Chapter 38

Hiking, hiking and even more hiking. Hiking for hours, hiking for miles. Max was so tired of it, and so was Steph, who had started to complain an hour ago and wouldn't stop.

Ms. Grant, however, was in her element, talking along the way about the landscape, the flora and fauna, and, of course, the history of the first settlers and natives.

"Just kill me, please!" moaned Steph, acting like being in cruel pain. "Can't a fuckin' Indian just have some mercy with me and shoot an arrow through my head?"

"Sorry, Steph," returned Max, trying to focus on setting one foot in front of the other. "But Ms. Grant already told us that the last natives left the area around a hundred years ago. You sadly have to stick with me."

"Better with you than with the others," was the brunette's dry reply before she said "Hey, I need to piss. Can you gimme some cover? Don't trust a group with two scumbags like Nathan and Eliot."

"Uh, yeah…sure."

A bit nervous, Max followed Steph off the trail until she suddenly dropped her backpack and undid her pants. A bit stunned, Max watched with an agape mouth how the young girl revealed her naked behind in front of him before she crouched down.

"Max," she then said with a sharp tone while glimpsing over her shoulder. "You're supposed to watch the area, not my butt."

"Uh, shit! Yeah…sorry!"

Finally averting his gaze from his friend, Max looked at the sky, seeing dark clouds wandering by. A strong wind carried the scent of dry leaves and rain with it. And then he felt something strange. Like someone or something was watching him and Steph. He had an uneasy feeling, causing the young boy to look around. A sudden touch on the shoulder let him spin around, where he faced Steph.

"Hey, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

He felt dizzy and confused. Something was happening, but what was it? He looked at Steph and saw the worry written all over her face.

"Everyone, gather around!" chimed Ms. Grant's voice through the forest, breaking the strange moment, and every student closed in on her position at a crossroads. "Okay, listen y'all!" she then said, pointing at a uniformed man beside her. "This is Mr. Aarons, a local park ranger. Please, listen closely to what he has to say!"

"Alright, folks, listen up! A heavy thunderstorm has changed course and is headin' our way. The park's and the county's administration have declared to evacuate the entire area. So, I'm gonna lead you folks back to the camping grounds and once we're there, you pack your belongings right away."

"Alright, you heard the man," added Ms. Grant. "We walk back in a double row. No wandering off! Ranger Aarons already radioed his office and they called the Academy. Our bus will be here soon. So, let's get moving!"


He was walking. Always nice in line and always under supervision. Never unattended. Never alone.

Right from the beginning of this trip he had watched them. May it be from the corner of his eyes or directly. Watching. Always watching, secretly. Even when they had gone into the bushes and relieved themselves.

Waiting. Just waiting for the right moment without supervision. Maybe at night, when everybody else would be asleep. People get lost in the woods all the time, so, why not these two?

But that plan eventually failed. They were on their way back now. Back to civilization. No woods there, and people don't easily get lost in town.

First drops of rain were falling onto him.

Rain was good. It helped to focus and maybe it would even kill the voices. The voices that told him to take revenge. To kill everyone who was close to her. And then to kill her slowly.

Well, now they were on their way back to civilization and this called for civilized measures…right?


A strong gust of wind hit Max's half deconstructed tent, almost carrying it with it if Steph hadn't held on to it. A twilight had already settled in, quickly turning into darkness. Actually, they were supposed to sit at a warm campfire by now and not hecticly packing their stuff.

First thunders were chiming from far away while some lightning was illuminating the sky, more and more droplets were falling to the ground. Barely, the two friends managed to stuff all the parts into the bag before the rain picked up even more and the entire bunch of teenagers ran towards the recently arrived bus.

"Fuckin' hell!" gasped Steph as she and Max slumped down into their seats, whereas the latter one seemed to be very tense. "Hey Max, are you okay? You seem to be pretty stand-off-ish the entire day."

"Uh, I dunno…" returned the young boy with a deep sigh, gazing into the stormy darkness outside the window. "But I think it has something to do with that storm. I don't like storms, they…they're givin' me such bad vibes."

"Bad vibes?" repeated the nerdy brunette with a frown, scoffing "When do such storms not give bad vibes? I mean…they're the best background for horror plots."

"I know, but… Don't you have it, that you sometimes have a strange feelin' in your guts that something bad's 'bout to happen?"

Steph stayed silent for a while as she was focusing on her own feelings. And indeed, there was something strange in the air. Some bad energy that she couldn't explain. Yes, she believed in supernatural stuff like magic or voodoo, that's why she loved to play a witch as a character in her RPGs. Yet, this whole topic still sent a shiver over her spine.

"Yeah," she eventually said, hoping that Max wouldn't think that she was making fun of him. "I gotcha…seriously! Something's off here."

To underline her statement, she took hold of Max's hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

Eventually, every student had taken their seat and the bus began to move towards Arkadia Bay.

The storm outside was getting worse and worse with every droven mile, pulling and pushing the bus as it sped along the road. The whole atmosphere was tense and the students stayed quite all the time instead of being their noisy selves.

Miss Grant then walked along the rows, checking upon her students.

"Max," she then said as she had reached Max's and Steph's seats. "Since you're not livin' at the dorms, should we drop you off at your home?"

"Yeah, sure. Thanks!" replied Max with a nod, while Steph added "Miss Grant, can I hop off there, too? Wanna stay the night at Chloe's."

"Of course, Stephanie. We're gonna drop off two other students first and then you two can jump off."


It was raining cats and dogs as the bus arrived in front of Max's home and the storm was blowing so hard that the two teenagers had to leave their belongings in the cargo hold of the bus until the next day since the bus driver refused to dig them out of the filled compartment.

Hastily they ran towards the front door, their bodies protected by their weatherproof clothing. A loud thunderclap chimed behind them as they entered the house, causing Max to quickly shut the door.

"Damn, stupid storm!" exclaimed Max, taking off his wet jacket. And so did Steph as she took a short look around.

"Yeah, stupid weather. But say, aren't Van and Bill home?"

"Nah, they decided to ditch town for the weekend since I wasn't supposed to be home and Chloe can manage on her own."

"Well, in that case, you should put on your headphones for the night, because…" Steph mentioned with a toothy grin as she was about to climb up the stairs, which faltered in an instant, as a strange sound suddenly reached her ear, mixed into the noise of the storm outside. It could've been the howling wind, yet it sounded more like a female moaning. "Say, you sure your folks left?" she asked, frowning at her friend. She knew that such sounds had already often echoed through the upper floor. But Max simply shrugged and followed Steph as she continued her way upstairs. The further they got, the louder it became until it could clearly be located in Chloe's bedroom. Once again, both teenagers looked at each other with wide open eyes as they recognized the voices they were hearing.

Steph didn't know what was really going on behind that closed door, yet she was already beyond furious, her lips trembling and her head beet-red as she imagined what was going on in that very room. She ripped open that door and, indeed, it was as horrible as her mind had told her. Rachel and Chloe were completely naked in bed, their legs entangled as they were rubbing their genitals against each other. They were moaning intensely as they were obviously reaching their climax, still being unaware that they were watched by their partners.

Steph's fury was reaching unknown heights. She yelled "YOU CHEATING BITCH!" and stormed towards the bed. Chloe, however, had just enough time to turn around before getting grabbed by her girlfriend violently and tossed out of bed, where shit hit the ground.

"Shit! Steph, listen…" the strawberry-blonde tried to explain, yet received a hard punch into her face before she could say another word.

"SHUT UP, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" was the nerdy girl's answer before she grabbed her cheating girlfriend's shoulders and shook her violently before placing another hard smack on her cheek. Nobody, not even Steph herself, had ever seen her that angry. Only as Chloe was nothing more than a whimpering heap of misery on the ground, she stopped her attack. She was breathing heavily and her face was wet from tears of anger and disappointment, though she hadn't even felt that she had spilled them in the first place.

She was done here and just wanted to leave. Max, however, was still standing in the door frame, gazing stunned at Rachel, who was crying out of regret.

"Why?" he whispered with a shivering tone, causing Rachel to sob even more. A heartbreaking moment. A moment nobody ever wanted to experience. So, no wonder he turned around and ran away.

Steph couldn't blame him. She just wanted to get away, as well. One last time she hissed "If you two sluts come close to me or Max ever again, I'll kill you!" and then followed her remaining best friend, who had already left the house.

The cold rain was hitting her right in the face as she ran along the scarcely enlightened street, mixing with her freshly spilled tears. She was crying. Her flaring anger had abated and was now replaced by deep sadness.

Eventually, she had caught up to Max, stopping and embracing him as she needed someone to hold on to. Both were standing in the middle of the thunderstorm, crying hard into each other's shoulders and pressing closer. The world seemed to end around them as the rain intensified and a lightning struck into a tree not far away. Still, they couldn't care less and stayed tightly embraced, giving each other some much needed comfort.


He was still watching them. Watching how Miss Grant was talking to them. Watching how they were leaving the bus. How they were entering this damned house.

Another missed opportunity.

No, getting it right needed a different approach. Something inside told him to make it big and spectacular. And that's what he would do.


It clicked audibly as the door got unlocked and two entirely drenched teenagers entered the room, cold water dripping continuously onto the floor.

Max and Steph were chilled to the bones, their bodies shaking. And while the nerdy girl was immediately getting some towels, Max just stood there, not moving and his gaze fixed at the floor in front of him.

They both hadn't talked even one word to their walk to Blackwell and Steph knew that her friend was suffering very hard from Rachel's and Chloe's betrayal. His girlfriend and his step-sister. Both had stabbed him in the back. She couldn't even imagine how devastating this must have been for him. For her, it was already hard to cope, but for him… She actually felt so sorry for Max and could entirely understand his behavior.

Still, they both needed to get out of their clothes quickly or soon suffer from hypothermia. Right after taking off her beanie, shoes, socks and the entire rest of her garments, which she tossed in one corner of her dorm room, Steph wrapped a towel over her shoulders before starting to undress Max as well, since he didn't seem to be able to.

"C-c'mon, we n-need t-to w-warm up!" she said and pulled her friend's shirt over his head, followed by his trousers, shorts and socks. His skin was ice-cold and his shivering lips already blue. Actually, Steph thought that a slightly warm shower would be the best, yet they were in the girl's dorms and if anyone of those bitches like Victoria Chase would catch Max in the showers, he would be in big trouble. So, she decided to put a big towel over his shoulders as well and then brought their bodies together by embracing him again.

At first, it felt like nothing was happening. They both were still shaking and feeling very cold. But over time, warmth began to spread throughout Steph's body, and it felt so good and comfortable, that she simply closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment.

But then she felt something strange. Something she never thought was possible. She began to enjoy the closeness to Max and how he felt. She took a deep inhale and caught his scent. It was nice and induced another sort of warmth in her belly.

'What the fuck?! Why am I feeling like this?' she asked herself and tried to distract her mind somehow. But then she felt something else that actually should amuse or, in other cases, disgust her. Max's erection.

They both were friends and Steph was especially gay. Sure, they were naked and hugging each other, and it was completely understandable that Max would get a boner from this, but Steph? She shouldn't get aroused by this. Not by a boy! Yet, she somehow enjoyed this and it was the reaction of her body that was freaking her out.

She broke the embrace and looked deeply into Max's blue eyes. He wasn't as petrified and sad as before, yet way more embarrassed.

"S-sorry!" he just mumbled and averted his gaze while trying to turn his erection away from Steph's body. But the brunette girl softly turned his head back, so that he was looking at her again.

Why? Why was this happening? Why did she suddenly find his face so beautiful and attractive? Why did she press his crotch against hers again? And why did she have the longing to take this even further?

"Don't be sorry. It's okay," she whiffed and planted a soft kiss on his lips and then waited for a reaction.

Max didn't resist. Not even a bit. He even, surprisingly, took the initiative and pulled Steph in for another kiss. He wasn't that shy virgin-boy from before anymore. He was now experienced and actually a good kisser. Steph recalled the one or other occasion, Max had stared at her body or they had gotten close to each other. So, in hindsight, had this situation been nothing more than inevitable?

By now, and despite what had happened earlier tonight, Steph had given in to her urges and enjoyed this new adventure. For the first time in her life she was having feelings for a boy. And not only that, but she was savoring every second.

Her hands were now exploring his body. His back and his behind, roaming over every inch. And in return, she felt Max's hands brushing over her body and squeezing her butt as well, which in return pressed her even closer against his crotch.

She wanted to feel him more. Wanted to feel everything, everywhere. So she reached for his erection and it felt somehow strange. So…different. Hard and warm. And she placed it between her legs, where it grinded over her private parts.

It was such an amazing feeling. So amazing! Steph moaned softly as she was feeling this new sort of pleasure for a long moment, before she broke contact and guided Max to her bed, where she laid down on her back and invited the young boy to lie atop of her.

Was this right? Steph simply didn't care anymore. She wanted to feel him. Wanted to forget what had happened before. And Max didn't object either, yet obliged and again, she felt him rubbing over her sensitive spot, until he cautiously entered her.

Yes, Steph already had some experience with sex toys, especially since she used to share a vibrator with her ex-girlfriend. But this here felt entirely different. Normally, she would be in charge and setting the depth and pace. But this time, someone else was doing it. At first, it hurt a bit, but soon she got used to the feeling and could savor it.

Max's humps were tender and not forced. He moved in a steady rhythm while kissing her again. Steph was feeling amazing the whole time. She liked what Max was doing to her and also realized that a huge climax was building up, causing her to moan until she released it in one big blow.

It was over. Steph's first sex with a boy had eventually come to an end and she felt terrible.

First, she had caught her girlfriend cheating on her with Rachel, and now she had had sex with Max, her best friend and Rachel's boyfriend, though she wasn't supposed to have to.

Again, a big bunch of feelings and doubts were crashing down on her, causing the young girl to cry again. It was simply too much. Especially, since she was now questioning her sexuality. At first she had declared herself a lesbian since she had only been attracted to women. But what was she now? Bisexual, sexually fluent, pansexual? The question about her identity had always been a very important one since she had started to show interest in women. Hundreds of webpages and forums, anonymous chat rooms, books and magazines, plus a ton of self doubts. Steph, being her perfectionistic self, had literally busted her head over this for two years before she had been ready to accept her sexuality. And now this!

Why was she interested in a boy, out of the sudden? Why was she attracted particularly to Max? A year ago, she wouldn't even have considered dating him, but since last October…something had changed and only Chloe had been a viable distraction. But this cheating girl was history now and Max - sitting in the same boat - her only anchor and much needed comfort.

But why him and not a girl? Why, why, fucking why?! She started to hate this word. It made her furious. She actually was ready to freak out again and only a soft touch on her cheek cooled her down enough.

She turned her head and looked with her teary eyes at Max, who then gave her a soft kiss on her forehead. Not on her lips. He probably also knew that this was a strange situation. A situation that they needed to talk about. But not right now. She needed time to think. Time to assess the situation. Time to get her head straight.

So, without saying a word, Steph got up, put over her bathrobe and headed for the showers.

The hot stream of water on her head soothed her mind, helping her to sort her thoughts.

Facts! What were the facts?

She didn't even want to think about the thing between Chloe and Rachel. That case was clear. Done and gone, never again. Chloe used to have her chances and blew them all. It was over! As well as her friendship with Rachel. It's going to be a hard case in the drama club, but she will manage. But the most important thing, right now, was what had happened between her and Max.

Facts!

They both had sex, period. Plain and simple. And it hadn't been out of being drunk or high, but out of desire. Steph could only speak for herself, but she had known what she had been doing. She could've stopped it right from the beginning, yet let it happen. So, it wasn't Max's fault. And if she thought about it deeply, it had been him who wanted to stop. Yes, she alone had kept this going, not Max. She alone wanted this! She…wanted Max.

Then there was the problem about pregnancy. Which wasn't really a problem at the time since she was in the Safezone at the moment. Still, that was something she needed to consider eventually.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

So much for sorting things out. In truth, Steph felt even more confused than before. But that wouldn't change in the near , she decided to quickly wash herself and then ended the shower-session before walking back to her room. The storm outside seemed to have vaned over time, because it was so quiet. Soothingly quiet.

Steph was reaching for the handle as the door suddenly opened and Max was about to leave, dressed in his still entirely drenched clothes. Quizzically, she looked at him with a frown while he was shyly averting her gaze.

"Sorry for what happened," he said, his tone indicating that he was about to lose his composure. "I, uh… I better go home and…"

He couldn't even finish his sentence as Steph shoved him back inside and closed the door again.

"Max," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I, ugh… I just have to ask; We both know what we just did, and, uh… What did it mean to you?"

Of course, Max was taken aback by this question. Which became very obvious as his sight didn't leave the floor and he nervously fumbled with his hands.

"I, uh…" he stammered, struggling for the right words. "I…liked it…much. Um…" He then sighed deeply and eventually found the courage to look straight at Steph. "Shit, I know it shouldn't have happened, but…"

Steph knew that she was pressuring him. She knew that the whole situation was messed up beyond everything. So, she closed in on the poor boy again and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I know it sounds crazy, but… I liked it too, and… Let's just say that you're still my best friend and I like you…very much. But… I can't say if there's more or not or… I… I don't know… Fuck, I'm so confused right now."

"Yeah," he scoffed. "Not just you."

An embarrassing silence followed. It wasn't awkward or annoying, yet just like the quietness that was following after sharing your most intimate feelings. A silence that actually paints a shy smile and a blush on your face. A silence that got mostly accompanied by a tickling sensation in your belly. And eventually, Steph broke it by planting a soft peck on Max's cheek, saying with a warm smile "Now, c'mon. Let's getcha out of those clothes again and try to get some much needed winks, okay?"