i.
That time Max was stuck on a rollercoaster with Nathan Prescott.
The scent of cotton candy, deep fried food, and popcorn fills the atmosphere as rides and kiosks slowly light up against the darkening sky. Thrilled screams intermingle with sound effects and cheers that radiate from game booths, echoing throughout the fairgrounds. Mechanized noises emanate as eager patrons line up to ride their favorite attractions. A continuous wave of people filters in and out of areas, always in motion, except for that one group that likes to stand in the middle and hinder the flow of traffic.
Step to the side, people. Geez.
Max sits with Kate and Brooke at a wooden picnic table while Warren waits in line for the bathroom. Brooke is passively checking her phone while Kate stares at the people passing by. Kate looks lovely with her soft features, especially while clutching her giant, pink teddy bear. Max can't help it when she reaches for her camera. She aims, clicks, and steals a perfect shot of Kate, who glances over at Max with wide eyes and a sweet smile.
"Thanks for inviting me, Max," Kate says kindly. "I'm having a good time today."
"Of course, Kate," Max replies. "It wouldn't be the same without you. I'm glad you're having fun."
Kate holds up her teddy bear. "I think I'll name her Strawberry."
Max gives Kate a warm smile. "That's a cute name."
"I'm surprised at how excellent your ring tossing skills are," Brooke chimes in. "Who would've guessed quiet Kate had an arm like that?"
Kate laughs, "I didn't know I had it in me either, but something inside me just clicked!"
The three girls turn their heads as Warren calls out to them from a distance. He waves his arms in a frantic gesture that signals them to come to him, while standing in the middle of a mobile crowd. Some people glare as he accidentally bumps into them. The dork.
"We better go to him before he gets ran over," Brooke says, amused.
The three of them head over to where Warren is idly stationed. Warren flashes them a cheeky grin. Brooke gives Warren a playful shove.
"Whoa, easy there!" Warren says. "Don't maul me."
"You're in everyone's way," Brooke says matter-of-factly. "Move."
"Alright, alright," Warren says in defeat. He starts walking, his face lighting up like a shining beacon. "I'm just so excited to ride Rainbow Road! It's supposed to look awesome at night. And it's supposed to be insane. The upwards launch is incredibly fast. The drop is supposed to be really steep and inverted. And there's tons of sharp turns and crazy loops. Plus Mario Kart sound effects and three laps, just like the games! I'm mega hyped you guys."
Kate squeezes Strawberry, apprehensive. "Guys," she says hesitantly, "I think I'm gonna sit this one out. It might just be too much for me." She gives everyone a sheepish smile.
"Aw c'mon, Kate," Warren pleads. "It's gonna be so much fun!"
"No thanks," Kate insists politely but firmly. "I'll just wait for you guys by the exit."
"Oh alright," Warren says. "But you're gonna totally miss out."
"Maybe next time," Max intervenes, elbowing Warren gently. "Let's not force her, okay?"
The sun has set completely. The entire park is illuminated by dazzling lights, an iridescent nighttime wonderland. The entrance for the ride is a giant, circular arch that is decorated with stars of varying colors. A multicolored sign reading Mario Kart: Rainbow Road! hangs just below the arch. The rollercoaster track in the distance is a glowing, rainbow gradient. It all looks beautiful lit up against the starry sky.
Rather than sitting on the nearby benches, Kate decides to enter the ride's gift shop. She takes Max's and Brooke's bags, telling them it is no trouble at all. Warren heavily suggests she keep an eye out for their ride photo so she can take a picture of it with her phone. Kate waves goodbye to Max, Warren, and Brooke before entering with Strawberry. Warren eagerly runs ahead of Max and Brooke to catch a spot in line. They run after him, not wanting to be left behind, and not wanting to have to cut other people just to reach him.
"Thanks for waiting," Brooke says sarcastically. She crosses her arms. "Way to leave behind your party."
"Sorry guys," Warren says, chuckling. "I'm just so excited!"
"We can tell," Max adds, a small smile upon her lips.
The wait is about an hour, which isn't too bad considering how popular the ride is. The queue is so crowded that everyone except the three of them begin to coalesce. The three of them chat amongst themselves. Warren and Brooke talk about nerdy things only they would understand, but Max pipes in every once in awhile when she recognizes something. Warren does his best to include Max in the conversation, but sometimes geeks out and goes off on a tangent.
After a few more people, they finally reach the passenger assignment area. A male crew member smiles as they approach. "How many in your party?" he asks.
"Three," Warren says on their behalf.
"Each car can only fit two," the crew member tells them. "One of you has to ride by yourself; is that okay?"
Warren glances over at Max and Brooke with a nervous expression.
"That's fine, I'll do it," Max tells the crew member. Brooke attempts to mask her enthusiasm; the expression on Warren's face asserts his disappointment.
The crew member nods. "Rows four and five," he says.
The individual cars of the coaster's train each mimic a kart from the Mario Kart games. The walls of the boarding area are decked out with checkered flags. The starting line of the tracks are glowing, checkered tiles accompanied with a banner suspended above labeled Mario Kart. Two signal lights are posted below the banner. Warren practically jumps for joy at the attention to detail given to the entire attraction. Max must admit, it is quite gorgeous and rather authentic.
After the previous passengers exit, the gates in front open and the three of them each step into their respective cars. Max buckles her seatbelt and tightens the strap. Warren and Brooke's car is based off of Yoshi's Kart while Max's car is modeled after Daisy's.
A female crew member approaches Max. "Do you mind if a single rider rides with you?" she asks.
"Not at all," Max says, smiling pleasantly.
The crew member reciprocates the smile before turning to the people waiting in line. "Single rider!" she calls out. "We need one single rider!"
"Max!" Warren shouts in front of her. "You ready for this?"
Max grins. "Always. I love a good thrill."
"Well, well. If it isn't Max... Caulfield—is it? Didn't expect to see you here."
Max looks to her left to find Nathan Prescott moving towards the coaster car where she sits. He enters, fastens his seatbelt, and gives her a subtle smirk.
Max just stares at Nathan, bewildered. "I didn't expect to see you either," is her reply. "Where is the rest of the Vortex Club?"
"They've had enough rides for today," Nathan says, a bit salty. "But I couldn't miss out on this one."
Max had only seen Nathan every now and then at Blackwell, usually right beside Victoria and her minions. Wanting to minimize the amount of drama as much as possible, Max hadn't gotten herself entangled with the likes of them. Thankfully, she never had any reason to. Victoria would throw shade her way on occasion, and even directly insult her and her photography. Warren would mention some of the shit he gets from Nathan from time to time, but he would always reassure her that he can handle himself and that it was all "no big deal." But nothing ever escalated, no fights broke out, and Max preferred to keep it that way.
"Hate to break it to you, Caulfield," Nathan says smugly, "but selfie sticks aren't allowed on this ride."
"A selfie stick won't work on my camera," Max points out. She flashes a smile. "But I'm gonna do a really cool pose for the photo op."
Nathan sneers. "I forget you're stuck in the Stone Ages, little miss hipster. And don't make me laugh, Caulfield, you don't even know when the photo'll be taken."
A crew member walks up to them and pushes down the lap bar, locking it in place. The lap bar doesn't nearly come close to feeling tight and secure as Max would've expected. She tugs on the lap bar. It doesn't budge. Max stares at the gap between the bar and her belt. This ride is supposed to go upside down, right? That's what Warren said. And there aren't any overhead restraints to keep passengers from falling off?
She hears Nathan exhale deeply. "Caulfield?" he says, slight tension in his voice. "Do you feel safe?"
"No," Max admits, anxiety mounting. She can feel her heart beating through her chest. "Do you?"
"I don't know."
A male crew member's voice echoes throughout the boarding station. "All clear. Enjoy the ride."
The floor drops and the coaster moves towards the "starting line." Max grips the lap bar tightly, and Nathan does the same. The stoplights on both sides begin to count down. Top red light blinks on. Middle red light blinks on.
Max doesn't even get to see the bottom light flash green before the coaster launches at an incredible speed. Music begins to play in the speakers resting beside her head, along with the sound effects that Warren had predicted. She even hears character voices corresponding to their respective cars. The colors of the track swirl together as the coaster zooms across. The loops and inversions aren't as frightening as Max anticipated; the coaster is moving so fast that the momentum makes her feel a bit more secure.
It is indeed a magical ride. And like Warren had said, it seems as if they'll be getting three laps around the track. Max, feeling more at ease, releases her hold on the lap bar and puts her hands up in the air. She starts screaming heartily. It feels good to let loose and enjoy the ride. When the third lap begins, the music speeds up. Max swears she can hear Warren shout in front of her, "It's just like the games!" She grins. Damn, this is fun.
There is a screech of metal.
The coaster suddenly brakes, abruptly jerking everyone forward. It stops at the top of another hill, with a drop lying mere feet away. At first, people assume it's one of the ride's features. But when the music cuts off, the panic sets in. Except for the little kids, no one yells or cries out in terror. What is mostly heard are aggravated complaints of the mildly inconvenienced. A little girl whines. A mother demands compensation. A teenage boy mentions that this will be a story to tell his friends. Max won't lie; being stuck 150 feet in the air isn't the most calming experience in the world.
"Oh come on," she overhears Nathan say in exasperation. "This is such bullshit!"
"New rides often need tweaking," Max tells him loudly, making sure her voice carries over the distress of the other passengers. "We just got unlucky."
"Whatthefuckever. I'm gonna make sure my father files a lawsuit against the park," Nathan declares. He pounds his fists against the side of the car. "Jesus! I can't believe this had to happen!" He rocks his head in slow, circular motions. Nathan winces. He rubs the back of his neck and sighs. "My fucking neck! Shit!"
"Maybe you shouldn't move it around like that," Max warns. "You might make it worse. Wait until you can speak to a doctor or at the very least, ice it."
"Wow, Nurse Caulfield over here," Nathan says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He points a finger at her and raises his voice. "Do not tell me what to do. And don't even pretend like you care. I do not need that shit right now."
Asshole. Instead of replying, Max just leans back and soaks in the scenery. She is so not in the mood to start an argument with the King of Blackwell.
"Warren! Brooke!" Max calls out. "How are you two holding up?"
"Oh, we're just peachy," Brooke yells.
"How are you holding up, Max?" asks Warren.
"I'm fine," Max tells them. An icy wind sweeps by. "It's kinda cold, though."
"I know, right?" is Warren's reply. "This is such a bummer."
It could be worse. They could be stuck upside down, for starters. Or the train could have been derailed, crushing the lives of innocent bystanders while simultaneously killing the passengers within. Max shudders. Back to happy thoughts. Well, if they had to be stuck, this would be the most ideal place to be stuck at. Not only is the track stunning at night, but from where she's at, she has a killer view of the park. Max wishes she had her camera with her at the moment.
She does, however, have her phone in her pocket. Max scopes out her surroundings. It doesn't appear like they will be leaving any time soon. She reaches for her phone and takes a few shots of her environment. Then she flips the camera around on her phone and turns the flash on. Max poses profile, pretending to gaze out into the distance as she takes the shot. The flash catches her off-guard. When Max opens her phone to view the photos, she frowns at her selfie. Her face is scrunched up. Not what she was aiming for.
"Nice one, Caulfield," Nathan says, snickering. "That's gotta be your worst one yet. And that's saying something!"
Max resists the urge to roll her eyes. "Think you can take a better selfie than me, Prescott?" she asks nonchalantly. "They are my trade, after all."
Nathan leans forward in his seat and raises an eyebrow at her. "Are you challenging me, Caulfield?"
"I wasn't really."
Nathan scoffs, leans back, and turns away. "I'm not into that selfie shit anyways."
Max's phone vibrates. It's a message from Kate.
KATE: I heard the ride you guys are trying to go on got stuck. Are you guys heading back now?
MAX: Actually we're the ones that are stuck up there. Wave to us. It might be awhile.
KATE: Oh my goodness! I pray that everyone is safe.
MAX: Thank you. I bet you don't regret not joining us.
KATE: Not one bit. Strawberry and I will wait on the sidelines.
MAX: Guess what? My ride partner is Nathan Prescott. What are the odds?
KATE: I'll pray extra for you.
Max places her phone back into her pocket. She wishes that she could be stuck with more entertaining company. Actually, Nathan does intrigue her, even if it's simply due to the fact his world and his life are so vastly distinct from her own. It's also interesting getting someone else's perspective on art and photography. Too bad Nathan has to be such an ass about everything. It makes for rather challenging conversation, especially when it doesn't need to be.
"What's your art style like, Prescott?" Max asks, opting to be bold. She might as well make the most out of the situation. Max just hopes that she doesn't end up making him an enemy by the end of this. The cold shoulder is infinitely better than that.
Nathan snaps out of a distant trance. He shoots her a confused look. "Like you even care," he says in an icy tone.
"Maybe I do and maybe I don't," Max says, playing it cool. "But I'd rather pass the time talking than sitting around doing nothing. We're stuck. We can't get out of it, so we might as well, right? I'm not saying we have to be friends by the end of this."
Nathan laughs, taking Max by surprise. "Fair enough, Caulfield." He sits back and places his hands on his head, demonstrating composure for once. He flashes a strange look at her. "You seriously wanna see my photography? Coming from a girl who takes selfies all day, I bet you're only interested in yourself."
Max rolls her eyes. "I have an appreciation for all styles. I try to separate the art from the artist. I can't talk shit about a work if it's genuinely good. Try me."
"Jesus, you sound so pretentious," Nathan says. Regardless, he still reaches into his pockets and pulls out his phone. "Most of my stuff is on my computer, but I do have some things here that I can show you." Nathan rubs the back of his neck. His right leg is bouncing up and down. He hands Max his phone. "Just swipe left, and only left."
"Yeah, okay."
To Max's amazement, Nathan's photography is quite good. She had always assumed that Nathan got accepted into Blackwell on account of his family's donations, without any genuine talent backing him. No, this boy definitely has potential. The way he angles his shots and utilizes black and white contrast conveys a darker tone for most of his images. His theme and style remain consistent throughout his works. The subjects of his photographs range from solemn to almost disturbing, but he handles it with a certain finesse. Impressive.
Max smiles and turns to Nathan, who is fiddling with his hands and looking straight ahead. "They're really cool," she tells him. Nathan glances over as she hands him back his phone. "I think the way you capture your subjects is hauntingly beautiful. I must admit; some of them are a bit eerie. But I didn't expect this kind of work from you."
Nathan shoves his phone back into his pockets. "That's because you don't know shit about me." He releases a heavy sigh and runs a hand through his hair. He huffs. "It seems like everybody's got something to say. People just can't seem to keep their fucking mouths shut. Everyone thinks they got me figured out, but they don't. They all assume I can't do shit just because my family runs Arcadia Bay. But they don't know shit. I'm above them. I've got nothing to prove."
"When you're in charge of the Vortex Club, people can't help but be judgmental," Max points out. "You're right; it isn't fair for anyone to assume things about you and your life. But when you put yourself out there as someone who's running Blackwell, and when you harass other students… you can't blame them. You don't get to choose how people perceive you. You just have to portray yourself in way that you want to be seen."
"Fucking preacher over here," Nathan hisses. He glares at Max. "You are not the boss of me, Caulfield, got it?" Nathan grunts. His voice intensifies. "You can't control me!"
Max shifts uncomfortably in her seat, shaken by Nathan's sudden outburst. She breaks eye contact with him and chooses to stare out the side of the coaster car, admiring the brightly lit attractions below. Max clears her throat, a slight tremble in her voice. "I am not trying to control you, Nathan. I was just offering some input to your situation."
For an instant, Nathan's face softens. The moment swiftly fades, however, as Nathan's expression shifts back to its hardened state. "I don't need your advice, Maxine," he declares snidely. "You are not my friend. Your words mean nothing to me."
If her words really did mean nothing, then he wouldn't have reacted the way he did. A part of Max wants to bring out her inner sass, but another part urges her to bite her tongue. She opts to bite her tongue. It's probably for the best. But her inquisitive nature gets the better of her. Max glimpses at Nathan. "Prescott?" she asks cautiously.
"Holy shit, what is it now?"
The aggression in his voice almost convinces Max to back down. Almost. But she has already disturbed the lion from its slumber. She decides to pry. "How do you want people to see you?"
The question catches Nathan off-guard. His eyebrows narrow. He seems pensive, and most possibly irritated. "I don't have to fucking tell you," he finally says. He exhales. "Jesus, you sound like my goddamn therapist."
Nathan's eyes widen as the words slip out. He stares at Max. Max stares back. Her mouth is hung ajar. Max snaps out of her trance, her gaze still focused on Nathan. He too seems to be shaken out of his dumbstruck state; his expression contorts into something indefinable. "Shit! Forget I said that," Nathan says quickly. He lowers his eyebrows. "And if you start going around and telling people about my secret—"
"I won't tell a soul," Max tells him gently. "I promise. And there is nothing wrong with therapy. I think it's great you're getting help with whatever you need."
"Yeah, whateva," Nathan says. "Just keep your mouth shut if you know what's good for you."
God, this boy can be so… insufferable. And fickle. No matter how diplomatic Max is, she just can't win. Conversations with Victoria Chase are more preferable at this point, truly. At least Victoria doesn't snap at her the way Nathan does. Victoria may be Queen Bitch, but she doesn't frighten Max. She's merely stuck-up.
"Caulfield?" Nathan asks, his tone seeming more amicable.
Max glances over at him in awe. "Yeah?"
"How do you want people to see you?"
His words take her by surprise. Honestly, Max never really gives other people's opinions much consideration. Especially after dealing with the likes of Victoria Chase, Max is disconnected from what most people think of her and her photography. Of course, she highly values the concerns of her friends. And she does reflect upon what her instructors have to say. She sighs. It's a loaded question. Max feels stupid for even asking Nathan it in the first place.
"I guess I want people to like me," Max begins, unsure of how to respond. "But who doesn't? I mean, who wants to go through life being hated by everyone? But I'm also cool if they don't." She pauses. "I think I just want people to see me as a decent person. That's the gist of it, anyways."
Nathan's eyes remain fixated on Max. His lips are pursed together slightly. "Do you hate me?" he asks bluntly.
Max blinks. She contemplates for a little bit. "No," Max eventually says. "I can't say that I like you, Nathan Prescott. But I don't hate you."
They don't speak much after that.
It's perfect timing, because the fire department shortly arrives a few minutes later. A tall, mechanical ladder stretches out to the right side of the coaster and meets the first car on the train. The lap bars disengage. A male firefighter is at the top of the ladder, assisting the passengers in the first car onto the ladder. They begin the terrifying descent to reach solid ground. Max swallows. On one hand, she desperately awaits to be free from her elevated prison. On the other hand, she dreads the treacherous journey. One slip…
"That's a long way down," Max says to herself. She notices how fidgety Nathan has become. Max opens her mouth, wanting to say something to ease his mind, but stops herself. Nothing she tells Nathan will soothe him, of this Max is certain. It's better to say nothing than to say something that triggers a more extreme reaction. Bite. Your. Tongue.
An eternity has flown by when the ladder finally reaches Warren and Brooke. Warren is first. The firefighter reaches out to Warren and helps him onto the ladder.
"Don't fall," Brooke says, her face reflecting concern.
"Right," Warren replies. He gulps.
"Be safe," Max tells him sternly. "And don't look down."
Warren flashes a sheepish smile at Max. "No problem, Maximum Overdrive. I got this."
Brooke is next. She seems more unfazed in the face of danger, but Max can't always tell what's going on in that girl's head. She admires Brooke's ability to retain a composed, outward demeanor. Max and Brooke exchange soft glances.
"Take it easy, Brooke," Max says.
"You too, Max," Brooke tells her. "You'll be next soon enough."
Before the ladder moves to Max's side of the rollercoaster, the fire department waits for Warren and Brooke to finish their descent. Max releases a calm sigh when she watches her friends make it safely onto the ground. The relief doesn't last long; it switches to an overwhelming sense of foreboding as the mechanical ladder rotates to her side.
The firefighter extends his hand towards Max. She unclasps her seatbelt and swallows, resisting the temptation to look at the people below. She stands up. Max shivers at the cool, night breeze. The distance between her and the firefighter is like a valley. Max's palms are covered in sweat, and her heartbeat is accelerating. After Max reaches for the firefighter's hand and has a good grip on the ladder, Nathan calls out to her.
"Hey Max," he says, voice firm. "Be careful on the way down."
Max glances upward, meeting Nathan's face. The corners of her mouth turn up slightly. "Thanks, Nathan. You too."
Nathan gives her a subtle nod.
Max takes her first step.
Part 1 of 3.