Price-Madsen Residence, March 11th, 2012

'Fuck me; these stairs are loud'

Each step I took up the creaky wooden stairs sounds like a shotgun blast... okay maybe I'm over exaggerating a little, but for what I was trying to do at the moment they might as well have been. Chloe's sleep pattern was a little unpredictable. Sometimes she could sleep through an explosion, and other times a pin dropping on the on the other side of Arcadia Bay would wake her up. For the purpose of what I'm currently doing; it's safer to assume it's the second option.

'Maybe I should have just snuck in through her window as usual...'

I shook the idea from my head, something tells me sneaking through a window in broad daylight is a bad idea, plus I don't want to chance dropping Chloe's birthday present. I reach inside my jacket and touch the bottle of amber colored liquid inside. Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey, courtesy of Richard. Amber's liquor cabinet.

'Idiot should hide his keys better next time'

I finally reach the top of the stairs, I stop for a moment and listen for any sounds that might indicate that the blue haired punk was awake; I heard none. I slowly make my to the door, truing the knob slowly and creeping inside and gently closing the door behind me. I start to make my way to the bed so I can put my sneak attack plan into action. But when I turn around I'm met with an empty bed, in fact Chloe is nowhere in sight.

'Where the hell is she?'

Not a moment later I hear the shower come to life in the bathroom across the hall. Ah that explains it, well I guess I have some time to kill now. I begin to wander around the room, picking and poking at various things and kicking aside the stray piece of clothing on the floor. One article of clothing catches my attention. Its a black t-shirt with a little white zippo lighter on the front. I smile as memories from that night flow through my mind.

'That was one hell of a concert... and that was one hell of 'thunk' that guy's head made when I threw that bottle at him'

I toss the shirt back on the floor and make my way over towards the desk. I plop myself down onto the cheap wooden chair; it creaks a little under my weight and I worry for a brief second that today is finally the day that the chair decides it's had enough and has a literal breakdown. After a few minutes go by and nothing happens I relax and begin to scan the contents of the matching cheap desk. Laptop, CD's, dirty ashtray, nothing out of the ordinary... well except for a sheet of paper placed smack dab in the middle of the desk. It's covered in doodles mostly, but I can make out some words as well. Curiosity getting the better of me I end up picking up the paper to get a closer look at it.

'Oh... it's a letter'

Part of my brain is telling me I should put the paper down and respect Chloe's privacy, but the other half is egging me on to read it, the second half ends up winning in the end. I'm not nosy I swear, I can respect that people have things they wanna keep to themselves... hell I have enough of those myself. But the topic of Max didn't come up much and when it did; it ended up with Chloe going from relatively happy, to I don't even know what to call it, sad just seems like an understatement.

Hey Max,

So I'm turning 18 today, ho-fucking-ray right? It sucks, I'm supposed to be happy and shit on my birthday but I'm just pissed off and depressed as usual. Dad's gone, so are you, mom's working overtime at the diner so we can scrap by; so I won't even get to see her until mid-night at the earliest... But worst of all is Step-prick lecturing me that I'm and adult now and I need to get my shit together and stop wasting my life, blah blah blah...

The only bright side to day is that I get to hang out with Rachel today. You know, the girl I told you about in my last letter... or a few letters ago, I can't remember anymore. Anyway were going to hangout all day today, I don't know what we're going to do I kept asking her but she wouldn't say anything, she's good at keeping secrets like that...

God... I wish you were here, all three of us could hang out and do... whatever. I think you two would get along pretty well, she's always going on about being a model and last I remember you were starting to get really into photography, I wonder if you still are? Maybe you're taking pictures all around Seattle with your new friends while... Fuck... Fuck! Four years...and still nothing has changed. You haven't called or texted or...anything and me? I'm still the sad fucked up 14 year old girl you left behind all those years ago. It may be my birthday but I don't feel any older... or wiser. Just shitter.

I Miss you...

~Chloe~

Max... I felt like I knew everything about her and at the same time I felt like I know nothing. From what Chloe did tell me they were pretty good friends, met in daycare when an older boy tried to steal Max's crayons and Chloe promptly kicked him where the sun don't shine. They were inseparable ever since; well that is until Max moved away. She told me of a couple of their adventures and after months of bugging managed to get her to show me a picture of her and Max in their pirate get ups; it was cute.

The sound of the bathroom door opening snaps me out of my thoughts. I quickly place the paper back on the desk and move over to the bed. I pull out my phone and pretend to look through some imaginary texts I don't have. The door to the bedroom opens a few moments later and in walks Chloe in all her blue hair, punked out, tattooed glory. It takes a few moments for her to register that she has a guest and when she finally looks over at me I smile a little at the shocked look on her face.

"Rachel... I thought you wouldn't be here for another hour or so?"

"Yeah, but I couldn't resist, I wanted to get a head start on the day... plus if I waited any long I might have drank your gift myself"

She looks at me puzzled "Drank?"

I reach into my coat and pull out the bottle of Jack I smuggled in there earlier. Chloe smiled when she saw the bottle of amber liquid.

"Holy shit! Where did you get that?"

"This little baby is courtesy of my dad's liquor cabinet that he so carelessly left the keys laying around for."

Chloe laughed "Thank-you Mr. Amber."

She went for the bottle but I pulled it just out of her reach.

"Ah, that's for later tonight, we need to be sober for the day I have planned out today."

She frowned slightly "It better be a kick-ass day if you making me wait that long."

"Oh it will be."

"So when dose this epic day start"

Before I could reply the sound of the front door slamming shut could be heard followed by David's booming voice.

"Chloe where are you?"

I looked at my now slightly annoyed friend "How about now?

She shakes her head "Works for me."

David's called out for Chloe again.

"Guess were not using the front door, window then?" I suggest

"Great idea"

Just as I make my way over to desk to climb out the window I feel a hand on my shoulder stop me. I thought for a second David had come in the room without me noticing, but it was just Chloe. She looks at the desk for a split second than back to me.

"Could you grab my jacket in the closet...?"

The request baffled me for a moment but then I remembered the letter on the desk, she was probably going to hid it.

"Sure..." I say as I turn to the closet to grab the worn leather jacket from it place of honor in the closet. Just as I predicted Chloe did indeed hide the letter, in one of her desk drawer to be specif. After making sure I had given her plenty of time to stash the letter, I turn around and cross the room; holding out her jacket to her.

She smiles up at me "Thanks"

Loud footsteps could be heard outside the room, most likely David's.

"Let's get going yeah?" she said as she made her way out the window.

"Right behind you" I say following her lead, and making sure to close the window on the way out.

We made it out just in time for David to burst into the room and find it empty. Chloe started up the truck and pealed out of the driveway and down the road.

'Let the fun Begin.'

Arcadia Bay Beach, 11:45pm

After a long day of fun which started with a surprise breakfast at the Two Whales I helped Joyce plan out last week, hanging out at the skate park with Justin and his friends, then blazing for a bit in our secret hide away in the junkyard, I had one last stop planned for the day.

We had pulled up on the beach about half an hour ago and were currently sat in the bed of Chloe's pick-up. The worn sleeping bag we place over the hard metal surface did little to cushion the bed of the truck but it was better than nothing. We passed the bottle of Jack back and forth as music played from her trucks ancient stereo. Chloe had surprised me with a mix CD on the way over here and I couldn't resist playing it right then and there. It was a combination of punk, indie, and 'hipster shit' as she had dubbed it.

Neither of us really spoke since we had arrived, to worn down from the day's events I suppose. So when the silence was finally broke it startled me a little.

"Hey Rach?"

"Yeah Priceless?"

"Thanks for today... I really needed it."

"No Problem, although I wish could have found a better location for this last stop, no offense but the beach here sucks compared to the ones in callie."

She lets out a short laugh "None taken, any love I had for this shit pit died years ago. Can't wait to get out of here."

"Me neither, when I hit it big in LA with my modeling career we can go to any beach we want."

She looks over at me "We?"

"Hell yeah, what did you think I was going to take off without you? You can't get rid of me that easy Price."

She laughs "Drat..." she says in a mock tone. I slid closer to her and drape my arm around her shoulder.
"Nope your stuck with me I'm afraid."

"I'm okay with that" she says

We both go silent again. We eventually end up lying down in the back of the truck. I watch as she starts to doze off, I'm not far behind myself. A cold gust of wind blows through the air and I and up cuddling in the Chloe's side. She moves her arm and wraps it around me.

'How are you so warm all the time'

I lay my head on her shoulder, listening to the music that was still playing in the background. Its strange strums and gentle drums relaxing me further.

"I hardly bothered, though I labored all day,
I work so hard, there's no time left to please you.

The day I decided I had nothing to say, I'll never learn,
I'm burning all this paper away."

I look at Chloe who is already passed out, she looked peaceful like that. No sadness, no anger, just... Chloe. The longer I stare at her sleeping face, the faster my heart starts fluttering.

"I think it's time you let me go,

I'm too in love, let me go,"

'No... Not this bullshit again, not today.'

I look away and bury my head into Chloe's leather jacket, accidentally inhaling her scent. Weed, Lighter fluid, nicotine, and a hint of men's deodorant.

'That's not really helping me...fuck'

I push those thoughts aside as best as I can and eventually end up drifting off to sleep.

"Night Chloe" I say softly

"Night Max..."

The fluttering in my heart is now replaced by a dull ache...

"I'll never learn, I'm burning all this paper away,"