Fallout
Brrring.
Brrring.
Brr-
“Yo - what’s up, Rache?”
“Do you have some time after work?”
“For you? Always. Just an hour or two, though - I’ve gotta catch up with Max at five. What’s up?”
“I… I just need to let off some steam. Let’s go by the junkyard, okay?”
“Sure, dude. Wanna play with step-führer’s gun?”
“You know me too well, Chlo.”
“What can I say? You’re my best friend.”
“...Yeah. You’re mine too, Chloe.”
“...Do you wanna talk about it?”
“Not really.”
“Okay. I’ll pick you up in five?”
“That would be perfect. Lemme throw on a jacket - it’s getting cold early this year.”
“I like it. Always preferred the cold. I’m a real polar bear.”
“You’re weird, is what you are.”
“Well, yeah, that too.”
“Seeya in five.”
Click.
Contacts:
Viccy
…
Delete
When Chloe saw Rachel, she knew in an instant just why she’d called.
Her hands were in her pockets. Her eyes were deadly flat. There was a sharpness to her features - that spoke of some lingering pain. The corners of her mouth were tight.
She walked with very careful, very precise steps - like she was moving through a minefield.
Chloe stepped out of the car - and did her best to grin.
“Your favorite chauffeur is here!”
Rachel gave her a tiny, wavering smile.
“...Yeah. She is.”
“Allow me to ferry you off to far away lands.” Chloe offered, opening the passenger side door for her.
“Don’t crash.” Rachel said simply, sliding into her seat.
“I’m hurt you would even suggest such a thing, Rache.” Chloe said. She was more glad then ever that she could so easily hide the concern stewing in her gut.
She knew it was better to just keep Rachel’s mind off it. For now, at least - Rachel would tell when she was ready.
Still - she couldn’t help but send her bestie a tiny, wary glance as she sat back in the driver’s seat.
Rachel didn’t notice.
She turned the key in the ignition.
Mom and Dad visited a week after she’d been taken into the hospital. She’d be leaving the next day - they’d kept her there longer then was really necessary anyway. But she’d done her very best to keep her stay extended, so she didn’t have to be back in that monolithic house.
And to avoid the conversation that came when her parents entered the room.
She balanced a very careful tightrope, talking to her parents. Telling lies with a cold mask, showing just enough warmth to make them believe her. She knew that they didn’t quite believe her story. They knew that she knew.
But their family was built on a certain mutual distrust.
In the end, they accepted it. She was to come home the next day. She would not be spending time at any of her friend’s homes. She was not to contact anyone until she was healed.
She agreed.
There wasn’t really a choice on her part, anyway.
She learned only after coming home that Dawn had blocked her.
(She tried to tell herself that it was a relief, more then anything else. It meant Dawn wouldn’t be pressing charges.)
(Still - she spent most of the night, with nothing but memories and pain to keep her company.)
“Viccy? Please, you can talk to me - you can tell me any-”
“Just shut up already, Dawn! I told you - I’m fine! I fell, and I got a scrape - it was dumb of me. I admit it. It won’t happen again, I promise. Just… leave me alone.”
Her hand tightened around the handle.
“...Please, Victoria. Please - don’t lie to me.”
“...I fell, Dawn. End of discussion. Now go away - I have to finish my work.”
Her trigger finger tensed.
“That’s because she doesn’t exist. I, on the other hand, am very real.”
She grinned.
“Don’t I know it.”
(Had it really all just been a lie?)
She pulled the trigger.
A burst of light. The shattering of glass.
“Woo!” Chloe called, raising her hand for a high-five. “Nice shot, dude!”
Rachel lowered the barrel - and slapped Chloe’s hand a little harder then was strictly necessary.
“Yeah. It was.”
There was a moment of quiet.
“Your turn.” Rachel said - offering Chloe the handle of the revolver.
Chloe took it.
Hesitated.
And put it back in her pocket - flicking on the safety as she did.
“I think that’s enough shooting for today, actually.” Chloe said, glancing at her.
That’s enough schoolwork, Viccy - let’s go, come on! There’s this awesome place I found the other d-
“If you say so.” Rachel said, voice toneless.
Victoria laid in her bed, staring at the ceiling - and wondered what might have happened if she’d met Dawn just a few years later.
Could they have been friends?
Would Dawn have even liked her?
(She knew the truth, though. If she’d met Dawn a few years later - they would’ve never shared a friendly word. She would’ve treated Dawn just like she treated Price, or Marsh. And Dawn wouldn’t have ever tried to be friendly back.)
Max got a text between classes.
When she took it out to glance at it, she’d been expecting something from Chloe - or maybe Kate. She and Kate still had to talk about… everything. Oh, and she had to mention her…
Her date with Chloe.
(Just the thought made her heart want to leap out of her chest.)
What she wasn’t expecting was something from Victoria.
Victoria Chase >:X
1 Text Message
…
She, for just a moment, wondered what to do.
...She opened it.
Maxine.
That was it.
No sorry for slapping you. No hey, how are you? No so, what happened after I got knocked out - are you or your friend in jail?
Not even Max.
She stared at it for a long, long moment.
She considered calling Chloe. Asking what to do, asking for help, asking for support.
But…
This wasn’t Chloe’s burden to bear.
This was her problem.
She stared at the message a moment longer.
Maxine.
The anger started as a spark.
Just the tiniest flare - a little thing, like stone against flint. It lit low in her stomach, and hit the bottom of her insides - made itself known.
But, in a moment - it flared up.
Soon enough, the spark became a flare. The flare became a flame. The flame became a fire - and the fire spread.
Until it felt like her whole body was gripped with rage.
Her lips pulled back as she typed in a response - baring her teeth at the phone.
Fuck you.
Send.
“...I cut ties with V- with Chase.”
Chloe glanced at Rachel.
She’d finally sat down and started to relax, just a minute ago. And she was finally talking.
Chloe blinked.
“...How do you feel?”
Rachel let out a breath.
“Like the weight on my shoulders moved to my chest.” She said, drawing a shape in the dirt. A spiral, to be specific.
“Do you need a hug?”
Rachel let out a little huff of amusement.
“Do you want one?”
“Always.” Chloe said, giving her a tiny smile.
Rachel turned to her and offered her a hug.
Chloe, instantly, yanked her in - and gave her the tightest bear hug she could.
Rachel gave her usual soft groan.
“You need to stop hugging so tight.” She managed to grit out - though her arms still came up to hug right back.
“Never!” Chloe exclaimed instantly.
She gave Rachel a last squeeze - and let go.
Rachel let out a relieved breath, rubbing her ribs.
“Ow.”
Chloe snorted.
There was a moment of quiet.
“...You made the right choice, Rache.” Chloe said, finally.
Rachel sent her a glance.
“Thanks.”
Chloe knew that Rachel didn’t really believe her. But she also knew that, eventually - it would help.
Brrring.
Brrring.
Brr-
“Max?”
“Kate! Uh - I just wanted to tell you… ohmygosh I’m so excited, Kate.”
“Huh? What is it, what’s happened?”
“I - I asked Chloe out, Kate!”
“...Oh.”
“...Is something wrong?”
“Oh, no, I’m just… surprised. That’s… that’s really great, Max.”
“I know, right? We’re gonna get dinner!”
“That’s wonderful, hun. I’m really happy for you.”
“Oh - uhm - also… I… can you come over real quick? After class?”
“Sure - if Brooke’s okay with it, anyway. Why?”
“I… need you to help me pick out something to wear.”
“...Hun.”
“It’s really hard! I don’t want to look like I’m trying too hard - it’s the first date, and it’s something casual, Chloe will just laugh if I wear something super formal, but - I should dress up a little, right? I don’t want to seem like I don’t care. Y’know?”
“Max.”
“Yeah?”
“Chloe. Doesn’t. Care.”
“...I should probably wear a jacket, right? It’s cold outside. But I’m already wearing long sleeves, may-”
“Okay, okay, I’ll come over. Just… calm down. It’ll be fine. Chloe already adores you.”
“Does she? Did - did she say that to you?”
“Hun.”
“I… I’m sorry. It’s just - I think I’m gonna be sick. But, like, in a good way? I dunno.”
“...I know the feeling.”