I think Max was right in her diary about Kristine. She is a great friend to the both of us, and it's nice to have someone to talk to outside my relationship. She's hot as well, although I probably shouldn't think that too much… Max really is all I want in the girlfriend department.


On Fridays, Max, Chloe and Kristine would meet in the coffee house after Chloe was done working. 'Twas one such busy friday in March when Chloe had to work overtime, making sure Chloe couldn't join her friends at usual time. She promised to make it up, however, by ensuring they could stay after closing time, so Max and Kristine didn't mind. They occupied their usual spot in the back corner, drinking one of the amazing coffees their favorite blue-haired barista and her colleagues had made.

'You wouldn't!'

'Uh yes, I think I did!'

Max was laughing about an anecdote Kristine told about her time in Brazil with the Peace Corps.

'So, you never told me if the sex was any good? But judging by the state of your relationship, I'm assuming you're happy in that department too.'

'The sex?'

To Kristine's surprise, Max looked like she had no idea how to respond to her question. She quickly figured out what was going on though, and moved to sit next to the brunette.

'Oh, I'm sorry.' She put an arm around the brunette.

'There's nothing to be ashamed of, Maxine. What's bugging you?'

'I… Don't know? It feels so awkward to talk about this.' Kristine withdrew her arm.

'There's nothing awkward about a couple having sex, as far as I know.'

'I know, it's just… I know how to be her friend, how to support her, and how to love her, but not sex.'

'There's definitely attraction between you two. Sex is enjoyable, you know? It doesn't hurt or something.'

'I think Chloe is trying to bring it up, but I think she doesn't know how to talk about it either.'

'Be direct. There's absolutely no way she's gonna refuse.' Maxine sighed, and Kristine could notice some relief fell over her friend.

'You're a great friend, Kristine.'

'I used to be your best friend! I'm being dumped!' They didn't notice Chloe approaching, but she put her hands on Max's shoulders and planted her lips on the back of Max's head for a quick kiss just the same, before sitting down opposite her girlfriend.

'I'm never dumping you, Chloe. And you'll always be my best friend!'

'You know how to put a girl at ease now, don't you?'

Chloe was still wearing her work uniform, as she didn't have time to change because of the busy day. Not that her uniform was much of a uniform: it merely consisted of a casual shirt in company colors and ditto pants.

'Kris, me and Max have been talking about moving out of Ryan and Vaness's. Do you think we should do it?'

'You'd be totally capable of that. I mean, you took care of yourself already at Blackwell just fine, didn't you Maxine? So I don't see why this would be a problem.'

'You'd think it would be a good idea?'

'Definitely. You're two responsible adults with a rock solid relationship. I'm a hundred percent certain you'll be able to live together!'


On the way back to Chloe's trusted old truck, Max felt there was something she needed to discuss. It involved something that bugged her ever since she resumed her involvement with Chloe, but they never had a chance to talk about it until now.

'Chloe, smoking isn't very good for your health.'

Chloe didn't smoke as much as she did during her time in Arcadia, but, for all intents and purposes, she still smoked.

'I care about that.' She gently grabbed both of Chloe's hands as she spoke.

'Do you want me to quit?'

'I'd love that. You can count on me if you need help with withdrawal.'

Chloe, feeling a bit overwhelmed, needed a couple of seconds to process Max's request.

'Okay Max. I'll quit.'

'Do you promise?'

She was well aware that for both of them, a promise was as firm a commitment as possible. If she said yes, there was no going back.

'I promise. I'm definitely gonna keep you on your word about withdrawal though!', and she threw the package of cigarettes she had on her in the nearby trash can.


The moment she heard about their intended departure the next day, Vanessa felt like she was already missing Chloe and Max.

'I don't want you to go!', she said, with the heartbreak of a loving mother in her voice. 'I just got you back!'

'We'll be here in Seattle, mom. We'll stop by on the weekends, I promise.'

Vanessa reflected on the situation for a bit, before attempting to hug both Max and Chloe at once. It didn't work out as well as back when they were kids, resulting in an awkward attempt at an oversized bear hug that left the room filled with laughter.

'I'm sorry. I have a habit of still seeing you as needy children… Parental folly I suppose!'


Over the remainder of March and into April, the two plunged themselves into the Seattle real estate market. They used the money from the house in Arcadia, plus extra funds provided by Ryan and Vanessa, to set their budget. Most of the profits from the sale still went into savings, but they felt it was best to honor Joyce by making sure she could contribute to the well-being of Max and Chloe this way. It left them with the resources to search for a reasonably sized two-person apartment, rather than the tiny boxes most of their young adult peers had to settle for.

The first place they looked at was downtown. To Max's joy, it was near a local art gallery specializing in photography, instantly pushing it near the top of their list.

'I like the view from here, Chloe', and Max pointed to the window, revealing a view of downtown Seattle.

'Not that much room, though.'

The brown-haired girl in charge of the apartment approached them: Julia, she was called. She was wearing a formal black outfit with a skirt, flourishments of earrings visible in both ears - just a bit too much, Max thought.

'Are you two lovely lovebirds happy with your nest to-be?'

Max was sure the ridiculous smile on Julia's face must've sored her jaw, for it surely hurt her own eyes. They were quick to leave afterwards.

The second condo was part of a formerly squatted apartment complex a tad removed from the city center, which was recently refurbished to appeal to aspiring yuppies, sporting flashy sofa's and trendy carpets in its decor. It was on the pricy side, but it did look appealing in the pictures posted online.

Luckily for the couple, there was no Julia this time around. They made an appointment with the owner of the complex, who opened the door, and left them with a brochure to figure things out themselves shortly afterwards.

'So, according to this, the recent renovation was the most ambitious in the history of the city!'

'Come on Max, don't tell me you seriously believe that thing.'

There was a quick exchange of looks, as if they wanted to test if the other was serious. They couldn't contain their laughter shortly after, and Max threw the brochure in the suspiciously clean-looking and shiny garbage can.

'Now, whaddaya think Super Max?'

Even though the term hadn't been relevant for the past six months, Max still loved to be addressed that way.

'Are we really this hipster?'

'You tell me. You're the one with the analogue camera!'

'Are you cereal?'

Her girlfriend took a quick shot of Chloe in the apartment as a form of punishment.

'I am not a hipster.'

Chloe loved Max too much to exploit that last remark.


The third condo was located on the edge of downtown, and was recommended to them through Kristine, whose friend was the landlord in charge. He was a kind-looking guy named Eric, and he showed them around in a way that held the middle ground between the overzealousness of Julia and the barebones-esque methods of the second apartment.

'So, I'll take it this isn't your first seeing.'

'That's right. Neither of the other two places felt right.'

As Max looked around, she noticed there was very little in here that she didn't like. She stood in the living room, which gave way to a small balcony; with the Seattle skyline visible in the background. Even though the rooms weren't that big, they had a sense of spatial intimacy to them, imbuing them with the sort of coziness you'd look for in a family home.

'Can I talk to Chloe privately, please?'

'Of course. I'll be outside if you need anything. Oh, and Chloe? I'm sorry about your mother. Kristine told me.'

'Thank you.'

When Eric had closed the door behind him, Max turned to her girlfriend.

'I like this place.'

'I think I agree with you for a change! Looks hella great to me. Location's not too far off as well.'

Max gently kissed Chloe in response. In itself, that wasn't so special anymore. But a kiss in their very first own apartment to-be? That definitely was a first, and it translated to the kissing. When all was done, Max made up her mind.

'So, let's do this one!'


Picking what they wanted to bring over was the hardest part. Max's photo albums were a must, and so were the pictures she had taken since Chloe became her girlfriend. She taken a lot of photos over the last weeks, months and years, but their future apartment didn't have the space they were accustomed to at Ryan and Vanessa's - meaning that not everything could be brought over. They would have loved to take the red corner sofa along with them too, but that wasn't to be as well.

Max's one person bed was also something that definitely wasn't moving along with them. It was way too small for an adult couple to sleep in, and a proper replacement had been overdue the second Max and Chloe set foot in Seattle as a couple last October.

'We should get a hella huge queen-sized bed!' Chloe proclaimed enthusiastically, as they traded the warm May breeze for the indoor shopping mall in search for a new bed.

'Maybe something more practical would serve just as well?'

'Don't be so boring! You're Mad Max, of all people.'

'So, do tell me how you're gonna carry our huge bed up the stairs and through the front door of our place.'

'Alright, I can try being responsible for a change… just don't complain if I'm boring you.'

'You've never been boring my entire life, Chloe!'

They walked into the bed store, and started looking around.

'This one looks slick. I dig it.' Chloe pointed to some designer bed.

'We are re not smug, Chloe!'

'Okay, m'lady, I surrender…'

'What about this one?' Max was standing next to a retro-looking double bed.

'Told you… hipster.'

'But it looks stylish and cool and trendy!'

'Hipster.'

'Barbarian!' Max obviously feigned the anger.

And so it went on for a while, Chloe liking one bed, Max preferring the other.

'Can I help you ladies?' A store clerk, who probably recognized that they were getting nowhere with what they were doing, approached them with a friendly smile.

'Yeah. Me and my girlfriend are looking for a two person bed, but she keeps insisting on these hipster ones.' Max opened her mouth, preparing to speak, but Chloe's joyful smile took the words right out of her mouth.

'What are you looking for?'

'Something big enough to comfortably hold two people.'

The clerk prompted to follow them, and led the couple towards a dark brown bed in a circular frame.

'I told you this was the one!'

'You didn…' But Chloe wouldn't have it, for she quickly pulled Max down on the bed next to her, who'd released a shout of joy before landing on the mattress.

'I'm slowly losing my faith in you, Elizabeth...' She giggled nevertheless.

'Pirates. That's what we are! I'm just bringing out your true self.'

The store clerk, feeling bad about listening in on such a personal exchange, finally decided to turn around and walk away, a grin still adorning his amused face. Maybe, just maybe, he thought, this job can be fun after all.