Chapter 3: Overexposure

Max's heart picked up once again he was so close to her, she felt so hot she swore he could feel the heat radiating off of her. She heard metal clinking and then felt her bounds being cut first her wrists then her ankles she sat there in total shock as he took the tape off of her and moved over to a little trash can in the corner.

Max rolled her wrists and ankles a silence fell over the room Max's head was telling her to run as far away as she could, But the dark side she suppressed told her to stay.
"What are you thinking about Maxine, your eyes look like they are turning gears and you're searching for the right answer. A common sight that you had in class… You're thinking about running aren't you" he said with a slight sigh, she went white then looked down and smiled softly

"No… I was thinking about how beautiful your framed work that was in Nathan's room looked" she said well she was only telling a half lie, Max had done so much for everyone else the past week. It was time she got what she wanted, even if it was wrong and she very well knows it was, even more so now that she knew he was behind all the misfortune. She needed to think off all the horrible things he'd done.

He took a step towards her.

He'd hurt Kate and had killed Rachel

He took another, his hands moving to take off one of his gloves.

What would he do to Chloe?

His first glove was gone and the second one wasn't far behind he was halfway to her.

What would he do to her?

He stood in front of Max both are gloves gone and his hand outspread to her.

But damn he looked so good, just in his shirt and dress pants.

She stood and took his hand softly, he smiled happily and pulled her into a rough embrace, she couldn't help but smile.

"So would you like to help me with this?" He said pulling back his index finger lifting her chin so so had to look at him. Max quickly nodded her head while one of his strong arms were still wrapped around her.

"Maxine, wake up" Jefferson softly whispered.

Max blinked her eyes softly open and saw they were still in the car just at the school now rather than the bunker-like room.
"What are we doing here?" she asked groggily

"I have to announce the everyday heroes contest, I want you to go to your room and get the photo you wanted to submit but didn't."

"Oh it's in my bag," she mumbled and pulled it out quickly

"Max…" he sighed loudly "Your work is truly beautiful, I don't understand why you didn't want to submit it"

"Now go to the party and have fun, I'll be there soon" He moved over and softly kissed her cheek.

Max headed inside when her phone buzzed, she opened it up 'Max where are you I've been texting calling you for an hour please answer'. Max texted back quickly 'Sorry, funnily enough, an underground bunker doesn't have service, I got out I'm safe I took the bus home, I'm at the school." She went to put her phone away when it buzzed again 'Okay is it okay if I call you?'

'Yeah that's fine ^_^' Max relied

'Fuckin emoji'

Max's phone buzzed, she picked up and Chloe started to talk "So I went to the junkyard and Rachel wasn't there, I dug in the spot the picture had her."

"Well then where is she?"

"A note was left that said, LA! LA, Max she's safe, it also had a phone number I'm going to call it after this"

"Oh my god Chloe that's amazing"

"Imma go, wish me luck hippie"

Chloe hung up and max headed for the pool area as Mark had told her too, as soon as she walked in she regretted it. Music was blasting, kids were smashed and everyone was being idiots. Max wondered around the party for about 10 minutes before the music stopped and Mr Jefferson stood on the 'stage area'.
"Hey guys, sorry to stop your party you can get back to it in a moment. But I'm here to announce the everyday heroes contest. Now brace yourself the runner-up whose photo will also get featured in the artist's frame magazine is… Victoria Chase!" He finished with a smile. Victoria smiled happily but looked pissed.

"But the overall winner for our school and who will go into a gallery all the way in San Francisco, Is Maxine Caulfield" he looked over at Max with his intense gaze she smiled.

After Mark left the stage she saw Victoria make a V line to her, Max quickly moved into the crowd looking for Mark knowing she wouldn't say anything in front of him. Max spotted him heading out the door and she followed about a minute after him. "Mr. Jefferson!" max called and ran after him. "Oh, Max," he said as Max caught up too him.

"Thank you so much for accepting my late entry." she said loudly "Victoria is following me and I think she wanted to beat me" she whispered to him getting on to her tippy toes. "I want to go my dorm can you distract her please?" she asked softly, he nodded and then he whispered "I'll come see you, later on, tonight, don't go to be until I text you" Max nodded and made her way back to her dorm.

Halfway down the path that she was on where she could hear Victoria gawking to Mark Warren stopped her. "Heyyyyy Maxx, congrats on the comp thingy" his words were slightly slurred

"Warren how much have you had to drink"

"What drinking, not me" He winked back at her

"Warren I need to…"

"Can we please take a pic with your camera"

"Warren please I need to"

"One, pretty please Max a million"

"One that's it" she gave up and got her camera out and Warren moved over hugging her around the waist Max clicked the button and the bright flash went off.

"Thanks, Warren here" she handed him the photo "Bye Warren"

She quickly left the party area and went to her dorm, she tidied up as best she could after Mark had said that he would come over. She then got changed into a simple pair of shirts that were a plain white color and then a pastel pink shirt.

A heavy knock woke her from her non-thought filled daydream, she cracked the door open to reveal Mark. Max opened the door further and let him in he walked in and took off his jacket placed it over Max's desk chair. As max closed the door softly she turned around and Mark was on her like a wolf on a little lamb. He grasped her hands and pinned them above her head on the door. He'd also removed his glasses, Max looked up at his eyes and how beautiful they were. He pressed his body into hers softly...