A/N: This is a re-write of the story I started a while back. While outlining the rest of the chapters I ended up with a far more fun story than what I had planned, and since I wasn't able to work it into what I had already posted I decided to simply start over.
So, some changes from the game. First, no storm; it's not fully out of the question, but for now the story's taking me to other places. Second, some of the events in the game (parties, the contest, etc.) are a bit later, in order to work for the story. Third, Max's powers are a wee more limited; the way I see it, the more her powers evolve the more shit gets wrecked (rewind time = snow, stop time = eclipse, picture time travel = whales) so I'm taking that into consideration also.
And that's it for now. Since the beginning is mostly the same I'll be posting the first two chapters at once. Please enjoy and let me know what you think.
…...
Picking Up the Slack
Part 1: Kate Marsh
Chapter 1: The Two Maxes
Maximilian decided he'd reached the meeting place too early. To pass the time he looked at the news board, the same upcoming events and club invites, framed by the ever-present 'missing person' posters of Rachel Amber.
After a while he saw her, the slim brown-haired girl with blue eyes and freckles, wearing the usual jeans, random logo shirt, and trusty satchel. She was wearing headphones, shielding herself for the world.
"Hi, Max," he greeted the girl when she joined him.
"Hi, Max," she said back, smiling in amusement. "Do we go to class already?"
"Of course, we A-plus students should always be there early."
Max Bennett had met Max Caulfield on their first of class. The two, not knowing anyone, began hanging out, especially after discovering they were both called Max. Their arrangement, born out of need, eventually grew into a deep friendship.
"Did you look up the photos I told you about?" the girl asked him.
"I did," he thought back to the Mark Jefferson: Black and White articles he'd read last night.
"Awesomesauce, right?" she asked excitedly "They make you want to get into photography!"
"Yeah..."
"You don't sound too convinced," Max narrowed her eyes and leaned closer.
Thankfully, they reached the classroom before he had to answer. They bumped fists at the door, then each headed for their seats; Max sat on the desk on the back of the room, while he sat next to the pretty, pixie-cut blonde girl in the expensive clothes.
"Hey, Maximilian," she flashed him a smile that would melt anyone.
"Hey, Victoria," he smiled politely. After knowing her for three weeks, he was sure he didn't like the girl, and was even more sure he didn't want her as an enemy. "How was your weekend?"
"Amazing, of course," she replied. "You missed Friday's party."
"Family stuff," he lied, suppressing a bitter laugh.
"Shame, it was really... entertaining," the girl said, laughing along her friends and, he noticed, glancing at Kate Marsh.
Maximilian looked at the girl, busy drawing on her notebook. He met her when he and Max were checking out the clubs and found the Bible Study one; he wasn't really into religion, but he liked her sweetness and earnestness.
But, as he studied her, he found none of that. Her clothes were wrinkled and dirty, as if she hadn't changed in days; her bun was coming undone, blonde hair spilling on her pale skin. As if sensing his gaze on her she briefly looked up, and he saw her hazel eyes were red and had bags under them.
What happened to her?
"Welcome, everybody," Mr. Jefferson walked into the classroom, oozing out confidence, and Maximilian readied himself for another round of the Language of Photography.
…...
A million years later the bell finally rang.
"And please don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the 'Everyday Heroes' contest is this Friday," Mr. Jefferson announced. "I'll fly out with the winner..."
"Are you doing anything this afternoon, Maximilian?" Victoria turned to him. "We're having a little get-together and you should join us."
I'd rather not, Victoria, he thought. "Sure." But I can only turn down so many invitations.
"Awesome, I'll send you a text," she flashed him another winner smile before going off to flirt with Mr. Jefferson. He left his desk and hurried to where Max was.
"Everything okay?" he asked.
"Yeah..." she said, her voice distant as she packed her things slowly, as if in a trance. Since the freak out she had earlier, Max had been acting really strange.
Without another word she left him, looking at everything like she was dreaming. Mr. Jefferson called her, but she didn't seem to hear him as she walked out of the classroom.
Maximilian wondered what was happening when Kate walked past him, looking to the floor. He hesitated, then followed her.
"Max Bennett, I'm not letting you run away too," the teacher called.
"Now's not a good time, sir," he apologized. "I'll come by later."
He left the classroom and quickly scanned the hallway. To his left he found Kate, already a good distance away, scurrying away and flinching when anyone pointed at her. He took off running.
"Hey, Kate," he caught up to her. "Is everything all right? I haven't seen you since Friday."
She turned to him avoiding his eyes, and froze in place. He stared at her notebook and the dark drawings she'd made; angels covered in blood and trees with gallows, accompanied by words like WASTE and SO LONELY.
"What happened?" he found his voice after a long moment.
"You really don't know?"
"About what?"
Kate looked up, finally meeting his eyes. She studied him for seemly hours, and a sad smile crossed her face. "Bless you, Max," she said just as the fire alarm went off.
The two followed everyone out of the building. Outside Kate headed for the fountain, Maximilian right next to her.
"Max, I'm sorry," she said softly. "But I'd like to be alone today."
"All right," he simply said.
He sat on the edge of the fountain and watched her go. First Max and now Kate, he thought. What's going on today?
"Max!"
He snapped out of his thoughts and saw Max running toward him. Where she was zoned out in class, now she was frantic.
"I need to talk to you," she looked around. "Something crazy happened."