I started on my second mission with Chloe and her proposal planning. There was a slight hypocrisy here, when Chloe won't help me and I had to help her, but I guess mine was silly and hers was a huge deal. So, I decided to help her by, first, going into Rachel's feed for inspiration again.
I couldn't believe I didn't notice it before, but her photos were only ever in color when she and Chloe were physically together again. There were plenty of times where she mentioned her or talked to her through Skype, but she never took pictures of them happening. Maybe because, it wouldn't be the same. Rachel was showing what her whole world looked like without her: bleak.
So, pictures. She was a model so she was used to pictures and she thought her world was bright when Chloe was around. Mentioning it again, I still had hundreds of pictures of them. I went through many portfolio folders and I had the stacks from our individual shoots, the light and dark contrast photographs. Many pictures of them back in Arcadia Bay, the times we went to the lighthouse, our times at the junkyard, sneaking into Vortex Club parties and other parties like that, and even though I was graduating, I took a picture of them in their nice outfits.
Now, pictures of them hugging for the first time in months, some from Rachel's mini-fashion show I could print, some I could even take from her Instagram, some I took from my first real photoshoot and the official one, when they met again back in Arcadia Bay, going to the Blackwell pool, together, and then every picture I took in the car. There was enough to make a whole exhibit.
Then, it hit me: exhibit.
I quickly stacked all the photos on my desk, all in order in time and separating the ones they were together and not. I tried my best to make them neat, but some were sideways and corners were sticking out, so I just left it. I jumped back into bed, and right on time, Chloe walked in to check on me.
"Hey," she whispered, "Did you find anything?"
"Yeah," I pointed to my desk, "We should do something with those. That's the best idea I got."
"Hella cool, but you should hide those, why the fuck are they just outside?"
"I just finished looking for all of them!" I whisper-yelled.
"Okay, MaxDonald's," she talked in her normal voice, "We're gonna sleep now, so if you don't mind getting out of here." She grabbed the blanket on my office chair and then draped it over the pictures. Back in a whisper, "Let's talk about it tomorrow."
"Wait, one more thing!" I whisper-yelled again. "I need the video from your phone. I have to send it to Victoria."
Chloe groaned silently, but sent it to my phone anyway.
I left the room, passing a tired Rachel who said "goodnight" on the way and giving a weak side hug, and I was back on the couch again.
I looked back on my phone again and realized, there was no one else who could help me with planning the proposal. It was strictly an us thing. Except...
I typed her number right away and I walked into the kitchen, away from those two as much as possible.
"How long does it take to get to San Francisco?" Joyce sounded very annoyed. I feel bad for forgetting about calling her. Good job, Max. Getting scolded sucks.
"Sorry, Joyce, I was hanging out with Kate and those two when on a date, we were all busy."
"Okay, I'll take that excuse. You finally remembered?"
"No. I mean, yes, but I'm calling about Chloe's plans to propose."
"Okay, she has one?"
"No," I played with the spoons and forks in the drying rack, "I'm planning it, she told me, so I was thinking, are you able to bring that truck to San Francisco somehow?"
"Hey Max," Rachel suddenly walked into the room again.
"Gotta go bye." I hung up on Joyce.
"Who were you talking to?"
"Uh, Steph! She's just a friend from a class about some homework. Actually, she totally wants to meet you! What's up?"
"Cool but, uh... Oh, no, nothing, I just wanted to say thank you for taking care of Chloe while she's getting sober right now. I still don't have that video call out of my head and… and it makes me sad every time it comes to mind. So, I do mean this. Thank you for just being in our lives, really."
"I'm happy to be a part of it." I smiled at her. "One question."
"Sure, what is it?"
I turned and walked towards a cabinet, swinging it open to reveal the untouched bottles of booze filling it up, "Do I throw these away or give it to the next person who drinks?"
Rachel sighed then said, "What did Chloe do when she drank too much?"
"Well, she threw one at my head and missed and then slammed me into the floor repeatedly."
Her face changed into a confused expression. That was a lot of information. "Holy shit…" She got on her tiptoes and grabbed two bottles, "Let's just drop these down the sink."
I scoffed at first. I thought it was just a joke and she would just put them back. She popped both the bottles open and started to pour it down, giving a dead look into my eyes to show how serious she was about it. I nodded and then followed what she did, pouring them together into a dangerous concoction down the drain, until every bottle didn't have a single drop in it. "I'm okay, by the way." I wanted to reassure her.
"Good."
"You could recycle if you're into that, or turn them into nice vases. I know I would." Rachel giggled and gave me another hug, "Goodnight, Max, see you in the morning. I forgot that Chloe had work, so if you want to sleep next to me, you could."
"I'll think about it." I grabbed my phone again as she left, instead of calling Joyce, I decided on Kate and checking if Victoria's guest was still there.
"Hello?"
"Hey Kate, are you doing okay or are they still—"
"They're still together. I never understood why people needed earphones until now, they're great for blocking... that, out."
"That sounds awful, I wish I could bring you over or something."
"I'll be fine. This is just the first time this has happened. They have a lot of stamina, I'll give them that."
"Wait, it's still happening?"
"Sadly, yes, but Victoria has dealt with my music, so I guess it's my turn." She chuckled, but it was clearly forced.
"First of all, that's not even a fair comparison. Second, you could go to your friend's place, she's right above you, isn't she?"
"You're right, I might sleep at her place for right now. I need to sleep longer now. In fact, I'll do that, thanks, Max!"
"Hey Max, I'm leaving, so sleep good, alright?" Chloe gave me a quick hug. She was leaving for work. That was the bad part about her working at night.
"Are you sure you don't wanna bring Rachel with you?"
"I want to, but I don't want her to get hounded."
"Right." I nodded. Right, famous friend. "Have fun at work."
I took up Rachel's offer and she slept on Chloe's side, holding me in a loose cuddle, which was super comfortable and relaxing to be in. We said another "goodnight."
This proposal thing is making me feel super nervous. It isn't even my proposal! I still felt the same amount of anxiety and nervousness anyone would feel while getting ready for this. I couldn't imagine how Chloe was feeling and I wondered how Rachel hasn't figured it out yet.
I thought I was going to get a good night's sleep, for sure, instead, I woke up at around six AM and to Chloe shaking me around. She just got home, judging by the whites of her eyes being red and still in the jacket and jeans she left in last night.
"Hey," she whispered again, "We gotta go. We gotta plan this shit out."
I was out of Rachel's hug, as she switched to hugging the pillow instead and facing towards the wall. I got up and lazed around to get ready. We left out, the drive was quiet and not even music was playing. She stopped in front of my school, parallel parked and turned her car off.
"So, what are you doing with those photos?" She asked.
"I was thinking, since she's a model and takes all these pictures, you could propose to her with those. Thankfully, I took so many of you two over the course of two years and some change including this year, it would be a good idea."
"Oh, like an exhibit type of shit?"
"Now you get the idea! I called Joyce last night about your truck and, of course, her mom should be a part of it, so if we find a "for lease" building, then we could put those pictures up and then, quite literally, take her down memory lane."
"I hella can't believe I'm doing this." Chloe sighed, but she was still smiling.
"Are you gonna back out?"
"Hell no."
