Max took some time to freshen up in Chloe's bathroom before she followed Rachel and Chloe out to the punks truck. She sat in the middle and honestly that was a mistake because now she was between two really attractive people and it wasn't helping her mental functionalities.

"Max?" She jumped and looked up, blinking at Chloe who grinned in turn. "You know, after five years I thought you wouldn't zone out as much." She said, smiling at the photographer.

Max shrugged, toying with the sleeve of her jacket. "S-Sorry, whaddya say?" She mumbled, looking down.

"I asked if you wanted something to eat." Chloe said.

"Oh," Max thought about it, "I mean, I guess I could go for Two Whales but I don't think you wanna see your mom." She said, awkwardly shuffling in place.

Chloe sighed, "It's not that." She said softly, "I just.." She paused and frowned, her brow furrowing as she thought about how to word her next sentence.

"You can guess from that interaction that she and David don't get along." Rachel piped in, ready to make it easier for Chloe.

"Who is that guy anyway?" Max asked, looking at Rachel.

"He's my step-dad, but he's more of a step-douche." Chloe answered with a growl. "He and my mom got together after, what, a year after my dad died?" She shook her head. "I never trusted David, he treated me like some child delinquent."

"I mean, you kind of were." Rachel said, "But he went too far with his 'helping'." Her voice became angry.

"I only was because you made me one." Chloe shot at her.

"Explain?" Max chimed in, confused.

Chloe sighed and pulled into an empty parking lot. "Alright so after you left I was adrift at sea." Chloe started, "I didn't know what to do, I just wanted you but.." She paused, seeing the guilt on Max's face and decided to skip forward. "Anyway, my mom started dating David, he's an ex-soldier and he seems to think I'm his cadet. My mom couldn't handle me I guess, I was an angry, out of control fifteen-year-old. I didn't like him and I acted out in defiance." Max felt her mouth quirk up into a smile. Chloe had always done that, act like a rebel against things she didn't like. It always drove William insane but the man couldn't stay mad at Chloe worth anything. "I got into drugs, I snuck out, I went to parties, I slept with boys and girls." Chloe rattled on, "I regret the boys." She said with a small laugh, "That's how I figured out I'm hella gay."

"Hella?" Max echoed, "And you call me the hipster?"

"Hey," Rachel chimed in, "Hella's a good word."

Max couldn't help the giggle but she gestured for Chloe to go on.

The punk leaned back, "I dyed my hair with Rachels support, she and I always get into trouble somehow. I got expelled from Blackhell for skipping school and it just got worse from there." She paused and sighed, "I dyed my hair after I got expelled and still did the same shit that my mom hated and one night at what was supposed to be a quiet family dinner David and I started fighting. It got heated and.." She hesitated, looking at Max before she flicked her eyes away. "And he hit me."

"What?" Max felt her blood run cold. "He did what?"

"He hit me." Chloe repeated, rubbing the back of her neck. "It wasn't the first time he's done it, he doesn't have anything against hitting a woman, he's killed people dammit." Chloe gave a dry laugh, "I was eighteen and sick of it, I told Joyce to choose between me and him and she said she loved us both. I told her that she clearly didn't love me or William at all and packed my shit and left. I rented my apartment and I've ignored her ever since. David figured out where I was staying, because of course he did, and apologized. He asked me to come back home but that place isn't my home. Not while David's there." She shook her head wistfully.

"Asshole." Rachel grumbled, crossing her arms.

Max's mind reeled with this new information. Immediately she didn't like David. How could he hit his own step-daughter? Multiple times? Her blood was now hot as she got worked up over it.

"W-Why?" She stuttered, not able to control it due to how mad she was getting. "Wh-What the hell?"

Chloe placed a hand on Max's thigh. "Welcome to the shitty real world, Caulfield." She said with a smile that Max knew wasn't genuine. "I don't blame my mom, I know she's too busy working to come to see me but I still use it against her because I don't want to face her." She sighed. "In a way, I guess I feel betrayed but she needs David. He truly loves her, I can tell that, but-"

"But that doesn't excuse him hitting you." Max all but growled. "He's an asshole."

Chloe laughed, "Maybe one day I'll try to make a peace with him, for a time we were cool but.." She shrugged, "Not anytime soon."

Max nodded mutely, she was still pissed off. "How can you be okay with that?"

"I'm not." Chloe said, tightening her grip on the steering wheel as she turned out of the parking lot. "It fucks with me but like everything shitty that's ever happened to me, I can't do anything so there's no use in being mad over it. Besides, if I was okay with getting abused by my asshole step-father I wouldn't have moved out when I got the chance." She flicked her eyes to Max and smiled. "But hey, I'm alive. That's all that matters right?"

Max shook her head, "No, this- this isn't okay." She tightened her hands into a fist, body trembling. "Y-You need to fight this more." She told Chloe firmly, "Why aren't you?"

"Max, I told you, there's nothing I can-"

"Bullshit!" Max cried, pounding her fists onto the dash.

"Hey! Watch it!" Chloe snapped, glaring at Max.

Immediately the anger was swept away by guilt and fear.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm-" Max began to tremble but Rachel immediately swooped in, reaching her hand out and gently grabbing Max's.

"Max, breathe okay?" Chloe said, "Don't worry about it just.. calm down alright?" Her voice dropped, soft now. "Look, I'm not happy about it. I hate it just as much as you do but.. but I can't ruin my moms' happiness. She was awful in the months after my dad died, every night she would cry, it took her two months before she could even sleep in her own room again." Chloe sighed, "If she forgives David and continues to be happy with him then it's not my place to ruin that. In fact, I told her that I forgave him just so she could. I bet she doesn't truly think I did, but it kept them together." She shrugged, "And she's still happy. That's all I care about."

Max said nothing but she nodded, a bittersweet feeling in her stomach. Chloe was willing to go so fucking far to make sure she didn't ruin Joyce's happiness. Max felt a lightning burst of anger as she remembered David's words.

'You don't care about anyone but yourself.'

Bullshit. Max thought, she looked at Chloe who was now silently driving then flicked her gaze towards Rachel who had been silently listening to them this entire time. She met the girls' eyes and blinked in shock when she saw the same look matching what she felt like.

The girl was smiling bittersweetly but her eyes were boiling with rage.

Max hesitated, but she reached out and tapped Rachel's hand in a silent agreement of feelings. Rachel seemed to understand because her expression softened and her smile gave way to a genuine one.

Soon, the three were in a comfortable silence, the radio playing some punk music that Max didn't recognize but Rachel and Chloe did because they were head bobbing to the beat.

"So," Chloe broke the silence as the song ended, "Two Whales?" She asked.

Max hesitated, she wanted food and Joyce's pancakes were the best but, she didn't want to force Chloe to confront her mom before she was ready. If she hadn't forced Max to tell her what happened in Seattle then Max should return the favor, it was the least she could do.

"I'm not hungry." Max lied, her stomach shifting in protest. She hadn't eaten anything since her last meal at Seattle with her mom the day before.

"Liar." Rachel called her out immediately, making Max freeze. She looked at the aspiring model and frowned, shrinking under her hazel gaze.

Rachel seemed to look into her soul, searching it for a few moments before her eyes softened. "You don't want to force Chloe to face her mom, don't you?" She asked softly, hitting the nail on the head.

"Y-Yeah." Max answered before she had time to think, besides she didn't think she could lie to this girl. She looked down, ashamed sightly and bit her lip.

She jumped as she felt Chloe wrap an arm around her. "Jesus Max, your too good for me." The punk said with a light laugh.

No, you. Max thought immediately.

"Look," Chloe smiled at her, "You don't gotta lie to me just for my sake. Me talking to Joyce is gonna happen one way or another, might as well get it over with." She gave the photographer a soft look. "I'm glad it's with you though."

Max felt a lump in her throat, making her swallow thickly. Dog, she didn't deserve Chloe, she didn't deserve that look the punk was giving her, she didn't deserve to be sitting in this truck between the most gorgeous people in all of Arcadia Bay.

She didn't deserve this.

Chloe seemed to sense her troubled mind because she pulled into Two Whales parking lot and quickly parked before she turned and wrapped Max into a hug. Immediately, Max relaxed and the thoughts were silenced.

Chloe pressed her forehead against Max's, "I forgive you, Max." She said softly, "So don't feel bad."

Max felt her breath hitch and she trembled slightly but nodded. She gazed into blue eyes that pulled her to the ocean. A calm washed over her and she nodded lightly, scared to talk because it might break the moment.

Chloe smiled slightly and moved back, much to Max's' displeasure, opening her door and sliding out.

Max felt Rachels heat move away from her and suddenly she was somehow colder than she was before. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and followed Chloe into the diner.

Immediately the smell of coffee, pancakes, eggs, and bacon brought her back to her childhood. She remembered helping Chloe and William in the Price home every morning before school. She smiled as a memory of a flour war that may or may not had resulted in the entire house being white for a few days came to the front of her mind.

Chloe paused, "I need to whiz." She said, her hands shaking in a way that alerted Max that she was nervous. "I'll be back." She turned quickly and disappeared into the back of the diner, where the bathrooms were.

Max considered going after her but a gentle brush of fingertips made her jump and have goosebumps. She turned and looked at Rachel, who smiled.

"Sorry, but best you leave her alone. She won't want you seeing her have a breakdown." Max frowned, "She'll be fine Max, she's stronger than you know."

"You don't have to tell me she's strong." Max said softly, "Believe me I know."

Rachel didn't answer but she moved to a booth and Max eyed some sharpie on the side of the chair that said 'Chloe's seat'. She snorted and sat down across from Rachel.

She felt a little nervous, being alone with Rachel. The girl just gave off an air of confidence that Max couldn't ever hope to achieve like she knew that everyone was looking and didn't care.

Max wanted to know who this girl is.

"So..." Rachel said, deciding to break the ice since Max hadn't. "Wanna play a quick round of twenty questions?" She grinned, "I'll keep it appropriate." She winked and Max's brain short-circuited.

"Y-Yeah!" Max said, too loudly and too eagerly. "Yeah." She said quieter, her face burning with embarrassment.

Rachel grinned, loose and free. "Alright, favorite color?" She started.

"Pink." Max answered.

"Gold." Rachel answered.

Max nodded, "Age?"

"Nineteen." Rachel answered.

"Eighteen."

"Major?"

"Photography."

"Modeling."

Max paused and thought for a second, "Sexuality?" she asked tentatively.

Rachel smiled slightly, "Pansexual." She said, eyeing Max calmly.

Max's mouth felt dry, "B-Bi." She answered, "Girls a little more though." She admitted, surprised at herself for it.

Rachel nodded, "Fair enough. Favorite memory?"

Max bit her lip, "Mornings with Chloe when we were younger. Just being around Chloe in general, I guess."

Rachel laughed and it was quickly becoming one of Max's favorite sounds. "Same, Chloe's a lot of fun to hang with."

"Uh," Max's mind was blanking already, "Zodiac?"

"Leo." Rachel said proudly.

"Libra."

"Least favorite memory?" Rachel said softly, almost hesitant.

Max bit her lip, "L-Leaving." She said softly, "Chloe I mean."

Rachel's eyes softened, "When I caught my dad cheating." She said.

Okay, so now the questions were getting deep. "Ever been in love?" Max asked.

Rachel seemed to pause. She toyed with the feather earring she wore and furrowed her brow a bit in thought. "I.. don't know." She finally said, slowly and uncertain. Clearly, the question had thrown her off, Max felt kind of bad.

"Uh," Max thought for a moment and immediately blue eyes and hair flashed in her mind. "Yeah. I've been in love." She admitted softly.

I still am.

She shook her head to perish the thought.

"Is that a nervous tick?" Rachel asked, explaining when Max gave her a confused look. "You're little head shake thing."

Max tilted her head, still confused.

Rachel sighed, "You get this like, distant look in your eye and then you shake your head and come back to the real world." she explained.

"O-Oh." Max thought for a moment, "I guess yeah. Worst fear?"

"Hurting people." Rachel said immediately.

Max's mouth felt dry, she had so many fears but one jumped out to her. "Chloe hating me."

"Never will happen." Rachel said with a laugh, "She talked about you a lot when you were gone, took a while for me to break that habit."

Max felt warm at knowing Chloe spoke about her to this celestial being.

"Any dreams?" Rachel asked.

"To be a world famous photographer." Max said, "I wanna mark the world with my polaroids."

Rachel grinned, "You're already marking Arcadia Bay with em'," She said, "I want to be a model in LA."

"You could do it." Max said, her photographer mind drooling at how picturesque Rachel was.

The aspiring model smiled, "Thank you, means a lot coming from you." She said with a wink.

Max's hand twitched nervously, her heart leaping to her throat. "D-Does it?" She asked.

"Hell yeah, you're a bomb ass photographer. In fact, I was hoping you could take more pictures of me sometime." She grinned, "If you'd like, of course. You don't have to keep sneaking pictures."

Max blushed and looked at her hands. "S-Sorry." She said sheepishly.

"Don't worry about it, honestly it's not the weirdest thing that's happened to me. Besides, I don't mind a cute hipster sneaking photo's of me." She leaned forward slightly, her eyes growing half-lidded and her words becoming a bit huskier.

Max's brain went on meltdown mode, flashing red lights and obnoxious alarms included. Her body felt too hot and her blush was probably to her neck by now. She couldn't tear her eyes away from Rachel, she took in every part of her face. Her eyes, her eyebrows, her cheeks, her nose, her lips, her chin, her jaw. She focused a bit too long on the aspiring model's lips though.

"Max." Her heart stopped as Rachel purred out her name. "Have you ever masturbated?"

"W-What happened to staying appropriate?" Max choked out, her heart hammering in her chest and her mind being flooded by thoughts of Rachel. She swallowed thickly as Rachel laughed lowly.

"It's an innocent enough question," She slid her hand across the table and brushed her fingers across Max's arm. Goosebumps and heat followed her fingertips as they danced across the photographer's arm. "I do, frequently." She said, unabashed.

Max was still, her mind on overdrive and her body still heating up. Every touch from Rachel felt like too much and being the center of her attention was definitely overwhelming. Her body trembled, but not from anxiety, not fully anyway.

"I-I uh.." Max felt like she was getting sucked into a vacuum of hazel. "Y-Yeah." She admitted, "S-Sometimes."

Rachel smiled, "What do you fanta-"

"Nope." Max said immediately, "My question." Her brain was fried and she quickly searched for a question that would diffuse this sexual atmosphere, but it was hard to focus on anything because Rachel was still touching her. "U-Uh... favorite food?" Her voice was slightly higher pitched.

"Pussy." Rachel said without missing a beat and Max died.

Her breath caught in her throat and she began to cough. Rachel quickly began to tap her back, helping her catch a desperately needed breath.

"Shit sorry," Rachel said apologetically, "I didn't mean for you to choke." The corners of her mouth twitched, fighting a grin, and Max could immediately tell she stifled a dirty joke. "You are super easy to make flustered y'know." She smiled kindly, her eyes still glowing with guilt. "Don't worry it's cute." She dropped her voice a bit, "Are you okay?" Max was taken aback by the concern in her voice. She had sensed a shift in Rachel's demeanor, a crack in that mask she put up. Being out in public with Rachel had gotten Max some attention, in fact as soon as they walked into the diner, all eyes were on Rachel and Chloe, before peering at Max curiously. Max pieced it together quickly that there were many Rachel Ambers, but this one, the one in front of her, was the genuine one. The real Rachel Dawn Amber.

She smiled slightly. "I'm fine, just caught me off guard." She said, her cheeks still a bit red. 

Rachel's eyes seemed to search her as if checking to see any lie in her body language or tone, Max didn't mind nor did she put up a fight. She didn't think she could hide anything from Rachel, she kind of didn't want to either. Maybe this slight crack in the mask that the aspiring model wore was a way in, a way to know this girl better. 

"Alright," Rachel said, relaxing slightly. "if you say so." She gave a grin, "I lost count of how many questions, wanna keep going?"

Max hesitated, "It would be yours." She said, but Rachel shook her head.

"I asked if you were okay, that counts." 

Max hesitated, she glanced up and noticed that Joyce was coming from the kitchen. She paused for a moment before she looked back at Rachel. "Have you and Chloe ever like... dated?" She asked softly.

Rachel opened her mouth then closed it, her brow furrowed. "I-" She started but then she looked down. "We have something going on." She said, "I don't know what but it's new and intense and terrifying. And awesome." Her voice dropped a little as if she was afraid to admit it aloud. "How about you guys? I've never seen Chloe like that." 

"What do you mean?" Max blinked, she wasn't even surprised at Rachel's answer. The two hadn't acted like they were dating, but there was something there. 

"I mean," Rachel leaned forward, "that Chloe always tries to keep up her punk facade." She said, "And that girl can hold a grudge, be pissed off for something that happened years ago. Like you, she could have forced you away easily but-" She stopped and gave Max a look that held so many emotions it made Max feel overwhelmed, "she didn't." She tilted her head slightly, a confused yet intrigued expression on her face. "That's pretty unheard of from Chloe Price, you should feel lucky Caulfield, you're pretty special." Rachel smiled dazzlingly. 

Max shuffled in place, feeling warm inside. Being called special by someone like Rachel Amber? She knew Chloe could hold a grudge, she could when they were kids and Max was sure she got a lot better at it as she grew up, so maybe Rachel was right. But then again, Chloe could never stay mad at Max, even when they were kids, she couldn't. One look at sad Max and Chloe immediately brightened back up, telling Max that it was cool and that they should go play somewhere.

Max frowned slightly, I'm not special, I'm pitiful. She thought, biting her lip.

"Stop that." Rachel ordered swiftly, "You really are special Max and I'll get you to believe it one way or the other." She grinned and her eyes shone with mischief. Max couldn't help but return the smile, just a small twitch of her lips.

"Max Caulfield, is it really you?" Joyce's southern lilt made her look up. The woman looked exactly how Max remembered her, maybe a little bit more sleep deprived but perfectly the same. 

"Hey Joyce," Max said with an easy smile, "Yeah, it's me." She gave a nervous and breathy laugh. "You look the same." She said.

Joyce rose a brow, "Like I'm still working at Two Whales after five years?" She asked, placing two mugs on the table. 

"Pretty." Max said, laughing a bit as Joyce gave her a skeptical smile. 

"Nice save, glad to see you're still smart." Joyce said with a grin, then she narrowed her eyes at Rachel. "Maybe not too smart if you're  hanging out with this troublemaker." She said, but there was affection in her voice. "I didn't take you for the type to hang out with hellraisers, Max." She said, giving the hipster look.

"I hang out with Chloe." Max pointed out with a shrug. Rachel gave a stifled chuckle at that.

"You bring out the best in Chloe." Joyce murmured, her tone sad. She smiled at Rachel before something seemed to dawn on her. "You and Chloe are attached to the hip, are you two fighting again-"

"No, we aren't." The woman whipped around and stared at her daughter.

Max turned in her seat and eyed the punk. Chloe's hair was slightly disheveled, she probably was running her fingers through it excessively, she did that allot when her and Max were younger too. Her eyes were slightly puffy and red, and Max could tell the redness wasn't her being high. 

"C-Chloe," Joyce eyed her daughter, looking as if she was a ghost. Max noticed she was gripping an empty mug so tight her pale knuckles were white. "Jesus Christ." The woman breathed and closed her eyes. "You want coffee, right? I'll go get it." She said, turning on her heel and retreating quickly to the kitchen.

Chloe watched her silently before she sat down next to Rachel, slumping slightly. 

"Chloe-" Max began but stopped when Chloe looked up.

She looked so unhappy and guilty, her eyes shining with angry tears, and her mouth slightly open, her brows knitted together. She looked like a beaten puppy. 

"She couldn't even look at me for more than a minute." She said with a bitter laugh that was too much like the one she gave Max the day before she left Seattle. 

"How long has it been since you talked to her last?" Max asked gently, reaching across the table to grip Chloe's hand.

The punk gripped hers back tightly, "Six months, give or take a few." She grumbled.

Rachel wrapped her arm around Chloe's shoulder. "She's just as emotionally messed up as you are about this Chloe." She murmured, "She obviously needed a breather, she looked like she was one second away from fainting. Give her some time, she'll talk to you." Rachel smiled slightly. 

Chloe relaxed into her two friends touches and sighed, "I really fucked up. I already lost my dad, I-" She choked, swallowing as she aggressively wiped a tear threatening to fall from her pale cheek. "I can't lose her." She tossed a glance towards the kitchen.

"You won't." Max and Rachel said in unison, making Chloe flick her gaze between them.

The punks blue eyes slowly brightened, "It hasn't even been a full day and you two are already telepathic." She said with a loose grin, "That's hella cool."

Max couldn't help but giggle at that, Rachel chuckling under her breath,  then a movement made the photographer look up.

Joyce was coming back, looking more composed yet she still looked emotional. "Here you are." She poured black coffee into the two mugs on the table and set a clean one down, pouring some coffee into it. "What will it be for you girls?" She asked, smiling slightly. 

"Eggs and bacon." Chloe said immediately. 

"Same." Rachel said, grinning.

Joyce nodded and turned to Max who glanced at Rachel and Chloe, "Guess I'll have what they're having." She said, giving a shy smile.

"Done, it'll be out in a jiffy." She turned and disappeared into the kitchen, screaming at the cook.

Chloe eyed her for a moment before she sighed. "So, what did you nerds do while I was gone? Make out?"

"You wish," Rachel answered, jabbing Chloe's side with her elbow. "no, we played twenty questions. Max is an interesting person y'know." She smiled at the hipster and Max couldn't stop the blush that dusted her cheek.

Chloe rose a brow, "Hands off Rachel, I know what happens to people you find 'interesting'." She put up air quotes to emphasize interesting, giving the girl a light glare.

Rachel looked at her in mock offense, "Hey what's that suppose to mean-"

"You know damn well what that means." Chloe cut her off, "Max is off limits." She said, her voice almost a hiss.

"Um?" Max blinked, making the two turn to her. "What?"

Rachel shook her head, "Chloe is quick to judge peoples motives." She accused, tossing a glare at the girl.

Chloe snorted, "Your motives are always the same Amber." She looked away.

Rachel tensed her jaw, "Not this time." She said in an almost whisper, her eyes meeting Chloe's. 

Fire met electricity and Max was awkwardly trapped in the middle of it as the two girls exchanged silent words. 

Sensing the tension between the girls, Max looked up. She saw the jukebox and an idea forming in her mind. "Hey Chlo, you got a quarter?" She asked, making the punk glance up. 

Chloe fished in her pockets for a few moments and produced the silver coin, "Sure I do, why?" She asked as Max plucked it from her hand. 

"Because," Max waltzed over to the jukebox, slotting the coin into the hole and scrolling the selections it had. 

There wasn't much but one song jumped out to her, it was a recent song but it played on the radio before Chloe switched the station either. She grinned slightly and pressed it. 

  One two three go! My baby don't mess around me. Because she loves me so. And this I know for sure. 

She turned to Chloe and grinned, singing along.

"Oh my god, Max." Chloe groaned, snorting as she stifled her laughter.

Uh, But does she really wanna.  But can't stand to see me walk out the door..

Max continued loudly, grinning.

"I'm disowning you!" Chloe covered her face, convulsing with humor. 

  Don't try to fight the feelin' Because the thought alone is killing me right now. Uh, Thank God for mom and dad For sticking two together 'Cause we don't know how. UH! 

Max paused as Rachel suddenly stood up on the booth seat. She looked up and saw Rachel's eyes gleaming and couldn't help but grin. 

Hell yes.

"Rachel- oh my god!" Chloe pressed her face against the table as her best friends teamed up against her.

  Hey Ya. Hey Ya. Hey Ya. Hey Ya!

Rachel and Max sang together, Rachel dancing on the booth seat, her hands and hips waving. Max couldn't help but sway her ribs back and forth, her arms following the movements.

Chloe looked up, shaking her head in disapproval as the two continued to sing. She tried to keep a straight face but seeing Max dancing exactly as she used to when they were kids she couldn't help the grin. Slowly the anger and tension between the three ebbed away and she sat up, moving as Rachel jumped down, joining Max near the jukebox to dance with the girl.

 Shake it, Shake it, shake, shake it, Shake it, shake, shake it, Shake it, Shake it, shake, shake it, Shake it like a Polaroid picture  

Chloe joined them in the song, nudging Max with a grin at the polaroid picture part. Soon the three girls were dancing in a circle.

As the song ended, Rachel burst into laughter, her warm bell-chime making the world seem just a tad brighter. Her eyes were ablaze with energy like she could continue forever despite her light pants. 

"Yo, Max you have got to get more ideas like that more often." She said, grinning at the hipster. Her entire body seemed to be humming, "That was awesome!" 

"Hella cool." Chloe's eyes glowed with energy, panting lightly. She had the same party aura as Rachel but she shifted from foot to foot restlessly, much less composed than the aspiring model.  

Max smiled shyly, that wasn't easy for her. She was hyperaware of everyone surrounding her: the cop, some boys that Rachel called Justin and Trevor, a trucker and a few others; she had only been brave enough to do it because she was doing it for Chloe. 

And Rachel. 

She blinked, confused at the small voice in her head. Rachel?

She gazed at the blonde, tilting her head. The girl seemed to have calmed down slightly and was now looking at her warmly, a genuine smile on her lips. Her hazel eyes were flecked with gold and green, the gold flickering like embers in a fire. She hair was slightly disheveled but it wasn't messy, and for once the mask was off. Her entire body was relaxed and her aura of energy now had a warm contentedness to it. 

Yeah. And Rachel. Max agreed with her head voice, a dorky grin slithering its way on her face.

"Alright, you little party-goers." Joyce's voice made them look up, the woman had leaned against the counter and was watching them with food in her hands. "Go sit down if you want this warm."

Quickly the girls shuffled to their booth, all giggling and smiling. As Joyce walked over and placed the food down, she eyed the three girls as they dug in with affection. 

She nodded in approval, turning on her heel to leave them be as they scarfed the food down.

Rachel took care of the bill and as they walked out, Chloe was stopped by Joyce and the two began to talk.

Max didn't have to linger or consider staying this time. She followed Rachel out to the truck and got in, watching as Chloe hugged her mom and kissed her cheek. The punk climbed into the driver's seat as Max and Rachel got buckled in.

"You good?" Rachel asked, looking at Chloe with a gentle look.

"Huh?" Chloe looked up, "Yeah, yeah I'm good." 

Both Rachel and Max exchanged looks but said nothing as Chloe flicked on the engine and pulled out of Two Whales parking lot.

As they drove back to Chloe's apartment, Max heard Chloe sniff. She looked up in concern but found it was unnecessary. She felt fingers brush hers and looked to her right, meeting Rachels' eyes. Silently they came to an agreement, they would save Chloe the embarrassment of being called out, but both of them took solace in the tears falling down her face and the happy smile on Chloe's' lips.