Viva La Hella

Let's Not Talk About it

The bluenette grumbles as she sets off the alarm. She turns on her side smiling and hugs the brunette from behind.

'Good morning' she whispers, kissing her neck.
'Morning' she mumbles.
'Rise and shine, Mad Max'
'I don't want to'
'Come on! What you wanna eat?'
'You' she smiles.
'Very funny' she kisses her cheek 'Come on! Wakey-wakey, eggs and bakey!'
'You just totally sounded like Joyce!' she laughs.
'It's so not funny! Come on!'
'I don't want to eat. I want to sleep.'
'Max, we slept yesterday away. It's Monday. I have to get to work. And don't you dare to skip school again!'
'Yeah, yeah, sure'
'We're gonna talk about Thanksgiving when I get home' she puts on a shirt.
'Do we have to?'
'Yes, we have to. It's next week. Why aren't you pumped? You love Thanksgiving!'
'I did when I was not about to tell my parents about dating the girl of my dreams'
'I can't see the problem, Max' she sits back on the edge of the bed and gently tucks in Max's hair.
'My mother's gonna blow the fuse, Chlo' she sighs.
'If she finds out'
'Huh?' she finally opens her eyes.
'I promised you. We're gonna hide it as long as we can'
'She will find out anyways. She's gonna go on a rant about it. No, wait, just before that she'll have the suspicion, like how can I afford this place. The other question will be that why we are on the same budget. And in the same bed. Why don't I have a boyfriend? And then the rant about that you're a bad influence on me, that you always have been and she will just go on and on and on...'
'I don't care. I don't date your mother. I date you. And I love you' she kisses her forehead.
'I know, I know' she sighs.
'It will be okay. Remind you my mom will be here and she'd never let anyone to hurt her precious rebel daughter' she grins.
'I'm so gonna ruin Thanksgiving' she brushes off her face.
'I don't give a shit. I love you' she kisses her gently 'And I'm with you 'til the very end'
'I love you'
'I have to go. But we'll talk about it when I get home, okay?'
'If we really have to' she shrugs.
'We have to figure something out, okay?'
'I know, I know' she sighs.
'Will you drop in today?'
'I can't. I won't have the time'
'Mad Max's getting popular' she laughs.
'Something like that. And three tests today. So...'
'Did you study at all?'
'Somewhat. It'll be okay.'
'Fine' she sighs 'See you later then' she kisses her on the cheek then takes her leave.

When she arrives to the parlor she immediately checks the white board and gets ready for a chest tattoo. After finishing she has some minutes until the next client arrives so she decides to have a cigarette. As she passes the counter Rachel grabs her hand.

'Could we talk for a moment?' she whispers.
'Not now, Rachel. I'm busy.'
'You're just taking a break'
'And I wanna be alone. Let me go.'
'Chloe...'
'Let me go!' she breaks the grip then heads out.

She sits on the edge of the half-pipe. She shakes her head. So Rachel remembers what happened on Saturday. She's still furious about it and doesn't want to talk about it. Maybe later. She doesn't know if Rachel wants to apologize or convince her for a kiss or even more. She heads back to the parlor and sets everything for the next client. During the day, when she's working on a design Matt steps behind her.

'You busy, Price?'
'Kinda' she works on.
'I checked your schedule. Leave it now. I wanna talk to you. Let's head out now. We'll drink a coffee or something'
'Is something wrong?' she frowns as she faces the man.
'You're gonna tell. Let's head out, now'
'I'm fine, thanks, Matt'
'I said we're heading out. Now!'
'I don't wanna go out! I have work to do!'
'Fuck that! You're gonna do that later!'
'Let me at least finish this!'
'We're heading out right now, Chloe! I'm your fucking boss!'
'Okay. Fine' she puffs 'Let's grab a coffee'
'Darren, we're going out!'
'Okay, okay!' he nods as he's checking the piercings.

The two get to a café nearby. After ordering coffees, the man looks at the punk.

'What's wrong with you today?'
'What do you mean?'
'You're grumpier than usual'
'It's Monday' she shrugs 'And last week was crazy.'
'Did you have a fight?'
'What did she say?'
'I haven't talked to her since Saturday. That was the last time I met Max, and I didn't call her, so...'
'Okay' she sighs 'We didn't have a fight. She's just tense about Thanksgiving, that's all. We're fine' she sips her coffee.
'Okay. The other thing. About Rachel...'
'What's with Rachel?' she rolls her eyes.
'You got tense in a moment, Chloe...'
'So?'
'Did something happen on Saturday?'
'What do you mean?'
'You were so out of place, dude!'
'I didn't feel the party. I was hella tired after that week'
'And Rachel?' he raises an eyebrow.
'She was drunk. Wasted! And I hated it because I wasn't in the mood. That's it. I was annoyed and tired'
'But you're tense around her. I noticed it.'
'Listen, Matt, nothing happened. I'm still tired of last week, okay?'
'I won't tolerate tenseness in my parlor. So get your shit together, Price'
'Yes, Matt' she sighs 'I will'
'You're a brilliant artist and I don't wanna fire you. It would break my heart, but I can make no exceptions'
'Understood, boss' she nods, staring at the floor.
'Scared?'
'I guess. I can't lose this job! I can't move back to Arcadia Bay. Not without Max. She's the world to me. I can't...'
'Calm down, Price, I'm not firing you! Dumbass' he adds, grumbling.
'Okay, I'm just... Sorry?'
'It's fine. But one more thing. I'd ask Darren because he's a guy, but he has no sense of romance at all.'
'Do you?' she grins.
'Keep quiet about it' he sighs 'So... I realized you can be kinda mushy with your bae...'
'So?' she shrugs and blushes 'It... pft... That happens when you're in love!'
'You were not even aware of that? And now you're blushing about it? Wow...'
'Because when I'm with her everything seems so right. So natural. And I forget about the rest of the world then.'
'But you could rip anyone's head off if they get near her'
'Exactly!'
'Guess we're both in love!'
'I know, I know, I won't tell anyone...'
'Listen, Price, if you knew you're dating the perfect girl, how would you propose her?' he scratches his neck.
'What the fuck?'
'I know, I know, I'm just...'
'Are you blushing, Morgan?' she laughs 'It's just getting hilarious!'
'Chloe!'
'Okay, first. I'm dating the perfect girl. Second, since when are you dating her?'
'Do I really have to tell?'
'Yeah, why?'
'You're gonna think I'm an old fart.'
'Matt?'
'It's almost ten years' he sighs 'I was sixteen when we started dating'
'No fucking way!' she laughs 'I mean I get what you like about her, but man, you hide it so great!'
'How should I propose?' he grinds his teeth.
'I don't know bro' she shrugs.
'How would you?'
'I'd get something Max likes. Like I'd draw our story in a book and then propose. Or I'd get the photos we took and tell our story with them, then pretend to break up but I'd leave her as a girlfriend because I want her as a wife'
'Original. Should I get it loud or just quiet? What do you think?'
'I vote for quiet and romantic. Do you still go on dates?'
'At least once a week' he blushes.
'This is so cute!'
'Shut it, Price!'
'Sorry, sorry. Let's pretend it's just an ordinary date. Have a nice dinner, take a walk and talk a little about yourselves. Then quietly propose. Or use the break up trick. But after taking her for a dinner I don't think Amy'd buy that.'
'Come with me. Choose a ring'
'What?' she laughs 'No way Matt. Not today. Please, not today'
'I wanna get it before our ten year anniversary!'
'When's it?'
'February'
'We still have plenty of time'
'But by that time I want her to be my wife'
'We will, okay? I'll go on Wednesday'
'Okay' he sighs 'Why don't you go home, Price? You don't have any work left. I let you go earlier'
'It's okay. Max's not home yet. And I still wanna do something before I head home'
'Let's just head back then. I still need to check the clothes'

After finishing their coffees they go back to the parlor. Chloe sits back in front of the computer and finishes the design she started before Matt took her out. She walks up to the counter and looks at Rachel.

'You wanted to talk? I'm leaving but still have some minutes'
'Yeah, I'm... Let's go out.'

The bluenette sits at the edge of the half-pipe as usual and lights a cigarette. She exhales the smoke then looks at the blondie.

'So?'
'I wanted to apologize' she's staring at the ground 'I didn't mean to... I...'
'Rachel, I told you. There's nothing between you and me. Never again. You promised you won't try to separate Max and me'
'I know' she brushes off her face 'I'm so sorry. I was so wasted and I... I don't know what had gotten into me. Memories... I'm... Even after we started bonding once again. After you could forgive me. I'm such an asshole' she whispers the end of the sentence.
'You are an asshole, indeed. Do you mean this apology?'
'I do! I don't wanna lose you again! Chloe...'
'Do you love him? For real?'
'I do. But you're... you're Chloe Price...'
'Pft, nice one girl!' she laughs.
'I know I don't have the right to ask this, but... could you... once again...'
'I forgive you' she sighs 'But this is your very last chance. Try not to blow it, Rach.'
'I'm so sorry'
'I know. Look at you. You're a mess. Didn't Darren notice it?'
'He did' she sighs 'I could tell him yesterday that it's just a bad hangover, but today it was difficult. I told him it's because it's Monday'
'Did he believe you?' she giggles.
'Thanks to you, he did. He said we really are alike. That you're also grumpy on Mondays. And he told me again when he looked at you today. Still can't believe you forgave me so easily.'
'Staying angry is not a solution. Max taught me that'
'She must've taught you many things. She's a great girl.'
'And talented. And beautiful.'
'She's so perfect for you. Unlike me.'
'Don't start it again, Rach.'
'I didn't mean it like that. It's just...'
'We're fine. Shall we hug on that?'
Rachel hugs the tattooist tight. As they separate the bluenette smirks.
'And don't do it ever again, Rachel Amber!'
'I won't. I won't' she nods.
'Gotta go now, but see you tomorrow then.'
'Sure'

The punk drives home and opens the door with a smile. She steps behind the brunette who's working on her computer, sorting photographs.

'Would you refill my mug, Chlo?'
'Well, hello to you, too' she grabs the mug and heads to the kitchen, filling the mug with tea.
'Sorry' she sighs 'I'm so tense' she's brushing off her face.
'What's up?' she hands over the mug.
'Deadlines'
'Don't you have a minute?' she kneels next to her.
'That's why I wanted to finish by the time you get home' she sighs 'Wait, you're early!'
'Matt let me go' she hugs her.
'Are you okay?'
'I missed you'
'What's wrong with you?' she giggles 'Did you do something bad?'
'I talked to Matt today. Never tell anyone but he's been dating the same girl for ten years and he actually has an emotional side'
'Are we thinking of the same Matt?'
'When he talked about Amy, he was blushing and all, and... I just realized I couldn't live without you. I'd do anything for you. I'm gonna fight for you. I won't let anyone to take you away from me'
'You're in an emotional state, huh?'
'Bad timing?'
'It's really cute' she tucks into her hair 'Thanks for cheering me up. These words mean a lot to me, Chloe. I'm still terrified of Thanksgiving. I don't want to ruin this'
'I'm with you. Have you called your mother yet?'
'No. I... can't...'
'You can always come to me. I'm with you 'til the end' she holds the brunette's necklace in her hand.
'I know,' she suddenly sniffles 'that's why it's so hard. I shouldn't depend on you this much'
'Well, I depend on you, too. I don't know what I'd do without you. We're destined for each other. I truly believe in that'
'Why do you have to be so fucking perfect?'
'I'm not perfect' she brushes off the tears from Max's cheek with her thumb 'I have my own flaws. You just learned to love me despite my fucked up flaws'
'No, Chloe. I love you with your flaws'
'Smile, honey. We'll be alright. Now, call your mother. I'm here. Invite them over.'
'You call Joyce first'
'Okay' she sighs and her phone is already in her hand.
'You know that I love you, right?'
'I do' she smiles softly and kisses the photographer's hand 'I love you. We're together'
'Forever'