The week passed by quickly, staggeringly so, and soon the day to move into Blackwell arrived.

As Rachel pulled up to the school- Chloe had to go to work, she hadn't told Max what her profession was but said it wouldn't be long before she found out, so she made Rachel drop her off early so Max could shower- and Max looked at the building, the photographer felt a trill of excitement go down her spine.

"Don't drool." Rachel teased as she flicked the ignition off. Max gave her a smile before she hopped out. She followed the model as she opened the gate of the truck and grabbed a box. "What's your dorm number?" Rachel turned her hazel gaze to Max who was eyeing the fountain.

"U-Uh," Max fumbled in her pockets and produced a messily folded and slightly crumpled up paper. She unfolded it hastily and scanned her eyes over the small text. "Two nineteen." She said after a moment of searching.

Rachel nodded, "Alright then, grab your shit and let's go." She said.

Nodding, Max grabbed a box and followed the aspiring model into the dormitories, silently in awe at how nice everything was. The campus was so large, it made Max feel smaller than usual. Pressing closer to Rachel in response, she looked up as the model opened the door leading to a hallway where her and Max's rooms were.

"Hey look who it is!" Max blinked as a girl with auburn hair came forward, smiling. The hipster swallowed. Was every girl in Arcadia Bay drop-dead gorgeous except her? The one time you don't want to be the exception. She thought sarcastically as she gave a girl a quick look up and down.

She had auburn hair that was pulled into a tight ponytail. She had triangle earrings and her eyes were a dazzling blue- Max couldn't help but prefer Chloe's however- and her smile was bright and cheery. She wore a spaghetti-strapped white tank top that had her blue bra peaking from the top and some faded blue jeans.

She was gorgeous, but not in the rough, punk way that Chloe was.

"Hey Dana." Rachel greeted, "Already making yourself comfortable I see." She said, giving Dana's bare feet a pointed look. "Do you realize how fucking gross that is? You're going to give someone a fungi infection." Max snorted under her breath, over the week she got to learn some new things about Rachel. A few of those things included her scathing tongue and smart-ass attitude, Rachel could destroy people with just a few words yet she chose not to, opting to light-hearted teasing with people she knew would understand that she wasn't being serious.

Dana grinned, "You wound me." She turned to Max, "I spy a new victim of Blackwell." She gave a smile to the girl. "The names Dana, Dana Ward." She held out a hand before she paused, realizing that Max couldn't shake it with a box in her hands.

Rachel snorted, "Sure you aren't naturally a blonde?" She shot at Dana who flipped her off in response.

"Didn't you already trash your room?" Dana asked Rachel, "Whose boxes are those?"

"Mine." Max answered, "My name is Max, Max Caulfield." She introduced herself with a shy smile.

Dana grinned, "Oh? Well, pleased to meet ya Max Caulfield." A loud ding made her look down at the phone in her hand. "Sorry lady and Rachel, have to take this. I'll see you around Max." She gave the photographer a smile before she turned towards Rachel and stuck her tongue out, "Later bitch." She said before she waltzed off, heading towards what Max assumed to be her dorm.

"Cya slut!" Rachel called after her before she grinned down at Max. "Dana is awesome, she's like a mom to all of us. If you ever need anything go to her if Chloe or I am not available." She told Max.

Max nodded and followed her to a room at the very end of the hallway. She opened the door and took in the appearance of everything. It was bare, of course, and minimalistic in nature but Max could dig it. Rachel turned on her heels, "You start to unpack everything, I'll bring you more boxes." She disappeared out the door and Max followed her instructions.

By the time all the boxes were brought out, Max had already basically finished her room. She didn't have many possessions in all honesty. What took the bulk were the pictures for her 'memorial wall', which included all of her selfies and other pictures.

She glanced around after Rachel brought her last box the model told Max that she was going to her room that was the closest to the doors leading outside.

Stretching her tense muscles, Max moved out of her room and began to walk down the hallway. Her thoughts were buzzing, with excitement, nervousness, and awe. She couldn't believe that she was here, in the best high school in all of the country when it came to specialized studies. How lucky she had been to get in, she knew her selfies weren't the best but Mark Jefferson seemed to think so.

Oh dog, Mark Jefferson. He was going to be her teacher for an entire year! The thought alone made her body tremble in anxiety and fear. He had personally sent her a letter, saying how excited he was that she made into Blackwell Academy and how much he looked forward to meeting her. He wrote so eloquently, Max felt like a military leader who had just received word from Rambo. He was so famous, his pictures were amazing and his eye for art was just... amazing.

And he would be teaching her-

She crashed into something suddenly, letting out a yelp as she fell back.

"Sorry!" She cried, looking up.

Over her, a girl sneered. Her green eyes like a snake, piercing her soul but not in the way that Rachel's did. She was pretty too, blonde hair in a pixie cut and she had impeccable taste in clothing.

Then she spoke.

"Yeah, you best fucking be. These clothes are worth more than your fucking tuition!" She spat and the snake comparison was suddenly not so far off. Her voice was laced with venom.

Max cringed and she quickly scrambled to her feet. She felt in her back and pulled out her camera, frowning when she saw it was smashed to pieces.

"Aw, are you cereal?" she grumbled to herself, silently grateful she had opted to put William's camera in a safe place until she would use it again.

"What the fuck is that?" The girl hissed, eyeing her broken analog camera in distaste. "Oh god, you're a photographer?" Her eyes widened before they glowed with mirth, "Oh, I know. You're a hipster bitch who thinks her pictures actually are worth something, is that it?" She gave a low laugh.

Max flinched, "My pictures aren't bad.." she tried to defend herself quietly, but there was no strength in her voice and her body trembled.

The girl laughed, loudly, "It's 2003 honey, polaroid cameras haven't been relevant since the 1970's." She gave Max a pitying look, her eyes steely.

Her voice had attracted the attention of others, girls were now watching the display, a few eyed Max in pity while others were avoiding the situation altogether.

"Though with how raggedy your clothes look there's no hope for you." Max self-consciously wrapped her jacket around her tighter as this random chick tore into her. "How did you even get in here? You are definitely not rich enough."

Max flinched and dropped her eyes, tears threatening to pour from her cheeks. This girl was even more ruthless than Chloe. "I-I got a scholarship." She said, but now it didn't sound as amazing.

The girl laughed loudly, making Max cave into herself. "Of course you got a scholarship! Blackwell is famous for handing those out of pity." She rolled her green eyes so hard that Max thought they would get stuck. "You should just leave now, Mark Jefferson won't tolerate someone like you. He doesn't settle for second best."

Max froze, second best?

Memories flew to her mind, all bad, yet instead of breaking down it just made her blood boil.

No. She wasn't going to go through this again. She wasn't going to let some.. some.. some bitchy, rich snob tell her that she was second best without even knowing her. She looked up darkly, the tears dried already, and in her vision, she could see an outline of a man, his blue eyes burning with the same sneer she had.

Her body moved like a panther, her hands like claws as she grasped onto the girl's collar.

"Listen here, bitch." She snarled, glaring into her green eyes. "I didn't come here to fuck around with the likes of you. I came here to get an education and I busted my ass off to get that scholarship. Just because daddy paid for you to get A's and into Blackwell doesn't mean that you have a right to bully others." The girl's green eyes widened and her breath hitched as Max suddenly turned on her. "I'm not here to be second best, especially to rich snobs like you who think that money buys everything." She tightened her grip and snarled, pushing her nose into the preps. "You better strap in tight honey," She said mockingly, "Because a storm is coming." With that, she shoved her back and glared at her, radiating pure rage.

The hall was silent and all eyes were on Max and this random elite.

Suddenly Max was shoved and she stumbled back slightly, looking up to see a blonde girl glaring at her. She turned to elite bitch, "Victoria, you don't have to take this." She spat, giving Max a glare that the hipster returned.

Victoria, Max made a mental note of her name.

Victoria, who was dazed, suddenly seemed to sober up, "Shut the fuck up Taylor!" She hissed, "I know I don't have to take that, especially from a stupid hippie." She glared at Max, "You don't know who you're messing with." She whipped around and stomped off, her heels obnoxiously clacking on the tile before she stormed from the dorms, Taylor and another girl right behind her.

Max watched in icy rage before her eyes found Rachel's, who was standing a few feet away from where Victoria was a few moments ago, the aspiring model's hazel eyes wide in shock.

"Holy shit." She said, before her body convulsed in giggles, "H-Holy shit! Max do you know what you just fucking did?" She rushed forward and grabbed the hipsters shoulders.

"No." Max answered, her voice monotone as her rage subsided.

"You just tore into the self-proclaimed 'Queen of Blackwell'." Rachel had a madman's grin on her face. "Victoria Chase."

"She's a mega bitch." Max said with a growl.

Rachel nodded, "Sorry you had to learn this way, but I think she'll leave you alone after that embarrassment." She smiled encouragingly. "Yo, we have GOT to tell Chloe about this, she'll be all over anything that has to do with Victoria taking an 'L'."

Max nodded mutely. She eyed the door where Victoria left, unable to stop but feeling that her action would have consequences.

"Holy shit Mad Max!" Chloe said, her voice crackling over Rachel's phone.

It was a little bit after the whole Victoria fiasco, Rachel had let Max chill in her room (Dana was right, Rachel did trash her room already, clothes and makeup everywhere) to cool off. In the week that led up to this day, Max had gotten used to Rachel's presence and being alone with the girl was becoming less and less scary. It was still nerve-wracking because Rachel was beautiful and Max was trash compared to her, but Rachel's easy-going and warmness always diffused the nervousness that the hipster felt.

"I know right!" Rachel said from beside Max on her bed. "It was hella fucking awesome, you're missing out Priceless." She said with a grin.

"Sounds it," Chloe said with a cough, "Yo, we have got to hang out soon. Classes don't start until Monday right? We have two days to kill, what do you say we introduce Max to The Butterfly?" Chloe was grinning, "Bring her over."

"Will do Priceless, cya soon."

Max grinned slightly, "So we're off?" She asked as the blonde hung up.

"Eh, she can wait twenty minutes." Rachel rose from her bed, "I'm taking a quick shower and then we'll be off." She told Max, "You stay here, alright?" She gathered some extra clothes and her toiletries.

"I'll be waiting." Max said as Rachel walked from her room, hips swaying.

It was silent, Max could faintly hear the sound of running water as Rachel showered. She learned over the course of the week Max had also learned that Rachel took her sweet time showering- the girl wouldn't be out anytime soon.

She stood up, muscles relaxing as she stretched. She glanced around Rachel's room, figuring she could find something to mess around with to keep herself busy and out of her own head.

"Um, hello?" A shy, mouse-like voice made her look up.

In the doorway was a girl, dressed modestly in a high-collar shirt and skirt that reached her ankles, gazing back at her with kind hazel eyes. Her hair was blonde and tied messily in a bun and a small smile was on her face.

Max blinked, "Oh uh, are you a friend of Rachels? You just missed her, she's showering." Max said in a rapid fashion. She didn't know why she assumed this girl was a friend of Rachels', she didn't look like she had much of a wild side, Rachel seemed to gravitate towards that sort of crowd.

The girl shook her head, "I'm not an enemy of Rachel, we're friends I guess, she's kind to me." The girl looked around awkwardly and Max blinked.

"Come inside." She said, suddenly realizing why the girl was awkwardly looking at the doorway.

"My name is Kate Marsh." The blonde walked into the room and stretched out a hand. "I'm at 222. Pop by if you ever need anything, I even have a cute bunny you can pet!" She gave a small laugh that made Max feel warm.

Max decided that she liked this girl.

"Will do," She shook Kate's hand, "Max Caulfield. I'm in 219. Same goes to you." She let go of the girl's hand and took in her cross necklace that she hadn't noticed before. "Religious?" She asked.

"Yes, but I'm not going to go after you for hanging out with Rachel. She makes her sexuality very apparent. Besides, if you love someone then you should love them, no matter what gender or race they are." Kate said kindly, her hazel eyes glowing.

Max nodded, glad to know that this girl wasn't a religious nut. "Glad to know. I'm not." She shuffled awkwardly, "Religious I mean."

Kate nodded, "I understand it's not for everyone. I don't condemn or hate you for it. Just isn't your... 'scene'?" She asked, tilting her head.

"One way of putting it." Max said, "Praying to God just hasn't done much for me in the past. In fact, made things worse, cause even though I wanted to believe things would change.." She choked slightly, her eyes stinging with barely-held-back tears. "They didn't."

Kate nodded, her face softened. "Yeah, I understand." She smiled, "Do you need a hug?"

Max blinked at the blunt question before she awkwardly shook her head. "No, sorry. I don't mean to freak you out."

Kate laughed again. "You haven't. So," She turned her head and took in the room. "Friends with Rachel?"

"Uh, yeah. Met her about a week ago. I uh-" Max hesitated, contemplating how much to tell Kate. "Rachel and I share a mutual friend. I was an asshole to said mutual friend but we worked it out. She sent Rachel to pick me up from the airport."

Kate nodded, "Who was the friend if you don't mind my asking?"

"Chloe Price." Max said, smiling at the way the name rolled from her mouth.

Kate's eyes lit with recognition, "Woah, no way. You mean Chloe 'Tag the bathroom if you get kicked out of school' Price?" Her eyes widened in shock. "You and she are friends?"

Max felt defensive and protective, "Chloe isn't that bad. I don't doubt she did that but she's complicated, gone through about you know? Yeah, I'm her best friend." Max puffed up a little. "Just cause of the way she looks-"

"No, no." Kate cut in quickly, holding her hands up in defense, "I don't judge people based on looks. I haven't talked to Chloe but I've seen her and Rachel together before. Also, the kids here seem to talk about her." Kate smiled apologetically. "Rumors already and the year hasn't even started."

Max snorted, "Yeah? They can keep Chloe's name out of their mouths if they don't want Rachel on them." She gave a small laugh, "Or me I guess." She gazed at Kate, "You don't look the type to listen to rumors, I promise whatever Chloe did wasn't the real her. I mean, she does love tagging things so that was definitely her but she's actually really sweet once you get to know her."

Kate nodded, "I can tell by the way you talk that you think highly of her. Maybe I'll talk to her next time she comes to visit Rachel and now I guess you, she kind of scares me, to be honest. She just has this... 'I don't care' attitude. And she's always so relaxed, I kind of envy her."

Max nodded, "That's my Chloe." She said softly not quite realizing what she said until she saw the blonde raise her brow. Blushing slightly, Max continued on quickly.  "She's all bark and no bite really, she wouldn't hurt anyone who hasn't hurt her first."

The blonde nodded, "Maybe you can introduce me." She said before she looked behind her. "I'd best be off, it was nice talking to you, Max. Maybe we can schedule a tea session sometime?" She smiled and Max found herself nodding.

"Yeah, of course!" She said, smiling.

Kate nodded and turned but then she paused, "Hey, I uh.. I completely understand what you mean with Chloe." She looked at Max and the brunette was a bit startled at the sudden empathy in her expression. "I have a friend like that too, everyone thinks they're a bad person but they're just misunderstood is all. Everyone can be a good person if they try." With that, she walked out and Max was left a little stunned.

Rachel soon appeared, adorned with a white t-shirt, a green flannel overtop of it, and ripped faded jeans. "Yo, Supermax- that's what I'm calling you now, thank Chloe it was her idea- you good? You look like a talking deer just visited you."

Max turned her confused expression to the girl. "If I'm seeing and hearing talking deer it means I'm sleep deprived." She said snarkily, "No just," She hesitated before giving in to Rachel's curious gaze. "A girl named Kate came and talked to me."

Rachel's eyes lit up, "Kate Marsh? Oh yeah, the girl's a total sweetheart, she makes it a point to greet everyone. She even gave me some homemade cookies her dad delivered." Rachel shuffled over to her make-up desk, gazing into the mirror as she applied some eyeliner. "What did she say?"

"She just greeted me and said that if I needed anything she was always free." Max said.

Rachel grinned, "Like I said, a total sweetheart. I'll have to go thank her sometime."

Max nodded, "But she talked about how rumors of Chloe already started spreading."

The aspiring model grunted, "People can't keep their mouths shut is all. They're probably rumors about me and her."

Max rose a brow but somehow she sensed that that discussion was one Chloe would have with her. "I got defensive and she assured me she didn't judge people based on rumors. As she was leaving though she paused and told me she had a similar friend. Who everyone thinks is mean but they're just misunderstood?"

Rachel blinked, "Is that so?" She looked contemplative. "Did she say they?"

"Yeah."

"There are no agender or genderfluid people here. Not that I know of." Rachel paced lightly. "Oh, this is definitely juicy."

"Are you always looking for drama?" Max rose a brow, laughing as Rachel shot her a wounded look.

"Drama finds me, Maxwell." She said, "Afterall, I am a pretty awesome actress."

"Modest too." Max said sarcastically, nudging her with a shoulder as she followed Rachel outside her dorm and the dorm doors.

"Shut up." Rachel said but she was grinning.

Max liked this Rachel, the real one. Rachel never seemed to pretend with her and Chloe but there was something there. A barrier that no matter how hard Max pushed and pulled never seemed to break.

For some reason, the tense moment at Two Whales came back to Max. It had been a good week since that occurred, but she had a feeling that whatever Chloe was getting onto Rachel about and this barrier were connected somehow.

She'd have time to piece it together, but for now, she was content just talking to the girl as Rachel drove them to Chloe's mysterious place of work.

"Man, this year is going to be insane." Rachel said, jolting Max out of random thoughts. "I mean, it hasn't even started and there's already some beef and mystery!" She grinned at Max and the hipster couldn't help but return it because Rachels' energy was infectious.

"Beef that I didn't want." Max said softly, "But no one messes with m- Chloe." She had to make a hard stop, My Chloe? Really Max? She's a person too you moron. She scolded herself with a shake of her head.

Rachel rose a brow and Max blushed slightly scowling at the aspiring model. "Don't give me that look Mad Max." Rachel said, "I heard that hard stop, what were you gonna say huh?" Her tone was light and teasing but Max could see the genuine curiosity in her eyes.

"Nothing." Max looked away, fiddling with the sleeves of her jacket. "Nothing at all."

"Maaaaax." Rachel groaned out.

"Nada." Max shook her head stubbornly, her jaw clenching.

"Maaaaaaaaaax." Rachel drew her name out longer, the tone of it pitching into a fake whine.

" Zilch." Max refused to back down.

"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX." Rachel's voice was a yell now and Max covered her ears in defense of the high-pitchness of it.

"Jesus Rachel!" Max hissed, "I think my eardrums are bleeding." She rubbed her ears and glared at the model. "Why does it matter so much?"

"Because you're still a mystery and I don't want you to be." Rachel said, gazing at her. "You don't exactly wear your feelings on your sleeve as Chloe does."

Max gave a slight smile at the topic of Chloe. "Oh dog, that girl can't hide her feelings well at all. She once straight up told a kid that her voice was really annoying and made her want to chew aluminum foil."

Rachel side-eyed her silently for a few moments. "You know, she talked about you a lot when you were gone." She said softly, her tone making it clear she wasn't bringing it up to be malicious.

Max couldn't help the stab of guilt she felt, even if Rachel wasn't trying to make her feel bad Max didn't think she could ever forgive herself for what she did. "Yeah, I vaguely remember you mentioning it before." And she wasn't lying.

Rachel tapped on the steering wheel for a few moments, thinking of the best way to continue the conversation. "She talked a lot about how much of a nerd you are." She said, smiling slightly.

Max snorted, "She says I'm the nerdy one but she was always better at science than I was. In fact, she wanted to be a chemist when she was like.. ten." Max smiled at the memory. "Though overall, I made better grades than she did."

Rachel nodded, "She said that you took hella cool pictures and drew really well. But she talked the most about just how.." Rachel hesitated as if she realized something. Her brow furrowed and a little bit of panic set in her eyes before she relaxed, "you two were gonna take over the Bay as pirates."

Max caught that minor hiccup. Her photographer observation assured that. She wanted to press because that was definitely not what Rachel was going to say but she didn't want to make the model angry, especially while she was the one driving. So, for now,  Max let it drop

"We still are." Max said without missing a beat. "Except now I think Chloe wants to take over the world."

Rachel laughed her bell-chime laugh. "She probably could, as long as you were there by her side." She mused, smiling at Max.

Max blinked, teasing the idea in her mind before she smiled. "Of course she could, I'm not ever going to leave her. Not again. Not ever." Max promised softly to herself.

Rachel eyed her silently, her eyes calculative before they softened and she flicked them towards the road again. "The world better watch out then. Max and Chloe are back in business." She joked before she pulled into a parking lot and switched the ignition off. 

Wasting no time, the aspiring model hopped out of the truck and Max had no choice but to follow. She looked up and eyed the building. It was sorta brooding compared to every other building, the brick was sprayed a dark blue and a giant blue butterfly with black markings was at the top of it off center. 

The Butterfly was the name of this building, and Max smiled slightly at the choice of font. It looked like 'The' was in sharpie and 'Butterfly' was spray painted.

Definitely a place Chloe would hang, Max glanced over at Rachel who was waiting for her by the door. 

Max looked back up at the building and felt around for Williams camera, thankful she had been wise enough to grab it after breaking hers, and snapped a quick picture if the butterfly. She didn't know exactly why she had been compelled to do so, but she learned a long time ago that she should follow her photographers' instinct. As the photo slid from the dispenser she heard Rachel shuffling and took it as a sign of impatience. Shaking the polaroid, she placed it inside her bag and followed the blonde.

Rachel rose a brow at her, "Your showing me that picture later." She said as she opened the door. 

Max nodded in a silent agreement and followed Rachel into the building. Instantly, the smell of apple cinnamon wafted through the air pleasantly. She looked around the dimly lit place, in front of her a few paces was a counter with a register peeking over it. No one was at it but Max assumed there was someone nearby. To her right, there was a row of comfortable looking chairs and a few to the left by the door. Black lines drew her gaze to the pictures on the wall, intricate designs with line-weight variation captivated her.

All at once, it clicked in Max's brain. She had been an idiot not to realize. 

"Chloe's a tattoo artist." She said in a moment of realization.

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner." Max looked up, seeing Chloe Price herself grinning. "Surprised?"

"Not really." Max gazed around, "It looks like somewhere you'd work." She said.

Chloe rose a brow, "Why? Dark and badass?" She said cockily, her eyes alight with happiness.

"Chloe, you're hair glows in the dark." Rachel teased, causing the tattoo artist to flip her off.

"Scary looking but super cozy." Max said, smiling at Chloe who blinked. "But yeah, also badass."

Chloe opened and closed her mouth for a few moments before she straightened up, coughing to cover up her surprise. "Of course." She said, sounding as if there was more to that sentence but it didn't come out. "Well," She said, breaking a semi-awkward silence. "After I moved out I needed some money. I called up a buddy and he gave me a loan, I used the money to buy this place and fix it up, then opened shop. It was slow business at first but once I got a few regulars and my work got out there it's always bustling with profit." Chloe gazed around her shop with pride in her blue eyes, "It's.. weird, knowing I own this place lock stock and cracker barrel." She murmured, "Almost... magical." 

"It is magical." Max eyed her friend. Chloe's back was towards her, a rim light effect on her due to the lantern-like lights hanging from the ceiling in front of her. Due to the mahogany wood, she seemed to have a.. mysterious vibe. Like the cover of a murder mystery book or horror movie. In a fluid movement, she fished her camera from her pocket and snapped a quick picture, taking time to consider the lighting and naturally moving to get the best angle. 

The click resonated in the building and Chloe turned around in response and rose a brow. 

"Unbelievable." She teased but she walked over and grinned at the picture as Max shook it and gazed at it herself. "Hella dope picture though." She said, her eyes soft.

Rachel leaned against Max, putting her chin on Max's head and eyed the picture. "Show us the one you took outside." She murmured.

Max filled out the request and she smiled at the two pictures in both of her hand.

The three girls were silent as they eyed the picture before Rachel finally spoke.

"Ya know Max, Chloe was right. You really are a damn good photographer." 

Max looked up into her hazel eyes and felt her heart hammer in her chest at how close Rachel was. She wanted to say thanks but the words didn't come so she nodded. 

"Welp, my shift is over for today. Why don't we go chill at my place, play some video games and get my high on." Chloe said, grabbing some keys from behind the counter. 

"Hope your planning on sharing." Rachel said making the punk scoff.

"Of course, what would my smoke sessions be without you bumming off me?" She teased, nudging her as she walked to the door. She opened it and pressed the key into the keyhole and twisted it, locking the door. "Yo, Max, you coming?" She looked up at her friend who was still looking at the pictures.

Max looked up at Chloe, then around the tattoo parlor, then back at Chloe and in a moment of overwhelming emotion she rushed forward and hugged the punk tightly.

"Woah.. mushy alert." Chloe hugged her back awkwardly, "You okay first mate?" She asked, looking at Max in slight concern, her brows furrowed. 

"I'm fine just.. I'm so glad I'm with you." Max, for once in five years, felt at peace. But there was a pull to it, a knowledge so deeply rooted in her mind that it felt like a physical weight. She knew this wouldn't last, this feeling of peace and happiness, but she wanted it to, she wanted it to last oh-so-badly. "Chloe, I may not.." She hesitated, trying to think of a way to voice her feelings. "I may not last forever." She said softly, gazing into her friends' blue eyes.

Chloe looked confused and she gently grabbed Max's hands, holding them gently in her own. "That's alright," She said, "We will. Forever." 

Max's lip shuddered and her eyes stung with tears, she squeezed Chloe's hand and the punk interlocked their fingers, drawing Max closer. 

Baby blue and ocean blue eyes stared into each other, and Max could feel herself inching closer, or was Chloe moving forward? She couldn't tell, but she knew one of them had moved because their noses were much closer than they were before. 

"Hey!" Rachel broke the tender moment, causing the two to lean away quickly. "You nerds coming? That weed isn't gonna smoke itself!"

Max laughed slightly and grinned at Chloe who cleared her throat and Max hoped she wasn't imagining the slight pink tint on the punks cheeks.

"So," Chloe grinned at Max, recovering just as quick as she did when she and Max were kids. She had the same look as well, her eyes bright, filled with hope and happiness and energy, and a wide smile on her face, only on the verge of looking insane. "Care to join me, first mate?" She said smoothly, squeezing Max's knuckles because she hadn't let go.

Max squeezed back, "I'll go where ever you go Captain." She promised, "After all, this ship will last-"

"-Forever." Two voices melded perfectly together as they walked to a beaten up truck, a blonde gazing at the two grinning girls in confusion before she shrugged it off, deciding she'd figure it out eventually.