Chapter Text
Chloe’s POV
Max just looked at me directly in the eyes. Probably speechless because I finally confessed my feelings towards her.
It’s time to let go Rachel and be with Max. Max has been there for me since she came back to Arcadia Bay.
Besides, Max has been through a lot like what happened to her at the Dark Room. I couldn’t believe that motherfucker Jefferson is a psychopath.
Oh, Max. I’m glad David saved you. But I wish I was the one who saved you in the Dark Room.
Max, I love you. I fucking love you. So much. And this time, we’ll be together, and I’ll always be with you… Forever
“Max?”
“Oh, Chloe… I love you…” She sobbed and hugged me tight. I hugged her back, and I could feel her tears on my shirt, “you have no idea how much I wanted to hear that from you.”
“Max… I’m sorry, I didn’t want to make you wait,” I hugged her tightly and kisses her neck softly. “I’m so sorry you have to deal this stuff when you said I died when Jefferfuckingson kidnapped you and brought you at the dark room.”
“Chloe… That doesn’t matter now,” she says as she kept her face buried on my chest. “I’m just glad you’re with me now. I don’t ever wanna let you go again.”
“You’ll always have me, Max,” I kept hugging her and gives the best reassurance that I could give to her.
Damn it, I feel so fucking hella bad for Max. I felt like I almost failed her. I failed to save her in the dark room.
FUCK! I wish I was the one who saved her! But I’m still grateful that step-dou—I mean David saved her.
If David didn’t manage to save Max on time. That Jeffershit could’ve killed Max in the dark room. And then, that asshole will put Max’s pictures on the binder and put on his horrifying collection. As his achievement—
Shit! Don’t imagine it, Price. I might fuck up everything.
“Max let’s eat. We’re leaving for Portland after this.” I spoke, breaking the silence around the motel room and then Max looked up to me.
“You’re right, we should get going,” she sniffled, and I wiped those tears in her cheeks. Poor Max. I couldn’t believe that she is now having nightmares.
“You go ahead, I’ll pack our stuff.” I pat her head and went to the table to pack stuff.
Max went to the mini counter to grab eggs and bacon. While I packed our stuff at the table in our room. I hope we make it to Portland as soon as possible. But if not, we’ll find some way.
“Hey Chloe, aren’t you gonna eat?” she asked, with a worrisome tone. “You should at least eat something. We’re not that far away from Portland,” she added, and my heart just started pounding so fast. She hella cares. Always has been.
I looked at her. Oh fuck, she’s so hella cute when she’s worried.
But for fuck’s sake Price, enough with the crack jokes. You need to be there for Max. I just really wish there’s a way to fix everything.
So, Max won’t ever suffer with this. I don’t know I couldn’t look at her at the same way before.
“Sorry, just spacing out a bit.” I gave her a sad smile and I started eating along with Max. And I could feel that she’s “Uh, Max. Are you sure you don’t wanna contact your parents? Or someone else?”
“I don’t even know, Chloe,” the brown-haired woman answered and she saw the news talking about what happened to Arcadia Bay. “Chloe… I don’t ever regret making this decision.”
Oh, Max… I’m not fucking dumb I know deep inside that you regret doing this. There has to be a way to save me and Arcadia Bay.
“Max-… I can’t… I can’t see you like this!” I yelled dropping the utensils on the table
I saw that Max froze and I stared at her eyes deeply.
I shouldn’t have startled her like that. I want Max to make the right decision but how am I gonna make things right though?
I still loved Rachel but she’s gone. We found her corpse inside the bag.
But I loved Max too. But why I can’t look at her at the same way again. Joyce is gone, my mother. And now I don’t know if my step-fu… I mean my step-father is still alive.
“Chloe… I’m not gonna fucking trade you to that town,” the brunette says as she tries to hold back her tears. “It wasn’t a fucking easy decision, Chloe. I wanted them to live as well but if this is about you? Like hell I’m giving up on you. I loved you Chloe.”
“Max-…” I tried to hold her hand but she step back “Max, please.. I-…”
“Stop it. I can’t fucking deal with the Arcadia Bay. I chose you because I need you with me.” Max roared and she looked away from me. “So you regret what we had last night then? Was it nothing?”
“No! It wasn’t nothing! I didn’t regret what we did last night.”
“You fuckin' called out Rachel’s name last night, Chloe.”
“Wha-… I didn’t??” my heart dropped to the floor as I recalled me and Max’s making out last night. Shit- Fuck I called out Rachel instead of Max.
Way to go hurting Max’s feelings, Chloe. You just ended up calling out your dead lover’s name instead of Max.
“Max, please let me explain. I did not mean to call out Rachel-…” I stepped in and she slapped me. Hard. “Max-…”
“I don’t think you moved on from her. Let’s just get to Portland.” Max says and I can feel her anger.
“Max… I’ll do better! I’ll do make things better.” I grabbed her and started crying.
Max didn’t looked at me in the eyes and she just let go of my hands and went straight back the room.
Fuck! I don’t deserve her. I just kept hurting the people I loved.
I hurt David cause I know I’m the reason why mom is dead.
And now I hurt Max. Because she knew I couldn’t move on from Rachel.
Rachel was my angel. She saved my life. But Max is now my angel, because she saved me from sacrificing me to that storm. She gambled her decision to save me instead Arcadia Bay.
“Max…” I took a deep breath and clean the dishes.
After cleaning the dishes. I went to the room and I saw Max putting our stuff on the bag. On Rachel’s big bag that she gave me a year ago before she disappeared and got overdosed by Nathan.
“I’ll be at the truck.” Max spoke and her voice sounds so disappointing.
“Max… Come on, we can’t act-…”
“Stop it. I don’t wanna hear it. I know you still love Rachel.”
“Max, please… Let’s fix this…” I begged but she just left me at the room. Closing the door loudly behind her. “FUCK!”
I punched the wall hard and teared up a lot. I don’t fucking deserve her. I saw a polaroid laying on the floor.
It was her photo after Max got back in Arcadia Bay. Two weeks before this fucking tornado wiped out the whole Arcadia Bay.
I took it and kept it on my pocket.
“Rachel… Please let me forget you.” I told myself and punched the wall hard again.
I took the rest of my stuff and went to the truck.
“Let’s get going.” I said as we both fasten our seatbelt and left the motel.
As I drove off from the motel. Max just ignored me and looked at the window.
Well, I guess I deserved that. Fuck! I don’t wanna hurt Max anymore. I’m such a disappointment to everybody else.
“Are we just gonna have this silent treatment the whole day?” I broke the silence inside the truck and still no response from her. Damn it!
“Are you seriously gonna ignore me, Maxine?”
“It’s never Maxine." She glared at me and I took a deep sigh.
“Sorry, Max,” I apologized and tried to focus on the road. “But for fuck sake, Max. Let’s fix this. I do seriously love you!”
“Bullshit Chloe.” Max hit the door and I can tell she is hurt “You regretted what we had last night.”
“No! That’s not true. Max, please… Let me prove it to you again-…” I said and tried not to cry again.
“How could you prove that you love when you still love Rachel? Honestly, Chloe you mostly talk about her when we’re still in Arcadia Bay. But I get it. You loved her. And I’m an asshole for bailing you for five fucking years,” she said and she finally broke down and shit…
Shit… She’s so fucking right.
I always talk about Rachel when we’re still at Arcadia Bay.
All I ever wanted is to find Rachel. And I guess she’s right. I couldn’t move on from Rachel.
“Max… I-… I’m so sorry…” I said and she just ignored me
I didn’t stop car and kept driving until we arrived in Portland. While I was driving, I’m now getting received text from step-dick- I mean… from David.
David: Chloe? Where are you and Max? Please don’t ignore this text.
David: Chloe, please. Please don’t ignore this text! You were right. The storm destroyed this fucking town.
David: CHLOE! PLEASE. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOU JOYCE.
David: DAMN IT CHLOE. I NEED YOU. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE SAFE!
I just kept driving and kept ignoring David’s messages. I don’t even fucking know if I’m gonna message him.
David: AT LEAST LET ME KNOW THAT YOU LEFT WITH MAX. I WANT TO KNOW YOU’RE SAFE!
David: Chloe… I’m so sorry for everything okay? I’m sorry if I fucked up everything. I don’t wanna lose you too… I already lost Joyce in the storm.
David: Please text me back…
“You should at least reply back to, David,” the brunette says with a disappointing voice and I looked at my phone.
“I don’t know anymore.” I answered and just kept driving. I’m sorry David.
“Chloe, you need to let David know that we’re safe. That you- kept me safe,” she says and she hold my hand. “Please.”
“I will later, okay? Let me just drive-…” The car just suddenly broke down and I had to stop near outside the neighborhood. “Ah shit.”
“What’s wrong?” Max looked at me and I get out of the car “Chloe?”
“I think it’s the engine.” I answered and open the front truck hood and I knew the engine just gave up on us. Great… Just fucking... great…
My truck’s engine just broke down and I don’t have the right equipment for the truck. I looked around if there’s a near car auto shop.
Max stepped out the truck and approached me at the front of the truck.
“Shit, this might take a while.” I checked the engine and I’m sure this needs replacement. Stupid fucking truck.
“I can wait. And might try to take pictures-…” the brunette says as she took out the polaroid from her bag. And I saw her hands shaking a lot.
I can feel that Max is still traumatize about what happened to her in the dark room.
I decided to approached Max and stopped her “Max…” I breathe and suddenly hugged her tight “Don’t…”
“C-Chloe?”
“You’re shaking a lot right now. Is this about what happened in the Dark Room” I asked, hugging her tight. She cried finally breaking down once again.
“Y-Yeah… It is… I’m so fucking scared.” Max cried in my arms hugging me tight “I thought it was the end of me. My whole fucking life,” she added as I gently caressed her back.
“Max, I’m just glad David saved you,” I kept caressing her back. I kept doing it until she calms down at least “I’m so sorry for keep hurting you, Max. I will prove that I love you and only you.”
“Oh, Chloe… I love you.” Max cried a lot in my chest. I just kept caressing her back and comfort her the best I can.
While I’m comforting Max. I saw a small neighborhood. I realized that me and Max arrived in Portland.
I break the hug and looked at Max. Fuck she is a mess. I wiped her tears flowing down on her cheeks.
“It looks like there’s a small neighborhood. Maybe we could ask help from them.” I said and Max looked at me in the eyes.
God… I love staring at Max’s eyes.
I feel like I wanna make love to her again.
But I guess it won’t happen anytime now, we’re both entering the new world.
“We should both check it out,” she says as she took all of our things in the truck.
I closed the hood of the truck and remove the key at the start engine. Me and Max walk towards the small neighborhood in Portland.
As we walk towards the small neighborhood, we saw some people walking around and cycling. It seems like this town is quiet and peaceful.
“Chloe… It seems like this is a perfect place for us.” Max says as she holds my hand tightly and I gave her sad smile.
“It’s so quiet in this neighborhood. It seems this is a good place for us to stay,” I looked around and the nature seems so beautiful and very calming.
While we’re walking around the neighborhood, we noticed that the elderly woman is looking at us and seems wants to have a conversation with us. We sat on the bench as she approached us.
“Are you two okay? You both seems lost?” the elderly woman asked as she looked at me and Max.
“Kinda. Our ride broke down. My engine needs replacement,” I answered and took a deep sigh once again. And Max on the other hand she is holding my hands.
“I’m so sorry to hear that, dear,” the elderly woman says with a sincere tone. “We have two semi-detached homes. You may stay but one condition you must work with us so we could provide you a food and anything you need.”
“What kind of work, Ma’am?” Max asks, and I just listened to the elderly woman.
Maybe this could be a great idea. If we want to live for a while on that house. We must work with the elder woman.
“Well, all you need is to take care the 4 cows for us. And we mostly deliver their milk to our suppliers,” she answered and gave us a small weak smile “Goodness gracious, I forgot to introduce myself. My name’s Helen Alvarez,” she finally introduced herself to us.
“I’m Max Caulfield. It’s pleasure to meet you, Helen,” Max gave Helen a small-sad smile.
“I’m Chloe Price, good to meet you,” I acted so formally towards to Helen. But oh well, that’s pretty cool name. Hispanic woman I guess
“It’s so nice to meet you Max and Chloe,” she smiled and taps my shoulder. I just gave her a weak smile. “You’re both welcome to our home.”
“Thank you so much, Helen. We will also work with you. We don’t wanna be burden.” I said as we follow Helen towards to their home.
Not in an hour later we arrived at Helen’s home. And we saw her husband reading newspaper at the backyard.
“Eduardo, I’m back,” Helen says as she opened the small front gate of their home. “This is Max Caulfield and Chloe Price. I offered them to live with us for a while because their ride broke down.”
“Oh! Hello there, Max and Chloe. I’m Eduardo Alvarez.” Eduardo seems a cheerful guy as he introduces himself to me and Max. “Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you, Mr. Alvarez,” I said and he offered to shake hands with me “Your home is so beautiful. And simple.”
“Ah, please don’t be so formal. Call me Ed or Eduardo,” he says cheerfully and he taps my shoulder. “Please come in to our humble home.”
As we enter to the Alvarez’s Home. It so beautiful yet very simple and like a normal family house. I wonder if they have a child.
“Do you have a kid or children, Helen,” I asked and then the couple looked at me and Max.
“My daughter Gabriela is currently going on University in California. She comes home every holidays,” the gray-haired man answered as he showed his daughter’s picture to us.
She has resemblance of… Rachel? She looks like Rachel but she has brown eyes though.
I looked at Max who’s still holding my hand. And she gave me a sad weak smile.
“Well, let me show you the room and let you both rest.” Helen says as she led us to the other side of the house and went straight to the bedroom.
As soon as we arrived to the bedroom. There are two separate bed and a balcony. Perfect to hang out there and drink coffee every damn morning.
“This is hella beautiful.” I said smiling to Helen as I put things on the table and couch.
“Thank you. You may take a rest for the rest of the week. And then next week we will give you work. If that’s okay?” Helen asks and we both agreed on it. “Great! I shall leave you both to unpack things. Eduardo will be making Paella tonight so join with us,” she smiles as she left the bedroom.
“How long we will stay here?” Max asks as she lay down on the comfy bad. Such a dork.
“Well, I don’t know. Maybe for a while.” I answered and I started to unpack our things.
“Chloe… I want to talk to you…”