Jeez, I don't even know how many chapters are left in this story. Maybe three or four, but that is just an estimate.

- CaptainVampireQueen

If I have anything to say about it, there's gonna be a whoooole lot more than that.

- Chaotic Reborn

There's always the possibility of a sequel ;)

- CaptainVampireQueen

…

~I don't wanna be anywhere else

than anywhere else but here (x2)~

Max quickly scrambled off of Chloe's lap, which gave Chloe the space to sit back up, but she somehow felt...empty without Max on her lap. Or close to her, period. She readjusted her beanie and picked at her hair sticking out from beneath it. Max turned her attention to the floor, her cheeks flaming.

"S-sorry…" she stuttered. Her voice came out a whisper, like it was still working out the affects of the kiss.

"Don't you start apologizing." Chloe chuckled. "Honestly, I…." Chloe paused as her cheeks turned red, much to Max's amazement. She had never seen Chloe blush before. She didn't even think Chloe was capable of doing such a...girlish thing. "...I've been wanting to do that for a while now…"

"R-really?" Max asked.

Chloe nodded once, her hands coming up to fiddle with her bullet necklace. She's actually nervous, oh my Dog. Max thought. "I really did. From the moment I saw you, if I can be honest. And when we were in the closet…" Chloe cracked a small smile at that subtle joke. "It took every ounce of my willpower to tear myself away from you. I'm not a believer in love at first sight, but… You, Max. I saw your face and now I'm a believer. Not a trace of doubt in my mind. I'm in love."

Max blinked for a second. She struggled to process the familiar words. When she finally caught on, her expression must of shown because Chloe burst out laughing. Max shoved her playfully, giggling along. "You cheesy dork. Only you would quote that song."

Chloe shrugged. "I mean, hey. It's true." Her hand found her necklace again. "Er...maybe it's a little early for the 'L' word, but… I do really, really like you, Max."

Max could barely contain the emotions swelling in the pit of her stomach. She suddenly felt the swarm of thousands of butterflies thrumming through her. Chloe's consideration of taking things slow term wise satisfied her. She didn't know quite what this was, or what it was going to become, but she liked it. A lot. "Well, I really, really like you, too, Chloe."

"Isn't it crazy?" Chloe said. She looked at Max.

"What do you mean?" Max asked.

"Barely a month ago, we were complete strangers. Now… We were practically making out in my truck confessing our like for each other." Chloe laughed at Max's blush. "It's hella crazy."

"So, um…" Max started. "What does this make us?"

Chloe rubbed her eye for a second. "We don't have to put a label on it. We could just be, you know? We don't have to call ourselves girlfriends, friends with benefits, or whatever else there is to interpret it."

"Isn't that weird?"

"Max, everything is weird. We just happen to be the king and queen of it. Or the two queens." Chloe shot her a wink. "But I've been dealing with labels for five years and I've found that I couldn't give less of a fuck about them. Don't stress yourself over it."

Chloe reached over and took Max by her arm, gently urging her closer. Max complied and allowed Chloe to pull her over. One arm went around her waist, and a hand cupped her cheek. Max felt her heart skip in her chest. She could feel Chloe exhale softly.

"But whatever we choose to do," Chloe said. "as long as I can continue to do this, I don't care."

Their lips met again, this time with more ease. Max felt a comforting warmth pool in the pit of her stomach, drowning out the butterflies and replacing them with a tingly sense of passion. Chloe would say the same, her hand pressing firmly against Max's waist. Max's hand reached up for Chloe's neck and her nails gently scratched the scruff of Chloe's hairline. It sent shivers down Chloe's spine and caused a small moan to escape her slightly parted lips. Their hearts skipped. Max pulled away at a breath's distance and gazed at Chloe through half lidded eyes. The intense passion burning in Chloe's stare seeped into her. Chloe bit her lip and smirked.

"Did I already say 'wowser?'" she said jokingly.

Max smiled. "You hella did."

…

"You know," Chloe inquired, coming to a halt in front of the stairs leading to the upper level of the school lot. Max turned her gaze towards Chloe, raising her eyebrows. Chloe stroked the back of Max's hand with her thumb, smiling. "now that we're… whatever we are, I should take you on an actual date."

"So you're telling me that breakfast this morning wasn't a date?" Max said. "Could've sworn I heard the word 'date' come out of your mouth."

"That was before we actually knew we liked each other, smart ass." Chloe laughed.

"What do you have in mind, Captain Chloe?" Max asked.

Chloe's expression shifted a bit to one of mischief. There was a glint in her eyes that made Max a little nervous. She squeezed Max's hand and started walking again. Max stumbled for a second before catching her footing and gave Chloe a look. "Aren't you gonna tell me?"

"If I did, it wouldn't be a surprise then would it?" Chloe said.

Max sighed. "You can't just leave me in suspense."

"I can and I will. Trust me, you'll love it." Chloe said.

They kept walking, and a gust of cold wind blew over them. Max shivered and pulled her hoodie around her tighter. "I forgot how cold it can get in November." she noted.

Chloe came to a stop and let go of Max's hand for a second. She shrugged off her jacket and handed it to Max, who shook her head. "You don't have to, we aren't that far from the dorms-"

"Come on, Caulfield." Chloe smiled. "Just take it."

Max rolled her eyes with a small smile and took off her messenger bag, handing it to Chloe in exchange for the jacket. She held the sleeves of her hoodie down as she put on Chloe's. She found herself enveloped in Chloe's scent; a mix of Axe Excite (irony?) with a hint of smoke and weed. It was a pleasant blend and Max felt the butterflies stir.

"Not bad, SpiderMax." Chloe said. She was eyeing Max up and down with a smirk. "A couple tats, some piercings, and we'll make a thrasher out of you yet."

"Ready for the mosh pit, shaka brah." Max joked.

Chloe laughed and raised a hand to ruffle Max's hair. "Maybe not. But we can start with some nice color to your hair."

"Color like what?" Max asked. Her hand found Chloe's again and they started for the dorms.

"Hmm… Pink? It would look hella rad on you." Chloe suggested.

"Really?" Max tugged shyly at a strand of her hair, trying to imagine it pink.

"Yeah. I have some dye at my house. We don't have to do it if you don't want to, we don't even have to do your whole head, but-" Chloe's everlasting talking was cut short by Max kissing her gently.

"I'd love to let you dye my hair, Chloe." Max said.

Chloe practically beamed. "Just say the word, Maximus."

Max tilted her head and her expression turned to one of thought. Chloe raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You have all these different nicknames for me, and I only have one for you." Max shrugged. "I can't really think of any."

"I'm sure you will eventually." Chloe said. "Now, if we're done stalling, let's get you to your room."

"Aw, can't we stall some more?" Max joked, pouting.

Chloe laughed, pressing an affectionate kiss into Max's forehead. "C'mon, smartass. Let's go."

Max nodded and the two continued on to Max's dorm. Chloe held the door open for Max to enter. They started down the hall when the bathroom door opened. Max stopped and Chloe took hold of her arm, ready for it to be Victoria or one of her minions. Max readied herself for the same.

But it was only Kate. Chloe's hand loosened from Max's arm. The door closed behind Kate and she looked up, seeing Max in her peripheral vision. She smiled. "Oh, hey, Max-" Her eyes caught Chloe and her expression wavered a bit. She looked back at Max.

"Hey, Kate." Max said. Her heart pounded. She was caught. "Meet Chloe. Chloe, Kate Marsh."

"Nice to meet you." Chloe put her hand out. Kate blinked and straightened up, taking Chloe's hand and shaking it. "Pretty sure I've seen you talking to Rachel before."

"Nice to meet you, too. I'm sure you have." Kate said. "I'm sorry for my reaction. I wasn't expecting to see anyone with Max."

"Heh, it's alright. I'm sure you've already heard my name around anyway." Chloe said with a small smile. "You don't have to pretend you don't know who I am."

Kate blushed a bit and nodded once. "I'm sorry, I know not everyone lives by their reputation. I do hope you are doing well by Max, though."

"Actually, Kate, about that…" Max said. Chloe found Max's hand and put an arm around her shoulders. "Chloe and I are, um…"

Kate caught on quickly and her eyes went wide. "Oh, my! Max, that's great! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you," Max smiled. She felt Chloe give her hand a squeeze. She put a hand on Kate's shoulder. "I promise we'll talk later, okay?"

"No worries. Just text me." Kate smiled. "You two enjoy the rest of your evening."

"You, too." Chloe said.

Kate smiled wider and stepped around them, heading out the front door. Max sighed in relief and turned to face Chloe. She was smiling down at her.

"Well, that was interesting." she said.

"Mhmm." Max hummed. "Sorry about that. I told Kate about you and she was worried."

"Don't apologize, Max. I know I don't exactly have the best reputation around here." Chloe's eyes saddened a bit. Max reached up and cupped her cheek, giving her a reassuring smile.

"Doesn't matter to me." she told her honestly. She lifted herself up on her toes a bit to meet Chloe's lips. "I still like you."

"Boy, does that put my restless heart at ease. Now, you go and find something to occupy yourself for the next few hours. I'll be back to pick you up then." Chloe said.

"How many hours?" Max asked.

"Just until the sun goes down." Chloe said. "It's gonna take a bit for me to set everything up."

"But that's so looooong." Max jokingly complained.

"You'll survive. You can go visit Rachel and tell her the good news if you want." Chloe said with a sly smile.

"Shouldn't we do that together, though?"

"Nah, you got this. She'll probably send me a million texts as soon as the words leave your mouth." Chloe pulled Max close and gave her a brief kiss. One that Max wanted so badly to melt into. "I'll see you later."

Max smiled. "Okay."

They kissed again and Max watched Chloe leave, already missing the feeling of Chloe's arm wound around her waist. She sighed and scratched her head. What am I gonna do for the next few hours? she thought. She looked towards her bedroom door and bit her lip. She didn't want to be alone, but she did have homework to do. She could go talk to Rachel. After all, if it wasn't for her she wouldn't of gotten this far with Chloe.

No, wait! You have to turn in your photo to Mr. Jefferson. Max thought.

Max turned around and left the girls' dorm and broke into a jog once she reached outside. Her messenger bag kept hitting against her thigh and Max sighed, thinking she could've just left it in her room and take the picture instead. She reached the main building and stopped to catch her breath. Probably shouldn't of dropped that gym class. She thought as she entered the school building. Few students were walking around, some chatting, others with their headphones in. Principal Wells was talking to Miss Grant by his office. Max greeted them both as she walked by, receiving polite hellos back. Max turned down the hallway towards Mr. Jefferson's classroom. She opened up her bag and reached inside for the picture. She pulled it out and stared at it longingly.

Chloe looks so beautiful in this picture. she thought. It's easy to tell she has so much on her mind.

Chloe's blue eyes seemed to be piercing her soul through the photo. They were so deep and had that special glint you could only find by people who'd been to hell and back. Wiser than their years and knew too much. Big hearts kept under lock and key. Chloe shared her key with Max. She knew she couldn't lose it.

"Woah, hey!"

Max had been staring at the picture for so long she didn't see anyone appear in front of her. She took a step back and broke her gaze with the photo. She felt her blood run cold under her skin when she saw who she'd walked into.

"Watch where the fuck you're going, Caulfield!" Nathan Prescott growled.

Max felt the word 'sorry' rise to her lips and she bit it back. There was no way she was going to apologize to an asshole like him. Fuck that.

Nathan grunted angrily and shoved past her. Max caught herself and glared angrily at his back as he stalked away.

Yeah, walk away ya damn rich boy. Max's inner voice spat at him, but she herself remained silent. Rather, she contented herself with a little smile, continuing on her way to Mr. Jefferson's room. She had a photo to submit.

The door to the photography room creaked open slowly, with Max timidly peeking into the room to see if he was there. Sure enough, before she had even spotted him, she heard him. "Come on inside, Max." his voice beckoned her into the room. Slowly, she stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. Jefferson was at his desk, presumably doing some papers. He didn't even bother to look up from his work as he spoke once more. "I assume there's a reason my young prodigy's chosen to visit?" he queried, with a slight undertone of curiosity.

"W-well...I came to submit my photo for the contest."

Mr. Jefferson seemed to perk up at that. His pen stopped scrawling words across the bleached paper, and he gazed up at her with his eyebrows raised, intrigued. "Ah, is that so? May I see it, then?" he folded his hands patiently.

Max nodded, rummaging through her camera bag before producing the photo from it. She reluctantly held it out to him. A part of her wanted to keep the photo for herself, it was just so beautiful. But she knew he'd nag her incessantly about it, and she didn't need that.

Gingerly, the photography teacher took the polaroid, turning it so that he could look at it. His eyebrows raised once more, and Max couldn't tell if it was out of approval. But his words quickly alleviated her worries. "Max...pardon my French, but you've done a goddamn beautiful job. Really, you have." he spoke, and for a second, Max thought she could just barely spot a smile in the corner of his mouth. "The way you've captured her facial features, her eyes especially...you've really made them look like the windows to the soul. It's...enrapturing." he marveled, opening a drawer in his desk and removing a manila folder labeled 'Student Photo Contest Submissions'. He slud Max's photo into the folder, put the folder back into the drawer, and closed it. "Good work, Max. And don't tell anybody I said this, but, ah…" he glanced around and lowered his voice to a murmur. "...Your photo is better than Nathan and Victoria's combined."

That last comment made Max blush. She never did take praise very well, but Mr. Jefferson, one of the most prestigious photographers in the country, was speaking highly of her work. She couldn't help but feel a pang of rejuvenating pride. "Thanks, Mr. Jefferson…" she smiled.

"No need to thank me, I simply speak the truth.~" this time, he really did smile. It was faint, but it was a smile. "Now, if you won't mind, I have to get back to the humdrum tedium of classroom paperwork." he chuckled, looking back down to his papers. "You can see yourself out. And...good work." he added with finality, his pen beginning to move once more.

"Of course. Thank you. See you Monday." Max said. She took her steps backwards and turned around to open the door. She closed it behind her and a smile broke out on her face.

Take that, Nathan and Victoria! she thought. Wait until Chloe hears about this!

Warren was coming out of the science lab a second later, immediately smiling when he saw Max. "Maxwell Silver Hammer! I've been looking for you!"

"Graham Cracker, what's up?" Max laughed. She realized that she only had one nickname for Warren, too. She'd have to work on her creativity skills with names.

"I wanted to ask you if you were free tonight." Warren shyly scratched his head. "That drive in theater is having a Planet of the Apes marathon. We should totally go ape!"

Max felt her heart sink. "I would, really. But… I already have plans." She was tempted to tell him about Chloe and that they were… involved(?) now, but kept that to herself. She didn't want anyone else to know aside from Kate and Rachel. Not yet, at least.

Warren nodded. Max could see he was trying not to look too sad. "That's fine. I was just wondering. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

"You know you could try asking someone else." Max suggested. "Brooke, perhaps?"

Warren pondered that for a second. "Yeah, I guess I could. Still, text me if you decide on coming."

"Will do." Max turned towards the hallway, giving Warren a small wave. "See you later."

"Definitely." Warren flashed her a smile.

Max continued out the building, pulling out her phone in the process. She pulled up her conversation with Rachel. Better late than never.

Max: Are you in your room?

It didn't take very long for her to get an answer. Her phone chimed a minute later.

Rachel: Yeah, wassup?

Max bit her lip nervously. The butterflies were coming back.

Max: Just need to talk to you about something. Good news =^.^=

Rachel: I would hope so lol I'll leave the door unlocked. Just walk in.

Max: Ok

Max tucked her phone away and picked up the pace to the dorms. She reached them in a matter of minutes, going straight for Rachel's room. It was unlocked like she said it would be. Max walked in to find Rachel sitting at her computer desk. She turned around upon hearing her door open and smiled at Max.

"There you are." she said.

"Hey," Max said, returning the smile. She took off her bag and set it by the door. She then approached Rachel and leaned on the chair she was sitting in, looking at the computer screen. "Whatcha doin'?"

"Working on my Calculus homework." Rachel answered. She turned and shrunk the page. "Which is irrelevant right now because you said you had something to tell me."

Max felt a blush rise in her cheeks. "Yeah, uhm…" She bit her lip. "It's about Chloe."

Rachel nodded. "What about her?"

"Well, we went to junkyard to hang out for a bit. I took a picture of her to enter in the Everyday Heroes contest." Max decided to build up to it. She knew that Rachel was going to ask how they happened if she came right out and said it.

"That's great!" Rachel grinned. "Can I see it?"

"I just came back from turning it in to Jefferson. But, that's not all… While we were there, David showed up." Max's gaze fell to the floor.

Rachel's grin faded. "Is Chloe okay? Did he do anything?"

"She's fine now. He found us on the boat and started picking on me, pretty much. Chloe got upset and stood up to him. He said… something else…" Max didn't feel like it was right to tell Rachel was David had called her. There was a knot in her stomach telling her 'no'. "That's drove Chloe over the edge and she shoved him. He, um…"

"Did he hit her?" Rachel's voice was just above a whisper.

Max nodded, feeling the first hint of tears running down her cheek. When did she start crying? She quickly ran her sleeve across her face and sniffed. "I ran down and got Chloe away from him. We went back to the truck and we left. Chloe was driving angry and I told her to pull over. We talked about how she should tell Joyce because she deserves to know. I told her that she deserves to happy…and…"

"And what?"

Max picked her gaze up from a patch on the carpet and looked at Rachel. "We kissed."

Rachel's features shifted to one of excitement and she took Max's hands in hers. She was all but jumping around the room. "Max, that's amazing! Admittedly not the ideal circumstances, but I'm so happy for you guys!"

Max smiled broadly, relief filling her chest. "Thank you, Rach. Only you and Kate know. We haven't told anyone else. We don't even know what we should call us."

"What do you mean?" Rachel asked.

"Everything is so confusing at the moment. Chloe said we didn't have to call it anything." Max latched her hand onto her elbow. "Which I'm fine with. But it's weird not knowing what to make of your own...relationship?" She shook her head. "I'm sorry if I'm confusing you-"

"No, you're not. I totally get it. Take things at your own pace. Do what is best for you and Chloe." Rachel gave Max a reassuring smile. "I'm really happy for you two."

"Thank you." Max said. Rachel reached out for her and Max welcomed the much appreciated gesture. They hugged tightly, Rachel patting Max's shoulder.

"I bet Chloe already told you I'm gonna send her like a hundred messages congratulating her, right?" she said.

Max laughed and nodded. "Yeah, she did. I'll let you get to that, I gotta go find something to occupy myself for the next couple hours. Maybe work on my homework or something."

"Have fun!" Rachel said, already pulling out her phone to text Chloe.

Max left Rachel's room and headed up the hallway to her own. She opened up her door and, after shutting it, immediately collapsed onto her bed and sighed heavily. She was mentally, physically, and spiritually exhausted after everything that today had presented her with. She turned her head to the side and reached out for her teddy bear, pulling him towards her. She brushed her hand over his fur and smiled contentedly.

"Hey, Captain." she said. "Do you wanna work on my homework with me?" She's met with silence, of course, and she sat up, setting him beside her as she opened up her bag and started pulling out her work. "That's the spirit."

...

Okay, guys! We're splitting this chapter in half due to the fact that we still don't know what's going to happen to the rating. We're still in the safe zone at this moment. I also have plans for some drama to arise (which, of course, will affect the chapter count) but that is undetermined. On that note, I hope you enjoyed and come back for the next chapter!

AND THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR OVER 9,000 READS (insert Vegeta meme here)! YOU ARE ALL THE BEST!

CaptainVampireQueen awaaay!