Max was animatedly pacing around the room, phone to her ear. Chloe watched from the desk chair, her girlfriend's excitement forming a smile on her own face. Victoria had called out of the blue, and from what she could make out so far, she had an assignment for Max.

"Do you want to come with? We're...of course you can, Chloe's truck can sit three." She could just barely hear some sort of exclamation on the other end of the phone. Max's nose crinkled as she pulled the phone away from her ear for a second. "Fine, you can drive."

Chloe leaned in a little closer, eyes starting to furrow. "'Drive'?" Max nodded excitedly in her direction, but was still invested in whatever Victoria was saying. She had no idea what this conversation was about, but she had a slight sinking feeling in her stomach.

"Yeah, I'll let her know. Thank you! Tell your parents thank you, too!" There was a pause as Victoria said something, unintelligible for Chloe. "Yeah, you too." Max hung up, her back to Chloe as she stared down at her phone.

"Uh, Max?" Chloe got to her feet, approaching slowly. "What are you-"

Before she could get a full question out, Max spun around and jumped on her, and Chloe only just got her arms up in time to keep the brunette from crashing back down to the ground. "Oh my dog, Chloe, it's happening!"

"Wh-what's happening?"

"Victoria's parents are doing an exhibit on Arcadia Bay, and they want former Blackwell students to submit photos." Her feet weren't touching the ground, but Max wiggled as if she was dancing. "My photos are going to be in a GALLERY!"

Chloe felt a grin growing on her face. "Fuck, yeah they are! I told you you'd get there!" She spun them in a quick circle before setting Max's feet carefully back on the ground.

Max was smiling, but she suddenly went quiet, worry starting to cross her face. "It feels kind of cheap, like I didn't really earn it."

She felt a frown on her face as she watched Max start overthinking. "The hell you talking about? You got in to Blackwell because of your photos." Chloe grabbed her shoulders, shaking her a little. "You've earned this, Max."

Her face started falling, quickly, as if she was crumbling. "What if...what if this is it? What if I mess up?"

Chloe had to fight down a snort. "Don't say that, you're just going to get yourself worked up." She had always been the more optimistic one for Max's future - her best friend was too prone to putting herself down. "Max, this is the kind of opportunity that gets you noticed, right?"

"I-I guess so, yeah."

"Then make sure they fucking notice!" Max still seemed a little uncertain of herself, but a small smile was spreading on her face. "And just think how bitchin' it'll be to roll up to photography school with an exhibition already under your belt."

Max looked a little bashful at that, a shoulder raising defensively. "I mean, it's not my exhibition. It's a collaboration."

Chloe waved a dismissive hand. "Don't care. It's an exhibition that you'll be in." It was crazy to think about, but if anyone deserved a break right now, it was Max. "Is there any reason they're doing it on Arcadia Bay?"

Max shrugged, glancing at her phone again with a thoughtful look on her face. "The Chases want to do a fundraiser for the town - according to Victoria, they're just doing it as a PR stunt, alongside their donations so far." Max frowned as she thought about it. "She doesn't entirely like that either, but it's still one hell of an opportunity."

Chloe groaned a little. Oh, the plights of the rich. Another piece of the phone conversation came back to her, and the sense of unease slowly returned. "Where are we driving?"

"That's...the part you're not going to like." She looked slightly nervous, as if she was about to drop a bombshell. It took Chloe a second to realize what she was about to ask.

"No, no way, fuck no, Max."

Max frowned. "Chloe -"

"I don't want to go back, Max!" Chloe closed her eyes, not wanting to glare at her girlfriend. What the fuck is she thinking?

"And I can't go back there without you!" It was a stalemate, she knew it already. Max was too stubborn, and Chloe was too willing to give in to make her happy.

That didn't mean she had to just lay down and admit defeat, though.

Chloe clenched her jaw, opening her eyes to see the stubbornness in Max's face. "Well, you can go have fun with Vicky, but I'm not going. Not again."

Max had crossed her arms. "Why not?"

"Do I need to give you a fucking list, Max?" She felt an anger she had been pushing down for months start to bubble to the surface. "Do I need to remind you of every shitty thing that ever happened to me in that town? All the people who left me there?" She balled her hands into fists, digging her nails into her palms. Max looked down at the fists for a moment, slightly wary. "You might be over letting everyone die in that town, but I'm not!"

Max winched, her head dropping, arms starting to cradle herself defensively. Chloe felt the fury lift off her in an instant, leaving her with only regret. "I- fuck, Max, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it."

"You did, though." Max was pulling her arms tighter, as if trying to hold herself together. "I know. The storm was my fault."

"Damn it, Max, we've been over this, it's not -"

"Please, Chloe." She put her hands out defensively, and Chloe hated it. "I know what I did. I hate what I did." Max stared into her eyes, full of desperation. "Last time we were there, all I could think about was how I caused all of it. How me being selfish caused so much destruction."

"You're not selfish, Max." Chloe closed her eyes again, wishing they could be talking about anything else.

"That week happened to me, no matter what I was going to decide with that photo. And it...it was the best week of my life, because of you. If I had gone back…" Max shuddered once, and Chloe took a step forward, pulling Max into a hug. "I know, I'm a terrible human being."

"Max." It hurt to think that she believed that. "You are the kindest, most selfless person I've ever met." She pressed a couple of kisses on to the top of Max's head, feeling her squirm a little. "I don't know what voice in your head is telling you different, but listen to mine instead."

Max made a little sound, almost content. She rested her head underneath Chloe's chin, sighing. "Anything else your voice wants to say?" There was a hopeful tone in her voice.

Chloe couldn't help but grin. "You're sexy as fuck."

Max groaned, shaking her head as she pushed herself away. "I shouldn't have asked."

"Hey, just calling it like I sees it." Her hands slipped down to try to tickle Max's sides, but she didn't react much beyond a small giggle. "Damn it, I keep forgetting you're not ticklish."

There was suddenly an impish look in Max's eye. "No, I'm not."

Chloe took a hesitant step back. "Max, don't you fucking dare."

She was grinning now, stepping towards her with her hands at the ready. "If I recall - "

"Max!"

" - you are especially ticklish," she finished, still on the prowl.

Chloe's legs hit the bed, and she fell backwards, clambering to the headboard in a defensive position. "I swear to god, I will call the cops on you."

Max slowly sat next to her on the edge of the bed, eyes still taunting her. "And tell them what?"

"That my girlfriend is not a very nice person." She was watching with her eyes squinted, waiting for any sign of tickles coming her way. As Max started laying down, trying to play it cool, Chloe quickly straddled her, holding her hands to avoid them coming for revenge.

"Hey, no fair!" Max whined, wiggling as she tried to free her hands. Chloe let Max's arms flail uselessly for a minute before going limp, defeated.

Chloe cackled in victory. "HA! No tickling now, Super Max!" Max groaned, rolling her eyes. Chloe bent over to give her a consolation kiss, then another. "Hey Max."

"What?" Max sounded a little annoyed at being thwarted.

"I love you." Chloe gave her a kiss on her forehead, smiling. Max was still frowning, making a sound of disagreement. "No really, I do." She planted a couple more kisses on Max's face, and Chloe could feel her body starting to relax.

"I think I need a little more convincing," Max muttered, the corners of her lips curling up into a smile.

Chloe confidently released Max's hands, taking a moment to cup Max's cheek with one of her own hands. "Yes, ma'am," Chloe replied, and any further comments from either girl were put on pause for a few minutes of bliss.

Max's hands came to rest at Chloe's waist, and for a moment the she thought her shirt had slipped as Max's hands made contact with the bare skin just below her shirt hem. Her whole body shuddered at the warmth, and then those hands started moving up her sides. Chloe swore against Max's lips, and the latter froze for a second.

"Is - is this okay?" Max asked, panic in her voice.

"Abso-fucking-lutely." To drive the point home, she returned her lips to Max's for a moment more before kissing down to her neck, feeling nails digging into her back as she hit the pulse point there. She couldn't help but swear again, a jolt of desire causing her body to stiffen for a moment.

Those hands moved so slowly, so timidly, and Chloe wanted nothing more than for them to move faster, to match the ferocity of her own heartbeat. But she forced herself to stay still, forced her hands to stay where they were, one cradling Max's head and the other resting on Max's waist. Her lips were the only thing she could not control, still seeking the spots that would make Max's hands tighten against her.

The hands stopped their exploration as they hit the cotton fabric of Chloe's bra. For just a moment, Chloe thought this was the end of Max's bravery as the hands retreated, only for them to grab the hem of her shirt and start pulling it upwards.

Chloe wasted no time, sitting up a little to help Max get her shirt off. She took the opportunity to look down at her girlfriend, who was staring back, a little wide eyed, her face flushed.

"Still okay?" Max asked, although she didn't sound quite as scared as she had the first time - more worried.

Chloe smirked a little. "Let's see, my girlfriend's taking my clothes off. I think I'm okay." Max frowned at her a little, but there was a mischievous glint in her eyes. "How 'bout you, okay down there?"

Max moved quickly, sitting up so she could kiss her again. Chloe's hands wrapped in the brunette's hair, and she tried to push her back down, only to be thwarted as Max kept herself upright. It took Chloe a moment to realize Max's hands were working on pulling off her own shirt.

Their lips separated for a second so Max could finish slipping her shirt over her head. Neither of them moved, their faces still inches apart. Chloe raised a hand slowly, giving Max time to intercept if she so chose, before resting it on her bare stomach. Max inhaled sharply, and Chloe could feel her body shaking. Not just from excitement, though - Chloe knew her well enough to know when she was scared.

"And that's where I think we should stop for the night," Chloe said quietly, laying down with her arms stretched out to her sides, waiting for Max to join her.

Max hadn't moved, with the exception of turning her head a little to look down at her. "Are you...okay, with that?" Max asked cautiously, worried.

Chloe couldn't hold back a snort. "Max, I am hella okay with that. Your speed, remember?" After a moment's pause, Max laid down next to her, and the feeling of skin touching skin sent a little shiver down Chloe's spine. "Besides, I have my half-naked girlfriend getting all touchy-feely with me. I'm totally good with that."

She could feel Max smile against her chest. "Glad you're enjoying it."

Chloe lifted her head a little. "You're enjoying it too, right?" She felt a little panic in her voice. God, she better not be trying to make me happy.

Max made a disgruntled sound. "Yes, Chloe, calm down. 'My speed', I know."

Her head dropped back down to the pillow, and she wrapped her arms around Max. "Good. I don't want you throwing yourself at me because you think that's what I want."

There was a little giggle coming from Max. "Chloe, I know you. That is what you want."

"Mwah, mwah." Chloe kissed the top of her head, trying to ignore the snickers coming from the younger girl. "Max, if we do something, I want it to be because you want to, not me. I told you, I'm fine."

Max propped herself up on an elbow, looking at her with the same mischievous look from earlier in her eyes. Without looking, she moved her free hand to rest gently on Chloe's stomach, the muscles reflexively tensing. "I mean, this is pretty fun."

Chloe had closed her eyes, relishing the feeling a little more than was probably necessary. "You're walking a fine line, Caulfield."

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"Nothing, tonight." She let it sit as a thinly veiled threat, and Max smirked for a little before laying back down, her head snuggled into Chloe's neck per usual. "You are a little shit, Max."

She could feel the smile against her neck. "I love you too, Chloe."