quite nice enough to take a dip, huh?"
"The water's probably like sixty degrees, so I'd say no," Max laughed. She looked over the large, blue house with curiosity. "Blue...I guess that makes sense for them being all artsy." She waved her hand. "Anyway, I do think we should maybe go to the beach sometime this summer. That sounds fun, right? Wherever the best spot is for all the oceans. All of them." She narrowed her eyes. "Like, warm but not...pee warm, know what I'm saying?"
Pee warm is not ideal.
"Skoody," Chloe replied, then jammed her palm into the car horn. "Princess, your chariot is here!" she screamed through the open window. Before her following laughter could fade entirely, the front door opened and Victoria stepped out, hauling two bags with her.
Ah, our third.
"Need help?" Max asked, leaning out of the window.
"No, I've got it..." Victoria said, waddling to the truck, "just put it in the back?"
"Yeah," Chloe said, "there's some bungee cables to make sure nothing flies out on the ride." Victoria nodded and continued to the bed. "It's time like these I wish I had a backseat," Chloe said to Max.
"We'll be fine," Max chuckled, "we can stop to stretch our legs if we need to."
"Or make her sit in the bed," Chloe snickered. Max rolled her head side to side as if debating, then opened the door before unbuckling and scooting closer to Chloe.
Probably a couple laws forbidding that.
"Are your parents home?" Max asked as Victoria climbed in. "I've always wondered what the Chase family is like."
"Nope, they're at work or something," Victoria responded, clicking her seat belt into place, "I said bye to them last night."
"Damn, wanted to get a glimpse," Chloe said, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. "Oh well, maybe at your guys' graduation."
"Probably, yeah," Victoria relaxed against the headrest, "I'm sure it'll be a grand ol' time." She turned to them. "Hey, thanks for offering to take me with you."
"No problem," Chloe threw the truck into reverse and backed out, "it'll be fun. Max and I love singing road songs. Like ninety-nine bottles of percs on the wall." Victoria opened the door, causing a warning beep to spring from the dashboard.
"Okay bye," she said, laughing as Max yanked her back in.
Get back here!
"I do not allow such nonsense," Max assured, pulling one leg underneath her and squirming to fit as comfortably as possible. "The road songs or jumping out of moving vehicles."
"Buzzkill," Chloe pouted, then turned to look through the back window, "and awaaay we go!"
"I brought a few snacks," Victoria said, rifling through the small back she had kept with her, "if it's okay to eat in here."
"Yeah, clearly cleanliness is something I've got a hard-on for," Chloe laughed, pointing to the roof of the cab, "I don't even know how that stain got up there or what it is, but it's accompanied me for like two years now."
I've been wondering what that is.
"That's kind of gross," Victoria said, staring up at it in disgust. "Well, anyway..." She tore open a bag of Bugles and then held it out for Max.
"Witch fingahs," she said, placing two on her fingertips. Without taking her eyes off the road, Chloe moved her head toward her with her mouth open, and Max placed one finger in her mouth. "You know, there's something very calming about being on the highway. Just a straight line of...chill."
"It does have a certain...rhythm to it," Victoria agreed.
"Oh, you piece of fuck!" Chloe shouted, swerving into the next lane as a car rumbled past them. Max smiled when the girl instinctively threw an arm across her chest.
Aw, my extra seat belt.
"Jinxed it," Max feigned a pout.
"Wow, fuck that guy," Victoria grumbled, taking out her phone, "I'm taking down his tags." She narrowed her eyes at the car. "3864- aaand it's gone."
"Are you seriously that kind of person?" Chloe laughed. "Tattletale, tattletale."
"They could kill somebody!" she argued. "I mean, seriously, can you imagine how fucked up a car wreck could be?"
Errr.
"Mmn," was all Chloe could vocalize, puckering her lips as she stared through the windshield. Max glanced to her, then decided to take the chance on whether or it'd be okay to talk about.
"Chloe's dad," Max said, her lip quirking sadly, "that's how...eh, you know."
"Oh god," Victoria pressed a hand to her heart with wide eyes, "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"It's cool," Chloe responded. "Your assessment was correct, at least. Car wrecks aren't great. Pretty much the opposite."
"Did, uh..." Victoria paused, "did they get the other driver?"
"He didn't survive either," Chloe said casually, "lost half his face on the pavement, I think."
I didn't know that, I don't think.
"Jesus," Victoria blew air through her lips and thudded back against the seat, "I really wish I got the rest of that guy's plate."
"Yeah," Chloe said, then slapped her hand on the steering wheel, "anyway, I'd like some more Bugles."
More Bugles, less sad.
"Here, babe." Max brought a handful to Chloe's mouth and the girl chomped into them, not unlike feeding an animal. "So, this is lighthearted..." She turned the knob on the stereo, escalating the volume. She turned to Victoria and made devil horns.
"What is this?" she asked.
"It's called 'Victoria Doesn't Know Good Music,'" Chloe responded with a grin.
"I do too," she scoffed.
"They're called The Antlers," Max laughed, "this mix is mine."
"I like it," Victoria said after a moment of thought. Max put her thumbs to her temples and stretched her fingers, mimicking antlers. Victoria smirked and once again reached into her bag, taking out her camera. She nodded for Max to continue the gesture, and snapped a photo.
That's new. She's never wanted to take a photo of us before.
"I feel honored to be a Victoria Chase subject," Max giggled, lowering her hands.
"As you should," she replied, "it's not every day I bestow such an honor."
"You've seriously lost all your thorns, you know that?" Chloe chuckled, "I don't know if it's Kate or what, but you're such a softie now."
"Oh fuck you, whore," Victoria snipped, bringing out a proud nod from Chloe in response.
Good try, Vic!
"It lacks authenticity," Max said. "No punch."
"And fuck you as well," she added.
"Like getting punched with a pillow." Max softly pressed her fist into Victoria's shoulder. "Pillow punch."
"Fine," Victoria huffed, going to work on her phone, "I'm texting Warren that we're playing Smash when we get home. I'll show you a pillow punch."
While Chloe leaned against her truck, watching as the numbers soared higher as the gas filled her tank, Max and Victoria meandered through the convenience store. Max walked down the snack aisle, silently judging which were good and which she disliked. Once she reached the end, she swung around to the next aisle and found Victoria looking over a small stuffed animal.
"Whatcha got?" Max asked, coming to stand beside her.
"For Kate," Victoria replied, holding it out. It was a tiny, white rabbit.
It's a little Alice!
"Oh, she'll love that! It's so cute!" Max perused through the display of animals, picking up an owl. "So, when are you going to have your big talk with her?"
"I don't know," Victoria sighed, "I want to tonight but it feels shitty to come home and spring that on her right away. I mean, I did miss her. I'd rather have a night of...being back together."
"Er...yeah," Max said, "I get that, but it also sucks to keep procrastinating." She picked up a cat with gigantic eyes. "Look at this guy."
What have you been doing that your eyes are so dilated, Mr. Kitty?
"He's cute too," Victoria said. "And I do know. I feel kind of like time's running out with prom coming up. I really..." a flicker of irritation ran through her features, "I really don't want to do this whole pretend to be just friends thing. That's such bullshit."
"I know," Max nodded, "I know. That sucks." She snickered and put the stuffed animal down. "You know, that was the first time I ever wanted to really punch someone in the mouth. Her mom, I mean."
"You should have," Victoria responded.
Brawl in the Marsh household.
"Yeah, that would've gone over well." Max shrugged. "At least Abby is on our side and...maybe her dad? I don't know how he'll react to his daughter being with a girl but he at least seems willing to try and understand."
"Why did I have to fall for the girl with the insane, religious family?" Victoria asked, smacking a hand to her face. "I fucking hate my heart sometimes."
"You do enjoy taking the difficult path, huh?" Max laughed.
"Fuck the yellow brick road, I'm gonna skip through the briar patch!" Victoria said, enthusiastically swinging her arm with a thumbs up.
"Should've said marsh," Max snirked, picking up another animal.
"Yo," Chloe called, coming up to them with her arms out, "I've been waiting out there for like five minutes! The hell are you two doing?"
"Do you want one of these?" Max asked, ignoring the question and pointing at the display of stuffed animals.
"I want you guys in the truck!" she laughed, snaking her arm around Max's shoulders.
"Sorry," Victoria said, "we got wrapped up in 'real talk.' Let me just pay for this and get a pack of cigarettes and I'll be out."
"You got three minutes," Chloe said, holding up three fingers as she escorted Max to the exit, "or we leave without you."
"Oh wow." Max pointed at the sign with gas prices on it. "The prices are way cheaper here than home."
"How much you want to bet that's another Prescott touch?" Chloe asked, following Max's finger with her eyes.
"There's no way he can affect gas prices like that," Max responded. She stopped as she grabbed the handle of the door and raised an eyebrow. "Right?"
"Wouldn't even," Chloe grunted as she hopped over the edge of the truck bed, then down off the other side, "be surprised." She yanked open her door.
"You make it sound like he's the entire economy of Arcadia Bay," she snickered, though it lacked joy.
Scary thought.
"Your dad made it seem that way," she replied. "He was talking all kinds of mad shit that one night." She clicked her seat belt in place and shook her head. "Like, with genuine anger."
"That's...unlike him." Max settled in next to her and began to close the door, but stopped and threw it back open as Victoria hurried to the truck. "We were almost gone."
"Yeah right," Victoria laughed as she piled in, "how would you explain that to Kate?"
"Probably tell her that you went to a nice farm to play with all of the other Victorias," Chloe said, smiling deviously at the girl.
"But really we just flushed you down the toilet," Max added.
"Cool, it'd be like an alligator in the sewers kind of thing," Victoria chuckled, slipping her shoes off and settling in.
"Better than crocodiles," Max said, leaning toward her and shielding her mouth, "Chloe's scared of them."
"Not anymore!" she argued, twisting the key in the ignition with a scowl.
"Did you guys ever play Oregon Trail?" Max asked as they crossed the state line.
"Yeah, we played it together," Chloe replied, "you don't remember that?" Max thought for a moment, then nodded.
"A few times," Victoria said, "I never beat it."
Wasn't that hard, Vic.
"Isn't it crazy that people used to die from diarrhea?" Max shook her head seriously. "That's fucked up."
"Dysentery is like an actual illness," Victoria laughed, tucking her phone away, "it's not just...you know, shitting."
"How did we get here?" Chloe asked, gesturing at the windshield. "How did the conversation reach this point?"
"We're on the Oregon trail?" Max shrugged with a smile.
"The Oregon highway," Chloe corrected. "I don't see any broken down wagons."
"I wouldn't help them if we did," Victoria said sternly, "what kind of psychopath would be driving a wagon on the freeway? They'd murder us for sure."
I guess don't let Victoria near the Amish, then.
"That seems a little presumptuous," Max said, swishing her finger around the stereo's volume dial.
"I stand by it." Victoria crossed her arms. "I'm not getting hacked to pieces by a...wheel spoke."
"I think that'd be a bludgeoning," Max chuckled, "but point taken." Her stomach growled and she clutched both hands to it. "Speaking of stomach issues, I'm getting hungry, guys."
"I could eat too," Victoria replied, "where do we want to go?"
"I think I know just the place," Chloe said, pointing at a highway sign, "let's go be nasty."
After a brief bit of bickering in the drive-thru, they procured their food and Chloe did a lap around the building, pulling into a parking space and hopping out. They set up shop in the bed of her truck, with Max resting against the suitcases and Victoria on one side while Chloe sat on the edge of the other.
"Give," Chloe said, leaning forward and yanking the cup out of Victoria's hands. She took a long pull from the straw, then smacked her lips with satisfaction. "Okay, pretty tasty."
"Right?" Victoria took it back and set the cup next to her, grabbing a handful of fries and stuffing them into her face. "I like their milkshakes," she muffled.
"Chicken goo," Max said, dipping a nugget into some sauce and then popping it in her mouth whole.
Youtube teaches you about the worst things.
"Not...appetizing," Victoria said, furrowing her brow. She slid down a bit and laid her head on the edge of the truck bed. "The stars are surprisingly clear."
"Hmm...yeah, they are," Chloe responded. She clicked on her phone next to her and laughed. "It's like nine o'clock and we still have an hour and a half to go. We really took our time."
"It's nice though," Max said, "a little adventure before returning to the status quo."
Beat poets on the move.
"I know, I have to work balls early tomorrow," Chloe said with a pout.
"And we have school." Victoria nodded in a show of consolidation.
"Looks like our game of Smash will have to wait," Max said, "unless you want to wake everyone up."
"Quick! Warren! Get up! We have to kick Victoria's ass virtually!"
"Nah, I'll fuck you guys up tomorrow," Victoria replied with a snicker. "I can't decide if I should just go to my room or see if Kate's up. We've been, uh," she blushed, "sleeping together more often."
"In what capacity?" Chloe asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Sleeping sleeping," Victoria clarified with a smirk, "cuddling."
D'aww.
"I figured, but thought I'd ask," Chloe chuckled. She took the nugget that Max held out to her. "How's that been?"
"So fucking nice," Victoria sighed dreamily. "I forgot how great it feels to have someone to hold at night." She winced and looked down at her knees. "I feel...weird about that. The last person I shared a bed with was, uh..."
I have an inkling...
"It's alright, Vic," Max said, nudging her foot against Victoria's leg in support. "I know it must feel...kind of messed up."
"It makes me feel like some kind of...double agent or something?" Victoria's lips bundled to the side. "Going from one end of the spectrum to the complete opposite like that."
"Looking back can really show you how crazy the road has been," Chloe said, nodding with a look that said much more than her words. "The good and the bad."
And what a road it's been.
"I know this sounds like a dramatic and naive eighteen year old thing," Victoria said, "but this kind of feels like the most defining year I'll ever have in my life. It's just so weird and full of...unbelievable shit."
"You're not alone there," Max said, looking at Chloe, "it's pretty insane."
"In a good way, though," Chloe added in a chipper tone. "I mean, when the dust settles, things turned out pretty good."
"I guess so," Victoria shrugged, "I'm happy. Like, actually happy and not just pretending or happy because of my vanity. But it's still kind of..." she glanced to the side in thought, "sore?"
"Scars," Max agreed, "certain things have definitely left a mark."
There was a LOT of dust that had to settle.
"Yeah, that's a good way of putting it," Victoria said. She stretched her legs out in front of her and wiggled her feet from one side to the other. "It still feels kind of dreamlike. Like when we graduate, it'll finally be rejoining the 'real' world. Busting out of the weird bubble of Blackwell."
"I don't even go to Blackwell and I feel you," Chloe said, her voice stifled by the burger in her mouth.
"I heard they're actually handing out red pills at graduation," Max chuckled. "Congrats! Here's a diploma! Now you get to wake up in a pond of pink goo."
"Pond of Pink Goo is my riot grrl band name," Chloe said with a smile, holding her hands in front of her as if plucking on a bass. "We play behind the thrift store every Wednesday."
"Gross," Victoria laughed. She lifted her head and looked past Max and Chloe with an eyebrow cocked. "We have company."
Oh?
"Uh, hey," a woman wearing the McDonald's uniform said, "you can't really loiter out here." She was holding herself timidly.
"We bought your food?" Chloe said with a confused inflection, holding up the bag with their logo on it.
"Yeah but, you can't like...sit out in the parking lot," she said.
"You closed the dining room!" Chloe argued back. "Where are we supposed to eat?"
"Look, my manager sent me out here," the woman held up her hands in defense, "don't shoot the messenger."
She says with a red laser dot on her forehead...
"What would Mr. McDonald say if he heard this is how you treat your paying customers?" Chloe asked, swinging her legs over the edge of the truck bed so she faced the woman.
"I'm...I'm pretty sure they're dead," she responded.
"We know how to use a Ouija board." Chloe squinted as she pointed at her.
"What?" The woman shook her head in disbelief. "What is the deal with you guys?"
Aw, I feel bad. But it is kind of funny.
"We were having a heart to heart conversation and you interrupted us," Victoria replied snootily.
"Uh...sorry?" The employee threw her hands up, flustered. "Can you please just leave?"
"Fine," Chloe hopped down off the truck, "but know that we'll be making a call to Ronald." Victoria muttered as she also climbed out of the bed, followed by Max who could only quietly laugh at the situation.
"He's...he's just a mascot!" the woman shouted, her raised hands now tensing into claws.
Thank god. The dude is creepy.
"E-I-E-I-O!" Chloe shouted back, cackling as she got in the truck.
"I don't get paid enough for this," she sighed, her shoulders slouching.
"You don't," Max agreed, "sorry about them!" She climbed into the passenger side, then gave the woman a friendly wave.
"There's the lighthouse," Victoria said, leaning forward as she peered through the windshield. "Always there. Always...waiting for your return."
You have no idea, Vic.
"I'm not even sure I've ever seen it guiding a ship in," Chloe said, stealing a glance at the tall beacon.
"Really?" Victoria asked. "I can hear the foghorn sometimes. Maybe it's usually at night."
Or they're ghost ships, woOoOoOo!
"That could be," Chloe responded, then she smiled. "Secret ninja ships full of drugs."
"Could you imagine? What a scandal that would be," Max laughed.
"Seriously," Chloe chuckled, "I can see the news broadcast now: Sleepy Oregon town home to massive naval drug ring. You would not believe the amount of drugs on board this thing. It is just, wow, it's a party and a half. Back to you, Steve."
Chloe's news anchor voice is so great.
"Steve is so jelly he's not out in the field," Max said, finishing off the last of her drink and then setting the empty cup on the floor. "He's like, fuck, I should've been a field reporter!"
"This place is so eerie at night," Victoria said contemplatively, redirecting the conversation, "there's barely any lights on. You'd think it was a ghost town."
"Yeah, except for..." Chloe leaned forward as they continued down the street, "bam!" She pointed at The Two Whales. "I can't believe I'm proud of that place but here I fuckin' am! Bam! Bam!"
"The need for pancakes never sleeps," Max agreed. "It is an eternal feeling."
"I bet Frank's in there," Chloe said, slowing down as if she could see into the kitchen. "Can't wait to talk to him about his little get together. It'd actually be kind of cool to bring Warren and Kate around him more."
You just don't want to be the oldest one in a group setting.
"Oh, yeah," Victoria said dryly, "that fun conversation." She clutched her hands together daintily and held them by her cheek. "Oh Kate, darling, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"You're getting to sound like a broken record," Chloe responded frustratedly.
"Ugh, I know, sorry." Victoria slammed herself back into her seat as she crossed her arms. "And all I want to do is hug her."
"You're so in love," Max teased.
"Get that word away from me," Victoria fluttered her hand as if shooing away an insect.
"Loooove," Max repeated in a ghostly moan, wriggling her fingers.
You cannot hide from your feelings!
Several minutes later, they finally made it to Blackwell and pulled into the parking lot, with all three simultaneously sighing at completing their journey. Without a word, they got out of the car and moseyed to the back where they collected their things. The brief stretch of silence was broken by Max's yawn.
"Sleepy," she mumbled, setting a bag down to rub at her eye.
"It's not even that late for us," Chloe said, regarding her playfully. She pulled the strap of one of the bags over her shoulder. "It's just now party time."
No party. No time. Only sleep.
"Driving is tiring," Victoria said, staring at Max grumpily as her voice fluctuated with a yawn. "Contagious."
"I did all the driving, you losers," Chloe chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah," Victoria said, starting toward the stairs. "It's still a thing to just be sitting there doing nothing and get tired from it." Chloe snorted as she and Max followed behind her.
"Blackwell, why you so...here?" Max asked in a singsong voice.
Where did you come from?
"It is definitely here," Chloe agreed with a snicker. She groaned as they reached the courtyard to the dormitories, switching the bag to her other shoulder. "Look who's up."
"He still creeps me out a little," Victoria said, avoiding eye contact as she went straight for the door.
Alright Max, wake up for a second so you can be nice.
"You guys are mean," Max whispered, breaking from the path to approach Samuel. He was surrounded by several squirrels, chatting with them in his ever so endearingly off way. "Hey Samuel, you're up late."
"Hello Max," he responded, then slowly waved to Chloe and Victoria, "and hello to you two as well. It's a lovely night. The stars are singing."
Right, just skirt on past that.
"It is!" she said, "and...they are? Uh, well, we just got back from our vacation." She planted a hand on her waist and gave a sneaky smile. "Anything interesting happen while we were gone?"
"Not that Samuel noticed," he said, "and Samuel always notices."
You should take a...class on how to socialize, maybe.
"We can always count on you to be the eyes and ears of Blackwell," Chloe said, finally coming to stand by Max, followed by a reluctant Victoria.
"And the tongue, when it can be helped," he replied. He looked down at one of the squirrels and smiled, then back up to the girls. "Did you enjoy your break?"
"Yes," Max nodded, "it was a much needed change of pace. But I'm happy...ish to be back." She squinted and rocked her head back and forth.
"That's good," he said, then he looked Chloe up and down, "you have recovered well. There must have been a favorable discount." Chloe huffed and threw her head back in exasperation.
"Look, man, I appreciate your..." she waved her hand through the air, "continued commentary on my being capped, but I think we can move on, you know?"
"Sorry," he chuckled, "Samuel can ruminate overly long sometimes. I'll say no more."
"Cool," she gave him a halfhearted thumbs up. Max watched as one of the squirrels twitched its nose, looking her up and down.
They really love him. I can't believe they're not running from us.
"Well," Victoria said, elongating the word, "I guess we better head to bed. Have a...good night." She tugged on Max's shoulder.
Alright, alright. Coming.
"Yeah, have a good one, Samuel," Max laughed. He nodded back and turned his attention to the squirrels once more.
"Fucking weirdo talking to himself," Victoria muttered as they entered the dorms.
"He was talking to the squirrels!" Max said, nudging her with her elbow.
Give him some credit, eh?
"Yeah, alright," Victoria scoffed, "maybe next time he should actually make sure some are around before striking up conversation."
"Wait, huh?" Max snickered. "There were!"
"I didn't see any," Victoria replied. Max's pace slowed and she looked at Chloe, who seemed to be sharing the same confusion.
Uh...what?
"Oh..." Max said slowly, not exactly sure how to respond, "must have been out of your view?"
"Yep, must have!" Victoria said emphatically as she screeched to a stop at Kate's door and turned to them. "Um, she texted me that she's awake, so..." She nodded to the door.
"Right," Chloe said, "enjoy your Kate snuggles."
"Will do." She hugged Max, then Chloe. "Hey, thanks again for letting me ride with you. So much better than a plane."
"Yeah, it was fun," Max said. "Catch you in the morning for class?"
"You know it," Victoria gripped the doorknob, then she looked over her shoulder with devilish eyes. "And be prepared to get your ass kicked in Smash."
"Go the fuck to sleep," Chloe laughed, pulling Max away from her and to her room.
A/N: Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate it! If not...well, still happy Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for all of you guys. You've made a lot of difference in my life.
Also, for the record, those are all real Cards Against Humanity questions and answers I found on the simulation on their website. That's fun.