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

Chapter 16

"Well that was... interesting." Was all Max could think to say later when the celebrations were over, and they were alone again.

"Sorry if I made dinner awkward for you," Chloe replied.

"You mean that wasn't your goal, to make everyone feel awkward?"

"Them... maybe, but not you. Max I'm sorry I left you like that today, there's no excuse I know." Max said nothing, she felt she should apologise but was also still hurt by Chloe's short fuse, so Chloe continued. "I know I didn't handle things the right way earlier, and I said things I knew would hurt you." Chloe began to pace around the room, and used her arms frantically trying to use them to say the words she struggled with.

"I didn't mean to push you to talk about something you weren't ready to share with me." Max said.

"No, you were right to bring it up, it's something we should talk about eventually and you should feel like you can ask me anything. I just, I'm not good with the emotional shit Max. I'm so used to just relying on myself and keeping my guard up, so expressing what I'm feeling doesn't come naturally to me, I lash out and hurt the people I care about."

"It's ok Chloe, whatever this is we're doing, it's new to both of us." Chloe moved to sit on the bed, more relaxed now, and Max joined her.

"You said you felt like you were second best to Rachel, and I need you to know that you're not. The truth is, you were part of the reason things didn't work out between us. I was always comparing Rachel to you, in a way trying to pretend she could be you, but she never was, and it wasn't fair. Rachel also had her own reasons for wanting the two of us to remain just friends, but I know I hurt her by wanting her to be something she couldn't." Max didn't know how to take this, it increased her guilt over her irrational jealousy of Rachel, and although she hated to admit it, she was secretly glad that she was the standard Chloe set Rachel to meet.

"I'm sorry I made today all about me when you were just trying to open up on a part of your life I wasn't around for. I just felt so insecure."

"It's ok Max, I get it. And that's why I made that announcement over dinner. I didn't want you to feel like we were some dirty secret I didn't want people knowing about. I never told my mum and Rachel and I, I hoped by telling her about us now I could prove that I'm all in with this." Chloe looked Max in the eye as she said this, showing her sincerity.

"I'm all in too Chloe. And the albatross was a nice touch."

Chloe smiled, and pulled her into a hug. Her arms felt good around Max's body, safe and reassuring. When Chloe relaxed the hug they locked eyes again, and Max found herself lost in Chloe's. They were perfect, the colour of the sea, so deep she wanted to go for a swim. She turned her gaze to Chloe's lips, and without even thinking about it she was kissing her. Not kissing her like they had when she first admitted to Chloe how she felt, not even like the soft, gentle meeting of tongues from the morning. This was deeper. Affection was becoming desire. Chloe didn't hesitate to respond, the more experienced girl placing her hands on Max's hips, pulling their bodies gently together.

"Max..." she managed between kisses and scattered breaths, her face flushing. Max placed a hand on her cheek, the other on her neck, and felt her palms burning on Chloe's skin. The space between their bodies became too much, and Chloe pulled Max closer, dragging her onto Chloe's lap. When Max broke the kiss to curse under her breath, Chloe kissed her cheek. Then her ear. Then her neck.

"Fuck... Chloe..." The heat in her stomach that was becoming a common occurance had returned. Her body had taken over and left her brain behind, and Max heard herself gasping and sighing and whispering Chloe's name. When Chloe placed her hands on Max's butt, she felt her body buck up against her.