Viva La Hella

Christmas Surprise

The couple parks at the Price's house. It's Christmas day and they decided to spend that in Arcadia Bay. As they walk in they can already hear Joyce sighing.

'Aren't you two early?'
'Are we?' the punk smiles 'Okay, let me help you' she takes her way to the kitchen but the brunette grabs her hand.
'I want to. Please. Just sit down. I'll do it'
'What's with you, Caulfield?'
'You did all the work during the year. It's my turn. At least once a year. Please?'
'If you insist' she shrugs and takes her way to the living room.
'Wait! Stop right there!'
'What is it again?' she turns around.
'Mistletoe' she smiles and walks up to the tattooist.
'Nice trick, Mom' she smiles as she kisses the photographer long.
'It really is good to see you two are still madly in love with each other.'
'We're getting married as soon as possible and gonna bring up the best kid in the world!' the bluenette grins.
'You sound exactly like your father' she laughs 'Come on, cut that, don't hold Max back! Sit down and let her help me!'
'Sure, Mom, sure' she walks up to David and they shake hands 'Hello, David. I hope things go okay.'
'If you have a minute...' he points at the backdoor with his thumb.

The bluenette shrugs and heads to the backyard. She lights a cigarette and looks up to the sky. She sighs quietly.

'How's it going?' the man looks at her.
'Actually great. I'm living the dream' she smiles softly.
'You two don't fight, are you?'
'No, not really. We had a fight some weeks ago, but we're good.'
'What about her parents?'
'Her mother refused to talk to her' she sighs 'Ryan calls her pretty often. He keeps fighting Vanessa for Max. He really is sweet.'
'Poor girl'
'She has to go through all this shit because of me' she brushes off her face.
'Now, you can say that you should be grateful for your mother and me' he grins.
'I never said I'm not grateful. Of course I am' she looks at the man 'I'm just terrible at feelings and words...'
'Just like me.'
'Are you two okay?' the punk raises and eyebrow.
'Better than ever'
'Now that the troublemaker's out of the house' she grins.
'Don't say that. Sometimes it's awfully quiet without you'
'Jeez, you miss me!' she points a finger.
'Of course.'
'You know, sometimes I miss living here, too. Sometimes I start believing I'm gonna break under the pressure of responsibility' she sighs.
'Welcome to adulthood'
'You wanna ask me something?'
'How did you know?' his eyes widen.
'I work with people, you know.'
'I just...' he sighs 'You know your mother always wanted to travel to Paris but in the end she couldn't afford it'
'I guess I like the way it's going...'
'I think we could get married again.'
'That would be awesome. You two deserve to take a rest'
'There's a little problem'
'How much?' she shoves her hands into her pockets.
'How'd you know?'
'I told you. I work with people.'
'I don't really know. I tried to save money but I'm still short'
'Call me when we get back to Portland. We're gonna figure it out'
'I'll pay it back'
'You don't have to' she smiles softly 'Just make my mother happy. That's what you do. You don't have to pay anything back.'
'Can you afford it?'
'My designs are hot. People love it. I could make a fortune out of them. I can. Don't worry.'

The door opens behind them. The photographer breathes sharp.

'It's freezing out here. Come in! Dinner's ready!'
'Hold on for a second!' she takes her hand as David walks in.
'What?' she sighs.
'The sky is so beautiful tonight' she smiles.
'Chloe, I'm freezing!'
'There!' she puts her coat on her 'Three minutes'
'Mushy...'
'Let me love you, hippie!' she laughs then kisses her on the cheek.
'Soon enough. You have to love me even during the exam-period'
'I will. I always will' she closes her eyes as their foreheads meet.
'You promised there's no gifting this Christmas'
'I know.'
'You didn't buy anything, right?'
'I didn't'
'I'm serious'
'Baby, I didn't buy you anything'
'I'll kill you if you did!'
'I'm gonna come back and haunt you then!' she laughs.
'Did you buy something?'
'Max, I didn't. Did you?'
'No. That's why I'm asking.'
'We're cool then.' she kisses her gently 'Let's head back before my mom blows a fuse' she smiles.