Chloe & Max
Max waited. Despite the constant flurry of activity around them, the loud music and voices, everything seemed to go quiet and still for Max. She knew Chloe could easily brush off the remark as a joke and nothing more. Part of her expected Chloe to do just that, but then Chloe didn't answer right away. Instead, she threw the dart, taking a moment to seemingly gather up her courage before responding to Max.
When Chloe spoke, there was not a hint of joking in her voice. Max swallowed, feeling heat rush her cheeks with each syllable Chloe spoke. She did love her. In fact, she said she loved her for a long time. Max's heart beat heavily in her chest.
"I wasn't expecting-I-" Max broke off. No, part of her had expected it to be a joke, but there was a part of her, the biggest part, that was glad it was for real. "I love you too, Chloe. I have for a long time," Max finished, knowing she sounded lame, but unable to keep from doing so.