There was a knock on Max's door.

One. Two. Three. Four, even. Each one was slightly louder than the last - and Max heard every single one of them just as loudly.

She just chose not to open the door.

"Max."

Max buried her face in her pillow and kept silent. She had no interest in talking to Dana, talking to anyone really - not after yesterday, after what she'd heard and witnessed. How could Chloe even justify what Rachel did? Max had no idea, so she chose not to think about it anymore. It was probably better that way.

"Max, I know you're in there - you haven't come out of your room yet."

That raised an eyebrow. Was Dana watching her? That would be weird, but then again - Dana hung out with Juliet; Blackwell's finest journalist snoop. Not as big as Max, but close.

"I'm going to keep knocking on this door until you do."

There was another knock, then another, then another. Dana was insisting on being annoying. She kept on knocking.

Eventually Max gave up.

"Okay, okay - I'm coming, just stop!" she grumbled loud enough for Dana to hear, throwing her pillow into the corner of her bed. She was promptly at the door, turning the lock and opening it just enough so that Max could get a peek at Dana.

"Max," Dana started and put her hands on her hips, "what's wrong?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Nothing-"

"Max," Dana firmly stopped her. "Something is wrong. You've been crying."

Max raised an eyebrow and quickly wiped at her eyes. "I wasn't."

Dana was quiet for all but a moment before letting slip a sigh. "Yes you were. Can I come in?" she murmured, smiling softly.

As cogs turned in Max's head at the request, Dana giggled. Max finally nodded quietly and pulled open the door, waiting until her friend was firmly standing in the middle of the room. "Sorry about the mess," she apologised, waving her hand about.

"Juliet's room looks worse, trust me," Dana assured her and sat herself down on the edge of Max's bed. She patted the space beside her. "C'mon."

Max had crossed her arms and tapped her foot a few times. She gave up, sagged her shoulders and dropped down beside Dana. "It's nothing," she mumbled automatically. "Just my… stupid crush," she immediately corrected herself, knowing that Dana wouldn't give up - so what was the point in hiding it?

Dana knowingly smiled and placed a hand on Max's shoulder, giving it an assuring rub. "There, there," she murmured and watched as Max sort of just… collapsed in on herself - dropping her hands over her knees.

"I'm just… I'm so worried for Chloe. I was at an, uhm... after party with her yesterday and… it was nice. We, uh, smoked some weed."

"You smoked weed?" Dana asked, an eyebrow raised but a smirk lining her lips. "You, Max Caulfield, smoked weed?"

Max kinda rolled her head side to side before giving Dana a nod. "...yeah? I just… it kinda felt right, with Chloe there and stuff, I guess."

"You trusted her."

"Yeah. Yeah, something like that."

"So you smoked weed. What then?" Dana asked, giving Max another shoulder rub.

"Well… we talked. It was nice, we caught up and stuff," Max continued and began to draw circles over her knees with a finger, trying to distract herself. "Then Rachel came."

Dana gave her another rub and sighed. "I… I see. Well, what happened?"

"Rachel just… completely ignored me. Like I didn't exist. I mean - I'm used to stuff like that everyday, but people at least acknowledge me. Rachel just… completely blew me off like I wasn't there."

With a quiet hum, Dana rubbed her shoulder again and looked to the floor. "Yeah, I've seen her do that before. Mostly to people who were with Chloe too, but there were exceptions. What then?"

Max blushed as she tried to find a way to word the next part. It was still all… quite surreal, hearing Rachel straight up proposition Chloe for sex around so many people. "Uhm. She… she asked Chloe to have s-sex with her? She was quite blunt about it too," she murmured, glancing at Dana.

It came as no surprise to Dana, so she simply hummed again. "Figures. She was trying to show you just how much… control she has over Chloe. Who she belongs to."

"Belongs to? Uh, well… yeah... Chloe tried to say no but…" Max trailed off, looking at the floor. She gave a shaky exhale and dropped her face into her hands, pulling at her hair. "Ugh, it's so stupid. I shouldn't be telling you any of this, it doesn't matter-"

"Max, it matters. You matter," Dana replied softly, smiling as she leaned in to look at Max. "Let me guess - Chloe tried to say no, Rachel said some things, maybe tried to guilt her and Chloe submitted?"

Max knocked her knees together and nodded quietly. "Yeah. S-something like that."

"Mhm. Well… you're not the first she did that to," Dana admitted quietly and squeezed her shoulder, pulling Max up a little bit. "But look…" she trailed off and bit her lip, trying to think of something - anything - she could tell Max to cheer her up.

"Dana, I don't… I don't need you telling me it'll be fine," Max spoke up, looking at Dana; holding her gaze for a few seconds."It's not fine right now. I want to help Chloe, but it's hard because I'm crushing on her at the same time. I'm always worried I'll say something stupid, let something slip and…"

Dana frowned for just a brief second before smiling and giving her shoulder another rub.

"Chloe… Chloe doesn't deserve to be treated like that. No. I've seen the way Rachel controls her and commands her and… I don't know, I really want to do something about it but I can't. I don't know where to even begin. I'm just a stupid, useless, hipster-"

"Hey, c'mon," Dana interrupted her with a gentle shake. "You're not that, Max. You're cool in my books," she continued and smiled wider. "Cute too. Chloe sees that."

Max blushed. Of course she did - Dana called her cute and she still didn't know how to take on compliments or flirts. Was Dana flirting with her? Max didn't even know - wrapping her head around such a concept was hard, especially with everything that's been burdening her recently.

"Thanks, I guess…" Max mumbled looked up at Dana.

Looking right back at her, Dana rubbed her shoulder again.

Max was still blushing. Her mind travelled back to the day before, to what Chloe said - something about the fact that Max and Dana had eye sex? Yeah, something like that. That didn't help Max's blush at all. In fact, it made it much, much worse - she just hoped Dana didn't notice, but that was stupid because Dana noticed everything.

"Max-"

"Dana-"

Dana went quiet and tilted her head. "Go on," she gestured her to talk first.

What followed was silence instead. Max was still thinking it over. Chloe had joked that Dana crushed on her, but was she actually joking? She wasn't sure - Chloe, the new Chloe at least, wasn't easy for her to read. Sure they laughed about it, but the way she talked made it sound... genuine, maybe?

Also there was no way that Max was beating Rachel to Chloe, not anymore, not after last night's display. Perhaps she'd have to simply give up.

"Max?" Dana murmured, looking her over. She leaned in a bit more, giving her a gentle shake again. "You okay?"

Max gaped her mouth a little and looked at Dana.

Before either of them knew what was happening, Max's lips were clumsily on Dana's - attempting to kiss her. Dana froze up for just a moment but kissed back, slowing Max down. Her hand drifted up from her shoulder and up her neck, cupping her cheek as she pulled Max in closer.

Then Max squeaked and pulled back suddenly - realising what she'd done.

"Oh s-shit, Dana - I am so, so sorry-"

"Max-"

"-fuck, I didn't mean to d-do that, I just kinda f-freaked and-"

"-Max-"

"-shit, I gotta go..."

"Max!"

Max completely ignored the fact that Dana was calling after her. She was already halfway down the dorm - getting a few funny looks from the few people walking the halls, especially with Dana calling after her. She frantically pulled her black hoodie on and threw up the hood, trying to drown the world out around her.

She dashed down the stairs once she left the dorm hall - Dana was no longer calling after her, thankfully. At least Max couldn't hear her.

Moments later she burst out of the door and nearly tripped herself over on the three girls sitting on the steps.

"Oh - shit! Sorry!" she squeaked out as she stepped right past Victoria, Taylor and Courtney.

"What the fuck, Lamefield!" Victoria almost screeched. "Watch where you're going, selfie-ho!"

Max tried ignoring her as she pushed her hands into her pockets, speed walking away. Her heart was thumping - hammering - against her chest. Her cheeks were still flush after what she'd done.

That was not what she wanted to do.

Totally not.

Max found herself on the beach about an hour later. With her phone in her pocket, she was holding it with a steel grip as she just walked along the sand, nearby the treeline. It was turned off thankfully, but it had blown up with quite a few missed calls and texts before she went ahead and did that.

What she needed right now was fresh air, space and time to think.

Kissing Dana was… impulsive, but Max to admit it was… nice? Also she was pretty sure Dana kissed her back. That must've made it okay, right? Dana wouldn't be mad. Hopefully. Max didn't want Dana to be mad, she was like her only friend in Blackwell apart from Kate.

Maybe Max should've stayed behind and talked, not ran.

"Ugh…" she grumbled and dropped her head, shoving her hands further down her pockets. She looked at the sand as she walked and then kicked up a bunch.

Max Caulfield, you're an idiot, she thought to herself. Crushing on your best friend and then suddenly you're kissing somebody who is perhaps the most attractive girl in school. What were you thinking?

That was the problem - Max wasn't thinking at that point in time.

She sighed and kicked up some more sand.

"Woah, watch it asshole!"

Max yelped in surprise, quite literally jumping up as she looked in front of her.

"Chloe?"

Chloe crossed her arms and tilted her head, looking at Max. She narrowed her eyes and nodded. "Yeah. It's me, isn't it? Open your eyes, Caulfield."

"I… s-shit, sorry - I wasn't looking and-"

"Woah, hey," Chloe interrupted and stepped forward, her angered look immediately fading, softening. She smiled instead. "Don't stress dude, I was pulling your leg. Jeez, take a joke."

Max breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, thankful for that. She wasn't sure just how she could deal with an angry Chloe now. "Right. Uhm. Sorry, I'm just… in a pickle," she admitted and sagged her shoulders, looking back down at the sand. She kicked up another bunch, but away from Chloe.

"Girl problems?" Chloe asked and smirked. Judging by Max's sudden blush, she was right. "Mhm."

"No, it's not…" she trailed off and groaned, grasping at her hair and pulling in frustration. "...yeah?" she whispered, glancing back up at Chloe. "Kinda. I just needed some space to think. I… uh…"

"Chill dude," Chloe said and put her hand on Max's shoulder. "Come sit," she added - gesturing to a nearby rock. "Let's just talk and shit. I'm good with girl problems."

Max snorted. "Yeah."

So they both sat down beside each other - kinda half leaning, half sitting on a rock along the beach. They had a good view of the ocean, the waves. It was strangely calming just sitting there and looking at it, listening. You couldn't hear the hustle and bustle of Blackwell, the shouts and constant conversations.

It was nice.

"So tell me," Chloe began and took out joint from her jacket, "what's going on, huh? Is it Dana? You two fuck yet?" she teased as she sparked up. "Let me guess - you woke up this morning beside her and couldn't remember the night? Freaked out?"

Max blushed and shook her head. "Uh, no - nothing like that thankfully," she whispered, clearing her throat. "Nothing like that."

Chloe looked Max over for a few seconds, leaning forward - giving her an inquisitive, teasing eyebrow wiggle. She puffed on her joint and then blew away the smoke, laughing suddenly as Max's blush only got worse.

"Oh, you are just… the worst!" Max grumbled loudly and shuffled a few inches away.

"Alright, so no sex. She ask you out? You ask her out?"

"I thought you wanted me to tell you what happened? You gonna keep asking me questions or allow me to talk?" Max pointed out quietly, sinking into her hoodie a bit. She sighed and looked down at her knees.

"...alright. Sure. Fine then, fire away Maxipad."

Max just groaned again. "I hate that nickname. You know that."

"Hey, are you gonna keep complaining or are you actually gonna tell me what the fuck your problem is?" Chloe asked suddenly, looking down at Max as her joint hung loosely in her lips. "Hurry the fuck up, go on!"

"...I kinda kissed Dana?"

Chloe sputtered out some smoke, spitting out her joint on accident in the process. She was quick to bend over and grab it only seconds later, coughing and wheezing - waving her hand towards Max as the girl had moved forward to help.

Max fell back and just watched, eyes wide in surprise.

"You what?" Chloe exclaimed, her face scrunched up in confusion and shock as she looked at Max. "You… you k-kissed Dana? What?"

"...yeah?" she squeaked out and sunk further into her hoodie, hiding her face. "It was like… an impulsive thing. She was there and I remembered what you told me and… I just... kinda... leaned in and, uh... kissed her?"

"...damn Max," Chloe whispered, quickly taking a drag of her joint. "That's hardcore, takes some balls to do that."

"That's just… ew, Chloe…" Max cringed in her hoodie briefly and looked over at her friend. "After I… kissed her I kinda f-freaked and ran?"

Chloe stopped moving again, looking at Max. She blinked, nodded slowly and suddenly burst out into laughter.

"You are literally the worlds biggest asshole!" Max groaned and pushed herself up, pacing a few steps away and dragging her hands across her face. "I don't know why I even try and tell you things. Ugh."

"I'm sorry but… running away, Max? That is literally like… the Max Caulfield thing to do - there a guidebook for that?" Chloe chuckled for a few seconds, her laughs dying down. She snorted and then finally stopped, taking another puff from her joint. "Jesus, Max. First you kiss a girl and then you run? What a way to make an impression."

"...yeah. I'm not…" Max mumbled, stopping short of saying… something before she just shrugged. "Yeah. I'm kinda freaked out about it. Ugh, what am I saying - Iam still freaking out about it."

Chloe nodded quietly and then pulled her chin up, looking up at the sky - thinking. "Hm. Well… if I was you then I'd probably go right back to the dorms and apologise, then kiss the shit out of Dana - then you'd have make up sex."

Max groaned and covered her face. Chloe was the worst.

"I'm kidding," Chloe quickly added and snorted again. "But no, seriously Max… you, uh… did actually k-kiss her, right? Wasn't a dream? You ain't like tryin' to pull my leg now, are you?"

"No, it wasn't a dream and no, I'm not pulling your leg Chloe."

Looking away again, Chloe just looked out over the ocean - letting out a quiet hum. "I see," she whispered, though her voice sounded different - softer. "Thats… wow. Way to take my advice, girl. Didn't realise you had it in you."

Max just nodded and looked out over the ocean herself.

They sat there quietly for a few minutes - both of them thinking. Chloe offered Max her joint a few times but she refused; she wasn't in the mood and honestly she didn't feel that… safe smoking out in such a public place. An abandoned lumber mill was one thing, but a public beach? No good. So she opted to calming herself in more tried and tested ways - such as simply breathing in and out.

"Uhm, so… help me?" Max eventually asked, breaking their silence. She gave Chloe a sideways glance and sighed. "I'm kinda lost and you said you had experience."

Chloe cleared her throat and finished her joint, throwing it to the ground. She kicked some sand over the roach and then nodded, crossing her arms and leaning back. "I have some experience. But yeah, your situation… I'd honestly just go back to Dana and talk?"

"...really?" Max whispered, turning to face her.

"Yeah? Dana is cool from what I remember. She understands things, knows things - she's the dorm mom, right? I can honestly just imagine her waiting for you patiently right now to be honest, probably in her room and listening to music or some shit," Chloe continued, bracing herself back on the rock and looking at the ocean again.

"...she has a boyfriend though…" Max mumbled and looked at the ground again, trying to make out each fine grain of sand. Probably not smart, but it kept her distracted.

"Yeah, that'll be a problem," Chloe admitted and nodded. "But you gotta talk first. There's no point worrying about it. Just… go and talk. Dana won't bite. Or maybe she will - I don't know what she's like under-"

"Chloe, stop, okay!" Max squeaked out and covered her ears. "Okay, I get it!"

Chloe looked at Max, smirked and just shook her head. "God, you're cute sometimes, y'know that?"

Max just blushed again and groaned. "Stooop."

"Okay, fine - whatever," Chloe finally gave up - pulling her hands up placatingly. "I'm done. No more teasing."

"Ugh, this is... shucks."

Again they fell into a silence, sitting beside one another. Chloe kept looking down at Max, seeing her just staring ahead, sometimes down - looking over the sand. She sighed and looked away, pulling her beanie down a bit.

"Hey, look… about yesterday?" Chloe began in a whisper, biting her lip. "Uhm. Rachel didn't mean to ignore you like that. It's just that… sometimes she has needs and I… kinda provide."

Max was silent still, thinking it over. Chloe didn't sound… very convincing, but she didn't want to pry. Not until she sorted things out between herself and Dana, see where they stood. Chloe was still a high priority though.

"It's okay," Max replied and gave a small, meek nod. "I'm used to being ignored."

Chloe sighed and reached over to grab Max's shoulder, giving it a rub. "Hey, don't knock yourself down. You're awesome, Max. I mean look at you - kissing the hottest chick in Blackwell. Well, apart from Vic - but she's a bitch."

"Hm," Max snorted and smiled, appreciating the reassuring squeeze she got, the words.

They got quiet again.

Moments later however that silence was ruptured by the sound of an engine - labouring away. There was a loud screech of tires too.

Chloe looked over her shoulder and groaned - seeing Frank's RV pull up to his usual place. "Ugh, fuck - it's Frank. C'mon, let's get outta here, I'll take you back to Blackwell."

Max nodded and pushed herself up, following Chloe. She gave Frank's RV only a brief look; all she knew about him was that he sold drugs. She wasn't a fan of that, people like him were dangerous.

"Alright Romeo, let's get you back to your… eh, Juliet? Dana? Eh, whatever-the-fuck - lets get you back to Blackwell so you can get that v-card punched, girl."

"Chloe."

Chloe just snickered loudly in reply.

Only 15 minutes later (give or take, Chloe held Max back a bit to talk), Max was outside Dana's room. A few feet away at least, she had stopped herself just short to have some time. It was starting to get late and she could see her door wide open, could hear some quiet pop song playing. Inside she could also make out Dana humming.

Max stood just outside of the doorway, breathing in and out slowly. "Okay. You can do this-"

"Max."

Max squeaked and jumped up again, frightened for the second time that day. Her eyes shot open as she saw Dana standing in the doorway, an expecting look on her face and her arms crossed.

"D-Dana-"

"Max, c'mon - come in," Dana interrupted and smiled, gesturing Max inside. "I won't bite."

"...okay."

So she entered. Dana closed the door behind her and then gently pushed Max towards the bed, ensuring she sat down on the edge. She then promptly crawled onto the bed and sat down cross legged, looking at Max; her hands on her lap.

"So-"

"Dana, I'm r-really sorry for doing that," Max blurted out. "I… totally forgot you have a boyfriend and-"

"Had, Max, but go on."

"-had, and I just wanted to… I wanted… wait, you had a boyfriend?" Max asked quietly, her eyebrow raised as she leaned in curiously. That was news to her. "Um. I thought you and… Trevor…"

"We didn't work out," Dana said and bobbed her head. "But hey, that's life. There was no hard feelings, we're still cool."

"...oh. Oh, that… ooooh…" Max looked down at her hands as she suddenly began to put pieces together.

Now it… kinda made sense as to why Dana kissed her back and didn't pull away first. It also probably explained why Dana kept sending her messages that it was fine. It also probably explained why she kept calling until Max turned her phone off.

Dana giggled and reached over to put her hand on Max's, giving it a soft squeeze. "It's okay Max. Take your time."

Max scrunched up her face, nodded and then finally let out a sigh. She dropped her face into her hands and went quiet. "So… y-you're not mad I kissed you?"

"I kissed you back, didn't I?" Dana teased.

"...I guess."

Looking about, Max had only noticed how nice Dana's room looked. It was always so tidy and well organised, had pictures of boybands, girlbands and all sorts of other things. She could even see her cheerleader outfits on the couch - laid out and ready for when she needed them.

"Dana, I… um…" she began and looked at her again. "S-so, about the kiss…"

"I liked it Max," Dana assured her and shuffled closer - now sitting directly beside her. "Stop fretting, I would've told you if I hadn't."

"Oh."

There was another period of silence. Max scuffed her dirty sneakers together - goddamnit, she told herself that she'd clean them-

"Hey. It's okay Max. Seriously," Dana spoke, squeezing Max's hands together again. She received a weak squeeze back, but it was something.

"Dana, would now be a good time to admit I kinda… crush on you…?" Max whispered, looking up from the floor and towards Dana. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. "I, uhm…"

"Max, it's okay," Dana hummed and shifted so she was facing Max completely. "You're cute. Smart. Bit of a clumsy kisser, but hey - we can work on that."

"Oh. Oh. So… willyougooutwithme?" she quickly muttered, immediately looking away. She was blushing again and her heart was fucking pounding against her rib cage so much it almost hurt. She kinda wished she wasn't this awkward - hell, who was she kidding - she definitely wished she wasn't this awkward.

Dana waited a few seconds and tilted her head. Only moments later did she lean in and kiss Max briefly - giggling at the quiet gasp she received. "Does that answer your question?" she asked.

"I… yes," Max replied and suddenly smiled. Her heart was threatening to break out of her chest after that kiss. "Yes. Uhm. So we're... girlfriends now, right?"

"Yes Max, we're girlfriends." Dana giggled and rolled her eyes. "Now we can kiss and hold hands in public too."

Max blushed harder and then groaned, dropping her head into her hands.

Still. Asking Dana out was a… step, but she wasn't sure in which direction. She admittedly did develop a small crush on her, and the kiss was… nice. Maybe she could live with this. Having a girlfriend sounded good. This was... much easier than Max imagined in all honesty.

"You want to sleep over?" Dana asked and squeezed Max's hand again.

"Oh. Uh."

"Don't worry, I'm not gonna force you," Dana assured her and let out a quiet, almost dreamy sigh. "If you're not staying over then you should maybe get to sleep. Classes tomorrow, we can talk more in the morning."

Max gaped her mouth a bit, staring at Dana. She leaned in and kissed her again quickly.

Dana just giggled and reciprocated.

It lasted a bit longer than a second, but a bit shorter than a few. When they broke away, Max was slightly breathless and Dana was simply smiling.

Max could get used to kissing.

She cleared her throat, brushed away her hair and nodded. "Okay. Okay, I'll go to sleep."

"Good. Sweet dreams, Max."

"Yeah. Yeah, y-you too."

Chloe stared at her ceiling.

"Oh, f-fuck - Chloe-"

She was thinking. Thinking about her encounter with Max, about what she said. About the fact that Max had kissed Dana, followed Chloe's advice - advice that she gave as a joke. She didn't actually expect Max to go and do it, yet she did.

But that hurt.

Chloe didn't know why, but that hurt. Hearing Max talk about it, ask for Chloe's advice on how to proceed. Why did that hurt, why did her heart swell up at that? Was is jealousy?

Fuck.

"Ugh, fuck - Chloe!" Rachel suddenly growled, coming to a stop. She glared down at her girlfriend. "What the fuck? Am I gonna do all the work here?" she asked, gesturing down at the strap on.

Gulping, Chloe looked down herself and then glanced right back up to Rachel. "I'm sorry baby, I'm just… not in the mood-"

"Of-fucking-course," Rachel hissed and dropped her head. "Of course you're not in the fucking mood. Ugh."

Chloe looked away in shame. It wasn't everyday that she wasn't up for sex with her girlfriend - hell, she was up for it everyday - but today just felt… off. She didn't know why. Well, she did.

Rachel suddenly slapped Chloe across the cheek lightly, enough to get her attention. "Chloe! Wake up, Jesus - what's wrong with you? Are you fucking high already?"

"I…"

"It's that fucking Max girl, isn't it?" she asked, narrowing her eyes. "Are you fucking her behind my back?"

Chloe raised both eyebrows and quickly shook her head. She rode her hands up Rachel's back, trying to soothe her, calm her. "No, baby - no it isn't her-"

"Bullshit," Rachel snapped and then slapped her again - harder. "You're thinking about her."

"Rachel, baby-"

Rachel tried slapping her again.

Chloe caught her by the wrist just before she struck, already feeling the sting she received from the last two. She looked up at her and closed her eyes. "Rachel. I'm not in the mood. No. I'm not thinking about Max. Please, just let it go. Just relax."

"...ugh, let me f-fucking go!" Rachel hissed and yanked her wrist out of Chloe's grip. "Un-fucking-believable," she continued as she slipped off Chloe, immediately moving about the room and gathering her clothes.

Watching her, Chloe felt a bit guilty, but good. It wasn't everyday she stood up to Rachel, but when she did… it felt good. She didn't feel so… used.

"I'm going to pick up weed from Frank, maybe something else - won't be back for a while," Rachel announced, not even looking at Chloe. She took her things, grabbed her packet of cigarettes on the way out and then slammed the door shut.

Silence followed. It was a welcome respite.

Chloe pushed herself up into a sitting position, pulling her knees closer to her chest. She wrapped her arms around herself and dropped her head down - sighing quietly. She hadn't pissed Rachel off in a long while, but she still remembered the last time she did.

Thankfully this time wasn't as bad as then.