This is my first chapter of this fic, and my first fanfiction I've written in a long time! I've become absolutely enamored with Life is Strange, and since I can't draw, I figure I can try and write some fanfiction that I've had ideas for recently. I don't own Life is Strange or any of the characters- and I hope you all enjoy! Would love to hear any and all feedback you have!


Going to a school like Blackwell Academy had been a dream for Max Caulfield for a long time. She loved photography, she definitely planned on being a famous photographer someday, and this would give her the chance she need to help make it to the big-time soon. Plus Mark Jefferson was teaching there! He was one of her recent idols in the photography world, and to learn from him? That was like a dream come true. It didn't take a ton of convincing for her parents to let her go, it was back in her hometown of Arcadia Bay, and it was a nice school but she managed to even get a scholarship to attend! What wasn't there to like about this place?

That was back in August. It was now early October, and day by day, Max had felt like going to Blackwell was some big mistake. Asides from Kate Marsh and occasionally talking to Alyssa and Dana, she really didn't have many friends or people to talk to. They were all back in Seattle, along with her parents. She had to deal with bullies like Victoria Chase, a bunch of asshole jock-bros, and her classes weren't anything like she had dreamed of. There were times when her classes weren't anywhere as magical she hoped they would be.

It was probably similar to how Harry Potter must have felt when he got to Hogwarts and realized that while, yeah, there was plenty of magic, it wasn't always the fun kind. Sure, sitting in Mark— Mr. Jefferson's class was a fantastic experience, but it was in a classroom with Victoria Chase who was always all over him— and all over trashing her.

Max had decided to just close her eyes, just for a second. No one would notice. But when she DID close her eyes, it was… unreal.

She was by the lighthouse by the coast in Arcadia Bay, the one that was higher up just past the woods. But… the entire area was unreal. It was the biggest storm Max had ever seen. Ever. She ran up the trail as fast as she could. She was in class just a minute ago, and now she was… here? What she saw when she reached the top of the hill where the lighthouse was… she couldn't believe.

A tornado? Not just a tornado, but a giant tornado that you'd see in some kind of apocalypse movie? What the hell was going on!?

"No! No! It's… it's headed straight for the town! What's happening!?" Max screamed at the tornado, knowing it was futile, before she…

…Woke up?

Was she back in Mr. Jefferson's class? Victoria's phone had gone off, and Taylor had thrown a crumpled up piece of paper at Kate Marsh… what was going on? Seriously? Being so close to that tornado, she could feel the electricity in the air, she could feel the wind and the rain hitting her face. How could that not have been real?

"It's ok Max… it's ok, you're back in class. You must have just been dreaming," she thought, though she had no clue if she was even convincing herself of that fact. It just felt so damn real. She was having trouble even just taking her mind off all of it, and she couldn't keep herself focused on what Mr. Jefferson was saying. Though Max knew one thing that always tended to help her feel better, and even if this wouldn't help her feel better, at least it would keep her distracted.

A good selfie.

She scanned the classroom quickly before pulling her camera out of her messenger bag— old faithful. She looked down at it, having had it hidden in her lap just under the table, and offered a small smile for the camera. As soon as the flash went off, she was caught.

"And Max has just taken what you all call, a 'selfie'. A ridiculous name for a wonderful art form of self-expression," Mr. Jefferson rattled off, and Max could feel herself turning bright red. She stared down at her lap for the rest of the class, she couldn't even bear to listen to Mr. Jefferson at this point, she was embarrassed beyond belief.

The bell rang for classes to end for the day and Max just wanted to go… somewhere, anywhere else than right now. Between her dream and getting embarrassed in class by Mr. Jefferson, she wouldn't mind just going back to her dorm room for the day and just sleeping it all off. Though as she started to leave, she was stopped by none other than Mr. Jefferson himself. Max let out a small sigh to herself… she should have expected it.

"Max… I haven't gotten your entry yet for the Everyday Heroes competition. I'm still waiting," he told her, had she could feel herself nearly sweating under his watchful gaze.

"Oh, sorry about that Mr. Jefferson, I'm still, uh, still thinking about what to submit for it. I'll have it to you this week, I promise," she assured him. Though really, she wasn't sure what she would be doing or when she'd send it in, if she would at all. Part of her kept thinking that she just wouldn't submit anything for it, Victoria was going to win, anyways…

"Yes Max, we'd love to see what you have in store for us all," Victoria said, a sly grin creeping on her face that Max just wanted to punch. At least if she was the type to punch someone in the face

If it was any consolation, though right now it barely was, Mr. Jefferson seemed to narrow his eyes at Victoria, and she stopped right away.

"Um, well… I'll get on that and I'll get it to you soon. Promise," she mumbled before walking out of the classroom, mumbling her discontent under her breath over how close Victoria Chase and Mr. Jefferson were. If she could have it her way, she'd want to be the prodigy that Mr. Jefferson would want to help mold into a professional.

As soon as she was outside of the class, she put her earbuds in her ears and turned on some music to walk down the halls to. It was always a silent walk, but at least she wouldn't have to worry about anyone talking to her or something. Her earbuds would make sure of that. The only people that would have talked to her in the first place were Kate Marsh and Warren Graham, and Kate left after class right away. She had no clue about where Warren was or what he was up to. Probably in the science lab, and right now, that was fine with Max. She just wanted to go and wash her face off in peace after everything that had transpired since her photography class. At least now she'd have a chance at some peace and quiet…

She passed by David Madsen, Blackwell's resident rent-a-cop, bothering some of the football jock-bros about something, she couldn't even hear what it was, as she headed into the bathroom. She let out a sigh as she walked over to the sink, washing her face off before angrily crumpling up the paper towel and throwing it into the trash as hard as possible.

"I'll never measure up to Victoria… What's even the point of submitting anything when Victoria is just going to win anyways?" she asked herself, ripping up the picture she had taken on Saturday night: A low lighting shot of her facing her wall of pictures. She tore it up, straight down the middle, before dropping it on the floor. That was that, now she had no picture, no inspiration, and no excuse when Mr. Jefferson would undoubtedly ask her where her submission was tomorrow.

A flash of blue in the corner of Max's eye caught her attention, and she turned to see a butterfly coming in through the bathroom window, fluttering around for a bit before landing on a mop bucket in the corner of the restroom.

"It's not much, but… it'll be something to turn in, and this looks like it could even be a nice shot…" she mumbled to herself, silently and slowly pulling out her camera and lining up the perfect shot and then snapping it, which quickly caused the butterfly to flutter off just as soon as it had landed. Max stuck the newly taken, newly shaken photo and her camera in her backpack, going to leave the bathroom, before the door burst open.

"Don't let that fucking bitch rile you up, Nathan," the voice said. Max peered from behind the side of the stall, seeing Nathan Prescott, probably the richest kid at Blackwell, pacing in the bathroom— the girl's bathroom.

"You're the man. You're the fucking man. You own this school! You could crush it into the pile of dirt that it is if you wanted," he said. His voice sounded… Max wasn't sure, but something was really off about Nathan right now. She didn't know him, and she never really cared to know him, but hearing this affirmed her thoughts to stay FAR away from him.

She had no ability to get out, and she peeked around the corner again, seeing Nathan now staring in the mirror, gripping the sink, knuckles white, as the door started to come in.

Victoria!?

"Um, Nathan, do you mind telling me what the hell you're doing in here? This is the woman's restroom," she sneered at him, crossing her arms and leaning her weight on one leg.

It took Nathan a bit of time to react to what she was saying. It was almost like he couldn't focus on her. Though just as Max thought that, he turned around to face her, hands clenched into fists.

"What the hell do you think you're doing in here Victoria?" he asked, even more venom in his voice than just a few minutes prior.

"Um, well, like I said, this is the woman's restroom and I'm here to touch up my makeup, so if you'd kindly get the hell out— you're not even supposed to be here," she told him, shooing him off with her hand.

"Get out, I'm meeting someone in here and I need you out," he told her, though Victoria wasn't budging.

Maxine was sure she was out of sight of the two of them, and she didn't expect what she saw next. Nathan pulled out a gun? Where the hell did he get that? Why did he have a gun? Weren't Victoria and Nathan friends? Why was he pulling a fucking gun on her? Who was he meeting in there?

"What the hell do you think you're doing with that Nathan? Where the fuck did you get that?" she asked, now actually visibly shaken. This was the first time Max had ever seen Victoria shaken or nervous, and she had a fucking gun pointed at her!

"No one tells me what to do, not even you Victoria," he said, stepping forward, causing Victoria to be backed up right next to the paper towel dispenser.

"If you shoot me— you can't shoot me— you can't get away with it Nathan. Just put that gun the fuck down," she said, sounding as if she was almost on the verge of tears.

"I don't give a fuck. My dad is the most powerful man in this shithole little town, I can do whatever I want. And you're getting in my way and pissing me the fuck off," he told her, sounding so sure, so smug in his words. Like he was invincible.

Victoria glanced from side to side, and there was even just a tiny bit of sweat forming on her forehead. Max wanted to do something, but she was frozen stiff. What was she supposed to do? Run in, try and distract Nathan Prescott, get shot, and then Victoria would probably get shot too?

Her eyes widened as she noticed Victoria start to shift towards the door, before attempting to make a run for it though. She couldn't do anything though.

A loud, very loud bang went off, and Max's eyes widened even more— if that were somehow possible— as red started to form over Victoria's stomach… Nathan Prescott just shot Victoria Chase.

"Victoria!" Max screamed as she bolted from around the corner, reaching out her hand as if that would somehow save Victoria Chase from being shot in the fucking stomach by Nathan Prescott.

Nathan didn't seem to notice Max, it must have been some sort of adrenaline rush he was going through where he couldn't even hear anything.

Victoria though, she was slowly sliding down the wall, clutching her stomach, her blouse now soaked with blood. She saw Max, and reached out her other hand towards her.

"Max…" she said weakly before collapsing to the floor.

"No!"