We're Not Alone

2008

"What do you mean, you're leaving?" Chloe Price asked her best friend, "Max, y-you can't leave now, you can't!"

Chloe looked at the face of Max Caulfield, her vision distorted from the tears forming. First, Chloe loses her father, and now her best friend was moving to Seattle. This isn't fair, this isn't fucking fair! Chloe thought as she gripped the smaller girl by the shoulders, the smaller of the two unable to meet the other's eyes.

"C-Chloe, it's not like I want to. My dad got a job up there and we h-have to-" Max started before Chloe wrapped her in a tight hug.

Chloe felt as both of them began to cry, the pain of a separation that was soon to take place coming prematurely. Chloe gripped the back of Max's shirt into her fists, desperate to keep her friend from leaving, feeling that if she just held onto Max that she wouldn't leave Arcadia Bay, wouldn't leave her. Footsteps began to echo from the staircase, and Chloe looked up from their position in the middle of the living room as the Caulfields and her mother made their way towards them. Realization hit Chloe square in the chest, in her heart, as she separated herself from Max.

"You're...you're leaving now?" Chloe asked, her tone devoid of any emotion.

"I...I didn't have the heart to tell you, Chlo," Max stammered, "Your dad dying, I-I didn't want to add-"

"You should have told me!" Chloe yelled, her voice becoming a mixture of grief and rage, "We're best friends, Max! I love you! Why didn't you tell me?!"

Chloe watched as the Caulfields came up to Max, their daughter sobbing uncontrollably as she looked at Chloe with a heartbroken expression. Chloe felt her tears return but forced herself not to cry, to just let the tears flow. Joyce moved to comfort her daughter, who was clearly in pain, but Chloe brushed her mother's arm away and ran all the way to the staircase. Making it halfway up the stairs, Chloe paused for a moment.

"You should have told me," she said in a hushed tone before dragging herself into her room and slammed the door behind her.

2010

"Rachel, my Mom might fucking spit-take when she sees this," Chloe told her friend as the other girl snipped at Chloe's hair with a pair of scissors. Using a large piece of a full-length mirror they found, the two were spending a care-free night in their hideout at the junkyard outside Arcadia Bay.

"Chlo, relax. I'm not shaving your head. You're just...trying a new you," Rachel said, trying not to laugh at the nervous expression on Chloe's face, "You make it sound like I'm surgically giving you a third eye or something."

"Yeah, well, you don't live with a fucking nazi," Chloe retorted as she tried to hide her anxiety.

"So, your stepdad is a nazi? Last week, he was a...what did you call him?" Rachel asked as she continued to cut away at Chloe's increasingly shortened hair.

"A step-douche."

"Well, that sounds more creative than calling a person a Nazi. Also, there's the whole calling anyone a Nazi."

"Ugh, fine. I'll lay off David on that. Dude's hella paranoid, though. I told Joyce it was only a matter of time before there were cameras in our house, but she just brushed it off as me not getting along with him," Chloe said, rolling her eyes at Rachel's amused expression.

"I'll never get over you calling your mom by her name. She's your mom, Chloe."

"Whatever."

Chloe brought her hands out from under the old tarp Rachel had wrapped on her to keep the hair from getting into Chloe's clothes too much, and fumbled with the remote control to a battered stereo. Turning up the music to what others would consider a deafening tone, The Clash boomed out "London Calling" as Chloe closed her eyes in contentment.

"I can't wait until we get the hell out of this fucking town," Chloe said, grinning at the thought of the two of them traveling the world. Los Angeles, New York, Paris. We'll go everywhere, Rachel, with your modeling and me as your bodyguard, Chloe thought before an image of her discussing similar plans with another girl flashed across her mind. Chloe winced internally as Max Caulfield's face came into view, smiling as they played pretend in Chloe's room, as they drew their movie posters and talked about what they would do together when they left Arcadia Bay. Shit, Chloe thought, Fucking Max. I haven't thought of her in, well, a while. Chloe's mind drifted into the blaring music as an escape from memories she wished would stay buried.

Neither girls spoke until Rachel finished with Chloe's hair. Getting out of the beat-up lawn chair, Chloe ruffled her shortened hair while she looked at herself in the mirror. Her tattoo was coming along, though she knew she could only hide it for so long. Mom will flip her shit, Chloe thought as moved to the doorway with an unlit cigarette in-between her fingers. Telling Rachel she was going to get some air, Chloe walked though the junkyard for a few minutes or so before her phone rang. Eyes rolled, Chloe answered the call she saw was from her mother.

"What, Mom? I told you I was going to be out with Rachel," Chloe said with obvious irritation.

"Chloe, sweetie, it's about Max," Joyce said with a sad tone.

"Uh, what about her? Haven't fucking heard from her in years, Mom, you know that," Chloe replied, sounding confused, "What's up?"

"...She's gone missing, Chloe."

Chloe stopped in mid-stride, her cigarette falling from her mouth as she braced herself against a rusted truck. Not speaking for a moment, Chloe heard Joyce calling out for her over the phone but felt a weight hit her stomach hard. Max is missing? What the fuck?

"What...what do you mean, missing? She's probably just hanging with her Seattle art-holes. The Caulfields were always fucking worriers, Joyce," Chloe said as she tried to feel optimistic.

"Chloe. She's been missing for a week. The Caulfields called to ask if we'd heard anything from her. She hasn't contacted you at all?" Joyce asked.

"If she had, my answer would be pretty fucking different," Chloe spat, the worry now mixed with irritation. I don't need this shit. She fucking left. Fuck her, fuck Max Caulfield, Chloe thought, but the image of Max dead in a ditch sent a chill up her spine. Fucking goddamnit. "They really don't know where she is?"

Chloe watched Rachel walk towards her from their hideout and Chloe gestured that she was almost done with her call. Listening to her mother go on for a few more minutes, Chloe told her that she'd be home later to talk and hung up. Fuck my life, Chloe thought as she pocketed her phone and looked over at Rachel.

"Eh, some old drama. No big," Chloe said as she tried to sound like everything was normal. Rachel looked at her with concern for a moment, then shrugged when she came to the conclusion that Chloe wouldn't talk about it.

The two girls tried to get back into the natural groove they felt when they hung out at the junkyard, getting drunk and exploring the piles of discarded junk that littered the area, but the mood had changed after the call from Chloe's mother. Feeling strung-out, Chloe offered to give Rachel a ride home in her truck but Rachel just smiled at her and said that the bus stop was only a few minutes walk. Chloe watched as Rachel faded into the tree line of the woods down the short dirt road leading to the junkyard and took a seat on the junkyard's latest acquisition, an old blue boat. Using a wooden plank, Chloe crossed the space from the hill next to the boat to her new vessel and took a swig from her recently opened beer. Looking up at the sky, thoughts of her and Max playing pirates came to her mind. Chloe couldn't help but grin a little as she thought of how she had finally gotten an actual boat and her first mate was nowhere to be found. A pang of sadness touched her heart as a multitude of images of Max in terrible situations sprung from her imagination.

Opening and closing her eyes in rapid succession, Chloe fought the depressing images away and stood up. Taking one last drink from the beer, she tossed the bottle into the small cabin of the boat and crossed the plank back to the hill. Chloe was heading for her truck when she thought she spotted a figure standing among the trees next to where she had parked.

"Uh, hello? Anybody there? Rachel, I'll kick your ass if you don't fucking answer," Chloe said as she squinted to try and get a better look. The shadow slowly emerged from the trees into the figure of a small teenage girl. Chloe looked at the girl, dumstruck.

"Max?" Chloe asked, the only word that was able to make it out of Chloe's shocked mind.

The short girl smiled at her faintly in reply. Dressed in a plain black hoodie and blue jeans, Max's shoulder-length hair fluttered with the slight breeze. Holy shit, Chloe thought, She's really here! Chloe thought the moonlight made Max look incredibly pale, but shook her head as she brought herself out from the distraction of examining the childhood friend that stood before her.

"What the fuck, Max? I just got off the phone with Joyce, and she told me you've been missing for a week! You're supposed to be in Seattle! What the hell are you doing here?" Chloe asked, having decided to focus on the present issue and now Max's abandonment of her.

"I...I wanted to see you, Che," Max said with hesitation. Chloe watched as Max fidgeted with her hands, "I'm okay, Chloe. I just...I needed to see you."

"You needed to see me now? After two fucking years, you need to see me now?" Chloe said in response to Max's words, "Dude, you left. You left me, and you never-"

"I know, Chloe, I know. I came to apologize. I-I know you'll probably never forgive me-"

"Damn right."

"-but I needed to say that I'm really sorry face-to-face," Max said, and Chloe watched with a small amount of satisfaction as tears rolled down Max's cheeks. The satisfaction faded away, however, as the heartbreak of two years ago began to resurface.

Chloe looked down to her shoes as she tried to come up with something to say. Pulling out a cigarette, Chloe lit it and took a long drag before she looked back up. She jumped a little when she saw that Max was only a foot or two away from her, staring at her.

"Jesus, Max! Just fucking kill me next time," Chloe said, then squinted at the other girl. Max's face was obscured in shadow, but for a moment it looked to Chloe like Max's eyes were glowing. Having come to the conclusion that is probably just drunk, Chloe took another puff from her cigarette and stared back at Max.

"Uh, are you okay? You look...I don't fucking know how to describe it," Chloe said as the close proximity to Max allowed her a better look. The hoodie looked worn, and the jeans had holes in them. Max's eyes, however, drew the most attention from the taller girl. "Are you wearing contacts? You're eyes look, uh, violet."

Chloe watched as Max tilted her head down so that her eyes were not as clearly visible. Max seemed to almost float the remaining distance between herself and Chloe until they were only inches apart. Chloe felt a moment of shock as a slender hand touched the back of her neck and pulled her head down with surprising strength until she was eye level with Max. The two girls looked each other in the eye for a moment before Max tilted her head to where her mouth was next to Chloe's ear.

"I came here to say sorry, Che, and I have. I can't stay, but I want you to know that I'll never forgive myself," Max said, her voice sounding pained, "In a minute, I'll be gone. When I am, you won't remember me being here. You got drunk, and decided to take the bus back home. This entire evening will feel like a dream, and you'll feel at ease in the morning."

Max grabbed Chloe by the chin and placed a single kiss on the taller girl's cheek, looked into her eyes with a saddened expression, and walked away. A few minutes after Max disappeared, Chloe came out of what felt like a dream. Looking at the empty bottles next to the boat, Chloe realized she was probably drunk and decided to take the bus back home. Chloe tried to remember how she got where she was standing, but could only remember that Rachel had cut her hair and Joyce had called her.

"Ugh, what the fuck was in that beer?" Chloe said to herself as she walked down the road toward where the bus stop was located, "Wait, what did Mom call me about? Fuck, I really am shitfaced. For a sec, I thought I saw Max. Fucking Max Caulfield." Chloe chuckled to herself as she continued down the road, oblivious to what had transpired.

2013

Fuck this whole goddamn town! Chloe Price thought as she sped through Arcadia Bay. Rachel had been missing for months, and Chloe had been terrified that something had happened to her best friend. Rachel had been her best friend, that is, until Chloe received an email from Rachel. Explaining that she had gotten an 'opportunity' in California that needed her to move ASAP, Rachel had taken off from Arcadia Bay without so much as a goodbye. Feeling used, Chloe took the letter and shredded it to pieces before getting in her truck and driving like a hellion down the streets of Arcadia Bay. Fucking Rachel, fucking Dad, fucking Max! Everyone important to me leaves, so fuck everybody! I'll make my own way, and I'll piss on this goddamn town before I'm through!

Chloe peeled through town and made a beeline for the lighthouse. Slamming the driver's side door with all the strength she had, Chloe stomped up the pathway leading to the hilltop. Chloe pulled out a joint from a pocket in the liner of her jacket and lit the doobie, taking a long puff and holding it for a minute before exhaling. While pot was normally relaxing, Chloe was still on edge. Pulling her beanie down to where her eyes were nearly covered, Chloe kicked random pebbles and clumps of mud on the way up to the area occupied by the lighthouse. I can't believe she did this to me. Rachel bailed on me, waiting months before even bothering me to let me know she was okay. She knew how much she meant to me, my so-called angel, and she ditched me when it was convenient to her needs. Fucking bullshit!

Having reached the hilltop, Chloe sat on the lone bench and smoked her joint. Feeling the small waves of relaxation coming from each puff, Chloe blew smoke rings into the air to focus on something else. Anything else. When the first joint was gone, Chloe pulled out her cigarettes and smoked a couple of them, then gagged slightly when she caught a whiff of her smokey breath.

"Ugh, like a fucking ashtray," Chloe thought as she pocketed the near-empty cigarette pack. Her hand stayed in her pocket, however, as she received a phone call from Joyce. I thought you were at work, Mom, Chloe thought as she answered the call.

"Chloe? Chloe, you there?" Joyce asked, her tone oddly cheerful, "Don't tell me that this is like that 'butt dial' crap I hear about..."

"I'm here, Mom," Chloe said, unable to restrain a chuckle, "It's a butt dial if I call you, not answer you. What's up? I thought you were at work." Chloe stood up and stretched, watching the coastline shimmer with the last rays of the setting sun.

"Well..."

"Mom. You called me. Spit it out, Joyce." Chloe said, her tone flat.

"I...I just don't know how you'll take this."

"Take what? Seriously, what the fuck is going on? Oh, did you finally come to your senses with the gatekeeper at our house?"

"No, Chloe, this has nothing to do with David. We've been together for years now, and I really wish you'd try...," Joyce started only to pause, "That's not why I called. Someone just came into Two Whales and asked for you."

Oh shit, Frank, Chloe thought as the image of the guy who sold her pot talking to her mom made Chloe's stomach turn with anxiety. Chloe thought about how all those possible interactions could go before realizing that her mom had said something during Chloe's spacing out.

"Uh, what was that? I didn't catch what you said, Mom," Chloe said, waiting for a reply.

"I said that Max just walked into the diner and is asking to see you, Chloe."

"...Max?" Chloe thought, her mind still unclear from the idea of Frank and her mom sitting down for a talk.

"Max Caulfield. Are you alright, Chloe?"

Chloe felt the anxiety of Frank dissipate only to be replaced with the mixed feelings that belonged to Max Caulfield. Chloe paused as she tried to take in what her mom had just told her. Max is here? Max is in Arcadia Bay right now? Chloe thought as she unconsciously began to walk down the path toward where her truck was parked. Clearing her throat as she regained her composure, Chloe put the phone back to her ear.

"Sorry, Mom. Um, you did say Max was there, right?"

"Yes, Chloe. She's sitting at a booth with a cup of coffee, looking out the window."

"Uh, how is she? I mean, how does she look?" Chloe asked, unable to hide her interest.

"Am I a sketch artist, Chloe? What do you want, a description of her appearance?" Joyce asked sarcastically.

"Yes! I mean...yes?" Chloe blurted out, then cursed at her moment of weakness.

"Well, Detective Price, she's got shoulder-length hair, a little coppery. She's pale, but freckled like you remember. She's wearing some torn-up black jeans, a pink t-shirt, and boots. You want her height, too?" Joyce said with even more sarcasm.

"Ugh, okay. Okay," Chloe said, realizing that she was being an idiot, "I'm on my way. Tell her I'm on my way." I fucking shouldn't be, though, unless it's to tell her to fuck off.

Chloe hung up her phone before her mother could answer and walked across the small parking lot to her truck. Cussing as she saw her hand shake slightly when reaching for her keys, Chloe unlocked the driver's side door and climbed into her truck. Taking a moment to breathe, Chloe looked in the rearview mirror and let her mind drift for a moment as she tried to calm down. Oh fuck, this is happening. This shit is actually happening. Taking a deep breath, Chloe turned the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot as she made her way to Two Whales.

The drive to the diner from the lighthouse wasn't long, but it felt stretched to Chloe. Her mind wandered as the image of Max's face from when she left crossed her mind over and over, the tears and the heartbreak. God, what am I actually gonna fucking say? I want to yell at her, fucking rip her head off! I also want to just hold her and refuse to let go! Ugh, get your shit together! Chloe thought to herself as she finally made it to Two Whales. Pulling into the small parking lot, Chloe sat in her truck for a minute with the truck still idling. Finally switching the ignition off, Chloe slowly climbed out of her truck and walked up to the front of the diner. She hesitated at the door, and peered at the windows. Spotting a small shape in a booth near the opposite end of the diner she was standing outside of, Chloe huffed and walked up and opened the door inside quietly.

The first person Chloe saw as she entered the diner was her mom. Despite knowing where Max was sitting, Chloe gave Joyce a puzzled expression before the older woman tilted her head in the direction of Max's booth. Trying to compose herself, Chloe walked with an exaggerated gait to the booth and plopped herself into the seat on the opposite side of where the other girl was sitting. Chloe felt herself draw in a breath of surprise as she got a look at Max. The lighting of the diner made Max's hair shimmer a coppery tone. A pink t-shirt with small black skulls scattered across like polka dots lightly clung to her slender frame. Chloe couldn't see the jeans or boots because of the booth, obviously, but Max's face captured her attention. Blue pools of light directed their attention at her, a slight smirk on the face, as Max watched Chloe observe her for a moment.

"So, uh, hey," Chloe said abruptly, realizing she had been staring at Max maybe a second too long, "Um..."

"Hi, Chloe," Max said, her voice carrying a slightly amused tone, "Hmm, I like your hair. The blue. It's pretty cool."

"Oh, thanks," Chloe said as she unconsciously pulled off her beanie and ran a hand through her dyed hair, "So. What brings you to Arcadia Bay? The excitement of fishing season, the allure of-"

"I moved back here," Max said, and Chloe nearly choked on her breath, "I won some photography awards, all amateurish stuff, and I thought I would do some modeling and landscape work here."

"Like, as a photographer?" Chloe asked, feeling a burning sensation in her stomach, "Wow, you must be pretty good."

"Well, I'm okay. I don't think I'm as good as people tell me. Also, I came back to Arcadia Bay to see you."

Chloe's heart felt like it seized in her chest. She came back to see me? Her work, yeah, but to see me? Chloe felt the burning feeling in her stomach build, but not just from rising anger and pain. Chloe felt a giddiness she hadn't experienced in years. She's here for me.

"That is so fucking cool," Chloe said in earnest, "But why Arcadia? You got out of here, nerd. This place is a pit."

"I just said I wanted to see you, dork," Max replied with a bemused expression, "Where else was I supposed to find you?"

Chloe tried to come up with something funny to say but couldn't think of anything witty. The moment of giddiness was momentarily overtaken by the heartache she also felt at the sight of the girl sitting opposite her and found her mouth speaking words before her mind could react.

"Five years, Max. Five fucking years. You bailed on me," Chloe blurted out, only half-regretting what came out.

"I didn't ask my parents to move with the purpose of intentionally fucking you over, Chloe," Max said with a sigh, knowing that this was going to come eventually, "You think I didn't miss you?"

"But you never called, Max, you never wrote. My dad died, and you took off," Chloe said, in an almost pleading tone, "Shit, you even bailed on your family. You fucking disappeared. Where were you?"

"I...I had some private shit I n-needed to work out," Max replied, and Chloe felt herself relax at the familiar tone that came with Max's words, "I'm here now, Chloe, and you're part of the reason why."

The two girls paused their discussion as Joyce came over with a cup of coffee for Chloe and menus. Chloe ordered a cheeseburger, while Max ordered french fries and another coffee. Taking their menus, Joyce noticed the tensed expressions on their faces and sighed to herself as she thought of the picture of them placed on the inside of the diner's counter. So grown up, but still so much like children. I wish they would just get along.

"So, you just come back and expect everything to be okay?" Chloe asked, her tone vaguely hostile.

"You cereal? Of course I-" Max started.

"Because it's not okay, Max," Chloe interrupted, trying to maintain her angst, "I'm hella pissed and I think I might stay that way."

"...Liar."

Chloe stopped in mid-thought at Max's single-worded reply. Looking up from the table, Chloe saw Max staring right at her as though she were staring into her. Chloe thought that her hands might start shaking and clenched them into fists as she began to get out of the booth. Feeling a hand clutch onto her jacket as she made to leave, Chloe looked down and saw Max still staring at her.

"Don't," Chloe said, trying to shake Max's hand off her to no avail, "Dude, let me the fuck go."

Chloe tipped over slightly from Max's sudden release of her hand, grabbing her cheeseburger from a stupefied Joyce. Muttering a quick "Thanks" as she headed out the door, Chloe broke into a run as she made for her truck. Cheeseburger held in her mouth, Chloe climbed into the truck's cab and took a bite out of the sandwich aggressively. Frustrated, Chloe threw out the remainder of the burger with an angry "Fuck!" as she started her truck. Did I fuck up? No, she did. Fucking Max, goddamnit! I don't know whether I should be happy, angry, or anything at all. Fuck this place!, Chloe thought as she peeled out of the diner's parking lot.

Having driven around Arcadia Bay aimlessly for an hour, Chloe found herself parked at the entrance to the junkyard. Still frustrated, Chloe slammed the truck door shut behind her as she sulkily trudged in the direction of the hideout. Just mine, now. Better that way. No one to fuck me over, Chloe thought as she walked into the small structure and collapsed into a chair. Turning on the stereo with the old remote, Chloe flipped through radio stations until she found one playing rock. Closing her eyes in relief as the music took her mind elsewhere, Chloe pulled a joint out of a jacket pocket and was about to light it when she heard someone come in.

"No fucking peace, I swear. What do you-," Chloe started, then felt her body tense up.

"You know why I'm here, girl," Frank Bowers said as he leaned against the doorway, "You're fucking late on payment and I've given you enough time as it is. Where's my money?"

"Dude, you'll get your money. I just gotta-," Chloe started before being cut off by her dealer.

"You don't do shit, Chloe. You get drunk, high, and just fuck around. You think I can't imagine you just bailing without paying me back? 'I'm good for it, Frank, I hella swear.' Yeah, right. Cut the bullshit, kid, and pay up."

"I...I don't have anything right now," Chloe said, inching out of the chair, "Look man, I-I can get the cash. I just need more time."

Frank edged himself towards Chloe and Chloe bolted out a window in response. Falling on her face as she landed, Chloe scrambled to her feet and began to make a run for her truck only for Frank to come around the corner with a switchblade in one of his hands. Backpedaling, Chloe held up her hands in surrender but Frank continued to make his way towards Chloe. Backed up against a wrecked car, Chloe watched with dread as Frank brought the blade up inches from her face.

"I've been fucking patient, kid, I really have. But bolting on me? That doesn't sit well. Leaves the wrong message, like you'll take off altogether," Frank said as Chloe felt tears begin to drip down her cheeks, "Why the fuck are you crying? I'm not going to kill you, kid. Just leave you something to remember me by, something that will jog your need to fucking pay me back you little b-"

"I think you need to step back."

Chloe was shaken out of her fear by the sound of a familiar voice. Frank stopped with the knife's tip only a couple inches from Chloe's eye, and pulled the knife back as he looked around for the source of the voice. The night sky was partly cloudy so there were shadows everywhere, near impossible to see for the drug dealer.

"Who the fuck is there? This doesn't concern anybody except me," Frank started, gesturing to Chloe with the knife, "and her. Get lost."

Chloe's attention was returned to the knife as Frank began to press the tip lightly against her cheek. Wincing as she knew what was going to come next, Chloe shut her eyes tight in anticipation of the sharp cutting sensation. The pain never came, however, and Chloe felt the knife suddenly gone from her face. Opening a single eye, Chloe saw Frank standing a few paces away with a look of pain on his face.

Frank's knife hand was empty, and bent at an odd angle that wasn't normal. Chloe thought she saw a bruise starting to form and noticed that Frank was tilted slightly backwards. She watched as a small hand from behind Frank squeezed on Frank's throat and heard Frank make a pained noise through gritted teeth. Frank's knees bent as something kicked the back of them and Frank was kneeling on the ground, the figure holding him visible in the fragments of moonlight.

"Max?" Chloe asked in shock, then felt her jaw drop. Her childhood best friend wore an expression of cold rage as she looked down at Frank, her teeth bared. What caught Chloe's attention the most, however, were the glowing violet irises coming from Max's eyes. "You," Max hissed, her mouth next to one of Frank's ears as she bent down, "are not very nice. You threatened my friend." Frank replied with a grunt of pain as Max wrapped her hand around the wrist she had broken and squeezed, eliciting a cry of pain from Frank.

"Max, what are you doing?" Chloe asked, beginning to walk towards Max, "Max, he's a bad dude but you're fucking hurting him." Chloe flinched when she saw the bright violet eyes move to look at her.

"...What would he have done to you, hmm? You want me to just kiss his boo-boo and ignore him nearly jabbing a knife into your face. Are you fucking cereal?" Max asked, her voice slightly husky.

"Max, please just calm down. He won't bother us, okay? Look at him, he's scared shitless," Chloe said, gesturing towards Frank. Frank, in turn, tried to pull himself out of Max's grip as his captor was momentarily distracted by Chloe.

"F-f-f-," Frank tried to speak through Max's vice-like grip on his neck, only to be silenced as she tightened her grip for a moment.

"You're a fucking waste," Max said, looking back at Frank again, "I bet you taste like shit. Disease and drugs. You're not worth my time, or hers."

Chloe felt a moment of relief as Max let go of Frank's neck, the man dropping to the ground as he gasped for breath. He lay there for a minute or two before being pulled up to his feet by Max grabbing him by the chin effortlessly. Jesus fuck, what are you, Max? Chloe thought as she watched Max. Chloe watched as Max moved her mouth to Frank's ear again and whisper something to the injured man. Watching his expression change from pained to horrified, Chloe saw Frank nod repeatedly before Max let him go. Watching him run off while cradling his injured wrist, Chloe cautiously walked towards the small girl standing nearby.

"...Max?" Chloe asked, sounding afraid, "What was that?"

Max turned to face her and Chloe felt her knees buckle. The look of violence on Max's face was countered by the grin and flash of her teeth, the brightness of her violet eyes somewhat faded. Covering the rest of the distance between them, Max grabbed Chloe in a hug and nuzzled her face against the taller girl's neck. Chloe just stood there, letting the girl she thought she knew hold her for a moment, then pull back.

"You aren't happy to see me?" Max asked, her voice curious.

"Dude, you hella saved my life, but holy shit," Chloe said, placing a hand on Max's shoulder, "What. The. Fuck. Was. That."

"Um...," Max opened her mouth to speak only to pause in thought, "I don't know how to explain this. I want to show you, but I really don't feel like you freaking out."

"Max, you nearly killed a guy a moment ago. I'm already kinda freaked," Chloe said, trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of Max's awkward tone, "You go from bad-ass to classic Caulfield in seconds. Just...just show me, whatever it is."

Max looked down at the ground for a minute, then up at Chloe. Chloe saw the fearful look in her old friend's eyes, the hesitation. Squeezing the shoulder she was still grasping, Chloe nodded in encouragement to Max and watched the other girl's body become less tense. Max took a couple steps back from Chloe so that she was still in arm's reach.

"I need you to hit me," Max said, her tone even, "This works best if I get a little pissed."

"Uh, you serious? You want me to hit you?" Chloe asked with an incredulous tone. Seeing Max nod, Chloe shrugged and after a moment's hesitation slapped Max across the face. Wincing as she felt her hand strike, Chloe felt bad at hitting her childhood friend only to pull her hand back fast as she saw the reaction.

Max's eyes were glowing bright again and her small frame tensed as though an electric current was surging through. Teeth bared, Max inched towards Chloe, backing her up against the same wreck Frank had done. Worried, Chloe put her hands up instinctively and Max stopped. Chloe watched as Max opened her mouth, the canine's elongating an inch. Clamping her mouth shut, Max bared her fangs at Chloe for a moment before they retracted. Her body shaking, the brightness in Max's eyes dimmed until the resembled the blue Chloe remembered from the diner and their childhood. Gingerly walking over to Max, Chloe put a hand on Max's cheek.

"Holy shit," Chloe said in amazement, "You're a fucking vampire."

Author's Note - The idea for this came for me the morning after I had finished "The Power is On". I know that this AU is different because there currently isn't anything but Pricefield, and I was originally going to make this a one-shot. As I was typing it, however, I found myself adding more in my mind until I realized I had only touched upon the story I was creating. Whatever you think of it, let me know. I will probably continue this, whether it is enjoyed or reviled, as it is genuinely fun to write.