A/N:

Song(s) used in this chapter:

Beach Slang - American Girls and French Kisses

When Max next woke up, she felt much better than she had in a long time.

She had a girlfriend.

She - Max Caulfield, one of the biggest hipsters in all of Blackwell, perhaps the fucking West Coast - had a girlfriend. It wasn't just any girlfriend either, it was Dana Ward, perhaps the prettiest - no - the prettiest girl in the entirety of Blackwell. How the hell did she get here?

It felt so surreal. All she did was kiss her on impulse and… here she was. Crazy.

Max just stared at her ceiling, a goofy smile on her face as she thought it all over.

There was a temporary ache in her heart however when she thought about Chloe. She still hadn't figured out how to help her with Rachel because Chloe needed help with Rachel, that much was sure. She also thought back to the day before, to the beach - their conversation - and the way that Chloe looked genuinely surprised after Max told her what she'd done, how she sounded like when they spoke.

Did Chloe feel jealous? Did she sound jealous? Max wasn't sure, but… for whatever reason a part of her took that as a small victory, made her feel good.

Finally pushing herself up, Max sat on the edge of her bed and looked down at the floor. She scrunched up her face and then looked around instead - noticing how much of a mess her room was. She felt like cleaning, but first she needed to clean herself.

Across the room in moments, she grabbed her usual shower supplies and headed for the door.

There was a knock.

No, it wasn't a knock - it was more like three, heavy pounds against the door; each one harder than the last.

Max raised an eyebrow as she approached, biting her lip in hesitation. She had a bad feeling, a sickening churn in her stomach as she could hear someone pacing outside, could see their shadow below the door. She gulped and put her hand on the handle, holding it there.

Could she do this? Should she do this?

Gasping suddenly, she jumped up as there was another series of heavy knocks.

Max closed her eyes, took in a breath and opened the door. It's okay. It was probably just… Victoria or something. Yeah. Whatever, she could deal with that.

Almost immediately she wilted when she looked outside however, shrinking.

It wasn't Victoria.

It was Rachel.

"R-Rachel?" Max stuttered out in confusion. "What are you-"

Completely ignoring her, Rachel just barged past Max into her room. She looked around, found nothing and then whipped around to look at Max. She grabbed her by the arm, ignoring Max's sudden whine at how harsh the grip was, and then slammed the door shut.

"Just who the fuck do you think you are?" Rachel immediately snapped at her, watching as Max just stood there.

What the fuck was going on?

Max opened her mouth, flapped it a few times - trying to come up with a coherent response. "I-I…"

"Chloe doesn't care about you!" Rachel continued before Max could get a word out. "Just what the fuck did you say to her, huh?"

"I didn't-"

"Yes you did!" Rachel yelled and then shoved Max, watching as she stumbled back. "You told her something, talked to her and now she's fucking distracted, trying to distance herself, trying to stand up to me! What did you say, bitch!"

Of all the things Max had expected to happen today, this was not it. Hell - she didn't expect this to happen ever.

"Rachel, me and Chloe… I didn't-"

Rachel shoved at her again, again and again.

Max tried to fight back but couldn't, she was still processing everything, still trying to figure out just what the fuck was happening. She was in distress.

"I don't want you fucking m-meeting her again!" Rachel demanded as she took a hold of Max's wrists, giving her a sudden shake. "You leave her alone! You did it well enough for 5-fucking-years! " she added.

With a bit of confidence, Max shook her head and yanked herself back from Rachel's grip. "N-no," she said and then took a step back, holding her hands down beside herself. "You don't get to just… s-storm into my dorm and demand things!" she snapped.

Taken aback for just a moment, Rachel pushed forward. "She's my girlfriend!"

"Yeah and she's my friend!" Max retorted. "You don't get to decide who she does and doesn't meet, you don't… own her! She's her own person!"

Rachel growled and grabbed Max again.

They scuffled, the two grunting and pushing and pulling, shoving at one another-

"Rachel!"

Max stopped, just as Rachel did to. They both stared off to the side - watching as Dana suddenly walked into the room, a look of fury resting upon her face. Behind her some of the girls from the dorm were looking on - Victoria amongst them, Kate too.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Dana hissed - she sounded pissed. Max had never heard Dana angry. "What are you doing to Max?"

"This bitch-"

"Get out!" Dana shouted and stepped forward, grabbing at Rachel as she tried to struggle against her grip - yet Dana was taller, stronger and as such made short work of Rachel; shoving her away from Max and towards the door. "Get out!"

"You don't demand things from me-"

"Get out before I call security! You don't attend this school, you don't live in the dorms! Leave!" Dana just continued over her, pointing at the door. "Get. Out!"

Rachel narrowed her eyes, taking a step back towards Dana - watching as she simply stood taller and glared back at her, keeping herself planted firmly between Max and Rachel.

"Leave."

With a scoff and another quick look at Max, Rachel whirled around and stomped off. "Out of my way!" she growled as she pushed through the small group gathered outside the room.

Max just looked on, her hair and clothes slightly dishevelled from the confrontation. She gulped and glanced up at Dana.

"You okay?" Dana quickly asked, her angry demeanor and voice immediately gone - replaced with concern. She turned around and took Max's hands into her own.

"...y-yeah, I'm just… shook," Max replied and nodded after a few seconds. "S-sorry, I-"

"Nothing to be sorry for Max," Dana quickly interrupted and looked over her shoulder towards the door. She sighed and walked over - placing her hand on it. "Please, just… give us some peace and quiet. Can somebody tell Mr. Madsen what happened here?" she spoke towards the group.

There were a few whispers, words exchanged - Max chose to drown that out as she sat down on the edge of her bed, trembling. She wrapped her arms around herself and heard Dana talking again, closing the door afterwards.

"Hey," she whispered and was quick to pull her arms around Max. "It's okay. She's gone now."

Max sort of just dropped her head on Dana's shoulder, looking at nothing.

She was mulling it all over, Rachel's words, how she possessive she was of Chloe - saying she was her's . That didn't sound right - no - that wasn't right. Rachel had no say over what Chloe wanted, she didn't - couldn't - do that. It just wasn't right.

"Max," Dana eventually spoke up and pushed away from her a bit - enough to look her girlfriend over. "Everything good?" she asked and smiled, reaching over to brush Max's hair back behind her ear.

There was a momentary pause before Max nodded, closed her eyes and then dropped her face into her hands. "Ugh. I… just didn't expect that. I don't know what I did to piss off Rachel."

"It's alright. Rachel gets irrationally angry," Dana murmured and rubbed Max's arms. "Just talking to Chloe for as long as you did over these past few weeks was probably what had her on edge. She doesn't really allow her to talk to many people, not unless she's present and… controlling the conversation in some sense."

Max looked at Dana and then dropped her head back against her shoulder, leaning in for another hug. "This is just… s-so horrible. How can she treat Chloe likethat and Chloe j-just… accepts it?"

Dana sighed and patted Max's back. "I don't know, Max. I don't know."

Max couldn't find answers herself.

Her week went by uneventfully - something Max thanked for after her encounter with Rachel - and she spent most of her time in her bedroom, locked away. Sometimes she'd spend time with Dana instead - locked away with her. They didn't do much of anything apart from homework.

There were… whispers. Max noticed that.

Rachel's visit was one thing, but Rachel's visit to Max Caulfield - the hipster queen of Blackwell of all people? That got people's imaginations going. Just why was she there and just why did the two of them almost tear each other's throats out?

"Hey Max?" Dana asked, looking up from her bed. One of her school books was across her lap, pencil in hand.

Max sat across the room from her, on Dana's couch. Her head rose up promptly and she managed a smile, looking up from her own book. "Yeah?"

"Do you want to go to the Mill this weekend?" she asked, shifting forward slightly.

Considering it for the moment, Max almost wanted to say 'yes' - yet she wasn't so sure after another second or so. Rachel would be there. Chloe would be there.

Neither would be good for Max's well being right about now, probably - but for different reasons. One would probably try to kill her, and the other…

Yeah. It was a hazard of sorts.

"I, uh… I d-don't know…" Max mumbled and let her head drop, eyes focused down on her homework. She fussed about with her pencil before dropping it between the pages. "I don't think that's a good idea."

With a quiet gasp, Max had found Dana sitting beside her only a split-second later - her arm already wrapped around her. Max looked up at her and Dana looked back down at Max with a soft smile.

"Why?" she asked, rubbing Max's shoulder. "Is it because of-"

"-Rachel, yes." Max sighed. "I don't think she'll take kindly to me being there anymore," she mumbled.

Dana hummed thoughtfully.

"We should go anyway," she spoke up after a few seconds. "Rachel won't do anything with the crowd there - trust me."

"I d-don't know…"

"C'mon Max," Dana pushed again, giving Max a small nudge. "I'll be there. Rachel won't try to mess with you, I promise."

That was… reassuring. Dana would be there, and Max had seen Dana angry just a few days prior. That was quite the spectacle, she had to admit, and she was pretty sure even Rachel was a bit afraid when she'd seen her back then.

Maybe…

"Actually, you know what?" Max mumbled and lifted her head up, looking at Dana again. "Yeah. Yeah, let's go to the Mill this weekend - screw what Rachel thinks or says."

Dana was a bit surprised, honestly. Max was too - more so even - but she felt a small spurt of courage knowing that she'd have somebody with her, somebody that… cared? Maybe all she needed was that little push.

She wasn't so sure.

"That's more like it," Dana whispered and squeezed her arm around Max. "Don't let Rachel drain the fun out of it."

Max nodded and looked down at her book, then back up at Dana. She leaned up and stole a quick kiss - only a peck - catching Dana off guard just briefly.

She was getting good at this whole confidence thing. Kissing too. Who'd have known?

Though she didn't expect Dana to suddenly cup her chin and lean in for a much better, much longer kiss somehow. It made her heart pound, her cheeks engulf in crimson and her eyes to close almost dreamily.

Max was getting used to having a girlfriend.

When the weekend came - which it did only a day or so later - Max and Dana were well on their way to the Mill. They'd arrived in the parking lot just outside, dressed in what they usually wore for the place; though Max's style saw some improvements, courtesy of Dana.

Approaching, Max was pressed against Dana slightly - her arm around her waist. It was new to her, being so close, but she found that she didn't actually mind it that much. People could talk - Max didn't care.

Also, she kind of hoped it would make Chloe… jealous?

Was that so bad?

Max felt bad thinking about it actually, so she stopped. Instead, she focused on the pounding music coming out of the Mill as usual - bobbing her head along.

As Dana led them inside, Max was sure they got a few looks. Probably because she was a somewhat-regular-now arriving with a plus-one of sorts, that being Dana obviously. Neither Max nor Dana paid it much attention though as they headed straight for the bar.

They grabbed beers - despite neither liking them - and then promptly found a table nearby the mosh pit.

Dana smiled as she tapped the bottle necks together before they both took a sip. They also both winced right afterwards - putting their beer right back down on the table.

"I don't like beer," Max admitted.

Snorting, Dana nodded. "Me neither."

They shared a look and laughed - drinking anyway. Eventually they had to get used to the taste, right? Hopefully. Max couldn't see herself drinking beer regularly though, nor could Dana.

Still, once a week on the weekend - relaxing after school and dancing to some pretty good music? She didn't mind that, not really.

"Hey, so how're you holding up so far?" Dana asked over the music and the chatter of other people around them. She could see Max was slightly jittery - tapping her fingers against the desk, her bottle, constantly moving side to side.

It was cute, Dana had to admit.

"I'm… fine. Sorry, just trying to forget the whole Rachel stuff," Max said a few seconds later, smiling across the table.

"Don't be sorry, it was a stressful situation - but that's why we're here now, to relax."

Max nodded, took a swig from her bottle and winced again. "I know."

Dana rolled her eyes and quickly walked around the table, pushing herself into Max's side. She gave her a nudge with her head and smiled. "Cheer up. We're gonna be having fun tonight."

Looking up at Dana, Max nodded and then looked away. Then, only seconds later, she turned her head back around and stole another unexpected kiss. "Thanks."

"We'll be doing a lot more of that too," Dana teased and playfully knocked their hips together.

Max blushed, groaned but then smiled anyway.

At some point later, Dana had managed to drag Max out to dance ahead of Madhouse's set.

It was even more fun than usual, Max had to admit.

They joked and laughed together, obviously danced too. Dana sometimes would slow them down and talk a bit more, then shoot flirtatious jokes - some of which flew right over Max's head, but others made her groan and roll her eyes because they were so bad.

In all honesty, Max kinda lost the track of time. An hour went by, then two - bands came and went, neither of them really noticing. Music and sound blended together somehow, probably because Max and Dana were so focused on one another.

Surprisingly, they got more beers - one, perhaps two more. They stopped afterwards because the taste wasn't getting any better and they were kinda buzzed from it all.

But they did continue dancing.

They were closer together this time, Dana ensuring of that. She wanted Max to let go, to relax and to have fun - but she didn't have to push far to make that happen.

There was one more set before Madhouse finally came onto the stage.

As the crowd cheered and stopped dancing, Max and Dana followed them too - standing somewhere near the back and off to the side. Whilst Dana was completely fine with looking over the stage as the band went through quick sound checks, Max somewhat… wilted.

She saw Rachel, but it didn't look like Rachel saw her.

Dana noticed and almost immediately pulled her arm around Max. "Hey - she doesn't see you," Dana spoke up over the crowd. "It's fine, Max. C'mon - don't let her ruin the night just because she's here."

Max flapped her mouth uselessly once, twice - three times. Afterwards she just nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right!" she exclaimed over the racket. People were getting loud.

With a smile, Dana pulled her arm back and then dragged Max somewhere closer to the centre - wanting her to get a better look at the band. Also Chloe, but Max didn't know that.

There was a sudden guitar wail, then silence. The crowd calmed and watched, only a few more whistles and whoops and cheers following before they all were quiet.

"Hey y'all!" Chloe spoke into the mic, leaning in as she tuned her guitar. She played a few quick notes and laughed as the crowd cheered at that too. "Everyone feelin' good tonight?"

Another wave of cheers.

"Alright, I'm takin' that as a yes!" Chloe replied to them and looked around. She didn't notice Max, it seemed. "You know… I was thinkin' we could start slow tonight…" she trailed off.

There were much less whoops and cheers this time.

"...yet it seems y'all wanna get right to it, that right?" she asked and grinned.

Max, Dana and the rest of the crowd all cheered.

Chloe simply smiled and looked behind her, then towards Rachel - seconds later she finally focused back on the crowd. She played a few more notes before abruptly cutting them off.

The drums came in seconds later, harshly at that.

"They stick to my tongue," she began, her guitar joining in only seconds later, "the kisses you threw at me…"

Chloe pressed closer against the mic, raising her voice. "I'm fallin' in love, with X's and ecstasy," she sang. "I tripped on my tongue, and fell into wild dreams…"

Pulling back, she showed off a bit - grinning at the crowd. Seconds later she was back at it.

"Peel off your guts, punch me romantically, I'm burned out on luck - it never did much for me…" Chloe bobbed her head for a few moments before leaning back in. "Tonight let's be young, and light up these sleeping streets…"

As the drums suddenly died down, Chloe played a few notes herself - breaking the tempo. She reached up to grab the mic and pressed it closer.

"It's friday night and I'm in the base-ment! " she growled - the drums kicking in for just a few seconds. They went silent again.

"Screamin' out my lungs with my best friends!" she continued, throwing her head back slightly yet keeping the mic pressed against her lips.

"I hope when I die, I feel this alive…"

Madhouse went on and on. Song after song, they impressed even more than the last. The crowd wasn't getting any quieter either.

Max and Dana however once again found themselves lost. Mostly in the music - but themselves too. They danced and laughed and Dana pushed closer, holding Max's hips as they were bumped into by others.

It was there, perhaps in the heat of the moment, that they both leaned in and kissed.

This was different than the last time - than any other time they kissed. There was a thrill to this, it felt more alive and they both wanted this almost, they both pushed in, collided together and-

There was a sudden shriek as the music came to a stop.

No. It was just one guitar - the drums were still going, yet they too stopped only seconds later.

Silence.

Max pulled back, as did Dana, and the two looked at one another - then around themselves.

Dana noticed that the crowd was staring and making some room around them - almost highlighting them as some sort of spectacle for all to watch. But she couldn't quite figure out why , not immediately anyway.

Max did. Max figured it out in an instant the music came to a stop.

Staring down at her from the stage was Chloe, eyes wide. Her mouth was open as her head leaned back away from the mic - just… staring. Staring at Max, at Dana.

There was a look on her face, one of… confusion, shock, sadness - perhaps jealousy?

Max couldn't figure it out as she simply looked back at her. Her cheeks were quick to start burning up and she felt Dana tugging on her hand, but Max couldn't look away. She couldn't.

It went on for a few more moments.

Rachel approached Chloe, grabbed her by the chin and kissed her - causing even more confusion in the crowd. After a few more seconds, there were a few cheers.

Yet Chloe wasn't exactly into it - her eyes were still desperately focused on Max, even with her head turned and her lips locked with Rachel. Only once they broke away did she blink, look away and focus on Rachel.

Leaning into the mic, she cleared her throat. "Uh. Sorry y'all - I just got all hot and bothered about two girls makin' out," she joked - not once looking at Max, not again.

As the crowd roared in laughter and cheered and fell back into one another, it seemed their focus was once again back on the band. Soon the drums took off and then the guitars, then sure enough Chloe was singing again.

It didn't sound the same though.

"Max," Dana said and began to drag Max out of the crowd - towards the bar. "C'mon. I think that's enough for the night."

Max just flapped her mouth about some more - still looking at Chloe as she was dragged and dragged and dragged, back towards the bar and then further; towards the exit.

Not once did Chloe look at her.

Shit.