When Max woke up Saturday morning, she didn't quite know what to make of her situation, her bed was a little crowded as her arms were wrapped around Kate, who was sleeping just inches in front of her, and her own body was surrounded by Victoria's arms who was behind her. Okay, I love you both and you're both awesome, but someday I'm gonna want to sleep in my own bed by myself like a normal person. As weird as it was Max still found it incredibly sweet how the two girls were so focused on looking out for her.

But for now though Max had other things she had to tend to. When she started to pull her arms free from Kate the other girl stirred. "Is it morning already Max?"

"Yeah, and I have to start getting packed for the trip to San Francisco."

"I suppose I could get up, but your bed is just so warm."

Max laughed a little. "With three of us on it, it should be."

"True," Kate said in a matter-of-fact way. She started moving to get off the bed so that Max could get off too. When she had herself ready she offered a hand to help Max out.

"Where do you think you're going Max?" Victoria asked, her voice all groggy from being tired.

"I need to start pack…"

"No, I mean, get your camera and take your damn selfie first. I noticed you hadn't been taking many lately so it's time for us to make up for that."

Before Max could even protest Kate was holding out Max's camera to her. Max took the camera and held it up, but before she could take the picture Kate jumped back on the bed to the dismay of both Max and Victoria. So it was gonna be a three person selfie again, but Max could live with that as she snapped the picture.

With the selfie taken Kate hopped back off the bed. Max crawled off the bed herself and looked into the mirror, surprised that a zombie wasn't looking back at her like it normally seemed to be lately.

"So how are you two going to handle me not being here tonight, you two are getting pretty used to staying in the same bed as me. I'll admit it's going to be weird being in San Francisco without you two."

Victoria sat up stretching and yawning. "Don't be ridiculous Caulfield, we're going too."

Max's jaw dropped. "What?"

Kate jumped up and down in excitement like she had been prone to do in the last few days again. "Yup, we're going too!"

Max was confused by this. "What do you mean, the contest only pays for me to…"

Victoria cut Max off. "Screw the contest. I already arranged it with Ms. Grant. I'm paying for Kate and I to fly down there with you, the four of us will spend the weekend in San Francisco having fun and attending the gallery to see your piece on display."

Several blinks from Max before a giant smile enveloped her face. "This is going to be so much fun! Though you know, I'm not even sure what picture won yet, I haven't seen what you turned in Victoria."

A smirk crossed Victoria's face. "You know which one it is."

More confusion from Max. "If it's that one, I ripped it up."

"Oh, I know." Victoria said as she crawled off of Max's bed. She looked at Kate and pointed to the door. She turned toward Max who was just kind of standing lost in thought in front of her. She raised her hand back and…

*smack*

Max let out a yelp as Victoria's hand smacked her butt.

"Get packing Caulfield," Victoria ordered, and turned to leave Max's room.

Max sat next to Ms. Grant on the plane, taking the Aisle seat as opposed to the window that she had occupied the last time she went to San Francisco. She mentally rolled her eyes as her last trip to San Francisco had never happened. On the other side of the aisle was Victoria and Kate. Max found that Victoria wasn't kidding about arranging things with Ms. Grant.

"So Max, have you ever been to San Francisco before?" Ms. Grant asked.

"Yeah… no. No, I haven't."

Ms. Grant shrugged off the odd way that Max answered.

"It's a wonderful city Max. And since we'll be there until Monday I'm sure we'll be able to do a few touristy things, or see some other galleries if that interests you."

"I'd like that," Max replied. She looked over to Victoria and Kate who seemed to be sleeping at the moment.

"This feels odd Ms. Grant, flying down with you instead of Jefferson or Principal Wells." She still couldn't call him Mister Jefferson anymore.

"That was quite unexpected when Mark Jefferson was arrested. I have a hard time believing that he'd target you girls, but from what I've heard I'm ashamed no one caught onto it sooner."

Max nodded. "And what about Principal Wells?"

Ms. Grant smiled again and leaned back. "Oh, I'm sure he'll be back in charge soon enough. The trustees didn't have much of a choice, a girl was murdered on his watch by a supposedly model student. From what I gathered Nathan's history wasn't as squeaky clean as we were led to believe."

Max nodded to that but felt the need to change the subject once more. "Thanks for letting them come along."

Ms. Grant smiled a little at the comment. "Well I'm sure since you're friends and all that you know that Victoria Chase doesn't take no for an answer."

"Damn right I don't," Victoria said, opening an eye and looking over at Max with a devilish smile.

"When she offered to pay the way for her and Miss Marsh I couldn't really refuse. We all understand how rough this week has been for you, so anything to help you get through it."

Max once more looked over to Victoria who looked back. It's funny how often people will say they understand how bad things have been or how rough they have been when they really have no fucking clue. Only Victoria is even close to having an idea and she probably is still a ways off from understanding how heavy my heart truly feels.

For her part Victoria offered a reassuring smile back to Max.

Max was excited, she really enjoyed herself when she went to San Francisco in the aborted timeline, but in that one it was Friday and Chloe's life was in danger. It would be afternoon still when they got to the gallery today.

Max looked at her left wrist and turned the bracelet that was wrapped around it over several times. It felt odd to be wearing Victoria's bracelet, but the blonde insisted. Besides, she still had her real bracelet. It was one of the few times that she could honestly say she was twinning with Victoria Chase. She smiled at the thought and pulled out her phone. Even with it on airplane mode she could look at all the texts of sympathy and support that everyone had sent her both Friday and today before leaving. People really did care, and that made Max incredibly happy.

It was the last text message though that made Max worry though. She didn't know what to make of it, but she knew the things she had heard from others and she remained wary at what it could mean.

I'm sorry for what's going to happen tonight Max, but you'll make it through, I promise -CC

Two chapters in one day? I guess I'm setting up for the big cliffhanger coming in Chapter 15 - San Francisco Nightmare