Chapter Text
The week had been a whirlwind for Chloe and the band. They kept rescheduling shows and, every now and then, escaping from fans. RUBIK was on its second tour, and people were starting to talk. One of their biggest hits had been featured in a popular TV series. It was a lucky break. Warren had helped her land that opportunity. Chloe owed him one, but she preferred to thank him over the phone rather than risk him wanting to see Max. She still suspected his intentions (surely he was looking for an excuse to reconnect with Max), but she couldn’t afford to snub him either. He had given the band a real push forward.
At last, one of her bands was tasting success. Fans were asking for autographs, tours were getting longer, and they even managed to open for a British rock band. They felt like they were only climbing higher, so they started throwing out silly suggestions. Chloe wasn’t about to accept all that nonsense at once. Seasonal fruit? Since when did they think she was their genie in a lamp? They had just gotten lucky.
That was all.
"Chloe," Max called, climbing onto the tour bus. "You won’t believe what I found at the record store."
"Vinyls?"
"Ta-dah!"
The record was by Not-Colors, Steph’s new band.
Through Izzie, Chloe had heard that Steph had formed another all-girl band, four members this time. Chloe flipped through the record and saw that Izzie was composing with her again.
She had had disagreements with Izzie over recruiting new members. Izzie prioritized total control of the music, and that ended up exhausting everyone who joined the band. In the end, Chloe grew tired of her being even bossier than herself and walked away.
It had been the best decision.
RUBIK, her current band, was more flexible. They liked challenges, had fun songs and others with that melancholic tone Max loved so much. It was easier to work with them because they were more committed to becoming famous, and as much as Chloe sometimes hated their bragging about being celebrities, they probably were. The girls leaving school with patches of the band’s logo were proof of that.
“Wow. Bold choice of name, considering my band,” Chloe said.
“You think they did it on purpose?” Max asked as Chloe handed the record back.
“Oh, totally. I’m sure they lie awake at night thinking about me,” Chloe scoffed. “Whatever. I don’t have time for fake drama. If they were gonna go with colors, they could’ve at least picked one. Guess even that was too much to ask.”
Max looked at the members of RUBIK. There were three: Jenny, the vocalist; Aria, the guitarist; and Chris, the drummer. The three complemented each other well and carried that rebellious air, with punk clothes, tattoos, a piercing here and there, and complete admiration for Chloe, who was like the older sister they never had. They all got along very well. And best of all, they were big fans of their relationship, so Max had no problem with Chloe going on tour for weeks at a time, because she knew Chloe was always thinking of her.
She had carved out time to spend the whole week with Chloe, since the next date was in Arcadia Bay, and they had already promised Joyce they would visit her.
Max sat with the band and smiled as they talked nonstop, interrupting each other and teasing because they all wanted to tell her everything that had happened during the tour. Max let out a small laugh. They were so childish sometimes, and all of them were pushing 28. If anyone thought nearing 30 was a sign of maturity, they were wrong. Chloe was three years older. She tried to act mature in front of them, but when they were alone, her ideas were just as wild as when they were kids playing pirates.
Suddenly, Max saw a photo pop up on Aria’s phone as a message. When Aria opened it, she stood up and went outside to talk.
"Whoa, what’s she up to?" Jen said.
"Aria said they’re finally going to meet," Chris added.
Max frowned and looked at Chloe, but she wasn’t paying attention to the conversation. Chloe was caught up in her own problem, talking to the producer.
Max’s instinct told her she couldn’t leave the story unfinished. So she made an excuse and went to listen in on the phone call.
"I’ll see you tonight," Aria said. "And don’t worry, there’s no way they can pull it off."
What kind of conversation is that?
Should I rewind?
"Max," Chloe called. "I’ve got something to show you. Come on." She held out her hand for Max to take.
In the parking lot, they stopped in front of a brand-new car. Her old truck had been replaced by a sleek black sedan.
"It’s completely new. What do you think?"
"It’s… nice."
"Didn’t expect that answer."
"Why did you change it? What happened to the truck?"
"The engine gave out. It couldn’t take it anymore. It’s still at the shop, but I needed something to get around."
They both hated the idea, but Chloe thought they’d look more professional with a vehicle like that. Still, she wasn’t about to let the truck die.
"If you want both, keep both," Max said.
"Is that permission for polyamory? Ooh là là..."
"What? That’s not what we’re talking about."
"Max?" Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Did you just blush?"
"It’s not funny."
"It’s a little funny."
"No. And… I’m not going to share you."
"Relax, there’s no competition." She smiled. "I don’t plan on sharing you either."
"Really? Because I haven’t felt very loved lately."
"This damn tour is almost over, and then we’ll go back to how things were," Chloe said, pulling her closer by the waist.
"It’s been a while since we…"
"Ohh," Chloe interrupted. "So that’s it. You came early because you missed me."
"Not like that—well…" Max avoided her gaze. "Maybe I did."
Chloe let out a low laugh.
"Okay, got it. I’ll make time. Tomorrow. Date. I pick the place."
"Should I risk it?"
"Always."
Max smiled just as Chloe did and took the chance to snap a photo of her as she stood beside the new car.
"It’s better if it’s a surprise. Trust me, it’s totally worth it. I’m an expert on the area."
"Uh-huh. Like when there was ‘no lagoon’?"
"Hey, it wasn’t visible."
"You killed the truck."
"Maybe… I pushed it a little too hard. And you saved it with your powers."
"Chloe."
"Okay, we’re not going there again."
The two of them ended up laughing together.
At night, in the theater, the stage was set, and everyone was getting ready to rock.
Max looked around. A shiver ran down her spine. Something didn’t feel right.
Chloe wrapped an arm around her, proud of her own work. The RUBIK concert was about to begin. For now, an indie band was opening, and they were pretty good. Chloe even considered representing them. Then she glanced at Max and realized that the more bands she managed, the less time she’d have for them. Her chest tightened at the idea. She missed her too, but she wasn’t very good at saying it. She just assumed Max understood all those hints and that constant need for attention whenever she was close. Chloe reached for her hand lacing their fingers together. She felt selfish, not wanting to lose sight of her after weeks apart. She wanted tomorrow to come, so they could spend more time together and love each other madly, the way they deserved.
Suddenly, a man started causing a commotion backstage. Chloe rushed over, and then saw him holding a gun, pointing it at her bandmates. Max followed right behind.
"What the hell?" she exclaimed at the scene.
"I won’t allow it!" the man shouted.
Aria and a girl Max had never seen before were standing behind him, the gun aimed at them.
"Melissa, stay away from her!" the man yelled again.
The girl screamed in denial, fear in her eyes. Aria stepped in front of her protectively.
"You’re the one who needs to leave," Aria shouted back.
"Stay away from her!" he insisted, threatening.
"Give me that damn gun!" Chloe jumped forward.
The gun went off, and Chloe’s stomach filled with blood.
"No, Chloe!" Max cried, and rewound time.
It wasn’t enough.
"I won’t allow it!" the man shouted again.
The girls were once more in his sights.
"Melissa, stay away from her!" he repeated.
"You’re the one who needs to leave," Aria said again.
"Stay away from her!" he insisted.
Max held Chloe back, and the man fired at the two girls.
"Aria!" everyone screamed.
Chloe rushed to the wounded girls, but the man shot at her too, then turned the gun on himself.
She couldn’t rewind that far…
The power wasn’t working. She couldn’t rewind.
No, Chloe…
No…
No!
She grabbed the photograph from that afternoon. The one she took of Chloe standing beside the car.
Right when Chloe had been convincing her to go on a date.