Victoria scoffed. Her hands reaching back and grabbing the edge of the desk as she fell back against it. She could tell Max wasn't joking. Worst of all, it made a terrible sickening sense. As much as she wanted to, She couldn't refute anything Max just said. That girl Nathan put in the hospital in the hospital their junior year wasn't just her overdosing. Fuck. Vic's eyes shot to her computer desk, locking onto to the middle drawer where she kept her drugs. A rail would be amazing right now, But Max was there. Then again it didn't look like Max was leaving anytime soon. Max did say she was in love with her, well, might as well let her see her at her worst. Vic wanted to see how far Max would let her go. Just to gain some kind of control.
"Go ahead and get a line or two ready." Max said after watching the shift in Vic's vision. "Honestly I might want one too."
"Alright what the actual fuck is going on with you Caulfield, Can you read minds or some shit?" Victoria shook her head, trying to clear the mental cobwebs. She took the few short steps to her computer desk and fell into the chair. Max still hadn't answered her yet. "So what the fuck Max?"
"Yeah…" Max sighed and looked down to her guitar, Her fingers gently sliding up the strings to a fret and became playing. Even after all these years, playing her guitar calmed her. "So, I can either tell you, you usually don't believe me. Or I can show you, which usually freaks you out pretty bad. What ever you choose I'm about to dump a lot of shit on you." Max plucked away at her guitar.
It was a simple melody but so much better than Victoria had ever heard Max play. One night she had even crept across the hall and placed her phone at the bottom of max's door. Letting it record the beautiful sadness. Once she listened to the recording she noticed it had picked up more than Vic could hear with her ears. Softly, almost drown out by the guitar, you could hear Max crying and the occasional sob. Over this first month of school, there were a few nights where Vic had put the recording on repeat and cried herself to sleep.
"You mean there's heavier shit than telling me my best fucking friend is a god damn rapist and murderer? Oh and can't forget I broke the heart of the most innocent person I've ever met in my miserable life?" Vic could feel tears welling up in her eyes so she hid them. She leaned forward in the desk chair, placing her elbows on her knees and face in her hands.
"In a way, yes."
"Fuck me.." She looked up Max who was smirking, deciding whether or not make the obvious joke. "Caulfield, not now"
That only made Max break out a shit eating grin. "Alright, tonight then."
"I hate you." Vic couldn't help but let a little smile slip.
"Now we both know that isn't true. But.. Honestly Vic, I know you and you're gonna wish you weren't sober once I tell you everything." Max stopped playing her guitar, set it on the bed, and leaned over. She reached under Vic's bed and expertly fished out the hidden bottle of very nice brandy. One Vic thought no one else knew about. Well other than Courtney and Taylor.
"Okay.. You really want a rail too?" Vic asked she opened the middle drawer, pulling out a wooden box she kept her paraphernalia in. Quickly Vic had it open and was pulling everything out.
"Yes, Downer please." Max had taken the lid off the brandy and took a hearty slug of the burning liquid.
Vic was a little impressed Max didn't even make a face from a swig that large. "Yeah.. I could use the same.. better save some of that for me. Not even going to ask how you knew where that was, Yet.. but how fucked up are we getting?" She asked as she pulled out a mirror, an old credit card, the cellophane from a pack of cigarettes, and a rolled up hundred dollar bill that was held in place by a small rubber band. But most importantly, a small glass bottle that contained a variety of medications.
"Well I don't have a tolerance anymore so make mine smaller. But we need to be able to stand up, or I do at least."Max gave a little giggle and took another gulp of the booze. "I can always carry you"
Vic laughed and shook her head at that. She had seen Max in Gym before, she wasn't exactly what you would call coordinated. "You think you can carry my tall ass?" She took a blue pill from the bottle and sat it on the mirror before breaking it in half.
"You would be amazed at what the human body can do when pushed to it's limits." Max sat the booze on her knee as she remembered back to lifting a car off of Warren during The Storm. It had dislocated a shoulder and ripped more than half her tendons off the bones to do so. Pain was nothing but an annoyance when she was saving someone, Or hurting them. Biting off Jefferson's thumb like it was licorice was a favorite memory. The look on his face as she chewed, snapping bones and cracking her own teeth before she swa-
"Mind if I borrow My Brandy?" The question brought Max out of the revelry.
"Yeah, of course." She leaned over closer to Vic and handed her the bottle. Which she took a sip from and then used the bottle of the bottle to crush the pills with.
"Seemed like you zoned out for a second?" Vic asked as she went to work dividing out two lines of the blue powder.
"Yeah.. I tend to do that now. Don't drink anymore, You're not gonna want to puke it up." Victoria gave her a questioning look but then a small nod. Max seemed to know everything so better to go along with it for now.
"Alright… Well these are ready." Vic pushed her chair back from the desk and motioned to the mirror. There was indeed one line that was about a third smaller.
Max smiled and hopped up from the bed, almost prowling over to Vic. Their eyes glued to each other. "Thank you, Victoria" Max almost purred. Part of Victoria thought she could get Very very used to Max thanking her. Max picked up the hundred and leaned down. She used Vic's knee to place her hand on to hold herself up. One last smile from Max lit up a fire in Vic. As Max snorted the line up, Vic's mind went back their kiss in the classroom.
"Where has this Max been?" Vic asked she was handed the rolled up bill. Max sighed happily and sat back against the desk, tilting her nose back.
"On a long endless journey with fixed variables that always ends with you."
That stole the breath from Victoria momentarily. It only made her do her line faster and copy Max's relishing of the feeling. Her head resting back on the chair. Eyes closed. "Really learned how to charm a girl huh?"
"Naah.." Max reached over and ran her fingers from Vic's knee to up her thigh, then quickly pulled them away. "Just you." It sent shivers up Vic's spine but she kept her eyes closed. "You're handling my weirdness pretty well, gotta say."
"Maybe I like you better this way." Max bite her lip, eyeing Victoria up and down. She wanted to kiss her so bad.
"You like me no matter what, admit it." That got Vic to open her eyes, they locked onto Max's. She was wearing an impish grin that gave Vic a chill. Max almost looked dangerous. "Alright Vic, time to get serious and do this." Max stepped toward the bed and held out a hand for Vic.
Victoria blushed badly and looked away from Max. "W-wait, right now? Can I at least take a shower first? I mean, I need to shave and-"
"Oh gosh, No I meant explaining everything." Max let out a sultry chuckle. "Though now I am tempted to change plans."
Vic stood up and shook her head, trying to get rid of the blush. "No! Just forget what I said." There was that imp like grin from Max again. "And stop grinning like that!"
Max did try to the best of her effort to stop smiling. "Just come here and take my hand. Be ready though. Shit's about to get hella weird."
Victoria sighed as she walked toward Max. "Already is. So just take your hand?" Max nodded and held out her hand. Hopefully Victoria wouldn't puke after what she's about to show her.
Their hands met and time froze around them.