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Quiet lingers heavy in the air, the low hum of Chloe’s truck does all but drown out the tense atmosphere. The laces on her boots hung loosely as she gently kicked her feet back and forth. Her ass hurt from sitting in the bed of the truck for this long.
Max leaned herself up against the frame of the patio door, watching Chloe throwing rocks off the cliff side from behind. Her breathing was all manual, anxiously fidgeting with the skin around her fingernails.
At times like these rewinding would be so much easier but she wouldn’t dare.. It’d just make all of these arguments completely futile. Chloe would never admit that she was insecure. And while Max understands insecurities in their entirety, having never grown out of her own. It was still growing tiresome to have to defend herself over and over again.
As she stepped down onto the gravel, Chloe’s hand froze mid throw. Her posture stiffened as the sound of disturbed ground got closer. And once she felt the bed of the truck jiggle, her body slouched.
Neither of them said a word to the other, they could feel each other's presence, but no one spoke. Chloe’s body sat on an angle, she didn’t dare to adjust her position just yet.
Fully aware that if Max had more to say, she would have already started by now, yet her stubbornness still held her back. A small gust of wind blew Chloe’s hair towards Max, the smell of cheap shampoo and smothered cigarettes lingered behind.
The smoker's hair has since faded, long roots covered her scalp, a grungy teal stuck to the bottom. It fell just past her shoulders, the longest it's been since she was 13 years old.
A freckled hand tucked stray hairs behind her ear, sending chills down Chloe's spine. The warmth of her fingertips created a bridge between the two. A small invite. Unsure whether the gesture was unwanted, she let her hand fall back to her side.
Her attention turned towards the water beyond them. Short waves crashed onto the shore, while trees rustled and leaves fell. It took so much convincing before she could get Chloe to agree to settle down.
One day last fall, Max had asked Chloe if she would at least be willing to go look at houses.They were so used to apartments and rentals, nothing was ever permanent. Max wanted something permanent.
The two had spent an entire day looking at houses, nothing stood out to either of them, they were too modern and altogether too expensive. It wasn’t until they were ready to call it quits that Max mnaged to convince a very grumpy Chloe to look at just one more.
They were moved into this place by the end of the month.
An orange glow casted itself onto the water, the waves calming down into a soft lull. Chloe looked down at her lap to a pile of assorted rocks, she shoved them off in one full motion. The stones fell to the ground with various thuds, brushing the rest of the chalky residue off her pants.
Scooching her body closer to Max, she accepted that invitation, crossed the bridge that she had so generously built. Even if she was the one who started the argument. The gap closed between them, their thighs touching between the fabric of their jeans.
Max’s demeanor changed, the stiffness she felt throughout her core loosened. A refreshing gust of air blew her bangs across her forehead, letting out a sigh of relief. It's funny how one small gesture can alleviate someone's anxieties. A thoughtful hand on the thigh, or rubbing the small of your back.
Their eyes met at the same time, both girls scanning the other’s expression. Gentle blinks, neither one willing to drop the other's gaze. Chloe's creases softened into pale white lines as her frustration disappeared.
No longer focused on whatever she was mad about before. It’s hard to stay mad when the kindest face is mere inches away from your own. Was she still upset? Maybe. Did she care right now? Not at all.
She ducked her head, letting out a huffed breath of air. Embarrassed that Max was the one to come make amends, despite Chloe being the one to start the conflict. A tender hand cupped her cheek, bringing her face back to meet Max’s gaze. Chloe offered a small smile, though her expression was strained.
Before she knew it their bodies were blending together. Max sank into Chloe, holding her tightly, feeling the rise and fall of her lungs. Chloe’s arms hovered over top of her girlfriend’s body. A calm rushed over her, the pounding in her chest slowly dissipating. This girl…
Once again, this gesture served as another bridge, another invitation to reassure her that things were okay. They will be okay. Arguments like these used to happen so often. At a certain point in time Max thought she would never be able to prove herself to Chloe. Make her trust that she wouldn't mess with her head.
For Max it was hard not to live in the past. Holding the weight of every bad thing that happened to Chloe on her shoulders, and hers alone. Not to mention an entire town. It was a heavy weight to bear.
For Chloe, she was entirely focused on moving forward, that she couldn’t understand why Max was so stuck. They struggled for a while, at times the two even spent weeks apart after some arguments.
Over the years they learned ways around it. They grew, and learned how to manage. But all couples argue eventually.
Chloe gave into the hug, slinking her arm around Max, her other hand met with a fistful of brown hair. Twirling strands around her fingers, turning everything into a tangled mess. A short, yet relieved huff escaped her mouth.
Warm fingertips slithered their way into Chloe’s shirt, tracing her spine. Shivers filled her body as it curled inwards. She was super ticklish. Her skin was sensitive to the heat and the tenderness of her touch. She snuck her hands under Max’s chin, lifting her head so that their eyes could meet.
Hot breath bounced back and forth between them as the shorter one smiled.
That smile.
Sweet and savoury all at once. A trace of mischief lined her lips. It felt impossible for her to look away. Both of their eyes danced around the other's face, waiting for either of them to make a move.
Chloe's thumb rubbed slow circles into her cheek, completely in sync with Max’s hands, still sneaking around her back. She had spent many mornings tracing the freckles on her face, studying the largest ones and the formations they would make. She was no stranger to this face, Chloe loved this face.
Their foreheads collided, eyes shutting gently. The tips of their noses squished together before their lips could finally meet. Finally tasting that sweet and savoury smile.
Chloe moved her hands to Max’s legs, pulling her up onto her lap. Never breaking their kiss. She could feel her smile as their lips continued. Hands climbing further up her back, loving every ounce of warmth she could get.
They both knew what the other was trying to say, and without uttering a single word.
A cool air danced around the girls, the sun was starting to set and the water continued to die down. A quiet evening, perfect for forgiveness.
Gradually their lips parted. Chloe leaned back into the bed of her truck, pulling Max down with her. A giggle managed its way out of her mouth, stuffing her face into Chloe’s chest.
She traced a hand across her forehead, pushing stray hairs out of the way. Pushing herself up, she gave Chloe a small peck on the cheek before curling back up into her.
A longer, more content sigh was let out. She took Max’s hand into her own, lacing fingers together. Rocking their hands back and forth she smiled, seriously… why was she mad again?