Dreamcatcher

Chapter Forty-Six: The Two Whales

Even with the combined effort of the team, they still faced failure.

Max hadn't been feeling the same since her last conversation with Clark, which could only be the most logical explanation for her lack of coordination during the volleyball game. In spite of the fact that nobody gave her a hard time and concluded their PE lesson still on good terms, it still gnawed at Max that she'd done something to hurt Kate.

The Christian girl with such a messy bun of dirty-blonde hair refused to give Max the regular attention she would during the past couple of weeks.

Max realised that her opportunity to converse with Kate was in the girl's changing room, except it wasn't the most ideal to talk with so many people around them. Personally, she preferred a one-on-one conversation that didn't include the nosy attention of other such as Victoria or even Juliet Watson. So she waited.

While all of the other girls were changing, Max retreated to the girl's toilets and occupied a stall to conceal herself from anybody who would walk in on her while she was trapped in her own thoughts. That was when somebody walked into the room.

Multiple voices could be heard, three voices at the most. Each one that was distinctly identified by the tone and charisma in their voice.

"My God, that was literally the worst thing ever!" One girl, who turned out to be Sarah, exaggerated.

"I know, right?! That Fish guy, or whatever the hell his fake Canadian name is, is such a jerk! I mean, did you see the way he talked down to me? It's like I'm nothing but some rude bitch he could just walk all over." Victoria Chase agreed.

Makeup equipment clattered on the sinks that the women used to reapply their beauty enhancements.

"Nobody talks to you that way and gets away with it Victoria." Courtney proposed.

"And that Max. Ugh! She's so... so weird! I just don't understand her, but... she's... alright, I guess. Maybe if I- if we invite her into the Vortex Club, she might actually become a pretty decent person to chill with."

Max honed in on the conversation, now with full intriguement upon hearing herself get mentioned. It baffled Max to hear Victoria mention her that way, in a manner that was void of slander and disparagement.

"What are you talking about, Victoria? You're delusional if you think somebody like Max Caulfield is good enough for people like us. We treat ourselves like royalty, while she's like a servant." Sarah chastised the short-haired blonde woman.

Max felt her phone buzz in her pocket. Feeling it vibrate made her sweat in fear of being spotted eavesdropping on the girls in the bathroom with Max.

From: CLARK
Hey Max. Look, I want to start off by apologising for how I've treated you these past few weeks. I've just been going through a lot - since Chloe disappeared and I'm scared to death something has happened to her. I know I'm not the best with words so let me make it up to you and treat you for lunch at the Two Whales? 

To: CLARK
I accept your apology, and yes.

From: CLARK
Awesome. I'll see you there at lunch.

Max sighed and slouched on the toilet seat she'd sat on. The girls who were in the toilets had walked out, with the door creaking shut behind them. After a couple of minutes, Max changed into her regular clothes and headed out of the girl's toilets, making her way to her next class.

Come lunch break, Max Caulfield had been anticipating a proper reunion with her long time friend. 

Thoughts never escaped her mind about how she would discuss with him the things that occurred between her leaving Arcadia to the point in time where they both were caught in the same room together.