Chloe's eyes hurt. 

It had been two days and classes were starting up again, leaving her in limited communication with Max and Rachel. She had been tasked with doing digging, pulling information and seeing if she can find things that Max could use to piece together a location. 

The rest of the document had been filled with cryptic clues, non-sequiturs, and information that led nowhere. However, one bit of information did lead somewhere. In the picture of Rachel, Chloe had noticed that there was a bit of mail. It was blurry but Chloe had been able to find an address, where Mark Jefferson lived. 

She used google maps to scope out and found nothing, it was seemingly non-existent. She even typed it into her phone and it led a to a middle of a forest then stopped, completely in the dead of nowhere.

"God, if I was a hella socio-psychopath teacher what the fuck would this shit mean to me? It's not an address yet its written like one." Chloe said out loud, thinking before she slammed her fist onto the desk in frustration, "Fuck! Why does the universe love to shit on me? I didn't fucking sign up for your fucking puzzle!" Puzzle! Chloe snapped her eyes up suddenly, overcome with a sudden thought. "If I was a socio-psychopath creep teacher I wouldn't just leave shit in plain sight, I'd have people send me shit in code or something. Hell yeah, now we're onto something!" It was farfetched but the artist was desperate, Chloe turned back to the address and squinted at it hard. There had to be more, this couldn't be yet another thing that led nowhere. She let out a groan, her head hurt from squinting too hard. She leaned back and rubbed her temples. 

The bluenette stood and stretched her aching body and looked up, hearing her phone ring. She answered it sighed.

"Yo Maximus." She said.

"Actually, it's not." She blinked, not expecting to hear Rachel's voice, "My phone died and Max went to shower. But she wants us to meet up again, think you can come to get us?" 

"Sure. Be there in a little bit."

"Thanks, Priceless." Rachel said before she hung up.

Chloe frowned, nicknames between her and Rachel were becoming sparse but then again, their friendship was on its hinges. 

No, she didn't want to think about that right now. There was a maniacal asshole on the loose and it was up to her to find something to pin him down. 

She stood and grabbed her keys, locking her door and making her way to her truck.

Rachel

The blonde sighed, rubbing her eyes. Classes and playing CSI Arcadia Bay was taking its toll on her, and Max has evident by the bags under her eyes, but they were surviving. Even if Rachel was persevering through sheer willpower alone, she was determined to take down Mark. She wanted that terrible chapter of her life to end, she wanted to be able to sleep in the dorms without fear, she wanted to stop hearing his groans and laugh in her ears when she slept. 

"Rachel?" The blonde looked up, smiling at Max. The hipster's hair was wet and she was now wearing a purple and black flannel and some regular jeans. "Did you remember anything else from where you were taken?"

Rachel shrugged, "His house, I think. I don't know, my mind tries to destroy the memories of it so much, it's foggy." The blonde had been trying to come up with something more concrete but she didn't want to remember that day, despite it being imperative that she did.

"It's okay. I understand how hard it must be to think about." Max smiled at her and Rachel's heart did a flip.

"Max.." She began, her mouth feeling dry.

"Hm?" Was the relaxed response.

"Why did you kiss me?" Almost immediately, Rachel regretted asking such a thing. Max's eyes widened in surprise, then her brow furrowed and a small frown was fixed onto her face. "Sorry, I just.. wanted to know." Rachel tried to take it back, her mind echoing with the fact that it was stupidity like this that ruined things between her and Chloe. They could have been something more had she not-

"Rach, stop thinking so much." She looked at the photographer guiltily and Max smiled. "I kissed you because I didn't know what else to do. You were freaking out and.. and I completely spaced. My mind completely blanked out and I was hella scared." Max shifted from foot to foot, "I've always seen you as this force that couldn't be broken, it was scary to see you in such an awful state. You're a physically inclined person, you're always touching me or Chloe, I figured that something like a kiss would get you to calm down and ground you." The hipster looked at the blonde shyly, her face turning red. "I was right."

Rachel blinked, staring at the hipster with a concealed look before she rose to her feet. Max looked at her nervously, her hand twitching in the way it did to prove that she was nervous and she took an unconscious step back. 

Rachel softened her look and Max visibly relaxed as the aspiring model closed the distance between them and wrapped Max into a tight hug. Vanilla invaded her senses and mind, coiling her brain with warmth. Her heart was pounding, she hoped the hipster couldn't hear or feel it. 

She didn't want to ruin this, she couldn't ruin this. 

She pulled her face away and Max tilted her chin up, looking into Rachel's eyes. 

They were so close, simply staring into each other's eyes. Hazel gold-flecked eyes stared into a baby blue sky, leaving Rachel breathless. Max was so considerate, so understanding, so kind. Despite Rachel's overwhelming issues and terrible vices, she never ridiculed the blonde, never ran away. She was like an ancient oak tree, like the one on campus that's been there since the school opened in 1910. Where ever she was, she stayed there, deeply rooted and like a force that could not be broken. 

Rachel was undeniably in love with her and that terrified her. She couldn't hurt Max the way she hurt Chloe, she wouldn't let herself do it. 

She was leaning forward, her body moving on its own accord, her nose brushed against the brunettes. She paused, her eyes flicking towards Max's lips and back up to her eyes, Max noticed the movement and a tremor went through Rachel as the hipster bit her lip in anticipation. 

"Max.." Rachel's voice was barely above a whisper, "Do," Rachel swallowed the thick lump in her throat, "Did you mean it? When you said that it was possible to be in love with two people at once?"

The photographer blinked as if she hadn't expected the question to be asked and Rachel wished she could deny the thrill that went through her as she hoped Max was imagining kissing Rachel rather than the blonde asking her a question when they were this close.

"Ye-Yeah, I mean.." Max furrowed her brow in the adorable way she did when she was confused, tilting her head slightly. "I don't see why not? Why?" The brunette looked into Rachel's eyes, her soul completely open. 

So fragile, Max reminded Rachel of a snowglobe, like the one that Chloe had in her closet. Pretty to look at but one mistake, a strike of the slightest clumsiness, and Max would shatter. 

Rachel let out a slow breath and leaned in, their lips almost touching. 

"Because I think I lo..." 

Rattle

The two girls jumped apart, as the door creaked open. 

"Sorry I took so long, fucking hella traffic. Why does everyone think right now is the best time to go get groceries?" Chloe grumbled as she walked into the room. 

Rachel's heart was pounding, she almost kissed Max again- no fuck that. She almost just confessed her love to Max! Chloe's best friend. The girl the punk was in love with! She looked at the punk with wide eyes, unable to hide her panic.

The dropout blinked, looking between the two girls in confusion. "What? Why are you both staring at me like I walked into some secret CIA meeting? Is the FBI hiding in your closet Rach?" The punk tossed a crooked smile towards the blonde that reciprocated the gesture half-heartedly.

"Like hell they are," Rachel said, trying to calm her heartbeat and regain her composure. Damn, Max was super bad for her. Ten minutes and Rachel's mask and guard was useless against the hipster.  "besides, so what if they were? That's like, hella classified information." Rachel smiled, falling into her regular snark and grace again. She tossed a wink towards Chloe, "Though, I suppose if you do a blood pact with me I could let you in on what I and Max were discussing." 

Max let out a choke and Rachel smirked, knowing full well that the hipster had caught onto her insinuation. 

"Sorry Rach, not my time of month." Chloe said, grinning. "Talk to me in like, six weeks."

"Oh dog, ew Chloe." Max said, pulling a face. 

The punk laughed, "What, easiest way to get blood right?"

"Canceled." Max said, "You are canceled." 

Rachel let out an amused snort as the two began to banter back and forth as Max tossed on her shoes and follow the punk out. The blonde lagged behind, taking in the scene.

Chloe was grinning, her brow raised as she egged Max on. Her eyes and face were relaxed, she looked genuinely happy. And Max, Max looked adorable as fucking always. Her nose scrunched up in slight annoyance, a smile on her face and giving the blunette a false glare. It was almost comical how unaware the two were of their obvious attraction to one another. Especially considering that Chloe had slipped her hand into Max's without a second thought or delay. 

Rachel paused at the steps leading towards the student parking lot, frowning.

And she almost kissed Max. She wished that she could ignore the jealousy that festered in her stomach at the sight of Max and Chloe so happy together. She wished she could be in the picture too, she wished she could slip her hands in Chloe's and Max's and glow in the affectionate gazes she might receive.

Wait what?

Rachel did a raincheck, because what the hell? 

And then she sighed, because as much as she wished it wasn't she knew it was true. 

She still loved Chloe, with all her heart and soul.

But now Max was part of that equation too.

"Rachel, you coming?" Max's small voice made her look up. The photographer was concerned, it was written all over her freckled face. She noticed the shift in Rachel's atmosphere.

The blonde wanted to cry or scream but she only offered a tiny smile.

"Yeah, I'm coming." She said, following Max to the truck.

Things just got even more complicated in Rachelville.

Chloe

Her slender fingers tapped to the beat of the Firewalk song. She glanced beside her, her eyes scoring over Max for no reason in particular other than wanting to look at her. Then her eyes drifted over to Rachel.

Even with their walk-on-eggshell relationship, Rachel normally would be jamming to Firewalk. But, right now she was looking out the window, refusing to make eye contact with Chloe or even Max. She had her elbow propped on the side of the car, her palm holding her chin. Something was wrong, Chloe could feel it in her bones but she didn't have the energy to fight with Rachel, especially in front of Max. 

So she put her eyes back onto the road, singing along with the lyrics. She wasn't a particularly good singer, but she liked to think she didn't totally suck either. She pulled into her parking spot and parked, flicking the engine off and hopped out of the truck.

Soon, the three girls were in Chloe's room, sitting on her bed with snacks, Chloe's laptop, Max's laptop, and a notebook. 

"CSI Arcadia Bay, hella yes." the dropout cracked her knuckles, "I guess we'll just discuss what we've uncovered?"

"Sure." Max said, looking at Rachel.

The blonde was staring at her feet. She felt the eyes of the two girls on her and snapped her head up, "Huh?" She asked, blinking in confusion.

Chloe frowned, "I said we'll discuss what we've uncovered?" She said, raising a brow.

Rachel looked confused for a split second before it seemed to dawn on her. "Oh, yeah. Uh," She fumbled around before Max handed her notebook to her. "thanks." The blonde took the notebook and smiled at Max.

Max smiled back and the two locked eyes for a second before Rachel looked at Chloe.

Chloe narrowed her eyes, she hadn't missed that contact. What exactly were they discussing before she had gotten there? She could just ask but she'd have to come up with some smoother way than just demanding an answer. As much as she loved verbally abusing people in submission, she wasn't fifteen anymore. And it wouldn't work on Rachel and she didn't have to the heart to do it to Max.

Rachel flipped through a few pages before she sighed. "I wrote down all I remember of the location he took me too." She frowned, "I remember thinking it was weird though because he took me in the complete opposite direction of his house. Everyone knows where Jefferson lives, or at least they should. His address got leaked soon after he came to teach." Rachel explained, making a confused looking Max nod. "I didn't ask him about it, I trusted him." Rachel's voice turned bitter, "We drove to this shady warehouse in a shady part of town. That's where we did the photo shoot." 

"So if we find this warehouse, we could find more answers." Chloe said, her mind working.

"Bingo." Max said nodding. "Do you remember there being a camera?"

Rachel thought hard about it, "No, it was super drafty and pretty empty. Mark said it was an old greenhouse, amazing lighting." As much as the aspiring model hated Mark, she couldn't deny his eye for good picture locations. "But, there was a code. To open the door."

"Do you remember the numbers?" Max asked.

Rachel shook her head, "No, he blocked my view. There was some equipment in the greenhouse, a canvas, and some lights." 

Chloe clicked her tongue, "Well that gives us more than what I got." She said, "A place to start, maybe that'll crack the code I'm working on." 

Max looked at the delinquent, "What do you mean code?"

"In the.. In the picture of Rachel." Chloe swallowed down disgust, "There was an envelope, at first I thought it would be an address but it leads nowhere, just some part of the woods." Chloe said, "So I thought to myself if I was some asshole perverted teacher, what would I do with my mail? It looked pretty important, so I thought maybe it'd be a code but I have nothing other than that."

Max sighed, "Alright, we'll explore the greenhouse tonight, but we need to get that code."

Rachel furrowed her brow, "I don't know who would know it." She said, "I'm sorry Max."

"It's not your fault Rachel." The hipster reassured her.

"Yeah, don't sweat it Rach." Chloe piped in, getting a weird feeling from the apology. Was Rachel apologizing simply for not knowing a passcode or was there something that Chloe didn't know? 

Gah! To hell with this bullshit. Chloe thought, "What were you two talking about before I got there?" She asked, more roughly than she wanted to.

Rachel and Max froze and looked at Chloe with deer in the headlight stares. Rachel recovered first, because of course, she did, "We were actually discussing the other victims." 

Chloe rose a brow, staring into Rachel's eye with a flinty stare. "You were, were you?" She replied.

Rachel nodded, "Yeah."

"And why?" Something about this felt fishy, Chloe's gut was screaming that Rachel was lying but catching Rachel in a lie was almost impossible.

Unless you were Chloe Price.

Rachel rose a brow, "Because maybe they know more than we do about the situation. Like Nathan, he outright told Max that he knew more about Jefferson than Max did."

Using information all of them knew, if they were truly talking about the victims then they must have come up with something.

"Alright, so what do you got?" She asked.

"What?" Rachel looked confused.

"About the victims, what did you come up with?" Chloe narrowed her eyes at Rachel.

The blonde shifted, "Nothing, we both came up blank."

"Convenient." 

Rachel let out a small huff, "What the fuck do you want Chloe?" She snapped, "I don't have all the answers you want."

Chloe growled, "I think you're feeding me bullshit, yet a-fucking-gain. God, can't you just tell me the truth for once?" She spat, feeling bad as Rachel flinched.

"Guys, can you not?" Max tried but Rachel was already retaliating.

"Alright, so we weren't talking about the other victims, so what? We were just talking, about stuff that maybe I don't want you to know." She looked away and Chloe blinked.

Rachel was hiding stuff from her now? 

Was that really what their relationship had come down to?

"Chloe." The tattoo artist looked at Max. The hipster was looking at her desperately, "Please, can we focus on the task right now? Unless you both are ready to finally talk to each other." 

Chloe's mouth felt dry, she didn't want to talk, not with Max here. Something about this fight, the quarrel that Rachel and she were in, it was something that Chloe didn't want Max to be exposed to.

"Fine. I can drop it." Rachel said, wrapping her arms around herself. "We can talk about shit later."

Chloe bit back a snarky 'You said that last time and then you slept with my drug dealer' and forced herself to nod. "Sure." She said coolly.

Max

The hipster looked between the two girls. 

She felt conflicted. 

On one hand, she knew that what Rachel did to Chloe major fucked up Rachel mentally and that the blonde tortured herself on the reg about it.

On the other, she understood that it fucked with Chloe even more, that the blunette would blame herself because that was in Chloe's nature. To blame herself for other's mistakes. 

She wondered if Chloe blamed herself for Max leaving.

She stopped wondering. 

A tense silence lay thick between the three, both Rachel and Chloe were avoiding each other and Max's eyes. The hipster was finally getting fed up when her phone rang.

She opened it, blinking in shock.

"Warran wants me to meet him." She announced, "He said it's important."

"Prolly wants a piece of the Caulfield." Chloe teased, "Have any condoms?"

"Oh dog, ew Chloe!" Max shoved her, "I'm about as sexually active as a sea-sponge, no I don't carry around condoms." She rolled her eyes. "I'd bet you do though."

Chloe puffed up, "What's that suppose to mean?"

"You a virgin Chlo?" Max shot back.

"Hell no!" Chloe said indignantly, "I'm a hella sex god, I lost my v-card in sophomore year." 

"Dunno if that's something to be proud of." Rachel said softly.

"Probably not, but add it to the list of fucked up things I've done." Chloe said with a shrug, then she thought for a second. "And no, I don't carry condoms."

"That's a shock-"

"I carry dental dams." Chloe winked and Max's heart stopped.

The hipster choked on her spit and she broke out into a coughing fit, her face burning. The photographer glared at Chloe, her airways reopening up causing her to breathe heavily for a moment. 

"You're a jerk." She said lamely, her mind not quite functioning to yield a snarky reply. "You hella suck."

"Yes, I do." Chloe purred, making Max choke again. She stood up hastily, trying to ignore Chloe's raucous laughter and, with as much dignity as she had left, uttered.

"I'm leaving." So not the most dignified response, but it was the best Max had to offer. She turned and walked out of the dorm, hoping that Chloe and Rachel got along long enough so she could talk to Warran about whatever he needed to talk about. 

She navigated her way outside and sighed. She wished that Chloe's comment didn't get under her skin but she couldn't deny that they left her with morbid and heated curiosity. Of course, her mind, while not pervy, was having a field day with the punks insinuations. 

An experienced mouth trailed it's way down Max's stomach, making the hipster squirm. She heard a low chuckle and she looked down in annoyance, ready to retort. Her breath caught in her throat, half-lidded blue eyes were looking up at her, teasing and full of lust.

"Something wrong Max?" Oh god, was Chloe's voice always that deep? Would it be that deep in this circumstance? 

"N-No." Max responded, her voice watery. 

"Max?" Chloe repeated.

"No." Max said little stronger.

"MAX!"

"Huh?" The daydream faded but the heat that Max felt in her lower stomach didn't. She looked around and saw Victoria glaring at her. "W-What?" She asked, her face turning red. Of course, it would have to be Victoria.

Green eyes studied her with contempt, "Move. I want to go back to my dorm." She ordered, "You should pick your times to have wet dreams, hippy."

A blush was a permanent feature on Max apparently, how could she have forgotten to mark 'Be a dick to Max Caulfield day' on her calendar? 

"Oh god, I was joking." Victoria gave a dry laugh, "Let me guess, it was about that loud blue-haired dropout?"

"Leave her alone." Max grumbled, moving out of the doorway, "I moved, you can leave me alone now." She hadn't even fought Victoria's accusation.

The prep eyed her for a few moments before she let out a rough sigh, "I've never seen her act the way she did with you that day. Not even Rachel has her that wrapped around her finger." 

Max didn't even look up, "Oh?" Why was Victoria even bothering talking to her, she's never before.

"Those two were always causing trouble with each other but never once did I see Chloe go soft on Rachel." Victoria went on. Max was getting impatient, why did she care what Rachel and Chloe used to get up too? 

Am I jealous? Max thought humorously. 

"In fact, I don't think I've ever seen Chloe go soft with anyone." 

"So what?" Max snapped, "Chloe isn't this... worthless delinquent that everyone thinks she is." Max growled, "She's super sweet and hella smart, especially with science." 

Victoria blinked, not expecting the outburst before a small smirk snaked its way on her face but it was softer, not as sharp or condescending. "She likes you, you know."

That made her do a raincheck, "What?" Max asked, not quite understanding.

Victoria gave an impatient huff, "It's obvious, at least it is to anyone who isn't you." She crossed her arms, "That smile, that look in her eye, that softness in her face, that isn't a look you give to a 'best friend' or whatever you two call each other. That was a look of pure adoration and love." The prep eyed her nails, "It's cute. Kind of." She reached for the dorm doors and opened it, "Open your eyes, Caulfield. You make this being nice thing hard."

"Why are you even being nice to me?" Max asked, focusing on that rather than trying to wrap her head around the fact that Chloe might be in love with her. 

Victoria's demeanor changed, she was almost timid yet her voice was sharp. "A friend told me I should try it."

"Kate?" Victoria tensed slightly before she relaxed.

"Yeah. Katie." 

Katie? Victoria was giving Kate Marsh endearing nicknames? 

"Don't look so shocked." Sarcasm dripped off of Victoria's voice, "She's been kind."

Max was faced with two options but one wasn't even a choice now. Victoria was a dick to her but now she was helping Max, even if it was in a rough and annoyed fashion of doing so. "She really likes you," even if Max was oblivious to peoples feelings about her, Kate's crush on Victoria was glaringly obvious. "don't hurt her." There was a hint of a threat in the hipster's voice and Victoria caught on because she looked back at Max, opening the dorm doors.

"Wouldn't dream of it." She said tersely but there was a something genuine to it, a promise.

Max watched the door close behind Victoria and sighed.

Chloe loves me? 

Oh thanks, brain, just gonna jump straight to that route are we?

Chloe loves me?

Max let out a groan and rushed down the stairs, when did she get so gay? She let out a rough sigh and paused, looking around.

Warren told her to meet at one of the tables but he was nowhere around. She let out another sigh and grabbed her phone when a hand grabbed her wrist. 

With a yelp, she turned, and ripped away from the hand, her eyes wide in alarm.

Nathan Prescott was standing there, his eyes wide with surprise. 

"Don't punch me." He said, holding his hands up in surrender, "I come on Warrens behalf."

Max narrowed her eyes, "You hang out with Warren?" She asked dubiously, not quite believing it.

Nathan shoved his hands in his pocket, "He doesn't deal with my bullshit and he believes in me. No one else here does." He looked around with slight aggression before he turned back to Max. "Don't be so shocked, I didn't believe it when I saw Chloe go soft on you. No way a stupid hipster would ever hang out with some drop out like her, I thought to myself, turns out I was wrong. You're not stupid and Chloe is-" Nathan hesitated, "I don't know what Chloe is but she's.." He trailed trying to come up with a word.

"Wild?" Max suggested, believing Nathan just a bit more.

"I guess." Nathan pulled out his hands and cracked his knuckles, not in a threatening gesture but a nervous one. "Anyway, Warren doesn't even remember sending that text cause he didn't. I sent it." He admitted, making Max raise a brow. 

What did Nathan Prescott want with her?

"I wanted to give you this." Nathan pulled out a paper. "There's been word on the street that you're trying to rid Blackwell of an evil." Max's eyes widened. "Don't look surprised, I know everything. Especially when it comes to Victoria's business." Victoria must have told Nathan that Kate talked to her on Max's behalf. "I respect that but you'll need a way in. This will help you." He passed the paper. Upon further inspection, it was folded nicely and sealed. "Burn it once you're finished with it." Nathan cracked his fingers nervously, "I don't know what you're getting up to Caulfield, but I hope to whatever God there is that you're smart. Don't get lost in the dark." With that Nathan shambled off, shoving his hands in his coat pockets.

Max watched him leave, feeling that those words, 'Don't get lost in the dark', were much more than a simple warning. 

Rachel

The girl looked around nervously. 

It was night, the time to snoop around, and Chloe was late.

"Calm down. There she is." Max said, pointing to the truck coming down the road. 

"This is crazy." Rachel had done many insane things in her life. Sneak into a Firewalk concert, attack some sleazy dudes, skip school and jumped off a train, started a forest fire, and spy on her dirtbag father to name a few. Oh and getting stabbed by some drug lord, that was pretty high on her crazy list. 

But sneaking into some perverted teachers den? The place she got raped? 

This was a new high.

She hopped into Chloe's truck, Max on her tail. 

"This is the only way." Max said, she buckled in and looked at Rachel with a curious expression, "Hey, isn't your dad a DA? Why don't we go to him for this case?"

Rachel gave a dry laugh, "Because the entirety of Arcadia Bay's legal system knows he's a cheating son-of-a-bitch, he's lied one to many times to be taken seriously. Besides," Rachel crossed her arms, "I never wanna see his fucking face again." 

"Fair enough." Max said softly, "You know anyone else?"

"Skip. He joined the police force a few years back and he's a detective now somewhere in Portland." Chloe piped up.

"No shit? Skip is a detective for the police force?" Rachel said, slightly surprised. "How'd you figure that out?"

"Went to a show a few months back." Chloe said, "His band was the opener and I snuck backstage. Almost got kicked out but Skip stopped security, he wasn't shocked to find it was me." The punk smirked slightly. "He'll be happy to give one more 'fuck you' to Blackwell."

"Whose Skip?" Max asked.

"Used to be a security guard, he got fired cause of me." Chloe said, guilt slipping into her voice. "He took a bullet for me with Wells and.." She shrugged, "We're cool now." 

Max nodded, leaning back in her seat. She looked tired but determined, and a touch distracted.

Rachel eyed the photographer, wondering what was on her mind but not having the energy to try to read her. She looked up at Chloe and sighed, "This is insane. I was thinking, don't we have enough proof?" She didn't want to go back.

"Don't coward out now," Chloe said, "We're in this together, no matter what happens. Besides, you said that we needed more."

"We do." Rachel said softly, "I just don't want to go back." 

A hand touched hers and she jumped, looking up to see Max smiling at her. 

"I know this is hard, but we have to stop him." Max interlocked their fingers. "I was looking over the evidence earlier. If we can get one thing, one irrefutable proof, a confession or something, all this will be over. Not even a mob-hired lawyer will save him." 

Rachel breathed out, "I want him in jail, trust me. I just.." Flashes of hands on her came to her mind and she looked away, trying not to cry.

"It's okay Rachel." Max touched her cheek, making the aspiring model to turn to gaze into baby-blue eyes that kept changing because of the changes of light of the night. "You don't have to do this alone. I and Chloe will be behind you, every step of the way."

The blonde blinked once, wanting to brush her lips against Max's but she couldn't. Not in front of Chloe. She bit her lip, it took more self-control than she thought to lean away from Max, away from that scent of vanilla that followed the hipster around like the plague. 

"Thanks Max." She said softly, smiling at the hipster.

Max smiled back and nodded.

The truck slowed to a stop. 

"We're here." Chloe's voice made Rachel's anxiety shoot through the roof. 

The senior looked up at the building. Memories swam in the murky waters of her mind, all bad and terrifying. 

"We're here." She repeated softly, staring at the greenhouse that brought her so much pain. 

"Let's go." Max said softly, "I want to get this over with."

Chloe nodded and jumped out of the truck, Max following her lead. Rachel stayed still for a few moments, ironing her will, and followed.

Same tree, same bush with red flowers, same stupid lawn decoration, same gravel path. She snaked her eyes up and froze. 

The same fucking door.

Chloe looked at her, "Rachel." She said softly, "Rachel come on." She offered her hand, her blue eyes glowing in the moonlight.

Rachel blinked at her, shocked that the punk was even being kind to her. Ever since the argument she had been cold but now all that hostility was gone, replaced with the Chloe Price that Rachel knew and loved with every fiber of her being. She gripped the delinquent's hand and interlocked their fingers. She felt a small hand slip into her other hand and looked to her left, seeing Max standing there.

Adoration made her heart swell and throb, Max was right. It was possible to love two people at once. God was it possible and God was it beautiful. She gave a sigh to steel herself and squeezed Chloe's and Max's hands. 

"I'm okay." She said softly, "Let's get this over with."

Max nodded and moved to the door, letting go of Rachel's hand and leaving it alarmingly cold. The blonde watched with curiosity as Max fished a paper from her pocket and unfolded it, breaking a sort of seal. She recognized the seal, it was one that the Prescott's used.

"Where?" Chloe began to ask but Max shook her head.

"Doesn't matter but it's the code." She punched it in and the door opened. 

"Holy hell." Rachel said in awe, "Was that what Warren gave you?"

"Nathan gave it to me." Max said, "I don't know how he knew and I don't care, come on." She moved into the building and, exchanging looks with Chloe, Rachel followed her.

She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She bit her lip, everything seemed untouched since that day except the table seemed to be fixed, no one can ever accuse Rachel of being easy.

"Look around for anything." Max said, "Be alert." 

Chloe nodded and rushed off in one direction and Max took off in another. 

Rachel sighed and walked around, her eyes scanning for anything that she could use. She paused, her eyes training onto something that she didn't remember. A couple of things, under a tarp.

She walked over to it hesitantly and opened the tarp, letting out a confused sound that alerted a nearby Chloe.

"What?" Chloe whispered, walking over to the blonde. "Find anything?"

"Look." Rachel pointed to the things. "Chloe do you know what this stuff is?"

Chloe looked at them, not recognizing the importance. "Uh.. lights? Those shutter things that flash for school pictures?"

"Yeah but look at them, these are professional grade." Rachel said urgently, "They're super expensive." 

"Rachel he's a professional photographer." Chloe deadpanned, looking slightly irritated.

The blonde wasn't even mad, she wasn't talking clearly. "Chloe these.. these weren't here before." She said softly and understanding dawned in Chloe's eyes as she suddenly knew the significance. 

Rachel closed the tarp and looked around, "That camera." She walked over to the one pointed towards Jefferson's set up, "It's new. All of this," She gestured to the set-up, "isn't what he had before."

Chloe was pale now, "He got all new equipment."

"How did he afford it on a teacher's salary. Chloe this.. all this, is more than even he can afford." The blonde pulled her hair, her heart racing. "This isn't right."

Chloe gripped her shoulder. "I don't know what's going on but we need to hurry up." She said, her voice urgently and hoarse with fear. "Where's Max?"

"Here." Max's voice made Rachel jump. The photographer was holding a few polaroids and a yellow paper case. "I found his office, this should lead us somewhere. Let's get out of here." 

Rachel nodded, all to for that idea.

Together the girls made their way out of the building when something nagged at Rachel. 

"His old camera." She said, "I need to find it. It'll have everything."

"Rachel," Chloe's voice was warning, "you can't. Besides, you saw the same thing I did. It isn't there."

"It has to be, all photographers' keep a backup." Rachel said, "I'll be a few minutes." 

Max shook her head, "It's too risky, we can come back at another point but we have to go." 

Rachel shook her head, "Max, that camera has everything we need, with it we can end all this." She urged, "Please, I need to get it." 

Max opened her mouth when a voice made her freeze.

"Yes, yes I know!" 

That voice was familiar.

Mark.

The three girls scrabbled to the shadows as the devil came into view. He was on the phone, looking annoyed.

"Will you listen to me?" Rachel flinched, his voice was angry and loud. It was too much, too much like it was that day. "Yes, I'm aware that him leaving my mentorship could cause problems but he hasn't done anything. He didn't know the full extent of my plans, he knew nothing of my project. I made sure he didn't." The man paused, tapping his shoe. "Nathan isn't as smart as you give him credit for. I will keep an eye on him, but I promise you, he knows nothing of what we're up to. Just hurry up and send your hire to the address I already sent you and tell them to be careful will you? Last time they moved my shit, they broke one of the lights. Wouldn't want to spend another eight thousand dollars replacing it would you, Mr. Prescott?" 

Rachel heard Max let out a sharp exhale and she glanced back at her companions.

Chloe's brow was furrowed with confusion and anger. Max had almost the same expression but there was a question, a 'Why?".

"Sure, Sean." Mark was saying, "Yes. Alright. Talk to you soon. Bye." He hung up the phone with a rough growl. "Idiot." He snarled, "Making me father his dumbass son and, because he was an idiot, is making me clean up the mess." He let out a huff as he punched in the code. "Fuck!" He roared as he kicked the door open and slammed it closed. 

Rachel flinched and looked at Chloe and Max, 'Run.' She mouthed and together the three rushed behind the building towards Chloe's truck.

She rushed into the vehicle, Max on her heels and Chloe flicked the engine to life and slammed on the gas, making the tires screech as she drove away from the greenhouse.

"What. The. Fuck." Chloe said after they were a few miles away. "Mark is in cahoots with fucking Sean Prescott?"

Max nodded, "Not just cahoots." She said, "It's in the file." She held the yellow envelope. "Can we go to your place Chlo?"

"Yeah." Chloe murmured, she looked at Rachel who was gripping the 'Oh shit' handle. "Rach?"

"This isn't right." Rachel croaked, "Chloe those lights, that camera. That wasn't-" She tightened her grip, "Prescott." She choked. "He-" Her thoughts were swarming like a hundred angry bees, stinging her with words before rushing off. 

"Rachel, breathe." Max commanded lowly, rubbing her back. "Talk." 

Rachel closed her eyes, trying to regulate her rapid breathing. "Max, there were new lights, ones that Mark wouldn't ever be able to afford on a teacher's salary. He doesn't make enough in a year to afford them, especially not with as much as he had. A-And a new camera." 

"Sean Prescott is giving him money." Max said, "I'll show you two what I found but we need a safe place."

"Here we are." Chloe said, parking her car. "Come on." 

Chloe 

The punk sat on her bed, Rachel beside her. Max pulled a few things from the envelope, a few checks, a few emails, and some letters. 

She also set some polaroids out.

Chloe swiped the checks and her heart stuttered. "That's a hella a lot of money." She said, "Almost a hundred thousand. All checks signed by Sean Prescott."

"But why?" Rachel said, her voice almost a cry. Chloe moved by herself, holding the blonde close. "Why is Sean helping him? Why would anyone help him?"

"Dear Mark Jefferson, I hope this letter finds you in good health. I've received word that my son, Nathan, has recently been causing trouble in Blackwell. This displeases me immensely, I know you are a very successful businessman and photographer and I know my son can learn many things from you. I propose an arrangement if you teach my son all you know and get him to stop causing trouble,  I will send you money as compensation for having to deal with the idiot. Signed Sean Prescott." Max read aloud. 

Chloe snorted, "What a dick." She growled. 

Max nodded, "Dear Sean Prescott, how much?" She flipped to another email. "Dear Mark Jefferson, I will send you around a hundred thousand for your assistance, provided my son actually learns a thing or two. Dear Sean Prescott, I am confident he will. He's not the smartest, but he has an eye for shadows. Dear Mark Jefferson, I don't care. Just straighten him out or you will not get any compensation." 

Chloe, grabbed the papers from Max, her eyes scanning the words. "That was a few months ago, before Rachel.." She hesitated, looking down at the blonde cuddled next to her. "These are after. Dear Mark Jefferson, I've received word that Nathan is no longer your apprentice. What has he done to displease you? Dear Sean Prescott, Nothing, everything was going smoothly but one day he told me that he didn't need my help anymore, that he could get into the industry without my charity. He hasn't spoken to me since; he barely participates in class as well. Dear Mark Jefferson, That is extremely alarming. I hope you didn't let him catch a whiff of our agreement. Either way, his grades are acceptable and he hasn't been causing mayhem. You've done your job and I have no use for you anymore. You will receive no more consistent payments. However, because you did your job and did it better than I could have hoped, my resources are extended to you. If you ever need help with anything, just text this number. Dear Sean Prescott, Thank you, I actually have an idea, an experiment, if you will on a few things I would like to do. However, I have no funds to accomplish it. It could help broaden your grip on more industries easier, without having to wait for your son. Dear Mark Jefferson, Text me the details, the funds are yours." 

Rachel shook her head, "I knew Sean was a dick but this is downright disgusting."

"Maybe he doesn't know?" Max tried but then she sighed. "No, I've heard he's stingy with his money. I'm sure he's well aware of what's happening under his nose." 

"Mark's giving him a place in the photography world." Chloe said bitterly, "He probably doesn't care as long as he'll profit from whatever Mark is doing." 

Rachel nodded, "What else is there?"

"These pictures." Max handed the polaroids over. They were just a few shots of the office and greenhouse but there was something that made Chloe look again at one picture. It was a picture of something that looked familiar. 

"Max where did you take this?" She asked, looking at the hipster.

"In his office, there wasn't anything of note other than the emails and stuff. But there was this board with a torn up paper." She said, "I thought I'd snap a photo." 

Chloe stood up and moved over to her computer, she tapped the lock screen open and looked at the image that she had concluded was some sort of code. 

"It's not a code." She said, "It's a piece of directions leading somewhere." Chloe tapped on her desk excitedly. "This could lead straight to everything that could expose what he's doing. Drive.." She began to work silently, using the picture to try to piece together the sentence. "Drive to the water tower, if you hit.. dirt.. path.. so far.." Chloe tilted her head. "Turn down.." She squinted her eyes. "Damn, there has to be more."

Max nodded, "I took more pictures, you're free to look at them." She yawned. "I'm beat. I'm heading to bed." 

"Same." Rachel said softly, standing up, "I'm sleeping with Max, you look like you're gonna be up all night working." She told Chloe, "Try to sleep before five." 

Chloe waved them off, looking between pictures.

She passed out at four fifty-six am but she had gotten a little bit of progress.

Drive to the water tower, if you hit dirt path you've gone too far. Turn right at tower and...

She'd figure out the rest later.