![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
little_pieces_of_time[Reiterating Content Warnings Here: bullying, depression, references to sexual assault, terroristic threatening.]
When it went off, shattering the early morning quiet, the alarm clock's noise felt almost like a physical pain. Max winced, reaching blindly over to hit snooze and restore a little of that peace. She should not have stayed up so late researching time travel. Her head felt like achy mush, her neck stiff. She could sleep for hours more yet, but really should get up. She was supposed to meet Chloe for breakfast.
That didn't stop her from immediately drifting back off, though. The next thing she knew, her stereo alarm was starting up - meaning another fifteen minutes has passed in a blur of sleep. She could hear the familiar faint click and whir as the CD within began spinning, and then the gentle, contemplative sounds of music started, bringing her more towards the waking world.
Max eventually pulled herself up and wandered over to her dorm room's couch, taking up her dinged and scratched but much-loved guitar to play along to the music.
By the time the song ended, Max was approaching something like wakefulness. Okay, Super-Max. Being a superhero is dirty work. I need a shower.
Settling her guitar back on its stand, Max fetched her shower supplies and slipped on her flipflops. Of course, opening her door meant overhearing Victoria's latest snide orders for her lackeys, Courtney and Taylor. Seriously, Max couldn't understand hanging out with someone who talked down to their so-called friends like that, and was just nasty to everyone else. She waited until they had gone and Victoria had shut her door again before stepping out into the hall.
It had probably been one of them who had scribbled "Will bang for Jesus!" on the whiteboard beside Kate's door. So mean. Reflexively, Max wiped away the words, replacing them with a simple peace sign instead. She was never good with words, but at least the meaning should be clear. Kate probably could use some peace, lately.
As she went down the hall to the shower, Max waved to Alyssa - it had been nice to talk with her yesterday, after the wayward football had been avoided - but as she went to say good morning, the door to the bathrooms opened and a random roll of toilet paper was thrown out, beaning Alyssa on the head.
"Ow!"
"Oh yikes, you okay, Alyssa?"
"Immature assholes," Alyssa seethed, disgusted. "Sorry, Max. I'm not feeling social right now."
Max only had to think about it a moment - it'd be such an easy fix, simple - before she raised her hand and dragged herself back through the last fifteen seconds or so.
"Hey, Alyssa!" Max came directly up to her. "Can you stand over here?"
Alyssa was - rightfully - weirded out, but said, "Uh, okay, Max. If that makes you happy..." and stepped to the left a couple of feet. Just in time for the toilet paper to bounce harmlessly off the bulletin board Alyssa had been reading. Alyssa laughed.
"Wow, that was close! Thank you, Max. That's twice you've saved me from a projectile weapon. Are you my guardian angel?"
"Hardly," Max assured her, grinning. "I just have a sixth sense for trouble. I'm glad to help you out."
"Blackwell has a surplus of assholes and clearly not enough helpful psychics," Alyssa grinned back. "Oh by the way, Warren said you borrowed his epic film flash drive. I didn't know you were a sci-fi geek like us. What's your favorite?"
Max raised her eyebrows. "How to choose? I love "Back to the Future," of course. But who doesn't?"
Alyssa laughed. "Can you imagine going back in time to Blackwell in the 1980s?"
"We'd suffocate from all the hair spray," Max chuckled.
"You and Warren do know your sci-fi," Alyssa admitted, dry, with a glance at Brooke down the hall. "Be careful, you might make Brooke jealous..."
Warren wasn't exactly subtle with his crush on Max, and Brooke was as subtle as a hammer when it came to her crush on Warren. Max smiled at Alyssa and stepped away. "I'll just pretend I have no idea what you mean."
Her smile faded away as she heard Juliet and Brooke muttering to each other while looking at something on Juliet's phone.
"Oh, gross. The Vortex Club are such pigs..."
"Ew. I didn't think Kate was like this… macking on all those bros like that?"
Juliet shuddered, shaking her head and stepping away towards Dana's open doorway with her phone. "We shouldn't be watching this."
"Eh, everybody's seen it by now," Brooke shrugged.
Max hesitated before coming through Dana's open door after Juliet. It was just like Dana to leave the door open for any and all who would want to hang out. "Hello, Juliet."
Juliet smiled at her. "Hey, Max, did you check out Kate's hawt video yet?"
Max didn't want to come across as preachy, but... Kate was a friend of hers. "That's super not-cool, you know."
Juliet shrugged off Max's judgement. "I mean I didn't get wasted on camera and get busy with the entire Vortex Club."
Max shifted uneasily, but said, "That's not like Kate at all, and you know it."
"Really?" Juliet was not convinced, holding up her phone and waggling it Max. "Check out the video and tell me what she's like."
Max had already known she didn't want to see the video; this just confirmed it. She crossed her arms, willing her voice not to shake. "Do you believe everything you see at face value? Like Zachary sexting Dana yesterday?"
Juliet stared at Max, then put down her phone. "Touche. Now... I feel like an ass. Thanks, by the way, for finding out the truth yesterday."
"Have you done anything about Victoria pulling that crap on you?" Max couldn't help but ask.
Juliet sighed, then offered a small smile. "Nothing... yet. But my mind works in devious ways, too."
Max relaxed, offering a smile back. "Glad to see you're back in action."
Juliet hesitated, then shook her head. "You have a good heart, Max. And... I won't watch Kate's video anymore. Or pass it on."
"Thanks, Juliet."
"Sure, talk to you later."
Back in the hall, Brooke was texting on her phone. At least she wasn't still watching the video of Kate at the Vortex Club party, Max thought, but Brooke was a hard nut to crack, sometimes. She was a science-person like Warren, rather than another art-nerd, their interests rarely overlapped. But Brooke did tend to like the opportunity to show off...
"Hey, Brooke," Max smiled at her.
Brooke looked up, a little preoccupied. "Oh, hi, Max."
"Did you see the freak snowfall yesterday?"
Brooke looked up from her phone again: "Absolutely! I was riveted."
"Ahah, I can't tell if you're being serious or not," Max admitted, chuckling and rubbing the back of her head. "Um, since I'm a science noob, I was wondering if you could explain it...?"
Brooke nodded, more enthusiastic than Max had seen her. "I'm serious. Even meteorologists can't explain that snow. I bet Warren could, though. Did you talk to him yet?"
"Ah, no," Max admitted. Subtlety wasn't one of Brooke's gifts. "But I will later."
"Warren really loves to talk meteorology with me," Brooke informed her, "since I'm one of the few who can talk back."
"Of course," Max grinned. Brooke knew science, but she certainly didn't know subtle. "See you later."
"Talk to you later, Max."
Kate was brushing her teeth as Max entered the showers. From her face, it looked to Max like Kate hadn't slept much. If at all. Poor thing. Max had always liked hearing Kate practicing her violin in the mornings, but had certainly noticed the lack of music these last two weeks.
She put her shower caddy down on the shelf of the nearest shower stall before coming back out.
"Hey, Kate," Max gave the pale girl a slight smile, almost afraid of being too loud. "How are you doing?"
Kate managed a wan smile, not looking up as she put the cap on her toothbrush. "I'm here."
That was almost worse than anything Kate could have said otherwise. But she went on, after a moment. "Thanks again for standing up for me yesterday, by the way. I needed that."
"Anytime," Max assured her, almost too quickly. "That guy has issues."
"Doesn't everybody here?" Kate remarked with more misery than humor. "By the way, Max, do you still have my copy of "The October Country"?"
Max remembered the book belatedly; she hadn't picked it up in a couple of days and it was probably covered by science texts on time travel, now. "Oh. Yes, of course. It's great so far. I didn't realize Bradbury was such a poet."
"Can you please bring it back to my room this morning? I just... need to take some notes for class."
"Absolutely. I'll bring it by later."
Kate nodded, "Thanks, Max," and turned to run warm water to wash her face.
Max went into the shower and pulled the curtain before turning on the water and getting undressed. The (eventual) hot water felt great. Max could feel a little of the tension in her neck and back relax, only for that ease disappear when she heard the door open and the gloating tones of Victoria as the Queen B came in.
"Oh hey, what's up, Kate?"
Max could hear the smirk easily.
"School," Kate muttered, miserable, amid the sounds of her hurriedly gathering her things.
"That's it?" That was Taylor, one of Victoria's minions. Victoria must be traveling with her usual entourage today. Max peered through the tiny curtain gap quietly but couldn't spot Courtney.
Victoria circled Kate, smiling. "That video of you clubbing didn't look like homework."
Kate shook her head, voice shaking. "Victoria, that wasn't me..."
"Oh, my God," Taylor laughed. "Yeah right."
"Don't be shy, Victoria grinned smugly, leaning close to Kate. "I think it's awesome you set a tongue record on video."
Kate flinched away from her as Taylor laughed, taking her things with her towards the door. "You're going to be sorry someday."
"Oh, boohoo, I'm so sorry you're a viral slut." Victoria watched Kate leave, smirking, before turning to Taylor. "So dramatic. I'm sure she had fun.
"Looked like it."
"I'm sure Nathan hooked her up," Victoria turned to examine her face in the mirror. "And you know he has the good shit. Ugh - yuck, I still have bits of paint on my face. So glad my faithful minions took their sweet time bringing me a towel."
"We ran all the wa-" Taylor protested.
"Give it a rest, Taylor. Now I know if I'm in an accident I won't rely on you or Courtney for help. You can hang out with Kate... or Max."
Max had been distracted by the thought of Nathan Prescott hooking Kate up with 'the good shit.' Combined with what Chloe had told her yesterday, the idea made her blood run cold. Hearing her own name brought her focus back to the present with a jolt.
"...weirdo with that dumb camera."
"I hate that 'I'm so quirky' crap."
Better quirky than making everyone around you miserable, Max thought to herself.
"Anyway. Let's leave the link to Kate's video so everybody gets a chance to see her in action..." Victoria grinned, wielding a tube of lipstick from her purse.
"You are such an evil beeatch," Taylor laughed as Victoria scrawled the link onto the mirror. "I love it!"
Max waited until the two of them had left and she was sure they wouldn't be back before she got out the shower and got dressed. Once dressed, she stepped directly over and used her damp towel to wipe away the link written on the mirror."
Even if I can stop one person from watching it, it's worth it.
On her way back to her room, Max found herself doing a doubletake - someone had already erased her peace sign from Kate's board, replacing it with 'HOT CHURCH GIRL ACTION.' Those assholes! Max rubbed away the words, replacing them with a quick - and not bad, in her opinion - drawing of a bunny. Kate would like that, she thought.
Max stopped by her room to return her shower things, get dressed - t-shirt, hoodie, jeans and sneakers are still a perfect combo, of course - and to find Kate's book, then went back out into the hall to Kate's door.
Max had been in Kate's room many times before, but not recently, and today she hesitated knocking. "Kate, you there?"
Kate's voice came through, muffled, "Yes I'm here. Come in, Max."
Max stepped in, and paused. Instead of Kate's bright and airy room, it was like entering a cave. The normally tidy room was a mess, the trashcan overflowed with tissues - she had to be going through boxes of the things - crumpled paper and torn cards, the curtains were closed despite the bright morning, and... there was a sheet hung over the mirror?
Can she... not stand to look at herself? This is entirely too emo for Kate.
Kate was at her desk, facing away from the door with her head down as she read. Max only felt a little guilty sneaking the cards from the trash can and peeking at them.
Max knew Kate's father was a doting dad, however severe Reverend Marsh looked, and that he and his daughter were close, so it did Max's heart good to see his note to her:
'And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.'
— John 1:5
Katie, you'll always be my brightest light against the dark.
hugs n' love,
Pop
Smiling a little, Max looked at the second card - and recoiled, nearly dropping it.
Dear Katie,
No spirit or devil could have prepared me for what you have done in that videotape.
And like a jezebel you released your harlot image before God's eye.
I will pray with my church for your soul to be saved from Eternal Hellfire.
Auntie Marsh
Holy shit. To say that to someone, one's own family, when they're already going through hell? Jesus!
Max caught herself, and gave the prominently displayed portrait of Jesus an apologetic glance as she slipped the notes back into the trash. Hey, I am trying to use my powers for good, here.
"Uh, hey, Kate," Max stepped over to her. "I brought your book..."
Kate lifted her head and turned to look at Max. The weight and weariness of her glance almost made Max step backwards. Her gaze slipped away, coming to rest on the framed photograph of a much happier Kate alongside Alyssa and Brooke. Max hadn't known they were friends.
"Max, why did you step in between David and me yesterday?"
Max could remember her own anxiety from yesterday, and how she had pushed herself forward to step in when David Madsen had been threatening Kate. "..I hate bullies," she answered, simply, making herself look back at Kate and meet her gaze. "David Madsen should know better."
"I was hoping he would," Kate offered a wan, brief smile. "But it's nice to see that you care about me."
"Kate, I actually do care," Max assured her, with a light squeeze of her shoulder. "But, if I can ask, what's the story with you and David?"
"He's a total paranoid ass!" Kate replied, her voice shaking. "He thinks I'm part of the Vortex Club. Yeah, right."
If she thought about it, Max could see why someone who didn't know Kate - who may have only seen the incriminating video of Kate at a Vortex Club party - might think that, but didn't say so. "Why does he think that?"
"Because he saw the video!" Kate wiped at her tearing eyes, voice breaking. "Do you know how humiliating this is for me?"
Max winced, thinking of the condemnation of 'Auntie Marsh.' "I know this sucks, Kate," she replied, "but...tell me about the video. I'll help you in any way I can."
Kate wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand. "Basically, I went to one Vortex Club party and ended up making out with a bunch of people...and I have no memory of it!"
Why would she go to a Vortex Club party in the first place? That didn't sound like Kate. And how would... no, Max. Focus. Kate needs your help, not your suspicions.
"That's awful," Max said instead. "H-how did that happen?"
Kate looked uncomfortable, shaking her head. "It's a long story. I'm still trying to sort it all out..."
"You have to tell me more than that," Max insisted, crouching down and putting a hand on Kate's shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. What happened at the party? Did you drink?"
"I swear to God I had one sip of red wine. And then I drank water," Kate insisted. From anyone else, the swearing would've meant nothing, but from Kate it meant what she said was practically gospel.
"That's... not enough to get wasted." Max muttered. She felt sick to her stomach and her head was pounding, not liking where her thoughts were going.
("...I'm sure Nathan hooked her up... and you know he's got the good shit.")
Kate shook her head, distressed but adamant. "I don't get wasted. Ever. I take a sip at church and I don't end up on a viral video, okay?"
"I believe you." Max nodded, willing her voice not to shake. She wanted to run, to stop this whole conversation and pretend it never happened. Maybe she could rewind and just drop off the book and pretend her thoughts weren't already coming to a conclusion she would rather not even approach. No but... that wouldn't stop her thoughts. It would just keep Kate from having someone beside her, and she needed someone to be there with her.
"Kate, did...did somebody drug you?"
Max saw Kate's own gaze slide away, like how Max's did when she was distressed and didn't know where to look. She followed the line of Kate's gaze over to the small picture of Kate and two other girls - her sisters, from the resemblance. They looked so happy together in the sunlight. "I remember..." Kate began hesitantly, "I remember getting sick and dizzy..."
Max nodded, urging her to continue.
"...then... Nathan Prescott said he would take me to the hospital."
Max forgot herself for a moment, her head swimming. "Nathan Prescott? Oh, shit!"
Kate looked at her, unsure. "He was being nice for a change? He offered to help me."
"Nathan Prescott is the opposite of nice," Max muttered, pressing her fingertips against the hollow of her jaw in front of her ear, where the headache was worst.
(" We drank and I laughed at his rich kid bullshit. He was one step ahead and put something in my beer...")
"What... what next?"
"All I recall is driving for a long time...then I woke up in a room...I thought it was a hospital because it was so white and bright," Kate's voice was quieter, as though she were having to focus to recall events.
Max nodded. "G-go on, I'm listening."
"Somebody was talking to me in a soft voice...I thought it was a doctor...until I heard Nathan and felt a sharp sting in my neck..." Kate's voice was little more than a whisper. "And...and..."
"And?"
"That's all I remember!" Kate wiped at her eyes again as tears overtook her. "I don't know what happened. I woke up outside my dorm room the next day. I-I didn't have any marks or bruises, but... I felt gross."
Max took Kate's hand in hers, not knowing what to say and trying like mad not to freak out or make Kate's upset worse. She didn't need to know it wasn't the first time Nathan had done this to somebody. She just needed someone there for her. "That's so awful, Kate. Do... do you know who took the video of you at the party?"
"I have no idea. Probably Victoria. She was there being her mean self."
"Jesus, Kate, I'm sorry. This is serious shit."
"Do you... do you know how I could get a viral video taken down? I know it's already spreading," Kate's distress rose again like a wave. "Max, what if my church sees that?? I need to know what to do."
"Kate," Max clasped her hands, willing herself - despite the anxious knot in her throat - to be calm for Kate's sake. "We'll figure it out."
Kate sniffled and blinked her eyes clear, or tried to. "Thanks, Max... You can put my book here, near my bag."
Max had practically forgotten the book, but moved to set it on Kate's bag. Kate shifted behind her, her own anxiety breaking the quiet.
"Max, can I ask you a question? And please be honest."
Max wanted to run, to hide, but made herself stay calm and look back at Kate. Her head was pounding. "Absolutely, Kate. Anything."
Kate looked upset but resolved. "I need to find out if Nathan Prescott helped me...or hurt me after that party. Should I go to the police?"
The relief that washed over Max was enough for her to be ashamed about, but the authorities would be so much less overwhelmed by this knowledge, so much more capable of doing something about Nathan. "Yes, you should definitely go to the police, Kate. I totally believe every word you say. Nathan Prescott is truly dangerous, and he needs to be stopped."
Kate stood up, clasping Max's hands. The ghost of a true smile showed on her face for the first time in weeks. "Bless you, Max. I will go to the police...and also Principal Wells. With you as my back-up witness, they'll have to take us seriously now!"
"Back-up witness?" Max fumbled, thinking of Principal Wells' attitude when she'd busted Nathan with a gun.
Miss Caulfield are you sure what you think you saw?
"Well, I mean, I believe you and everything, but...we're still just spoiled punk students to the cops and faculty." The confusion on Kate's face made Max's heart ache. "I just... think we need to be very careful here."
"Why?" Kate didn't understand. "Careful of what?"
Max could still hear Chloe's dismissive attitude towards Max having placed her trust in Principal Wells and Nathan's awareness of his family's influence over the police.
(What are you, twelve?)
("The Prescott's own the pigs in this town.")
"Mm... nothing, except the Prescotts are a powerful family," she said, trying to sound convincing. "I just hope this won't backfire on us, that's all. That rich bastard has earned some serious bad karma. He'll get it."
Kate nodded, giving Max's hands another quick squeeze before letting go. Max let herself out of Kate's room, trying not to shake, her thoughts going a mile a minute.
Time out, Max. You actually told Kate to go to the police and the Principal, after getting a scary text threat from Nathan's father, and texts from Mom and Dad saying that the Principal reported you spreading lies against the school's star student. Now Kate thinks the Principal and the police will help her. The Principal already let you down, can you imagine how devastating it would be for Kate? And she'll want you to back through up! Well... of course you will. But this sort of shit jeopardizes your scholarship, your very presence at Blackwell and the foundation it offers for a successful photography career! Wells already thinks you're a liar, David already thinks you've been bringing drugs into his house. Damn, and Chloe went through this same thing with Nathan - that was why she got shot yesterday in the bathroom for threatening to expose him! She could've died if not for... and hell, if you had just not been such a coward and let Chloe know you were in town anytime in the last two months since school started, Nathan might not have drugged Chloe, too! They're both going through this shit, and you can't... You can't-
She had to calm down. Max's head was pounding and her hands shaking as she retreated to her room, her sanctuary.
Max knew something was wrong, though, the moment she opened the door. Her room wasn't the tidiest, she knew, but... the place had been trashed. Books had been shoved from her bookcase and clothes had been torn from their hangers and strewn across the floor. Her guitar lay upside down beside its stand. And across the beloved collage of photos above her bed was scrawled:
'NOBODY MESSES WITH ME
BITCH'
In bright red letters. Across the top of her mirror was written:
'CRAPPY ARTIST
FILTHY WHORE'
In a daze, Max stepped into the mess of a room, feeling her heart pounding in her chest and breath coming shallowly. Her hands were shaking so violently that she could hardly grip the letter-sized piece of photo paper left on her bed. The image of Max's head, eyes scratched out, had been - skillfully, she would admit - photoshopped onto a platter alongside the head of a sheep. It would be art if it weren't an unspoken threat.
This had to have been Nathan and Victoria. They'd been in her room while she had been trying to comfort Kate about Nathan's other actions.
Nausea twisted her stomach as she realized: they had stolen some of the photos from her collage. There were holes in the array, absences where images should be, a made thing rendered incomplete, like stolen pieces of her past they had no right to take.
It was too much. Max felt a wave of panic overtake her, then, sudden dizziness sending her stumbling back into the door.
When it went off, shattering the early morning quiet, the alarm clock's noise felt almost like a physical pain. Max winced, reaching blindly over to hit snooze and restore a little of that peace. She should not have stayed up so late researching time travel. Her head felt like achy mush, her neck stiff. She could sleep for hours more yet, but really should get up. She was supposed to meet Chloe for breakfast.
That didn't stop her from immediately drifting back off, though. The next thing she knew, her stereo alarm was starting up - meaning another fifteen minutes has passed in a blur of sleep. She could hear the familiar faint click and whir as the CD within began spinning, and then the gentle, contemplative sounds of music started, bringing her more towards the waking world.
Max eventually pulled herself up and wandered over to her dorm room's couch, taking up her dinged and scratched but much-loved guitar to play along to the music.
By the time the song ended, Max was approaching something like wakefulness. Okay, Super-Max. Being a superhero is dirty work. I need a shower.
Settling her guitar back on its stand, Max fetched her shower supplies and slipped on her flipflops. Of course, opening her door meant overhearing Victoria's latest snide orders for her lackeys, Courtney and Taylor. Seriously, Max couldn't understand hanging out with someone who talked down to their so-called friends like that, and was just nasty to everyone else. She waited until they had gone and Victoria had shut her door again before stepping out into the hall.
It had probably been one of them who had scribbled "Will bang for Jesus!" on the whiteboard beside Kate's door. So mean. Reflexively, Max wiped away the words, replacing them with a simple peace sign instead. She was never good with words, but at least the meaning should be clear. Kate probably could use some peace, lately.
As she went down the hall to the shower, Max waved to Alyssa - it had been nice to talk with her yesterday, after the wayward football had been avoided - but as she went to say good morning, the door to the bathrooms opened and a random roll of toilet paper was thrown out, beaning Alyssa on the head.
"Ow!"
"Oh yikes, you okay, Alyssa?"
"Immature assholes," Alyssa seethed, disgusted. "Sorry, Max. I'm not feeling social right now."
Max only had to think about it a moment - it'd be such an easy fix, simple - before she raised her hand and dragged herself back through the last fifteen seconds or so.
"Hey, Alyssa!" Max came directly up to her. "Can you stand over here?"
Alyssa was - rightfully - weirded out, but said, "Uh, okay, Max. If that makes you happy..." and stepped to the left a couple of feet. Just in time for the toilet paper to bounce harmlessly off the bulletin board Alyssa had been reading. Alyssa laughed.
"Wow, that was close! Thank you, Max. That's twice you've saved me from a projectile weapon. Are you my guardian angel?"
"Hardly," Max assured her, grinning. "I just have a sixth sense for trouble. I'm glad to help you out."
"Blackwell has a surplus of assholes and clearly not enough helpful psychics," Alyssa grinned back. "Oh by the way, Warren said you borrowed his epic film flash drive. I didn't know you were a sci-fi geek like us. What's your favorite?"
Max raised her eyebrows. "How to choose? I love "Back to the Future," of course. But who doesn't?"
Alyssa laughed. "Can you imagine going back in time to Blackwell in the 1980s?"
"We'd suffocate from all the hair spray," Max chuckled.
"You and Warren do know your sci-fi," Alyssa admitted, dry, with a glance at Brooke down the hall. "Be careful, you might make Brooke jealous..."
Warren wasn't exactly subtle with his crush on Max, and Brooke was as subtle as a hammer when it came to her crush on Warren. Max smiled at Alyssa and stepped away. "I'll just pretend I have no idea what you mean."
Her smile faded away as she heard Juliet and Brooke muttering to each other while looking at something on Juliet's phone.
"Oh, gross. The Vortex Club are such pigs..."
"Ew. I didn't think Kate was like this… macking on all those bros like that?"
Juliet shuddered, shaking her head and stepping away towards Dana's open doorway with her phone. "We shouldn't be watching this."
"Eh, everybody's seen it by now," Brooke shrugged.
Max hesitated before coming through Dana's open door after Juliet. It was just like Dana to leave the door open for any and all who would want to hang out. "Hello, Juliet."
Juliet smiled at her. "Hey, Max, did you check out Kate's hawt video yet?"
Max didn't want to come across as preachy, but... Kate was a friend of hers. "That's super not-cool, you know."
Juliet shrugged off Max's judgement. "I mean I didn't get wasted on camera and get busy with the entire Vortex Club."
Max shifted uneasily, but said, "That's not like Kate at all, and you know it."
"Really?" Juliet was not convinced, holding up her phone and waggling it Max. "Check out the video and tell me what she's like."
Max had already known she didn't want to see the video; this just confirmed it. She crossed her arms, willing her voice not to shake. "Do you believe everything you see at face value? Like Zachary sexting Dana yesterday?"
Juliet stared at Max, then put down her phone. "Touche. Now... I feel like an ass. Thanks, by the way, for finding out the truth yesterday."
"Have you done anything about Victoria pulling that crap on you?" Max couldn't help but ask.
Juliet sighed, then offered a small smile. "Nothing... yet. But my mind works in devious ways, too."
Max relaxed, offering a smile back. "Glad to see you're back in action."
Juliet hesitated, then shook her head. "You have a good heart, Max. And... I won't watch Kate's video anymore. Or pass it on."
"Thanks, Juliet."
"Sure, talk to you later."
Back in the hall, Brooke was texting on her phone. At least she wasn't still watching the video of Kate at the Vortex Club party, Max thought, but Brooke was a hard nut to crack, sometimes. She was a science-person like Warren, rather than another art-nerd, their interests rarely overlapped. But Brooke did tend to like the opportunity to show off...
"Hey, Brooke," Max smiled at her.
Brooke looked up, a little preoccupied. "Oh, hi, Max."
"Did you see the freak snowfall yesterday?"
Brooke looked up from her phone again: "Absolutely! I was riveted."
"Ahah, I can't tell if you're being serious or not," Max admitted, chuckling and rubbing the back of her head. "Um, since I'm a science noob, I was wondering if you could explain it...?"
Brooke nodded, more enthusiastic than Max had seen her. "I'm serious. Even meteorologists can't explain that snow. I bet Warren could, though. Did you talk to him yet?"
"Ah, no," Max admitted. Subtlety wasn't one of Brooke's gifts. "But I will later."
"Warren really loves to talk meteorology with me," Brooke informed her, "since I'm one of the few who can talk back."
"Of course," Max grinned. Brooke knew science, but she certainly didn't know subtle. "See you later."
"Talk to you later, Max."
Kate was brushing her teeth as Max entered the showers. From her face, it looked to Max like Kate hadn't slept much. If at all. Poor thing. Max had always liked hearing Kate practicing her violin in the mornings, but had certainly noticed the lack of music these last two weeks.
She put her shower caddy down on the shelf of the nearest shower stall before coming back out.
"Hey, Kate," Max gave the pale girl a slight smile, almost afraid of being too loud. "How are you doing?"
Kate managed a wan smile, not looking up as she put the cap on her toothbrush. "I'm here."
That was almost worse than anything Kate could have said otherwise. But she went on, after a moment. "Thanks again for standing up for me yesterday, by the way. I needed that."
"Anytime," Max assured her, almost too quickly. "That guy has issues."
"Doesn't everybody here?" Kate remarked with more misery than humor. "By the way, Max, do you still have my copy of "The October Country"?"
Max remembered the book belatedly; she hadn't picked it up in a couple of days and it was probably covered by science texts on time travel, now. "Oh. Yes, of course. It's great so far. I didn't realize Bradbury was such a poet."
"Can you please bring it back to my room this morning? I just... need to take some notes for class."
"Absolutely. I'll bring it by later."
Kate nodded, "Thanks, Max," and turned to run warm water to wash her face.
Max went into the shower and pulled the curtain before turning on the water and getting undressed. The (eventual) hot water felt great. Max could feel a little of the tension in her neck and back relax, only for that ease disappear when she heard the door open and the gloating tones of Victoria as the Queen B came in.
"Oh hey, what's up, Kate?"
Max could hear the smirk easily.
"School," Kate muttered, miserable, amid the sounds of her hurriedly gathering her things.
"That's it?" That was Taylor, one of Victoria's minions. Victoria must be traveling with her usual entourage today. Max peered through the tiny curtain gap quietly but couldn't spot Courtney.
Victoria circled Kate, smiling. "That video of you clubbing didn't look like homework."
Kate shook her head, voice shaking. "Victoria, that wasn't me..."
"Oh, my God," Taylor laughed. "Yeah right."
"Don't be shy, Victoria grinned smugly, leaning close to Kate. "I think it's awesome you set a tongue record on video."
Kate flinched away from her as Taylor laughed, taking her things with her towards the door. "You're going to be sorry someday."
"Oh, boohoo, I'm so sorry you're a viral slut." Victoria watched Kate leave, smirking, before turning to Taylor. "So dramatic. I'm sure she had fun.
"Looked like it."
"I'm sure Nathan hooked her up," Victoria turned to examine her face in the mirror. "And you know he has the good shit. Ugh - yuck, I still have bits of paint on my face. So glad my faithful minions took their sweet time bringing me a towel."
"We ran all the wa-" Taylor protested.
"Give it a rest, Taylor. Now I know if I'm in an accident I won't rely on you or Courtney for help. You can hang out with Kate... or Max."
Max had been distracted by the thought of Nathan Prescott hooking Kate up with 'the good shit.' Combined with what Chloe had told her yesterday, the idea made her blood run cold. Hearing her own name brought her focus back to the present with a jolt.
"...weirdo with that dumb camera."
"I hate that 'I'm so quirky' crap."
Better quirky than making everyone around you miserable, Max thought to herself.
"Anyway. Let's leave the link to Kate's video so everybody gets a chance to see her in action..." Victoria grinned, wielding a tube of lipstick from her purse.
"You are such an evil beeatch," Taylor laughed as Victoria scrawled the link onto the mirror. "I love it!"
Max waited until the two of them had left and she was sure they wouldn't be back before she got out the shower and got dressed. Once dressed, she stepped directly over and used her damp towel to wipe away the link written on the mirror."
Even if I can stop one person from watching it, it's worth it.
On her way back to her room, Max found herself doing a doubletake - someone had already erased her peace sign from Kate's board, replacing it with 'HOT CHURCH GIRL ACTION.' Those assholes! Max rubbed away the words, replacing them with a quick - and not bad, in her opinion - drawing of a bunny. Kate would like that, she thought.
Max stopped by her room to return her shower things, get dressed - t-shirt, hoodie, jeans and sneakers are still a perfect combo, of course - and to find Kate's book, then went back out into the hall to Kate's door.
Max had been in Kate's room many times before, but not recently, and today she hesitated knocking. "Kate, you there?"
Kate's voice came through, muffled, "Yes I'm here. Come in, Max."
Max stepped in, and paused. Instead of Kate's bright and airy room, it was like entering a cave. The normally tidy room was a mess, the trashcan overflowed with tissues - she had to be going through boxes of the things - crumpled paper and torn cards, the curtains were closed despite the bright morning, and... there was a sheet hung over the mirror?
Can she... not stand to look at herself? This is entirely too emo for Kate.
Kate was at her desk, facing away from the door with her head down as she read. Max only felt a little guilty sneaking the cards from the trash can and peeking at them.
Max knew Kate's father was a doting dad, however severe Reverend Marsh looked, and that he and his daughter were close, so it did Max's heart good to see his note to her:
'And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.'
— John 1:5
Katie, you'll always be my brightest light against the dark.
hugs n' love,
Pop
Smiling a little, Max looked at the second card - and recoiled, nearly dropping it.
Dear Katie,
No spirit or devil could have prepared me for what you have done in that videotape.
And like a jezebel you released your harlot image before God's eye.
I will pray with my church for your soul to be saved from Eternal Hellfire.
Auntie Marsh
Holy shit. To say that to someone, one's own family, when they're already going through hell? Jesus!
Max caught herself, and gave the prominently displayed portrait of Jesus an apologetic glance as she slipped the notes back into the trash. Hey, I am trying to use my powers for good, here.
"Uh, hey, Kate," Max stepped over to her. "I brought your book..."
Kate lifted her head and turned to look at Max. The weight and weariness of her glance almost made Max step backwards. Her gaze slipped away, coming to rest on the framed photograph of a much happier Kate alongside Alyssa and Brooke. Max hadn't known they were friends.
"Max, why did you step in between David and me yesterday?"
Max could remember her own anxiety from yesterday, and how she had pushed herself forward to step in when David Madsen had been threatening Kate. "..I hate bullies," she answered, simply, making herself look back at Kate and meet her gaze. "David Madsen should know better."
"I was hoping he would," Kate offered a wan, brief smile. "But it's nice to see that you care about me."
"Kate, I actually do care," Max assured her, with a light squeeze of her shoulder. "But, if I can ask, what's the story with you and David?"
"He's a total paranoid ass!" Kate replied, her voice shaking. "He thinks I'm part of the Vortex Club. Yeah, right."
If she thought about it, Max could see why someone who didn't know Kate - who may have only seen the incriminating video of Kate at a Vortex Club party - might think that, but didn't say so. "Why does he think that?"
"Because he saw the video!" Kate wiped at her tearing eyes, voice breaking. "Do you know how humiliating this is for me?"
Max winced, thinking of the condemnation of 'Auntie Marsh.' "I know this sucks, Kate," she replied, "but...tell me about the video. I'll help you in any way I can."
Kate wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand. "Basically, I went to one Vortex Club party and ended up making out with a bunch of people...and I have no memory of it!"
Why would she go to a Vortex Club party in the first place? That didn't sound like Kate. And how would... no, Max. Focus. Kate needs your help, not your suspicions.
"That's awful," Max said instead. "H-how did that happen?"
Kate looked uncomfortable, shaking her head. "It's a long story. I'm still trying to sort it all out..."
"You have to tell me more than that," Max insisted, crouching down and putting a hand on Kate's shoulder. "We'll figure it out together. What happened at the party? Did you drink?"
"I swear to God I had one sip of red wine. And then I drank water," Kate insisted. From anyone else, the swearing would've meant nothing, but from Kate it meant what she said was practically gospel.
"That's... not enough to get wasted." Max muttered. She felt sick to her stomach and her head was pounding, not liking where her thoughts were going.
("...I'm sure Nathan hooked her up... and you know he's got the good shit.")
Kate shook her head, distressed but adamant. "I don't get wasted. Ever. I take a sip at church and I don't end up on a viral video, okay?"
"I believe you." Max nodded, willing her voice not to shake. She wanted to run, to stop this whole conversation and pretend it never happened. Maybe she could rewind and just drop off the book and pretend her thoughts weren't already coming to a conclusion she would rather not even approach. No but... that wouldn't stop her thoughts. It would just keep Kate from having someone beside her, and she needed someone to be there with her.
"Kate, did...did somebody drug you?"
Max saw Kate's own gaze slide away, like how Max's did when she was distressed and didn't know where to look. She followed the line of Kate's gaze over to the small picture of Kate and two other girls - her sisters, from the resemblance. They looked so happy together in the sunlight. "I remember..." Kate began hesitantly, "I remember getting sick and dizzy..."
Max nodded, urging her to continue.
"...then... Nathan Prescott said he would take me to the hospital."
Max forgot herself for a moment, her head swimming. "Nathan Prescott? Oh, shit!"
Kate looked at her, unsure. "He was being nice for a change? He offered to help me."
"Nathan Prescott is the opposite of nice," Max muttered, pressing her fingertips against the hollow of her jaw in front of her ear, where the headache was worst.
(" We drank and I laughed at his rich kid bullshit. He was one step ahead and put something in my beer...")
"What... what next?"
"All I recall is driving for a long time...then I woke up in a room...I thought it was a hospital because it was so white and bright," Kate's voice was quieter, as though she were having to focus to recall events.
Max nodded. "G-go on, I'm listening."
"Somebody was talking to me in a soft voice...I thought it was a doctor...until I heard Nathan and felt a sharp sting in my neck..." Kate's voice was little more than a whisper. "And...and..."
"And?"
"That's all I remember!" Kate wiped at her eyes again as tears overtook her. "I don't know what happened. I woke up outside my dorm room the next day. I-I didn't have any marks or bruises, but... I felt gross."
Max took Kate's hand in hers, not knowing what to say and trying like mad not to freak out or make Kate's upset worse. She didn't need to know it wasn't the first time Nathan had done this to somebody. She just needed someone there for her. "That's so awful, Kate. Do... do you know who took the video of you at the party?"
"I have no idea. Probably Victoria. She was there being her mean self."
"Jesus, Kate, I'm sorry. This is serious shit."
"Do you... do you know how I could get a viral video taken down? I know it's already spreading," Kate's distress rose again like a wave. "Max, what if my church sees that?? I need to know what to do."
"Kate," Max clasped her hands, willing herself - despite the anxious knot in her throat - to be calm for Kate's sake. "We'll figure it out."
Kate sniffled and blinked her eyes clear, or tried to. "Thanks, Max... You can put my book here, near my bag."
Max had practically forgotten the book, but moved to set it on Kate's bag. Kate shifted behind her, her own anxiety breaking the quiet.
"Max, can I ask you a question? And please be honest."
Max wanted to run, to hide, but made herself stay calm and look back at Kate. Her head was pounding. "Absolutely, Kate. Anything."
Kate looked upset but resolved. "I need to find out if Nathan Prescott helped me...or hurt me after that party. Should I go to the police?"
The relief that washed over Max was enough for her to be ashamed about, but the authorities would be so much less overwhelmed by this knowledge, so much more capable of doing something about Nathan. "Yes, you should definitely go to the police, Kate. I totally believe every word you say. Nathan Prescott is truly dangerous, and he needs to be stopped."
Kate stood up, clasping Max's hands. The ghost of a true smile showed on her face for the first time in weeks. "Bless you, Max. I will go to the police...and also Principal Wells. With you as my back-up witness, they'll have to take us seriously now!"
"Back-up witness?" Max fumbled, thinking of Principal Wells' attitude when she'd busted Nathan with a gun.
Miss Caulfield are you sure what you think you saw?
"Well, I mean, I believe you and everything, but...we're still just spoiled punk students to the cops and faculty." The confusion on Kate's face made Max's heart ache. "I just... think we need to be very careful here."
"Why?" Kate didn't understand. "Careful of what?"
Max could still hear Chloe's dismissive attitude towards Max having placed her trust in Principal Wells and Nathan's awareness of his family's influence over the police.
(What are you, twelve?)
("The Prescott's own the pigs in this town.")
"Mm... nothing, except the Prescotts are a powerful family," she said, trying to sound convincing. "I just hope this won't backfire on us, that's all. That rich bastard has earned some serious bad karma. He'll get it."
Kate nodded, giving Max's hands another quick squeeze before letting go. Max let herself out of Kate's room, trying not to shake, her thoughts going a mile a minute.
Time out, Max. You actually told Kate to go to the police and the Principal, after getting a scary text threat from Nathan's father, and texts from Mom and Dad saying that the Principal reported you spreading lies against the school's star student. Now Kate thinks the Principal and the police will help her. The Principal already let you down, can you imagine how devastating it would be for Kate? And she'll want you to back through up! Well... of course you will. But this sort of shit jeopardizes your scholarship, your very presence at Blackwell and the foundation it offers for a successful photography career! Wells already thinks you're a liar, David already thinks you've been bringing drugs into his house. Damn, and Chloe went through this same thing with Nathan - that was why she got shot yesterday in the bathroom for threatening to expose him! She could've died if not for... and hell, if you had just not been such a coward and let Chloe know you were in town anytime in the last two months since school started, Nathan might not have drugged Chloe, too! They're both going through this shit, and you can't... You can't-
She had to calm down. Max's head was pounding and her hands shaking as she retreated to her room, her sanctuary.
Max knew something was wrong, though, the moment she opened the door. Her room wasn't the tidiest, she knew, but... the place had been trashed. Books had been shoved from her bookcase and clothes had been torn from their hangers and strewn across the floor. Her guitar lay upside down beside its stand. And across the beloved collage of photos above her bed was scrawled:
'NOBODY MESSES WITH ME
BITCH'
In bright red letters. Across the top of her mirror was written:
'CRAPPY ARTIST
FILTHY WHORE'
In a daze, Max stepped into the mess of a room, feeling her heart pounding in her chest and breath coming shallowly. Her hands were shaking so violently that she could hardly grip the letter-sized piece of photo paper left on her bed. The image of Max's head, eyes scratched out, had been - skillfully, she would admit - photoshopped onto a platter alongside the head of a sheep. It would be art if it weren't an unspoken threat.
This had to have been Nathan and Victoria. They'd been in her room while she had been trying to comfort Kate about Nathan's other actions.
Nausea twisted her stomach as she realized: they had stolen some of the photos from her collage. There were holes in the array, absences where images should be, a made thing rendered incomplete, like stolen pieces of her past they had no right to take.
It was too much. Max felt a wave of panic overtake her, then, sudden dizziness sending her stumbling back into the door.
