Chapter 2:

Caroline had always been a woman of routine; even with the crazy life she formed with Max, she had formed one. She always found a sort of peace with it. And regardless of how things change she'll make a routine; Max being stabbed couldn't even change that. Now she had a new one' every day, she woke up, got washed and dressed and went to visit Max at the hospital. Max said she didn't need to and that she was fine, but Caroline didn't listen.

She came by with stories and various snacks that the diner family chipped in on. Then she would go to work, update everybody and get on with her shift. Though no one said it, without Max there, work was pretty awful. No one to deflect Oleg's inappropriate jokes (not that he made as many), no one to sass the rude customers and (even though he'd never admit it) no one to argue with Han which everybody enjoyed.

By the time her shift was over visiting hours were over so she went back to the apartment. Normally she'd refer to it as home, but without Max there, it didn't feel like one. It lacked that spark of life that Max brought with her everywhere. Without her the apartment just kind of felt like a background, or perhaps a T.V sitcom set. Then she would spend virtually the rest of her time messaging Max.

The hospital had Wi-Fi so the two girls used a messenger app. Though it was mostly just updates on Max's condition and memes that they sent back and forth, Caroline couldn't help but feel a terrible pain without Max being there. She cried to sleep on the first night without her. She didn't sleep very well either; that awful moment of Max turning around to see blood trickle down her stomach.

Bags started forming under her eyes, she was sure everyone noticed but decided it would best not to say anything. She was glad for that honestly, she didn't think she could bare to talk about it. On the subject of not speaking; when Max first woke up in the hospital room, Caroline accidentally professed her love. Truly shocking to them both. Max, with a look, said it would be best to discuss it later.

But they hadn't. At all. Caroline had to bite back the words every time they spoke, whether it be in person or on the phone. When she wasn't recoiling from her nightmare of Max, she would lie awake thinking about what she meant when she said those words. 'I've never been in a situation where I could lose someone I love before!' those words rung in her head. It didn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out that the girls loved each other.

But Caroline had never said those words with such…passion? Was that the right word? Ugh, she shouldn't be thinking about this in 3 in the morning. She didn't know what she should do. All she could think of was Max, what she would've done in that alley. But, of course she knows what she would've done; she would fight to protect her weak friend. Then take a knife for her.

'That didn't help' she thought to herself, sighing deeply. She wasn't sure when she finally managed to sleep, but it wasn't for long as her alarm snatched her back to reality. A disturbing one at that; she found herself in Max's bed, clinging tightly to her pillow. Caroline doesn't recall falling asleep or walking into Max's room. She was sure this had deeply troubling underlying issue to it; but like all other working class Americans, she had no time to worry, because she had to go to work.

Not the wisest decision in her life considering her hours of sleep for the week totaled at around eight, including the naps she didn't know she took while visiting Max. She fell asleep in her chair time to time and Max would let her, she could see how much she needed it. Caroline could barely stand, let alone take customer's orders. She mostly said (and wrote) gibberish back to the patrons before wobbling off.

Before she fainted on a table, Han decided to intervene.

"Caroline?" his squeaky voice temporarily pierced her dazed state.

"YES?!" she said with all the clarity and alertness her addled mind could muster. It was painfully obvious that she was struggling to keep up this level of attention. Han could see the strain in her face.

"Caroline, I know you're worried about Max, we are all! But you must get some sleep, at this rate my customers will serve themselves!" he said.

"No, Han, I'm good. I got this," she thought she said. She really mumbled incoherently to the short man.

"See? You can barely speak! Go home! I'll call Luis to fill in," he ordered. Caroline used all her reserve energy saying that 'yes'. No longer able to argue, she nodded handed in her apron and trudged out the diner. She, in a mindless trance, walked back to the apartment. She was too tired to think, and any thought that fluttered into her mind involved Max.

Without realizing it, Caroline had gotten on the train that would take her to the hospital Max was at. It was still automated into her that she fell asleep and woke up at her stop. It was only after signing in and walking towards Max's room, did Caroline truly realize where she was. Before she had a moment to properly freak out and go home, Max saw her.

"Caroline?" She asked as her roommate spun around on her heel to face her.

"Yeah, it's me," she said, trying desperately to keep a level voice to mask her inner freaking out.

"What're you doing here?" Max checked the time.

"Shouldn't you be at work?" She wondered.

Caroline wasn't sure what to say.

"I was so worried about you that I came here in a sleep like trance"?

"I can't sleep at home because I keep having nightmares about what happened"?

"I can't stop thinking about how I said I love you"?

She wanted to blurt out all these things, but instead choose to say;

"Oh, Han gave me the day off," she walked into the room.

"I can see why, you can barely walk straight. Did you get ANY sleep?" Max asked. Caroline slumped down in the seat next to the bed, sighing

"No," she admitted. She felt an overwhelming wave of calm wash over her. She felt she could fall asleep right there in that chair, she had already in the past week. Just being near Max was enough to relieve her.

"Well, you should. I remember how you would use to kill somebody for a nap, now you get the day to sleep and you're visiting me? Girl, you thirsty." Max simply said.

Her comment aside Caroline replied;

"I can't sleep at home Max," she said. She had to say something, it was eating her up inside.

"Why not? Need cuddly ol' me?" Max teased. Caroline knew she was joking, but she couldn't help replying harshly

"It's not funny Max!" She didn't want to yell, but she unwittingly said what was wrong.

"Ok, calm down. Tell me what's wrong." This was one of the few somber moments that Max was serious. And while Caroline usually appreciated those, she was less than thrilled about this one.

"Whenever I go back to the apartment, I just talk to you,"

'Or wish you were there,' she bit back those words.

"And the only time I feel calm or relaxed, is around you," she said with tears starting to swell up in her eyes.

"I can't sleep, I keep thinking about what happened to you," tears were streaming down her cheeks while she said this. She unconsciously looked at Max's stomach, imagining the stab wounds. She didn't dare look at her face, she had to get this all out first.

"I have these nightmares, and then I think about what I could've done and-" she was cutoff by Max's finger in her lips, shushing her. Max herself was on the verge of tears.

"Caroline, you need to understand that you didn't ask me to do that for you. I wanted to do that, just like when I let you move in. You're the most important person in the world to me, I'd gladly fight that guy again to keep you safe." Caroline wiped her tears, even though new ones rolled down.

"Now, do me and yourself a favor. Go home. Get some sleep." She replaced her serious look with a heartfelt smile.

"But-" Caroline started to protest but again found herself cutoff. This time Max had kissed Caroline's cheeks. The soft lips left a tingling sensation behind.

"I'm fine, go get some sleep," Max said again, her smile was still there but her voice was firm. Caroline simply nodded and left Max to eat her pudding.

When she finally got home she threw off her purse and jacket, not bothering to fully or partially undressed. The thought of pulling down her bed made her nauseous. She entered Max's room and promptly feel on her bed. She was out in an instant. 'You're the most important person in the world to me.' Those words reverberated around her head. That scene replayed in her dreaming mind, in comparison to her recent nightmares; this was quite the pleasant change.

It was different however; they weren't in the hospital, nor was Max dressed in her hospital robe. Rather she was in that blue top that Caroline liked. Max had said those words again and kissed her cheek, as she did in real life, but then she gave her another one. And another, another, one after the other peppering her face more and more with those soft kisses. She finally placed one on her lips, it was...nice. It was slow and passionate more so then any she ever had.

Then it went further, Max started undoing her shirt buttons then she was undoing Caroline's, she undressed them faster and faster.

Caroline woke up, panting, sweating at the realization of what this meant.

"I'm in love with Max." She said to herself.

Chapter 2 End