Christmas morning started off on the wrong foot, with Max screaming bloody murder in her sleep at 3 AM. The whole ordeal was worse than usual, and it was loud enough that Vanessa and Ryan came running in to see what was wrong. By the time they had gotten in the room, Chloe had managed to wake Max up, but Max was still sobbing and clinging to her.
At the sight of them looking scared in the doorway, Chloe jerked her head to let them know they could come in. "Bad dream," she said to them, aware of her voice cracking. "She gets them every now and then."
Vanessa's lip was quivering as she sat down next to the girls. "Oh, sweetie." She reached a hand out to rub Max's back, but as soon as she made contact Max squirmed away as much as she could. Her mother's hand retracted, and she looked hurt.
"Give her a minute, she'll calm down." She realized she sounded like this was her job, and she was explaining how to do a particular task. She tried her best to ignore the Caulfields' worried stares as she pulled Max tight, murmuring into her ear.
As Max's breathing steadied, Chloe nodded at Vanessa, who quickly returned her hand to Max's back, quietly saying her name. With a muffled "Mom", Max turned and buried herself into Vanessa, leaving Chloe chilled as the morning air hit her. Ryan continued looking on solemnly for a moment before gesturing for Chloe to join him out in the hall.
Max's fingers closed around her wrist as she tried to slip away. "Max, I'll be right back, okay?" There was no response, but her fingers gradually loosened and let Chloe leave the bed.
Ryan closed the door behind them. "How long have these been going on?" he whispered, crossing his arms.
Chloe sighed heavily, rubbing her eyes. "Since the first night we came here. It used to be every night, now it's only a couple times a week. Usually she's just muttering and flailing. Figured as you guys never said anything, you never heard it."
"Jesus." Ryan ran a hand through his red hair, and Chloe realized for the first time that it was speckled with grey. He fixed her with a firm stare. "I know we haven't brought it up again, but...do you guys need to go see someone? This - this doesn't seem normal."
Chloe had to choke down a sarcastic laugh. You have no fucking idea. "I can mention it to her. She's stubborn as fu- as a mule, so good luck with that."
She had hoped for at least a half smile, but Ryan continued to stare back at her. "Chloe," he quietly said, "I don't know what the hell you guys did or saw after that storm, but you can't do this alone. Or just with each other," he quickly added as Chloe's finger went up to protest.
The bedroom door opened before they could continue their conversation, and Vanessa slipped out. "She fell back asleep, figured she can sleep in a little." She turned to look at Chloe, concern etched in her face, eyes a little red. "You said this happens occasionally?"
"Ever since they got here," Ryan said gruffly. Vanessa cast a look between the two of them, looking flustered. "I told Chloe they should reconsider going to therapy."
Chloe found herself rolling her eyes, but Vanessa was already agreeing with him. "You girls went through a traumatic experience, but...what is she dreaming about? Does she tell you?"
Oh fuck. "Erm, some times it's about the storm, just...driving through and seeing everything-"
Vanessa was shaking her head. "She said something about 'he killed her', is she talking about-about Jefferson?" Oh double fuck. Ryan's hand went out to hold Vanessa's shoulders, as if they were bracing for confirmation.
"No! I mean, yeah, sometimes it's Jefferson, but she was never down there." She hoped she was doing a decent job at lying. "A couple of our friends were, though, she worries about them."
A solemn lightbulb went off behind Vanessa's eyes. "That's right, that one girl died - Amber? Amber something?"
Chloe had the distinct feeling of a knife being run into her. "Rachel Amber," she said quietly.
Vanessa had obviously picked up on the way she said the name. "Did - did you know her?" she asked.
Chloe nodded. "She was...after you guys left, she was my best friend." And then some. She felt her throat closing up, and she fought to clear it, choosing to stare down at her feet.
Before she was fully aware of it, Vanessa was pulling her into a hug. "Chloe, I'm so sorry, I didn't know." Ryan put a hand on her shoulder as well.
"Guys, you're going to make me cry, jeez." She gently pushed them away, forcing a smile on her face. "She went missing months before - before she was found." She tried not to think about that moment in detail. "I think I knew she was, ah, gone, even back then."
"Still, it's a hard thing to go through." Vanessa put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "For what it's worth, I'm glad Max is back in your life now."
"Fuck, yes - sorry," she quickly added. She still had the distinct feeling they did not enjoy her colorful language as much as they may enjoy her colorful hair. "Everything's been, well, not perfect, but better." She's my life now, she thought with a sudden jolt. It was mushy and maybe unrealistic to some people, but true. There was nothing in this world more important to her than Max.
"Well, I should probably get back in there," she pointed to Max's door. "Merry Christmas, and uh, see you in a couple of hours."
Ryan finally cracked a watery smile. "Merry Christmas, Chloe."
When Max finally came back to the land of the living, she was mortified. In her post-dream state, she hadn't been able to fully understand that her parents had heard her, just that her mom had been there. She was exceptionally nervous to join them for breakfast, worried about how they'd react. It took some convincing, but to the Caulfields' credit, they didn't bring it up again for the rest of the day.
The girls didn't have a completely disposable income, but they were able to get Vanessa a set of crime novels she had been wanting, and a new Thunderbirds jersey for Ryan, who had managed to ruin his previous one after a particularly rowdy viewing party. Vanessa enjoyed teasing him about it for a few minutes, and he pouted quietly with his new jersey on.
Coincidentally, Ryan had convinced Vanessa to get tickets for the four of them for a game, the evening after Chloe's scheduled GED test. She wondered if she'd be able to convince them to get her a celebratory and/or consolation beer after that exam. If Vanessa didn't notice, maybe, just maybe...
Chloe hadn't been expecting to receive anything, and as a result was surprised to see a couple of wrapped boxes with her name on it. She now owned a new board game, a couple of shirts, and a steering wheel cover, covered in skulls and crossbones. After a few moments of genuine laughter at the last one, Chloe found herself getting a little teary-eyed. Max and Chloe, pirates of...Seattle, I guess.
Max also got some clothing, as well as a few new cult movies she hadn't gotten the chance to see. She had been quiet all morning - more quiet than usual, anyways - and Chloe wondered what was going through her head as she ran her fingers over the spines of the DVDs. She also got a fresh pack of Polaroid film, which she seemed quietly grateful for.
With a pit in her stomach, Chloe realized she hadn't seen Max take a picture since the storm.
After a hearty breakfast, they headed back up to Max's room. She watched Chloe, confused, as she crouched down and reached under the bed, pulling out a small package. Max looked at it for a second, before looking back at her, frustrated and distraught. "Chloe, we said no gifts!"
Max was correct...but that didn't mean that Chloe ever listened to her. She grinned maliciously. "Pssh, this is hardly a gift. Just open it, nerd." She tossed it over, half expecting Max to let it fall, but she caught it.
Max muttered angrily to herself as she started ripping the wrapping paper off viciously. Her frustrated look softened when she was holding the bare jewel case. "You made me a mixtape?"
Chloe shrugged, stepping behind Max so she could slip her arms around her waist. "Figured it wouldn't be a good first Christmas together without some sappy pirated love songs." But in reality, she had spent days trying to get the perfect mix of songs. She wasn't sure she had ever been under that much pressure before.
"Together..." Max seemed to be trying the word out for size. "I guess we are, technically, dating?"
"Whoa, don't make it sound like a question. Here I thought we were all exclusive and shit." As if to prove it, she pulled Max closer for a second, kissing the side of her head.
Max scoffed, but leaned back into her. "I don't exactly have a line of people waiting outside my door, so I think you're safe."
"They've been hiding in the bushes across the street. They're scared of me." Max laughed at her, and it brought a smile to her own face.
Max turned around, holding the CD up. "Thank you," she said, eyes looking a little misty, but she was still smiling.
Chloe reached a hand up to caress the side of Max's face, very aware of just how close she was. "Any time," she murmured, watching that smile slip away and be replaced with a look of adoration. She gently pulled Max closer for a quick kiss, but was surprised when she threw her arms around her neck, locking her in place.
Moments like this made everything else slip away. All that mattered was Max, being close to her, being with her. She was utterly consumed by the need, only made worse by the hand gripping her hair, pulling her as close as physically possible. Knowing that Max wanted this just as bad was tantalizing.
But she was also aware of how she didn't want to scare Max off, wanted to make sure she was comfortable with whatever happens next, so she forced her hands to stay PG. It was a small sacrifice to make.
As Max inevitably pulled her lips away, Chloe continued holding her close, resting her forehead against Max's. "Damn, Max." This girl will be the death of me, for sure.
"Still hardcore?" Max sounded breathless, but also a little amused.
Chloe nodded, still letting their foreheads touch. "Oh, fuck yes. Hardcore and sexy as fuck." She opened her eyes to see the telltale pink crossing Max's cheeks. "I am mere putty in your hands."
"Something about the way you said that made it sound very wrong." Chloe laughed, giving her one last peck before snatching the mixtape from her hand. "Oh yeah, forgot about that."
"Wonder why?" Chloe chuckled before hijacking Max's computer, sticking the disc in. As the music started playing, she saw the fresh pack of Polaroid film on the desk. Throwing herself onto the bed, Chloe looked up at the ceiling, thinking. "Speaking of 'why's...is there any particular reason you haven't been taking pictures?
There was a moment of silence, punctured only by gentle guitar strumming, and her eyes ducked down from the ceiling in case the question had upset her. Max was looking back calmly, chewing her lip. "I don't know. I just haven't been feeling it, I guess."
"Is it because of...you know, him?" She didn't want to say the name, just in case it triggered something. The memory of this morning's nightmare was still pretty fresh in her mind.
Max shrugged, seemingly not bothered by the thought of Jefferson at that moment. "I mean, maybe? I'm sure I'll get back into it, at some point." Max without her camera was a weird image - no pun intended. Chloe hoped she'd get back into it sooner rather than later.
Chloe thought about it for a second, then waggled her eyebrows mischievously. "You can always just take pictures of me so you can carry them around with you every where you go."
Max frowned, crossing her arms. "That's not weird at all."
"I thought it was romantic to carry pictures of your girlfriend," she complained, stretching until she felt a satisfied pop in her back. "Besides, maybe I can be your muse, you know?"
Max giggled a little, her arms loosening. "Bet you'd love that," she responded, coming to sit on the bed, her back resting against the headboard. Chloe quickly repositioned herself so she could lay her head on Max's stomach.
"No shit, Sherlock! Wouldn't it be amazeballs to see this mug up in some fancy-ass gallery?" She could just imagine it now - people spending ridiculous amounts of money to see her in all her punk glory. If anyone could make it happen though, it was Max.
"If I would get into a fancy-ass gallery." Max actually looked worried about it, starting to fiddle with Chloe's fading hair.
"Dude, you'll get there. Trust me." She'd had faith in Max's abilities since they were kids; nothing had changed there.
Max chewed her lip again, looking off into the distance. "Wish I had your optimism, Captain."