Sunset
Victoria’s car pulled into the junkyard quite sedately - considering what was going on in the head of the person driving.
Chloe glanced at Max - who was standing next to her, watching the car with poorly hidden anxiety.
Chloe nudged her.
“You sure I can’t handle her?” She muttered.
Max sent her a look.
“Yes, Chloe, I’m sure. She’s my friend.”
“Doesn’t act like it…” Chloe muttered under her breath.
“Just… let me talk to her. Okay?”
“I know, I know. Be careful, though.”
“She’s my friend, Chloe.”
“I know.” Chloe said, leaning in a little closer as Victoria’s car pulled to a stop. “But still.”
“Alright… lemme talk to her alone?”
Chloe sent her a look.
“Really? You expect me to-”
“Yes, Chloe, I do. Victoria barely knows you - she knows me. I’ll tell her what’s going on, and then you can introduce yourself. Okay?”
“...I really hope this isn’t a mistake, Max.” Chloe murmured, as she took a few steps away.
Max sent her one last, reassuring smile - and waved her off.
She stepped behind a broken down school bus - and got ready to eavesdrop.
Alright, sure, she trusted Max - but she didn’t trust Victoria Chase as far as she could throw her.
Kate missed Alice.
She rode a little over the speed limits. She’d had a lead foot from the beginning - unlike Max, who was so hesitant and fearful that she’d barely managed to drive at all. In the end, she’d sured up - but Kate had no doubts that she’d never forget her turn signal.
Kate never quite managed to rid herself of her lead foot, though. Even on a casual drive down to the store, she’d push the speed limits.
She wanted her bunny back.
It was dumb. Alice had died nearly four years ago now - Kate shouldn’t still be thinking of her. She’d been a pet.
But she’d had Alice for over ten years, and she’d grown attached to the bunny. Alice had been there when she’d first had doubts about Mom. When she’d first started questioning her sexuality. When she’d first become friends with Max. Alice had been her oldest tea party partner, and her best friend for years and years.
But Mom hadn’t wanted another after the first one. Said they were too much of a hassle - and that she was too old for pets now.
She was probably right.
Kate’s hand went tight against the wheel - and she glanced at the speedometer.
75 MPH.
Alright - brakes. Cool.
Luckily, no police were around.
And there was the junkyard.
Her foot hit the brake, hard.
A screech.
Maxine had her collar turned up.
That was the first thing that struck her, when she first saw the girl. She was wearing a loose plaid jacket, and she stuck her hands in her pockets and scuffed a heel against the dirt as she waited for Victoria to come up to her.
And her collar was turned up against the wind. The edge of it touched the sunset, and went hazy.
(She was reminded, suddenly, of the tree standing on the street corner of her house. The edge of light from one of the windows touched the edges of the leaves, on overcast days, and lit them in an odd way.)
She heard Maxine begin to hum.
(She was humming ‘Blackbird’.)
“Uh - hi, Victoria.” Max muttered, as she came close enough. She took a hand out of her pocket, and waved it awkwardly.
She’d never seen Maxine wear plaid.
(She hated it instantly.)
“Where’s Price?” She managed to grit out - and her lips pulled back in a snarl.
Max gave her a look that seemed to be… reassuring, of all things.
“I told her to leave us alone, for a bit. So I could tell you-”
“Maxine.” She said - and her voice was very cold.
Maxine stopped.
“...Max.”
“No. Maxine. We’ve talked about this-”
“No.” Maxine said - and she stopped, because what? “We didn’t. I agreed to re-brand myself for one night - not for life, Victoria.”
She stared.
Maxine leaned away, a little - but she didn’t fold.
“I was going to say that I came out here with Chloe, so I cou-”
“You weren’t going to say anything.” Victoria hissed - and Maxine stopped, staring at her. “We’re leaving. Now.”
She reached forward, to snatch Maxine’s wrist.
But she pulled her hand back.
“I…”
She pulled back under Victoria’s glare - and, for a moment, things were right again.
But then - she straightened.
“I’m not going anywhere, Victoria.”
Victoria stared at her.
“We - we can t-talk about this right here.” She said. “We’re friends, right? Let’s… let’s talk about it.”
“There is not a thing. To talk about.” Victoria said - and her voice was very, very cold. Just starting to really get angry. “I said that we. Are. Leaving.”
Victoria tried to get her again.
And Maxine leaned away again.
“And I said - we aren’t.” Max said - and her voice wavered, but didn’t stutter.
Victoria stared at her for another moment.
And snapped.
(Her hand whistled through the air - and her ring glinted against the line of the sunset, just as the last vestiges of it began to vanish.
The sun lowered over the horizon - and vanished.
It was night.)
Maxine fell against the ground - and a single drop of blood trickled down to her lip.
She stared up with wide, wide eyes.
“You don’t get to-”
Victoria never got to finish that sentence.
Chloe lunged - and her hand slammed against the metal stake, firmly stuck in the ground.
She yanked it up.
Saw red.
And swung.
There was a sickening crack, as impact was made.
In the close distance, there was the screech of car breaks.
And the world was very still for a moment.