Max & Chloe's Hella Shitty Coffee (Life is Strange)

Chapter 6

"Mocha please." Max routinely chimed as she had done the past few weeks.

"Coming right- woah what the hell are you wearing?" Chloe demanded as she turned her gaze to Max.

"It's a toy albatross. The Mariner was forced to wear it around his neck as a symbol of penance and so shall I until you talk to me. Mine isn't as heavy and it doesn't smell so bad but it's the best I got." Chloe didn't say anything, but the crease of her contained smirk told Max she was trying not to laugh.

Autumn had arrived and it was Max's favourite season. With Autumn came beautiful colours from fallen leaves and Max instinctively reached for her camera so she could immortalise the scenery around her. Max shook and admired the photo, and then returned the camera to her eye and aimed it instead at Chloe. Chloe noticed Max photograph her and seemed taken aback but whether she was angry Max couldn't tell. Still, Max didn't want to push Chloe too far before she was ready to let Max back in, so she pocketed the photo, finished her drink and walked to the exit of the coffee shop.

"Wait, c-can I see the photo." This was the first time Chloe had initiated any conversation, so Max didn't hesitate to hand it over. "No not that one, the first one." This time Max was taken aback, and suddenly self-conscious – she didn't usually show anyone the photos she took but she handed it over nonetheless. "It's beautiful." Chloe said and pocketed the photo for herself.

"I like the second one better," this time Chloe couldn't contain her emotions. Chloe blushed and Max had caused it, and then she realised she was blushing too. Once again, she turned to leave.

"Max wait... Happy birthday." Chloe looked conflicted; she wasn't ready to forget the past but there had already been too many lost birthdays.

"You remember?"

"Look don't read too much into it, but of course I remember. So... you doing anything to celebrate?"

"I haven't really told anyone it's my birthday, besides I just spent it with the person I care most about." Chloe processed this and returned the change Max had used to pay for her coffee, saying it was a birthday gift. Max smiled at this as she walked away.

"Just so you know this doesn't count as talking, you better come in wearing that bird thingy tomorrow!" Chloe called after her.

Despite having kept her date of birth a secret, this hadn't stopped Victoria from finding out – 'duh Facebook' was her explanation. Max was slowly getting to know everyone in her dorm and was even getting on well with Dana who had the room above Max's, but most of the time Max relied on Victoria to act as her personal social buffer.

"Chill out Max, I didn't tell everyone, and I only organised a meal for you, me, Dana and your weird short friend, Katie is it?" Max playfully slapped Victoria's arm.

"You know it's Kate, and she's not weird. And thank you, that actually sounds nice."

"Good, now I got you something small too. I considered buying you a new wardrobe since your fashion style is tragic, but I thought this journal was more your thing." Max rolled her eyes at the fashion comment but couldn't find it in herself to take offence when Victoria handed her the journal. Victoria was right, it was very her.

"It's perfect. Thank you." Max gave Victoria a hug before excusing herself to her room so she could video call her parents.

"I'll knock on your door at six."

When she made it to her room the first thing Max did was grab the photo she'd taken of Chloe and glue it into her new journal. She wrote a few lines about the moment she'd captured and smiled at the blue-haired, enchanting women. They had still been girls when they parted, that things had changed was undeniable, but the connection Max felt to Chloe was stronger than it had ever been, somehow, she knew that Chloe felt the same.

Max made a quick effort to tidy (but not necessarily clean) her room before she called her parents, they would surely want a tour. She shoved dirty clothes under her bed and placed old cups and plates into an empty cupboard until everything appeared orderly. Max was just about to press 'ring' when she noticed the dead plant in the corner of her eye. 'Shit' she muttered to herself, the plant had been a parting gift from her parents, and they had asked her to keep it alive as they had kept her alive for 18 years. It seemed stupid to Max, but the gift had made her parents happy. It was too late to replace it, so Max simply placed it in the hallway and prayed it didn't get mentioned.

It got mentioned, and Max got lectured. But family obligations were over, and as promised Victoria knocked on Max's door at exactly 6pm.

"Well don't you look exactly the same as you did an hour ago." Max gave Victoria a look of confusion.

"What?"

"Max we are celebrating your birth, and you are going to dress like it, come on!"

Max felt completely out of her comfort zone. She was wearing an old dress of Victoria's and the restaurant they were dining in was the fanciest place Max had ever stepped into. "Get used to it Caulfield, you're dining with Victoria Chase now, and order your weight in food because it's all on me." Max didn't like people paying for her, but she got the feeling that Victoria would only find it strange if she protested.

"Fuck it, bring on the champagne." Max muttered and Victoria clapped her hands approvingly. Max had never been to a restaurant and had a 3-course meal, but she could definitely get used to it, and she had to admit she was having a nice time. She had initially been worried that Kate would feel out of place hanging out with Victoria, but the girl was a lightweight. One drink and she was happily sharing her life story with the table (apparently, she's scared of turtles, and has a crush on Sam from our presentation group).

"Okay let's get this girl some water, but speaking of boys who has everyone else got their eyes on? I'm already spoken for by Trevor." Dana asked.

"Please I have no interest in boys, my acting professor on the other hand..." Victoria announced which earned a chorus of whistles around the table. "Max what about you?"

"Um, no boys yet I guess." Max shrugged.

"And what about the girl you've been stalking, you're telling me that's platonic?" Victoria questioned.

"Chloe and I are just friends; besides she seems pretty close to Rachel Amber, they are always all over each other at the coffee shop."

"Do I detect jealousy?" Victoria responded, to which Max rolled her eyes. "Besides I know Rachel, sure her and Chloe live together in a small one bed, they work together, and they even tried being more than friends once. Ultimately Rachel prefers boys so your path to Chloe is free."

"How exactly did you find all that out?" Max asked.

"Duh, I was asking for you." This made Max smile, Victoria was loyal, but she'd shrug it off and say something bitchy in the next sentence to make up for it. In a way her and Max balanced each other nicely.

The girls finished their desserts and ordered an uber back to campus. Max thanked everyone for celebrating her birthday with her and told Kate to drink some more water. Later, in bed, Max thought about what Victoria had said. Rachel and Chloe were only friends, and for reasons Max couldn't quite put her finger on, that made her smile as she closed her eyes and began to drift off.

And then Victoria came in carry two wine glasses and an expensive looking bottle.

"Pants on Caulfield, night's not over, I hope you don't sleep naked."