Chapter 3: Pirates of Arcadia Bay

Max slung her heavy backpack on her back, groaning silently as the weight almost threw her off-balance. She opened the door of her room quietly, being cautious that she didn't make any sound. The young girl took one last glimpse at her room. It was almost completely empty, besides some card boxes and the matrass she had been sleeping on for the last few nights. Her bed was already in Seattle, along with most of the other belongings of the Caulfield family. 'Good bye, my faithful room! I'm gonna miss you!' she thought with some sadness, because Max knew that she'll never see it again.

In her old room, the streetlights had given her enough brightness to see where she was going, but after she'd closed the door complete darkness embraced her. Max got her phone out of her pocket and activated the flashlight. She startled and stopped in her tracks as she realized that the door to her parent's room stood a bit open, but luckily everything stayed quiet. Exhaling softly, Max continued her way down the stairs to the front door and left the house. 'I'm sorry, but you left me no other choice.'

The last days, Max had tried to convince her parents in letting her stay in Arcadia Bay, multiple times, but all efforts failed. Her mom and dad had been adamant, so that Max eventually agreed to Chloe's plan.

She turned off the flashlight and looked at the display of her phone. It was 4 am. Whole Arcadia Bay was still in deep slumber. Max zipped close her outdoor jacket in order to keep the cold air from her small body away. Then she started to write a message.

Max: On my way.

A few moments later it was replied.

Chloe: waiting 4 u at the rendezvous point

After 10 minutes of walk, Max reached the edge of the forest that surrounded Arcadia Bay. She expected Chloe to be already there, but there was only perfect silence and darkness. "Chloe?" the small girl spoke into the night in a low voice, but received no answer. Fear embraced her heart, making her shiver. 'What if she got caught by her mom? What if something happened to her? What if…'

"GOTCHA!" Chloe yelled while jumping out of a near bush, before her friend could even finish her thoughts. Max shrieked as she's completely scared, landing on her butt. Almost hyperventilating, tears started to flow from the freckled girl's eyes. "Hey Maxi, are you alright?" the blonde girl, dressed in a thick weather jacket, blue jeans and a beanie on her head, asked with concern, trying to help her up.

"YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!" Max yelled and started to sob.

"Max, I-I'm sorry. I didn't…" the taller girl tried to explain, but Max let her backpack fall, stood up and walked away, still crying. Chloe followed, caught up with her and as soon as she reached her, she embraced her in a tight hug, whispering in her ear. "I'm sorry, Max. I'm so, so sorry! Please forgive me! Please stay with me!"

After some time Max's sobs became less frequent until they stopped entirely. "I won't leave you, even though you're a giant asshole!" she muffled in her friend's shoulder.

"Thanks Maxi!" Chloe answered, hugging her even stronger. After some time, the blonde girl broke the hug and smiled at her friend wryly. "Ready to bail?"

Max nodded. "Mh-hm. But please, no jump scares anymore."

"Agreed."

Both girls grabbed their stuff and headed right into the forest. They hiked for nearly an hour as Max took off her backpack and sat down, leaned against a tree, panting heavily. The first light of the new day could be seen in the sky, but the forest was still dark. "Chloe wait! I…I need a break."

Chloe turned around, looking at the younger girl. "C'mon, we're almost there, slowpoke!"

"I know, but I'm not used to carry 15 pounds on my back while wandering through the woods in complete darkness. I already tripped over 3 roots and my back is killing me."

Sighing, Chloe took off her backpack too and let herself drop beside her friend, taking out a bottle of water. "Here, take a sip!" she said with a smile.

Max nodded in appreciation and took the water. "Thanks Chlo!"

"Hey, are you okay?" Chloe asked, giving the freckled girl a soft nudge with her elbow.

"Actually…I don't know. I mean, I'm happy that we're together and do this, but on the other hand…" Max looks at her hands, clearly feeling guilty. "…I feel sorry for my parents."

Chloe mustered her best friend with a firm expression. "I know." Then she focused her gaze at a point in front of her. "I feel sorry for my mom, too. First she loses my dad and now…" Max looked at her and saw a tear running down her cheek. She tried to touch her arm, but as soon as her fingers touched the fabric of her jacket, Chloe stood up, shouldering her backpack again. She wipes away the tear with the back of her hand. "We should keep moving. Here, I'll help you with your stuff." she said, grabbing Max's backpack and started to carry it on her front. The brunette's gaze just followed her, until she sighed, stood up and continued to walk.

Ten minutes later they arrived at a small clearing on which's edge a big tree with a treehouse on it was; the Pirate Fortress. Chloe got there first, put their backpacks down and climbed up the ladder. She let down a rope that was slung through a pulley. "Yo Max, hook on our packs!" Max did what her friend asked her to do and after a few moments their baggage was high up in the treehouse. Now Max climbed up too and as she reached the trapdoor and peeked into the house, she was greeted with a wooden sword, pointed at her nose, and Chloe's stern expression. "Oi matey, who dares entering my ship without my permission?"

"Requesting permission to come aboard, captain!" the freckled girl said with a wry smile.

"Permission granted, First Mate Caulfield" Chloe answered, sheathing the sword.

Max continued her way up until she stood inside of the treehouse. It was very spacy. In one corner lied an old mattress, packed in a plastic foil to protect it from the clammy air of the forest. Also, there was antique chest, filled with their pirate stuff, as well as little shelf with old junk that they'd found in the surrounding forest, even an ancient spear tip was part of their treasures.

With a loud thud the trap door was closed by Chloe. "Well, it's not like a real apartment, but it will suffice." She walks over to her backpack and starts to unpack it. "Okay, here we have our old gas cooker, so we'll always have a warm meal. I hope you brought the food, First Mate!"

"Check!" the smaller girl answered, revealing the instant food from her backpack.

"And here…" She pulled out a bottle. "…we have something for boring evenings."

Max eyes grew wide. "Your mom's wine?!"

"Yup. Our last wine-tasting-session was interrupted; therefore we have to continue it and now you're old enough. You're in?"

At first reluctant about it, Max remembered that she never got the chance to taste some wine. 'One sip won't kill me.' she thought with some insecurity, but then put on a mischievous smile. "Definitely!"

"Alright! Can't wait to see you drunk!" Chloe cheered and puts the bottle to the other stuff..

"You wish, dork!"

"Well, the rest is some entertainment and clothes. Hope, you bought some of that stuff too."

"Why do you think my backpack weighed 15 pounds? Let's see…" Max started to rummage through her backpack. "Here we have some books, my IPod, some games and, of course, clothes." she said, bringing forth a piece of fabric, realizing too late that it was a pink pantie with 'My Little Pony' on it. Chloe burst out into loud laughter while Max's face turned deep-red. "Sh-shut up! A lot of my stuff is already in Seattle."

"Yeah…right…Seattle." The blonde girl spoke between her laughter, while her friend retreated into a corner of the treehouse and pouted. Chloe embraced her in a hug from behind. "Hey, c'mon. Don't sulk on me. You know that I have the same underwear."

"Yeah, but you probably left it at home, hidden in a dark corner of your closet."

Suddenly another 'My Little Pony' pantie wagged in front of Max. "Nope. See, I got it right here." Max turned around to face the taller girl, her expression clearly puzzled. Chloe just shrugged. "Most of my other undies were dirty; laundry day, y'know; so, I had to pack everything that was left."

A wry smile rushed over the brunette's face as she gave her friend a slight push. "Dork!"

"Okay, enough with the pantie-contest, let's get serious. The forecast said that it will rain a lot the next days, so we have to fix the roof and the windows. A shitload of work, but we should be done in a few hours." Chloe bound her long hair into a ponytail, opened the ancient chest and brought forth some tools and wood. "Thankfully we're well equipped. I'll take care of the roof and you'll take over the windows." Max nodded and both girls begun to work.

Dear Journal, I know that I used to call you diary, but not anymore, because, for me, a diary is something where people write their secrets and childish dreams in. And that just doesn't fit anymore. From now on you'll be my journal; a log for my now complicated life. A life that has changed completely during those last two weeks. William's death, Chloe's breakdown, my visions (or whatever I should call them) and the problems that followed in their wake. *insert groan here* I guess, I just don't belief in dreams anymore (especially when they show me my best friend's death) and therefor I need something to write down my thoughts and the ongoing events, nothing more. I know, strong words for a 13-year-old girl, but maybe it means that it's time for me to grow up or something.

First of all, I don't regret that I'm standing up for Chloe and want to stay at her side. But I start to regret that she convinced me to run away. Sure, it sounded kinda cool to live in our treehouse together like we own an apartment. And we actually had a lot of fun playing pirates, enjoying nature (I made some pretty cool shots), just being together and continuing our wine-tasting-session (personal reminder: I don't understand why grown-ups drink this stuff. It's just…so…yuck! And Chloe isn't that funny when she's drunk, because I had to hold her hair the entire time while she puked out of the window…yuck squared!).

Sadly, as soon as reality caught up to us, everything just sucked! It's been pouring cats and dogs for two days straight now, our food is almost gone, my back kills me because of the shitty mattress and on top of it I feel like crap: headaches, nausea and a buttload of nightmares. The thing is I don't know how to tell Chloe that I want to go home. She's actually happy again. She smiles, laughs, mocks me at least once an hour; she's just my old Chloe again and I don't want to lose her, not again! You see journal? I'm just 13 and I have to deal with such shitty decisions.

At least my visions haven't occurred again. Maybe they stopped, because my actions already changed everything. I'm just hoping so, because I couldn't stand it if something might happen to Chloe.

And here comes my next grown-up-problem: my feelings for Chloe. Since the day of my first vision my feelings for her have changed. I mean, yes, there always was a deep bond between us, but now there's more, but I can't put a finger on it. It's just a strange feeling; a feeling I've never felt before. Maybe the latest events just brought us closer together and activated some sort of protective-mode or something. Well, I guess time will tell me more. No, I hope it will!

So far, oh dear journal, Chloe wants my undivided attention, so, Max Caulfield, signing off.

"Maaaax! Booooring!"

"Then why didn't you bring more books 'n stuff?" Max asked calmly, while she's sitting in the corner of the treehouse, still focused on her journal.

"Because it would've made my pack even heavier." Chloe, who laid on the mattress, gazing at the ceiling, answered.

Now Max looked at her friend, one eyebrow raised. "But you had to bring your skateboard, even though there's no possibility to skate here?"

"Yeah, haven't thought that through."

The brunette scoffed, shook her head and closed the cap of her pen. "Okay, Miss Pain-in-the-butt, how can I entertain you?"

"That would be CAPTAIN Pain-in-the-butt and I'd like to play a game."

"Alright. So, what do you have in mind?" Max asked with a shrug.

With a big grin on her face and her eyes glistening with anticipation, Chloe shot up into a sitting position. "Let's play Truth-or-Dare!"

Max blushed a bit, while her eyes were widening in surprise. She knew about this game; about its reputation of being kinky. "Wh-what?! I-isn't this more of a party game or something?"

"Yeah, actually a slumber party game, and coincidently we're having a slumber party…well, kinda." the strawberry-blonde girl said with a shrug, now giving Max her puppy eyes look. "C'mon Maxi, pretty please!"

'I've never played this game before. But I heard that everyone always takes truth and then they're asked stupid, sexual questions or have to spill their secrets. Ugh, at least it's just Chloe. She knows almost all of my secrets and I trust her to keep them to herself, sooo…ugh, what the heck.' she thought and gulped down her nervousness. "O-okay."

A big impishly grin formed on Chloe's lips. "Hell yeah!" she cheered, patting the empty space on the mattress beside her to give Max the hint to sit down there. The smaller girl moved slowly towards her, holding her head with one hand because of the emerging pain, after standing up. She sat down and Chloe looked into her blue doe eyes deeply. "Okay Maxi, truth or dare?"

"Uh…tr-truth?"

Chloe arcs one eyebrow. "Hey, I asked you, not the other way around. So, truth yay or nay?" Max just nodded. "Okay, here it comes. Do you still have your Power-Rangers-underwear?"

'Okay, that wasn't a kinky question; maybe embarrassing in front of other people, but in front of Chloe…' Max thought, exhaling in relief and building up some confidence. "Yup, still got 'em. But luckily they're already in Seattle. Your turn; truth or dare?"

"Truth it is."

"Are you happy right now?"

Chloe looked at her friend in surprise, at first lacking an answer. "Uhm…Maxi, you know that the purpose of this game is to ask such an embarrassing question or dare so that the other person refuses to answer and you win? But besides from that, yes, I'm very happy right now."

Max averted her friend's deep-blue eyes. "Sorry." she muttered. "Can I try again?"

"Of course…" Chloe spoke, patting her shoulder reassuringly. "When it's your turn again. So, truth or dare?"

The small smile that had been growing on Max's face vanished instantly and the brunette just gave Chloe a plain "Truth." as an answer.

With a mischievously grin, accompanied by a seductive tone, Chloe asked her next question. "Does my little girl here has a crush on someone?"

Max's face started to burn as it turns deep-red. 'Holy crapers, it happened. The whole thing turned kinky. Why is Chloe so interested in my love life? Not that I have one. How should I know if I have a crush on someone? I don't even know how it feels to have a crush. Ugh. No, ugh tenfold!' Her mouth was dry and it was hard for the younger girl to find the right words. "I…uhm…actually, I don't know."

As Max tried to look into Chloe's eyes she just saw unbelief. "You don't know?"

"I-I mean, I d-don't know how it feels to have a crush."

"Well, that's easy. You ever felt butterflies flying around in your stomach and stuff?"

'Butterflies in my stomach!' Max thought, gasping internally as she remembered her feelings for her best friend. 'What is going on with me?'

"Hellooo? Earth to Max, please respond!" Chloe said with a worried voice, flicking her fingers in front of the freckled girl's face.

Max locked eyes with her blonde friend; both were looking at each other for some time. 'Do I really have a crush on Chloe? No, it can't be. There has to be another reason! But I need more time to think about it. I need to end this game, before Chloe's able to ask more questions.' "My turn, right?" she spoke, in order to change the topic. "Truth or dare, Chlo?"

Chloe leaned a bit forward, almost nose-to-nose with Max, grinning again. "Y'know, let's put up the ante. Dare!"

"What?!" was everything Max could say.

"You heard me. Now, don't go soft on me!"

Max sat there for some time, thinking about something that Chloe would never do, but nothing came to mind.

"C'mon, Maxi! Or else I'll die of old age."

'I dare you to kiss me.' a strange voice whispered in her head, softly. And before she even knew what happened she spoke it out loud. "I dare you to kiss me."

Totally taken aback, Chloe almost fell on her back, but could hold herself before doing so. "A-alright…I'm…uh…" the blonde stuttered and gulped.

Max felt that Chloe was completely nervous, but it was nothing in comparison to the freckled girl herself. Her heart was racing. A thousand thoughts ran through her brain at the same time. She still couldn't belief that she just did that. Chloe shoved herself closer to her friend, ready to hold the dare. Max remained stiff as a plank as her friend's lips came closer and closer. Everything moved in slow motion. The sound of the rain faded into complete silence. She could feel Chloe's hot breath on her face; could smell her scent, which made her heart beaten even faster and brought her on the brink of hyperventilation. Max pursed her lips like Chloe did, ready for the contact, as suddenly a faraway sound pierced into her ear. 'Did someone just call my name?'

The freckled girl backed away a bit, trying to focus on every sound. But there was nothing, just the rain, drumming on the roof of their treehouse.

Chloe, still just a few inches from the brunettes face away, started to grin. "What is it, Caulfield? Chicken out on your own dare?" she mocked.

"Shhh!" Max shushed her. 'There it was again.'

Chloe backed away, giving Max a sour expression. "What the fuck, Max? Don't shush me!"

The brunette girl gave her a serious glare. "Just shut it, Chlo! Are you hearing someone out there, calling our names?"

Both girls remained silent for some moments, until Chloe gave her friend a hurt look and stood up. "Listen, if you don't wanna kiss me, fine. But don't be such a sore loser and make up such bull…"

"Chloe Price! Maxine Caulfield!" a male voice not that far away could be clearly heard through the rain.

Again, the girls glanced at each other in shock. "Shit, the fuzz! They're searching for us!" Chloe said, starting to pack their stuff. "C'mon Maxi, we need to bail or they'll deliver us right to our parents. Maxi?" The taller girl gazed at her Max, who was still sitting on the ground, not moving one limp. "Hey, what's wrong? We need to hurry or else…"

Max shook her head. "No, Chloe. I won't run anymore."

"What? Are you fucking crazy?!" Chloe rushed to the younger girl, pulling her to her feet, looking directly into her eyes. "We need to go, now!"

But Max held her gaze, shaking her head. "Chlo, look at me. Do I look okay? I'm cold, everything is clammy, my head hurts like hell and I think I'm coming down with a fever." Max sighs. "Chloe, I can't do this anymore. We can't do this anymore. We're running out of food. And if I'm getting sick, we won't have any medication. Chloe, belief me, this was a great experience; I enjoyed every minute, but we need to go home now!"

At first Max thought that she could see something like reason in her best friend's eyes, but it instantly changed into anger. "NO!" Chloe yelled, walking up and down the treehouse, some tears flowing down her cheeks. "I won't quit. I don't want to quit. This is our only chance; we can do it!"

Grabbing her arm, Max stopped Chloe in her tracks. "Chlo, this was just a dream; a cool dream, but still a dream. I wished it would've worked, but…" she said, brushing with her hand over Chloe's cheek, wiping away some tears. "Chloe, please. We need to face reality and make a stand!"

Suddenly Chloe embraced Max into tight hug. Her whole body shook as she started to sob. "I just don't wanna lose you, Max. You're my one and only friend and I need you!"

Max broke the hug and gave the taller girl a warm smile. "I know and I need you too. Chloe, I promise you that I will fight for us until the end!" Chloe nodded, finally realizing that her friend was right. "C'mon, let's go home and give our parents a fight they'll never forget!"

Both girls packed their backpacks and climbed down the treehouse, just to stand in front of a police officer. "This is Officer Berry, I found them." he spoke into his radio.