Chapter 2
"Come on, Max!" Victoria pulled Max as they hurried to the club. "It's going to be fun, stop stalling."
"I don’t think we have the same idea of fun," Max pouted as she tried to keep up with her girlfriend.
"Babe, you just need to let loose a little, it’s only us," Victoria stopped to take a look at Max as the club came into their view. It was a plain grey building with opaque windows, the kind of building a normal person would walk past without question. There were two unassuming ladies standing next to a thick double door, smoking on cigarettes. Her girlfriend was obviously nervous as hell. "I will personally look after you. Just promise me you'll try to enjoy yourself."
Max bit her lips in consideration. Maxine Caulfield in a club? That’s a first. Maxine Caulfield in a lesbian club with Victoria Chase? That’s the end of it. One Blackwell student in there and they were doomed. Though Victoria had assured Max that this was a highly exclusive private club they were going into. That last bit was a bit impressive. Max knew that Victoria had connections, but not that kind. How can Victoria still be in the closet, and yet, not?
“Fine.” Max sighed. “But if I see just one person we know and I’m rewinding us out of there.” Victoria giggled and wrapped her arms around Max’s neck. “What’s so funny?”
“If you had rewound while we were inside, we’d be right back here and heading home. So, I guess we’re going to have a good night!” Victoria was practically beaming.
“Ugh, I hate how you’re so damn smart and beautiful at the same time.” Victoria playfully rolled her eyes and tugged Max towards the club entrance. A low hum emitted from the building as they neared it. The two smoking ladies looked up from their conversation and eyed the two seniors. One had a pixie haircut, much like Victoria’s but blue in color, while the other had long, wavy dark hair. “Damn, they’re hot!”
“Um, Max?” Victoria lifted her right brow questioningly.
“I said that out loud, huh?” Max rubbed the back of her neck as the three ladies stared at her. She felt herself blush and lifted her hand to begin rewinding time.
“Nuh uh,” Victoria gently lowered Max’s hand. “It’s okay, sweetie, I’m sure Jo and Lou here can handle unintentional compliments,” Victoria planted a kiss on Max’s cheek and Max thought she could not have been blushing harder than she was right then.
“This your new girl, Vic?” Pixie asked. Victoria broke her gaze from Max and nodded with a shy smile. “She ain’t your usual type.” Max raised her brows and saw Victoria’s smile slump into a frown.
“Aren’t popular cheerleaders more your thing?”
“What’s that supposed to mean, Jo?” Victoria’s arms were crossed. Victoria was crossed.
“Nothing. Just making an observation,” Jo took a drag from her cigarette. “Chill out, would ya?”
“I dated one popular cheerleader. You obviously have poor observation skills,” Victoria was getting ready to jump into Ice Queen Mode.
“Hey, why don’t we let the two of you in and we can all enjoy the night?” Lou jumped in. “C’mon Jo, no need to give Vic a hard time. It actually looks like she got herself a decent catch for once.” Lou gave Max a smile.
“More than decent,” Victoria huffed. She reached for Max’s hand and held it tight. “Anyway ladies, this is Max Caulfield, best photographer you’d find in Blackwell Academy or the whole of Arcadia Bay even. Max, this is Jo and Lou, unofficial doorkeepers of Loop.” Max smiled shyly at the offhand compliment. She always admired how carefree and confident Victoria could be. It was one of her favourite things about her.
“Best photographer, huh?” Lou mused. “That’s quite a compliment, coming from Vic. You must be something special,” Lou smiled and opened the doors to Loop for them. Victoria rolled her eyes and pulled Max through the door.
Max’s environment shifted almost instantly. Suddenly, the quiet night was replaced by thumping and a certain kind of buzz unfamiliar to Max. She found herself in a wide room with a high ceiling, supported by pillars that randomly filled the large space. There was a dance floor that took up most of the room and some booths that ran along the sides of the room.
To Max’s surprise, quite a large amount of the space was filled with women. So many women, Max thought. So many hot women. She does not think she has ever seen that many women, hot or not, in daytime Arcadia Bay. And they all looked so fine.
Most of them had cocktail dresses on, while some managed to pull off suits and some who just did not. Max looked at her own date, who was wearing grey pants that was cut just above the ankles and a white shirt with suspenders. Victoria definitely pulled that off. Max herself was wearing a plain dark blue short dress that had a bare back to it. It was not her usual style, but Victoria had bought it for her just for the night.
She felt Victoria hold her hand tight as the Queen led her towards a booth. They sat close to each other and a waitress came by. “Gin and tonic,” Victoria ordered. She looked at Max, who shrugged. “Make it two.” The waitress nodded and walked away to get their orders. “So,” Victoria began, as she put her arm around Max. “What do you think?”
Max frowned. “I’m not really sure what to do,” she admitted. “How do people have fun here?”
“Well,” Victoria smiled, as if she was glad Max asked. “First, we drink till we hit a sweet spot. Then, we can go to the dance floor.” The waitress came back and placed their drinks on the table.
“I’m not sure I know how to dance. I’m not even sure if I know how to drink,” Max picked up one of the drinks and sniffed it.
“Relax, would you?” Victoria lifted her own glass and clinked it against Max’s. “Drink up, we’re going to have so much fun.” She took a gulp from her glass, never taking her eyes off Max. Max looked at her own for a couple of seconds before taking a sip.
“Wowsers.” She raised her eyebrows. “This is actually pretty good.” She picked at the slice of cucumber that was in her drink. “Vegetables and alcohol? Cool.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “You’re such a dork.” She placed a hand on Max’s cheek and turned her face towards her own. Their lips met and Max could feel Victoria’s smile against her own. “I’m glad you gave this a chance. I don’t party as much as people think I do, but I do enjoy being able to let loose.”
“I didn’t even know you were so out and open in this part of town.”
“What, did you think I only turned gay for you?” Victoria chuckled as Max frowned. “I’m only just teasing.” Victoria rubbed the back of Max’s neck. It was a habit of hers that started when she comforted Max after one of the many times she and Chloe got into an argument. “I may not have come out yet, but I’ll have you know that I have a whole Narnia hidden in this closet of mine.”
Max snorted, “I’m the dork, but you end up saying shit like that.” Victoria laughed and leaned her head on Max’s shoulder. “Do I know anyone you may have dated before me?” Victoria scrunched her face at the question. Max was always too curious for her own good. But she always got away with it because of the soft spot Victoria had for her. “You don’t have to answer, it’s not important.”
“No,” Victoria answered. “No, it’s okay and no I don’t think you’ve met my exes. You’ve probably heard a lot about Rachel Amber though.” Max turned her head to look at Victoria. “Yeah, she and I had something going on for a while.”
“Wow. She must have been quite a catch.”
“That’s what most people would think,” Victoria shook her head. “But she was so overrated.”
“Chloe loves her,” Max chuckled. “I almost thought Chloe and her were seeing each other, not you.” Victoria kept quiet, her eyebrows furrowed in thought and Max looked at her questioningly. Then, it dawned on her. “Chloe was seeing Rachel Amber, wasn’t she?”
“Hmph.” Victoria looked away and crossed her arm. “It’s not important anyway.”
“Is that why you and Chloe can’t seem to get along?”
“No, Maxine. I can’t get along with your delicate Chloe because she’s a full on troublemaker, who enjoys pissing me off any way possible.”
“Hey,” Max placed her hand on Victoria’s cheek and Victoria turned to face Max again. “I know that Chloe isn’t the easiest person to get along with, but she really is a good person. She’s just been through a lot and life hasn’t been easy for her.”
“Really?” Victoria asked disbelievingly. “Well, I’ll have you know that life isn’t easy for a lot of us, but that doesn’t give us the right to take other people’s girlfriends and make them cheat on their other half.” Max could not stop her jaw from dropping. She did not expect that revelation at all. “Maybe you and Chloe need to spend some time catching up because I’m pretty sure that the Chloe that you knew and the Chloe that you think you know are not the same person anymore.” Victoria downed her drink and signaled the waitress for another glass.
It was going to be a long night for Max and Victoria.