Hey guys, new story for you all. Again, Tyler is joining me for this endeavour as co-author. It'll be a little different from our other works (such as Butterfly Wings and Throwing Out the Script) and it'll become apparent early on how.
Chapter One: Awakening
Max's POV - Seattle - Caulfield House - Max's Room - Early September
Today was the day I would finally be moving into the dorms at Blackwell Academy, returning to my childhood town of Arcadia Bay. Something told me that it would be the same old place, maybe more rundown. Kind of like me. The same, just older. As usual, I left some of my packing to the last minute, not the wisest of decisions in hindsight. Thankfully, mom and dad had been gradually packing the bigger items away. Unlike me, they were organized. Had it been left up to me, I'd have under packed. Although, maybe what I had now was a little too much. It wasn't like I couldn't get smaller things in Arcadia.
One thing I had spent a lot of time doing was sorting out photos. It was tough to narrow down, but after days of deliberation I managed it. While searching through, I found an old photo of me in my early teens alongside my childhood friend, Chloe Price, both of us dressed as pirates. A pang of guilt entered the pit of my stomach as I came across the photo. It had been five years since I saw her and we didn't part on the best of terms. My move to Seattle couldn't have come at a worse time, so soon after her dad's death. What was she up to now? Was she even in Arcadia anymore? Did she hate me? All questions I might never know the answer to now. Unable to leave the photo behind, I stashed it between the pages of my journal as a bittersweet reminder. Now was not the time for sentimentality and regret.
Sighing, I took a box off the top of the pile and left it at the bottom of the stairs. I had to admit, it was pretty exciting if a little nerve-wracking. Finally, I was going to take my love of photography seriously. Blackwell Academy was about the best place, especially since Mark Jefferson was going to be teaching there. Of course, knowing that such an amazing photographer would see and grade my work was a bit daunting. Sure, I liked taking pictures but that didn't mean I was any good. Parents and friends saying they were good wasn't the same as a real photographer, one I looked up to.
That wasn't the only thing I had to worry about. I had never been the most outgoing person, understatement, more of a loner/social outcast type. In Seattle, I had my small group of friends but in Arcadia… that was basically starting over again. Other than Chloe, if she was still around, I wouldn't know anyone. One thing was almost certain, I wouldn't be best buddies with the popular group. I never had been and probably never would be. Too dorky and weird for that, nowhere near stylish enough or bothered about the typical teenage drama. Hopefully, I would just fade into the background like usual and not draw attention to myself. That was the plan, anyway.
Taking a last look around my much emptier room, I grabbed the last box and brought it down to the car. From here on out, my life would be very different. This was the first time I would be away from home for longer than a day or two on my own. Not only that, but it wasn't like I could just come back whenever I wanted. The journey would take a good few hours to make. Homesickness was inevitable but it would all be worth it.
Dad managed to fit the last box in the trunk somehow, struggling to shut it. "Don't think I've ever seen the car so packed. Definitely a new Caulfield record."
I turned to face my mom, smiling as I jabbed my thumb in her direction. "Blame mom for that. She's literally made sure I'm ready for any eventuality."
She shook her head, sighing softly. "You'll thank me later. You do need more than one set of clothes, despite what you may think, Maxine."
Groaning at the use of my full name, I corrected her. "I don't know about that, and it's Max, mom…"
Mom looked on with a hint of disapproval at my worn, gray hoodie. "Right, right. Well, you can't live in that hoodie for the rest of your life."
"That sounds like a challenge. Besides, I like my hoodie." I played with the slightly chewed hood pulleys. As a rule, I wore clothes to death.
Dad chuckled at our mini dispute. "Vanessa, don't encourage her. You know how stubborn our Max can be."
"Yes, I do all too well."
I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes defiantly. "Mom, I'm nearly eighteen now. I can micro-manage myself."
"I don't know if I'd go that far," dad interrupted.
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence…" I rolled my eyes at them, acting more frustrated than I actually felt.
Mom moved in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders. "We just worry, Max. No matter how old you get, you'll still be our little girl."
"The house is going to be quiet without you… not that it isn't when you are here." Dad grinned broadly, pleased with himself. True, I was pretty quiet.
"Ha, ha." My fake laughter just made his grin widen. "At least I'll escape the dad jokes, if you can call them jokes."
"And I'll have to put up with them twice as much," mom added, not sounding overly happy about that reality.
"You'll miss them. Guess I'll just save them all up for when you call or come visit," dad promised, something I didn't doubt for even a second.
"Lucky me… anyway, shall we get going?" A mixture of nerves and excitement washed over me at the prospect of actually getting underway.
"Sure you have everything you need?" mom asked for the fifth time today, only slightly altering her wording.
"Yes, I double checked and you've been triple checking everything too. Important thing's my camera." I lightly patted the bag slung over my shoulder, feeling my prized possession under the fabric.
"That's my daughter. Prioritizing her camera over clothes and makeup. Even her phone… which was left on the kitchen table." Dad held it up for me to see, smirking smugly as he handed it over.
I took the phone, shoving it in my pocket with a sheepish smile. "Oh… well, I have everything now…"
Clearly not overly confident about my packing skills, mom let out a sigh. "Let's hope so. As much as we love you, I don't fancy another half day trip to and from Seattle."
"I second that motion," dad agreed, only half-joking.
"I'm really feeling the love…"
Walking towards the driver's side, dad motioned with his hand for us to follow. "Come on, then. We have a long drive ahead of us."
We all piled into the car, which was a tight fit with my stuff squeezed into the back. Some of it had to go on the other back seat. After belting up, we began the ride to Oregon, Arcadia Bay more specifically. Keeping one ear free, I put an earbud in and started up a playlist crammed full of indie classics. Quickly exhausting the typical car games, I watched the scenery speed past through the window. Since I didn't get much sleep last night, my eyelids felt heavy and I soon found myself drifting into a light sleep. When my eyes opened again, a couple of hours had passed. Maybe my nap had been deeper than I thought.
"Ah, is Sleeping Beauty awake again?" Dad looked back at me through the mirror, grinning.
Mom glanced over her shoulder. "You always did like having a nap when traveling, ever since you were little."
"Helps pass the time," I mentioned through a yawn.
As my eyes were getting adjusted to the light, something caught my attention in the side mirror. A car going faster than it probably should coming up behind us. That might not have normally been an issue, except we were coming up for a sharp bend and the car didn't seem to have any intention of stopping. Maybe I was worrying too much, surely nobody was that stupid, and dad had probably seen it by now… or so I thought.
The next few moments happened in bullet time. To my horror, the car behind tried to overtake just as another was rounding the corner on the other side. It was too late for anyone to react, a collision imminent. My blood ran cold as I realized what was about to happen, and I was unable to do anything about it. At this rate… nobody would survive. Panicked, I thrust my hand instinctively to brace myself for impact, closing my eyes tight. The crash never came. Confused, I opened my eyes to find us halfway down the road again.
"Ah, is Sleeping Beauty awake again?" My dad repeated, smiling once more.
Just as before, mom looked back at me. "You always did like having a nap when traveling, ever since you were little."
Too stunned to speak, I sat there trying to make sense of this. Seconds ago, we were about to crash and now… was that a dream? A vision? I twisted around, seeing the same car speeding behind us. The bend was coming up very soon, only a few seconds now.
Not wanting to risk it and seriously panicking now, I shouted as loudly as I could while pointing. "Dad, look out! To the side!"
This time, he noticed the car coming up beside him and the other creeping around the bend. He swerved at the last second, avoiding the brunt of the impact instead leaving the road and crashing into a nearby tree. Glass smashed, metal crumpled, air hissed. My ears rang, shockwaves pulsing through my body and vision going blurry. I screamed in pain as I felt something rip up through my coat and shirt to pierce the skin. Something warm oozed from the newly created wound, what I could only assume to be blood. Short, sharp bursts of pain ran along my face as slivers of glass struck my cheeks, forehead, and jaw, eyes shut tight. Arm popping loudly, dislocated maybe. Unable to withstand it all, I passed out, my world plunged into darkness.
Muffled voices, some kind of sawing noise, my body lifted. Distant sirens, maybe someone crying. A steady beeping...
Slowly, my eyes opened, immediately blinded by the white light. The next time I tried, I went more carefully, only opening them a fraction at a time. I didn't recognize where I was, although I could make a good guess from my surroundings. A hospital. Where… I had no idea. Last thing I could remember… the car behind us, dangerously trying to overtake. Then… nothing. How long had I been here? Hours, days, longer? It was all a blur.
I tried hard to piece it all together, gradually recalling the event. It had happened… twice. Yeah, I was sure of that. The first, we had nearly hit the other cars and the second… a tree, maybe? That didn't make sense. How could I remember two different outcomes of the same event? That wasn't even possible. Everything in life only happened once. You didn't get a redo. But… I had. For whatever reason, I got a second chance. How?
My… my hand. I thrust it out before the crash. That was the only thing I could think of aside from hoping that I had done just before the impact. My… which hand had it been? I looked down, seeing the bandages. There was one on my shoulder too and I vaguely remembered getting impaled by something. A couple of healing cuts and bruises were visible along the unbandaged parts of my arms, probably elsewhere too.
"What the…?" My voice came out croaky, throat dry. Just what the hell happened to me? Had I… saved us? Us… mom, dad… where were they? Not here. They were okay, right? They had to be. Starting to panic now, I tried to get up and failed miserably. A dull ache shot through my body, making me grit my teeth. Moving, not a good idea.
"Ah, I was wondering when you would finally grace us with your presence, Ms. Caulfield." An unfamiliar voice. I turned to see a man, dark hair, clean shaven and short, dressed like a doctor. That would make sense considering this was a hospital. "How are you feeling?"
"I… confused…" I managed, coughing after I choked these words out.
"Understandable." He approached the bed, coming to a stop about a foot away. "Do you remember why you're here?"
"Maybe? There was… a crash, I think. My… where are my parents?" I needed answers and soon.
The man offered a soothing smile, voice calm. "They are fine, Max. Minor injuries but nothing serious. Actually, I think you came off worse."
Letting out a sigh of relief, I relaxed a little. "Good… good…"
"You guys were lucky, hard to believe. It could have been a lot worse from what I've been told," the doctor revealed as he carried out a few basic checks.
"Was anyone else…?" I didn't dare finish the question, scared to find out.
"Injured? Yes. The driver who caused the accident. They are stable. As are the occupants of the other vehicle." He continued checking me over. "Like I said, could have been much worse."
That was some relief at least. Whatever I'd done, maybe it had made a difference. "How long have I been here?"
Finished with his check up, the doctor answered my question. "Coming up for two days now, hence why we were getting a little worried about you."
"Two days…" I repeated, taking the information in.
The doctor nodded, taking some water from a jug on the bedside table, helping me sit up to drink. "You'll have to stay a couple more before we can let you go. We have to make sure. Your parents should be making an appearance soon, I imagine. It's nearly visiting hours." With that, he left.
Sure enough, about ten minutes later my parents arrived, both looking exhausted and beat up. When they saw I was awake, they broke down and cried, giving me a bone crushing hug. Despite feeling weak, I matched their strength allowing my own tears to fall. When they could finally tear themselves away, they pulled up a seat either side.
Mom gently took hold of my right hand. "Oh, Max… I'm so glad you're awake."
"We thought…" dad sighed deeply, voice shaky. "So am I. You saved us all, Max. If you hadn't spotted that bastard coming up beside us… well, things would be worse for all involved."
"So I've been told." This was all so surreal. The more I thought about it, the more sure I was that the hand now held by my mom was the one I had thrown out in my blind panic. I stared at it, both grateful and… a little scared. If I had changed things, if I could do it again… what did that mean for me going forward?
Already some changes to the original story, with more to come. Have a great day and see you next time.