The rest of the day was me watching on the side as another photographer came to take pictures for the inside of the magazine. Rachel and Chloe were having fun being together and doing outfit changes. I was told to not take any pictures on my Polaroid while this was happening. It was around lunchtime, they weren't done just yet, so I left the building and called Kate, hoping she was available. She should answer. From the texts, I have a feeling she was staying home today.
"Hey Max." She answered happily.
"Hey, finished with the photoshoot but they still have more to do with another guy."
"How cool! Was it fun?"
"Super fun, I had a great time! But, I forgot to ask. What are your plans for today?"
She laughed lightly, "Nothing, really. I went to church, did more sketches, watched TV, and practiced on my violin. I'm just writing now to pass the time."
"You're definitely more productive than me. What are you writing?"
"You know, friends keep telling me to revise and revise the film. I think today will finally be the last time I do it."
"Do you want to read it to me? See if it sounds good?"
"Maybe when I'm done! We actually found actresses, so they're finally filming some scenes here and there."
"I really need to see it sometime."
"You will. Do you want to see the filming or the final product?"
I hummed, "Hm... both!"
"I'll see if you could come watch! They have been wanting to meet you, actually."
"They sound cool, but they do help you with revisions, right?"
"They do sometimes, but they depend on me to write it out for them."
I sat there quietly. I could faintly hear music playing on Kate's side, papers moving around, and her putting her pencil down. It wasn't weird, strangely. It was very comforting knowing she was there, listening. I was sweeping my feet against the concrete, listening to the scrape on the bottom of my shoe.
"I have an idea." She said.
"What is it?"
"Describe something to me. I'll try to guess what it is."
"Like, things I'm seeing right now?"
"Where you are, things you like, anything at all and I'll try to guess. We could make it twenty questions."
"Sure, sounds fun," I looked around me to describe it, but everything was so generic, "Okay, I got it, you ask something."
"Alright, um, is it a place?"
"No." I started to walk around the parking lot again. I've passed every single car for the fifth time already.
"Are you looking at it right now?"
"No."
I heard Kate tapping her pencil, "Is it a living thing?"
"Yes."
"Is it an animal?"
"No." I smiled. I wonder if she was ever going to get it.
"Is it a person?"
"Yes."
"Is it a boy?"
"Nope."
"Is it a girl?"
"Yes."
"Is she... blonde?"
"Yes."
"Is she a celebrity?"
"No."
She huffed, "I thought you would be describing Rachel."
"Nope, that would be too easy."
"Okay then... Is she a character from something?"
"No."
"Does she go to our school?"
"Yes."
"Do you have a class with her?"
"Yes."
"Is she tall?"
"Uh... no."
"Do you see her a lot?"
"Yes."
"Is she pretty?"
"Yes, she's very pretty."
"Do you like her?"
I paused for a second. I wasn't sure how she was interpreting "like." I could only assume she meant in a friendly way, but I could only take a chance. It was true either way. I hesitated for a long time. Too long, in fact.
"Max? Are you there?" Kate spoke up again.
"... Maybe. Those count as questions, by the way."
"You did that on purpose!"
"You have one more question."
Kate was silent for a moment. I continued to walk around, starting to feel the weather cool down and it was even a little windy. Kate started to hum along to the song in the background, thinking of what her last question could be.
Then Kate gasped, "It's me, isn't it?!"
"You're correct!" I physically jumped.
"What do you mean maybe for the other question?! I thought you liked me!"
"Hey, I was just trying to throw you off." That was a lie. She actually sounded a little sad.
She let out what sounded like a "hmph!". I giggled at the sound. She had to be biting into her cheek and furrowing her eyebrows. It was cute in my head. She wasn't mad though. We started to giggle together. I leaned on the building and held my hand over my mouth, easing my giggling to a stop.
"You're so silly, Max." Kate said.
"This game was your idea."
"You did well though! You tricked me."
"Why thank you. I never got that before."
That topic ended with our laughter stopping at the same time.
"Oh Max, Victoria actually left a little bit ago and she said she won't be back until tonight. If you guys finish the photoshoot soon, you can come back to my apartment. Plus, we could definitely surprise her if Rachel is already inside."
"I'll ask them! Rachel will love to do that. What is your roommate doing that she'll be back late?"
"She's a party girl, so she takes advantage of the weekend for it, I think I mentioned it to you before. Anyway, I have to call another friend right now, so let me know if you can come over or not, okay?"
"Okay Kate, maybe see you later?"
"Maybe! Bye Max."
I sighed, the corners of my mouth persisted into a grin. My cheeks felt hot as I pressed my hands into them and I stared at the ground trying to comprehend the feeling I was having. It was so different and new. It made my heart feel so full and my mind so flustered and cluttered with pure happiness.
"Whoa, Max Machina," Chloe's voice interrupted, "Are you sick?"
Chloe towered over me, back in her ripped jeans and tank top, with her fingers through her hair. All the makeup from her face was gone too.
"No, I don't know what I'm feeling right now." I looked up at her, letting out a dreamy sigh.
"I think what you're looking for is gay piece of garbage."
I leaned my head back against the building, "Yeah..." It was a wistful, almost lost in space sort of tone in my voice. A tone I've never used before.
"Holy shit. Well, when you're done, we can finally go out somewhere."
"You guys are done?"
"For today," she said, irritated, "I dunno how she does this every day. And like it."
"I guess you won't be becoming a model."
"Hell no, I'll stick to coffee making. That other guy was so fucking annoying."
"And the alcoholic drink making thing." Saying that felt weird… She might drink at work too, and then drive like that… I would hate for that to happen. Ever.
"That too! I start for real on Saturday, but it's piece of cake."
"I wish I was confident like that."
"And you can, just keep acting like you're confident. I think that's how that advice goes." Huh, that's good advice, actually.
When Rachel finally came out, we all hopped into Chloe's car and went out to eat. We were searching for a fast food place for now; Rachel said, and I quote, "fuck me up." We all agreed on eating In-N-Out, but it was a far drive.
"Had fun, Max?" Rachel looked back at me, her tone was like a mom picking her kid up from a birthday party.
"I did! Thanks for allowing me to take pictures for such a high-end magazine."
"I wanted you to take those pictures! It was fun and I'll ask for some shots for your portfolio."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that." I thumped myself on my forehead. Rachel only laughed at my forgetfulness.
"By the way, did you just walk around outside earlier, like in a circle? I was wondering where the hell you went."
"Yeah, I was talking to Kate on the phone. Which reminds me, do we have time to go see her? She said that we can come over and you could scare her roommate."
"Oh, my god, yes! I need to do that! After we eat, and then we'll talk about how we're going to do that."
It was an hour-long drive. All three of us talked about random things like graffiti and signs we pass to Rachel's sudden follower growth. She even started trending for a bit online from the interview. It all ended very quickly and Rachel was grateful for that, as she explained that she stayed home to reply to any fans on all her social medias and to not get hounded by paparazzi trying to find her.
"Should we use the drive-through instead?" I asked.
"I mean, if people are going to recognize us, then so be it. My manager's probably finding bodyguards right now."
"You mean just you two, right?"
Without missing a beat, Rachel replied, "Nope, you too, Max."
"... Excuse me?"
"You too, Max, I told you before that I was going to upload a photo of us." She handed me her phone.
It was open on her Instagram, filled with pictures of her and Chloe from just being in bed to today, where they were in the studio getting their hair done. Side by side, there were two pictures just for me. One was the whole collage I took of her when we decided to walk down the street and the other one was when we were doing the fashion show.
I pressed the one with my face actually in it. I was really curious what the comments said.
This is my friend, Max! She's the one who took those amazing polaroids! She's hella cute, right?! I read the comments under her caption and a good majority were agreeing and some even asked if I had an Instagram or if I was single.
"This is so crazy." I said. I started to look through her pictures.
"Hey, it's okay! People won't go up to you, I know it."
I made a hum of agreement, but I kept scrolling through her phone. There were a lot of changes in colors. Her more recent ones were so bright and she was smiling in complete bliss. Even before this whole coming out thing, all the locations and foods she took were stunning. When the pictures turned black-and-white with little to no emotion showed in her selfies, I knew it was the time she was away and travelling.
I gave it back before I dived in too far.
"Being famous seems so stressful..." I scratched my head.
"I don't want to call myself that, but it is. I won't let myself do anything crazy though. Already passed that phase in high school, right, Chloe?"
"Yep! It's still happening for me, if we're being real."
"Well, you passed the whole weed thing."
"You're right. I guess I like drinking more."
Rachel chuckled, the uncomfortable, forced kind of laugh, "Yeah."
When they laughed, it was quiet after. I remembered Rachel's face when I first told her about Chloe and her habit, distant and… disappointed. Then, I remembered their fight. So maybe, those angry feelings were still lingering around. However, as long as she was here, Chloe was drinking less and she was happier. Both of them were. The radio played its pop music softly. I finally sent a message to Kate that we'll be over soon.
What we expected at the In-N-Out was to be surrounded by people and not being able to eat at all. Though there were people who wanted pictures with Rachel, it was surprisingly tame and we were able to sit down and actually have our meals. There was something about In-N-Out's white and red colors surrounding us from the walls to the tables and chairs, the loud chatter of people, the employees yelling out numbers, and the overpowering smell of french fries that just felt right.
We bought five fries (Rachel wanted three), three cheeseburgers, and three vanilla milkshakes. We sat at a table for four people, but of course they sat together and I got the third wheel seat.
"I felt like I haven't eaten here in years." Rachel moaned as she finished chewing on fries.
"I've never seen you eat so fast." I was more amazed than shocked.
"I'm hella hungry, okay!"
She was already halfway done with her burger. She did avoid eating during the whole photoshoot, even something small and would not affect her in any way.
"Do we have to go tomorrow, Rache?" Chloe said, bitterly.
"With a photographer like that, we can't just skip out. Trust me, I hate him too, I do, but it'll be over before you know it."
Chloe mumbled angry curses under her breath, staring at the bite marks in her burger.
"You'll be fine, hemoChlobin." Rachel gives her a quick kiss on the cheek. Chloe smiled, but didn't look at her.
"I thought you said to leave the nicknames to you." I pointed out.
"Yeah, but yours suck ass." Her voice emphasized "ass" with an angry tone. I just went back to eating again, frowning and slouching in my seat.
Our meal was over before we knew it and yet, somehow, Rachel looked exactly the same. On the drive back, Kate didn't text back until we were about five minutes away from her apartment.
Kate: Sorry, I took a nap. Are you nearby?
Me: It's alright, Kate. And yeah, less than five minutes.
Something felt different from Kate's message. I didn't know what it was, so I shook it off.
At her apartment, it was kind of creepy and the whole black-and-red colored building was very off-putting. Parking on the side of the street, we went to number 20, and Chloe did her signature knock and just banged her fist against the door. A minute passes before Kate opened the door, greeted by her in her teal pajamas, her hair in a messy bun, and tired eyes.
"Hi you guys, sorry that I don't look well." She opened the door wider.
"It's okay, are you sick?" Rachel reached over and felt Kate's forehead.
"No, I was sleeping," she yawned and then moved aside, "Come in."
We followed and went into the small apartment, welcomed by the living room filled with cream-colored walls, a big flat-screen TV, black leather couches, and a matching colored coffee table. I recognized everything, even the pillows, from the video.
"Welcome to my home away from home," Kate announced, "Please, seat down. I need to make myself some tea."
I sat myself on the couch, sinking into it and it was so comfortable. The pillows against my back were so soft. The couch was L-shaped and Chloe took advantage of that and lied down on the longer seat.
"How was the photoshoot?" Kate asked from the kitchen.
"It was fun!" Rachel replied, "Max did such a good job and she made it so exciting, and then the other photographer came and it was so... suck-y..."
"That's a shame. It must be so tiring having to pose and change clothes many times."
We heard a tea kettle start to whistle and then stop.
"It really depends for me. Today, it was one of those tiring days."
Kate came over with a white mug in hand and sat next to me. Looking closer, her pajama pants had a print of a cartoon chick peeking out of its egg all over it and her sweater was plain but matching in color. She even had her bracelet on. Wowser, it's really cold in here. Does she prefer it to feel like winter still?
"Aw, I'm sorry that it was one of those days. If I knew, I wouldn't have asked you guys to come."
"Don't even worry about it! We wanted to come over!"
Kate smiled and then sipped from her cup, "I appreciate you three taking the time out."
It had been more of a conversation between them two, while Chloe and I made our own with just our facial expressions.
"By the way, I really like your hair, Chloe."
"Thanks," she ruffled with her own hair, "It was cut like this just for the shoot."
"Oh wow, can they really take off that much?"
Chloe just shrugged, "Free haircut, I can't complain."
"I wouldn't complain either."
"Anyway," Rachel butted in, "You said "home away from home." Where are you from, originally?"
"I'm from Oregon."
"Holy crap, we all were! Well, I'm actually from Long Beach, but I lived there! Were you near Arcadia Bay at all?"
"No, my town was a couple miles away. I went to a boarding school as well, so that was far to ever pass."
I felt awkward sitting there in between.
"What school was it?"
"It was a Christian academy. I went there for all my high school years."
Rachel scoffed, "Not surprised by that."
"Now that I think about it, I've only been to Christian schools until now." Kate laughed at herself. I could only imagine what being in those kinds of schools were like.
She placed her mug down on the coffee table, which had scattered fashion magazines on it. One, in fact, had Rachel on the front.
"How would you like to scare her?" Kate said with a slightly sinister smile.
"Not really sure, you know her fears, right?"
"Her fear, that I know of, is me going into her room," Kate looked over to the hallway behind Chloe, "I've never gone in before."
"But..." I finally spoke up, "You've known her for a year?"
"I know it sounds crazy, but it's true. It's locked. Ironic, because she forgot the apartment key."
"Yikes and you lived with her for this long?"
"I mean, this is way better than before. At least she talks to me directly now."
"Oh god, what?" Rachel's eyes widened, "Okay, yeah, I need to scare her. Let's use this."
She grabbed the magazine with herself on it.
"Someone in here needs to pretend to know magic," She continued, "Can't be Max, she sucks at acting, and if she knows me, she knows Chloe."
I actually felt physically hurt. First, I sucked at nicknames and now this.
"So, just me?" Kate didn't look too comfortable with that.
"Does she fall for things easily?"
Kate placed her hand on her chin, "... Somewhat."
"Good enough," Rachel then grabbed Chloe's and my shoulder and pulled us in, "Group in. I have a plan."
We expected to stay long, but not two-in-the-morning long.
"We should have brought clothes to stay over." I bumped my arm with Kate's. Rachel and Chloe were in the living room, practicing where to hide and where Rachel will position herself to scare Victoria.
Kate and I were in her room. It was as I expected: very clean, organized, and lots of pastel colors. Her walls had a few posters of inspirational quotes along with a circular mirror by her door, and right on her nightstand was a Bible, of course. Her pet rabbit was on top of her dresser just munching on a carrot; she was incredibly cute. Against the dresser was her violin. We sat on her bed as she tried to teach me a game called Slide.
"Wish you could. But Victoria has class, I have to meet my friends in the morning, and Rachel and Chloe said they have more photographs to take."
"I don't have class."
"You don't have clothes here."
Slide was a hand game that involved a lot of clapping, coordination, and rhythm. Clapping was fine, but I didn't have the other two, so we would stay in sync for about five times and then I'd lose it. It was just a lot of hand holding every time I messed up.
"Okay, but Einstein wore the same suit every day for a whole week."
Kate smirked, she wasn't going to give in to that, "Are you saying you're Einstein?"
"… Yes, I am."
She shook her head, "Let's make a deal then. If we get passed twenty, then you can stay."
I groaned, grabbing her hands, "I'm glad you believe in me, but we know that's not happening."
Kate looked up at the ceiling in thought. I looked up too and let go of her hands.
"How about I make it up to you?" She looked back at me with a smile. I looked back and tilted my head to the side, leaning back on my hands.
"Since we had such an awesome day yesterday, how about I'll take us somewhere next Sunday? We'll hang out all day again."
Did I really have to think about it? Of-fucking-course I want to go!
"Yes! Absolutely… um, I would love to."
Before Kate could say anything, there was a knock on the door. It wasn't Chloe-aggressive, but it was demanding enough. Kate got up and, when she was at the door, she put her finger to her lips to shush me. She turned off the light and closed the door.
I went up to the door again and opened it a crack. I watched as Kate went to the door; I think Rachel and Chloe were hiding in the dark in the kitchen. When the door opened, there was Victoria. She had a blonde pixie cut, wearing a really tight black dress and a big burgundy fur coat. Dear dog, I hope it was faux. In her hand were her heels.
"Hey Victoria."
"Hey Katie," She greeted back, "That party was crazy! You need to go to one sometime!" She crashed onto the couch, right where we wanted her to be.
"Ah no, I prefer to stay home, you know that already." Kate sat next to her.
"You need to lighten up sometime."
All three of us were just waiting for the keyword we all established. There was a pounding in my chest and tingle through my fingers.
"I have been. I already told you about Max."
"Yeah and she sounds fucking weird."
Kate shushed her.
"Sorry, she sounds very lovely." Her voice was dripping in sarcasm. Did she hate me? I couldn't dwell on it for so long; I shook my head rapidly to get the thought out. I continued to watch.
"You still don't believe that she's friends with Rachel and I know her?"
"I'm getting there."
"Well, maybe I could prove it to you."
"And how will you do that, Marsh?"
"I've been looking into some tricks and magic lately and—"
"Oh, my god, I don't have time for this. This is a prank, isn't it?"
"Do I look like I could do pranks?"
"... You have a point. Whatever, I'll go along, I guess."
"Yay!" Kate clapped her hands, "Okay, so we'll have to clean this table except for something with Rachel on it. Which, we just so happen to have."
Kate said she was a bad actress and yet, she was doing all of this naturally.
"So, close your eyes, Victoria."
I could hear her release an irritated groan, but I think she did as she was told. Kate started wave her hand in front of Victoria's face, making sure she couldn't see anything.
"And we're just going to sit here."
"Oh, no cheesy spells or make me do something embarrassing?"
"Nope, we're going to sit and wait. Tell me why you like Rachel so much."
"Wait" was the keyword. Rachel and Chloe crawled out of wherever they were hiding and did their best to quietly get into position. She lied down on top of coffee table, on her back and acted like she was just dead on top of it. Chloe helped with straightening anything out and fixing her hair. When everything looked good, she sent me a thumbs-up and then crawled back to her spot.
"What isn't there to like? She's pretty, confident, well-spoken, and she's accepting everyone for who they are."
"Wow, I don't know why you get so mad about me knowing her."
"It's just a big deal to me! Katie, it's two AM right now, where are we going with this?"
"Okay, open your eyes."
When I assume she opened her eyes, Rachel stayed in that position with her head towards her.
I could vaguely hear Victoria say "what the fuck," and then Rachel's eyes shot open.
She freaked out. She actually jumped onto the couch, like there was a rat scurrying on the floor. She let out a shriek and many "holy shits". Hyperventilating and a hand on chest, she slid back down the couch.
"This isn't real! You know magic, Kate!"
"She's real!"
Chloe and I came out of hiding. We were both laughing, high-fiving and fist bumping each other, as we approached. Rachel finally sat up, laughing along with us and holding her stomach. The fact that Victoria would prefer believing that Kate knew magic was the best part.
Victoria had her hand on her forehead, trying to comprehend everything that just happened. "Katie, it's been a long time coming, but I love you."
"Could I go into your room now?"
"No."
