Chapter Text
Later in the evening we head out for a meal and I stop to get some craft beer on the way back to our hotel room. Using my totally legitimate non-fake ID, of course. Once we arrive, I place the drinks down, grab a bottle and turn on some music.
“Hey, let’s play a drinking game! But, instead of beer- you can take a sip of water, or juice instead.” I suggest with a grin.
“Then that wouldn’t be a drinking game, it’d be a let’s-get-Chloe-hammered game.” Max points out.
I reflect briefly, that wouldn’t be much fun for her. “Fair point. Let’s play something else then- a game with no need for alcohol.”
A devious smile forms across her lips.
“Ooh! I like that look. What did you have in mind?”
“Truth, dare, double-dare, kiss, command, promise!”
I laugh animatedly. “God, I haven’t played that since I was a teenager!”
Max giggles. “You’re still a teenager, dork.”
“Barely. In another two months I’m the big two-zero!”
“It isn’t March yet, punk-ass.”
“Ah, youth.” I place my arm around her. “I remember those days fondly. Tell me… How does it feel to date an older woman?” I smirk wickedly.
“It’s alright, when she’s not being a total dweeb.”
“Anyway, let’s begin. You can start- which category would you like, youngin’?”
“Dare.”
“Ooh la la!”
“Gonna dare me to kiss you again?” She beams slyly.
I feel my cheeks heat up. “Max- how dare you! That was smooth, dammit!”
Her laugh echoes across the room. “Don’t be embarrassed… It was very endearing.”
“Well, I wanted to place the power in your hands. That was my way of doing it.” It was easier that way. Masking it as a joke, a gag. Rejection would’ve been less painful being disguised by bravado.
“Oh… I didn’t realise that.” Max considers my words and smiles kindly. “That actually was pretty smooth of you then. And very sweet.”
I rub my eyes, feeling a little self-conscious. “Okay, ready for your dare?”
She nods.
My mind reels as I contemplate my next move. I could easily come up with a million outrageous and embarrassing things to dare her to do. But... I don’t have it in me. I don’t want to.
“I dare you to… Kiss me.” I glance away shyly and fold my arms.
I look back to see her grinning widely. She leans forward and turns my head, so I’m facing her- then brings her lips to mine. It’s a lengthy kiss. Far longer than our first one months before. We have shared so many since then, but she never fails to surprise and excite me.
“Okay.” Max eventually pulls away and gathers her breath. “What one would you like?”
“Truth.”
“Truth? Hmm…” She thinks for a moment. “If we were to have a threesome, who would you want as our third?”
“Max!” My mouth falls open. “I can’t believe she just asked that! How indecent!”
“Hey, it’s just a game! I wouldn’t actually consider it.”
“Still. Whatever my answer is, you’ll know that I find that person attractive!”
“Hey, you have a free-pass here to say whatever you want! I’m just interested, it’s curiosity- nothing else. You can always ask me the same thing if you want.” She replies, lips forming into a playful smile.
“Yeah right, you’d totally pick Victoria!”
Her expression fills with amusement.
“You slattern!”
“Hey, I might not! I mean, there’s a whole array of potential candidates.”
“Max!”
“It’s not my fault, Chloe… There are a shit-ton of hot girls at my school!” It’s true. Blackwell has a sickening ratio of attractive young women which I never understood.
“Shit-ton is not a standard unit of measurement!”
“But hella is?”
“Hella yeah it is!”
Max laughs. “Chloe... You still haven’t answered the question.”
“Okay... I have my answer.” I smile broadly.
“Who is it?”
“Clone-Chloe.”
“Who?”
“Me, you and me- makes three. With my clone, that is.”
“Ah! I get it.” She giggles in entertainment. “Clever way to avoid answering, Price.”
“Think about it! What could be better than having two of me? One of us could go to Blackwell with you and the other could do their own thing- and fulfil their daily Chloe duties. And to change it up, we could swap who does what. Then, when we all come back together at night- things could get a little... Freak-ay!” I move my eyebrows up and down.
“That’d actually be pretty intense... And hot.” Her voice is quiet as she utters the last two words.
I snicker. “See, what can I say?”
“Defiant answer, but I’ll allow it.”
“Score! In that case, it’s your turn. Which one would you like?”
“Truth.”
“Ooh. Interesting… Okay. Truth! Tell me about a crush you had- other than me, when we were younger. Or… Before we got together. Either of those.”
Max appears contemplative as she thinks, then tenses. A light crimson begins to spread across her face.
“Um. I thought of one… But, maybe I shouldn’t say it.”
“Okay. Now you have to tell me!”
She sighs and covers her face. “I... Had a bit of a crush on Joyce growing up.”
I scrunch up my nose and my mouth turns downwards. “Ew, Max! You sicko. I’m telling!”
“I can always rewind and take it back.”
“Nah, no need. It’s okay. Anyway, I have to admit- I always thought Vanessa was pretty attractive too… You know, for a mom.” I look away. “Probably not quite to the same extent as your little infatuation with Joyce though!”
I turn back to find Max blushing again. “Oh my god, Chloe!”
“Dude, you just told me you crushed on Joyce! Do not even attempt to pull the repulsed card on me.”
“Who have we become?” She questions in a dramatic, playful voice.
“I don’t know. I do know one thing though- it’s gonna be hella awkward seeing your parents now!”
Max laughs. “Just a bit.”
“My turn! I want a… Command!”
“Hmm… Interesting. How should I use this newfound power?” She deliberates for a moment. “Okay. I command you to piggyback me to breakfast tomorrow.”
“That’s it? Pfft! Lame! I would’ve done it anyway if you asked.”
“Hey! I was being nice. I could’ve been harsher.”
“You should’ve.” I inform her with a cunning smirk. “Your turn.”
“Fine, I want a promise.”
“Okay… Hmm.” I put my hand to my chin and bust out my best deeply-thinking-face.
Her blue eyes watch me with interest.
“Okay. Promise me… That you’ll always love me. And also that you’ll never die… Or, at least not until you’re like a thousand, or something!”
“An old lady, warm in her bed?” She smiles tenderly.
I grin back at her and nod.
“I’ll always love you, Chloe. Always.” Her hands feel warm as she brings them to my face. “I promise.”
My stomach flutters hearing those words.
“Gal pals, ‘til the end.” She adds with a smirk and kisses my temple.
“Can’t ask for more than that.” I chuckle.
“Your turn, Chloe.”
“Oh, we’re still playing?”
She nods. “I recommend choosing the command option again. It might… Pique your interest.”
“Okay then. I want a command.” I say with a cocky smile.
Max stands and seizes me by my shirt collar. “Follow me.” I swallow hard as she guides me towards the bed.
The next day arrives with a chilly welcome. Our breath comes out in frosty bursts. We've already checked out from the hotel and loaded up our luggage. We had a nice breakfast earlier, which I piggybacked Max to. I smile and observe her. She's stretching out beside me in the passenger seat- still half-asleep.
“Hey Max, don’t look. I want to pick a song for you before we leave.” My fingers slide through her music player. I grin as I locate the track I’m looking for and hit play.
I start singing as it begins. “Hey girl! Let’s get out the house and make some news… Put on your shoes-”
Her face lights up with surprise and she joins in. “Yeah, yeah, yeah!” We finish the line together and start laughing.
She continues singing along happily as I pull out of the carpark and we commence our drive to Seattle.