I can't thank you guys enough for all the support I've been getting for this story :) I love you all so much, I wish I could thank each and every one of you personally. And it's so great to see that I've gotten over 2K hits!
Anyway, enough gushing. On with the story!
...
~I fantasize a secret life
And place where we hide
It feels right...~
Fuck.
Chloe was not feeling well. In fact, she could barely feel at all. Her body was stiff and there was a strange pain whenever she tried to move. It reverberated in her head and she groaned. Goddamn hangover... She slowly raised her hand to her eyes and rubbed them lightly. She took a deep breath and attempted to opened them.
"Ah, shit..." she mumbled.
She squinted against the bright, invading sunlight. Shielding her eyes, Chloe tried to bring the room into focus. Immense panic almost filled her being when she could see most of the room. "Wait... This isn't my room... And this isn't Rachel's..."
Oh, no.
Chloe tried to turn over on her back so she could sit up, but there was something her holding her by the waist. She swallowed nervously and tried to take slow, even breaths. Fuck, fuck. What happened last night? She looked down and was even more shocked to see that she wasn't even in her costume, but in a t-shirt and pajama shorts that were... hers?
Over the shirt, Chloe could see the arm keeping her in place. She followed it up to a shoulder, which led her to a familiar face. It was Max, of all people. Cuddled up against her. Now Chloe really tried not to freak out. So she and Max fell asleep in Max's bed. But we're both clothed, which is a good sign. Right? Chloe bit her lip. She didn't know what to do.
She looked up at the nightstand and saw her phone sitting beside Max's. Slowly as to avoid waking Max up, she reached over and grabbed her phone. She turned the screen on. Four messages from Rachel and a voicemail? What the hell? Chloe unlocked her phone (admittedly taking a couple attempts) to open up the texts first.
Rachel: Chloe, where are you?
Rachel: Max just went looking for you and hasn't come back.
Rachel: Wait, never mind. She's okay. You were drunk when she found you.
Rachel: She told me everything, I'll leave you a voicemail explaining it. But it might be better to hear it from Max directly.
Chloe facepalmed. She was more than aware that she was a strange person when she was drunk. She could go from a happy drunk to an emotional drunk to a mad drunk in less than a half hour. Please tell me I didn't go angry drunk on Max last night... she pleaded with no one in particular. The events of the party were still a haze in her mind. The only thing she could remember was watching Max and Rachel enjoy themselves while she drank.
Fucking idiot. Chloe cursed herself. You probably cost Max a good time at the party.
She felt Max shift behind her and the arm around her waist tightened a bit. Chloe froze. A string of curses ran through her head. She needed to get out of this and fast. Chloe gently grabbed Max by her wrist and lifted her arm from her. She moved forward and put Max's arm down in front of her, taking a sharp breath when Max looked like she was waking up. When her eyes didn't open Chloe exhaled and carefully got off the bed. It took a bit of self control not to throw up when the room started to spin.
She opened her voicemail simultaneously and put her phone to her ear. It took a second for the message to start.
"Man, Chloe, where do I start?" Rachel said. Chloe didn't think it was a good thing. Max went looking for you when she couldn't see you at the drink table anymore. Apparently you had an attitude when she found you." The bluenette covered her face with her hand. "You were going on about her being with Warren, even though I told you she's not into him like that. She was upset about that false accusation."
You did real well, Price. Chloe thought.
"What got me is that you confessed how you felt about her. Somewhat. You told her you thought she was cute and it was too much when she blushed and stuttered." Chloe whined quietly. So she went emotional drunk, too? "You also started going off about how Warren was better for her anyway, and that if she was with you she'd end up replacing you after a while. You asked her if she was your friend out of pity and then called yourself a fuck up that no one wants to be friends with."
Chloe wanted to die where she stood. If all of this was true, then how did she end up with Max cuddling her?
"Look, Chlo, I wasn't there. I can't tell you how bad it seemed or what's gonna happen now." Rachel paused like she was carefully considering her words. "But I can tell you that Max was hella concerned about you. I wish you could've seen her face. Or at least remember it. She doesn't hate you. She's not mad at you. Just talk to her. Okay?"
There was a click and Chloe knew that was Rachel hanging up on the message. She took the phone from her ear and stared at it. "You did a real number, didn't you Chloe?"
"I'll say."
"Gah!"
Chloe yelped at the sudden voice, dropping her phone in the process. She whirled around, nearly losing her balance, and her gaze was gifted with the sight of seeing a still sleepy Max propped up on one hand and rubbing her eyes. Chloe's heart started to race and Max finally looked up at her. Her eyes were still bleary and her hair was a mess, but it was adorable.
"Good morning." she said.
"H-hey." Chloe said. Goddamn it, even her tired voice is cute. And don't fucking stutter!
Max pushed herself up into a sitting position and crossed her legs. "Are you okay?"
Do you mean my health or my pride? "A little hungover. But I'll live." Chloe answered.
"Good." Max nodded. "And I'm sure you're wondering how you got into your pajamas. Rachel stopped by and took care of that."
Chloe didn't know if that was a relief or a disappointment. "Look, Max-"
"You don't have to apologize, Chloe." Max cut her off. "I'm not upset with you."
As much of a relief that is... the punk thought. "Can you... Um... fill me in on what happened?"
Max nodded. "From what point?"
"Just when we got back here." Chloe said.
"Yeah."
-Max placed Chloe against the wall as she reached into her pocket for her dorm key (thankful that the costume even had pockets). Once she got the door open, she took Chloe by the hand and led her inside. She guided Chloe over to the bed and sat her down.
"Let me just send a text to Rachel, okay?" she told Chloe.
"Rachel's at the party." Chloe said.
Max suppressed a laugh. "Yeah, I know. But hopefully I can get her to stop by."
Chloe hung her head and mumbled something to herself. She took her hat off and glared at it. "What about Warren?"
Not this again. Max thought. "He'll survive without me. You're my main priority right now."
Max: Found Chloe, I'm gonna need some assistance. She's drunk.
Max tucked her phone back into her pocket and watched Chloe fiddle with her hat. She still hadn't gotten over what had happened between them not even ten minutes ago. Chloe had wanted to kiss her. She knew she did. And Max ultimately wanted her to kiss her. She wanted to kiss her back. The brunette could still feel the imprint of Chloe's hand on her waist, could still feel herself being pulled flush against Chloe's body.
(But she leaves the almost kiss out of the recap.)
"Max?" Chloe said.
"Hm?" Max hummed absently. She recovered from her reverie and gave Chloe her full attention.
"Did you really mean all that you said?" Chloe's voice was quiet and Max worried for a second that she was on the verge of crying again. It was such a crazy contrast to the Chloe she was so used to being around. The other was cool, confident, collected and Max would even dare say sexy. This one was vulnerable, lost and broken. It made her heart ache.
"I did." Max said.
Chloe didn't say anything after that, but she did glance up when Max's phone chimed. Max pulled her phone out.
Rachel: Be there in 5.
Max felt herself physically relax. Her mind was still worked up, but she hoped venting to Rachel would help. She continued to watch the gears work in Chloe's mind. The punk's expression was unreadable. Max had never drank. She didn't know what it was like to be drunk. So she could only imagine what was going through Chloe's head at the moment.
A knock on her door made her look away from Chloe. Chloe barely flinched. Max answered the door, revealing Rachel.
"How's she doing?" Rachel asked.
"I'm not sure. I've never been drunk, so." Max glanced back at Chloe. "I need to talk to you real quick."
Rachel raised an eyebrow but nodded, moving back. Max stepped out and left her door a crack. She explained what happened with Chloe, but she debated whether or not to tell her that they'd almost kissed. Her friendship with the blonde had definitely strengthened over the past two weeks and she felt like she could trust her completely.
"And... Um..." Max stuttered. She looked down at her hands. "Something else happened, I'm... I don't know how to feel about it."
"What is it?" Rachel said.
"Chloe and I... we... We almost kissed." Max confessed.
There was a silence that followed and Max looked up to meet Rachel's curious gaze. "Almost? Why didn't you?"
"Well she's drunk for one thing." Max said, gesturing back to her room. "And I didn't know if it was because she wanted to or because she was under the influence. Was it just liquid courage? I was also really fucking scared to, I-"
"Max. Take a breath." Rachel placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "It's alright."
Max did as requested and took a deep breath. She held it for a few seconds before letting it go. "Sorry."
"It's chill, I understand. First off, you don't need to worry. Chloe does like you." Rachel said. "Liquid courage has nothing to do with it. Well, maybe some of it but it's definitely besides the point."
"But I don't know if I have the courage to kiss her." Max said. "I wanted to. I could feel it. It was just so... nerve wracking."
"So take it at your own pace. You don't need to kiss someone to tell them you like them." Rachel smiled.
"I just don't want to fuck this up." Max mumbled.
"You won't." Rachel straightened up and gave Max a wide grin. "Now I'm sure I have some of Chloe's pajamas in my room. I'll bring them by and help her change into them. Them I'm going back to the party."
"Thank you so much for your help, Rach." Max said.
"No worries. I'll be right back." Rachel turned around and headed for her room. Max returned to hers, surprised to find Chloe standing at her stereo. She was running her hand over it.
"What music do you have for this thing?" Chloe said without turning around. She seemed to be sobered up a bit.
Max walked up beside her and reached up to the shelf above their heads. She grabbed a few CDs and held them out to Chloe. Chloe looked at them for a second, almost as if she was scared to take them before she did. She skimmed her eyes over each (mumbling something about Max being "too hipster for her own good").
"Open the, um..." Chloe pointed at the player. She was still drunk enough to be confused. "That."
Max smiled at her and opened the player, watching Chloe open up one of the CD cases and put the CD in. She closed it and pressed the play button. She took a step back as Ryan Tedder's voice started flowing from the speakers.
~I need another story
Something to get off my chest
My life gets kinda boring
Need something that I can confess...~
The bluenette offered her hand out to Max, but her expression was unreadable. Max simply stared at her before slowly slipping her hand into Chloe's. Her hand tightened around hers and Max felt herself being pulled towards Chloe's body for the second time that night. Instinctively, her other hand went to Chloe's shoulder and she sensed Chloe's other hand go to her hip.
"I want to make it up to you." Chloe said quietly. "I don't have to be sober to know I fucked up your night."
"You-" Max started, but Chloe shaking her head made her stop.
"Just one dance." she said.
~'Til all my sleeves are stained red
From all the truth that I've said
Come by it honestly, I swear
Thought you saw me wink, no
I been on the brink, so,~
Chloe automatically started moving in slow circles, guiding Max around with her. For someone who was under the influence, Chloe's feet were surprisingly steady. Her intense gaze was locked with Max's eyes. Max tried to keep her steps in sync with Chloe's more than the beat of the song. It was a medium tempo 1-2-3, turn. Max was never really well coordinated with her feet when it came to dancing.
Her heart was pounding incredibly fast in her chest. She was sure that by the way she was pressed against Chloe that she could feel it, too. She could hear it in her ears, just under the roaring of her blood. She could feel Chloe's warmth swirling around her. It attempted to soothe her troubled nerves and bring her to a blissful state where, in that moment, it was only her and Chloe. As the song picked up, so did Chloe. Max stumbled a bit.
~Tell me what you want to hear
Something that will light those ears
Sick of all the insincere
I'm gonna give all my secrets away...~
It took only two more tries for Max to match Chloe's rhythm. It wasn't quite elegant, but it definitely wasn't sloppy. Chloe had her own grace in her movements. In all honesty, it was captivating. Max loved the way Chloe's hand fit in the small of her back, the way her thumb moved slightly against her and sending small shivers down her spine. She loved the way that the haze in the bluenette's even bluer eyes cleared for the briefest of moments.
She could see everything in her eyes. Starting with her reflection. Was it strange that she was possibly starting to see herself through Chloe's eyes? That she was better understanding Chloe just by a simple dance? She could see now, when she remembered the past two weeks, why Chloe wanted to escape Arcadia Bay.
Max knew what it was like to live outside of her hometown. She was gone for five years. But she never really felt like she belonged. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't found her people until she returned to Arcadia. Rachel, Kate, Warren... Chloe. They all felt more like home to Max than she had in a long time. How much better would life be if Chloe and Max escaped Arcadia Bay together, with or without the others?
~This time, don't need another perfect line
Don't care if critics ever jump in line
I'm going give all my secrets away...~
Everything would definitely be better for Chloe if we got away from here. Max thought.
Chloe lifted Max's hand over her head and took the brunette by surprise when she spun her around and pulled her back towards her. Max blushed heavily and Chloe flashed her a smile. "Not bad for a drunk punk, eh?" she said.
Max gave a timid smile as an answer as Chloe spun them both around. She held fast and tight, like she was protecting Max. Holding her close and out of danger. Max felt like she was melting into her.
"Didn't know you could dance to OneRepublic."
Chloe looked up from Max's eyes, narrowing her eyes at Rachel who was standing in the doorway with a wide grin on her face. She was holding Chloe's pajamas in her hands.
"In fact, I didn't know you could dance at all." she added.
"Oh, fuck off." Chloe said.
Max bit her lip shyly and stepped away from Chloe. Chloe didn't argue. The moment was ruined. Max gave Rachel a sideways glance and Rachel winked at her, smiling wider. Rachel waltzed in and took Chloe by the arm. "Come on, lover girl. I'm gonna help you out of that costume."
Chloe allowed herself to be led out from Max's room. Max took that opportunity to also change into her pajamas. She folded up her costume and tucked it away in her drawer, followed by shutting off her stereo. She then sat on her bed and put her face in her hands.
It has been one strange fucking day. she thought.
She heard a thud come from the hallway and jumped to her feet, running to see what happened. She was presented a visual of Chloe face down on the floor (giggling?) and Rachel shaking her head disapprovingly like a mother.
"She is the only person I know who can't maintain one level of drunkenness." Rachel said. "One second she seems lucid, and the next she's pulling shit like this."
"Shut up, Ambre." Chloe mumbled into the carpet, making Rachel roll her eyes.
Max walked up to them and hooked her hand under Chloe's elbow, Rachel doing the same, and the two of them lifted her up. Chloe walked with them back to Max's room and they set her on the bed. The punk laid down almost instantly and Max sighed.
"Thanks again, Rachel." she said.
"No worries. I'll come by in the morning and see what's going on." Rachel said.
"Okay. Bye."
Rachel waved and left Max's room, shutting the door quietly. Max looked at Chloe, who looked like she was already falling asleep. Max hummed to herself and grabbed an extra blanket from her closet. She decided she'd take the couch and let Chloe have the bed. Just as she was laying out the blanket, she heard Chloe say her name.
"Huh?" she said, turning to face her.
"C'mere." Chloe muttered, reaching out to Max.
Max's expression became one of confusion as she put the blanket down and walked towards Chloe. Chloe grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down onto the bed, making Max cry out in surprise. Chloe wrapped her arm around Max and pulled her flush against her. Max's heart was pounding wildly again as Chloe nuzzled into her neck.
"Stay here." she said sleepily.
Max gulped nervously but nodded, trying to settle her nerves. "Okay."
Chloe's breathing slowed after a bit. Max could feel goosebumps rising on her skin. Her phone chimed and she grabbed it, checking the message.
Rachel: Forgot to warn you. Chloe's also a cuddler when she's drunk ;)
Thanks for telling me that now. Max thought, putting her phone back down.-
"That's really all I remember." Max finished. "I think I fell asleep after that."
Chloe was an expert at keeping her cool most of the time. However, anyone standing right next to her would be able to see the veins slightly straining in her neck. She was trying her hardest not to blush/scream/run from the room. If this were a cartoon, there would be steam rising from her ears. "Oh. Cool."
"You're not weird about it, are you?" Max asked.
"What? Pfft, no. It's all chill." Chloe said with a nonchalant wave of her hand.
"You sure? I'm not. I know how some people can be when they're drunk." Max said.
"Really, it's alright. Thanks for looking our for me." Chloe said. I still need to find a way to make this up to her. It's so fucking awkward. "Hey, um... Do you... wanna go out for breakfast?"
"It's almost noon, Chloe. And you're hungover." Max pointed out.
Chloe glanced at the clock but shrugged with a grin. "Who cares? Breakfast is an all day food. Plus, do you think this is my first hangover? We'll be fine."
"I don't know..." Max stood up from the bed.
Chloe looked around for hey keys, finding them also on the nightstand and snatched them up. "Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do." Max's eyes widened when she realized with no hesitation whatsoever. She didn't even have to think over the question.
"Then let's go. I know the perfect place to go. I was kinda avoiding it, but..." Chloe scratched her head with an embarrassed smile.
"In our pajamas, though?" Max asked.
"Don't be so nitpicky. It's Saturday. Come on." Chloe took Max by the hand and headed out the door.
...
Yeah, I've never been drunk nor have I been around drunk people, so I don't know how to write them xD Forgive that. This was also kind of all over the place, so I'm sorry for that too. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed! Leave a favorite/follow/review if you did and I'll see you in the next chapter!
CaptainVampireQueen awaaay!