Chapter Text
It was a cool December afternoon, and Max Caulfield was looking to find the perfect Christmas tree this year. She wasn’t looking for anything too big, too small, too wide or thin. Her dad was with her as well, also browsing the endless array of green. The brunette just liked to graze her fingers along the needles as she observed. There was a radio playing holiday music with “Jingle Bell Rock” currently on. Suddenly a certain pine tree caught her eye. She approached it in awe, looking at the luscious branches with a rich beautiful green color reflecting the Sun’s light as if it were the most beautiful tree of all. Max wanted to get her camera out and take a picture of it, but she didn’t want to come off as awkward. She felt the needles gingerly, not wanting to damage the culminating branches. The brunette definitely considered getting her dad to let him check it out.
“Hey, can I help you with anything?” an unanticipated voice asked.
Max jumped, startled by it, turning around to see a girl with a lumberjack flannel, a black winter hooded vest, and a navy-blue beanie on her head with blue hair tied in a short ponytail. A candy cane rested in between her lips.
“Uh… I, I’m looking for a tree,” Max mentally kicked herself for stuttering and sounding dumb.
The girl chuckled, seeming to find it amusing while taking the peppermint stick out of her mouth. “Well, duh, this is a Christmas tree lot. They don’t call us Price Pines for nothing.”
Max laughed nervously with the girl, even though she didn’t find it too funny.
“Anyway, what type of tree you lookin’ for?” the girl asked.
“Not really anything too tall,” Max said.
“Yeah, you don’t seem like the tall tree type, considering your height,” the girl teased.
Max furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance. She didn’t like it when people made fun of how tall she was, but this girl seemed to say it light-heartedly.
“Kidding,” the girl smirked. “We have Christmas trees for almost everyone. My dad takes his job very seriously in order to make every customer happy.”
“Your dad owns this place?” Max asked.
“Yep. William Price, proud owner of Price Pines. Great lumberjack and tree enthusiast. Wants to make every Christmas worth having, and you can’t do it without the perfect tree.”
Max smiled at the girl’s enthusiasm. “So, are you a Price?” Max probably knew that was an obvious question.
“Sure am. I’m Price, Chloe Price. Bang.” She mimicked shooting a gun with her hand.
Max giggled at the motion. “Chloe. I like that name.”
“Might I ask what your’s is? ‘S only fair.” Chloe shrugged.
“Max. Max Caulfield,” the brunette replied.
“Hey, I never met a girl called Max. Guess there’s a first time for everything,” Chloe grinned.
Max smiled. She thought maybe she could make friends with this girl, but it was probably a stretch.
“So, Max,” Chloe said while fiddling with her candy cane, “What kinda tree you want?”
“I was actually looking at that one.” Max pointed to the one she was eyeing earlier. Chloe seemed to be surprised at her choice.
“Who? Bertha?” Chloe asked as if it was a person they were talking about.
“Bertha?” Max asked genuinely befuddled.
“Oh, we have this thing where we name our trees. Kinda my dad’s idea. We do it because in my his eyes every tree is different, they all have their own story to tell. They all have something unique about them. They’re a lot like people, not everyone’s the same, but trees are a lot more valuable.”
“Wow,” Max said in awe. “That was deep. I seriously thought I was the only one who only named their plants.”
Chloe laughed. “No way, that’s so cute.”
“I have one at home named Lisa,” the brunette admitted.
Chloe smiled, seemingly amused at Max’s not-so-weird-anymore secret. “So, you like Bertha. Don’t blame you. She’s my homegirl.”
Max grinned at Chloe’s humor.
“And I’mma let you in on a little secret,” Chloe motioned for Max to get closer so she could whisper. “Don’t tell the other trees I said this, but Bertha’s kinda my favorite. They might get jealous.”
Max giggled. “I won’t say anything,” she promised.
Chloe just chuckled. “But yeah, Bertha, Virginia Pine, four years old, from northern Mississippi, needles about two inches tops, seven feet tall, ‘bout three and a half in width.”
“Damn, you really know your stuff about trees. Do you have to study all of that?”
“Well, I’ve memorized most of it, but yeah. My dad’s even worse, he can name a tree,” Chloe snapped her fingers, “just like that.”
“I guess everyone has interests, and trees are no exception,” Max shrugged.
“Yeah, even though I’ve had bad luck with ‘em. I have a scar on my head from where I fell out of one head first and they had to stitch me back up. Then when I started to get into lumberjacking, I got a lot of cuts and bruises from my axe, and accidentally cut off my finger and it had to be sewn back on. Then I have some permanent damage in my right eye ‘cause I accidentally jabbed myself with a tree branch, that’s about it.”
“God, how are you like, not in the hospital?” Max asked in terror.
“Shit, beats me. I’m just glad I still have all a’ my limbs,” Chloe said.
“Well, I’m glad you’re oka-”
“Max!”
Max was cut short as she saw her father came rushing over to her and Chloe. He had a man with strawberry blonde hair, a Santa hat on, and also a lumberjack flannel, but in jacket form.
“I think I found the perfect tree!” Max’s dad beamed.
“That’s funny ‘cause I found one too,” Max smiled.
“So this is Max. Wow, she has truly grown into a beautiful woman. Got Vanessa’s good looks and your hair,” the man said.
“Woah, woah, Dad, how do you know Max?” Chloe asked.
“That’s your dad?” Max asked.
“Chloe looks pretty too. I know she didn’t get her looks from you,” Max’s dad teased.
“Har, har, Ryan,” William crossed his arms.
“Hey! Can we get some closure?” Max asked irritably.
“Oh yeah, sorry, Max,” Ryan apologized. “This is my old friend William Price, Chloe’s dad, we met in highschool and hung out through till college. That’s when we moved to Seattle, leaving my best friend.”
“Man, you shoulda seen this dude! Long hair, stocky, best football player on the damn team!” William patted Ryan on the back.
“And you were a nerd. Always fascinated with trees, and smart as hell. But you had some muscle on you. I swear I thought you were gay back then,” Ryan laughed.
Chloe tried to contain her laughter as she broke out into howls. “Dad! Ha, I knew someone called you gay in highschool!” she said between breaths.
Even Max was trying to cover her giggles with a hand.
“No one ever called me gay, just in context,” William defended.
“Chloe, it was very shocking to hear he hooked up with your mother. I swear I had an open jaw the whole day. But damn, now look at you. Hulky, actually growing a beard, and no glasses. It’s amazing how time flies,” Ryan said.
“Now here we see our girls talking just like we did when we were young. Damn, I’m sorry for not keeping contact with you,” William admitted.
“It was my fault too. I thought you were goin’ off and getting your Earth and Environmental Science degree and I thought I was going to be a drag.”
“What? Ry, no, you were the one who motivated me. I mean, I got my degree, but I missed you.”
“Hey, to make up for lost time, we hang out sometime. How ‘bout you, Joyce, and Chloe come over to our house for dinner, say this Saturday?” Ryan suggested.
“That sounds great! I think Joyce would like to see you again, plus the girls could get to know each other too!” William smiled.
“Then it’s settled.”
Max and Chloe exchanged looks of confusion yet happiness.
“So, Max, what tree where you talking about?” Ryan asked.
“This one,” Max pointed to Bertha.
“Oh, Bertha? I don’t know, Chloe really loves that tree,” William said nervously.
“I decided to make an exception. Max can have her. Besides, I’ll see her this Saturday,” Chloe smiled.
“Wow, I have never seen Chloe cave like that for someone to buy Bertha. You really had to have made an impression on her,” William said to Max.
“I don’t know, maybe I just cave to cute nerds,” Chloe replied slyly, causing Max to blush.
Ryan looked at Chloe funny, to which her eyes went wide and she scrunched up into her clothes.
“Okay, cool, I can get Bertha tied up and you can pay up front,” William instructed.
“Wait!” Max cried, taking out her camera. “I wanna get a picture before you take her away. Everyone get in the shot!”
William and Ryan posed without hesitation, but Chloe was a bit reluctant.
“You too, Chloe!” Max ordered.
The blue-haired girl finally gave in and posed. Max counted down from three and snapped. The camera made a whirring sound and spit out the photo. The brunette shook it, the picture coming out nicely.
“Hey, that’s a nice photo, Max,” William complimented.
“You’re definitely getting better,” Ryan ruffled her hair.
“Wow, that’s a hella good photo,” Chloe said in awe.
“Thanks,” Max smiled at the lumberjack. “Here’s to new and old friends.”
Bertha was strapped to the Caulfields’ car, and William and Ryan were having their own conversation.
“So, that was an interesting conversation. Can’t believe our dads used to be friends,” Chloe chuckled.
“Yeah, mine never mentioned anything about your’s. Or you for the matter,” Max agreed.
“Maybe it was some sorta fate and destiny they met back in a Christmas tree lot,” Chloe said sarcastically.
“I don’t know. I usually don’t believe in that sort of thing,” Max shrugged.
They were quiet for a few seconds.
“You’re one hell of a photographer, Max,” Chloe spoke up.
“I’m not that good,” Max brushed it off.
“No way, I’ve never seen someone as talented as you. You should seriously consider this as a career,” Chloe insisted.
“Maybe. After I get out of highschool, I’ll think about it a bit more,” the brunette said.
“Don’t wait too long. Otherwise you’ll end up cutting down trees for your father’s business,” Chloe chuckled.
“I don’t think I’m strong enough to even lift an axe,” Max laughed.
“Well, I’m glad Bertha found a new home. She got kinda lonely in the lot. Now I know she’s in good hands,” Chloe smiled.
Max grinned. “Hey, you’ll get to see her Saturday.”
“In that case, I feel like you should give me your number so you can give me updates on how Bertha’s doing.”
“Did you just try to ask for my number?” Max giggled.
“Maybe,” Chloe said slyly.
“Okay, Price, here.” She handed the blue-haired girl her phone. Chloe typed away then handed it back to her. The contact name was “Bertha’s rightful owner.”
“Nice. I guess I’ll see you Saturday?” Max smiled.
“Yeah. Just take care of Bertha for me,” Chloe smiled.
“I will. I promise. She will definitely make a great Christmas tree this year.”
“More like a ChristMax tree this year!”
Max laughed. “Bye, Chloe.”
“Bye, Max.” Chloe waved.
Max got into the car and Ryan said his last goodbyes to William before he did as well. “It was cool I got to see him again. How’d you like Chloe?” Ryan asked.
“She’s unique, but in a good way,” Max smiled.
“That’s what I like to hear, Maximus.” He patted her on the shoulder.
Her phone buzzed. As she checked to see who it was, she grinned when it was labeled “Bertha’s rightful owner.”
CHLOE: Btw, did you get hit with a freckle bomb ‘cause like how many do u have?
Max smiled, typing a response. She was surely going to have a very weird friendship with this girl. But the brunette didn’t care, she was just as weird as the lumberjack, maybe even weirder. Max was looking forward to getting to know this Chloe Price.