It was after photography class. I walked down the hall towards the bathrooms. Somehow, I'd smudged my lipstick. I couldn't walk around this school unless I was the absolute image of perfection. Smudged lipstick was most definitely not perfection. I walked into the bathroom. Some loser had drawn a crown, glasses, and a mustache on the mirror.

This school is full of idiots.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of color. When I turned, I saw a blood orange butterfly coming out of a window.

"Shut up, it's fucking red,"a voice in my head said.

Now is not the time for memes.

I followed the butterfly to a bucket of water. I smiled at it and moved my hand towards it. It moved to stand on my finger. I smiled at it.

"Hey, little guy. What are you doing in here?"

The bathroom door swung open all of a sudden. A girl with blue hair walked in, she glanced around before beginning to mumble something. I couldn't place where from, but I knew her. Nathan walked in a few moments after her.

"You got the money?"

"I told you, I'm getting it."

"Why the fuck would you show up without the money I asked?"Nathan demanded.

"Look, just give me the shit and I'll get you the money."

"No way. You must be out of your goddamn mind if you think I'm gonna do that."

The girl pulled out a gun and pointed it at him. "Hand it over."

"Look, no one needs to get shot. Just chill out."

"Chill out? I'm perfectly chill! Just hand it over already!"

Time seemed to slow down. Nathan lunged forward. At the same time, the girl pulled the trigger. I stuck a hand out, my mouth open in a silent scream. Suddenly, I was back in photography class.

No way. No fucking way.

"Hey, Vic,"Taylor whispered,"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Just a little dizzy."

This is crazy. This can't be real. If it is, I know what's going to happen. Taylor's going to throw a paper ball at Kate, my phone's going to ring, then Hipster McSelfie is going to take a picture.

It all happened exactly like I predicted. This was real. Nathan was going to get shot. I had to change that. I raised my hand.

"Mr. Jefferson?"

"Yes?"

"May I go to the restroom?"

"Sure."

"Thanks."

I stood up and walked out of the room. I tried to keep a relaxed pace as I walked down the hall. It was hard when you just realized you could reverse time and your best friend was about to get shot.

Come on, you need a plan.

I stood in the bathroom trying to come up with a plan. All those years of math teaching problem solving techniques never helped me on bit. In the end, I got scared and smashed the fire alarm with my hand bag.

I'm sorry, Louis Vuitton, but this is more important than cute purses.

I pressed the fire alarm before the girl could shoot Nathan. That gave him enough time to run out of the bathroom. When they were both gone, I walked out of the bathroom. Principal Wells raised an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything. I walked over to him.

"Excuse me,"I said,"but I just saw girl with a gun. If you can't keep this school safe, I can have you fired."

"I'm sorry, Miss Chase. I assure you, we'll take care of the issue. We'll check the security cameras."

"If this happens again, you can guarantee a call from my parents."

He nodded.

I turned around on my heel and walked out the door. Taylor and Courtney were waiting for me outside.

"Where have you been? We've been looking, like, everywhere for you!"Taylor said, grabbing me by the arm.

"Nowhere important. Let's go."

We walked off towards the dorms. I sat between them on the steps. Then, of course, Max Caulfield walked over. It wasn't surprising. I mean, she lived there, too. I was having a bad day, and on bad days, I'm a bitch. Then again, I'm always a bitch."

"Oh, look. It's Max Caulfield. The selfie ho of Blackwell. What a lame gimmick. Even Mark- Mr. Jefferson falls for your waif hipster bullshit. 'The Daguerreian Procces, Sir!' You could barely even say that. I guess you got your meds filled. Since you know all the answers, guess you'll have to find another way into the dorm. We ain't moving. Oh wait! Hold that pose. So original. Don't worry, Max. I'll put a vintage filter on it right before I post it all over social medias. Now, why don't you go fuck your selfie?"

After the daily roast of Max Caulfield, I sat back on the steps. Courtney and Taylor laughed. We resumed our talk about the End of the World party on Friday until the sprinklers turned on.

"What the hell? Are you kidding? Look at this..."

"Chill, Victoria. It's just water-"

"Yeah, water on cashmere! Do you know how much this fucking outfit cost?

"You look... great."

"I can't even chill on the steps..."

Oh wait. Rewind. Duh.

Instead of sitting back on the steps, I just leaned against the door, blocking her if she found a way up the stairs. When the water turned on, Taylor and Courtney were the only ones that got water on them. I was perfectly safe and dry.

Eventually, I grew tired of dealing with those idiots. I went out to the parking lot. I sat in the front seat of my car and pulled out my phone. After a few minutes, I heard talking. I glanced up to see Warren and Max talking. For whatever reason, I decided to spare them. For now. As I sat, I noticed the blue haired girl from the bathroom stomping over towards me. She flung the car door open.

"Look, bitch. My step dad tells me someone saw me in the bathroom with Prescott. Forget everything and maybe I'll let you live."

"Excuse me?"

"If you tell anyone, you're dead."

"And if you lay a hand on me, you're dead."

She grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and pulled me up. "Say that again. I dare you."

"Leave her alone!"

Nathan tackled her to the ground. While she was still confused, he jumped up and climbed into my car. I slid into the driver's seat and pressed the button to start the engine. Within seconds, we were on our way out of the parking lot.

"You really saved my ass back there,"I said.

"Yeah. Well, that's what friends are for."

"What'd she want?"

"To kill me."

"Why though?"

"We need to talk."

"So talk."

"Not here. I'll drive us somewhere."

In the meantime, Nathan rambled on about the End of the World party. He was obviously excited for it. I was about as happy as someone that's rich and bored could be. The whole Vortex club was talking about it. I was starting to get sick of it. Then again, I'm always down to drink away all my thoughts.

Eventually, we arrived at the lighthouse. It wasn't where I ususally hung out, but it was pretty. I liked the way the sun during the day and the moon at night reflected off the waves. We both sat on the bench overlooking the ocean.

"So what do you want to talk about?"

"It's been a crazy day."

"You can say that again."

"It's been a crazy day."

"Why's your day been crazy?"

"In the bathroom today, I saw you and that punk girl talking."

"Chloe. Yeah."

"That's her name! I knew I knew her."

"What about it?"

"Okay. This is going to sound crazy, but I don't know who else to talk to."

"I'm here for you, Vic. You know that."

"I know. It's just... Nathan, I saw you get shot. You died. I was... I was so upset. I reached out my hand and suddenly I was in class again."

"What kind of drugs have you been on?"

"None today. Trying my best to stay off."

"You better be down to party on Friday."

"This is serious. This is more than some party. I think... I think something's wrong with me."

"Anyone could see that."

I shoved him. "Be serious!"

He held up his hands defensively. "Okay, okay."

"I- I think I can reverse time."

"Uh. Okay."

"Okay?"

Nathan nodded. "Yeah. Okay."

"So you believe me?"

"Why wouldn't I? You've been my friend since we were kids."

"But don't I sound crazy?"

"Either you're on a bad trip or you actually can. I'll be with you through whatever we come up against."

"No matter what?"

"No matter what."

I leaned my head against his shoulder. "Thanks, Na-"

I closed my eyes when I felt a head- splitting pain. When I opened them again, I was standing. The sound of wind going too fast was the only thing I heard. There was a tornado.A hand grabbed my shoulder. I whirled around to see Nathan looking at me. My knees shook until I almost fell. Arms wrapped around me to keep me up.

"You feeling okay?"

"There's a tornado! It's- it's- it's coming on Friday. It's headed straight towards Arcadia Bay!"

"Hey. Vic. Look at me."

Nathan tilted my chin up to look him in the eyes. He smiled at me and wiped away a tear on my cheek.

"Yeah?"

"We'll get through this, okay?"

"...Okay."

"We'll be alright."

"Yeah. Okay."

"Do you want to go back to Blackwell?"

"Yeah."

"Let me stay in your room tonight."

"Why?"

"That bitch might still be after you. I don't want you to get hurt."

"Whatever. It's not like you haven't stayed in my room before."

"That makes it sound like we're having sex."

"With you? Oh hell no."