Chapter Text
Chloe and Max walked through the quad towards the gym, passing by a few students who were still waiting to be let into the party. Chloe and Max spotted Kate sitting outside, her phone in her hands as she read something with a solemn look on her face. Before either of the girls could speak up, Kate looked up from her phone, slipping it back into her pocket and smiled at Chloe and Max, standing up as Rachel finally pushed the door open.
“Come on in everyone.” Chloe, Kate and Max waited a few minutes for everyone else to file in before walking into the gym, walking straight over to Dana and Juliet, who were sitting in one of the corners.
“Hey!” Dana stood up, walking over and hugging all of the girls. “Good to see you three, especially you, Kate. Didn’t think this would be your kind of jam.”
“It’s uh… it’s a bit much, but I’m going to let my hair down and enjoy myself.” Juliet smiled and tugged Kate into a hug, the other girl hugging back.
Meanwhile, Max and Chloe had pushed through the crowd to find Rachel, the girl eluding her before Chloe shook her head, giving up. She reached out and took Max’s hand, pulling her onto the dance floor, Max rolling her eyes.
“Chloeee…” Max laughed as Chloe just winked at her before drawing her onto the dance floor proper, where both girls started dancing - Max slower and more reserved whilst Chloe danced in her usual, energetic self, Max remembering a younger Chloe dancing in the same way.
“C’mon Max, shake that bony ass!” Chloe took Max’s hands, holding her hands above her head as Max found her flow, starting to dance more confidently and faster. Both girls danced around on the dance floor, several people having to move to avoid both girls. Chloe spun Max around by pirouetting her around by her hand. Max, after spinning, tucked an arm around Chloe’s back, pressing herself into a hug, Chloe holding her close and leaning down to whisper into her ear. “Having fun?” Max pulled back a little to see Chloe looking at her with a wide, mischievous yet joyful and happy smile on her face.
“Lots of fun!” Max laughed as Chloe pulled away, dancing in a crazy style again. “I’m going to grab a drink!”
“Okay!” Chloe flashed a grin and a thumbs up as Max walked off of the dance floor, taking a few deep breaths and grabbing a bottle of water from one of the tables. She took the top off of the bottle and took a big drink. She scanned the room, spotting Kate and Rachel dancing and talking, Dana and Juliet drinking out of unmarked bottles, Max rolling her eyes before she looked at the entrance and froze, her eyes locking on someone wearing a black suit jacket, black suit pants, a white dress shirt and black and white glasses with spiked hair. “Max? You okay?”
“No Chloe… it’s him.” Max pointed to the door, Chloe looking over and storming off, Rachel and Kate noticing and both rushing over to Max.
“What happen-” Rachel spotted the person Chloe was walking towards. “That prick- I told him not to dress like that.” Rachel clenched her fist as she stormed after Chloe, Kate and Max following as several people turned to look after the fuming girl walking towards the entrance. A few people started to whisper about the newcomer, it was just a student who decided to wear a stupid costume, but it didn’t stop people speculating about if it was really him or not. Chloe finally reached him, grabbing him by his collar.
“Hey, what the-” He was silenced as Chloe practically threw him through the fire doors, the cold night air surging into the room as everyone followed Rachel and Chloe as both girls dragged him towards the pool. A few minutes later, Chloe and Rachel were standing poolside with the kid dressed up as Jefferson standing in front of them, students surrounding the pool and stomping their feet.
“See ya, kid.” Rachel pushed the kid into the pool, the splash causing a loud cheer to erupt throughout the building.
“Max?” Chloe pushed into the girls changing room of the pool block, Rachel behind her. “Kate? Max?”
“Here…” Chloe nodded at Rachel, the girl walking over to the showers and reaching out cautiously, Kate shuffling up off of the floor, Rachel and Kate hugging. Chloe walked further into the changing room, poking her head around each corner until she saw Max curled up on one of the benches, her arms resting on her knees as she softly sobbed into her jacket.
“Oh, Max…” Chloe rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Max and holding her closely, the other girl leaning into Chloe.
“It’s- I thought…” Max sputtered out, sobbing again into Max’s shoulder, Chloe held Max close, hugging her and rocking back and forth. “I know he’s g- gone… but it’s still there… it still hurts, what he did to me… what he did to-”
“I know, Max, I know.” Chloe squeezed Max, kissing her on the forehead. “But he’s gone now, he’s never coming back. I… I…” Chloe sputtered out, just hugging Max closely and helping her calm down. After a few minutes, Rachel walked into the main changing room, carrying Kate in her arms.
“I’m taking Kate back to her dorm, she’s really torn up.”
“Please…” Chloe turned to Max, who lifted her head and looked at Chloe with red rimmed eyes. “Please, can we go to my dorm…”
“Of course, Max.” Chloe scooped Max up in her arms, Rachel and Chloe carrying the two girls the long way around, through the forest trail and back into the dorm block, entering through the unlocked back door. They walked up the back staircase and walked into the hallway, the automatic lights humming as they flickered to life. The girls walked down the hall, turning the corner and carrying the girls to their respective dorms - Kate handing Rachel her keys and Chloe unlocking the door with the key Max had given her a few months ago. Chloe walked into the room, flicking the string lights on before putting Max down onto her bed. Chloe kissed Max on the forehead before whispering to her.
“I’ll be back in a second.” Max nodded at Chloe, slowly undressing whilst Chloe stepped outside, waiting for Rachel to walk out of Kate’s room. After a few minutes, Rachel walked out of the dorm, closing the door behind her but neither locking it nor walking away, Chloe walking over. “How is she?”
“She’s shook as fuck, but she’ll be okay…” Chloe closed her eyes, taking a breath as if deliberating something before she exhaled and looked at Rachel.
“Rach, something’s been bugging me.”
“Shoot.”
“What’s the deal with the vortex club? I know you said it was different, and couldn’t answer if me and Max were in it, but I'm just… it’s tearing me up inside.” Rachel tugged Chloe into a hug, rubbing her back softly.
“You and Max aren’t in the vortex club, and to be honest, this is the last event I’m doing before I disband it, because after January, after Nathan and Vic treating Kate like shit, after tonight, I’m done with this bullshit.” Chloe let out a speculative “hmm” sound.
“What’s she been doing to Kate in this timeline?”
“Same as in the others, but…” Rachel slammed her eyes closed, Chloe steadying her and grabbing her packet of tissues from her jacket that was discarded in Max’s room.
“Thanks…” Rachel made sure her nose was blood free before she took a shaky breath. “I’m going to stay with Kate, you go and check on Max, let me know how she is, kay?”
“Of course I will Rach, night Amber.”
“Night, Price.” Chloe turned and walked back into Max’s room, going to speak before her eyes rested on Max’s figure on the bed, breath shallow and face relaxed, Chloe rolled her eyes and sat on the sofa.
‘Of course she fell asleep.’