Chapter Text
My name is Chloe Price. A typical small-town girl. I still live at home with my mom Joyce and my dad William. They both own and work at Two Whales, a local diner in town.
I’m here at Blackwell, or Blackhell, as I like to call it. I’m going to be taking art and science here. Yeah, I’m a nerd, but a kinda closet nerd. To look at me you would think I was some hard-faced loud-mouthed punk, and in a way you would be right. With my bright blue hair, torn patched jeans, white vest with skulls on it, tats, piercings and not to mention my don’t give a shit attitude. But under all of my outward angst I love nothing more than to get stuck into a geeky sci-fi movie or mixing up different chems in the science lab.
I can’t really stand this place though and the pretentious shitheads this school attracts and breeds. Once it has you in its clutches it seems to change who you are. And not for the better.
Some may wonder why I would want to attend an establishment such as this if I hate it so much and just majored someplace else. I could tell you it was because I love the teachers and lessons here, that they inspire, invigorate my imagination and enthusiasm to learn. The climate is good for the soul. Or that I just can’t get enough of the food they serve here in the canteen. However, the simple answer is, is because of a girl, the only girl, in fact...
Oh, Maxine Caulfield. My first friend, my best friend, my first crush, my first kiss, my first love. She was, is my first everything. Still to this day she is the only one I have ever loved. Nothing and no one has been able to change that.
Most would see us as total opposites, two people who could never have anything in common. Seeing me as unruly, riotous and rough around the edges, with a sailor’s tongue to match. Whereas, they would see Max as introverted, sweet, shy and a nerdy little hipster. Which I can’t deny, I do myself. But they would be hella wrong. Max is so much more than that and so am I. We may outwardly portray ourselves as something else. However, inside we are basically the same. Our likes, our dislikes, how we share the same values. For the world around us, for our friends, our families and the ones we love. We balance each other out. We are each other’s equilibrium.
Mmm and there she is. Giggling shyly with one of her nerd friends before she waves them goodbye and makes her way over here. So angelic and pure. An actual angel amidst the sea of devils spawn we are in.
Max comes to a stop in front of us, yeah, us. I’m sitting atop a bench, outside campus, with a few other guys. Justin Williams, one of my close friends and fellow dab and skater enthusiasts. Although, he is much more accustomed to pedals than a board. Another, Trevor Yard, like Justin he is a close friend, a fellow thrasher and connoisseur of the old Mary Jane. Then there is the flirt and our resident slut and taker of any man she can find, Rachel Dawn Amber. She is good for a laugh and a fuck you to the world, sure. Just don’t let her near your guy.
“Hey, Chloe. Hi guys.” Max greets us in her sweet angelic voice, that always manages to make my stomach knot.
“Hey, cutie. I love the outfit. Is it new?” Rachel asks, flirty tone and smirk, very much used. And an added glance thrown my way because she knows how much it annoys me when she or anyone else flirts with Max. I know she doesn’t go in for the girl-on-girl action. She only does it to Max to fuck me off and wind me up. Which obviously works every time.
I won’t bite the goading bait she threw my way here though. I will just have words with her later. So she gets a glare for now before I turn my attention back to Max.
Who looks down at herself, blush starting to rise on those adorable freckled cheeks of hers. I could just eat her up right now. I adore that face.
Max looks back up with an awkward shrug, hand adjusting the strap of the bag on her shoulder, in that nervous cute way of hers, “It is just my usual clothes. I wore this outfit yesterday.”
Rachel smirks wider, “Hmm, it must be the sun. It brings out the really pretty colour of your eyes...” She then leans into me and whispers, “That and Price’s favourite hoody she has on.”
I glare at her and that smug knowing grin and glint in her eyes. It just furthers that look on her irritating face though.
So what Max has my favourite hoody on? She was cold and I was hot. Simple equation is, you hand your hoody over. It’s not like I’m sat here freezing my tits off in just a vest, is it?
“Max attack. You come to finally thrash and show these posers how it’s done?” Justin asks as he tokes on a joint.
Max giggles, that totally adorable giggle she does when she gets a little shy, “I think we all know I definitely can’t ‘thrash’. Best I leave it up to the professionals.”
Trevor looks around as he teases, “Professionals? All I see are a bunch of lazy ass bum wannabes.”
“Dude, you realise you are talking about your dumbass too, right?” I question.
Trevor just shrugs, blazed grin on his lips.
I roll my eyes and look to Max, “If it isn’t my favourite little hippie.” I say it with far more enthusiasm than anyone else would ever get from me. “Been a while, Maximus. I’m surprised to see you here and not nerding it up with your camera. Or you just come to check out the hella fine goods on offer?” I gesture to myself, playful smirk on my lips.
Max rolls her eyes and tuts, all in good nature though, “You’re a dork. I saw you this morning, Chloe. We had breakfast together. And I might remind you that you proceeded to steal my bacon and pancakes.”
I snicker happily at her mock frown at me. The same as what I got this morning from her and added threats of how she would kick my ass and I’d lose some fingers if I kept stealing her food. Didn’t deter me, obviously. I just done it all the more. I love teasing her. One of my favourite things to do with her.
My happy place soon disappears though when I hear, “Hey, Max?” My arch nemesis comes up to us, arm then slipping around Max before a kiss is placed on her cheek. “Sorry I didn’t meet you after class. I had to speak to miss Grant about something.”
Max smiles, a little awkward glance to me and the others before she looks to the invading body snatcher glomming onto her. “It’s ok, El. I figured as much and that I would see you out here when you were done.”
“Still soz though. You know how much I love to get in all the Maxi-pad time I can.” The doppelgänger Elizabeth places another kiss on Max, on her lips this time, before looking to me with a teasing smirk, “Yo, sis. What’s up with your face? Someone mistake your rust bucket for a bathroom again.”
Oh, did I forget to mention that I have a sister? A twin sister, no less. And she is the one who is actually Max’s girlfriend. Total mind-bending shit, I know.
People always say that there is usually an evil twin. Well, I 100% agree because mine is standing in front of me right now. She tries to act like the sweet and innocent one. And sure, on the surface some would look between us and see me as the bad seed. They would look at Elizabeth and see her butter wouldn’t melt smile, her doe eyes begging for you to believe she didn’t do anything wrong and praise her polite manners, with all the pleases and thank yous to your face. But underneath all of that placating shit, she has a darker, not very nice side to her and won’t hesitate to trample over someone else to get what she wants. Trust me, I know, I have been on the receiving end of it a number of times. The little beautiful angel Max, being the biggest, most unforgivable breach of trust and underhanded thing, she has ever done to me. And I won’t forgive her for it. I can’t! But that story is for another day.
We are identical, every physical detail the same. Well, there is one difference between us and that is our hair colour. Mine being blue now and hers still the same strawberry blonde we were born with. Our hairstyles are the same though. I got mine chopped off first then the next day she waltzed in sporting the same cut as me. So I went out and got the brightest colour dye I could find. She didn’t have the balls to go blue though. Might interfere with her fake persona of I’m ever such a good girl act she puts out to the world.
Oh, did I mention she copies everything I do? The haircut wasn’t the first thing and definitely wasn’t the last either. People may think it is cute and she just wants to be like her sister. But I know better than that. She always wants to take what I have or want. It is fucking infuriating! Ugh, but again, we will leave that for another day too.
I scowl internally at my sister and say to the others, “I think it’s time to bounce. I suddenly feel like puking!”
El gives me that sly bitchy smirk of hers, which I totally want to wipe off that face.
“Aww, going so soon, sis? Such a shame.”
I can feel my anger rising inside and can’t help retorting, “Yeah. Places to go and people to do. And you suck the life out of everything when you’re around. So anywhere is better than here.”
But luckily for her I don’t get to say anything else because Rachel steps in. She always does when she senses my mood plummeting to epically low and I’m about to let rip. Especially when my sister is involved. We are always arguing about something.
“I’m in hella need of some rays and chill before the sesh later. C, can you give me a ride to mine first? I want to pick up a few outfits.”
I shift my eyes over to her and see her giving me that let it go stare of hers.
I roll my eyes and hop off the table, “Yeah, whatever. You can just sweat out on your own though because I’m hitting up some rails after.” I look over to Justin and Trevor, “You two coming?”
They both nod.
“Totally!”
“I’ve got some rad moves to show you.”
We all get ready to leave as Rachel asks, “You coming, Max?”
She seems confused as she lets out a, “Huh?”
It’s so cute, her pretty confused face always manages to make me smile and change my mood instantly.
“We have that photoshoot you promised me, remember? I need your magic talent to capture my best side for my portfolio.” Rachel reminds her, a chuckle being let out as she does.
Max shifts, a bashful smile on those rosy lips of hers and a blush on her freckled cheeks as delicate fingers brush some soft brown hair behind her ear. She always gets like that when someone pays her a compliment. It’s totally endearing and makes me kinda melt. Damn, I’m hella weak for her and everything she does.
“I’m not sure. I was supposed to help El out...” She answers hesitantly but I can hear a want in her tone.
I’m really hoping she does come because anytime I get to spend with Max makes my day. I will take all I can get.
And for once, my sister actually gives me what I want. Whether she knows it or not.
“It’s cool, Max. Go. I have some work to grind out. So I will be in the zone.”
“Are you sure?”
“Totally. We can catch up later.”
“Ok then.” Max turns to us, “I guess I’m coming with you.”
It has me smiling wide internally as outwardly I smirk, “Let’s go then, little hippie. If you’re real lucky, I might even let you ride shotgun.”
Max rolls her eyes and turns to my, slightly scowling at me sister, “I will see you later.”
El gives her a kiss, which definitely doesn’t make me want to barf.
“Sure. I will text you when I’m done. Then we can get some food. My treat for neglecting you lately.”
Max smiles, “You don’t need to do that. I understand why you have.”
El shakes her head, “I want to. You deserve it for being so patient and chill.”
Definitely gonna puke again, maybe poke needles in my eyes at that mushy shit and with the kiss they share. Gross!
I’m obviously not jealous. I’m not wishing it was me kissing Max, taking her out on date nights, making her melt and swoon for me because of how much she adores my mushy ways. Doing every other cliché thing you do when you are madly in love with someone. Never always wishing any of that.
I sigh internally and try to pull myself out of the hole I’m falling down.
“Ok. I’ll see you later.” Max mumbles and then walks over to my side.
I slip my arm loosely around her shoulders and tease, “About time, Maximum slothage.” And give El a discreet bird before the rest of us start to make our way to my truck...
***
I snicker at Trevor when he wipes from his board and now lies on the ground groaning.
“Dude, you hella suck! Give it up already.”
“No way. I’ve got this!” He groans his reply.
“Please tell me you got that wipe?” I ask Max.
She looks to me, an amused smile on her lips, “I most certainly did get that.”
I raise my hand up to her for a high five, “Awesome!”
Max giggles in that cute way of hers as she hits my hand with hers.
“I’m thinking I might make a whole album of all of yours epic fails. I could probably even do a gallery expo, I have so many of them.” She teases, looking very impressed with herself too.
I absolutely love her sassy attitude. It totally gets me going. In so many delicious ways.
“Damn, hippie. You’re cold. And here I thought you were all sugar and spice and all things nice.”
She looks at me, eyes bright and sparkling as a hot little smirk works its way onto those very tasty, enticing lips of hers, “Everyone has a darker side to them.”
I totally love that smirk and give her one of my own, my voice edging towards flirty, “Is that so, Maxi? I’m intrigued.”
She shrugs and looks goddamn adorable as she starts to blush, “As I said, everyone does.”
I can’t help myself and move a little closer as I try to ignite that blush more, “Mmm, so what kind of darkness are you hiding inside you, Max? I bet it’s a wild dirty side. Majorly wicked!”
My mission is accomplished as Max’s cheeks glow bright and she flusters some words, “My erm, my dark side... It’s um, it’s, you know...” And waves an awkward hand around, just to add even more adorableness to herself.
I start snickering, “You are so cute.”
Which receives a push to me from her as she then grumbles, “Asshole! And I was going to tell you all of my deepest, darkest fantasies too. But now you will never know.” She then starts to walk away.
I quickly go after, “Aww, come on. Tell me what dark secrets and fantasies Max Caulfield is hiding deep inside. I will tell you mine.”
Max snorts a laugh and turns to me, “I doubt there is anything much deeper than a bunch of naked guys giving you a lap dance. Maybe a few dirty jokes too.”
“Ouch, dude. Seems you also have a harsh, devilish tongue inside you too. Good to know how you see me.”
I outwardly joke as inwardly it hurts to hear her say that and that’s all she thinks of me. I want to tell her how wrong she is and the only one I have in my fantasies is her. It’s always been her.
Max looks at me with a very gentle smile now, “But then, I have known you basically my whole life. We grew up together, telling each other all of our fears and loves, our thoughts for the future. I know there is so much more to you than what you show everyone else around you. You’re a remarkably complex, deep and thoughtful person. And yet, such a beautifully open person too. You are an intriguing woman, Chloe Price. It’s why I have so much love and respect for you and feel privileged to call you my best friend.”
I’m left completely stunned from all of what she said and how she really sees me. Max has always been the only one to truly see the real me. It means everything to me that she still knows who I really am.
Feeling the mushy atmosphere between us start getting the best of me, I give Max a light punch on the arm, “Ok, dude. I’m going to hit up some rails.”
Max chuckles and teases, “And there’s that shy girl I know so well. I wasn’t sure if she was still in there.” It’s affectionate though. A real gentle smile being aimed at me and eyes looking at me like I’m incredibly special to her.
I can feel my cheeks starting to blush and my stomach is going crazy with those butterflies it always does when she is like that with me.
I place my board on the ground and try to smirk through my flustered state as I joke, “Damn, Caulfield. You’re gonna hella ruin me!” And then push forward, hearing her giggle at my embarrassment no doubt.
Max is too goddamn good at turning me into an epically bumbling dorkish mess and there is nothing I can do about it...