david comes home

Before the girls could continue they heard the door open and close from downstairs. They all stood up, wondering what was going on. They ran to the stairs and saw David enter. He looked kind of beaten, but he was alive. “Chloe! Rachel! Max! Come down here!”

They noticed that David wasn’t alone either. A rather shaken Victoria Chase followed behind. The girls rushed down the stairs. Victoria looked like she had seen a ghost. Max looked guilty. Sure, Victoria was the cause of most of her... suffering... but she didn’t deserve something like that. No one did. “What happened?” Rachel asked.

David took a deep breath. “We got there in time. Jefferson put up a fight, but we nailed him as well. Thank you, Max. For telling me when you had the chance.”

“Thank Rachel,” Max said. “It’s because of her we knew it at all.”

“Either way, we were able to get there before anymore harm was done,” David said. “Please take Ms. Chase here and help her out. I need to talk with Joyce for a moment. You girls can stay in Chloe’s room. I’ll be up in a few minutes to talk.”

The girls nodded as they all headed up the stairs while David headed outside. The girls all sat down, awkwardly. Victoria didn’t look at the others as she sat awkwardly by the desk. “So...” Chloe said.

“So what now?” Rachel said.

Victoria didn’t say anything as she continued to be more interested in her feet. “Victoria,” Max said softly.

“Don’t even, Max,” Victoria snapped. “I was horrible to you. All of you. And you... why?”

“No one deserves that,” Rachel said. “Not even you Vicky.”

Victoria sighed. “I thought... I thought he liked me. Not like LIKE me but you know... favored me. I didn’t expect... to be... like that...”

“I don’t think anyone ever does,” Max said.

“I feel so... wrong,” Victoria said. “I don’t even know what to say. Thank you. All of you. I’m... sorry. I’ve been terrible.”

“Come on, Victoria,” Max said. “You’re not that bad. Let’s just call a truce and maybe we can still be friends.”

“Really?” Victoria said.

“We’ll see,” Max said. “Baby steps.”

Victoria nodded. “After you saved my life... I’d take that. Now, what have you all been up to? What’s this hat here?”

All three girls turned bright red as Victoria peered inside the hat. “Just a little game... do you want to have a go?” Rachel asked. “There’s a bunch of dares written down. Pull one out.”

Victoria raised an eyebrow and shrugged, reaching in and pulling out a card. She read it and gasped, face turning red. “Do I have to do this?”

“It is a dare,” Max said. “What does it say?”