"So, yeah, now we're all living in Seattle," Chloe finished. She was sitting on the leather couch, elbows resting on her knees as she watched the woman across from her take notes.
"And, uh, how does that make you feel?" Dr. Harriss responded, smirking.
"I hate you so much," Chloe joked, shaking her head as she tried to suppress her own grin. She had started looking forward to her weekly sessions, much to her surprise - even if Dr. Harriss sometimes made stupid jokes. "No, it's nice. Haven't seen Victoria at all this week, which is...strangely disappointing." Every time Chloe wanted to ask if she wanted to go out for lunch or a smoke break, she had stopped herself - judging by the texts she and Max had received, Victoria and Kate were having a grand time exploring the city. Chloe didn't know if she really wanted to third wheel with them.
The doctor nodded, smiling kindly. Chloe always wondered how much of her stories she already knew, from Max's perspective. If she'd heard them before, she never let on. "How about the trial, how are you handling that?"
Chloe sighed, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sure Max already told you yesterday, she's still not sleeping well," she commented, watching the doctor nod her head. Chloe had been woken up four times in the past week since they got back from Oregon, and she was starting to feel it. "Supposedly final arguments are next week. I'm just hoping the jury tosses him in the slammer quickly."
"How long is he looking at?"
"At least two life sentences for the murders alone, and probably more, depending on how many kidnapping charges they pin on him." Chloe shook her head again, exhaling heavily through her nose. "He's not getting out, that's for sure."
Dr. Harriss nodded thoughtfully, crossing her legs. "Does that feel like enough, for you?"
Chloe shook her head, intertwining her fingers together in her lap. "I mean, I'd love to put him in the fucking ground myself, but dying in prison will have to do." She picked at the hem of her shirt, nail polish chipped. "I'm just ready for it all to be over, you know?"
"I understand." She paused, watching Chloe with critical eyes. "You mentioned Max hasn't been sleeping well, but how about you?"
She shrugged, well aware that there were bags under her eyes. "I mean, besides Max waking me up half the time? I'm fine." The doctor was giving her a doubtful look, and Chloe groaned. "I'm not waking up from my dreams, anymore, they're just...bad."
Dr. Harriss nodded, still watching her carefully. "Still about Max, getting hurt?"
She flinched - she had purposefully avoided sharing the finer details of her nightmares, that it was the bunker she kept seeing. "Her, and our friends," she muttered, closing her eyes tightly for a moment. There was no pattern to who she had to watch in the dark room each night; all she knew was she hated each and every iteration of it. "Can we...not talk about it?"
"Sure." She paused for a second, her foot tapping on the ground for a few beats. "How about your relationship with David? How's that been?"
"Strained." Chloe chuckled at herself, shaking her head as she leaned back on the couch. "No, it's fine. He checks in every now and then, but he's been leaving me alone. Should be coming in the area soon, he finally got an offer on the house."
"The house in Arcadia Bay?" Dr. Harriss clarified.
"What other house is he trying to sell?" Chloe quipped, although her shoulders sagged. She knew it sold for far less than it had been worth pre-storm, but there would still be a hefty check coming her way. "I know why he's doing it, but it just feels weird to not be able to go back. I wouldn't have," she added quickly, seeing the question in the therapist's eyes. "I don't want to go back there ever again, if I don't have to."
"Well, with all of your friends in Seattle, that doesn't appear to be a concern anymore," Dr. Harriss joked, and Chloe couldn't help but snort at her.
"Are you sure we're talking about the same Victoria Chase?" Steph was staring at her incredulously, her lunch forgotten. Chloe had just recounted the previous week's events, with a handful of exclusions, and had enjoyed a very captive audience. She was fairly certain she could have told Steph that her girlfriend could time travel, and it would have been less shocking.
She shrugged, shoving another fry in her mouth. "I told you, she's changed," she responded, a smirk crossing her face. "Kate really did a number on her."
Steph shook her head, mouth gaping as she watched Chloe take a sip of her drink. "That's just...wow."
Chloe snorted at her continued shock, almost choking on her soda. "I know. The two of them are like a fucking Hallmark movie, I'm telling you. It's so cute, it's almost sickening."
Steph sighed rather heavily, nodding. "Love'll do that to a person." Chloe nodded, knowing how the two blondes acted towards each other - they were far from the courting phase, that was certain. Are they already saying the L word to each other? Might have to tease Vicky next time I see her and find out.
If there would ever be a "next time", of course.
Chloe cleared her throat, taking another gulp of her drink. "So, how's the campaign going?"
There was a sudden excitement in Steph's eyes, and Chloe couldn't help but snicker. "Dude - okay, you remember the last one we did with Mikey?"
She nodded - it had been a few years, but she remembered enough of it. "Yeah, the one where we were both in the Thieves Guild? And the zombies attacked the city?"
Steph nodded, almost bouncing with excitement. "That's the one. We're gonna pick up in the city, right after that all happens." A shadow of embarrassment appeared on her face as she looked down at her half-eaten meal. "Might be lazy, reusing some of the same characters and stuff, but-"
"I'm sure it'll be hella amazing, Steph," she responded quickly before taking a bite of her sandwich.
Steph reached over to steal one of Chloe's fries quickly, before she could complain. There was an uncertain look on her face. "And I think I have a third party member, if you two are okay with me adding someone else on," she commented, taking a bite out of the fry.
Chloe nodded, swallowing her own bite quickly. "The more the merrier. Someone from class?"
"Yeah," Steph replied, although there was suddenly a blush spreading across her cheeks.
"Oh, so a special someone from class," Chloe teased, watching the red become more vibrant.
"Shut up," she muttered, glaring. The blue-haired girl could only chuckle at the look she was getting. Steph was about as dangerous as a goldfish.
"Who's this special someone?" Chloe asked casually, finally looking away to shovel more food into her mouth.
"Her name is Paige, we're in the same English class," Steph said calmly, despite the rosy glow on her face. "And I don't know if she even swings that way, so..."
Chloe shrugged nonchalantly. "Eh, that's what I thought about Kate Marsh, and look at her now, sucking another girl's face."
Steph finally laughed. "Guess you have a point. Still, I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to embarrass me in front of her," she added, the slightest look of concern in her eyes.
Chloe couldn't help but grin. "Oh, it's on, Gingrich."
"Yeah, yeah." There was still a slight flush on her face, but Steph seemed determined to get off the subject. "How's that gallery stuff going, by the way? Isn't that suppose to open in April?"
"May," Chloe corrected, sighing. "The exhibit the Chase Space has in right now was so popular, they pushed it back a month."
Steph frowned, picking at her meal. "That's disappointing. How's Max feeling about it?"
"I think she's pretending it's not happening at all." Chloe noticed whenever the exhibition came up, Max would practically run out of the room. It was slightly hilarious, even if it was due to nerves. "She's all dramatic about it, like this is going to be the height of her career."
Steph was shaking her head in disagreement. "From the pictures I've seen? Nah, she'll be fine."
"Can you tell her that next time we get together? I don't think she believes me when I tell her."
Steph snorted. "Probably because you're obligated to say her pictures are great." I mean, she's not wrong...
Chloe crossed her arms, pouting a little. "I've been saying her pictures were great since we were kids. Nothing's changed."
"Sure, nothing's changed." Chloe chose to ignore the little snicker coming from Steph, as well as the glint in her eye.
Chloe was so engrossed in her phone that she didn't realize the school bell had rung until Max yanked the passenger door open, causing her to jump. "Jesus Max, you scared the living shit out of me," she complained, stuffing her phone away.
"Glad I didn't scare all the shit out of you," Max quipped, her bag landing on the floorboard as usual as she climbed up into the cab. She was smiling as she looked at Chloe, looking so damn happy. She tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach, although her own smile quickly spread across her face.
"Down girl, feels like you're undressing me with those eyes," Chloe responded, pleased to see the classic Caulfield blush.
"Ugh, Chloe," she groaned, shaking her head. Her hair fell in front of her face as a result, requiring Chloe to reach out and try to tuck it back behind her ear.
"Never said it was a bad thing, just rather not do it when Marcus is actively watching the parking lot. Unless you're into that kind of thing," she added thoughtfully, enjoying the discomfort on her girlfriend's face. She gave her daily wave at the security guard, who happened to be walking past the truck at that moment.
"You're insane," Max commented, leaning over and giving her a peck on the cheek. "What's so exciting on your phone?"
Chloe shrugged, reaching for her keys to start the engine. "Just David - he's gonna be Arcadia next week, for the house closing."
Max inhaled sharply, sending her a worried glance. "It's finally happening?" Chloe nodded in response, trying to ignore the look Max was giving her. She focused on the other high schoolers retreating into the parking lot instead, climbing into their own cars and speeding away. "Are you okay?"
"It's just a house, Max," she responded quickly. She had been telling herself the same thing for the last few weeks, not that she had started believing it. "I'll be fine."
"Chloe-"
"Don't 'Chloe' me, okay?" She wasn't in the mood to deal with Max's usual "feel your emotions" speech. They were both quite aware of how Chloe felt about the house, after all. "He's gonna stop up after he closes, I said I'd check with your folks if he can stay in my room."
"That's...really nice, Chloe," Max responded, sounding impressed. It was certainly a far cry from his visit a few months ago. A knowing look quickly appeared in her eye as she thought about it. "And by 'your room', you mean the room you've never used, right?"
Chloe shrugged, trying to suppress a grin. "Hey, just because my odds of a half-naked, cuddly girlfriend are higher in your room, doesn't mean it's not mine."
Max whacked her shoulder with the back of her hand. "Oh my dog, please stop that."
She didn't bother hiding her grin now. "I don't know what you mean, love."
"You're infuriating sometimes, you know that?" Max asked, reaching over and pushing Chloe's knee. She sounded like she was upset, but Chloe could see the warm look on her face, plain as day.
"I'd say it's my best quality," Chloe pouted, enjoying the giggle she got in response. Max's hand found hers as they pulled out of the parking lot, heading back to the Caulfield house.