Victoria pulled back against Maxine's hand, her eagerness to get out of the room evident. "Mind if I put on clothes first?" With a gesture she emphasized that she was still in a nightgown and robe.
Max hadn't put any thought toward their appearances. This Chloe probably wouldn't like her showing up in Rachel's clothes now that she thought of it. If she was going to be around for long she would have to get used to that. Rachel wasn't someone Maxine had to worry about in her life. She was just the older girl who had disappeared the year before Maxine came back to her hometown. From what she heard from her friends, everyone thought Rachel had just left for California like she always said she would. "Yeah, probably for the best." Maxine sighed a little and walked over to the door. "I'll change too. Don't want Chloe to see me in Rachel's clothes. Just, hurry up okay?" With that Maxine vanished from the room.
Victoria stared at the spot Maxine had just been in before rolling her eyes slightly. She should know better than to try to hurry her, nevertheless she did try to. Quickly Vic slipped out of the clothes she had on. A slightly uncomfortable silence took over the room. Only the sound of ruffling clothes and the songbirds met Victoria's ears. After she got an outfit on Victoria went to a mirror and began fixing her hair. Part of her wondered if she had time to throw some makeup on. Well she wouldn't be driving so she could do it in the car. She grabbed her purse checking if she had all the makeup she wanted. Satisfied, she slung the bag over her shoulder and made her way out of the room.
Victoria found Maxine waiting outside of "her" room, leaning back against Max's door. She had her arms crossed, foot tapping impatiently, and looking towards Kate's door. Maxine's outfit had changed to what you would normally see Max in. Somehow she looked uncomfortable in it. Vic raised an eyebrow at the sight before locking her door behind her. "So, ready to go?" She erased the note she left on her whiteboard, replacing it with one that said she would be gone for awhile and the current time. It would at least give Taylor and Courtney an idea of what was going on. She would need to speak to them soon.
"Maybe… Should I try to say hello to Kate?" Maxine nodded her head towards Kate's door.
Victoria took a step further into the hallway towards Maxine. With a look towards Kate's she said. "Well, That's up to you. Do you want to?"
"No…" She admitted in shame. "I've never even spoke to her." Maxine sighed and tore her eyes from Kate's door. "Still feels like I should though."
"Well, promise she doesn't bite-" Vic's mind cut her off by flooding it's self with the memory of Kate biting her bottom lip. Maxine noticed that and let a smirk slip out. Victoria blushed and turned away from that devious fox grin. "Um, well… She's nice about it when she bites."
"Oh yeah?" Maxine made the few small steps to Vic and with each hand took a hold of her prey's belt loops. Tugging their bodies together, which only served to make Vic blush more. She scanned the hallway for open doors or peering eyes. "Should I leave the two of you alone?"
Victoria growled in disapproval and looked down at the short brunette that had her in it's grasp. "No thanks. I think you two are more than enough for me."
The blue eyes she had locked in a gaze looked down and the grin they accompanied vanished as well. "You know, if both of us are too much, you could always just keep me around."
Victoria pursed her lips slightly and put a hand on Maxine's hip. "… Maxine I-"
She was cut off by the other girl breaking contact and starting towards the stairway that led out of the building. Vic began to reach for her, not wanting to let go of the beautiful feelings of butterflies their contact brought. She stopped herself when she heard a door begin to open at the end of the hall. Stella exited her room and began heading toward the showers. Upon seeing the girls at the other end of the hallway she shot them a dirty look. Whether that was meant for Max or herself, Victoria couldn't tell. "I was just joking. Let's go."
No she wasn't and Victoria knew it.
Earlier that day in hospital room 237 Chloe awoke with a large, quiet yawn and then a pained groan. Then she felt the warm steady breathing floating across her chest. Her nose tipped her off to who was in bed with her before her memories could catch up. Lavender. The same scent that had locked it's self away into Chloe's brain.
Thinking back to easily pulling Kate across the middle of the bench seat of her truck a week ago in the late hours of the evening. It had been the night after the Vortex Club party. Wrapping her long arms around the broken girl who instantly began sobbing and latched onto the one person she felt she could be honest with. Telling her everything in a rush, eventually repeating how much she hated being there. How she hated being alive. A vicious curse was spat out against Victoria from Chloe's mouth. The curse was quickly followed by sweet consolations.
That was the first time she had hugged anyone since Rachel disappeared. She hadn't even let her mom hug her. Vowing her next hug would be with Rachel. Small little Kate Marsh had made her break that vow. Just then she realized she could no longer hide how much she had missed human contact. They stayed in the embrace until Kate's tears had stopped and quite a bit after.
Eventually Kate worked up the courage to face the wickedness of the world again. Seemingly satisfied enough with the brief respite she got from the living and breathing oasis that Chloe had become to her. Kate went to put the small baggie of xanax she had asked Chloe for in the first place away in her purse.
Chloe was quick to tell her to hide it in her bra. She explained it was a better place to hide things in case her purse got searched. Giggles came out of Chloe, they were soon followed by Kate laughing along a little and telling her to shush. It was brought on by Kate starting to unbutton her shirt, realizing Chloe was nonchalantly staring, then turning her back to Chloe.
Kate smiled to herself as she faced the passenger door. Happy to feel attractive to Chloe. Soon she had the bag tucked safely away in her bra. After she had her shirt closed again she turned back to Chloe who gave her a quick cheeky eyebrow raise. To which Kate returned with a light push to her shoulder and a soft giggle. When Kate tried to pay her for the pills Chloe informed her that her money was no good to Chloe. Besides, this way it wasn't a drug deal, just a gift.
Ever the stickler for not owing anyone anything, Kate told her she would pay her back one way or another. Chloe immediately had a few ideas how she could and Kate shot them down with one look before they could ever be voiced aloud.
As Kate began to try to say goodbye she found herself not wanting to leave the shelter of the truck. It took longer than it should have and Chloe noticed. Part of her wanted to just turn over the engine and take Kate home with her. She knew how fucked BlackHell could truly be. When Kate finally went to leave Chloe reached over, taking Kate's hand. Both of them fought back a blush at the contact. Kate more-so when she saw the serious yet extremely caring look in Chloe's eyes. Chloe told her to call whenever, wherever and she would be there, no matter what.
Kate smiled politely and thanked her before opening the door to leave. Chloe knew she wouldn't call from the face she was wearing, or, more correctly the mask. It was the same mask Chloe wore. Saw it everyday in the mirror, but seeing it on Kate was horrifying. It said "Thanks but I'll handle it by myself, even though I know I can't" It ripped away at the little heart Chloe had left.
They said goodnight to each other eventually through the passenger window. Kate graced her with one last exhausted smile at the use of her nickname before leaving. Chloe watched her for as long as she could before Kate disappeared through the gate that led to the dorms. After a long breath and a sigh, Chloe screamed at the top of her lungs. She let her head fall and land against the steering wheel. Her hands balled into fists and pounded against the dashboard over and over. The old truck horn complained as it was held down. Chloe cussed herself out for being stupid enough to let Kate slip through her fingers again, especially now. She debated on just chasing after her, until a security guard that wasn't her step-douche aimed a flashlight at her truck. With a grumble she turned the key and sat back up. After rubbing her hands some she left the parking lot. Making sure to flip off the guard as he made his way through the parking lot.
As Chloe drove home she hoped to find Victoria walking down a sidewalk and then she could just "run into" her.
A soft smile came over Chloe's face as she thought about how lucky she was to have Kate asleep on top of her. At least something worked out in her favor. Like only getting a flesh wound from a gunshot. Thinking of which, her wound felt like it was on fire.
Awkwardly she reached up, trying to not jostle her sleeping angel. After about a minute of trying she admitted defeat. She spied the call button for the nurse and groaned again. That would surely wake Kate up. "Fuck me…"
"The nurse said no hanky panky allowed."
Chloe looked down, as much as she could, to Kate's serene face. Her eyes were still closed and she hadn't moved at all. "You're awake?"
A soft "Mhm" came from Kate as she nuzzled her face closer into the crook of Chloe's neck.
"Well, since you're awake, would you mind pushing my button?" Chloe used the arm she had under and around Kate to run her fingers up and down their ribs.
Kate was happy her face was hidden because of what popped into her mind. "Chloe, No hanky panky allowed."
It took her a second or two until she got it, but she did. Chloe choked out a cackle then instantly regretted it as her body shook with the laughter. Searing pain raced through her from the movement. She bit down on her lower lip and her head subconsciously forced it's self back into the pillow. Chloe's hand stopped tickling Kate's rib to grip her hip tightly.
In a panic, Kate raised herself up to look at Chloe. "No, no, no, no. I'm sorry. Fuck, I'm so sorry." Kate didn't even notice the swear word come out. She quickly reached over and pressed the button. Then Kate's hand went to Chloe's neck, fingers stroking down from her ear to her collarbone.
The next couple of minutes went by slowly. Chloe taking deep breaths in silence as the medicine did it's work. She couldn't stop Kate from apologizing so she just tried to focus on their fingertips as they danced up and down her neck.
She decided for the first but certainly not the last time, getting shot sucked.