-Buzz Buzz- -Buzz Buzz-
I grumble groggily and sit up on my bed, a dim light filtering through the shades of my small, bare dorm room. I arrived at Blackwell around midnight last night, having left Seattle the morning before. It's... odd being back in Arcadia Bay, acting as if the past 5 years never happened, but life moves on, I guess. With a small sigh, I rub my eyes and grab my phone that keeps buzzing on my nightstand and turn the alarm off, preparing myself for my first real day here. I keep my phone in my hands for a moment, fiddling around with it before cussing under my breath and flopping back down on the bed.
"Fuck...".
I've been wanting to call Chloe for a week ever since I found out I got accepted into Blackwell for my senior year. But... I haven't had the guts to do it. What do you say to the girl you promised never to abandon after abandoning her? That's what I've been trying to figure out for as long I've been gone. While we did communicate for a while, I never could keep up. So, like the sad, sorry little wuss I am, I dropped all contact with her.
You're such an asshole, Max. She's not going to want to talk to you, so you might as well just move on with your sad, lonely, miserable little life. I shut my eyes and shake though self-destructive thoughts out of my head. Stop it, Max. You never know what's going to happen until you fucking try, so for once in your life, fucking try.
I stare at my phone for a few more moments before throwing it down and pressing my hands against my face. "Pathetic".
Just... go see Joyce at the Two Whales if you can't face Chloe. That will make things easier.
I hope...
With a sigh, I kick off my sheets and get out of bed, both willing and unwilling to start the day. Thankfully class doesn't start for me until tomorrow, giving me some time to set my dorm and get used to living on an on-campus situation. Maybe I should try to get acquainted with the other girls on my floor as well as the other students.
This is going to be fun, I think with a sarcastic scowl, pulling on a fresh set of jeans from one of the many boxes I've yet to unpack. Socializing has never been my strong suit, hence Chloe being my one and only friend and confidant. I hope she'll even want to see me after all these years... I don't even know if Joyce and her even live in Arcadia Bay anymore.
Anyways, once I'm dressed I slip out of my dorm and lock the door behind me, my eyes catching sight of the little whiteboard set outside my room. I grab the little marker left there and decide to doodle a little something to mark the room as my own. It's nothing special, just a small stick-figure with a disinterested face staring back at me, the name "Max" written right below.
"Ahem," A voice behind me says.
I nearly jump out of my skin before turning around, seeing a tall blond standing behind me.
"Hi," I mumble softly.
"And just who are you?".
I look at my whiteboard, then back at the girl.
"I'm Max. I'm new,".
"Well, I can see that," she says, turning up her nose slightly as she looks me over once, "So, what's you're deal? What are you here for?".
"Photography," I say with pride.
The girl's eyes narrow.
"What kind of camera do you use?".
"Uh...". I awkwardly fumble for my camera, having tucked it safely in my tote bag before I left.
"What in gods name is that?!" The girl exclaims when I show her my camera.
"It's an analog camera," I tell her, "You know... one that takes polaroids?".
"Oh, I've very aware of what it does. It's why you use one that concerns me".
I blush a little and shift around uncomfortably, "What wrong with using polaroids?".
"Uh, everything?!" The girl snaps, "Pfft, I can tell by your sorry excuse for a wardrobe that you're totally stuck in the retro zone. Well, good luck trying to fit in, Max. I pretty sure Mark, Mr. Jefferson won't fall for waif hipster bullshit".
I stare at her for a moment, unsure of what to say. I keep my gaze down and my head low.
"Hmm... pathetic. It's going to be fun tearing you down, Max. I can already tell it's going to be easy".
"I-...".
"Don't even try. You're better off just going back where you came from. I'm pretty sure your so-called 'talent' is useless here".
I keep quiet at that point, trying not to cry even though I can already feel tears stinging my eyes.
The girl walks away at that point, walking into the dorm across from mine and leaving me alone in the empty hallway with too many emotions to handle.
I let a small sigh escape my lips as I return my camera to it's bag and make my way down the hall, catching sight of another girl peaking her head through one of the other dorms, disappearing when I see her. I don't pay her much mind, trying to get out into the open air so I can regain my composure without anyone seeing me have a breakdown. I make it about halfway down the stairs when I hear footsteps following after me.
"Hey! Wait!".
I pause and turn around, seeing the other girl who was watching us, her blond hair pulled up in a bun.
"Hey... are you okay?".
I nod and unintentionally wiping at my face. "Yeah... I- I think I am, Thanks".
"Don't worry. Victoria's bark is worse than her bite," The other girl says, extending her hand out to me, "I'm Kate, by the way".
"Max," I reply, shaking her hand, "And is this Victoria chick always this mean?".
"Unfortunately. But she just does it for attention,".
"Why? She's so clearly the queen 'b' here... what could she possibly have against me when I haven't even been here for a full day?".
Kate shrugs. "Maybe she sees you as competition".
I scoff, "Doubt it".
"Well, whatever the reason, just try to ignore her. And if she keeps bothering you, we'll figure something out".
We'll? I repeat in my head, Did I just make a friend?
"O- okay. I um, I've gotta go... but, maybe we can hang out later? Y- you seem really cool".
Kate chuckles and nods, "Of course, Max. I'll even introduce you to some of the other girls and show you around campus if you want".
"That'd be great," I say with a small blush as I take a few more steps down the stairs, "I'll see you later, I guess?".
She nods again and waves me off, leaving me a frazzled blushing mess.
Agggh, stop it, Max. It's just one girl, you don't need to get all panicky when you're around them. But... she was sorta cute.
I shake my head and try not to come off as flustered as I exit the dorm building and make my way across campus, hopping on the bus right before it leaves.
"Two Whales, please," I tell the driver who smiles and nods.
"Sure thing, kid".
So, I scramble towards the back of the bus and find myself an empty seat free of other students. Good... I think I've done enough socializing for a while, I think to myself, hoping that not all the students are like this Victoria girl. With a small sigh, I place my earbuds in my ears and let the relaxing sounds of my music cut me off from the rest of the world for a few minutes.
It's... odd being back in town. Everything feels the same as before I left but... different at the same time.
"'You can't go home again', said Thomas Wolfe. But...here I am," I say softly to myself, watching the trees fly past the window as we drive.
Home... home is such a weird concept to me. Ask anyone and they'll tell you that 'Home is Where The Heart Is' but... I don't know where my heart lies.
Not anymore.
Not since-
I shake my head again and sigh, not wanting to get into the thoughts that consume my head.
I look around the bus a little, catching sight of a young brown haired boy staring and smiling at me.
When our eyes meet, her waves and I wave back, unsure of what else to do.
But when he gets up from his seat and makes his way over to me, I can't help but to scoot closer to the window, trying to make myself seem smaller than I actually am.
Please don't want to talk, please don't want to talk, please don't want to-
He points to my earbuds and I reluctantly pull them out.
Shit.
"Hi...".
"Hey," he says, sitting down right beside me, "You're new, aren't ya?".
I nod a little, "Yeah...".
"Cool. I'm Warren, and you are...".
He gives me a small pause for me to answer, but I don't want to, so I stay quiet for a split second before deciding to answer, wanting this conversation to be over as soon as possible.
"Max," I say, softly and with disinterest.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Max. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around campus then, huh?".
"Y- yeah," I say again.
The boy chuckles a bit before getting up, "A woman of few words, I see. Heh, well alright... I'll leave you be now, Max".
I nod and watch as the boy sits down in his own seat, making me sigh with relief.
Yeah... maybe getting to know other students can wait...
Until like, I graduate.
I've never been good at socializing, and that fact shows with just how awkward I am when talking to people.
Chloe's the only person I've been comfortable around, she's the only one I can be myself around.
Sometimes it felt like I was a different person around Chloe like she was the only one who got to see the real me.
Around Chloe... I had no filter.
I chuckle at myself for the photography pun, my attention soon broken by the bus slowing down and coming to a stop in front of a very familiar diner.
I freeze for a moment, my anxiety suddenly sky-rocketing.
"This is your stop, kid," The bus driver calls, making me jump slightly in my seat.
It's okay, you can do this, you got this, I tell myself as I get up and adjust my tote bag around my shoulder.
You got this.
I thank the driver and hop off the bus, listening and watching as it rolls away behind me.
It... looks just like when I left.
There's honestly no surprise there. It's not like the buildings would have changed much... just the businesses.
I sigh softly and make my way inside, the sounds and smells of the diner taking me back to my childhood.
"Wowzer," I mutter, standing idley in the doorway.
"Maxine Caulfield? Is that... you?".
I look up and smile when I see Joyce standing behind the counter, staring at me with disbelief and shock.
"H- hi, Joyce," I tell her, watching as she comes up and embraces me.
"Oh, my word. I thought we'd never see you again after you left for the big city".
I hug Joyce back, shaking my head as I pull away. "No... I'd never do that to Chloe".
Taking a moment, I look around the diner, hoping I spot the girl I left behind.
"Chloe... Chloe's not here right now, sweetie," she says, pausing in between saying her name, which for some reason makes me squirm with even more anxiety.
"How... how is Chloe. I know things couldn't have been easy when I left," I say, allowing the older woman to take my hand in her own, giving them a gentle squeeze.
Joyce sighs and looks down a little, clearly avoiding the question. "Let's... sit down, okay? I'll tell ya more over breakfast. It's almost my break anyway".
I swallow hard and nod, allowing her to lead me to the booth Chloe and I always used to occupy.
"So... tell me how you've been, Max? What brings you back to this quaint little town?".
"Oh... I- I got into Blackwell! I'm taking the photography course there".
Joyce smiles, "That's amazing, Max! I always knew you were going to grow up into a famous photographer".
I chuckle a little, "I'm not famous".
"Not yet,".
I chuckle again, "Yeah... I'm going to get there... I hope".
"So... how long have you been back?".
"I got in last night. I... I wanted to see Chloe before I totally wuss out and not do it," I reply, looking up at her with a sorry expression, "How is Chloe?".
Joyce takes my hands again and sighs.
"Max... a lot happened to Chloe while you were away. Not all of them good".
I swallow hard, feeling my face pale.
"Is she okay?".
Joyce starts to nod, but the shakes her head and shrugs, "It's... hard to tell these days".
I squeeze Joyce's hands back when she tears up, genuine fear settling in my stomach, "What happened?".
"W- well," she says, regaining her composure, "About a year after you left... I- I remarried,".
I blink.
"Oh...".
"Chloe didn't like that, or the man I married".
No shit... you, you actually remarried just a year after William died? What the fuck Joyce?
"Y- you know, Chloe and how she reacts to things she doesn't like, right?".
I nod, "Yeah".
Defiance, disobedience, rebellion, all classic Chloe.
"David... that's my husband, He- he," Joyce pauses and wipes the tears off her face, "After Chloe started acting out against his authority, he sent her off to a reformatory school. And I went along with the idea since I didn't know what else to do".
"You what?!" I exclaim, pulling my hands away.
"I thought it would help her learn some discipline, maybe have a little more respect for David, but-".
"But?" I force, nearing having spoken to an adult like this.
"The school we sent her to... it, it wasn't a good one,".
"What do you mean. What happened?" I push farther, praying to god she's not trying to say what I think she's trying to say.
"They abused her, Max".
And it's as if all the air was sucked out of the room. I literally gasp for air, but get none in return.
"David pulled her out about 7 months into the year, but by that time she-".
Joyce pauses again, but only because I force myself up to my feet and straight up walk out of the diner, needing air that I'm not getting.
I stumble outside and start coughing once the fresh air reaches my lungs, tears stinging my eyes.
"C- Chloe..." I wheeze, jumping when I feel a hand rest on my shoulder.
"Max..." Joyce says but I cut her off again.
"What did they do to her?" I demand, leaning against the side of the building, my back turned to the taller woman.
"I'm not sure... she doesn't tell us. Whatever they were doing in that school, it scared her, Max. Chloe... she's not the same".
"W- what?" I say, finally turning to her.
"Whoever it is that's living in my house, that's not my daughter. They reconditioned her, Max. She's... she's different now. She's not the same free-spirited girl I raised, the girl you grew up with".
I choke on a sob at that point.
"Does... would she even remember me?".
"That's the one thing she could never forget, Max," Joyce reassures, "Just... just the other day she asked us if we could take a day trip to Seattle so we can visit you,".
I close my eyes and cry a little, "I should have been there,".
"No... don't do this to yourself, Max. It's me who should have been there," she says, patting me softly on the back.
There's a long moment of silence before either of us speak again.
"Would, would you like to go visit her?".
I look up and nod, trying to stop the flow of tears that escape my eyes. "Y- yeah... I'd like that".
"Okay... I still have to work but I trust you know where the spare keys are?".
I nod again and wipe my face free of tears, "Yeah...".
"Alright... just. When you get there, be gentle with her? She... acts a lot different than what you're used to".
I nod again. "Yeah... I- I'll be gentle", I say finding it an odd concept being gentle with the girl I'd play-wrestle with as a kid.
"I'll be home around 5. Take care of her until then? Make sure she eats somethin?".
"... Yeah. I'll make sure she does" I say, a little confused about what she meant.
Isn't Chloe more than capable of taking care of herself?
"I'll see you in a while then," Joyce says, regaining her bright and cheery appearance as she prepares to go back inside.
"Okay...".
So, once Joyce leaves, I stand alone on the busy sidewalk and try to process all the information I was just given.
Oh god... Chloe.
I'm so sorry.
I should have been there...
I shouldn't have stopped trying...
I'm so sorry...
This is my fault.
I shake my head and sigh, dragging my sleeve across my face until all my tears are but gone.
Go see her, Max.
Nows your chance to make it up to her...
Go be with her.
Chloe's house is the same as it was when I left 5 years ago.
It's painted blue, well... half of it is anyways. William never did get to finish his job.
I sigh softly at the memory of Chloe's real father who died a few days before I moved to Seattle.
Walking up to the door, I reach down and grab the plastic rock that houses the spare key, taking the small piece of metal and holding it in my hand for a moment.
When I walk through this door, everything is going to change.
I'm going to be back in Chloe's life and she's going to be back in mine.
So why do I feel so scared?
I try to shake these thoughts and feeling off as I unlock the door but it's no use.
I have no idea what I'm about to get myself into.
The house is quiet but I can hear someone inside the kitchen, the sound of water and dishes echoing through the small space.
"Mom? Is that you? You're home early... I wasn't expecting you for lunch" a voice says, plain and almost monotone.
I step into the hallway and close the door behind me, unable to say anything when I realize that it's Chloe talking.
It... doesn't sound like Chloe.
"Mom?".
I slowly and shyly poke my head around the corner of the kitchen, seeing the tall, blonde-haired Chloe staring back at me with utter disbelief.
"What the..."
"Hey... Chloe," I mumble pathetically, stepping out into the light so she can see me.
Her eyes grow wider as she turns to face me, the dish she had in her hands crashing to the ground as she drops it.
"Max...".