As the nights grew long and the silence remained in the air, I stood there trying to process my living situation. However, Max, who was sitting next to me, urged me to stay. She even mentioned wanting to chaperone with me in the long run, until I manage on my own in landing a decent job. Which, I got to say, was very sweet of her to offer me shelter, and a place, which was my very own home, but now belongs to Max. Thanks to her gesture, I kind of forgot about the one who tried to kill me, who could pose as Max through shape-shifting. My guess has something to do with me having to face this sort of trauma, and the impact that had led me to develop this sort of Amnesia type of Shit. Eventually, it will come back to bite me someday.
'YAWN!'
Feeling a bit tired of not sleeping well in the car. I started to realize now that I had left behind my two duffel bags. As panic mode started kicking in on me, I slowly started to look around for them.
"Oh, no! no! no! no!..." Trying to keep calm of the situation I was in, as I searched around my surrounding area to see if the two bags where nearby, "Where are they? Where's my stuff? FUK!"
"Chloe! Chloe! Chloe!" Max shouted, as she tried to calm me down, "Please, take a breather…. I nearly lost you again. I hate to see you like this."
I gave up after I realize that both my bags were nowhere to be found, and immediately sat down with my head hung low.
"Man, why do things like this keep happening to me?" I said, feeling a bit iffy, "What's the point. Now I have nothing to wear, I am flat broke, and my own truck is dam gone. And what's worst my ex-band mates decided to cut me loose due to a scuffle we had during the band tours."
"Chloe, don't say that!" Max shot back, as she tried to calm me down. "We can go tomorrow, if you want in search of your stuff. But, right now, you got to rest… you been through a lot, already."
Staring at Max's direction, I started to act childish as I scoffed…. "Uh!!! Fine, if it makes you feel better….I'll rest for the night."
"Oh, come one Chloe!? It will be fun…" She answered, while giving a weird chuckle, "It will be like the good old days, like a sleepover."
"MAN!!! Max, you are now starting to sound just like my mother." I answered back, as I tried holding in my laughter.
Max, being Max, shot me this glare that will scare the living daylights out of me…. "Watch it Missy!"
With some relief settling in on me, I agreed with her decision. Still a bit tired, I had no other choice, and looking for my stuff outside in the pitch of darkness just wasn't going to cut it for me, and obviously the only way I would be able to locate them was in broad daylight.
"Alright, Max… you win." Feeling a bit defeated, "However, one little problem…"
"Which is what, Chloe?" She answered, giving me a stern look of confusion.
"Obviously, I didn't bring a pair of clothes with me, and not to mention I am still broke as hell…."
Max with confidence in her heart, gave me a sigh of relief as she placed her hand on my lap. "We'll worry about that later, and right now I can lend a pair of my clothes for you to wear. Now, they may not fit you, but it will have to do until morning. However!?..." She stopped mid-way as she slowly approached me and gave me a good strong whiff… "'SNIFF!', 'SNIFF!', 'SNIFF!!!'…. OMG, CHLOE! When was the last time you've taken at least a shower?"
"What's wrong with the way I smell?" I said, while sniffing at myself. "'Sniff!', 'Sniff!' ….I don't smell anything."
"Well, obviously you can't smell anything since you have been constantly smoking your entire life; not to mention you constant drinking habits." She replied while giggling at her response towards my bad habits.
I scoffed at her humor and omitted to her that I may have a bad habit; leading me to have a moral hygiene problem.
"Fine!!! Maybe you are right about the way I smell, and it has something to do with me being constantly on the road and with limited access towards a shower room. I may need to shower more often than usual."
What shocked me the most was agreeing to Max's argument about me, and just before things got weirder and embarrassing…. She immediately got up and ended up pulling my arm hard enough for me to jump out of the sofa.
"Ow!" I reacted as she started to drag me towards the upstairs corridor, "Hey, Max where are we going? No need to pull so hard."
"Come on, Chloe. Is time for you to take a shower before bed…." She laughed, while dragging me towards the shower room, upstairs.
As soon as we made our way to the shower room, my jaw dropped. Right in front of me I notice the same structural design of the bathroom, however, it was different with new added cabinets, a fresh coat of light blue paint, and a descent looking shower tub with well engraved marble tiles on the floor. And one thing that this room had for the first time living in this house before was a small window that was placed on the semi right side, near the shower tub where I can clearly see the backyard of the house; even though it was pitch dark outside.
"Go ahead, and get undress…." Max said as she made her hasty retreat towards her bedroom, "I will be back with a fresh towel and some pajama clothes for you to wear for the night."
I nodded as she left me all alone in the restroom. Once I was completely alone, I immediately started to undress myself. I removed my worn out tank top, my dark leather jacket, boots, and my black rough jeans. I got to admit my clothes started to reek, like a lot.
" 'Sniff…' Yuck! Maybe, Max was right…. I do smell…" finally omitting to myself.
I carefully tossed my dirty clothes to the side and slowly started to turn on the shower head, waiting for it to shoot out cold water.
The shower was soothing and refreshing, making me forget about the obstacles that have been occurring throughout my return to Arcadia Bay. A place where I have least expected to return to, not to mention….having to run into Max in the same town, at a time like this. Yet, I have so much to discuss with Max and lots more regarding this sort of vibes that are constantly affecting me, even in my dreams regarding the ending of the world. The impact that is has on our universe and whether or not it is connected to Max's powers.
The silhouette of Max appeared leaving behind a fresh towel for me to dry on, and some fresh clothes for me to wear.
"Hey, Chloe!?"
"Yeah, Max?" I shot back while scrubbing my hair off with soap
"I got you some fresh clothes for you to wear, and a fresh new towel." She answered while placing them neatly on the side right next to the shower tub.
"Thanks Max…." feeling a bit of unease, having to borrow some clothes from Max. But it will have to do for now until I can locate my two duffle bags that I possibly left behind at the park. But as of right now, I am so glad to be back with Max, by her side.