(( I wrote this while half asleep and attention deprived. It's been a while so I'm sorry if it's inconsistent with the rest of the fic. Personal things came up and I don't wish to keep writing love stories about these two, but thought I should at least wrap this up. I tried to make it as sweet as I could. Thanks for reading 💛))

Max day on the bench outside of Blackwell, watching the cars go by as she waited for Chloe. The text she had gotten was surprising, but not unwanted. When Chloe hadn't said what they were doing or where they were going Max opted for a purple flannel.

I just hope I don't say something stupid again. Max brushed her bangs from her eyes and checked her phone, a few missed calls from Warren and a text from her parents but nothing else. She started bouncing her leg anxiously. Maybe she forgot...

Right as the thought crossed her mind a truck showed up in her peripheral vision and slowed to a stop. Max was a little blown away looking at Chloe as she left the drivers seat.

Her signature beanie was gone, her blue hair looked touched up and was slicked back, emphasizing her cheekbones. Instead of ripped jeans she wore black pants that resembled skinny jeans but hugged her curves just right and looked way too soft to be real. Her shirt was white with a raven flying on it, her three bullet necklace nestled between her breasts on the ravens body.

"Hey." Chloe smiled sheepishly.

Hey? Hey! Really? Max could feel her face heating up. It's so not fair she can't just show up looking beautiful like that and just say HEY!?

"W-what's the occasion?" Max slowly stood from the bench as Chloe came closer.

"Oh, no occasion. Just thought of some stuff you'd enjoy today." Chloe blushed, burying her hands in her pockets and smiling at something on the ground.

"Well you look nice." Max cleared her throat, trying to clear the awkward tension. "Really diggin the butch vibe." She weakly laughed. Chloe just smirked and the two walked to the truck.

"So first things first, Tillamock Photography Museum opened an hour ago. Then after, lunch. And then the ship used as The Inticeptor in Pirates of the Caribbean is going to be in port for tours!" Max gaped at the punk who was beaming, now in the drivers seat and buckling in.

"Wait wait wait, what? How did you plan all this?"

"I knew you'd want to go to the museum eventually, but I wanted to see your face when you go there. Knowing the school you'll go for a field trip and I doubt you want to share that moment with Victoria." Chloe started to pull into traffic, driving out of the small town. "And because you're my first mate, of course I know you love Pirates of the Caribbean almost as much as you love Belgium waffles. Fates just kind to me, I guess."

Max laughed, touched by all the thought Chloe had put into this. "Chloe I don't know what to say, except" The brunette raised a hand in salute, giving the other a dorky smile. "Aye aye, Captain."

Chloe laughed and tried to focus on the road, restraining herself from kissing Max's cute face as she joked around.

-

Max spent over two hours looking at the photography...on the first floor. By the time the two made it out of the museum Chloe's stomach was growling like a sea monster they'd pretend to fight as kids.

"Oh my god Chloe, that sounds awful! When was the last time you ate?" Max looked up at the punk as the two walked through the Parking lot.

"This morning, it's just lunch is a little late today. Where do you want to eat?" Chloe blushed. She didn't want to interrupt Max while she was admiring the photos. The hippie looked like she was going to be absorbed into the art by the way she gazed at it. Besides who would want to stop someone so beautiful from smiling.

"Honestly I don't mind, anywheres fine with you." Max cringed when she realized what she said. God that sounded so sappy and obvious what the hell.

"I couldn't agree more." Chloe opened the truck door for Max.

-

After eating at a food truck, walking through the town, photographing some graffiti, and spending a good hour fangirling on a ship that the two found themselves pulled off to the side of a road overlooking the ocean as the sun slowly set. The usual grey clouds had lifted and Chloe was relaxing in the bed of her truck, Max sitting beside her.

Max's head was spinning with how fun the day had been but she couldn't look away from Chloe who's eyes were stuck to the peachy hue of the sky. She went through a lot today for me, and she didn't mention wanted to look for Rachel once. She didn't mention Rachel at all.

"So...why?"

Chloe's head snapped to look at her, a brow raised. "What?"

"Why did we do everything I love today? It almost feels like you're bribing me." Max jokes, lightly elbowing the other.

"I'm not bribing you!" Chloe blushed, looking back the sky to avoid eye contact. "I just thought you deserved a day off from the chaos. The minute I showed up in your life, it's like everything spun out of control for you. And yet you've been helping me and putting up with my bullshit. You've rewound so many times already that I'm sure it's been over a week to you and dealing with my stubborn ass that long must be driving you crazy."

"Chloe that's not true-"

"And here I am focusing purely on Rachel when really I should be focusing on someone so much more important to me, someone who's basically been my anchor and kept me from floating away with anger and grief." Chloe has pulled her knees to her chest then, trying to shrink in on herself. Max is my best friend, no she's more than that. I can open up to her.

A hand on her shoulder made Chloe look up, Max kneeling in front of her. "Chloe..."

The punk swallowed nervously. "S-Sorry if that made you uncomfortable Max, it's just I realized something these last few days with you and I don't know what's going to happen after this and-"

"Chloe, nothing is going to happen to us after this."

Us?

"We're going to find Rachel because I know she meant and still means a lot to you. And you mean a lot to me." Max pulled her into a hug.

"You mean a lot to me too Max." Chloe held onto her tight, feeling her eyes water. "I never want to loose you Max."

"I never want to loose you either Chloe. I mean, c'mon." Max pulled away to give her a smile. "Why would I save your butt so much if I didn't have feelings for you." She whipped a falling tear from Chloe's cheek.

"You like me?" Chloe's face almost looked like that or her childhood self, innocent and so open to what the future held.

"Well isn't that basically what you were saying?" Max blushed, rubbing her arm. "If I read the situation wrong just tell me I-"

Chloe tackled Max into a hug before she could finish, crying with a smile. "No I like you too!"

"You really need to stop interrupting me like that." Max groaned. Chloe laughed and held her tighter.

"I feel like it would be stupid to say like like, but when you said you liked me you did mean it romantically right?" Chloe held Max's hand in her own, her other hand trailing the tendons of hers with her fingers.

"Honestly, I think I've liked you romantically even when we were kids." Max felt her face heat up but didn't care as she and Chloe finally made strong eye contact. Chloe cupped the brunettes cheek and they rested foreheads together, chuckling at each other's nervous and blushed faces.

"Oh god, we're the most awkward girlfriends ever." Chloe snorted.

"Chloe, you're not my girlfriend." Chloe's eyes widened and she looked at Max scared. "Not until you give me a kiss."

The little-!!!

"That was cruel Caulfield, you'll pay for that one."

"Guess that means I owe you, Price."