A/N: Hey guys, Joeker here with another story, this one is co-written with my other best friend Lee, yes we both star in it, using last names of our friends instead etc. the fucking publisher won't let me add two OC characters so this is a JulietxOC story as well just in case you need to know. This story is also British. Very British. Scouse in fact, so look up the accent if you don't know what it sounds like. Image credit goes to DemonLeon3D. That's all, thank you.
Life is Messed Up, Part 1: Life Without You
Chapter 1: Welcome to Arcadia Bay
As Maxine Caulfield sat in the Two Whales Diner, in the booth her and Chloe shared in the short few days they had together(short?! she kept rewinding so it must accumulate to at least two weeks!) and thought hard, about everything, she had spent 5 days with Chloe, 5 days: in a world nobody but her knew existed, was it a blessing, a curse? Both? Neither? She didn't know. All she knew was her friend was at peace, and she was glad of that.
"Honey? Are you... Ok?" Asked Joyce.
"Huh? Oh, hey Joyce, I'm fine, sad... But fine." Answered Max as honestly as she could.
"Well, you just come to David or me if you need anything darlin' you hear?" She asked Max.
"I know, thanks Joyce, I'll come straight to you or David, thanks." Smiled Max as Joyce was called over by a customer.
'Well, back to the norm I guess, Max Caulfield vs. The Universe.' She thought to herself as she finished her coffee, life was good, Nathan was facing a murder charge, Jefferson was in prison and Kate was alive and well, and the Boretex Club not being complete douches was a plus as well. Although she had lost her best friend, Max had never been so content with life. Except when Chloe and her used to chill on Chloe's bed and talk, or just... Lie there. Thinking.
Max got up to leave but Joyce stopped her in her tracks to speak to her.
"Look, I know it's not the best time, but you need a friend right now, there's a foreign exchange happenin' tomorrow. Students from all over the world'll be here, but the focus is Britain, Blackwell wants their honest opinion of our education system, they're arriving by bus tomorra, the Principle's probably gonna announce it as a surprise, but get here at about 6:30 and they'll be here havin' breakfast. You'll get ta meet em' first and get a sneak peek." Smiled Joyce.
"You know what? That sounds great, I'll be here." Nodded Max as she left to go back to her dorm.
Nothing of interest happened throughout the rest of the day, she hung with Alyssa, Brooke and Warren, who had gotten together. Brooke finally worked up the courage to ask him out and he accepted! Max was super happy for both of them, Stella and Daniel had actually gotten together, life was surprisingly working out well.
…
-The next day-
Max woke at 6:00 and began her walk to the diner as no buses ran at that time, by the time she got there it was about 6:45, she entered the diner to find it mostly empty apart form Joyce.
"Oh, did I miss them?" She asked, but saw Joyce look past her, she turned and almost jumped when she found two boys standing there, one was slightly chubby, white with an afro... Ughh… She wasn't sure how she felt about that. He had a dark yellow and black striped hoodie, jeans with red Slazenger shoes.
The other boy was almost the opposite: tall, muscular, light black hair that was spiked, deep blue eyes, Adidas backpack on, a black Nike hoodie with the hood up, black tracksuit pants and black Nike trainers. She couldn't make out his face because of the hood he had on.
"Err, scuse me love? You're in our way." Said the chubby one, she heard they were scouse, whatever that meant.
"Oh, sorry." She said and quickly moved.
"It's OK, no 'arm done." He said, they moved past her, the other seemed quiet, he gestured to Max's usual booth and they sat down. The quiet one seemed to have a limp, it didn't make him that slow and wasn't all that noticeable unless you paid attention, and Max always did.
"So that's them? What about the others?" Asked Max.
"Ask 'em." Said Joyce with a shrug.
"Ahh, this is cosy, much better than our shit cafes, bars and restaurants." Said the chubby one, obviously the talker. Max walked over, unsure what to expect.
"Umm, excuse me?" She asked, the quiet one never spared a glance, but the chubby one looked over to her with a look of question, she used chubby lightly, he was slightly overweight she'd say.
"Yeah? We in your seat?" He asked.
"Kinda, but that's not-" He started.
"Oh look 'ere lad, we're in the Princesses seat." He said to his friend, wow, what a dick.
Suddenly, something unexpected happened, the quiet boy slapped his friend across the face.
"Talk like a bitch, get hit like a bitch." He muttered, she could barely make it out.
"Sorry lad, just nervous bein' in a new place. Ear yarr, 'ere's ya seat back.." It sounded like he said here ya are but bunched into two words instead of three. They both got up and moved, Max still couldn't see his face and he didn't look at her.
"Actually, I wanted to ask where the others are." Explained Max.
"Oh, the others? Nah, they're not comin'." He said.
"What? Why?" she asked.
"Dunno, soz, they apparently got a better offer from another school. Disappointed? Sorry, you're stuck with us." Chuckled the bigger one. Truthfully, she was glad there wouldn't be so many people on campus.
She sat down as Joyce walked over to them, the big one wolf whistled.
"Sup love? You're lookin' pretty, whats yer name?" He asked.
"I'm Joyce." She greeted, Max looked at her and saw her blush.
"I'll introduce meself later, after we're settled in, k?" He asked, she nodded. "Sweet! OK... Nothin' beats cheese an beans on toast for brekkie." He said.
She heard nothing from the other, but she managed to twist her neck enough to see him point at an item, she nodded and he nodded back and Max caught a smile directed at Joyce, but nothing else.
Joyce walked away and called their order.
"Really lad? Bacon, eggs and sausage? bacon crispy, eggs scrambled and sausage not over done?" She glanced the big one shaking his head a little, did the quiet one just order her favorite?