"How much longer Picasso? I'm getting hella bored just sitting here doing nothing. I think there's a pair of jays building a nest in my ear."
Max giggled. "You're such an idiot. Just a few more minutes. Nearly done. Promise."
"I hope so – my leg's starting to cramp up. And it'd better be worth it. Make me look super pretty or else Caulfield." Chloe raised her hands in a mock tickling gesture.
"Hold still Chloe! Or it'll just take even longer. And how could I not make you look pretty? You're beautiful and you know it. Now quit fidgeting about."
"Yes Miss. You sure can be bossy at times. You're finally learning from the master."
"Yep. It's the company I keep."
"I wish I could draw like you can. All I can manage is crappy graffiti."
"And I wish I was as pretty as you are. I love your eyes. They're amazing."
"So are yours. You're even prettier than me. I have no idea why you even think that you aren't. If I could draw, you would be my one and only model. I would never stop drawing you."
"Give over. You're embarrassing me...and putting me off." said Max, blushing a deep scarlet.
"You are so cute."
"I'm nearly done. Man, I wish I had a camera so I could take pictures of you as well."
"Your folks still not got you one?"
"Nope. They keep saying maybe on my birthday. I sure hope so. There's this photographer whose work I like and he's here for an exhibition next year. I would love to have something to show him."
"I've got your back Max. You'll be famous one day. I'll use my charms on your parents. And if that doesn't work I'll torture-tickle them until they give you whatever you ask for. Anything for you Maxo."
"Thanks Chloe. You're my angel."
"I sure am. Don't you ever forget it."
"There! All done. Whaddya think?" Max passed Chloe her journal.
Chloe was astonished. "Wowser Max! That is...awesome. I look gorgeous! Thanks a million!" She lunged at her friend and showered her in hugs and kisses. "Please can I keep it?"
"Sure. But lemme tear it out. You'll probably rip the whole book in half. And ruin the feather."
"You need to put your moniker on it too."
"Okay...pass it back here." Max wrote on the page then carefully tore it out. "There you go. It's all yours."
"Oh Max that's so sweet. I love you to bits. I'm gonna keep this for all time Max. I'll treasure it for ever and ever. I swear."
"Just like I'm gonna treasure you forever."
"Max! Your parents are back at the house. It's time to go Munchkin." called Joyce from the ground below.
"Okay, coming!" Max shouted back. She moved towards the tree fort entrance.
"Max, before you go, come here."
"Hmmm?"
Chloe held her friend's hands tenderly and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Max, this drawing is the best thing anyone has ever given me. I just want you to know how much I love you. I don't know what I'd do without you. I really don't." said Chloe softly.
"Me neither. I love you too Chloe. You're my best friend in the whole world."
The two girls clambered down the tree and strolled across the clearing to where Joyce was waiting, sitting on a tree trunk.
"Mom, look what Max did." said Chloe as she passed the picture to her mom.
"That's simply wonderful! Max, you certainly are a very talented young lady. You've made Chloe look even more beautiful here than she actually is. I wouldn't have thought that possible."
"I think it's sorta okay, but thanks Joyce."
"You shouldn't underestimate yourself Max. It's amazing. I'll see if I can sort out a lovely frame for it."
"I want it in my room Mom."
"Of course Poppet."
They moved out of sight amongst the trees, the two girls arm-in-arm, with Joyce trailing behind. None of them saw the doe looking on from the shadows of the forest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Max, grab that box from the back seat and bring it into the house please sweetheart. Take special care not to drop it." said Vanessa as she unlocked the front door to the house.
"What's in it?"
"You'll have to wait until you're inside. Then you can open it." said Ryan.
"It's for me?"
"Yes it is. A special treat for our beautiful princess. Don't shake it."
Max rushed inside, eager to open her gift. She seated herself at the dining table and opened the parcel quickly but carefully. "The camera I wanted! And lots of spare film! Thanks Mom! Thanks Pop! This is awesome! And it's not even my birthday! You're the best mom and pop ever! I can't wait to show this to Chloe! We were just talking about this today!" Max was beaming from ear to ear...until she noticed the worried looks on her parent's faces. "What's the matter?"
"Max. Come here and sit with me baby. We've got something very important to tell you." said Vanessa softly, patting the couch beside her.
"No. I'm okay here. Just tell me. What is it?"
Ryan placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders and cleared his throat nervously. "Er, Max. I've been offered a new job. It's a lot more money. We can have a much better house and all sorts of things. We'll get you absolutely anything you want – the very best of everything."
Max had a horrible feeling about what was coming, but she had to ask anyway. "Whe...where?"
"It's...er...in Seattle, baby."
Silence reigned for an age. Max's parents looked at the floor, unable to meet their daughter's gaze.
"I'm not going! I'm staying here. I'm not leaving Arcadia Bay. I'm just not! You can't make me! I'm not leaving Chloe! Ever!" Max began to cry.
"Max, we're thinking of you Munchkin. You're incredibly talented and you won't get the opportunities here which will get you the career you deserve. In Seattle, the world will be your oyster. We know you love Chloe. We understand. Please believe us. This was a very difficult decision for your father and I to make. We're ever so sorry sweetness, but this will be the best thing for us all in the long run."
"No it won't! I don't care about my stupid career, Seattle, or anything else. I only care about Chloe. We've been together as long as I can remember, and you're going to tear us apart for a stupid job? It's not fair! I don't want to go! You go! I'll stay here with Chloe and Joyce. I can live with them."
"Max, you have to come with us Princess. It's not just about the job. This will be the making of you. We've got you a place in a great art scho..."
"I don't want it. Tell them to shove it. And I don't want this either." Max shoved the new camera across the table. "Take it back. Give it away. Sell it. Throw it in the trash. Whatever. I simply don't care. I'm not taking it. You think you can bribe me with a stupid shitty camera in exchange for my best friend? You think I'd swap this piece of junk for Chloe? She's my world, my everything. This...this shit is just a crappy piece of plastic. No fucking way! Get the fucking thing out of my sight!"
"MAXINE CAULFIELD YOU MIND YOUR LANGUAGE!" yelled Vanessa. "I never want to hear you talk like that again, you hear me?"
"FUCK OFF! I HATE YOU! I HATE BOTH OF YOU! I NEVER WANT TO SEE EITHER OF YOU EVER AGAIN! GO TO HELL! GO FUCK YOURSELVES. YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A PAIR OF SELFISH BASTARDS! LOOKING AT YOU MAKES ME FEEL SICK! YOU DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT ME! NOW LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE! I'M DONE WITH YOU! FOREVER!"
Max stormed upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom. She fell onto her bed, her tiny little form wracked with the uncontrolled spasms of heart-wrenching sobs.