Chapter Text
The dorms of Blackwell Academy were buzzing with activity. Move in day. Parents, students and RA’s alike were moving up and down the halls with carts full. Everyone getting ready for the beginning of the semester. Maxine Caulfield AKA Max had just finished hauling in the last box from her dad’s car. “I swear to God kid, this thing must weigh more than me.” Ryan Caulfield grumbled as he struggled to fit the mini fridge through the door.
“I wasn’t the genius who picked out the biggest one they had Pops.” Max laughed as she closed the door behind him.
“We just want you to always have access when you need it.” Vanessa spoke without looking as she set up her daughter’s bed.
“Mom seriously, you don’t have to set my room up. I’ve got almost a month before classes actually start.” Vanessa paid her no mind and continued tugging the cases over the pillows, “This is just the beginning Maxine, first it’s moving into Blackwell then college. God it seems like just yesterday we were dressing you up as an ice cream sandwich for Halloween.”
Max smile fell slightly. I remember that night, Halloween with Chloe. The best friend you haven’t spoken to in five years. She probably won’t even want to talk to me, not that I’d blame her. Vanessa could sense the change of mood in her daughter, moving forward to rest her hands on Max shoulders. “Have you thought about contacting Chloe while you’re here?” Vanessa asked gently.
Max let out a sigh, “Yeah, I’m still just trying to figure out what I’m gonna say to her.” “I’m sure when you reconnect you’re not going to have to say much,” Vanessa reassures her, placing a kiss on the side of her head, “You two could never stay mad at each other for long.” That was before I abandoned Chloe at her father’s funeral.
“Maybe,” Max mumbles.
The move in day craziness had finally come to an end with most students were either being out at dinner with families or hanging out in the common areas. Max was as always, sitting alone in her room listening to music, computer in her lap and browsing Buzzfeed and Pinterest for decoration ideas. The purple phone vibrated on her night stand and Max flipped it open to read the text from Kristen and smiled.
Kristen: Already missing you!
Attached was a photo of Kristen and Fernando at the Unicorn Bar in Seattle eating deep fried Snickers bars. Fernando was holding his plate above his head like it was a gift from god. She already missed those two knuckle heads who were her only companions in the five long years she spent in Seattle. The high school she went to had strong cliques that Max didn’t seem to belong to, she hoped Blackwell wouldn’t be like that. Don’t get her wrong it was a perfectly fine school; Max just isn’t the type of girl to make herself stand out in social groups. She’s never been one to make the first move, but was determined to make a change. If she was ever to succeed in the dog eat dog world of Photography and Art she would need to put herself out there. The thought alone was enough to make butterflies in her stomach. But Max already felt off to a good start, it didn’t hurt that one of the best photographers in the world was going to be teaching. Mark Jefferson is one of the reasons I wanted to come to Blackwell, I’ve always loved his deco and goth style and he’s so versatile with all of his incredible print and advertising work.
The soft guitar strings of Jose Gonzalez continued to play in the background as Max started to tape her many photos to the wall to display, a timid knock on the door broke Max out of her daze. On the other side of the door was a girl her age with dirty blonde hair in a tight bun, her clothes were modest, she wore a gold cross necklace along with a very doe-eyed expression.
Oh boy.
“Sorry,” The girl said, looking embarrassed. “I hope I’m not interrupting you. I just wanted to introduce myself, I’m Kate Marsh. I live right across the hall, you must be Maxine?”
Ugh, that name. “Actually everyone just calls me Max.”
Kate shifted slightly, “So a couple of girls and I are going to the café downtown, and we wondered if you wanted to come?”
Automatically Max wanted to come up with an excuse to bail but stopped herself. This is where your life begins Max, take chances and meet new people. Even if you hate every second of it. It wasn’t that she thought Kate wasn’t nice or anything, her anxiety just soared around anyone she didn’t know. A new school tends to put you in the situations genius. These people have probably known each other for years; I’m just the newest hipster in town.
“Um, yeah sure. Just let me get my bag.” Max moved to grab her second hand messenger bag off the desk and turned off the music. “Oh do you play?” Kate waved her hand to the guitar perched against the bed, “Not well,” Max admitted, “I just learned how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb and even that was a challenge.”
Kate giggled, “I play the violin, started when I was eleven. Something about it just takes me to another place when I practice. I’ll try to best to be quiet but I can’t guarantee you won’t hear anything.” “Oh that’s fine, I’d love to hear you play sometime. Maybe we could start a band; I bet the mosh pits would get crazy.” Kate chuckled as they walked down to the middle of the hallway where two girls were waiting by the bathrooms and having an animated conversation.
“It’s gonna be so cool to have Mr. Jefferson as the Judge for the Every Day Hero’s Contest. He only chooses those with real talent. I heard the guy who won last year was sponsored and got into NYU.”
“Stella you can’t be a fangirl around Mr. Jefferson if you want to stand out. You saw how much he hated it when Victoria would fawn all over him last year,” The bigger girl with purple hair spoke in a monotone voice, “Just play it cool and aloof. Always works for me.”
“Already gossiping about Mr. Jefferson? Max this is Alyssa and Stella. Max is new to Blackwell; I thought we could show her around school and grab some coffee at the Lovin’ Cup.”
Alyssa groaned, “Sign me up; I’ve been dying to have one of those lemon bars all summer.”
Max heard a mean laugh behind her, followed by the most stuck up voice on Dogs green earth, “Sure you need any more sweets in you Alyssa? I don’t think the gym uniforms get any bigger.”
That’s a really low blow, Max couldn’t believe someone would say that. A pretty blonde who reeked of privilege sauntered up to them, flanked by two equally snobby and smirking clones. Alyssa’s voice developed an edge, “You’re one to talk about extra baggage Victoria, I’m sure dragging around these two leeches of desperation is exhausting.”
The clones scoffed at the jibe as Victoria responded, “You’re just jealous that we’re the new heads of the Vortex Club and you will never be a member if I can help it.” She cupped her hand over her mouth and whispered as if a secret, “It’s like the bathroom door says, why you playing hard to get when you’re already so hard to want?” The girls cackled before Victoria purposefully walked in between Stella and Kate, pushing them out of her warpath. The clones followed close behind when Victoria suddenly reached up and swiped her hand across the bulletin board as she passed, sending a few black and white flyers to the floor.
Alyssa rolled her eyes with a groan, “School hasn’t even started and Victoria’s already pulling this Regina George crap, acting like she runs Blackwell. I can’t wait to get out of here.”
“Is she always like that?” Max asked. Stella laughed loudly, “Worse, this was actually a good day for her. Since she became the new queen of the Vortex club she makes it her mission to step on everyone at Blackwell.”
“What’s the Vortex club?”
Kate explained, “It used to be this really cool activist club in the eighties that stood up against bullying and was actually a safe haven for the less cool kids. But now it’s more like Nathan Prescott’s personal party club.”
“Kate’s just being nice, it’s actually more like a cult but with popular kids.” Alyssa added.
“Gross.” Max grimaced.
Alyssa gestured to the three of them with her hand, “As you can see we’re not exactly Vortex club material. We don’t conform to the two biggest rules.”
“Which are?”
“Have a rich daddy and be the biggest bitch you can to everyone.” Stella said bluntly. “Language!” Kate scolded, swiping Stella's arm lightly with a smile. The girls made their way to leave when Stella suddenly bent down to grab one of those flyers Victoria ripped down, “These are back. God, how long has it been?” She leaned up to pin the paper back onto the board.
“Rachel must have moved back in today.” Alyssa sighed, “There are hundreds of these in town. I honestly didn’t think she’d come back this year, she took it so hard.”
“Did they ever find her?" Kate asked. Stella shook her head sadly, “I heard her stepdad threatened Justin if he didn’t give him any information about her, but he had no clue. His mom called the school and Wells ended up put him on leave for the rest of the semester.” They all stared at the flyer for a few more moments in uncomfortable silence, “We should get going, the bus will be here in ten minutes….are you coming Max?”
The petite hipster gave no indication she heard Kate and the blonde looked at her friends for answers. Stella shrugged and Alyssa shook her head mouthing I don’t know.
Kate moved behind, reached out to touch Max’s shoulder hesitantly but the girl still paid her no mind, “Max, what’s wrong?"
Silence.
“Max?”
“I know her.”
“Um,” Kate was at a loss, “Yeah I’ve seen her flyer’s all over town too.”
“No!” Max gasped, “You don’t understand. I KNOW HER.”
Chloe.