*CHAPTER 2*
"N-Not yet. Wait, Chloe!"
Maxine gasped as she walks and sits up abruptly. What kind of stupid nightmare was that?
Groaning as she stands up from her bed, Maxine went in search of her phone, which was somehow underneath the bed's pillows.
It was already 8:45 am. Not feeling that hungry, she lies back down to the bed, thinking about Chloe and her happy moments with her girlfriend so as to forget that weird nightmare. Hah, nightmare. Maybe she was just overreacting, as if Chloe can leave me, Maxine thought. After spending an hour lying down in bed that seemed to be taking like forever, she then proceeded to take a cold shower.
As cold water runs down against her petite body, it was just then that her nerves calmed down. Why was she feeling nervous? What bad situation could happen? Maxine thought. Just as she was about to finish her shower and dry herself, she heard her phone ring back in the center of her bed. She rushed to up to the phone, finding 10 unread messages.
Kate: This is a bit late, but congratulations for making it into the "Everyday Heroes" contest. Sorry I hadn't seen you before your flight to San Francisco.
Max giggles. Oh Kate, thanks for that, she thought.
Chloe: Good morning, Captain.
Chloe: Still in bed, I see. Well, your First Mate shall set sail. Off to work. Talk to you in 12
Good job Maxine, you missed your girlfriend's morning greeting. Sigh.
Victoria: Um, I don't know what to say but, you deserve to win the contest. At least that psychopath teacher is done with our lives.
At least the nice side of Victoria is showing off.
Victoria: Just don't think I'll be friends with you suddenly, ok?
Sigh. You don't need to be embarrassed, Maxine thought.
Warren: Hey there, Maximum Power. 'Grats for making to San Francisco. Sorry if it was late, was out in the movies with Brooke, which you told me to give the ticket to. Ciao
Nice work, Warren.
Private Number: These are Rachel Amber's parents. On behalf of Blackwell, we thank you and Chloe as well for giving our daughter's death the justice it needs. Yet a simple 'thank you' will never be enough to describe the gratitude we owe to and Chloe Price. But as of now, thank you and you will always be our "everyday hero".
Rachel Amber. I really never got to meet her. The day we found her body in the junkyard is one of the most painful things me and Chloe had seen, Maxine thought, resisting the will to tear up.
It was still 10:15 am when she left the hotel so she decided to go to the mall when she found one of her classmates back in Seattle. Shion is his name, wearing a fitting jeans that almost reveal her form (and by form, I mean his butt), short heels and an off-yellow light shirt. Now I know what you're thinking, I bet you're saying at the back of your mind, "Is this guy gay?" But nope, they said their hellos, talked in a fastfood chain nearby, and Maxine found out that her former classmate is androgynous. Maxine was a bit shocked. Who would've thought she would meet someone that kind of sexual identity, let alone her former classmate.
"So, how's life treating you, Maxine?" Shion asked.
"So far, so good. Thought I really miss Arcadia bay." Maxine replies, blushing a bit about the thought of Chloe waiting for her there.
"I see. My friends and I kinda miss you too as well, Max. We were never close but, you're a nice girl. I bet your Arcadia Bay folks have that in their mind as well." Shion stated.
Maxine giggles. "Thanks, Shion. Also, I was bit shocked about your sexual identity. You're the first one that I've met with androgyny, to be honest."
"Yeah, I always get that. At least you didn't think I was gay or something. Haha. It's just genetic disorder, but I've come to accept it." Shion stated.
Maxine found it suiting for Shion to appear as a woman, which she can't believe as well. "So, what do you do with your spare time?" Maxine asked.
"Whenever I have free time, I do a traditional wushu training. Sometimes that helps in my cosplays, whereas I would just throw this outfit I'm wearing, design a "spear" as a weapon, and act like my favorite video game character, which is androgynous as well." Shion explained.
Oh man, maybe I can be a bit badass by training a bit of martial art. You know, for self-defense, Maxine thought.
"Wouldn't be fair if I didn't ask you some questions as well, right? So what do you do usually, aside from photography? Got in any relationships recently?" Shion happily asked.
Maxine was a bit surprised. Is asking someone's relationship status too common nowadays? "Um, yeah I'm in a relationship at the moment." Maxine blurted.
"OMG! Who's the lucky guy?" Shion asked in a rush. "Or the lucky girl?" she added. That follow-up question gave Max goose bumps. How can she say that the love of her life is someone with the same gender as hers? How would Shion react? "Um, it's Chloe. We're together." Maxine replied, with her face blushing hardly.
"Wait, I've heard you talk about Chloe back in Seattle. Is it the same Chloe?" Shion asked, with a bit of confusion.
"Yeah, we're best friends." Maxine stated.
"Well DAMN! You get two benefits! A best friend and a lover in one person! You're so lucky to have her!" Shion happily exclaimed. Well that went better than expected, Maxine thought, exhaling.
Time passed till it was lunch time. Max said goodbye to Shion, hoping to see her someday again. She wished to see her other former classmates as well.
"Bye Maxine. Hope you have a safe flight back to Arcadia Bay!" Shion waves happily.
"Have a good day as well, Shion." Maxine stated.
Maxine returned to the gallery to meet Principal Wells. "Max Caulfield, the have decided to start the awarding ceremony at 1 pm so as to end the program quickly. I hope it's not a bother but we need you to be ready for it." Principal Wells stated.
"No problem, Mr. Wells. I was starting to miss my friends back in Arcadia Bay, so the earlier, the better." Maxine replied.
For Maxine, to be awarded by her simple photo was exhilarating. It was such an honor to be listed as one of the "artists" in the ceremony.
Maxine's flight took off so while in the plane she decided to rest for the day.
She and the whole Blackwell staff the escorted her returned to Arcadia bay around 7 pm. Maxine started to hurriedly go to her dorm, and lied flat down to her bed. Then she remembered Chloe and decided to text her.
Maxine: Hey Chloe. Guess what?
It took 12 minutes for her to get a reply.
Chloe: What?
Maxine: I'm back at the dorm now! :D
Chloe: Well, t-that was earlier than expected.
Chloe: Also, no emoji pls
Maxine: That stutter in the text tells me you've got something up. You okay?
Chloe: Nah nothing to hide here.
Maxine: Well, I would love to hang out with you today but, I'm hella tired so goodnight! :D
Chloe: U r evil
Chloe: Goodnight then. Sleep tight, and dream about 'nice things'.
Maxine: Oh I will. LOL
Chloe panicked inside her. OH SHIT! She's back already? B-But my 'surprise'! It's not done setting up yet! Chloe thought.
Quickly, Chloe alerted Joyce and Maxine's Blackwell buds.
Chloe (FWD): Max is back! We gotta hurry up our surprise for her by tomorrow morning.
*THE NEXT DAY*
Max woke up feeling full of energy. Duh, as if she did anything strenuous yesterday.
She decided to shower ahead before anyone was awake. But something was off. It was way too silent for 7:35 am in the morning. Far more silent than she had experienced. Then suddenly, she was startled
with 5 people on her back, all chanting "Welcome back, Maxine!"
Kate, Brooke, Dana, Juliet, and Victoria were the ones that she saw.
"G-Guys! Y-You surprised me!" Maxine stated.
"Well, this is a surprise anyway, but we couldn't think of what to pull out when we got a message that you were already back in Arcadia Bay, so we just decided to surprise you first thing in the morning." Kate happily stated.
"I had n-no choice but to drag myself in this situation. It was for the good, anyway." Victoria furthers.
I can totally sense your good side now, Victoria, and it's good, Maxine thought. "Thanks, guys. Even with a thing this simple I'm grateful of it." Then they all group up for a hug.
This really is nice, but I wonder what Chloe's up to.
"Well Max, we gotta go for a while though. We have…something to do first." Kate stated.
"Well ok guys, see ya later." Maxine told them.
Maxine: Good morning, Chloe.
Chloe: Oh. Um, Max, morning as well.
Maxine: Got any plans?
Chloe: Nope, wanna chill at my place?
Maxine: Yeah. I got nothing to do anyway, it's Saturday.
Chloe: Will be there at 9
Maxine: Love you :D
Chloe: Love you as well Maxine! Emoji forgiven.
I feel that something good's gonna happen today, Max thought just after taking a shower. She threw out her usual pink shirt and blue jeans, with a hoodie to top it up. Plugging her earphones, she listened to The Real You by Alex Goot, which she just downloaded and liked his other songs as well.
As long as it's with Chloe, everything happening will all be good.
*END OF CHAPTER 2*
I'm expecting for the readers to find this a bit stale, but like I said, I'm just starting out in being a writer, so you guys can always PM me or give reviews regarding the chapter. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. :D