Warning: Very mild adult themes...
When Dusk Falls
Chapter 5: Memories
The sound of running ascension of stone steps, echoed.
Max laughed as she raced up the winding lighthouse stairs.
In her hand, a wooden sword, her brown hair darker and in a ponytail as she was chased by Chloe; with longer un-dyed golden brown hair, and an eye patch over her left eye. She also carried a wooden sword.
Max stopped and turned back to face down her pursuer, thrusting out her weapon to clash with Chloe's.
"Avast ye scoundrel ! Yer not beating me tuh thuh booty"! Max called out.
Chloe laughed and parried her sword.
"How dare ye, traitorous bilge rat ! Ah shall have ye keelhauled for mutiny against your Captain", replied Chloe as gruffly as she could.
Max laughed.
"Then you'd better catch me, Mon Capi-tan", she declared and continued running and laughing.
Chloe took chase once more, also laughing.
They raced up the steps, every so often lunging into a skirmish, dueling each other; before finally reaching the top and racing over to the farthest window from the large hatch in the floor.
They looked out through the window at the water, watching the sunset graze the waves. They watched in amazement.
"Sure is pretty, huh Chloe" ? Asked Max cheerfully.
"Totally, the treasure was worth the climb, or crawl", replied Chloe with a light teasing tone.
"Wouldn't it be cool, if we could get a real pirate ship and explore the world together"? Asked Max .
"Fuck yeah, go on adventures, no rules, no parents telling us what to do. It'd be so awesome", replied Chloe with a smile to match Max's own.
"As long as we're together; we'll always have adventures, no matter where we are", stated Max.
They started leaving; Chloe threw her arm around Max's shoulders.
"Damn straight ! We'll be best friends for life"! Declared Chloe.
"Absolutely, and nothing will ever change that"! Stated Max confidently.
They soon made their way back to Max's home, walking up the sidewalk out in front of it.
They froze at the sight of Max's father sticking a For Sale sign on the front lawn.
Slowly the two girls looked to each other, concerned.
"...Max..."? Asked Chloe worriedly.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
"Max"! A louder male voice called out.
Max was quickly startled awake from her day dream; she quickly wiped away the forming tears in her eyes and got her bearings again.
She realized she was in her second class of algebra, staring out the window, looking at the forest.
She looked over at the annoyed male teacher, standing in front of her table.
"There you are. Pay attention Maxine and you might learn something. I won't bore you much longer, I assure you", he stated and walked off, continuing his lesson.
A few students muffled snickers at her expense.
Max looked down at her text book solemnly.
She glanced over to her phone, partially taking it from her pocket; seeing no new messages or missed calls.
She closed her eyes briefly and faced away; shoving the phone back into her pocket and flipping through the pages in her text book, to follow along with the teacher's lesson.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe ran through the forest, checking behind things and under things; a determined gleam in her eyes.
"No matter where you try and hide, you know I'll find you~", Her voice was playful.
Her eyes darted around warily as her human body slowed to a walk, she was grinning.
She looked at some recently snapped twigs and scattered autumn leaves in the soil.
Smirking she began tiptoeing, aware of her footing and slowly made her way around a tree and it's bush companion, from the opposite bush free side.
She found her target, looking through small holes in the bush, on her hands and knees, next to the tree trunk.
Chloe crossed her arms smugly.
"Did she pass me"? Whispered Max quietly.
Chloe leaned forward behind the girl.
"...Nope", she replied teasingly.
Max yelped and jumped, turning to face her; crashing her back into the bush. She looked up at Chloe who straightened up and laughed, eyes closed. They both had their hair in ponytails.
"You should see your face right now nerd", laughed Chloe. "Ass"! Called Max.
Chloe laughed. Max partially got up and lunged forward, tackling Chloe down onto her back. She hovered herself over her. Chloe looked up at her in brief shock.
"Ha ! You should see the look on your face right now, dork", smirked Max teasingly.
Chloe returned the smirk and then grabbed hold of Max fast, flipping her over, pinning her under her.
"Sorry Max, but I prefer the top", teased Chloe playfully. Max laughed.
"Oh yeah"? Asked Max playfully.
She pushed the fourteen year old back, rolling herself out of the pin, before tackling Chloe down underneath her again.
"Well too bad", replied Max playfully.
Chloe chuckled, then pushed at Max, and they rolled around, playfully wrestling, carefree of all the dirt and leaves sticking to them; just, laughing.
Max thrust Chloe down on her back again, looking winded. Chloe just quirked a brow at the thirteen year old.
"Ha ! Pinned ya again~", taunted Max teasingly with a light pant.
"Duh, cause I let you", smirked Chloe. Then she swiftly countered Max, holding her down and grinned cheekily.
Max just laid there panting lightly, she smiled. Chloe also took time to catch her breath, but at a calmer rate.
"Alright alright~ You win, lemme up", stated Max. Chloe obliged and released her from the pin, sitting up.
Max turned to her hands and knees and got up into a kneel, before grinning.
Chloe was pile driven by the thirteen year old once more and again found herself in the dirt on her back, with Max on top.
Chloe blinked a moment, surprised and smirked.
"Ha"! Taunted Max. She got up and quickly ran, laughing.
Chloe got up and took chase with a grin.
They got to a tall thick tree, which held a sturdy tree fort. It had a bunch of boards nailed to a thick second tree trunk jutting out like a branch on the side. The boards led up the second, right to a pirate crow's nest platform.
The fort had railings, a tire swing and even a long sturdy plank leading out to a deep clear water stream, like a diving board.
It had a few windows and one level, excluding the crow's nest. It had two opposite ended short balconies.
Max quickly climbed the rope ladder and Chloe followed. They climbed through the hatch and got inside the fort.
It had Taken Chloe, Max and Chloe's dad William half a year to build the tree house.
They pulled up the rope ladder and lowered the hatch door over the entrance; securing them inside.
The two girls dropped back onto the spread out, worn blanket and quietly laughed; smiling at each other a moment, before gazing up at the wood ceiling and the scattered star stickers. Their hearts still pounding with adrenaline.
The inside was littered with different drawings, but all had a similar theme. Chloe and Max were pirates, taking over, and adventuring free. Exploring different places.
"This is the life, right Max ? Wish we could stay here forever, like this", stated Chloe with a smile.
She heard Max shift next to her, the flooring creaking lightly.
"...Me too...", Max spoke up, her voice quiet and slightly broken.
Chloe's smile faded to concern at the tone and she looked over at Max.
Max was sitting up, cradling her knees, head down; looking on the verge of tears.
Chloe sat up, bracing herself on her hands.
"Max whats wrong"? Asked Chloe concern obvious on her voice.
Max hid her face behind her crossed arms and Chloe heard her sniffle.
Chloe's expression fell to her own sadness. She moved closer to Max, putting her arm around her shoulders comfortingly.
"...Chloe...I, don't want to go...", Max spoke in a thick, sad tone. A tear sliding down her cheek from one of her closed eyes.
Chloe pulled Max closer to her side. "...I know Max...I, don't want you to go either...But hey, its not for awhile yet, right"? Replied Chloe softly.
"I saw them starting to pack...Every room in the house had boxes...", replied Max sadly.
Chloe looked down, crest fallen. "...Oh...", replied Chloe quietly.
Max adjusted herself and leaned her head against Chloe's neck and shoulder. Chloe held her.
Max silently, let her tears slip down. Chloe gently rubbed her back soothingly, trying not to tear up herself.
~oOo~~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Rain clouds filled the sky. Chloe stood before the giant tree in Dire form, gazing up at the dilapidated tree fort.
One of the balconies had rotted and collapsed, some remaining splinters of the wood slacked up against the tree trunk.
The rope ladder was snapped and partially dangled; lightly swaying with the gentle breeze.
The tire swing, lay in the dirt, forgotten and buried by overgrown foliage.
The roof and walls held many holes; tree roots and leaves having grown through. Some of the flooring sunk down, half way to the ground below.
The crow's nest was still stable, but roots had ensnared it as well. The plank diving board hung down, partially dipping in the swelled over, expanded stream.
What was once made of polished black-wood years ago, now took on a murky green, curtsy of mold.
Chloe looked down, closing her eyes. She started walking away from the ruins; her mind bringing out vocal memories, to echo in her ears as though the words were being spoken to her now.
"Chloe, Max, time to come back for supper"! William's voice called. "Be right there dad"! Chloe's younger voice called back.
"Max, you cool now"? Chloe's voice asked. "Y-yeah, sorry", Max's younger voice replied with a sniffle.
Then the sounds of laughter at the dinner table followed. "I should probably get groceries tomorrow", Joyce's voice echoed in a quiet mutter.
As the vocal memories of the sleep over played out, getting to the following morning; Chloe tightened her closed eyes, gritting her teeth in frustration, her tail lowering.
The click of a camera continued her memory lane.
"Hope the flash didn't scare you Max", William's voice spoke up. "Thats a keeper", he continued. "Not til I see it first ! You know the rules dad", Chloe's younger voice piped up.
"Okay Chloe give me the thumbs up or thumbs down", William chuckled. "I might allow this one into the family album", Chloe replies. "You're the boss", William stated cheerfully.
Chloe recalled the picture was the second one taken of the same image of her and Max. Chloe remembered handing one to Max.
"What do you think Max"? Chloe asks. The phone rings...
"I like it", Max replied cheerfully. The phone stops ringing as it's picked up. "Only like"? Chloe teases. "Love it", Max replied. The phone clicked as it was hung up.
"Well I'm off to rescue yonder queen at the save mart. She doth have many goods for us to feast upon", William states jokingly.
"You are ridiculous", Chloe replies. "You'll be thankful for that one day...shit where did I leave my keys", William replies. "Thats a dollar for the swear jar", Chloe states.
"You mean your college fund", he retorts. "Ah there we are. Alright I'm off, no Chloe and Max wine tasting sessions while I'm gone", he calls. "Dad...", replied Chloe.
"Don't blow it, your mom is going to be making her famous salmon surprise, with chocolate cake for dessert tonight. You're staying for dinner again aren't you Max"? He called.
"She's not leaving me yet", replied Chloe. "That makes all of us", he states.
Then the door shuts and locks. The sound a lot harder and louder than it actually was at the time.
It was followed by the blaring echoes of a car crash she wasn't present for...
Chloe slowly opened her eyes half way as the rain began to fall. Even through her fur, she could feel each individual drop on her face; the rain drops clung to the ends of every singled out strand of her golden brown pelt.
"Chloe...I'm so, sorry...", Max's younger voice echoed with tears. "No he can't be ! He can't- Its a lie"! Chloe's younger voice pleaded.
Chloe closed her eyes again and walked on, the dampening grass and soil, squishing beneath her paws.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe, fourteen, sat alone looking down, in the dark of her room, on the edge of her bed, her hands gripping the mattress on either side of her. Max had moved and it was the following days after.
A framed photo of her and William lay smashed on the floor of her room, in front of her bed. Tears were restrained but every so often, a couple would slip down onto the glass below.
She could hear her mother's sobbing from the room across the hall, even through closed doors.
Chloe pulled her legs up against her chest, hugging them, eyes closed, letting the painful tears fall freely and silently.
Her heart shattered, for the first time...
Once more the memory faded away and Chloe walked silently through the now pouring rain, slowly the wolf's pace increased until she was full sprint in the forest, sloshing through puddles; almost a blur.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Max looked out at the rain as she sat in her dorm room eating lunch. She enjoyed the rain, but still looked sad. She wondered if Chloe was out in it.
"Max"? Kate's voice piped up.
Max blinked out of her daze and looked back at the concerned faces of Kate, Dana and Juliet.
"Are you okay"? Asked Dana. "You've kinda been staring off into the non-existent horizon for awhile now", added Juliet.
"S-sorry, just...thinking", replied Max. "Since we don't know you too well yet, should we be concerned when you start thinking"? Asked Dana with a light smirk.
Max chuckled. "Oh yeah, be afraid, be very afraid", replied Max teasingly with a wink.
The other girls laughed. Then the three started talking about something else, with an occasional laugh.
Max let her expression fall solemn again, not really paying attention to the conversation.
She glanced to her phone beside her, still containing no messages from Chloe.
Then slowly she shifted her gaze back out the window watching the rain pour down. She focused on the drops slowly sliding down her window's glass, behind the bars.
The water snowballing into other drops, until they created a miniature stream rolling down, unfazed. Her eyes saddened more.
Her own memories started to play through her mind...The other girl's voices faded in to silence in the background as she remembered.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Max sat alone in her high condo room, sitting on her bed; her dark brown hair free from it's usual ponytail, draping down her shoulders.
She had fresh tears in her eyes as the Seattle rain pelted her window gently. She was looking down at her cell phone, cupped in her hands, gazing at Chloe's number in her contact list.
Polaroid pictures of Chloe and herself since they were kids, lay strewn about on her bed around her.
There was a light knock on her room door, but she didn't even flinch. The door opened regardless and her mother Vanessa, walked in. A hard cover booklet in her hand.
"Sweetie... You really should have a light on in here...", her mother stated. The dark haired brunette woman walked over to her daughter.
She looked over the scattered pictures and placed the booklet down on the bed. She turned her focus to Max, and saw Max was tearing up as she looked at her phone. The woman held her light tan hand over the screen of the phone, so Max would look up at her.
"Honey, I know you want to call her, but... You need to give her space to mourn with her mother. This is a difficult time for them right now", stated Vanessa.
"...I-I know mom...but I...miss her... How long should I, wait"? Asked Max her tone sad and quiet.
"Awhile yet, I'm afraid. These things...take a long time to process. I know you miss her. And I think, she will call you, when she's ready to talk. You need to give her time until then", stated Vanessa.
She kissed Max on the forehead and briefly pet her hair before turning and walking out, shutting the door quietly.
Max looked over to the door solemnly, then back at her phone and got up.
She stepped toward her desk in front of the window, when she paused and looked back at the bed; focusing on the black hard cover booklet that wasn't there before.
She picked it up, it was titled Memories. She opened it up and it was blank inside.
"There's nothing here", stated Max curiously. Then she inspected closer. "Hang on is this a, photo album"? She asked herself.
She turned her attention to the mess of pictures on her comforter.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Max watched the rain distantly in her dorm. "Chloe didn't call though, and like an idiot I waited for it too long, then it got too late to just contact her out of the blue...I'd just remind her of that day...She's right to be pissed at me for it...", thought Max solemnly.
A hand on her shoulder jolted her from her thoughts. She quickly looked back at Dana standing beside her.
"And she's back from space. Come on Max, according to your class schedule over there, the joys of mathematics await", stated Dana. She gestured with her thumb back at the paper slip taped to the wall by Max's door.
"Aw seriously ? I barely survived algebra earlier. No way, I'm skipping", stated Max with a groan.
"No can do short stuff, up ya get", stated Dana. She grabbed Max and pulled her up, then she bent forward and picked Max up, tossing her over her shoulder.
"H-hey whoa ! W-wait a minute"!? Max protested shyly blushing of embarrassment gripping the back of Dana's black long sleeved top.
"Jesus you're light, no more dazing through lunch for you Caulfield. Anyway you're not leaving me to suffer alone, so you're coming to class", stated Dana casually and starting to walk out; carrying her reluctant tag along with her.
Kate and Juliet laughed at Max's expense.
"Hang on, you're not seriously going to carry me all the way, are you"?! Asked Max shyly.
"Yep so hold still and enjoy the ride Max. Kate grab her things would ya"? Asked Dana calmly.
Kate did so and Juliet helped, then they followed.
"Why are you two helping her ?! Say something"! Called Max struggling in vain.
"Nope, you're on your own Max, be thankful you're not walking it. Its a bitch of a trek", stated Juliet.
"Go to your happy place Max, it'll all be over soon~", stated Kate teasingly.
They left the room, Juliet shut the door behind them.
"I'm pretty sure this is kidnapping"! Protested Max desperately. They just laughed.
"Not yet it isn't, girls, gag her for me would ya", teased Dana playfully.
"What"?! Asked Max in alarm. They chuckled mischievously.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe walked through the forest and came upon a cliff overlooking a small lake. It wasn't too tall but not short either; a survivable jump that wasn't for the faint of heart.
The wind whipped through her thick, damp fur. The rain down poured heavily, slowly running down and off her snout, streaming down by the corner of her eyes.
She lifted her head and looked up at the clouds as rain dripped rapidly off the strands of her fur.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe, was human, hair short and dyed blue, in loose frayed clothes and a dark beanie, with black shoes, and black jeans with loose silver chains hanging at the sides. Spiky black wrist bands. Black jean vest, looking as though the sleeves were ripped off it.
It was pouring rain and she sped up a ramp on a skateboard, one hand held the board, the other gripped the top of the ramp firmly. She posed there, then went back down the slope on the board.
She rode over to a rail, jumping and letting the board twist under her, before landing on the rail and grinding it. The board sliding along the wet metal, knocking off the water drops.
Then she landed the board, riding it into a half circle, before stopping it and kicking the board up into her hand, eyes closed.
"Are you just going to stand there and fucking stare at me the entire time"? Asked Chloe in annoyance.
She looked over sharply at a girl leaning up against the metal fence of the skate park; wearing a red flannel over shirt and black frayed jeans, with black hiker boots. Long dark blonde hair, hazel eyes.
A blue feather earring draped down from her left ear. She had a white star tattoo on the inside of her left wrist.
"Yep. Not everyday you get to witness the start of a train wreck", the girl smirked unfazed.
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, don't you have anything better to do"? Asked Chloe turning away making her way to the Skate park bowl.
"Don't you ? Or is being a reckless idiot your plan for the day"? Asked the girl.
"None of your business", replied Chloe coldly.
"Then I return the sentiment, whether or not I've got other plans, is my business. Look on the bright side, you'll have someone to call an ambulance when you crack open that head of yours", The girl shrugged casually.
"Whatever, do what you want", stated Chloe. She dropped her skateboard and tore down the side of the bowl and up the other side and back; coming to a puddle in the center. She kick flipped over it and continued up the side.
Water drops spraying out from under her board.
The girl watched her, impressed, crossing her arms. "You're pretty good, reckless, but not a poser at least. My names Rachel", she stated.
Chloe got air time and pulled a 360, water spraying off her board in a spiral as she spun around. "... Chloe", she replied.
She landed it and went up the other side and stopped herself at the top, kicking her board up under her arm and walking over to Rachel, pocketing her hands.
She stopped in front of her and offered her hand, looking serious.
Rachel looked to the offered hand and smirked, taking hold of it, shaking her hand firmly.
"Formal hand shake, nice to know chivalry isn't dead yet", stated Rachel.
She looked to Chloe's bare right arm at her tattoo, ribbons and vines encircling a skull, with a couple blue butterflies on either end of the full arm tattoo. "Dig the tatt", She commented.
"Thanks", replied Chloe taking her hand back.
"You go to Blackwell, don't you? I've seen you around, mostly alone; never even seen you with the skater boys", stated Rachel.
"I prefer it that way", stated Chloe closing her eyes and walking passed Rachel. Rachel watched her leave.
However the following days, that lifestyle was forced aside...
Rachel kept approaching Chloe every time they crossed paths; it got to the point Chloe quit resisting, since Rachel couldn't be intimidated to leave her alone... Though not for lack of trying on Chloe's part...
Chloe pinned Rachel to the hall lockers, with her left hand bracing against a locker by Rachel's head.
Rachel just crossed her arms, smirking, completely relaxed and unfazed, looking at Chloe's irritated expression.
"Look, what part of, loner, don't you grasp, Amber"?! Asked Chloe angrily. Rachel casually shrugged.
"All of it really, your eyes keep telling a different story. I'm flattered you remembered my last name though", replied Rachel calmly.
Chloe's expression briefly faltered, looking hesitant. Then reverted back to cold.
"What the hell do you know"?! Asked Chloe. "I know you look cute when you're trying to be scary", Rachel teased.
Chloe blushed and froze, a bit taken back in surprise. Rachel closed her eyes smirking and walked away.
Chloe relaxed the tension in her body and looked at Rachel's leaving form.
"Now I'm going to get a sub, cause I'm starving and class is over. You coming or what punk ass ? My buy", Rachel called back.
Chloe watched her a moment and looked down, her expression softened.
After a moment Chloe pushed away from the locker, pocketing her hands.
"You're, not going to leave me alone until I start hanging out with you, are you"? Asked Chloe closing her eyes.
"Hey, you finally caught on, thought I'd have to draw you a picture", replied Rachel stopping and looking back at Chloe.
Chloe found herself smirking, shaking her head a bit. "...Fine. You win, we'll, hang out", replied Chloe calmly.
"Good to hear, I suck at drawing. Now, come on", stated Rachel walking on.
Chloe chuckled quietly and followed after her. "I'll warn you, I'm kinda screwed up", stated Chloe walking up beside her.
"Good, normal is boring", replied Rachel elbowing her lightly. Chloe smiled faintly.
They walked out of the school.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe watched the clouds distantly, remembering the laughter that followed as though it was happening around her now.
"So you want to be a model"? Chloe remembered herself asking years earlier.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe was laying in her dorm room at Blackwell, drinking a bottle of light beer she had smuggled in. Rachel was taking off her brown leather jacket, draping it over the couch. She wore a white v-neck and blue jeans.
"Hell yeah, look at this face, it would be a crime not to", teased Rachel playfully framing her face with her hands.
Chloe chuckled. She sat up, and grabbed her camera.
"Strike a pose then, beauty queen", teased Chloe. She held the camera at eye level, focusing it on Rachel.
"Seriously"? Asked Rachel with a quirked brow.
"Yep. I'm blitzed as fuck, but practice is practice right"? Asked Chloe teasingly.
"Then lets make some hazy magic", teased Rachel playfully. She started posing and Chloe started shooting, they laughed.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Chloe closed her eyes and shook out her fur and looked to the cliff, then back toward the forest, visualizing her next memory, letting it manifest into reality in front of herself.
Rachel and herself were walking out of the forest, with Rachel leading and approaching the cliff point. The memory of sunlight beaming down was still able to manifest through the rain in the present.
Rachel and Chloe's human self walked passed her dire wolf form, and she watched the scene unfold.
"C'mon Chloe, I'm going to show you how to really live on the edge, it'll beat out your rain boarding", stated Rachel stopping at the cliff point as Chloe approached in her gray muscle shirt and baggy long black shorts.
Rachel in a t-shirt and loose jean shorts, the shirt tied up at the bottom.
"Well its the edge of a cliff, in the middle of a forest, but I'm not seeing much living", stated Chloe sarcastically.
Rachel faced her, putting her back to the edge.
"Then watch closely sweetness", she stated. She backed to the edge.
Chloe alerted. "Rach, wait, what're you-", tried Chloe stepping toward her, reaching out to her.
Rachel winked at her and smiled, allowing herself to fall backward over the cliff.
"Rachel" ! Called Chloe fearfully racing to the edge and looking over.
She saw Rachel right her body and fold into a cannon ball and hit the water with a splash.
Chloe frantically searched the water surface with her eyes. Rachel re-surfaced and laughed, calmly treading water.
"Thats an adrenaline rush. You going to take the plunge or do I have to swim all by myself"? Called Rachel.
"You're crazy ! And you call my rain boarding reckless"! Called Chloe, but she gave an impressed smirk regardless.
Then after a steeling breath and having Rachel stick her tongue out at her tauntingly. Chloe copied Rachel; turning her back to the very edge and allowing herself to fall backward.
Chloe watched the water below in her dire form. She looked over to the lake's shoreline at the distant dock. She watched the water lap at the wooden support beams.
~oOo~~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
The night sky was clear as Rachel dragged Chloe to the end of the dock.
"Come on come on~", Rachel urged. "Dude the view isn't going anywhere, ease up on dislocating the arm here", stated Chloe with a chuckle.
"Right, about that. We're not here for the sight seeing", stated Rachel still holding Chloe's hand.
"Then why did you drag me here"? Asked Chloe curiously.
"Cause skinny dipping alone isn't very fun", winked Rachel releasing Chloe's hand and turning her back to her, starting to take off her shirt.
"Skinny-W-wait, what"? Asked Chloe stepping back turning three shades of scarlet as she saw Rachel care-freely undress.
Chloe quickly averted her eyes covering them with her hand.
Soon a splash was heard and she peeked out behind her fingers, still blushing. She looked at every last scrap of clothing Rachel had on, laying forgotten on the dock.
Then she turned her attention to Rachel, who was treading water, looking back at her, with a quirked brow.
"Well~ You gonna join me ? Or just stare at me, catching flies in your mouth. Either works for me", Rachel teased.
Chloe's blush deepened as she realized she'd let her jaw drop in surprise. She quickly shut her mouth.
"Uh well...", replied Chloe nervously.
"Come on, its just us here and we've known each other for like a year", teased Rachel playfully.
"Six months and fourteen days actually- N-not that I was counting- I mean-...Shit...", replied Chloe stuttering.
Rachel laughed. "You're adorable when you get flustered. Now woman up and get your ass in here", teased Rachel mock splashing at Chloe.
"Alright alright...", smirked Chloe. Rachel turned away so she could undress.
Chloe stripped and jumped into the water with a splash. When she surfaced, Rachel splashed her and she quickly retaliated.
They swam around splashing each other and racing under the bright moonlight.
Soon they swam to the shallows, just enough so they could stand up, but still had everything from under the collar bone and down, obscured by the water.
Droplets of water rolled off their damp hair, they laughed. Chloe smiled cheekily at Rachel. Rachel's eyes softened and she smiled back, stepping closer to Chloe.
"Whats up Rach"? Asked Chloe cheerfully.
Rachel reached her arms around Chloe's neck and leaned up a bit, kissing her firmly on the lips, eyes closed.
Chloe blushed darkly, her eyes widened, arms reaching up a bit in surprise. Her heart starting to pound hard in her chest.
Then Rachel pulled back. Her eyes opening part way, looking at Chloe for a reaction.
Chloe got over her shell shock, her eyes softened; she relaxed her tension.
She reached her left hand and tilted Rachel's chin toward her and gently pressed her lips to Rachel's, closing her eyes.
Rachel was briefly surprised, then closed her eyes once more, reaching her arms around Chloe again and returned the kiss.
Chloe reached her right hand to Rachel's hip and pulled her in closer as they kissed pleasantly under the stars.
The memory faded out...
Chloe closed her eyes as the rain continued falling; she turned back to the forest and walked away from the cliff and into the woods once more. Her paws soft on the rain soaked ground.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Max found herself half hiding behind Dana as they shared a table. She could feel Nathan's eyes on her and a few others, even though they were across the room from her.
Nathan was sitting with his feet crossed on his table, texting but mostly watching Max.
The teacher kept going with the lesson, looking in Nathan's direction multiple times but not saying a word about it.
Max shifted her eyes from him, to Victoria on the opposite side of the room from Nathan. She was also eyeing Max.
"Great, the wonder twins are in this class too...now math is even more dangerous to my health and sanity...", thought Max in discomfort.
She looked back at a couple guys behind her, also watching her and not the teacher, and she was pretty sure they weren't thinking of asking for her number...
She kept close to Dana and kept her head down, eyeing her watch frequently.
Dana could tell Max was uncomfortable; she looked around at all the sets of eyes on Max and closed her own in irritation.
She put her arm around Max's shoulders and pointed to the text book, making Max flinch a little at the unexpected contact.
Max looked to her, then leaned in for a closer look at the text book where Dana pointed, in confusion.
"Its okay Max...I get that you're having a hard time, but you'll be fine...", whispered Dana hinting to Max.
Max looked up at her with surprise evident on her face.
She saw Dana half glaring at Nathan.
"You'll get it eventually, I'll help you... You're not alone in the struggle...Math, is a pain in the ass, but don't worry about it. I've got your back", finished Dana hinting.
Max felt Dana's arm around her, tighten a bit in a brief squeeze, and smiled.
"Thanks, Dana", replied Max quietly. She noticed the eyes on her glare a moment at Dana, before looking away from them both.
She didn't notice the bitterness and unease in their eyes.
Dana didn't pull back her arm from Max and they continued working until the end of class. Max didn't receive any more looks from the others.
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
Dana walked Max to her next class and they met up with Kate and Juliet.
Then Dana and Juliet headed to their next class, Dana giving Max an encouraging pat on the back, before walking off and waving at the remaining duo. Max smiled and waved back.
When they were out of sight, Kate turned to Max.
"Well shall we go in"? Asked Kate cheerfully.
"Yeah, I've been looking forward to this class, Language of photography, its the whole reason I came here... That and to, reconnect with an old friend", stated Max her voice solemn at the end.
She looked down to the pocket that held her phone. She still hadn't heard or felt any new messages come in...
~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~ ~oOo~
~A note from Pure Set~
Okay that was a long one and it is thankfully done...Though the , next ones...are...longer...
Oh well, who needs a spine anyway.
All credit for the wonderful cover image for this story, goes to AthenaAsa on . Please take a look at their art, you won't be disappointed~
The next chapter is a big one, in length and importance~ So look forward to it.
Hope you enjoyed. Thank you for reading and for your patience. Chapter six will be out as soon as I can get to it.
Thank you for the great feedback it keeps me going and is very appreciated.
Leave a review if you so choose~ See you in Chapter 6.