Phoning In
Brrrring.
Brrrring.
Brrrri-
Chloe flung her arm to her nightstand, and fumbled for her phone.
She accepted it without a glance, and put it to her ear - making a muffled sound of pure, tired agony before managing a muffled,
“Yeah? Chloe Price here?”
“Hey Chloe.”
She should’ve guessed.
“Hey Max.” She mumbled, sitting up and rubbing at her eyes. “What’s happening?”
“Uhm… I think you left your beanie over here.”
“Oh. Yeah, you can keep it. I would’ve told you myself, but…”
She abandoned that sentence, instead mustering all of her energy and standing.
“Oof. Okay, noted.” She muttered, cradling her forehead. “No quick standing today.”
“Did I… I didn’t wake you, did I?”
“Uh… yeah, you kinda did.” Chloe said, rummaging around for her shoes. “We kinda stayed up for a while last night. But It’s alright. I slept longer then I should’ve anyw- wait, what time is it?”
“Uh… ten, I think?”
“Tell me it isn’t Monday.” Chloe said instantly, pulling a shoe on - which wasn’t easy while taking a phone call.
“I’d rather not lie, but anything for the sleeping beauty. It is not Monday.”
Chloe couldn’t help but snort.
“Thankee.”
“My pleasure.”
“Okay, but seriously, is it Monday? Cause I might be super late for work - and you have classes, right?”
“It’s Sunday, Chloe.”
She let out a relieved breath.
“Thank our lord and savior, the revolution of the earth.” Chloe said easily, peeking into the bathroom to take a gander at her reflection.
She was as beautiful as ever. Which was to say, not great looking - but with a certain punkish appeal.
“...So, uh… did you… meet Kate?”
She paused.
And then kept going for her door, stepping out into the great wide world of the hallway next to her apartment.
“Yep. She’s pretty nice.” Chloe said, pretty easily.
“We, uh… got into a fight.”
Chloe blinked.
“Wait - really? About what?”
“Uhm…”
Oh.
Oh.
“Oh, Jesus - I’m already fucking up your life, then? Cool beans.” Chloe said, with just the tiniest lilt of bitterness. Because of course she was. Fucking up things was kinda in her job description.
“What? No! It’s not your fault, Chloe.”
“Mm.” Chloe said. “So - who won?”
“...What?”
“The fight. Who won? Are you calling because I can’t talk to you anymore?” Chloe said, trying to keep her voice even. And mostly succeeding.
Mostly.
Kate, if you pulled some shit and tried to force Max to cut ties with me, I might have to sic Rachel on you. Nothing personal, hun.
“No, of course not! Don’t be daft!”
Chloe stopped dead.
“...Daft?”
“Uh - dumb, I mean. Don’t be dumb.”
“No! No, you said daft!” Chloe instantly crowed, stepping outside her apartment building - and thus receiving a few weird looks from passerby. “What is up with you and English words?”
“Nothing. I just… like English words, okay? They sound good.”
“Well, in your voice, anything sounds good.” Chloe said, almost automatically at this point. “Plus, it’s kinda adorable.”
She couldn’t quite hear Max blush, but she could certainly see it in her mind’s eye.
“...Why?”
Chloe blinked.
“Why what?”
“Just… I’m not good with phone calls. Or talking to people. But… calling you always makes me feel better. It’s… weird.”
Now it was Chloe’s turn to blush. She couldn’t help but smile as she answered,
“I dunno, dork. Maybe I’m just that likable, eh?”
Max snorted.
“Again, Price, cannot emphasize enough - your modesty is almost unbelievable.”
Chloe snickered.