Chapter Twenty
When Chloe pulls into the driveway and steps out of her pickup truck to stretch her legs, Max comes flying out of her home and practically tackles her girlfriend into the lawn in the excitement of welcoming her to Seattle. Chloe's feeling a bit groggy from over six hours on the road, but she's just as happy to see Max, the teens all smiles. After a long series of kisses Max eagerly helps to start bringing boxes and bags of belongings into her parents' home and up to her bedroom. Midway through the haul the girls have to take a break, so they go visit Ryan and Vanessa in the living room.
"Hey mom, hey dad." Max smiles and offers a little wave as she sits on the armrest of the sofa to rest her legs but still have a good vantage point. "Thank you again for letting Chloe stay here with us. I'm so excited to show her around Seattle!"
Vanessa looks Chloe over and smiles. "Look at you, all grown up. Max has shown me plenty of pictures, but it's so nice to see you in person again. It sure brings back some memories."
Chloe shrugs casually as she smiles gratefully at the couple that opted to house her. She shed her black jacket after heating up from the exertion of hauling belongings up a flight of stairs several times, while the rest of her outfit is fairly conservative in an effort to make a good first impression. No beanie, just her now fading blue hair with purple and strawberry blonde roots, a blue and white plaid shirt that doesn't allow her bra to show and has long sleeves to cover her tattoo, and her most intact pair of blue jeans. She searches for words but Ryan beats her to the punch.
"Welcome to Seattle, Chloe. We're happy to have you as long as you plan to pull your weight and help out around the house. Just don't take this living situation for granted. By the time Max begins her senior year you'll need to either be working or living in a college dorm. So, don't forget to be responsible and think about your future from time to time while you two are enjoying your summer together. Oh, and of course, you're not allowed to break Max's heart, or you're out on your ass young lady!" He offers a coy smile through his scruffy beard to let everyone know he's exaggerating, but it's quite clear he means business about protecting his daughter.
Chloe goes rigid and offers a sloppy salute. "Aye aye, Admiral!" She pulls her phone from her pocket and starts thumbing through it. "I'll delete all my other girlfriends out of here right away."
Max rolls her eyes and smiles. "She's teasing! She doesn't have any other girlfriends. Chloe, just help take out the trash and do the dishes and stuff… and don't break anything."
"Jesus, I know how to be a guest. I wasn't raised by wolves." Chloe stuffs her phone away and has a look around the living room, seeing that Vanessa's idea won and the room has a sky blue theme. "Blue. That's the best color. Yeah, I can totally live here."
After a little chatting and resting the teens head back out to finish up, gathering the second half of Chloe's belongings and taking them upstairs, fitting what they can inside Max's room and lining the remaining boxes along the wall in the hallway outside. Then Max sits in her little twin bed and sighs in relief that the heavy lifting is done.
"I hope this bed will be big enough. I tried to talk my parents into getting a queen size for us to sleep in, but they said this room isn't big enough for a bed that size. So, we'll just have to snuggle up real close every night." She grins as she watches Chloe approach.
"We don't need a bigger bed, cuddle bug." Chloe spreads her knees and plops herself into Max's lap as she brushes her hands through the girl's hair. "What we need are soundproof walls." Her tone is immediately flirtatious as she leans down to deliver some loving kisses.
"Mmh, my parents avoided the topic of us having sex." Max responds between kisses as she rubs her hands along Chloe's lower back. "I'm sure they know it's going to happen, but they didn't want to talk about it, so that means they probably don't want to hear it either. We'll have to be careful to keep quiet, love."
"We'll just have to crank up the punk rock and use it as cover." Chloe twists about to sit next to Max on the little bed as she looks around the room for a sound system or a place to put her own, and her eyes land on a device on Max's homework desk. "What's that thing?"
Max follows her gaze and smiles. "I didn't get a queen size bed, but I was able to convince my parents to buy us a camcorder and a flexible little tripod thing so we can vlog anywhere and everywhere. I figured it would be a better way to keep track of everything instead of still pictures and journal entries."
"So, basically that was a huge lie and you want to record us having sex, right?" Chloe grins and nudges her girlfriend as Max nervously giggles at the notion. "It's a good idea, Cap. We'll make some epic vlogs and blow up on YouTube, but for now, let's try to unpack some of this shit."
It takes a week for Chloe to fully settle into her new life in Seattle. The girls spend a fair amount of time rearranging things in Max's bedroom and trying different ideas about where to put what until they're both satisfied. Some of Max's clothing and binders she doesn't use anymore have to be put into storage to make room for Chloe's things, but the lovebird is more than willing to make sacrifices and carve out a space in her life and fill it with Chloe. Chores are divvied up and noise rules established, and everyone succeeds in continuing to avoid the conversation between parents and teens about Max and Chloe having sex.
As planned, the couple vlogs every day to record their romantic summer adventures and express all their joyous feelings to the camera. With Max at the helm there's plenty to vlog about over the next month, as she takes Chloe to every popular site she can think of in the Seattle area. They visit Pike Place Market to browse all the little crafts shops and fresh seafood on display, enjoy watching the fish throwers shout and toss large fish to each other, and have coffee at the birthplace of Starbucks. Pioneer Square and the International District offer some amazing photo ops, delicious food and drinks, and plenty of art galleries and museums which take a few days to fully explore. The Seattle Waterfront is the same, half a week spent showing Chloe all the views and venues between Myrtle Edwards Park and Alki Beach, while the Lighthouse at the far point of Alki bringing the loving couple back to their beautiful moment in Arcadia Bay. The Great Wheel on the waterfront provides another romantic moment, the girls capturing video of them kissing with a view at the top of the Ferris wheel. With so many sites it goes on and on, day after day, Max taking Chloe to the Seattle Aquarium, the Space Needle and Science Center, the Museum of Pop Culture and of course Chihuly Garden and Glass. For Chloe, the month of sightseeing in Seattle with Max feels like being transported into another world, a much happier world where all the problems from Arcadia Bay are left in the past.
At home Chloe becomes part of the family, not just doing the chores she's been asked to do to earn her keep, but also building trust with Ryan and Vanessa. Since they knew each other years ago it doesn't take long for the relationship to rebuild, especially with how kind and laid back the adults are, exactly the type of attitude Chloe likes in 'old people'. She also takes her summer goal seriously, picking up a book about tattoos and piercings, watching videos about it online and browsing local tattoo and piercing parlors to see what she'll have to do to find employment there.
In mid July the two are interrupted, but not in a bad way. Rachel calls with news that she's moved to L.A. as she always wanted to, and has aggressively lobbied herself toward all the modeling agencies. She's received some positive attention and has accepted a big modeling deal which comes with some perks. So, she offers Max and Chloe a pre-paid trip to visit her in L.A. for her birthday, and the couple is more than happy to accept the invitation to visit her. So, they scramble to find worthwhile birthday presents in short order, pack a single suitcase with the gifts and an extra change of clothes for the two of them, then fly down to L.A. on the morning of the 22nd. Upon arriving at the address they were given the couple is shocked at how fancy and expensive the house on the hill seems, and with a million dollar view to boot.
Max just stares with an open mouth at the residence as they sit in their cab. "Uhhh… are you sure we got the address right?"
Chloe's already on it, pulling her phone out to call Rachel. "If this is a prank she better pay the cab fare." In a moment she speaks again toward the phone. "Yeah, hey Rach. We're at the hella expensive looking house you sent us to. Ha ha, jokes over, now where do we really go? Hello…? Did she just hang up on me?" Chloe looks down at her phone with an annoyed expression.
The gate guarding the driveway suddenly opens and Max nudges Chloe to look up when Rachel emerges from the fancy home, smiling and waving. She's wearing a little white summer dress with pink flower graphics all over it, a pair of pink flip flops, a straw hat to protect her from the sun, and of course her stunna shades. So, Max and Chloe pay the cab driver and hop out to greet her.
"What's up, Rach? Just be up front, girl. Did you kill or fuck the guy that owned this house? Cause I've had an epic summer so far with Max and I don't wanna step over any dead rich dudes in there." Chloe offers her own brand of humor as she approaches and hugs Rachel.
Rachel laughs and shakes her head. "I figured you'd think something like that. This ballin' place is an event home owned by the modeling agency that represents me now. And today is my birthday, which they're counting as an event because any excuse to party is good enough for these people. So, get ready to meet a ton of bombies and agents in there."
"Bombies?" Max echoes the word as she takes her turn hugging the girl. "Do I want to know?"
"Hot people, Max. Really hot people. Don't freak if there's random nudity. It's a party after all, and models are super chill about just… whippin' it all out." She gestures for the two to follow her as she leads them into the home.
Sure enough the couple runs into a large group of gorgeous men and women just inside the door, and Max immediately feels self-conscious about her looks. She tries to hide behind her confident skater punk girlfriend as they follow Rachel through the model home, passing an open bar and buffet manned by someone from a catering company. Important looking men in suits linger around that area, likely the agents Rachel mentioned, but the teens just head right through to the back yard where there's a fantastic view, a pool and a DJ setting up his gear for later. More gorgeous men and women swim in the pool, some of them not wearing any clothes, just as Rachel warned. She walks all the way to the left side of the pool to sit at a glass top table with an umbrella shading it.
"So, you're only 5'5. How'd you convince them to let you be a model? Aren't you too short?" Chloe doesn't put the question delicately as she takes a seat at the table, Max sitting down beside her girlfriend.
Rachel puts her shades on the table and rolls her eyes at Chloe. "It's like you don't even know me. When has a technicality like that ever stood in the way of my ambitions before? Besides, my parents know people. And with Photoshop and camera angles and all that, it's more about the overall bone structure than the real life height. A properly shaped 5'5 girl can make an excellent model."
Chloe just grins and playfully bops her leg into Rachel's under the table. "It's like you don't even know me. Obviously I was just fucking with you! I'm hella proud of you, though, Rach. I always knew you'd succeed. I just figured it would take longer than a month! Guess you didn't need to spend all that time studying international law in school, huh?"
Rachel raises her brows and an index finger. "Actually, that's part of what got me in. It's all very hush hush right now, but I pitched some really fresh ideas to some pretty important people. I've got big plans for the modeling industry. Just wait and see." She smiles and winks at the couple.
"Wow, that's so awesome. I really hope they listen to your ideas, Rachel. Also, we brought you some birthday presents." Max pulls out two wrapped boxes from her satchel to hand them to the girl. "I didn't see a stack of gifts inside, so I guess I'll just give them to you."
"Aw, how sweet." Rachel accepts the two little boxes and begins opening one. "I just met most of them, so it's not really a gift giving type of thing. Nobody would have known what to get me. But this party is gonna be poppin' once the music starts and drinks are served, so I'm pumped about that. Seeing you two, though, that's the best birthday present. Thanks for coming down to see me."
"We wouldn't miss it, Rach. Thanks for having us at this incredible house." Max smiles as she watches Rachel open the gift she gave her, a cute bracelet where all the links are little lemon wedges. "That should match your water."
"Oh… my God!" Rachel looks up and yells at the people in and around the pool. "Hey! Who here orders lemon wedges to put in their ice water?" Almost everyone puts their hand up. "See!?" Rachel points at the crowd frantically as Max and Chloe burst into laughter. "I'm normal! I told you I'm normal!" She calms down as she sits again, back to smiling as she puts the bracelet on and admires it on her wrist. "It's cute… I like it. Thanks Max."
"You're welcome. I just wanted to get you something that would make you smile." She leans back and looks at the second wrapped box, watching Rachel open it, and wondering why Chloe's been so quiet since the gifts came out. She doesn't know what Chloe put in that box yet.
When Rachel opens it and looks inside her smile slowly fades to melancholy as she reminisces, pulling out the pieces inside one by one. Chloe's blue beanie comes out first, then her necklace with the three bullets, the first music CD Rachel and Chloe ever made together with all the cute drawings on the front of it, and finally a bottle of sleeping pills from years ago.
"So… I know you're gonna get hella rich and famous, cause you're such a star." Chloe begins explaining before she's asked. "I just wanted to give you some important pieces of me from the time we spent together, so you'll never forget about me… Never forget that you saved my life, and kept me going until Max came back to me." She tries to remain level but tears escape her eyes anyway, quickly brushed away by her wrist.
Rachel immediately rises and pulls Chloe to her feet to give the blue haired girl a very tight hug. "I'll never forget you no matter what happens in my life, Chloe. And I love the gift. I'll keep our precious memories forever." She smiles when she feels Max join into the group hug. "I won't forget you either, Max. You saved me… after I saved Chloe. I guess Chloe will be saving you next, and then the circle of life will be complete!"
Max bursts into song, singing some of Elton John – Circle of Life to the amusement of everyone in the backyard, and soon the girls are sitting back at the table catching up on life. Rachel tells all about her move to L.A. and how hard she had to fight to get her foot in the door in the modeling business, and then goes into great detail about a charming young man she met a couple weeks ago, along with her hopes that he'll be all hers one day. Max and Chloe describe their Seattle adventures, and the way they bounce the story back and forth with such synergy is all the proof Rachel needs to know these girls were born for each other.
Soon the sun draws low in the sky and the DJ starts playing music, more people seeming to show up to the party and the back yard filling out as a result. The pool takes on more models that seem to become more naked as time passes, the music becomes very upbeat and the alcohol is served in abundance. The three teens enjoy celebrating Rachel's birthday in style at that Hollywood hilltop house, letting themselves be swept up by beautiful view, fun atmosphere and the joy of their reunion. They party the entire night away and continue milking it well into the next morning, the sun nearly up by the time they're finally ready to throw in the towel and summon a cab to ride to Rachel's little apartment in the lowlands.
The following morning comes far too soon, but Max and Chloe have a plane to catch, so they're forced to rise at the alarm. They give Rachel goodbye hugs and well wishes, then let her go back to sleep and wash up as quietly as possible so they can head out. Chloe shows how sweet she is on Max and loads up with caffeine to take care of her girlfriend, letting Max sleep on her lap in the cab, at the airport and during the flight so she can feel rested and refreshed upon arriving in Seattle.
Life is a dream for the couple during the rest of July and throughout August, the two of them developing a routine revolving around vlogging their fun and loving every minute with each other. Max serenades Chloe with her acoustic guitar most evenings, and though she's not the best singer Chloe comes to love the sound of her voice more than any other, even preferring to listen to Max over punk rock. Chloe talks Max into recording some sexual escapades, or "sexcapades" as she refers to them, and helps the once shy introvert to further come out of her shell with playful bedroom role-playing. With the weather at its warmest Max shows Chloe the natural beauty of western Washington, the girls sporting tiny shorts and tank tops to hike up popular trails like Rattlesnake Ledge, Mount Si and Tiger Mountain, vlogging at the summits to prove their shared accomplishments. Chloe wears her First Mate beanie every day, no matter what, and never forgets to remind Max how much she loves her.
In late August Chloe finds employment, a nice tattoo and piercing shop in Seattle taking her in as an apprentice to the artists. She handles receptionist, cashier and janitorial duties, not the most glamorous job, but also receives firsthand experience watching artists work, which will lead her down the path of becoming an artist herself one day. However, her pickup truck breaks down a week into the job, right before school will begin for Max. The repair would cost around $3,000, but Max doesn't want to see Chloe in that kind of debt, so they just sell the pickup truck for scrap. With her loving heart Max happily lends her girlfriend the hand-me-down vehicle she received from her parents, submitting herself to the bus system on September 3rd when senior year begins.
The teens don't have as much time together once school and work begin, but they always have evenings and still sleep in the same little twin bed all cuddled up. Since Chloe's working full time she isn't hassled into leaving by Max's kind parents, who let the teen use her earnings to start paying for her own cell phone bill so Joyce doesn't have to, and to buy her own food and cleaning supplies, allowing Chloe to find her feet as an adult one step at a time.
Chloe brings news to Max in mid September that Joyce is seeing someone, Chloe not sure how to feel about the news until Max reveals her part in it. The two teens are happily relieved that Joyce will no longer be alone in Arcadia Bay, and the heavy weight of guilt is finally lifted from Max's heart. Regardless of whether or not future Max wants to alter time further to save David, Joyce will have love.
Soon it's Saturday, September 21st, time to celebrate Max's 18th birthday. After sleeping in and taking their time getting ready in the morning, Chloe takes Max to a beauty salon to pamper her girlfriend with a massage, facial, manicure and pedicure. Then comes the surprise present as she drives to the tattoo and piercing parlor she works at.
"Alright, Max. Time for your first tattoo!" Chloe grins as she hops out of the car and beckons the shocked new eighteen year old to follow her.
"Ummmm, we didn't talk about this." Max reluctantly steps out of the car and grips her elbow nervously as she stares at the parlor.
"Duh, that's why they call it a surprise. At least come in and check out the design. I spent like the last two weeks making it, just for you." Chloe wraps her hand around Max's to escort her in.
Max swallows hard as Chloe pulls her into the shop, offering meek smiles toward the artists there. She waits at the front desk for Chloe to produce a white paper with a colorful design on it. As the paper is put on the counter in front of her Max sees the overall circular shape of the tattoo, a wreath of green leaves around a cute light brown doe head sticking out from the middle. There's a pink ribbon wrapped around the doe's neck like a collar, little red flowers decorate the bottom half of the green wreath, and little blue butterflies fly around the top half.
Chloe smiles brightly as she presents it. "It's us, Max. All the elements of my sleeve tattoo except the skull, wrapped around a doe. You have a lot of deer stuff, and you kind of act like a cute, quiet, harmless doe, so I chose that to represent you. So, this is me, wrapped around you… with love." She fidgets nervously as she watches Max appraise the art she poured so much time and emotion into. "Do you like it?"
Max becomes teary eyed and thrusts herself into Chloe to squeeze the girl. "It's beautiful. You're beautiful. But my parents will freak…"
"We'll put it on the back of your neck." Chloe quickly responds. "You always wear your hair down, so only those you want to see it will see it. You can tell them when you're ready to." She leans in to whisper so only Max can hear. "Please, Max, I want you to get this… not the future you. I want to look at this tattoo on her and remember our summer together… to remember you forever."
There's no arguing with that. Max is too busy trying not to cry over the idea of October 15th, spending a minute just squeezing Chloe and nodding her approval. When she's ready Max is taken to the chair to have her hair tied out of the way, and she receives her very first tattoo. All the intricate details and colors drawn onto the sensitive area at the back of her neck hurt a great deal, but for Chloe she endures it. Max leaves the parlor permanently marked, forever wearing Chloe's first beautiful tattoo design and in a way feeling like she'll live forever because of it.
The evening is spent with Max's parents, the four of them having dinner atop the Space Needle to enjoy slowly rotating and watching the city of Seattle below as they eat. After coming home Max receives presents from each, Vanessa giving her a few cute dresses in hopes that her daughter will stop wearing jeans every single day, and Ryan giving her a brand new Smartphone. Of course, after dinner, Chloe has one more surprise for her lover, a new kinky outfit and role-play in the bedroom.
But, it's almost impossible for Max to shake the sensation that time is riding upon her shoulders. The days just keep ticking by, and she finds herself not thinking what day of the week it is or number of the month, but how many days until Tuesday, October 15th. Until, at last, the fateful day arrives, and the poor teen has to suffer through a school day when all that's on her mind is 6:25pm.