A work in progress

Chapter 3

Max took some time to freshen up in Chloe's bathroom before she followed Rachel and Chloe out to the punks truck. She sat in the middle and honestly that was a mistake because now she was between two really attractive people and it wasn't helping her mental functionalities.

"Max?" She jumped and looked up, blinking at Chloe who grinned in turn. "You know, after five years I thought you wouldn't zone out as much." She said, smiling at the photographer.

Max shrugged, toying with the sleeve of her jacket. "S-Sorry, whaddya say?" She mumbled, looking down.

"I asked if you wanted something to eat." Chloe said.

"Oh," Max thought about it, "I mean, I guess I could go for Two Whales but I don't think you wanna see your mom." She said, awkwardly shuffling in place.

Chloe sighed, "It's not that." She said softly, "I just.." She paused and frowned, her brow furrowing as she thought about how to word her next sentence.

"You can guess from that interaction that she and David don't get along." Rachel piped in, ready to make it easier for Chloe.

"Who is that guy anyway?" Max asked, looking at Rachel.

"He's my step-dad, but he's more of a step-douche." Chloe answered with a growl. "He and my mom got together after, what, a year after my dad died?" She shook her head. "I never trusted David, he treated me like some child delinquent."

"I mean, you kind of were." Rachel said, "But he went too far with his 'helping'." Her voice became angry.

"I only was because you made me one." Chloe shot at her.

"Explain?" Max chimed in, confused.

Chloe sighed and pulled into an empty parking lot. "Alright so after you left I was adrift at sea." Chloe started, "I didn't know what to do, I just wanted you but.." She paused, seeing the guilt on Max's face and decided to skip forward. "Anyway, my mom started dating David, he's an ex-soldier and he seems to think I'm his cadet. My mom couldn't handle me I guess, I was an angry, out of control fifteen-year-old. I didn't like him and I acted out in defiance." Max felt her mouth quirk up into a smile. Chloe had always done that, act like a rebel against things she didn't like. It always drove William insane but the man couldn't stay mad at Chloe worth anything. "I got into drugs, I snuck out, I went to parties, I slept with boys and girls." Chloe rattled on, "I regret the boys." She said with a small laugh, "That's how I figured out I'm hella gay."

"Hella?" Max echoed, "And you call me the hipster?"

"Hey," Rachel chimed in, "Hella's a good word."

Max couldn't help the giggle but she gestured for Chloe to go on.

The punk leaned back, "I dyed my hair with Rachels support, she and I always get into trouble somehow. I got expelled from Blackhell for skipping school and it just got worse from there." She paused and sighed, "I dyed my hair after I got expelled and still did the same shit that my mom hated and one night at what was supposed to be a quiet family dinner David and I started fighting. It got heated and.." She hesitated, looking at Max before she flicked her eyes away. "And he hit me."

"What?" Max felt her blood run cold. "He did what?"

"He hit me." Chloe repeated, rubbing the back of her neck. "It wasn't the first time he's done it, he doesn't have anything against hitting a woman, he's killed people dammit." Chloe gave a dry laugh, "I was eighteen and sick of it, I told Joyce to choose between me and him and she said she loved us both. I told her that she clearly didn't love me or William at all and packed my shit and left. I rented my apartment and I've ignored her ever since. David figured out where I was staying, because of course he did, and apologized. He asked me to come back home but that place isn't my home. Not while David's there." She shook her head wistfully.