"I'm sorry guys" Max sighed
"Chloe wants to see me."

The smiles on her friend's faces vanished.

"Oh no" Kate said gloomily.
"But Max we're going to have a great time, for sure!"

"Come on Mad Max, you can go and visit Chloe tomorrow" Warren said desperately.

"I'm sorry, really. It just seems to be urgent and I haven't seen her in a while. Sorry!" Max truly felt sorry, even more for her recent lie, but still she turned around and started to go.
"I'm sure you two will have fun without me!" she called and waved to her friends.

Warren shrugged his shoulders and they both said "Bye", looking disappointed.

That was so not ok… Max told herself making her way to the bus stop. She was sure she couldn't forget their sad faces for the rest of the evening. But Chloe was waiting and Max wanted to see her too. She took out her phone to text her friend back.

I'm on my way, the bus just arrived.

While entering the bus, Max received an immediate response.

You better hurry.

- Did you follow Victoria? Then read on until you see this sign: #. Did you follow Nathan? Then start at this sign: #. Both continue normally at this sign: ÖÖÖ -

Chuckling, Max took a seat in the back. Chloe must have glued her phone to her hand. The bus was almost empty, and Max was glad about it. It was a nice evening so far, but after seeing so many people at the party, the loud music and her unexpected conversation with Victoria, it felt good to be alone for some time. Max put in her headphones and browsed through the music on her phone. She chose "The Shins – Garden State" and closed her eyes, enjoying the tune.
Should I text Victoria back? She suddenly asked herself.
Victoria had been pretty nice, so Max felt like it would be rude if she didn't reply.

You can always text me if anything's wrong.

She answered then, feeling like Victoria wasn't that bad at all. Max asked herself if Nathan really saw more in her than a friend though. She couldn't imagine him walking over the campus holding hands with Victoria. Or holding hands with anyone. Getting out of the bus and knocking on Chloe's door a few moments later, Max still was lost in her thoughts.

- # -

Chuckling, Max took a seat in the back. Chloe must have glued her phone to her hand. The bus was almost empty, and Max was glad about it. It was a nice evening so far, but after seeing so many people at the party, the loud music and her unexpected conversation with Nathan, it felt good to be alone for some time. Max put in her headphones and browsed through the music on her phone. She chose "The Shins – Garden State" and closed her eyes, enjoying the tune.
Should I text Nathan back? She suddenly asked herself.
He really seemed to have enjoyed their chat in some way. So why stop after that one conversation?

Haha we'll see :)

Right after answering, Max wondered if it was the right thing to write. Shouldn't she have said something cooler?
Nathan must think I'm pretty lame she thought, feeling uneasy.
But what else could I have wrote?

Max was still thinking about Nathan and her stupid answer when she knocked on Chloe's door.

- ÖÖÖ -

"Max! You're finally here!" Chloe called, opening the door and hugging Max.
"Gosh I missed you, you know?"

"Come on Chloe, we saw each other like three days ago" Max laughed.

They made their way up to Chloe's room. It was messy as always, and smelled so heavily like weed it made Max feel dizzy.

"So, is there something special why I should come here today?" Max asked, sitting down on the unmade bed.

"Nope, I just wanted to hang out with you" Chloe said, jumping on the bed next to Max.
"Don't tell me you had better plans?" she watched Max defiantly.

"Uhm well…" Max hesitated.
"I just met Warren and Kate at this Blackwell party and we wanted to watch a movie afterwards…"

"Ohoo, I bet they're having a lot of fun without you, if you know what I mean" Chloe laughed and wiggled her eyebrows. Max rolled her eyes.

"I don't think so, Chloe" she said and watched her friend's smile widen.

"Ohh Max don't be jelly, we can make out too!"

Blushing, Max thought about how to respond. Struggling for words, she just made Chloe laugh even harder.

"You haven't changed at all Max" she said and patted her on the thigh.

Chloe is so much cooler than I am… Max thought and got a bit pissed. It sucked to be that awkward and shy. She tried not to show her anger to Chloe, but of course, her friend already read the mood on her face.

"Hey, I didn't mean that as an insult, you know? I think you're an adorable person, Max."

Happy about the compliment, Max smiled.
The rest of the evening was pretty nice, and although Warren texted her that he and Kate were missing her, Max felt sure she made a good decision with visiting Chloe. They spent half of the night talking, looking at old photographs and watching Friends, until Max fell asleep, her head bumping on Chloe's shoulder.

The next morning, both of them were as hungry as wolves. Chloe hadn't exaggerated telling Max Joyce would make "a shitload of breakfast". The table was creaking under lots of pancakes, bacon and orange juice. The three of them had a lot of fun, but when David sat down on Joyce's side, Chloe's mood immediately changed.

"Morning Officer" she said with a fake smile on her face.
"Already arrested someone today?"

"Stop saying that Chloe" David responded, sighing. He was hesitating for a moment, then he went on.
"By the way, I know you hung out with that fricking drug dealer in his RV again."

"What the fuck, why would you know that?" Chloe's voice rose.

Does he mean Frank? Max asked herself.

"It's none of your concern. I just don't want you to meet with that creepy guy" David said, his tone getting harsher as well.

"God, I'm an adult, David. Why do you always know where I am? It's not your business if I'm meeting that 'creepy drug dealer' or not"

Max looked at Chloe, surprised. So she's really meeting Frank or what? She was confused. Her friend was getting her rage on now.

"Last time you told me I shouldn't go to the junkyard. I want to know why you always know where I am going, David, for fucks sake. Have you planted a GPS tracker on me or what?" Chloe shouted.

Joyce was trying to say something, but David cut her off.

"And what if I did, Chloe? You're not safe around those people, I just want you to stay on the right and law-abiding path."

Chloe was now losing her temper completely.

"It's not your fucking business who I meet, David. I can't believe you're tracking me, that's sick, you know that? Just sick!"

"Chloe, please, keep your voice down!" Joyce said.
"And David, do you really have a GPS tracker on her? It's really getting out of hand with your control addiction. I can't stand it anymore!"

"Jesus, David, what's wrong with you?" Chloe stood up, her face red from shouting. Joyce seemed to be near to tears now.

This is getting out of hand Max thought. She saw David trying to speak for himself, looking really sorry this time, but Chloe had started calling him names, getting louder and louder.
I know he's not really that bad. He just seems to be trying to help Chloe, even if it's a strange way. Or is he going too far this time?
Max struggled for words. What should she say?

Calm Chloe or Accuse David