Liberosis

Kairosclerosis

After getting off the stage, Chloe just wanted to change so she and Rachel went straight to the dressing room. Rachel wasn't about to complain, Chloe indeed saved the play. And they indeed made a pact, a promise.

"Can we pleeeease take a picture?" Rachel insisted. "I know the school photographers already did, but you know, behind the scenes stuff."

"Didn't know you would get flustered over such a simple plea."

"I just don't want you to say no."

"I wasn't. I get it, immortalize the moment and shit."

"Exactly. And you secretly want it, too." Rachel winked at her and held up her phone, trying to fit the two of them, but Chloe's bird hat was too big and you couldn't really see it.

Chloe took the phone from her, stretching her long arm higher. "Alright, shortie, let me have this one."

Rachel shot a quick glare at Chloe and then shot her supermodel smile to the camera as her crush snapped the photo. "Thanks... giraffe."

Chloe returned the device. "Is that really the best you could come up with?"

"Shut up." Rachel stored it in her bag and then looked at a grinning Chloe. "You're totally happy, birdie."

Chloe's eyebrows lifted in surprise, that was definitely a better retort. She opened her mouth, but someone entered the tent.

"Chloe Elizabeth Price!" her mom chimed in, hugging her daughter tightly, and Rachel smiled. "You were spectacular!"

"Mom, please..." Chloe groaned, looking uncomfortable.

Joyce pulled away and noticed Rachel in the room. "Hi, Rachel. You were as well."

"Thank you, Mrs..." Rachel didn't know if to say Price. It'd been two years since she lost her husband and she was currently dating Stepladder.

"It's Joyce, sweetheart."

"Thank you, Joyce."

Now Joyce turned back to her daughter. "Let me take pictures for the family album!"

Chloe seemed annoyed, probably because they had just taken one, but she gave in anyway, not wanting to let her mom down again after getting expelled. "Fine."

Joyce took out her camera and then glanced at Rachel. "You too."

Rachel chuckled and walked next to Chloe, placing her arm around her waist and smiling proudly at the woman and Chloe.

When their little photoshoot was done, they finally got out of their costumes. Chloe had told her mom she would be spending the night with Rachel to not worry her on her whereabouts, something that seemed like a consistent problem. Rachel was glad she texted Joyce because just this morning, Chloe believed her mother thought she sucked. Now she knew she was proud of her.

Rachel posted their picture online, labeling it: My Ariel. Then she found her parents, pretending one of them wasn't a piece of shit as her mother hugged her, and gave them her bag and roses to take home.

She left the school with Chloe and now that they were far away from everyone, Rachel couldn't help but feel genuinely happy; breathing fresh air, dancing on the empty streets and giggling at everything that went down. The fireflies remained close to the streetlights in the neighborhood and Chloe remained close to her side. "Oh, my god. Keaton's face when you walked on stage."

"Ugh, I was shitting myself."

"He was shitting himself," Rachel defended.

"That dude owes me."