Max: uh
Max: so hi
Chloe: finally she speaks
Chloe: messages, w/e
Chloe: also i said call, not text
Max: sorry busy week at blackwell
Max: do you want to meet up?
Max: to talk and stuff
Chloe: define talk
Max: chloe don't make this harder than it already is
Max: please?
Max: i just want to get to know you again
Max: ik i've been a shitty friend
Max: just give me a chance?
Max: plus you told me to contact you
Chloe: touche
Chloe: sure
Chloe: i dont have anything else to do rn anyway
Max: two whales?
Max: breakfast on me
Chloe: 15 mins
Chloe: dont be late or u will blow ur chance
Max was sat in the Two Whales in less than 10 minutes since Chloe's last message. She was already prepared to meet Chloe, a part of her 100% confident that her once best friend wouldn't decline the invitation - especially if food was involved - and as such she was well on her way into Arcadia during their text conversation, having caught the early Blackwell bus into town.
Sitting anxiously, she looked around the relatively homely diner. There were a few patrons: truckers, teens, a police officer, some strange lady off in the far corner. Max smiled when she spotted the jukebox nearby, still playing the same old tune she remembered listening to years ago. It felt like home. It was home in a way.
Mentally she scolded herself for not having visited sooner. 2 months in Arcadia Bay and she hadn't even tasted Joyce's renowned pancakes, nor her belgian waffle or her bacon omelette even. It was truly a tragic state of affairs, though Max was a bit… hesitant to meet Joyce again. Sure, she loved her like a second mother and the woman in turn loved her like a second daughter, but that was 5 years ago.
A lot of things changed in 5 years. Especially Chloe.
She still wasn't sure how to approach the topic of her leaving for Seattle and-
"Do my eyes deceive me, Max Caulfield?"
Max immediately smiled as for a second her memory was flooded with familiar scenes of the Price household upon hearing that southern drawl. She turned her head sideways and looked up at Joyce.
Unlike Chloe, Joyce hadn't changed all that much. She still wore her hair in a ponytail, still smiled as bright as ever and still worked in the Two Whales. Max couldn't fail to notice that she now wore a new ring on her hand however.
"Hey Joyce. It's lovely to see you again after all these years," Max said as watched Joyce fill up a coffee mug and place it down in front of her. "You look the same."
"Like I'm still a waitress at the Two Whales after all these years?" Joyce asked with a smirk.
"No, as in you're still pretty," Max quickly added in and smiled ever wider.
"Nice save kid," Joyce wagged a finger playfully at Max. Looking her over, she shook her head slightly. "Look at you - you've turned into a lovely young woman."
Max bobbed her head and looked away briefly. "Listen Joyce, I'm sorry for… not calling and keeping in contact. I knew how hard it was for you and Chloe after… William passed," she said, grimacing slightly. "I'm guilty."
"It's okay Max," Joyce told her as she sat down opposite, still smiling wide. "You did the right thing - you moved on with your life. I did too, after William passed. Chloe…" she stopped herself to take a breath, "Chloe chose to stay angry."
"She's changed," Max pointed out as she sipped on her coffee. "I… I met her a few days ago."
"It's all because of that Rachel girl," Joyce spoke and shook her head. "She's been a bad influence on Chloe for as long as I can remember, always gettin' her up to no good. She's partially the reason why they kicked her out of Blackwell."
Max opened her eyes slightly wider at the revelation. "Oh," was all she could muster, quickly taking another sip of coffee.
"How was she?" Joyce couldn't help but ask, leaning forward slightly. "I haven't spoken to her in… a few weeks."
"Oh," Max repeated, her mind already working over what could've happened between Chloe and Joyce to steer them so drastically apart. "She… looked fine? I'm not sure, I don't have anything really to compare it to, sorry."
"Was Rachel with her?" Joyce continued.
"Ah… y-yes? I saw her twice, both times she was with Chloe," Max replied, unsure what to think of the sudden questions from Joyce. Just how much was Rachel responsible for Chloe changing so much?
Joyce shook her head but after a moment she smiled. "Sorry for the interrogation Max, it's just… hard seeing what's been happening to Chloe since Rachel done an' cropped up in her life."
Max took another drink and then took a leap. "So I take it Rachel hasn't been the… greatest influence on Chloe?" she inquired with an inquisitive look.
"Not at all," Joyce shook her head, "first it was her wardrobe, then cigarettes and drugs, then her hair, then the tattoos… the list goes on."
"I'm… I'm sorry," Max apologised, not sure what for - perhaps hoping it'd bring some light into the situation.
"You've nothing to apologize for Max," Joyce said and smiled, "it's Chloe's choice to do all those things and I can't stop her no more. Maybe… maybe now that you're back you can be a good influence on her again, maybe get rid of that Amber girl." Joyce stood up and looked around the diner quickly.
Max wasn't sure just how successful she'd be.
"Anyway, what'll you be having?" Joyce asked and grabbed the pot of coffee from the table, looking down at Max. "Bacon Omelette, Belgian Waffles or pancakes?"
Scrunching up her face in thought, Max went over the choices in her head. It was a tough choice - all the dishes were equally delicious and filling, but she had a slight sweet tooth so… "I'll have some of your Belgian Waffles," she replied and smiled. "I've missed them," she admitted.
"One plate of Belgian Waffles comin' right up."
Max smiled as Joyce made her way back around the counter and disappeared into the kitchen. She looked around the diner and saw that a few patrons left, a few entered - seemed like Two Whales still had quite the traffic after all the years.
Though what Joyce said about Rachel and Chloe… that worried Max. Seemed like there was more to Rachel than met the eye.
Just then the diner bell rang, signifying the arrival of a new customer. A blue-haired, leather jacket wearing customer with a mischievous twinkle in her eye; sauntering past everyone towards Max.
"Max," she simply said as she jumped into the opposite seat in the booth. Looking at her for a few seconds, she smirked. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Max opened her mouth and flapped it uselessly for a few seconds. Shit, she thought, what are we supposed to talk about? "Uh…"
"Lost for words?" Chloe asked and looked out the window. "No apologies, no excuses as to why you didn't call? Nothing? No? Nada-"
"Chloe," Max raised her voice slightly, interrupting. "I already apologised. I already told you why I didn't call, text, email, send letter or - f-fuck - whatever else you wanted me to do!"
Chloe sat silently at Max's sudden outburst.
"I was getting over the fact you told me to go die, okay? That's… that's not okay, Chloe. What you said hurt me. We were best friends for years, and suddenly you told me to go and die because I was forced to move because of something out of my control. I-"
"Sorry," Chloe interrupted this time. "I guess… I didn't think things through. I had 5 years to do it but I just... Rachel came in and... she's…" she struggled and then shrugged. "I don't know Max. A part of me hoped you'd call, but I guess you were be too chickenshit to do that, right?"
Max couldn't help but snort. "Yeah. I said that already, but you're right. I was scared."
"Right." Chloe drummed her fingers against the linoleum table. "I never hated you, okay?"
Max nodded.
"I was just hoping… that you'd call. That we wouldn't drift apart. Then after a few months of radio silence… I gave up. Then Rachel came into my life and I just… forgot all about you," she mumbled and rubbed the back of her neck. "Okay, that last part was a lie. I didn't actually forget about you, I just… had some bad thoughts about you. Thought you were living the high life in Seattle with all your artsy, hipster friends whilst miserable Chloe lived in Shittown, Oregon. I guess things weren't like that, right?"
"Not at all," Max admitted and closed her eyes.
"So…"
Max shrugged and looked back up at Chloe. "I want to be friends with you again Chloe. How about we… start over again?"
Chloe held a neutral expression for a brief moment. "Let's start over," she agreed and smiled.
Feeling like the entire weight of the world - 5 years worth of guilt - dropped off her shoulders, Max let out a breath of relief. "Thank you," she mumbled and looked at Chloe again, "it means a lot to me… I don't have a lot of friends and you were always my best one, so-"
"One thing though," Chloe interrupted and pointed a finger at her. "Best friends? You have to earn that again Max, you can't just… expect us to be buddy-buddy BFFs straight away, okay?"
Max waited a second and then nodded. "Okay."
Chloe smirked and then slapped both her hands down onto the table. "Now! Let's cut the mushy-mushy reunion crap and-"
"Chloe."
Max looked sideways and spotted Joyce with her plate of waffles standing still, staring at her daughter. Looking between the two, she noticed the almost visible tension between them. Uh-oh.
"Joyce," Chloe replied and kept staring at her, though her expression seemed angry.
Joyce looked more disappointed than anything. Snapping out of it, she placed the plate down in front of Max. "Enjoy darlin'," she said and looked back at Chloe. "What'll you be having?" she asked, "and it's not going on your damn tab again," she quickly added in.
"That's okay!" Max quickly interrupted, bringing both their gazes towards her; she felt like she'd be melted alive when the heat struck her cheeks. "I'm… I'm paying today. My treat for Chloe."
Chloe smirked and looked back up at Joyce.
"Well," Joyce said and looked back at Chloe. "Maybe there's hope yet-"
Chloe's smirk faltered immediately as she stood up. "What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Max froze, mouth open as she stared between the two. Chloe's raised voice was enough to bring attention to their booth, causing Max to sink slightly into her seat. What the fuck is going on anymore?
Joyce kept silent, staring at Chloe. "You know exactly what it means Chloe," she said. "Now if you want to eat and not get kicked out for causin' a ruckus, sit down," Joyce finished, turning around and walking back into the kitchen.
Tension immediately trained as the few heads looking at them turned away. Chloe kept staring at the door where Joyce disappeared moments ago.
"Chloe," Max mumbled and looked up at her, reaching for her hand.
Chloe immediately pulled away, piercing her eyes at Max.
Max sunk in her place.
Fuck.
Noticing Max retreating into herself, Chloe quickly softened up and dropped down in her seat. "Sorry," she mumbled out an apology. "Things… aren't the greatest between me and Joyce."
"Yeah."
The two of them kept quiet until Joyce came back with Chloe's food. Neither of them looked at one another. Max ate her Belgian Waffle, mind racing through everything she had heard and seen so far. It was a bit too much for her to be honest, but she did her best to not let it get to her.
"Finished?" Chloe asked once they had both had their fill. "C'mon, I'll show you my place."
Max nodded, quickly leaving some money - and a sizeable tip - on the table. By the time she was finished, Chloe was already well on her way to the parked truck in the corner of the car park.
Sputtering to a halt, Chloe killed the engine and took her keys out.
Max looked around - they were in some old, industrial area of the town. Mostly a few abandoned warehouses and run-down buildings dotted either side of the street. There were a few cars parked nearby outside a refurbished-looking building.
"We're here," Chloe said and jumped out, stretching her limbs. "Ain't a fucking 5-star pad or anything, but it works for me and Rach."
"Mhm," Max hummed and followed Chloe.
Taking the rickety, rusted stairs on the side of the building, they arrived on the second floor. Entering the building, they were met with a choice of doors on either side of the hallway. Chloe immediately made her way to the closest door on their right, jangling her keys.
"Here," she said and opened the door wide, stepping inside and inviting Max. "C'mon hippie."
Max followed. She stepped as soon as she took a few steps inside.
It wasn't pretty. Discarded clothes, boots, magazines and various other bits and bobs were strewn all over. To the left was a small kitchen, cluttered with bottles of liquor, water and beer. Straight ahead a doorway was covered with a curtain of sorts, the bottom part was caught on something on the side - it allowed Max to get a peek of what awaited inside. It was a large mattress on the floor, and when she squinted hard enough she nearly gasped. Were those sex toys?
"Home-shit-home," Chloe mumbled and closed the door, walking past Max. "Mi casa su casa or whatever," she continued and walked into the kitchen, grabbing a fresh beer bottle from the fridge.
"Uh."
"Told you it wasn't pretty," Chloe said and made her way towards Max. Spotting the girl looking towards the living room across from the kitchen, she followed her gaze.
Rachel was lying on the couch, the coffee table filled with various bottles of beer and some harder spirits. A small weed baggie was emptied beside an ashtray filled with cigarette butts and joint roaches.
"Fuckin' Christ," Chloe sighed and made her way over, placing her beer down on the coffee table. "Rach?" she asked as she reached over and cupped her chin. "Raaaach, hello?"
"Mmh," Rachel slurred and pushed Chloe's hand away. "Goway bitch."
Chloe dropped her head and let go of Rachel's chin. She grabbed her beer, turned towards Max and made her way over. "C'mon, let's roll."
"Uh?" Max looked at Rachel again, one hand already creeping up to her elbow. This… wasn't okay. None of this was okay to Max.
"Come the fuck on," Chloe repeated and grabbed Max's forearm, starting to drag her towards the door until she followed willingly. "Leave her, s'fine."
"Chloe, are you-"
"Yes, yes, I'm sure Max," Chloe interrupted as they made their way back down the stairs outside. "Not the first time she's knocked the fuck up."
Max gulped and kept quiet.
"Sorry about that though," Chloe continued, her voice softer than before. "I wouldn't have taken you there if I knew."
"Is this like… a regular thing?" Max asked quietly as they jumped back inside the truck. "Sorry, I-"
"Yeah, it's regular," Chloe answered unwavered. "I do it sometimes too. When the world is too much, you just gotta relax and hit all the shit you know?" she continued, pulling the truck back onto the road. "Drugs, booze, sex - stress relievers or whatever. It helps. Helped a lot since dad died and you abandoned me."
Max kept quiet again, nibbling on her bottom lip.
This Chloe was much, much more different than she remembered.
"So, throwback, huh?"
Max giggled as she sat down beside Chloe on the bench, the lighthouse just beside them and a complete view of Arcadia before them. "You could say that, yeah."
Chloe chuckled herself and finished off her beer, placing the bottle down beside the bench. "Sorry about the whole Rachel thing again."
"It's fine," Max lied and looked at Arcadia. "Damn it, I knew I forgot something!"
"Huh?" Chloe raised an eyebrow.
"My camera," Max continued and shook her head. "I'd love to take a shot up here, it's been so long…"
"Hmph," Chloe scoffed and chuckled to herself. "Figures. Hippie."
"Hey!" Max playfully swatted at Chloe's arm.
"I bet you still use that old-as-fuck camera, right?" Chloe joked.
Max nodded. "Actually, I do."
Chloe stopped laughing. "You're not lying, are you?" she asked and then burst out laughing again. "Holy shit!"
"Hey!" Max repeated and swatted her again. "I like instant photography, it's different than all the digital stuff. Feels more real, I don't know."
"Max Caulfield, never change," Chloe said once she'd stopped laughing. "Such a hippie, can't say I'm surprised that Seattle didn't change you."
"Bite me," Max chuckled and stuck out her tongue.
Chloe wiggled her eyebrows. "I'd love to Caulfield, but I have a girlfriend already."
Max blushed and looked away.
"Dude, you're so awkward - it's great!" Chloe laughed again. "Oh man. Oooh man..."
"What's up?" Max asked and looked back at her, confident that her blush was sufficiently gone already.
"Just…" Chloe mumbled and moved forward, leaning over her knees. "It's been a while since I laughed so hard. Dunno. Guess I was just missing you," she said and shrugged. "You were gone for five years and now that you're back… feels like a dream or something."
Max smiled. "I'm glad we're friends again. I missed you too."
Chloe nodded and raised her head, looking at Arcadia. "You know, when you left… I cried a lot," she murmured and momentarily gave Max a sideways glance. "I didn't mean what I said, okay? I was… angry, lost, f-fucked up. My dad just died and here you were, telling me you were leaving me when I needed you. I snapped and… I'm sorry."
Keeping silent, Max looked at the town herself. "I'm sorry for not calling, not keeping contact."
"Yeah," Chloe breathed out and stood up, procuring a cigarette from her jacket which she promptly sparked up. "Guess we both suck, huh?"
Max laughed and bobbed her head. "I guess we both do," she whispered and bit the bottom of her lip. "Chloe? Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"I don't know if I'm being nosy or not, so just ignore me if you don't want to answer but…" she stopped and bit her lip again, her fingers absently playing with the zipper of her hoodie. "You and Rachel-"
Cut short, her sentence was interrupted by Chloe's phone buzzing and playing some heavy punk piece.
"Hey," she said as she brought the phone to her ear, taking a drag of her cigarette. "W'sup baby?"
Max kept quiet, shuffling in her seat as she looked way.
Of-fucking-course Rachel interrupted them again.
"Yeah, I'm good," Chloe continued and looked at Max briefly. "Nothing, just hanging out with Max. Yes, that Max-"
That Max?
"S'fine babe, serious-," she continued but was interrupted. "I-," she started again but was interrupted. "No, Rach, seriously-," again, interrupted. "Fine. I'll see you soon, m'kay?"
Max watched as Chloe shook her head, pulled on her cigarette again and then threw it over the cliff edge.
"Sorry," she said as she approached and put her phone away. "Rachel is being needy and wants be back home. Girlfriends, huh?"
"Yeah," Max numbly replied.
"Want me to drop you off at Blackhell?" Chloe asked. "It'll only be like 5 minutes-"
"It's fine," Max interrupted this time. "I'll take the bus, I want to hang out here for a bit."
Chloe waited, and waited, and waited. Then she nodded. "Okay, suit yourself," she mumbled and shrugged, turning towards the path. "Uh, are you… gonna be around for the next Madhouse gig? This weekend?"
Max thought it over. "Yeah, for sure," she said more happily this time, looking up at Chloe. "Wouldn't miss you guys, you rock."
"Glad you like us that much," Chloe snickered and brushed her fingers through her hair. "I'll see you then, maybe we'll talk before - who knows, huh?"
"Mhm," Max nodded. "Take care."
"You too, Maxaroni," Chloe replied and then sauntered away down the path.
Max waited until she was past the trees. Then she waited a bit more until she heard the door being slammed at the bottom, in the car park. Then she waited until she heard the rusted, decades old V8 roar to life and dissipate in the distance.
Once it was gone, her hands immediately shot up to her temples and rubbed at them - her mind working to piece everything she had heard today together. It was a lot to take in.
Joyce and Chloe… Chloe and Rachel… Rachel, booze, drugs, sex and whatever the fuck else… Wow.
Max groaned and fell back against the bench.
Holy fuck, just what was she getting herself into?
A/N:
Sorry for lack of updates, life is kickin' ass and I've generally not been in a writing mood lately.
BUT I'm writing out a few chapters for multiple fics right now in hopes of creating a buffer for times like these so I don't leave y'all hanging, hopefully there'll be some more content from me soon.
Hope you enjoyed!
- :) WinTTY