Liberosis

Énouement

Rachel and Chloe danced and sang for the rest of the night to Firewalk. They even took a cute selfie together to immortalize their time there. Rachel's mind couldn't even process that her plan had worked, too lost in the moment with Chloe fucking Price, or that Chloe had kicked the other guy in the nuts. He had punched her in the eye, but Chloe didn't seem to be in pain, probably because of the alcohol they'd drunk.

They hadn't had time to really talk, the music too loud and too good, but that was fine. They were enjoying each other's presence. Going alone to a concert didn't sound fun at all, at least not after this.

"Thank you for coming, Oregon," Firewalk's singer exclaimed. "Until next time!"

The crowd cheered and the band left the stage. Rachel looked at Chloe, hiding a few messy pieces of hair behind her ear. "We should probably head out before we can't."

"Yeah," Chloe agreed, a huge grin on her face, the whole adrenaline not gone. Rachel grabbed her hand and led her out, making her feel even more driven, zigzagging through the sea of people.

Once they made it out of the sawmill, they sat around the campfire by the front, the flames beautifully reflecting orange on their faces. "I didn't know you were into Firewalk," Chloe started.

"Well, it's not really public knowledge," Rachel answered, suddenly feeling too hot, so she took her jacket off.

Chloe observed her carefully. Still feeling tipsy, her eyes darted to Rachel's bare arms and then back at her face. She was sure she would be drunk of joy for a while. "How did you find out about the gig? That's not public knowledge."

Fuck... Ignore Chloe totally checking you out and don't expose yourself as Miss Arcadia Bay. "Uh, online."

"Uh, me too," Chloe mocked her tone and then grinned again. It was like she couldn't stop. "You look bitchin'."

"Thanks, you too... Well, you do every day." Rachel wanted to face-palm herself. Don't expose yourself as Chloe's biggest stalker too.

Chloe didn't seem to think much about it. "If you don't look bitchin' every day, then why do you exist?"

Rachel genuinely laughed, even if it wasn't that funny. It has been a while since she has been genuine with anyone, it was like her subconsciousness didn't want to show Chloe someone she wasn't. Good. "So... how did you get here? Arcadia's not that close."

"Snuck into a train. I was thinking about standing in the middle of the tracks on the way back. But then you happened."

Rachel couldn't tell if Chloe was joking or being honest just because of the alcohol. The latter scared her. "I'm... glad. The world would suck without Chloe Price."

Chloe looked doubtful, but didn't comment on it. "I don't wanna go home."

Rachel groaned. "Don't remind me. If my dad knows I've been drinking..."

"Blow me."

"What–?"

"Air. Blow air to my face."

Rachel pursed her lips and then let her breath out.

Chloe sniffed suspiciously. "You definitely smell like beer. Let's find a store on our way back and buy some mints." She stood up and stretched out her hand. Rachel took it and her crush helped her up.

They rode a train back and walked on the empty streets of Arcadia Bay. Rachel loved this time of night because there wasn't anyone to impress, anyone to worry about. Obviously, there was Chloe. But Chloe wouldn't judge her.