Everybody loves little Max Caulfield

Max's eyes went blind for a moment when exposed to the morning sun. She closed her eyelids for a few seconds before opening them again.

"Hi Max! How are you doing today?"

Dana was sitting on the steps in front of the dormitory entrance.

"Hi Dana! I'm okay, thanks. What about you?"

"Pretty excited in fact! And this has to do with you..." she smiled.

"What do you mean?"

"Tonight's the night..." she said in a mysterious tone, looking at Max straight in the eyes. Seeing her bewildered look, she added "There's an old tradition here at Blackwell... Every new year... They say some students meet late in the night in a tiny room..."

Dana stayed silent for a few more seconds, scrutinizing Max.

"To do... what exactly..?"

"To..." she leaned toward Max and whispered on a secretive tone "get to know each other around some snacks and alcohol"

Max snorted and chuckled.

"That was it?"

"Would you be interested in joining our 'occult session' tonight?" Dana grinned.

"Of course!" Max said with a warm smile before shivering. "But no alcohol for me though. The only time I tried it I ended up puking on the floor. Who will be there?"

"I knew I could count on you Max", she beamed before frowning, seemingly lost in thoughts "Uh, wait a sec... You and Kate are the only newbies this year, so of course I was gonna ask you two... Uuuuh then, there are Brooke and Stella, but last time they stayed in their rooms so I wouldn't bet on it this year either... Alyssa doesn't live in the dorm, and same goes for Courtney... I think that leaves me, Juliet, Taylor and maybe Victoria. Not sure about her though" she shrugged while looking up at Max again. "Is that good?"

"Perfect!" Max answered, then added, a bit embarrassed "Most of the time I don't put myself out there on my own and I end up rarely interacting with people... So I need that. To force myself. Thanks Dana."

"No problem Max. Now I won't hold you any longer. See you in my room at 9?"

"I'll be there. Later Dana"

There was still a bit of time before classes. Max sat on a bench and watched the sky, her eyes still sensitive to its brightness.

She took out her journal and started doodling, drawing Dana in the distance, still on the same steps, texiting on her phone. Once done, Max then shifted to Samuel, kneeling in front of a squirrel, next to Tobanga. After a few minutes, she lifted the drawing to be at eye level and stared at it.

This actually looks pretty good!

Voices echoed from the other side of the dormitory grounds, from where Dana was sitting. Victoria and Talor just got out, and even though Max was too far away to understand what they were saying, she managed to hear the words 'evening' and 'alcohol'. Victoria brought her hand to her chin, seemingly thinking about Dana's offer, before shaking her head and leaving. Taylor exchanged a bit with Dana before tagging along, seemingly frustrated.

"But think about it, that might actually be fun! You know Dana, she knows how to organize this sort of thing!" she said while they were passing near Max.

"Listen T, I'm just not in the mood for that today, ok? I don't wanna go through another short night"

Victoria then noticed Max sitting on her bench, listening to her. She gave her a cold glare, snorted and then strode off, Taylor still tugging on her sleeve.

After a few minutes, having added some finishing touches to her drawings, Max got up and started walking toward the main building. Ms Walker, a few meters away, seemed to be sleeping, lying in the grass, seemingly not afraid that her white T-shirt might end up stained. She silently walked past her.

Max was about to pass the gate which led to the main part of campus before noticing Victoria, now standing alone on the bus stop, her camera out, taking pictures of the sky protruding behind the dormitory. Max jumped backwards, hiding behind the wall. After a few seconds, she peeked at Victoria who was seemingly focused on her camera. The device was so close that it was hiding her features.

What... am I doing? Why am I hiding?

She shifted a bit, letting Max see her face. She lifted an eyebrow, taken aback; Victoria was completely expressionless. She stayed hidden, while still looking at her. Slowly but surely, Victoria, still staring at her screen, started to frown, a focused expression covering her face. She made a small snort.

A look of shock covered Victoria's face when she realized that she herself was the one who made the noise.

"Dammit!" she whispered. "Focus, for fuck's sake! No funny faces!"

She went back to her blank expression, then to her camera.

What's up with her..?

Just as Max was about to come out – classes were starting soon – Victoria put her camera back in her bag, sighing. She glared at the patch of sky she was aiming at earlier, as if it was responsible for what seemed to bother her.

"Fuck" she let out angrily before stroding away toward the main building.

Max, still trying to understand what she just witnessed, did the same. Her lesson started in less than five minutes, no need to be late for something like that.

Whatever...

Suddenly though, she stopped walking and spun backwards. She had the feeling that someone was looking at her, but upon closer inspection, no one was to be seen.

"Weird..."

Voices were coming from Dana's room. Max raised her hand and shyly knocked twice.

"Come in!" Answered Dana's voice. "Max! Right on time! Make yourself at home" she added once she was able to see who her guest was.

"Thanks. Hi Juliet!"

"Good evening! Ready for the chit chat party?" Juliet asked, eyes widened.

"I... I think so! Where are the others?"

"There's only the three of us for now. Shouldn't take long" Dana said while patting the end of her bed. "Take a seat! Do you want something to eat? To... drink..?" she added with a smirk while showing the multiple bottles and bags of snacks piled up in the center of the room.

"No thanks, I don't wanna taste that ever again" shivered Max while sitting down on the bed. "Uh, alcohol, I mean, not food. I like food. I like... I like to eat"

"Oh do you? Would you advise me to try it out?" Juliet laughed, before seeing Max's embarrassed face and quickly adding "I'm just teasing you, don't worry"

Max had always been quite shy when talking to pleople she barely knew, and right there, right now was the perfect example. Especially when she was talking to more than one person at a time.

When I think about it, the only one I got used to talking to is Victoria... Not that we have real conversations though. She's always picking on me...

At the same time, one single tiny knock came from the door, which caused Dana to get up, beaming. Juliet took advantage of her friend's moment of distraction to snatch the nearest bottle. Max couldn't guess what its content was, since it was completely bland; noticing her look, she winked and put her finger in front of her mouth.

"Kate! Welcome, come in!"

A blushing but smiling Kate entered the room without a word. She looked around, waved at Max, and sat on the ground not far away from her.

Well at least it looks like I'm not the only one dealing with social awkwardness...

"How are you doing Kate?"

"Fine, thanks. And you?"

"L... likewise" Max blushed.

Dammit!

"Chill out, both of you, that ain't a trial, we're here to have fun!" shouted a happy Juliet, bottle in hand. It was already half empty.

"July, where in hell did you learn how to get drunk so fast?" Dana sighed.

"Pure. Vodka."

"What? But that's not... Oh God that's Vodka. Oh. God.That's Vodka."

"Heh heh"

"Juliet that's not funny! We were supposed to keep that one for later! And get rid of that smug look"

"But looooook, they're having fun!"

Indeed, Max and Kate were looking at them, giggling.

"Hey, that's not funny!" Dana frowned, the corners of her lips twitching. She seemed geuinely annoyed, while still having a hard time staying serious. "I'm not kidding, this could be dangerous"

She snatched the bottle out of Juliet's hand.

"Give me that. No alcohol for you for now. And stop pouting!" she added before sighing and shifting her attention to Kate, who was still chuckling. "Sorry for that. Just when you arrive of course..."

"No it's... It's fine, really! It feels good to laugh with people for once" she smiled, looking down at the carpet.

"You see?" declared Juliet proudly. "She loves me"

"Wahtat?" Kate stuttered, shocked and blushing again.

"Why are you here again, July?" Dana huffed through her fingers.

"Because I'm your bestiiiiiiiie" purred Juliet while hugging her friend, eyes closed.

After a few minutes, somebody knocked again. More assertively this time. Before Dana coud say 'come in', the door opened, revealing Taylor, dragging by the arm a mumbling Victoria.

"You came!" Dana smiled, getting up. Juliet splattered on the floor.

"Duh, of course we came" Taylor proudly announced. "We weren't gonna break the tradition"

"Speak for yourself", Victoria grunted, before adding "She forced me. That's NOT my idea."

She looked around the room, and noticed Max. She squinted her eyes before snorting and taking a seat at the other end of the room.

"Come on V, you're gonna have a blast! Don't make that face" Taylor pleaded while sitting down next to her.

Victoria glared at her, before noticing the bottle Dana took from Juliet earlier. Said Juliet was slowly crawling in its direction, trying not to be seen.

"Give me that" Victoria lashed while grabbing the bottle. Before anyone could stop her, she drank all that was left in one go.

"Vic you okay? Dana what was that?" Taylor asked, concerned.

"She just drank Vodka..."

"Vodka drank Victoria" Juliet let out in a muffled voice, her face in the carpet. Kate chukled.

Victoria's face twitched. She gulped, before letting out in a rasped voice:

"That... was nothing"

"You... sure?"

"I AM sure, Taylor!" she replied on a more assertive tone. "I'm fine!"

"But.."

"I'M OK!" she lashed before glancing at Max and abruptly putting on the same blank expression she had that morning.

Poker face.

Taylor stared at her, usure of what to do, but stayed silent.

"Sooo... Now that everyone's here!" exclaimed Dana, clapping her hands while still shooting quick glances at Victoria from time to time. "What should we begin with..."

Max looked around and noticed that she and Kate were the only ones listening. Juliet was resting against a wall, eyes lost in the void. Victoria was trying to look like she was being attentive but the same emptiness could be found in her gaze. Taylor, by her side, was looking at her, seemingly worried.

Obvious to all of that, Dana continued on her joyful tone:

"We have two new faces tonight. We're all gonna introduce ourselves properly and give one fun fact about ourselves!"

Juliet slightly came back to life and grunted something that sounded like 'Oh God no' and Victoria, her eyes a bit clearer, pushed Taylor away.

"Is that really necessary? We already know each other's names..."

"Do you?" Dana squinted with a malicious look.

"Well duh, of course I do! There's you Dina, then Juniet, Courtney, Cake and Maxine"

Juliet grunted again while Kate blushed. Taylor looked down at her knees, seemingly hurt.

"Yeaaaaah sure" said Dana, victorious. That seemed to be exactly what she was expecting. "We'll still do it then, just to be sure"

"Whatever..." let out Victoria.

"I'll start! I'm Dana Ward, and I've been at Blackwell for four years. I dream of being an actress and I love chocolate crisps, even though it's hated by a lot of people", she said while pointing at a crumpled bag poking out of the mountain of snacks.

"So fucking cliché" groaned Juliet, who who had finally gotten rid of her empty look to stare at Dana.

"Your turn then"

"Fuck" she sighed before pausing for a few seconds, seemingly lost in thoughts. "I'm Juliet Watson and uuuh... and..." she took a deep breath "and I'm single and nobody loves me and please somebody love me" she quicky mumbled while keeping a straight face – which was an impressive feat.

"Mooooh" Dana moaned before hugging her. "But I love you, you know that?"

"I'm sorry Dana, but I don't think of you that way" she stated on a flat tone, still wearing the same blank expression as Victoria's.

"What? No, but I never... I mean..."

"Let's just be friends" Juliet added, a smirk slowly appearing on her lips, before exploding in laughter before Dana's frustrated frown. "Of course I know what you meant, dummy"

"I fucking hate you when you're drunk"

"Next! Taylor!" Juliet shouted happily, now seemingly taking pleasure in the game once her turn was over.

"Taylor Christensen, I study photography"

Silence.

"Uh... That's it..?" Dana frowned after a few seconds. "Don't you have other things to say? Stuff that you like, or something like that?"

"Uh... I spend time with Victoria and Courtney"

"T, she's asking about you, not us" interviened Victoria, slightly exasperated.

"Well, I like to party..."

Max noticed a sad look in her eyes, which disappeared as quicly as it had appeared.

What happened to the confidence she had earlier..?

"Vic, your turn" she said, trying to shift the attention away from her.

Victoria cleared her throat.

Poker face: The Return

"I'm Victoria Chase, studying Photography at Blackwell under Gabriel Walker's teachings. And I love cookies more than almost anything else" she stated on a monotone tone which matched her current expression.

"Well that was surprisingly normal coming from you, don't you think Dana?"

"I must say I was expectng you to tell us your resume or something along those lines..." said the latter. Victoria just stared at her, her eyes empty.

"Kate?" Dana asked, turning towards her, since Victoria probably wasn't going to add anything else.

"Yeah?"

"You and Max have been quite silent lately. It's your turn!" she said gently.

"Uuuuuh..." she mumbled, blushing. "My name is Cake Marsh and..." Victoria snorted and Kate quickly corrected herself. "I- I mean, my name is Kate Marsh, I just arrived in Blackwell and I play violin during my free time" she paused before adding " I'm a Christian"

"I heard you this morning, I mean you're soooooo good!" Juliet ranted, her eyes widened once again, fixated on Kate who blushed even more – something that Max thought was impossible since she was already as red as a tomato.

"Thank you" she managed to articulate, lifting her head to match Juliet's eyes, a warm smile on her lips. She seemed honestly, genuinely happy.

"Maxiiiiiiine. You're the last one bring it on." said Poker face Victoria, before repeating for herself "bring it on for fuck's sake..."

"I'm Max Caulfield", said Max while putting the emphasis on her name. "I also study photography and I love the pictures I take with my instant camera. And I take it everywhere with me, and don't mind me if you see me taking pictures of anything and everything – including you, I do that all the time. And I'll turn 18 this month, aaaaand I talk too much"

"Breathe, Maxine"

"It's ok, don't worry" Dana laughed. "I was the one who asked for it after all. You'll turn 18 soon? When exactly?"

"September 21st"

"I'll note that down" she said while doing so on her phone. Once done, she put it back in her pocket and added "Now, to get to better know each other, what would you say of a game of Truth or Da-"

"God No!" Roared Juliet, thus earning Kate's shocked frown.

"Bad mood, no food! I possess the snacks" Dana diabolically grinned.

They had been at it for around an hour and a half when they stopped. It actually was pretty entertaining, seeing Kate blushing to almost everything except when it came to religion, earning the person who uttered the cursed words a gaze full of reproach. The evening seemed to have helped her gain a bit of confidence, as it did for Max. And as for Victoria, she was still trying to hide the effects of alcohol while keeping her funny looking blank face, leaning against Taylor while Julet, next to them, was making no effort to conceal its impact on her behavior. Dana was smiling all the time, and seemed to be having a lot of fun.

Her ideas may sound really cliché but damn, I'm spending one hell of a good evening!

"And now my dears, what if I told you that we coud go outside, right now, to take a good look at the starry sky?"

Victoria's eyes lit back up.

"I'm starting to get a bit tired" Kate yawned, stretching her arms. "If you go out I'll probably get back to my room"

"And what about you folks?"

"I'm all for it!" shouted Juliet, still as full of energy.

"Victoria, do you..." Taylor asked, looking at her friend.

"Yeah... Yeah, I need a bit of fresh air"

"I'll go too then", Taylor quickly added.

Dana turned to Max with a hopeful face.

"Yeah, why not? I can still stay up for a bit"

"Hurray!!! You sure you don't want to come Kate?"

"No, sorry. I probably would've fallen asleep anyway so, yeah..."

"As you wish. Thanks for coming tonight, we had a great time"

"No, thank you Dana" she beamed. She paused before adding timidly "We shoud do it again sometime?"

"Definitely! Would you invite us to your room? I could help with the preparations!"

"My room..?" she repeated, taken aback for a second, before ginning again. "That'd be awesome! I'll need your help, I never did that before..."

"You'll teach me violin, Katie" ordered Juliet. That didn't sound like a question.

"O- Of course, it'll be my pleasure!"

She seemed overwhelemed, not knowing how to answer.

"We could draw together sometime?" asked Max maliciously, awaiting Kate's reaction. Having another person asking her stuff, she looked panicked but was still smiling.

"Whenever you want Max!"

"Good night Kate" she smiled while the others – even Victoria – said the same. The door closed and a joyful and relieved squeal came from the other side.

The view was breathtaking. Of course, Max could easily see the stars from her room's windows, but it wasn't the same as being directly outside. In fact, it had been years since she last saw the night sky looking like this.

Since... Since I left Arcadia Bay.

She only now realized how much she had missed it, back in Seattle. The sky there always had that dark-orangey tone durning the night, and managing to see even a single star was already an accomplishment in itself. And here, she could distinguish the Milky Way.

Max took her eyes off of the stars to look around her. Juliet and Dana were lying in the grass, eyes wide open. Taylor was doing the same, her back against a bench. But it was Victoria who caught Max's attention. Sitting cross legged on top of it, her face illuminated by the moon, she seemed at peace. She had gotten rid of both her poker face and her uptight expression, and was simply smiling. The most genuine smile Max had ever seen on her face.

Taylor turned her head to look at her friend, pointing at a bright dot.

"Say V, what that star up there?"

"That's not a star, Tay. That's Venus.

"The planet? But why is it so bright?"

"It's because its atmosphere is so dense and reflective that very little light can go through it. The rest gets shot back into space, and at us"

Max couldn't believe it actually was Victoria who was talking like that. The Victoria who was always picking on her, snorting at the slightest thing, was calmly and peacefully explaining astronomical stuff with a look of pure peace on her face. She looked like an angel, bathing in moonligh.

Wait... She's interested in astronomy?

"And if that's Venus, are there other planets that we can see with the naked eye right now?" Max asked, half curious to see how Victoria would react, half genuinely interested.

"Yeah, of course", she answered immediately and on the same tone. "You can see Jupiter right up there, and if you look closely you can distinguish a red dot here. That's Mars." She said while still pointing at different portions of the sky.

Did she notice I was the one who asked..?

Either way, Victoria was now looking at Jupiter, totally still.

Max just couldn't resist.

Victoria had been silently staring at the stars for a few minutes when she heard a small buzzing sound. She looked around to see Max, seated on the ground to her left, camera pointed in her direction, retrieving the photograph coming out of it.

"Wha-"

"Hm?" she asked innocently.

"You just..." She couldn't believe it: she had forgotten Caulfield. You should never forget to be weary of Caulfields whenever there's one around, otherwise you could be sure to find a shutter pointed at you. And of course, the second she had forgotten about her, her camera was already out.

"Give me that" she ordered. She had to destroy the photo. Nobody messed with her image.

"What? No way!"

"I said give me tha-"

"Woaaaaah! It looks so good!" Max exclaimed while shifting to take a better look at the image under the moonlight, not minding Victoria as if she wasn't there at all.

Juliet and Dana had seated up, and were looking at them, intrigued. As for Taylor, she seemed to have fallen asleep against the bench, a smile on her lips.

"I mean seriously, look at it!" Max then exclaimed joyfully, turning back towards her and putting the picture under Victoria's nose. She looked like a child who had been gifted what she long dreamed of.

Still unable to utter a word, Victoria lowered her gaze to look at it.

And she stopped breathing.

The shot was absolutely perfect.

Her delicate features were dimly but clearly visible in the moonlight, her short hair reflecting part of it. She looked like she was wearing a tiara made of light. Her lips had woven an expression she had never seen on her face before: simple peace. A small but warm and calm smile.

Behind her, the silhouettes of the dormitory grounds' trees were standing out in front of the stars. The Milky Way was passing behind her head, highlighting even more the shape of her profile, and in front of her eyes, almost in the corner of the picture, was a small red dot: Mars.

"Max, I..."

"This is the best picture I ever took. Ever"

She looked like she was about to cry.

Victoria quietly took the photo out of her hands, looked at it another time and, slowly, gave it back to her.

"Thank you Victoria", she sniffed, real tears in her eyes this time, reflecting light. She was genuinely crying.

What is she thanking me for? Being her model or... or not tearing it up..? Not getting upset? How could I get ever get upset after seeing that...