Chapter 7
Chloe sat inattentively on the front steps of the school, calmly flipping through various selfies on her cell phone, as she tried to ignore the endless drone of the student council election. While she had to feign slight interest at Courtney's candidacy, she found it difficult to treat the whole affair as anything other than the massive waste of time that it was. It wasn't like the staff would give a bunch of punk kids any REAL power around campus, hell, half the kids on the ballot wouldn't be able to organize a shitty senior prom.
As she admired Victoria's secret stash, she caught sight of Max walking in the distance with ....someone she hadn't seen before........
"Hey Tay.........who the fuck is that with my Max ?"
Taylor grimaced "Oh her " ,flicking her hand dismissively at the wandering pair " I think that's Chloe Price. I think she used to be friends with Max when they were kids"
Chloe stood up, immediately focusing on Max's new friend, trying to piece the situation together in her mind. Hanging out with Max and the crew alone had been somewhat of a comfort for her, sure she might look different, but she was still the same punk rock chick that she had always been. The addition of this new Chloe complicated things immensely for her, regardless of her feelings she was Victoria Chase, and the girl across the courtyard was Chloe Price. Max would always share certain things with Chloe Price, and those things would always propel her to the top of Max's priorities and she couldn't think of a single way out of it. Her hands balled up into fists, nails digging into her skin as she tried to fight off a deep stinging jealousy as she saw Max playfully mingle with the wholesome imaged Chloe in front of her
"This can't be" Chloe thought to herself tearfully "No way am I going to let this stand !" wordlessly stomping down the stairs towards her childhood friend.
Much to her relief, NuChloe broke away from Max, opting to examine a campaign poster , only to find her comfort horrifically shattered as she saw Max pull up behind her, a look of longing passing over her as she gazed at the clueless doppelganger
"What the fuck do you think you're DOING ?!"
The pair immediately turned toward her sporting similar horrified expressions as Chloe continued her march, the fury within, wiping away any sort of restraint she had leftover.
It had been a few days since Chloe found herself this way, and while she had grown somewhat accustomed to being Victoria Chase, she could not help but feel disturbed to see her own life parade around in front of her, even if it was done completely incorrectly. She quickly got in her own face, examining everything from her rich blue eyes, to her disappointingly strawberry blonde hair. As she looked into her own eyes, it became clear that the new her wasn't a rebel, the usual mischievous glint in her eye replaced by some sort of wide eyed optimism toward the world, the wonderfully punk clothes replaced by something that her mother might choose to wear ,the body may say Chloe , but her attitude said impostor.
The severity of the situation hit her like a freight train, while she was here playing school, NuChloe was off changing her relationships with people, making new ones, slowly yet surely making Chloe's life her own. She could return to her own self tomorrow and find that she felt more at home as Victoria than she did in whatever life NuChloe would leave her.
Well " Chloe seethed, "What do you have to say for yourself ?"
NuChloe back away slowly "Victoria please" her face a picture of confusion as she fought back tears "You don't understand"
"Hey ! Leave her alone!" Max yelled, interrupting Chloe's exchange before she could question NuChloe further "What is up with you Victoria ?"
"Get out of the way Max......"
"NO!" she cried passionately , pushing her back with both arms " What has Chloe ever done to you ? fists balling up as she continued to defend the fake friend behind her. Chloe kicked herself as she realized the gravity , for all Max knew, Victoria was attacking the precious childhood friend that she had just reunited with. She may have turned on the charm for the past few days, but she was still the bitch that had tormented her for the entire time she had been a student, and her outburst just wiped away any good will that she might have had.
Feeling her heart drop , Chloe took a step back, feeling a rising tide of nervousness crash into her "Max please, there's more to thi....
"That's enough Victoria" Max said impassively as she wrapped her arms around NuChloe, slowly leading her back to the parking lot "You've done enough"
Chloe felt her arms drop , a numb feeling spreading over her body as she watched Max start walking away, barely feeling Taylor a pair of arms wrap around her, pulling her in the other direction. After all these years, after all the shit she had pulled, she had finally done it, she might have lost the most important person in the world to her, and for what ? The only thing she might have done with her tirade was cement her current position by antagonizing the one person who might have been able to change her back. "Maybe this won't be so bad" Chloe thought to herself sadly "At least I won't ...."
'slap'
Chloe felt her head fly to the side, a stinging sensation ringing on her cheek as she fell against the pavement , catching sight of Taylor's arm in mid arc. "What the fuck Taylor ?!" Chloe said rubbing her cheek "That hurt !"
"I'm sorry Victoria" Taylor sighed, grabbing Chloe's arm "But I'm not going to let you do this to yourself", hoisting her to her feet, pointing after Max "Go apologize RIGHT NOW"
Brushing herself off, Chloe looked into Taylor's eyes, embarrassed at being seen in such a state before looking to the parking lot, feeling a smile come to her face as she realized what she must do "Thanks Taylor....you're a good friend", running off to find her rogue first mate....
Max slammed her door, letting out a frustrated cry as she faceplanted on her pillow, groaning as she tried to forget Victoria Meribeth Chase. The whole situation with Chloe had been classic Victoria, the teen drama, the attitude, everything right down to her trademark scowl, an incredibly disappointing turn of events. It was weird to think, but ever since Monday, she had been so different , it was like somebody had hit a switch in her mind and made her way nicer to the people around her. The sight of Victoria Chase, playing nice with everyone from the Vortex to the lowest rungs of the Blackwell social ladder had been surreal to say the least, but it made her smile to see her make such an honest effort for once.
Max raised her head from her pillow, concentrating on the patterns of her headboard as fresh questions came into her mind. While she believed in a person's ability to change, such a radical shift to one's personality was really suspicious. Victoria had been the one to push Kate's video around campus, yet come Monday she had taken down the video, and personally talked everyone into forgetting it and leaving Kate alone. While she didn't exactly understand her beef with Kate, she knew that Victoria was NEVER one to let go of a grudge.
'Knock,Knock,Knock'
"Uhhh Max" Victoria's voice squeaked "Can I ........"
Max narrowed her eyes, slowly rising to her feet "What do you want Victoria ?"
"I....I just want to talk"
"It's open"Max sighed as she propped herself up against the wall. viewing a visibly shaken Queen Bee entering her room, turning her face away to hide her visibly red eyes. "Look Max, I'm sorry for the way I treated........Chloe.....earlier" Victoria winced ,shivering slightly "It's just......"
Max jumped to her feet "WHAT ? What don't I know Victoria ? screaming at Victoria, letting out months of frustration, watching as the sour faced girl flinched at her words. "You've been so mean to everyone ever since you got to this school" Max continued "you think a few days of decency will get me to forgive you ? !"
Victoria wrapped her arms around her body, closing her eyes as if she was contemplating some great mystery, shuddering as Max looked on. Opening her eyes, the Chase heir opened her stance, steadying her body as she looked at Max with a look of determination,
"You once told me something hella crazy, even though it might have gone bad, and now I'm going to do the same thing"
She backed up, pulling her arms around her defensively once again ,looking between her and the door as if she was contemplating running away before nodding and setting her eyes firmly on Max.
"I don't know who you saw today, but she is NOT Chloe Price........I am"