Chapter Text
“Someday we will foresee obstacles. Through the blizzard, through the blizzard”
Max’s quiet airy voice faded out and the familiar riff rolled from fingers and rung from strings. Chloe wondered how she ever lived without Max and her guitar. The sweet dulcet tone that they both shared gave life to parts of Chloe that had been dead for years. She never knew how meaningful those songs had been before she heard Max sing them. The sun shone in different ways than it had, the screams that lived in the silence had disappeared and life had lost its bitter taste. At least, it was heading that way but Rome wasn’t built in a day, Chloe reminded herself.
The musical refrain came to an end, as all good things do, and the room once again became silent.
“Beautiful.” Chloe said.
“Thanks.” Max said as she packed away her guitar, looking away.
Max had been avoiding eye contact in moments like these for a while now. Chloe had as well, she supposed. Lately, she couldn’t bear to meet her doe-like eyes. They held too many memories, both good and bad but Chloe was habitually blind to the good side of life.
“So…what’s on the schedule?” Chloe asked.
“I think Kate mentioned something about hanging out with some of the girls later. We could do that?”
Chloe knew what she wanted to say but bit her tongue. Don’t rock the boat, Chloe reminded herself.
“Or…is that totally lame? I know you don’t know them that well but I just thought…” Max trailed off.
Chloe had noticed the edges of Max’s fingernails had grown more and more frayed.
“Whatever.” Tongue bitten “I mean, sure, let’s do that.”
Max gave Chloe a look. One she had seen much too often in the eyes of her mother.
“Talk to me, Chlo.”
Chloe took a moment to feel the texture of the carpet she was sitting on.
“It’s just, I know I’ll have to get to know your friends at some point but I think we both know how it’s gonna go.”
Max’s face changed to something pitiful. Something hurtful.
“I do know how it’s gonna go. They are going to love you.”
“And how do you know they are going to love me?”
Max got up from her seat and placed herself to Chloe on the floor.
“Because I do.” Max said with a smile as she put her hand over Chloe’s, whose face lit up at the words.
“Besides, you’re adorable when you get all shy.”
“Fuck you!” Chloe said as she pushed Max away.
“No really, they’re totally gonna love how ridiculously nerdy you are with Science Fiction.”
“Maxine, heed my words: This will end poorly for you.”
“Okay, fine.”
Max sat back and looked out the window. The light shone through the glass, the slightly foggy windows giving it a soft gleam. She looked at Chloe and smiled, then she turned her gaze away.
“They’re gonna love how you cry at Chick Flicks.” She quickly muttered under her breath.
“That’s it!” Chloe said as she lunged at Max, knocking her down.
Entangled limbs and clumsy improvised choreography. Labored breaths and choking laughter.
“And how you can recite the periodic table form memory!”
“Yeah? At least I don’t have a shit GPA.”
Chloe finally managed to pin Max down, straddling her.
“Hey,” Max protested. “2.8 is respectable. Not everyone is a Grade A dork with chemistry!”
“If you need a tutor—“
“Oh right! Because you totally don’t distract me from studying. Every. Day.”
“I could change my ways. All I need is a little incentive.”
“Do…do you have something in mind?”
Chloe’s face gained the comforting sense of mischief that Max knew so well.
“Could we possibly get you an over-sized lollipop?”
Max groaned in contempt.
“And a hat with a propeller! Or a dunce-cap!” Chloe continued.
Chloe’s laughter filled the room.
“I almost thought you were going to ask me to dress up in a schoolgirl uniform.”
Chloe suddenly stopped laughing and looked at Max.
“Wait, that was an option? Okay, do-over! Do-over!” She said while shaking Max’s still arms forcefully.
“I’ll do whatever you want if you just calm down.”
Chloe restrained herself long enough for Max to gather her thoughts. She sat up slightly, as much as Chloe’s form would allow.
“God, you’re like a kid on crack sometimes, Chloe.”
“I’m a shady stoner with a lady-boner!” Chloe said, lifting her arms off Max for a second. “Or a lush with a crush! Or—”
Max suddenly raised herself all the way up and barely caught Chloe’s bottom lip in an awkward kiss that lasted only a second. But it was enough. Chloe broke into a grin.
“Dork.”
She let the weight of her body pull her down. Then, she realized that she was nowhere near Max’s face. She awkwardly repositioned her legs, then her arms, and suddenly she was inches from it. Something dawned on her then. She realized that she felt comfortable looking her in the eyes. All of the sudden, it felt right.
“Hey.” Chloe said.
“Hey.” Max replied with a goofy smile.
Chloe had enough of waiting. She let herself sink the rest of the way, her lips finding Max’s in an instant.