Chapter 10
Chloe got prepared for the day ahead of her, going through Icky Vicky’s daily routine, which she had gotten down pat. As the head of the Vortex Club, she had a responsibility to maintain a certain image, even if it sickened her to the core to say that sentence in her own head. But she could tell how important the group was to Taylor and Courtney, so she did her best to organize everything to the best of her abilities, and eventually it had become important to her too.
She finished applying her lipstick and shivered in the mirror, at the perfectly prepped image of Victoria Chase that she had created. She looked around for a moment and posed, adopting the self satisfied smirk that Victoria always liked to wear, she had to admit, she looked good
“Victoria”
Chloe flinched and turned to see Taylor standing in the doorway “TAYLOR , how many times do i have to tell you to knock ?!” she squeaked, regaining her composure soon after.
Taylor play bowed “Sorry Victoria, but you know you hate being late” , giving her a playful wink as she glanced up at her.
“I do” Chloe said, almost breaking out in laughter “Thank you for the reminder”
Chloe walked out of her room with her new friends, paying a passing glance at Max as she came out of her own room, causing the shy hipster to turn her head and rush off. Their meeting hadn’t gone great, but she had made SOME progress in convincing Max of who she was. But while she had made points with the knowledge of their childhood, and Max’s current powers, she had also lost points by claiming she was punk and how despite all of her best efforts, she didn’t seem that far off from the regular Victoria to her, which hurt her pride immensely. She might have gone a little ham on the clothes, the expensive gadgets, and her attempts at keeping Victoria’s social status intact, but that was for her sake, not her own
She didn’t like being separated from Max like this, she was spending what was supposed to be the best week of her life getting nails and done and falling down a hole to the rich girl universe, instead of hanging out with the coolest girl she’d ever known
“So” Chloe said, trying to get her mind off her troubles “ Have you heard back from any of the acts I scouted for our upcoming get-together”
“Well, we’ve heard back from Breton” Taylor sheepishly smiled at her, obviously embarrassed at the failure
Chloe took a deep breath “ I suppose that’s fine, I was just hoping for an artist people have even heard of, but it’s good we have someone in place should our other options come up dry” nodding in confirmation of her own thoughts “Good job Sweet T”
“Y...yeah” Taylor said, hiding her blush “Y...you’re welcome”
“Come on, can we stop being gay for 5 minutes” Courtney said shaking her head
“You have NO room to talk, I’ve seen how excited you’ve been at the chance to get Maxine in your dressing room, Chloe said with a haughty laugh. causing Courtney to join Taylor in hiding her blush
“I’d never Victoria ! I know she’s yours”
“She is” Chloe nodded “But I’d never deny you the chance to be happy together if that’s what you two want”
Chloe walks into Mr.Jeffersons classroom with her new posse, to see Max sitting with Kate AND her doppelganger, both of their eyes widening from the shock of looking at one another before the fake looked away in a panic.
“Save me a seat ?” Chloe said making her way to Max’s table with purpose, trusting her group to do as they were told . Kairi, as Chloe decided to call her, quickly hid behind Max who glared at her as she approached, Kate joining in after some mild confusion.
“Oh calm DOWN Maxine, I’m not here to cause trouble” , she said casually leaning towards Max.
“What ARE you here for Victoria” Max rolled her eyes “I’m not done thinking about what you told me yet”
“I’m not here for you” Chloe said, failing to hide how happy she was at Max considering her crazy proposal at all “I’m actually here to apologize to Chloe”
Kairi perked up at the sound of her name, wiping her eyes of any tears they might have had, which would have been cute on anyone besides her own body. She sat up and looked Chloe in the eye, with a determined stare “Yes Victoria ?”
“I wanted to apologize” Chloe said, building up her nerve “It wasn’t right for me to yell at you, and I would like to be friends, if I haven’t already ruined it”
Kairi hesitated, looking at Victoria curiously, as if she wanted to accept, but still didn’t quite trust her. She looked at Max for confirmation, like a lost sheep.
“Whatever you want to to do Chloe, I’ll support you 100%” gaining an adorable smile she didn’t think could come off her own face
“I would like that very much Victoria” she said, nodding at Chloe “ Maybe you could join us for Tea later with your friends
“That would be nice” Chloe nodded as Mr. Jefferson walked into the classroom “We’ll set up everything after class”
Chloe rushed to her seat as fast as she could while maintaining her Victoria act, they were in, she could be friends with Max again AND still be with her posse. She sat down, positively aglow as Taylor took her hand under the desk , everything was back on track for her