Note: Hey guys! For once my prediction was pretty close! I'm much happier with this chapter, and I hope you are too. This chapter has both darker and lighter sections, so it should have something for everyone! I'm definitely enjoying writing the interactions between Max and Chloe. Anyway, more notes can be found at the end, so let's begin!
"I know you feel bad, so you should just tell him!"
"Yeah, and let him use it against me later? No thanks."
"Chloe, this is serious. You've both said some stupid stuff-"
"I didn't-"
"Yes, you did." Max gave Chloe a hard look, and Chloe looked at her feet.
"Fine." She muttered, "So he's not a complete douche. He saved you. That doesn't make all the other shit he did go away."
"Of course not." Max said quietly, and tilted Chloe's head up so she was looking into her eyes, "But both of you regret how your relationship has gone, I know that. So this is your chance to start fixing things."
"Why is this my responsibility?" Chloe complained, "If he would just stop being a dick-"
"Chloe!"
"Alright, alright." Chloe grumbled, "I'll apologize. Happy?"
Max wrapped her in a tight hug, "Yes. Thank you, Che. It'll mean so much to David, and to Joyce." Chloe bit her lip, and hugged her back.
"Damn, I really like that nickname way too much." She thought, and hugged Max tighter. They just stood that way for a minute, neither wanting to let go.
The door opened, and they jumped apart, Chloe blushing slightly, "What the hell, it's not like we were making out or anything. Jeez, I need to stop overthinking this."
Joyce gave the girls a long look, then said, "You can come in and see him now." She held the door open, and Chloe eyed it reluctantly.
"Come on, nerd." Max said, and pulled Chloe inside. When she saw David, she stopped, and looked away almost immediately. He had a large neck brace, several IVs, tubes, and various other machinery hooked up to him.
"How am I supposed to apologize for this?" Chloe thought, "He's an asshole, but he didn't deserve this." She glanced at Max for support, but found her pale as a sheet, tremors running through her. Without saying a word Chloe took her hand, and together they approached David's bed.
"Hey kids," David gave them a forced smile, a look so foreign that Chloe almost recoiled, "I- I was glad to hear you two were okay."
"I'm so sorry David..." Max whispered, "I never wanted this to happen to you."
David coughed harshly, and grimaced, "Me neither, believe me. Who'd have thought that what takes me down is an old barn, huh? If anything was gonna kill me, I would have put my money on that psychopath Jefferson." Max clamped down on Chloe's hand, and Chloe tried to tell David to shut up with her eyes, but he wasn't looking at her, "I wish I'd been at the station, I would've made sure that fucker didn't escape."
"We know," Chloe said quickly, trying to change the subject, "But if you'd been there you'd probably be dead."
"Yeah, I suppose." David frowned, "I suppose I should consider myself lucky." He let out a grim chuckle, "I guess we'll have to wait and see."
Chloe stood by the bed awkwardly, trying to think of what she was going to say. Max glanced at her, and turned to Joyce, who sat near the door, "Hey Joyce, could I talk to you in the hall for a minute?"
"Yeah, sure honey." Joyce glanced nervously between Chloe and David, but slipped out the door.
Max nudged Chloe is the ribs and gave her a look, "Go on."
Chloe rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Fine." Max gave her a reassuring smile, then followed Joyce into the hall. As soon as she was gone Chloe's fingers began tapping on her leg, "Fuck, I wish I high off my ass right now. I badly need to get some weed." She opened then closed her mouth several times in quick succession.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" David asked gruffly. Chloe suppressed the urge to punch him
"Nothing!" She said irritably, "I'm trying to-" She broke off, digging her nails into her palms, "Look, David, I've been- Well, a bit of an asshole to you ever since you and Mom-" Chloe ran her hands through her hair, and let out a huff of air, "I'm not saying I forgive you for being a dick to me. But I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance in the beginning. Or ever. And just kinda being an all-around bitch." Chloe laughed humorlessly, "I guess I didn't really give you much of a choice about being a douche to me, did I?"
David eyed her warily, "Max put you up to this?"
"Only like 60%." Chloe said, then bit her tongue before she said anything worse.
David chuckled, "At least you're honest." He shifted position slightly in bed, "Chloe, I'm sorry too. I know I've crossed way too many lines, and I'm not asking you to forgive that. We've both done some asinine things, so let's just call it even, and start over."
Chloe sighed, and nodded halfheartedly, "I- I guess. You were pretty cool with believing us about Jefferson. I suppose we can give it a shot."
"Neither of us really believes the bullshit we're saying do we?"
Chloe let out a surprised laugh, "Nope."
David closed his eyes briefly, and Chloe could almost see the wheels turning in his head, "Chloe, I think we can both agree that we both love your mother, right?" Chloe nodded reluctantly. As much as she didn't like it, he had proven that much, "I think we owe it to Joyce to be better. So maybe we can't start over, but we still can try to get better."
Chloe swallowed hard, "Yeah, sure. Whatever."
"Believe me, I'm as uncomfortable right now as you are."
"I doubt that." They stood and sat in awkward silence for a moment, before Chloe gestured behind her, "I'm gonna tell them to come back in now, if that's okay." Without waiting for an answer she scurried over to the door, and flung it open, "You guys can come in now." She said, and made sure they were through the door before she sat herself as far away from David as possible. Max gave her a questioning look, and Chloe just shrugged.
"So, what's your plan now?" David asked, breaking the silence.
Joyce sighed, and glanced at the girls, "I've got a hotel room reserved near the hospital until they figure out how bad the house is. After that..."
"Um, Mom?" Chloe asked suddenly, "Max and I were thinking that I might stay with her for a little while."
Joyce nodded, looking unsurprised, "How long were you thinking?"
"Oh, you know..." Chloe said uncomfortably, "Till June."
"What!" Joyce said, "Why on Earth-"
"Mom, wait, let me explain!" Chloe said quickly. Joyce settled back into her seat with a scowl, but motioned for her to continue, "With Blackwell as damaged as it is, Max has to go back to Seattle, and neither of us wants to be separated right now. She's going to go back to her old school, and I- I'd like to go too."
"You want to go back to school?" Joyce said, her surprise growing.
"And get the chance to go to school with Max for another year? Hell yeah!" Chloe said defiantly, "We both get what we want here. I'd finish school like you wanted, but I also get to stay with my best friend."
Joyce frowned, but Chloe could see she was considering it. Chloe bounced in her chair excitedly as Joyce said, "You and Max head into the hall for a second, I want to talk about this with David."
"But Mom, he's-" Chloe was cut off by both a sharp look from her mother and an elbow in the stomach from Max, "Fine, fine." Together, she and Max slipped into the hall.
"How'd your talk with David go?" Max asked, leaning on the wall by the door.
"They're in there deciding our fate and that's what you want to talk about?"
"Yes, that is why I asked."
"Smartass."
Max smacked her arm, "Don't try to dodge the question, Chloe! How'd it go?"
Chloe sighed, "I mean, better than I expected. I dunno. I don't really trust him."
"It's not about trusting him." Max said, "It's about a truce. Yeah, David can be a dick at times, but-"
"Yeah, yeah, I get it." Chloe began pacing nervously, "What're we going to do if they say no?"
Max ran a hand through her hair, and shrugged, "I've got no idea. Chloe I- I don't know if I can-" She broke off, and looked down at the ground. Chloe wrapped her in a tight hug, and she felt Max bury her face in Chloe's shoulder.
"We'll figure it out, alright?" Chloe said softly, "No way in hell am I letting you go again." The two girls separated, and Max wiped her eyes.
"Thanks, Che," Max sniffed, "I dunno what I'd do without you."
"Yeah, you'd be pretty fucked without me, huh?" Chloe joked, ignoring the heat that had risen in her cheeks.
"Chloe, are you blushing?" Max asked, a smile forming.
"No!" Chloe blanched, which only made her blush more.
Max nudged her shoulder, "You are, why are you blushing you dork?"
"I'm not blushing!"
Max bit her bottom lip, and looked at her thoughtfully, "You really like it when I call you Che don't you?" Chloe tried to make a dismissive noise, but it came out as a splutter, "You are, that is so fucking cute!"
"You're crazy." Chloe muttered, trying to will her blush away. She was unsuccessful.
"Well, Che," Max said deliberately, "if I am crazy, then I guess I'm-" She broke off, and Chloe glanced at her. Max's cheeks were now bright red, and she looked like she was biting her tongue.
"What?" Chloe asked.
"Nothing! Forget it."
"Oh come on, you have to tell me now." Chloe pushed, relieved the topic of conversation was no longer her, "If you're crazy then you're..."
"It doesn't matter!" Max said, her face turning crimson.
Chloe grinned, and put a hand on her hip, "Was she going to flirt with me? No way, no fucking way."
Before Chloe could push her for answers the door swung open, and Joyce stuck her head out, "You can come back in now girls."
"Saved by the bell," Chloe said, and Max rushed inside, her face flaming. Still grinning, Chloe followed her.
"What did you say to her now, Chloe?" Joyce asked, sounding faintly amused.
"I didn't say anything!" Chloe said truthfully, "She stopped talking and turned into a tomato all of a sudden."
"I'm not a tomato..." Max muttered, despite the evidence.
"So," Chloe hopped up to sit on the counter, "What's the verdict, judge?"
"Get off the counter!" Joyce scolded, and Chloe raised her hands defensively, and leaned next to Max instead, "David and I talked it over, and while I'm concerned you'll be as irresponsible with Max, if not more, you're also an adult." Chloe's heart rate doubled, and fingers began tapping excitedly on her leg, "If you promise to actually try to do well in school-" Chloe tackled her mother in a hug, cutting her off.
"Thank you!" She said, then awkwardly broke away, "Um, sorry. That was weird. Sorry." She felt Max grab her hand, and leaned back against the wall.
"Anyway," Joyce said, "If you promise to actually try at school, and be a responsible adult, then yes. It's alright with me. You'll have to ask Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield of course, but I think this could be good for you." She smiled at Max, "Max could be a good influence on you, and I think it's important you finish your high school education."
Chloe couldn't stop grinning, "It's happening. It's actually happening." She squeezed down on Max's hand excitedly, "I'm not letting you get away again, Super Max."
"Alfred Hitchcock famously called film, 'little pieces of time'. But he could be talking about photography, as he likely was." Max shivered, and looked around the classroom. She used to love listening to him talk. Now it felt like ice creeping down her spine.
"What the hell is going on, why am I back here?" Max thought, her hands shaking.
"These pieces of time can frame us in our glory, and our sorrow," Jefferson rose from the desk, and began pacing back and forth. While his eyes never landed on her, Max knew he was keenly aware of her. He always was, "From light to shadow; from color to chiaroscuro. Now, can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white? Anybody? Bueller?"
"Diane Arbus." Max's head jerked, and she saw Victoria lounging in her chair, looking particularly attentive. Max had almost forgotten there was anyone else in the room, it hadn't seemed important.
"There you go Victoria!" Jefferson said, as Max pushed back tears, "Why Arbus?"
"This can't be real; I can't be back here." Max thought desperately, "Not again."
"Because of her images of hopeless faces." Victoria said, her voice sickly sweet, "You feel like, totally haunted by the eyes of those sad mothers and children."
"She saw humanity as tortured, right? And frankly, it's bullshit." The class tittered, and Max shuddered, "Shh, keep that to yourself. Seriously though, I could frame any one of you in a dark corner, and capture you in a moment of desperation." He walked over, and leaned on Max's desk, his face inches from hers, "Isn't that right, Max?"
"Get away from me!" Max screamed, and scrambled backward. Her chair tipped, back, and she was falling, falling for far too long.
Max stood in front of a familiar stone tower, surrounded by forest. Max's breathing slowed, and she looked around for Jefferson. The only things she saw were graves, trees, and the spectral doe once more.
"I'm dreaming." Max thought numbly, "I have to be," she considered wandering around the graveyard, but then she looked at the doe again. It watched her intently, then vanished through the iron door, "It hasn't led me wrong yet," Max thought, and followed it.
She opened the door, and at the last second tried thought to prop it open. She glanced around, and grabbed a stick, and placed in the crack between door and wall. Now a thin stream of sunlight illuminated the sinkhole in the center of the mausoleum, barely reaching the bottom. Max leapt down, and pulled out her phone, flicking on the flashlight. The doe glanced back at her, then padded forward, disappearing into the darkness beyond the arch.
"Last time I went through there, I had a vision of Jefferson," Max thought, and glanced around, looking for any other exits. She carefully examined the dirt walls, noticing that they were smooth, feeling almost like stone, "Weird," she thought, then moved closer to the arch.
It was made of what looked almost like marble, and stretched nearly ten feet high. Careful not to cross under it, Max touched the stone, and frowned. The arch was smooth, feeling more like metal. Looking more closely, she saw that the archway had a sort of sheen to it, similar to glass, "What the hell is this?" Max thought, and took a deep breath. Then she stepped through the gateway.
Lightning flashed, and Max jumped as the wind roared into being. She glanced around and saw the tornado once again, "Oh no, not again!" She thought desperately.
"Max!" Max spun around, and saw Chloe, looking ragged and scarred, crouching behind the bench, "Come on dude, you gotta get out of here!"
"What?" Max asked, her head reeling.
"We've got to end this!" Chloe shouted over the wind, "We're so close." When Max just stared at her, Chloe stood up and hurried over to her, "I know, I'm scared too. But you can do this, I believe in you."
"Do what?" Max asked frantically, "Chloe, what the fuck is going on?" Chloe said something, but her voice was drowned out by a boom of thunder. Before Max could stop her, Chloe turned and raced off down the hill, "Chloe, come back!"
She glanced back, "I'll see you after, I promise. I love you Max."
"Chloe!" Max ran after her, but a roar drew her to a halt. She whipped around, and saw that the tornado had changed course, and was ripping the lighthouse apart. If she didn't move now, she would be dead. Max turned to run, and instead sat up in bed.
"No, not again, it can't happen again," Max sobbed, her legs coming up to her chest. She heard a grunt from under the covers next to her, but ignored it. Her entire body shook, and her hands gripped the blankets like claws.
"Max, what's going on?" Chloe grumbled, pushing the covers off of her, "It's one in the goddamn morning."
"Chloe, it's going to happen again, the storm, all of it-"
"Max?" Joyce's voice came from the next bed, and Max glanced over at her. Joyce had turned on a lamp, and was looking over groggily.
"Max just had a nightmare I think," said Chloe, getting out of bed, "Here, we'll head out of the room, let you sleep."
"Alright. You sure you're okay dear?" Joyce asked.
"Uh, yeah." Max said shakily, and followed Chloe, "I'll be fine Joyce, thanks." They slipped outside of the motel room, and stood together in the cold October air.
Chloe turned to her, "Max, what the fuck is going on?"
"I had another one of my visions. The tornado, it's going to come back." Her words were rushed, but Max did her best to tell Chloe everything that happened.
"Shit," Chloe said, and rubbed her face, "Goddammit, you've got to be joking. It was all for nothing? All of those people, they died for nothing?"
Tears threatened to start pouring down her cheeks, but Max resisted, "I don't know. It- It didn't feel quite like my other visions. It was like the one with Jefferson, but it was you instead."
Chloe took a deep breath, "You never had one of your original visions while you were sleeping did you?" Max thought for a moment, then shook her head, "You- You don't think it could've just been a dream do you?"
"I'd never even thought of that." Max said slowly, "I guess it's possible. It felt different from my tornado vision, but it didn't feel like a dream either."
"Damn dude, you're shaking like a leaf," Chloe said, and wrapped Max in a hug, and Max finally broke down completely.
"I want him out of my head, Che," she sobbed, shoulders heaving, "I want him gone, I want him out."
Chloe's grip on her tightened, "I know Max." She felt Chloe kiss her forehead, and Max began to cry even more.
Note: Sorry to end on a darked note, but that's where the chapter took me! I have a better idea where this next one is going (Back to Seattle by the way), so hopefully I can get it out earlier than next week. I have a lighter homework load this week so it's possible. I enjoy writing the dream sequences, though whether or not they're "future visions" or not you'll have to find out for yourself ;) The really heavy stuff is gonna keep coming for Max and Chloe, but we're almost to... "The Talk". THAT will be fun for me. Anyway, I have to get this posted on two sites, so I'll leave it there for now. I will have my next chapter out by next Monday at the latest, but hopefully it will be sooner. Thanks for reading, and please review if you're so inclined! If you have some constructive criticism I would love to hear it. :) Thanks folks!