When the front door opened, it was pushed so hard it ricocheted and tried to close again. It shocked me; I didn't hear it unlock. Chloe pushed the door open again, straight faced yet obviously fuming, and then sat next to me with a thud. Rachel came in, only smiling, and then closed the door lightly. This will be interesting.
"Don't fucking mind me, it's not like I was trying to spend quality fucking time with my girlfriend." Chloe growled. Was she… talking to me? She's not looking at me or Rachel.
"Chloe, it's okay," Rachel pulled Chloe into a hug, holding her head against her chest, "You don't have to worry so much."
New record: third wheel without even trying.
"What happened?" I scooted away from them.
"It's a long story," Rachel let her go, "But, the short story is, people were staring and we were getting hella angry about it. There goes our plans again, huh?"
"That sucks but… you said you had good news, at least?"
"Oh yeah! So," She grabbed my hands this time, "we ran into Kate! Right before she left for class."
"That's cool." I wanted to question why they were close to school again, but I decided not to. "Did you guys talk to her?"
Okay, you might be kinda mad at me, but I may have mentioned the test thing to her and she said she's willing to help you study!"
"What—"
"Yup, one o'clock at Starbucks, you're gonna hang out with Kate! Aren't you excited?!"
I chuckled, nervously, "Yeah… I am, but it's such short notice."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm… I'm gonna be a wreck." I've only seen her suddenly, where I never expect to see or talk to her. But planned? I'm already nervous.
"Then, I'll go with you tomorrow!" She grabbed my shoulders, shaking me.
"A-alright—"
"Okay! We need to sleep. You need to get some rest and then we'll plan out your outfit!" Rachel grabbed my shoulders and then shook me back and forth. I felt myself become dizzy, but I was feeling the enthusiasm. It was only seven, but I do need sleep… I could stay up a little longer.
"Chloe," Rachel stood up and grabbed Chloe's arm, pulling her off the couch, "You need to relax."
Chloe was just letting Rachel pull her around, like a rag doll.
"Come on, nice massage, watch your favorite shows, cuddling." Rachel named off. A few years ago, those would have been completely different suggestions. I guess they aren't fighting anymore. I watched as they went back into the room, but this time the door didn't shut loudly like every other time.
All I wanted was to sleep good. Instead, I woke up with a stiff back and a minor headache. It might be from being on my laptop at three AM with the brightness all the way up in complete darkness. I feel like shit right now, but I gotta get up. Before I went to sleep, I was able to witness Rachel and Chloe spooning (Rachel against Chloe's back), so I was able to rest a little easier.
Okay, Max, don't be scared. It's just Kate! She was the one who suggested to helping! She wants to help you study. This isn't a date, don't you dare, it's just like a tutoring session! Except it's for free.
I stood up, my ankles and knees cracking, and went into the kitchen to grab a water bottle. As I chugged the water down, Chloe walked in, wearing the same clothes as yesterday, and seemed pretty happy.
"Morning, borMax, did you sleep at all?" Chloe also grabbed a water bottle.
"For like three hours, but I'm okay, actually," I leaned on the counter, "You slept for a long time."
"Dude, I feel great. I'm ready to wreck some shit up." Chloe hopped in place. She was full of energy and smiling, ready for her day. Not out of the ordinary, but… it hasn't happened in a long time. "I don't remember shit about yesterday, but I think it has something to do with Kate?"
"Yeah, studying with Kate at one today." I cleared my throat after, feeling my chest throb at her name. "I think Rachel's gonna make me do another fashion show."
"Wouldn't be surprised. She's your mom, isn't she?"
"Does that make you my other mom?"
"I did nearly beat the shit out of your ex recently so… I guess?" She shrugged.
Oh, right, my ex… I feel like my mind made that whole situation up. But no, Max, that was real. And then they had a fight right in front of me. I wish that wasn't real either.
I chuckled. The thought of Chloe being my mom—just a mom at all—felt so weird. Not that she wouldn't be a good mom, but it was more like a big kid trying to take care of another kid.
"Hey Chloe," I grabbed her shoulder before she could walk away.
"What's up?"
"You and Rachel are good now?" I couldn't get words like "fight" out of my mouth. I choked up at the end.
She exhaled, deeply and slowly, looking down at the ground. "I dunno. We're kinda not close right now? I know we like cuddled and want to go places and we still get mad when other people talk to us, but when it's just us, we don't really talk, you know?"
It sounded sad. They were both fighters, confrontational and so upfront with their emotions, but them being quiet with each other? I could tell it was more of Rachel who was avoiding it and she had to be acting aloof. They were putting up a front for me—a fact I already knew.
"What about you? You passed out hella hard."
"I'll be fine!" I waved my hand and shook my head. "You just get ready for your day."
When Chloe finished, I got up and started to fold my blanket, which I had never fixed before, and made the couch look slightly more presentable. I got my backpack ready with my Nutrition textbook and notebooks, taking any loose papers out and other useless things. The whole time I was alone, I couldn't stop thinking about them. I don't want to be the one to push them together to communicate, but I might have to. But, what did I know about communicating? I heard footsteps behind me; Rachel strutted in, glowing and in a very good mood.
"Good morning, Max," She pulled me into a tight hug and then kissed me on the cheek, "Today is going to be exciting!"
I blinked a few times, but didn't question the sudden positivity in the room, "Studying is exciting?"
"You're studying with Kate." Rachel emphasized, including a wink.
"It's still boring college stuff."
"I want to know what that's like! I don't know if I'm ever going to go to school again, so I want to see you guys be all studious and whatnot."
"Right," I nodded. I'll give you the answer to that, it really sucks, Rachel. "Well, how are you gonna get me ready for today?"
"Uh hello, pick out some of the clothes? We're doing another fashion show."
"Until noon?"
"If that's what it takes."
I could only laugh, but she was not messing around at all. She dragged me into the bedroom, pulling me by the wrist, "Come on, you have to pick something! Don't make me pick something for you."
"Alright, but don't judge me too hard."
Rachel then slid the dresser drawers open. A lot of my clothes were replaced inside, but if I dig deep enough, my older shirts were still in there. She was looking into them, one hand on her chin and other hand on her hip.
"What do you want to wear?" Rachel asked first.
I started to grab at shirts of different colors and digging into my drawers, but there was none that really liked. A pink shirt would be nice, something to match the springtime's bright colors, to get away from the black-and-red I wore yesterday.
"Do you have any ideas?" I countered. I need some time to ask the same question I asked Chloe. I could ask it the same way, but maybe Rachel would be more honest?
I watched as Rachel held a pale pink shirt, another one she bought from Vans, with a big print of mountains on the back. They really reminded me of the Paramount Pictures logo.
"You really like your Jane shirt and that's great, but this one looks better." Rachel held it up to my torso.
"I was considering it." I referred to my Jane shirt.
Even though she said she wanted me to choose, she was still dressing me up. I liked it, the fact she wanted to help at all, but it was just Starbucks. I didn't want to tell her what to do, but I didn't want to go super overboard.
"Hey, when's that interview gonna come out?" Start with something safe.
"Tomorrow, I think." She replied offhandedly.
"You're not worried?"
"Chloe is someone I didn't want to hide in the first place, so I don't really care if people started hating me. I already know what I'm going to do after it airs."
That sounds nice. Then again, it could be another front. "Oh yeah, what is it?"
"I'm going to put pictures up of us on whatever social media thing I got and never stop. I'm going to change my profile pictures for sure."
"Will Chloe suddenly become super famous and then I'm stuck living alone?"
"If people want to get to Chloe, they're going to have to get through me first," Rachel said hotly, "And no, Max, we're going to move altogether and you'll be going through school without having to worry about debt."
"That's the dream. The second part, I mean. I wouldn't want you and Chloe gone all the time. What if Chloe turns into a model too?"
"She's probably going to do one photoshoot with me and that's it. She would prefer to stay out of the spotlight."
"She seems annoyed enough from being hounded by everyone."
"You should have seen her when we left the restaurant."
Rachel held about five different shirts up to my body, but she stuck with the pink one. Rachel Amber: model, fashionista, and my mom.
"You know what, if we ever do one together, I'm going to beg for you to be the photographer."
"You trust me enough?"
"Max, I've seen your pictures. They're beautiful and they're professional. I'm going to beg and cry until they let me."
We both laughed, but I was going to keep that in mind. I'm not that good at taking photos… Rachel paired the pink shirt with khaki pants.
"How… are you two, anyway?"
"Me and Chloe?" She blinked at me. It felt like she was looking right through me. "I don't fucking know. I was ready to tell her off and talk about this drinking bullshit, I'm a damn Leo, but for whatever reason, I didn't. I don't know why; I can't seem to bring it up. I don't think it's awkward…"
"She was kinda drunk…"
Rachel shrugged her shoulders. The room felt tense and from Rachel's body language, balling her hands into fists and biting her lower lip, she had more to say. I have to change the subject. Now.
"Um, you go shower first. In fact, let me choose an outfit for you while you're in there. It's only fair."
"Good idea. I expect another flannel." Her body relaxed and she smiled. She went around the bed, opening her large suitcase. She sighed heavily, "I'm never going to be ready for that phone call. "Rachel, you have to leave.'"
"None of us will," I shook my head, my fingers interlocking together, "Anyway, grab what you need, I'm going to get you the perfect outfit."
"Alright, alright," she threw her purple bra at me, "Pushy, much?"
It hit me right in the face, falling onto the bed, "You're the one still wearing the same clothes from yesterday."
She walks by me, snatching her bra right back, "I blame Chloe."
I went right to her suitcase, already knowing that a majority of her clothing were flannels and tank tops. Typical Rachel Amber… It really does look like she's gonna live here for the rest of her life with us. I grabbed her usual ripped jeans, but I went into Chloe's side of our dresser and grabbed one of her white tank tops and a black-and-white flannel. I wanted to see if she'll notice or not. I just left it on the bed and grabbed my clothes.
I heard the bathroom door open and then the bedroom door close. After a minute, I heard laughter from her. I guess she recognized it right away.
"You think you're real slick, don't you, Max?!" Rachel exclaimed, muffled by the door.
"It's still your style!" I yelled back.
Fifteen minutes passed, Rachel strutted out of the room in her baggy clothes. I didn't realize it was Chloe's gay pride shirt, so Rachel had to flaunt around a rainbow flag with the words "GAY AF" over it across her chest for the day.
"Looking good, Rachel." I nodded at her and applauded. She did a spin and got into a pose with her hands on her hips.
"I can make this work." Rachel buttoned two in the middle and then took one shoulder off her flannel. Because the top was so oversize, her bra was noticeable, making it useless for cover.
"Chloe is gonna notice you for sure now."
"Hopefully, she'll say something."
"What about other people?"
"Fuck them, I know I look good as fuck right now," Rachel flipped her blonde hair, "Go shower and change already, we need to eat breakfast."
When we left the apartment, Rachel wanted to ride around in the cable cars again, travelling from there to Denny's a few blocks away from Starbucks. It was a busy morning, but of course, being with Rachel Amber, we were given special treatment and more unwanted attention. We looked through the menu for the sake of looking, rather than choosing, because we ordered coffee and the same breakfast plate.
"I hope Kate ate beforehand." I said naturally. I wouldn't mind buying her something if she didn't, though. But still.
"Me too. I'll give her a smack on her wrist if she didn't." She lifted her coffee mug to her lips. Feeling inspired, I took my camera out and pointed it at her. She stopped as she was taking a sip of coffee and looking out the window. I took the picture; she was unfazed by the flash.
Now that I think about it, I haven't felt any anxiety attacks or shutting down in front of Kate. Peaceful is a good word to describe it. It felt nice and maybe I really was just freaking out too much. Rachel seemed to notice too.
"It's nice to see you happy." She put her cup down.
"You're such a mom."
"I've never seen you all lovey and romance-y. I can't help it!"
We went on a full conversation about us and relationships, but she spoke more about hers (still avoiding the fight from before). She brought up Warren again and, feeling a sinking pit in my stomach, I wanted to avoid it. The both of us ate and conversed about the past and even Arcadia Bay for a little bit. Neither of us had anything huge to talk about on that, so that subject didn't last long. It eventually went to Rachel's time in Brazil and China and I listened to her closely as she went on and on. In the end, we stayed there a little longer to talk more. It was about ten-thirty when we left.
"Can I see that picture you took of me in there?" Rachel asked, brushing her fingers through her hair.
"Oh, yeah," I reached into my bag and handed the film to her, "I hope it's up to your standards."
"Bitch, it's more than above my standards," Rachel stared at it, eyes wide and mouth hanging open, "You have to do my photoshoots for the rest of eternity."
"They're not that good."
"Excuse me, don't talk about yourself like that."
"You're too kind."
"I'm not kind enough. You make me look better with an old camera than some guy with the fanciest equipment in the world could ever."
I could only smile. Was I really? My ego still feels like it's about to explode everywhere.
"Come on, we're doing a shoot, right now."
"What?"
"Come on, we could walk around and then if you want to take some pictures. We need to pass the time!"
We walked down the sidewalk and I stayed a little behind Rachel as she continued to walk aimlessly. Fans and followers stopped her once in a while; I could only hope she won't get stopped by TMZ or other paparazzi. I only ever took pictures when there weren't many people around her and the lighting wasn't overpowering or not enough. Rachel was having a blast, she was grinning so wide and she was laughing aloud, she clearly loved this moment. I was running out of film quickly and when we arrived at a stoplight intersection, I caught up with her.
"This is the last one." I said to her, shaking the film. I felt a lot of adrenaline from that. I need to do that more often.
"That's the most fun I've had taking pictures in a hella long time!" Rachel squealed excitedly, resting her arms around my shoulders.
"You don't have fun doing professional ones?"
"Not as much as this, I didn't have to do specific poses or make specific faces, I was just me, you know?"
I checked my phone. It was almost noon.
"We should get going."
"Then let's go. Chloe would want the company anyway." Then, we went on our way, still laughing about our photoshoot.
