Chapter Text
"Right so... Wallet... Phone, card... Ok, that's everything, I think... I'm sure I'm forgetting..." Max rifles through her bag, checking everything, but then slaps her forehead for being a ditz, "Ugh, you're such an idiot. KEYS! Not exactly going to get far without them, are you, Max?!!"
The young doctor groans with frustration at herself and starts to frantically search the apartment as she mutters to herself, "Where the hell are they? I could have sworn I put them on the table..." She flings sofa cushions, books and pillows everywhere in her manic search for the elusive keys, "Come on, come on, I'm going to be late... because of my stupid goddamn alarm not going off... Why does this shi—"
“Ow ow owww..."
The manic girl gets interrupted from her panic mode by the little bundle of cuteness.
She turns around and can’t help but smile when she sees her adorable dog; a young Samoyed, named Blue.
Max bends down and gives the eagerly waiting dog a scratch under the chin, "I don't suppose you know where mommy’s keys are, do you?"
Blue just pants happily, head cocked to the side, relishing at getting the attention she wanted.
Max sighs, "No, I guess not... ugh fine! Just another load of crap to deal with today..." She stands up and heads to the front door. However, she doesn’t get far before she hears Blue whining again.
The young girl turns around to see the pup right behind her, “What's the matter girl, hmm? I will be back tonight, but I have to go to work."
Blue places her paw on Max’s leg and gives her those big puppy dog eyes. It melts the young doctors heart every time, no matter how strong she tries to be.
“Oh, don't you give me that look, it doesn't work on me... well ok, it does, just not today..." She tries to turn away from it, but Blue, ever persistent, starts whimpering again.
Max lets out a heavy sigh as she rubs her temples, annoyed at herself for being too easy to manipulate. She bends down to give her a stroke, “That is not fair you adorable thing. Go play with Red and I will be back before you know it."
With a deep breath she stands up and reluctantly turns around then heads out the door.
She hears Blue whine and scratching at the door as soon as it’s closed. “Wowser, that actually gets harder each time. But also a pain in the ass because she is tearing up the wood, the little shit! She’s just lonely though and it’s your own fault for spoiling her.” Max mutters then sighs and shakes her head for being such a soft touch.
She goes to the elevator and presses the button then waits the few seconds for it to arrive and gets in.
Once down she heads into the lobby and as she does she hears an amused, "Late again, Doc?" From Rachel Amber, one of the main clerks that work here at the front desk in the apartment complex. Also one of Max’s very close and dearest friends.
The young doctor walks over to her as she retorts, "I'm never late, Rachel. I always arrive exactly when I'm supposed to." And ends with a grin at the other girl.
Rachel shakes her head with an airy laugh and teases, "So, you're always supposed to arrive late then?"
"Well obviously I am. It's also so I get to see your lovely face before I have to see so many that are not."
"Haha you just can't help yourself, can you, Max? But then I am hella worth looking at.” Rachel muses at the end, more to herself.
“That you are, miss Amber. You never cease to brighten my day.”
Both girls share a laugh before Max starts to make her way to the front doors. She pauses to look back to Rachel and tease, as is the usual before Max heads off to work, "Oh, I'll be sure to give Dana a kiss for you Rach, show her how much you’re missing her.”
"Don't you dare, Maxine! I will hella kick your ass and then kick hers for falling for your fancy charms." Rachel mock threatens.
"Mmm that sounds like incentive to me not a deterrent." The young doctor is quick to shoot back with a shit eating grin.
"Oh, you are too much! You wait until you get a girlfriend, I’ll be sure to return these threats of yours. Now go save some lives, you little fucker."
Max laughs as she leaves through the front doors and begins making her way down the sidewalk.
She barely gets ten feet however, before the heavens seem to open up and it starts to pour down with rain, a few rumbles of thunder being heard in the distance.
Max looks up to the now gloomy darkened sky with a groan, "Are you cereal? You really had to start now!?!"
The young doctor rushes over to the nearby covered alleyway to shelter from the rain.
She starts to go through her bag to pull out her cellphone. Once found she unlocks it then holds down 3, the number in which Dana is marked under.
As it begins to ring, Max is slightly startled by a sudden whimper sound that comes from behind her. She turns around and looks down to see a grey, white and black dog with bright blue eyes, ‘A husky maybe.’ She thinks, ‘It has that wolffish look to it. I always thought they were a beautiful breed of dog.’
The dog in question sits on it's hind legs looking at the girl and then lets out a little bark.
Max slowly crouches down in front of it, careful not to make any quick movements and startle it. ‘You can never be too sure with a random lone dog.’ She thinks to herself, remembering how she got bit by a stray once before.
Yet she can’t help cooing in a cutesy voice, "Aww, well aren't you just the most gorgeous thing?"
She cautiously moves her hand forward to let the dog sniff it. Which it does, before giving it a lick then lets out a happy sounding bark.
"Haha you're a friendly one, aren't you?Where's your owner?" Max scratches behind the dogs ear and he or she rises up on both legs wagging it's tail excitedly, "Oh you like that, do you?" It gives another happy bark then rolls onto it's back and starts to wriggle about, "Ha, you are worse than mine and she's the biggest attention seeker ever!" She gives it's belly a rub and it pants happily, tongue lolled to the side.
But as the young doctor continues to show the dog affection she suddenly hears this faint noise of her name. It’s then that she looks to the cell phone in her hand and remembers she had called Dana, so quickly raises it to her ear and hears, "...AX.... MAX.. JESUS, MAXINE!!! IS THERE ANYBODY IN THERE? Why are you asking that? Of course there isn’t. She’s always away with the fairy’s." From the slightly annoyed and yet amused sounding Dana shouting down the line.
"Oh. Sorry, Dana. I was kinda distracted."
"When aren't you? You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met and yet, you’re the ditziest too." The now, just amused girl teases the young doctor, before she asks, "What are you doing anyway and why are you not here yet?"
"Hmm, oh right yeah, I lost my haha awww..." Max begins to answer, only to start cooing as the dog stood up and nuzzles into her, paws on her thighs, "You are very cute for such a big fluffy thing—"
"Max... MAX? FUCKING HELL!! MAXINE!?"
"Sorry, sorry Dana."
"What the shit are you doing and why are you calling me cute, big and fluffy? I am tall hot and perfectly preened, thank you very much!"
Max gives a confused, "Huh, what? Oh, not you. I'm talking to a dog." The dog in question starts to bark and bounce around in a circle, making her laugh.
And now it’s Dana’s turn to be confused, "Talking to a dog!?! Why are you talking to a dog? Whose dog?"
Max stands up as she answers, "I don't actually know whose dog it is. It has a collar, I should probably check it. But I don't know where the owner is."
"So, you're just talking to a stray dog, rather than being at work? You know it could be diseased or something, Max?"
The dog gives a whimper and starts barking as if it could hear what Dana had said. Max knows it’s more than likely because she stopped fussing over it though, just like Blue always does.
But she doesn’t miss the opportunity to tease Dana, "Aww, did you hear the mean old lady calling you diseased? Don't listen to her she's just a moody old grump who is jealous of how adorable you are."
The dog barks happily and nudges Max’s leg, which makes her laugh and agree with her previous thought that it is definitely like Blue.
The young girl gives it a pat as Dana drones on, "Jesus Christ, Max! You're so fucking weird and I'm not grumpy or old either!" Max can actually hear the pout in the others voice and rolls her eyes. "Anyway, I take it you're gonna be late and need me to pick up the slack for you, hmm?"
"Wowser! You make it sound like I do this all the time..." She hears her mhmm on the other end. "Whatever! And yes, please could you be a babe and help a girl out? My alarm didn’t go off and I lost my keys. It's also peeing down, so I’m gonna be a teensy bit late."
"Fine, yes Maxine, but you owe me like ten get out of jail free cards now and I expect payment soon. How do you even get dressed in the morning? I'm surprised you're not blonde 'cos you are a complete airhead."
The dog starts whimpering again when Max doesn’t pay it attention, so she absently strokes it whilst replying, "Yes yes Dana, and you're a complete master mind and have never misplaced anything or been late. I think my apartment has a poltergeist and black hole in it."
Dana snorts a laugh, "Yes of course, Max, that old one of a black hole ate my keys." And laughs at her own humor, "Anyway, I will see you in a bit and please don't pick up anymore strays! I know what you are like. Maybe get yourself a girlfriend instead." And she hangs up, still with the laughter.
The young doctor slips her phone back into her bag then turns to the dog, "You are such an attention seeker, aren’t you?" She chuckles as she leans down to check it's collar for an address or name. “So, no address, but it seems your name is Pipsqueak. Hmm, cute name. But where is your owner, boy? I'm gonna go with boy 'cos you seem like a boy and with the name I—" The dog starts to bark again at that.
However, Max is suddenly taken from her rambling with a startle when she hears someone groan and groggily say, "Ugh, fuck! Shut it, Pip. I just got to sleep. Why do you keep barking?"
"HOLY SHIT!!" The young doctor shrieks as she jumps out of her skin with fright.
Max hesitantly looks over to the side of the alley and sees some cardboard moving, then a pair of hands and then some blonde roots and faded blue hair as the cardboard is moved down. She sees a pair of sleepy eyes appear next and look over to herself, then widen and they are almost the same beautiful color of blue as the dogs.
The girl who was sleeping peacefully, in her makeshift home, suddenly gains her senses when she sees a girl standing near her. She quickly scrambles to her feet and hastily asks, "Who are you?" As she watches Pip look to herself then rubs up against the other girl’s leg.
Max continues to absently stroke Pipsqueak, but she cannot take her eyes off of this strange girl who just emerged from a pile of trash.
"What are you doin' with my dog?" The alley girl asks and winces a little at how angry her tone came out. But she shakes it off because she’s just woken up and you never know with some people.
The girl doesn't actually answer her though and continues to just stare a little wide eyed, still absently stroking Pip like she isn't all there. ‘Huh, hmm maybe she isn't all there and has something wrong with her, but I'm sure I heard her talking.’ Chloe thinks to herself, unsure what’s going on or how to act.
She decides to cautiously move a little closer and waves her hand around in front of this strange dog stroker and asks bemused, "Yo, dude, is there anybody in there? Do you need some help or somethin’?"
Max still stares at the alley girl and she’s sure the other said something but can't seem to get her brain to function. ‘Oh because wowser, she is really pretty and it's not everyday you see a blue haired girl appear from a pile of rubbish.’ The young doctor muses to herself, still unable to react. ‘Yeah, she's a little grubby and dishevelled, but considering that she is still very hot! Kinda like a grungy punk smurf.’ She snorts a laugh out loud at her inner thoughts. But then the other girl moves closer and waves her hand in front of Max’s face. She’s certain something was said again, though she’s unclear what as she seems to be stuck.
As Max clearly struggles, almost hypnotised by this strange alley dweller, she watches as the girl raises a blonde eyebrow; she has an amused look on her very pretty face and crosses her arms.
"Wowser!" Is what Max so embarrassingly blurts out, like a complete moron, and can feel herself heat up, no doubt glowing bright red.
‘Did this girl just, WOWSER, me?’ Chloe questions to herself and thinks the other girl is fucking weird. ‘Hmm, but also really cute; with her wide doe eyes, spacedout expression and adorable freckles. She is obviously completely nuts though. Why are the really pretty ones always crazy?’ She thinks to herself with a laugh.
The slightly weirded out and yet, very amused girl, clears her throat before she says, "Sooo, I'm gonna take my dog and go back over here and you can go back to doing whatever it was you were doing. Pip, come on!" Chloe pats her thigh for him to follow but he just looks to her then back to this strange girl.
The unimpressed girl scowls at him for the treachery as the strange girl finally says something, "I erm... oh, I wasn't trying to steal your dog or anything. I was keeping dry then saw him and he came up to me. He was really friendly and a big attention seeker, wasn't you?" She starts rambling then coo's over Pip and he laps it up, barking and rolling around like a pumped up horn-dog. "He is a really gorgeous boy, aren't you, Pipsqueak?"
Chloe watches as the girl rubs his belly and he barks happily, ‘The traitor!’
"I didn't see the owner anywhere and also didn't really think to check the pile of trash for one. So, my bad I guess." Max ends with a shrug and chuckles.
Chloe doesn't think the girl is judging her with the trash comment, which is definitely a first. She finds herself smiling and chuckles a little with her.
"Oh, I'm Max." The young doctor extends her hand to the other.
Again, this is another first for Chloe, especially considering she saw her come from a pile of garbage.
She shakes the girl’s hand and smiles, "I’m Chloe."
‘Wow! For a trash dweller she has surprisingly soft hands.’ Max thinks to herself as she smiles and Chloe smiles back.
They continue to shake hands, longer than you normally should, but neither one of them pull apart.
They do eventually pull apart however, when Pip starts whimpering and nudging Max’s leg, making her laugh, "He really is so needy isn't he and kinda jealous too? Reminds me of mine. She is pretty much the same."
Chloe narrows her eyes at him and the young doctor thinks she looks really cute when she does that, especially when she says incredulously, "Not usually, no, well not with strangers anyway. He seems to really like you. Unless you're stowing some sausages and bacon in your bag that is?"
Max can't help giggling at that, feeling like an idiot but this Chloe does laugh too, so she doesn’t feel completely silly.
"No, I'm afraid not. I actually keep my dog luring kit in my other bag."
This has Chloe laughing really loud and genuinely from what Max just said. ‘And for a crazy hot girl she is really funny!’ She thinks.
When they calm down Chloe says, "Damn, that’s too bad because we do love bacon and sausages, don't we boy?" And gives Pip a pat on the side of his body and he does a loud happy bark.
"I'm sorry, if I knew there was a beautiful girl and dog sleeping in the alleyway I would ha—" The young doctor starts to say, only to abruptly stop.
Chloe watches as the girl’s eyes widen and her cheeks begin to blush, just as she feels hers do, after what was said.
Max tries to backtrack on what she blurted out, yet, only ends up making a bigger mess of it, as is her usual way, "Oh shit erm, I didn't mean it like that, not that I'm saying you’re not beautiful because you are. Oh crap! I mean fuck! I have been checking you out. Oh my god no! I mean I haven't been checking you out. Argh, you know what, I'm just gonna shut my big mouth up and pretend none of that happened."
‘WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT, MAX!?! She is going to think you are some kind of weirdo creep. And by the look of her wide-eyed stare and bright red blush, I'd say yes, yes she does think that, Max.’
While the young doctor continues to internally die of embarrassment, Chloe starts giggling as she says, "Wow! You are so frickin' weird... When I first saw you, I did think you were some hot crazy chick. And after that, it is most definitely confirmed, that yes, indeed you are." And she proceeds to laugh more.
Max narrows her eyes at this Chloe but is trying not to smile as she retorts, "HEY! I'm not the one who appeared like Oscar the Grouch, but with blue hair, from a pile of trash and scared the shit out of you."
Alley girl Chloe just continues to laugh at her. So Max rolls her eyes and crosses her arms as she waits for this strange sexy trash dweller to calm down.
When Chloe is finally able to calm down, she wipes her eyes and takes a breath. "Hey, don't worry it's not a bad thing. It makes you more interesting. And it's not everyday, well any day actually, that a total stranger would just stop and talk without judgement to the dirty homeless girl sleeping in an alley."
Max kinda just stares at Chloe after what she said about being homeless. She didn't actually think about it, not that it makes any difference to her. But she just stupidly thought that maybe this girl was on a booze night out or was down on her luck. ‘Wow that is so horrible and she seems so young too and really nice and she is living on the streets...’
Chloe looks at this Max as she stares at her, not saying or doing anything after what she said. She thinks maybe she is, well actually Chloe doesn’t know what to think because her face is still the same, like she has been frozen.
As they continue in this slightly awkward moment Chloe hears Max's phone go off but the girl doesn't do anything. So she clears her throat before asking, "Yo Max, everything ok in there, dude? Um, your phone is ringing." It seems to have the desired effect because the girl suddenly snaps her attention back to here and now and starts scrambling through her bag.
Max pulls her phone out and sees it’s Dana so gives Chloe an apologetic, "Sorry, I have to take this."
“Sure, go ahead."
Chloe stands and waits patiently for Max to finish her phone call and hears her saying, "Oh shit fuck fuck fuck. I got completely side tracked, Dana, sorry... Yes I'm still with the dog..... No, I didn't take it home with me. Jesus, woman! I don't take everything home with me..." It makes Chloe laugh and the young doctor looks to her with a smile. “Look, Dana, I'm coming now, ok? Yes yes ok... no I'm not taking in more waifs and strays and he has an owner, so shut it! I'll see you soon."
When Max hangs up Chloe can't keep from grinning at her and teasing, "Sooo about this dog luring kit... Are you sure it's not this bag and you didn't know we were in this alley?"
Max snorts a laugh and retorts, "Yah huh, you caught me out. I got up this morning, came outside and saw this pretty blue haired girl and her dog. Then I rushed back inside to get my leashes, collars and food to lure you back to my inner sanctum. I have many a hot girl and their dogs locked away in my apartment."
Chloe laughs hard at the other girl’s teasing and blurts out, “That sounds more like a hot date than a kidnapping. I would have come along willingly."
Max can't help but giggle at this Chloe and her cute wide eyed expression and blush after what she just said. "Hmm, well if you stick around I might just have to bring it out for next time." She retorts in a flirty tone and with a playful smirk.
Chloe can feel herself blushing more as she giggles shyly and returns a playful flirty retort of her own, "Maybe I just might stick around then."
"Well I will look forward to seeing you again." Max tells her generally with a warm smile.
Chloe smiles so much wider at Max, but sees her look out of the alley then hears her sigh before she looks back and says almost sadly, "Well it was really nice to meet you, Chloe. And you too, Pipsqueak..." She bends down to fuss and coo over him then stands up. "But I have really got to go to work now before I get fired or something."
This has Chloe’s smile fade and her heart sink a little and she can’t help the quiet sad, "Oh, ok then." But she tries to bring her smile back when she continues, "It was really good to meet you too, Max... and I hope I get to see you again." She ends with a hopeful tone, not wanting this strange intriguing girl to disappear from her life so quickly.
The hopeful girl watches as Max's smile widens and she turns to start walking away but looks back to reply, "I would really like that Chloe, and who knows what I might bring in my bag next time." She ends with a cute little smile and wave which gives Chloe’s heart a flutter as Max heads out into what is now the gentle rain.
Chloe can only stand staring at where Max left and feels herself smiling the biggest smile and a warm tingly feeling in her chest that spreads through the rest of her body. It's something she hasn’t felt in such a long time, probably since she lived at home and would run down stairs on Christmas morning. That gives her a twinge of pain and sadness at the thought of home and her parents because she misses them a lot. But she squashes it down not wanting to think about that when she’s feeling so happy for once.
She’s finally taken from her frozen state when she feels Pip nudge and then lick her hand with a whimper. She bends down in front of him and runs her hands through his furry coat, "She was pretty cool, wasn't she boy?" He lets out a happy bark and wags his tail enthusiastically, "I hope we do get to see her again. That was one of the best starts to the morning I have had in such a long time. And she didn't even seem to give a shit I stink and I'm all dirty... Yeah, we might have to stick around here for a while."
Pip lets out a few barks and bounces around making her chuckle, "Ok boy, it's settled then. Now as I do smell a little ripe and I really need the loo. Whatcha’ say we go to the park toilets and also see if we can't scrounge up some grub?"
Pip rolls around as she gathers up her stuff and shoves it in her bag. Once ready they start walking together in the rain towards the park. Chloe doesn’t really give a shit about getting wet today and can't keep the smile from her face. She can feel her steps are lighter with each one she takes.
‘Perhaps this city might be different from others I’ve been in. As long as I get a morning like this and maybe also get to see Max each time.’ She thinks it could work out really well...
*****
Pip and Chloe come back to the alley, after going to the park for a few hours. She managed to freshen herself up a little but didn't however manage to scrounge any food up for herself. She did get enough money for some dog food for Pip though. She would never let him go hungry and always makes sure he is fed before herself.
As Chloe gets to her makeshift bed and lifts the cardboard, she sees a big brown paper bag. Immediately she smells food and it makes her stomach rumble and mouth water because, ‘It smells so goddamn good!’
She crouches down in front of the bag and hesitantly picks it up, "Hmm... who the hell put this here and why?"
As she’s about to open the rather large heavy bag up she sees a note that was under it. She picks it up, unfolds it and looks over the big loopy handwriting.
She reads the note out loud, "To the strange blue haired trash dweller (Yes I mean you Chloe Grouch) ..." It makes her laugh as she continues reading, "Hmm I don't know if you will find this rude or insensitive, but I kinda got you a couple of bacon and sausage baguette things (They are really very good by the way) It's not charity, well ok, it kind of is, but I don't mean it in a bad patronising way. If it is rude then by all means get rid and tell me to fuck off. Otherwise, please enjoy. Max x..." Chloe can’t help the huge smile breaking out over her face and reads the last bit, "P.S, I may have also put in a bottle of water and a bottle of orange juice, also an awesome triple chocolate chip muffin (Again, not charity and the muffin is very good and you’ve got to have your sweet with your savoury) Ok, I have rambled on for long enough now. It’s kind of a serious problem I've got, according to friends and even strangers. Max x."
It gives the blue haired girl a warm fuzzy feeling throughout her whole body reading this. And that Max would go out of her way to bring her, a total stranger some food and drink, knowing she was already late for work.
Chloe sits down on her makeshift bed and brings the bag onto her lap. She opens it up and immediately gets hit by a huge enveloping smell of the absolutely mouth-watering aroma and licks her lips in anticipation.
She digs her hand in and grabs a huge bacon and sausage baguette, filled almost ridiculously full of meat. She feels her eyes bulge and stomach rumbling at the sight and smell.
Pip starts whining as he sits in front of her with his mouth open and tongue hanging out, basically drooling.
Chloe narrows her eyes at him and says sternly, "No. Mine. You have had ya food already. This is Chloe food, not for dogs!"
He lays flat on the ground, eyes turned up to her and starts to let out a whimpering sound.
She roll her eyes at him, "Oh please Pipsqueak, I am the master of that look!" He starts to whimper more and shuffles forward a bit which has her cave, "Ugh, fine you little shit! But you only get one sausage and one piece of bacon, ok?" He sits up and lifts his paw out to her whilst letting out a couple of happy barks.
She takes his paw and shakes it, "Good boy." Then pulls the meat out and lays it on the ground in front of him.
Chloe doesn’t waste any more time and takes a huge bite of her meat ladened baguette. As soon as the warm salty tasty meat hits her tongue it sends that food pain sensation through her jaw.
She can't help moaning out in pleasure, "Mmm wow..." She gulps down the mouthful, "Oh my fucking god! That is just sooo good..."
She immediately goes in and takes another huge bite and closes her eyes, leans her head back against the wall and just savours the absolutely incredible taste. She carries on like this and munches her way through the first baguette. She can’t help but take a couple of bites of the second, but saves the rest for later on. Then she washes it all down with some orange juice, feeling the most satisfied she has done in a long time.
Chloe takes the Muffin out next and it's huge, she thinks to herself and feels her eyes bulge again at the site. But she decides to save half of it for later on as well.
She brings the giant muffin to her nose, inhaling a big whiff of it. ‘WOW! It smells so goddamn good and has little gooey pieces of chocolate chips in it. And it’s still warm too.’
She takes a big bite and moans as the sweet velvety chocolate hits her and she’s in actual heaven, "Oh my god... mmm... this is almost like having sex..." ‘Not that I would know, so jerking off then. Whatever, it’s still sexual!’ Chloe tells herself as she continues in her dreamy state with moans of pleasure...
***
When she has finished her 'sex muffin', which she can't help snickering to herself when she calls it that, she safely puts everything left into her bag.
Chloe suddenly notices how dark and cold it has got and she wonders how long she was distracted with her food.
She looks down at Pip to see he is fast asleep and thinks maybe she should just hunker down and turn in for the night herself.
So, she stands up, gets her blankets and beanie out of her bag then shifts the top layer of cardboard up so she can lay down. She puts her beanie on, the bag under her head and covers herself up with the blankets, then pulls the big sheet of cardboard over her body. She curls up on her side trying to keep warm and feels how much colder it's getting each day now. But for once she actually has a full stomach and it's from awesome food, not something she had to dig out of the trash. That brings her thoughts to Max, the weird crazy hot girl, who gave her the incredible food and full belly. It makes her smile as she closes her eyes drifting off to sleep, picturing her pretty face and hearing her cute little laugh...
*****
"Ugh... I didn't think that shift would ever end. I'm so beat, but I've got another shift in about what, six hours? Such bull!" Max groans as Dana drives her back to her apartment.
The other girl gives the young doctor an amused glance, "Well, you did say you would cover my shift so Rach and me could have some time together. And you do owe me."
Which has Max roll her eyes, "Yes yes, I know, you tell me how many times a day? Jeez! I just didn't account for the number of extra casualties there were going to be today. I mean, did you like phone people in to screw me over for a laugh?"
Dana snorts and delivers a sarcastic reply to the amusing little doctor, "Oh yes, of course. I asked people to deliberately hurt themselves and specifically told them to go see Doctor Maxine Caulfield. It's not like that would have pissed me off is it? You know, with me working under you." She looks over to Max with her huge ass smirk when she finishes.
"I still wouldn't put it past you to do something like that." The slightly amused Max mock grumbles.
Dana playfully rolls her eyes as she turns down the road where Max lives, "Of course you do, my grumpy little doc. Anyway, you should be nice to me because if I'm not mistaken, I am once again driving you home."
Max waves her off, "Oh please, you are lucky to have such awesome company as myself. And correct me if I'm wrong but have I given you the weekend off so you can wine and dine your beloved, hmm?"
"Ya know, I don't know if I would call me having to drive miles out of my way to drop you off, ‘lucky’ and I also don't know if your company is really worth it." Dana teases with a smirk.
"Oh really? Well I will just have to remember that the next time I'm filling out the roster for work and try not to put you working while Rachel is off.”
Dana slows down outside Max’s apartment then turns to her with eyes narrowed, "You wouldn't dare?!"
The young doctor shrugs nonchalantly, "Meh, I don't know, it all depends how nice you are to me from now on, doesn’t it?" And she gets out of the car.
Dana follows suit and retorts with a pout, "I am plenty nice to you Max... You're the mean one always working me for hours upon hours. It's like I'm living in the middle ages and you might as well have a cat and nine tails."
Max can't help but laugh at her sulky face, "Oh Jesus, you really are something else. I seem to recall someone, Dana, asleep for two hours in one of the hospital rooms instead of working. And being the horrible boss I am, just let said someone sleep and done their work for them." She laughs more at the other girl’s wide eyes and mouth agape.
After a few more seconds Dana replies with shock, "I, you saw that, did you? I erm, I don't, it was the first time—"
"Really Dana, your first time?" Max cuts in amused, "I actually don't have enough fingers and toes to count on for how many times I have found you asleep somewhere."
Dana, clearly at a loss, opens and closes her mouth a few times, obviously not having any smart-ass comment to retort with. She eventually stops gulping like a fish to say, "I, well maybe you're not so bad then and maybe I don't mind driving you back to your apartment all the times I have..." She goes to continue but gets interrupted by a couple of loud barks.
Max doesn’t have time to react as she suddenly gets pounced on by a dog making her yelp, "HOLY MOTHER OF GOD!" In fright and she stumbles to the ground.
Once she is able to gain her senses, take some air to her lungs, she realizes who the dog is, Pipsqueak! Who starts licking her face making Max squirm and laugh as she tries to push his head away.
"Haha hey boy. As much as I love a wet kiss, I'm afraid you are not really my type."
He just barks, with more excited licks as she continues to laugh.
Dana comes rushing around to the floored doctor, "Oh my god Max! Are you alright? Where the hell did that dog come from?"
"Ha yeah, I'm fine Dana." She starts to reassure her but Pip lets out a slight growl at the other girl, "Hey boy, it's ok. It's just the mean old lady who called you diseased from before."
Max manages to wriggle free from under him and stand up as the mean lady scowls at her and grumbles, "Hey, quit it with the old!" She lightens up quite quickly though, never missing an opportunity to tease the little doctor, "So, this is the dog from earlier then? Where's the blue haired girl you haven't stopped talking about all day? Or was she just someone you made up because you knew I would tease you for taking in another stray?"
Max opens her mouth to retort but suddenly hears, "PIPSQUEAK. WHERE HAVE YOU GONE YOU LIT-TLE... shit..." And turns around to see the blue haired girl in question coming to a stop with wide eyes.
Chloe, suddenly noticing Max, abruptly stops in her tracks and her shouting. She can feel her cheeks heating up out of embarrassment, not expecting to see her as she watches her stroke Pip and has an amused smile. Then she notices someone else with Max when the girl moves slightly and crosses her arms with a smirk on her face.
Chloe gets knocked back to her senses when Pip starts to whimper and nudge Max's hand when she doesn't continue to stroke and fuss over him, ‘like the attention seeking shit he is!’
Max laughs and bends down to start petting him and coo's, "Wowser, you really are a desperate boy and very needy, aren’t you? I think you need a girlfriend Pip."
Dana snorts a laugh at the comment and teases, "He's not the only one Max..." Who rolls her eyes at the girl as she continues, "At least I know you haven't completely lost your mind, just your keys and you're not just seeing imaginary blue haired girls.”
Hearing this, Chloe’s eyebrows raise as Max stands up and retorts, "Oh, shut it! And I'm not crazy, thank you very much, no matter what you lot keep saying. I have not limited to; PHD’s, Masters, not all of them in medicine either and passed everything with honors and this," The young doctor points to her head, "is a very perfectly fine-tuned instrument and completely on the ball. I couldn’t be head surgeon or head at the hospital otherwise." She ends with a smirk at the other girl.
‘Oh my god, wow! Is Max a doctor or something?’ Chloe questions to herself in awe. ‘She must be really smart. But she also seems so young, not that I actually know how old Max is.’ It makes her want to know more about this girl because she seems really interesting. ‘And if she is a doctor, it would be a first for me to find one so young, nice and incredibly hot. All the ones I’ve ever had the unpleasant time meeting, were really old, cranky and never seemed to have time for me.’
Dana waves Max off, "Oh please, Maxine! Everyone knows crazy and genius are two sides of the same coin. And I'm sorry, but you are also a complete space cadet."
They share a laugh and Chloe finds herself smiling a little too because she may not really know Max, but did think she was crazy and she also spaced out a lot as well.
Max turns from the teasing dork, and looks to the other girl with a warm smile, "It's nice to see you again Chloe, and don't worry, I didn't coax Pip out with my bag of goodies."
That makes the blue haired girl laugh as she retorts, "Yeah, I dunno Max, this is the second time now I've found you with my dog."
Max rolls her eyes but still with the same warm smile, "Don't you start, I get enough of that from this one.” She points her thumb to Dana. “And Pip actually jumped me, scared me shitless, didn't you boy?" And she begins to fuss over him again.
Pipsqueak laps it up, like he hasn’t ever had attention before, ‘the little shit!’ as Chloe watches amused and can't help chuckling.
Dana looks to the faded blue haired girl and says, "So, you must be this Chloe? I'm Dana, a long-suffering friend of Max's."
Chloe’s eyebrows raise in surprise and she starts to ask, "I, yeah I am. How erm do—"
But she doesn’t get to finish as Dana cuts her off, eager to embarrass the little doctor anyway she can, "Well Max here, hasn't stopped talking about you all day and..." Chloe feels herself blush a little at this and glances at Max. Who is not paying attention or more precisely trying not to and continues to fuss over Pip as Dana carries on talking, "She said she met this really cool girl, amongst other words, in the alley today. It's very unlike Max to get excited over anything other than work or her pets. But you, she couldn't seem to stop—"
Having been embarrassed enough by Dana’s big mouth, Max hastily cuts her off, "Ok Dana, I think Rachel will be wondering where you are by now. And unless you want to be put on call instead of enjoying your weekend break with her. I would probably get going."
Dana narrows her eyes at the girl and the threat, "You so wouldn't?"
Max smirks and asks teasingly, "Wouldn't I?"
"And after I have been chauffeuring you around all these times. What do I get? The mean ass boss and her idle threats to stop me from seeing my girlfriend on her birthday." Dana grumbles with a playful pout.
Max, suitably amused by her, questions, "Mean! Have we not already discovered that I've been covering your lazy ass while you were sleeping on the job, instead of looking after your patients?"
Dana quickly changes tact and smiles sweetly, "Like I said Max, you are the best boss anyone could ever have and Rachel and myself are also very grateful for you as well."
Max laughs and even Chloe does at the other girl’s sudden change.
The young doctor waves the grovelling girl off, "Yeah yeah. Save the sweet talk for your woman. And I hope you have a nice time on your weekend break. Don't forget the hotel is under Amberward and everything is all paid for? The car will pick you up at 08:30 and will be there to take you anywhere you want to go, for the whole weekend, ok?"
Dana softens up and gives the sweet little doc a genuine smile and a hug, "Thank you Max, for giving us this and I know she is going to love it. You really are the best ever!”
Max laughs, with embarrassment at the genuine gratefulness, and pats Dana’s back then pulls out of the hug, "Ok ok. Get going or I won't hear the last of it from Rachel at how I am constantly keeping you from her. Ugh and also I’ve got to get at least an hour or three before I'm back at work."
When Chloe hears that last part it actually makes her a little sad that Max is not going to be able to stick around. She was hoping they could maybe hangout for a bit and get to know each other.
Dana turns from Max and looks to the slightly crestfallen girl, "It was nice to meet you Chloe." She gives her a small wave as she heads back to her car, "I hope I'll see you around and maybe you'll come out with us for a drink or around Max's when we pile into hers."
That makes Chloe feel a little shy but nice too at this girl being really accepting of her and inviting her in. “Um, y-yeah, thanks Dana, that's kind of you." And then watches the girl as she gets in her car and drives off down the road.
Max turns back to Chloe and with a smile says, "Sorry about Dana, she is, let’s just say, an acquired taste."
She watches as Chloe starts to giggle with what she said. ‘She is really cute when she does that. And seems so different, like soft and warm.’ Max thinks, feeling a flutter in her stomach.
"Nah, it's all good Max, she seems cool."
"Yeah, I suppose she can be ok. Especially if you constantly keep losing your keys." Max says with a chuckle, and yet, feels incredibly grateful to have such a good friend as Dana.
Chloe just stares at Max when she laughs. It gives her this funny feeling in her gut and a warmth throughout as she smiles.
Both girls stay like this for a little longer just looking at each other but it doesn't feel weird or anything to them, it's nice. Well until Pip interrupts the moment as he seems to do every time.
Max laughs, "Oh, you are just too much. Does Chloe not give you enough attention? You poor deprived thing."
Pip barks happily and sucks up as much of the attention as he can.
Chloe rolls her eyes at him, "He gets plenty of attention from me. He’s just a horn-dog for you..." But Chloe knows why he is and she’s kinda jealous of him, if she’s honest with herself. Getting all those strokes and hugs from Max. That kind of physical contact is something she’s never really had. ‘It looks really nice though and something I wouldn’t mind experiencing.’ She sighs and tries to change her thoughts and instead focus on something she can have, and that’s to speak with this incredibly cute girl. "And he doesn't act like that with no-one else. He really doesn't like others. He’s kinda like me in those ways."
Max looks at Chloe when she says that last part. It makes her feel sad and wonder what she has been through. "Do you not like other people?"
Chloe shrugs awkwardly, "I'm just better off on my own and people can't screw me over. I don't really want to have anyone else around me."
Max averts her eyes from the other girl when she says that and quietly begins to say with guilt, "Oh erm... I’m very sorry if I’ve made you feel, I don't know, uncomfortable or anything. I sort of just invaded your life and I didn't think, sorry. I um can—"
"What no! I didn't mean you,” Chloe very quickly cuts in, "I don't want you to think that... it's been so nice meeting you, really nice in fact. And you treated me like a person, not just some shitty piece of trash as everyone else has..." She trails off from her ramble that she was getting quieter and quieter through, feeling embarrassed and awkward. She’s not shown her vulnerable side in so long and it makes her feel weird.
Max blushes a little from what was said and quietly tells the sweet girl opposite her, unable to keep eye contact, "It's been really nice meeting you too Chloe. And you are definitely not a shitty piece of trash, whatsoever." She takes a breath before making sure to look her in the eye, "I say fuck those who think that, they don't deserve to know you!”
When Max ends her little awkward speech both girls go back to just gazing at each other again.
Chloe can feel this warmth burst through her body from the sincerity of what Max said and the gentle smile she is giving her. ‘This kind of genuinely nice persona is something I’ve not felt in so long and I almost don’t remember it.’ But it feels good, she knows that, really good and she wants to keep it. Yet it also scares her as well because she knows that's where the feelings of pain and hurt come from too.
While Chloe has this internal fight to either shove these feelings away or embrace them, she sees Max try to stifle a small yawn. It’s then that she remembers the girl needs to get some sleep before she has to go back to work.
So, with a heavy feeling baring down on her, she suggests, "Max, you should probably go and get some rest because you have to be back at work soon, right?" And she feels her smile fade.
Max shakes her head to wake her brain up and answer Chloe, "Hmm... Oh, I'm so sorry, that was really rude. I do yes have to be back at the hospital in a few hours, but I’ve got to take my dog out for a walk and I am starving too..." She pauses and averts her eyes, thinking of whether to ask the next thing or not, but before she knows it she’s already speaking, "I, would you like to join me? I mean, you don't have to, but I would really enjoy you-the company."
Chloe can’t contain the huge smile that appears on her face and the little bounce she does as she instantly replies, "Really? That would be so awesome Max... thank you..." But she feels herself becoming shier as she says the next bit, "And thank you for the food and drink earlier. You didn't need to do that or the actually being kind to me full stop. But I'm glad you lost your keys and it started raining, so you ended up in the alleyway."
Max looks at Chloe with the widest smile and gleaming eyes as she says, “I'm very glad all of that happened too and you were in the alley I took shelter in. So, thank you strange blue haired trash dweller."
It makes the ‘Blue haired trash dweller’ laugh loudly when Max calls her that. Chloe knows she's not saying it in a negative way. It actually sounded really affectionate and she can’t help blurting out, "You're very welcome crazy hot girl."
They both laugh at that as the extremely excited doctor then says, "Right, let me get my dog and then we’ll go."
Max turns around and hurries to the apartment building. Just before she goes through the front doors she glances back and sees Chloe still gazing at her with this gentle smile. She cannot keep the smile off of her own face and feeling this warm tingly sensation going through her whole body.
“Yeah, it was definitely the best rainy day to lose my keys on...” Max whispers to herself as she hurries to her room so she can get back to Chloe...