Disclaimer: This fic is loosely based off of the song "Broken" by lovelytheband. I do not own the lyrics or Life is Strange.
A/N:It's been over 4 years since I've posted anything so if you're getting a notification from me posting something, surprise and holy shit, you're still getting notifications from me. That would definitely mean a lot. Anyway, I'm not sure if I want this to be a one-shot or more so I'll leave that up to you guys. Enjoy.

It's somewhere around eleven when I realize that someone's been watching me from across the loft. I don't know any of these people, none of them are even friends of my friends—if I actually had any—but I'd heard from a few acquaintances on the street that some trust fund baby was throwing this party, and it would be against my nature to miss an opportunity to get drunk, high, or both. Unfortunately, I'm not either, which is probably why I'm focused on the blonde girl with the blue feather earring standing alone a short distance away.

I take a swig of my beer and try to concentrate on anything else in the room, especially the group of kids in the middle of the room passing a joint around. I want to join them, but then I'm reminded that I don't know any of these people and that they don't me, and I'd be intruding on something I wasn't actually invited to participate in. Giving up on that hopeful chance, I notice a couple in the corner making out and roll my eyes, before returning my gaze to the girl who's watching me.

I don't know why I'm drawn to her, or why I feel like my heart is in my throat and my palms are sweating. My boots are glued to the floor, and she's moving toward me through the crowd of rich kids, almost predatorily.

"Let's talk," she suggests close to my ear, and suddenly I'm nervous because there's something about her that is unlike anyone I've ever met. She grabs my face and I'm fully aware of the vodka tinting her breath, her eyes boring into mine as though she's trying to read my entire soul through them, and I'm not sure that she can't. After a silent minute she says, "I like that you're broken and lonely like me. Maybe that makes me a fool." She shrugs. "Maybe I could be lonely with you."

I nod, smiling nervously. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that," I respond, mentally kicking myself because goddamn it, Chloe, you're an idiot.

She laughs and grabs my hand, pulling me out onto the balcony and away from the party. I watch as she slides the glass door closed and as she turns to me. "So this doesn't seem like your crowd," she points out.

"Oh yeah? How do you know I'm not loaded with my parents' money and just acting like I'm not?" I shoot back, and she raises her brow. I shake my head with a laugh. "Yeah, no, I just heard about this party and came up for the free booze." I bring the beer bottle that I nearly forgot I was holding up to my lips, and she rolls her eyes. "What about you?" I inquire after swallowing. "You don't seem like the type to be hanging out with these people."

She shrugs. "Maybe we had the same idea. I'm Rachel," she introduces herself, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Chloe." We stare out across the snow-covered city for a moment, the chill enveloping us, and it reminds me of Arcadia Bay. Inside the loft is a cheer, muffled by the glass door, signaling the closeness of midnight. I set the beer bottle down on the balcony railing and shove my hands in my coat pockets to warm them. She seems to notice and grins. "Are you cold?"

I try to hide my shivering and laugh. "Of course not, I'm always nice and toasty when it's nearly zero outside." She shakes her head with a grin and moves closer to me, her head resting on my shoulder, and my arm automatically snakes around her waist, pulling her closer. My confidence is wearing off, and I'm afraid that she'll change her mind and move away from me, but she doesn't.

"Do you ever feel like someone can change your entire life?" she questions suddenly, and I furrow my brows. "I mean, we're all like broken pieces floating, but maybe we meet someone who could help us fix those broken pieces, one by one." There's something tragic and almost pure in her question, and I think I could love her, but I'm not sure.

I shrug and clear my throat, ignoring that last thought. "I don't believe in mushy stuff, but I guess it's possible." Her eyes meet mine and the muffled countdown in the background fades away as she kisses me. When she pulls away, there's muffled cheering, but when I look toward the party, no one is paying attention to us. "Happy new year," I murmur before I'm pulled into another kiss, and I pull her closer, cupping her cheek with one hand.

I don't know if it's the alcohol clouding her judgment or if she actually likes me, but I can't even bring myself to think about it as she smiles into the kiss, frozen hands worming their way under my jacket and pressing against my bare stomach, causing me to jump and yelp. She laughs, her eyes watching me as I adjust my jacket, and I eye her suspiciously. "You're nice and toasty, and I just wanted to warm my hands," she tries innocently.

"Uh huh, sure," I tease, and I grab her hands, slipping them into my jacket pockets. "Doing this would have been easier and not cause a shock to my system."

She sticks her tongue out at me and pulls me closer to her by my pockets. "Maybe you're a shock to my system, Chloe," she admits, causing my heart to do flips, and I try to calm myself. "Something between us is new and intense and I can't be the only person to feel it, am I?" She sighs and reaches for my neglected beer bottle, taking a swig. "Maybe I'm just fucking crazy."

I shake my head. "Nah, I feel it too." I feel like I'm definitely too fucking sober for this, sharing a moment with someone I hardly know, acting like we've known each other for so long, but it really does feel like that, and I don't know what to do. Never in a million years did I ever think that I would be here in Brooklyn to begin with, let alone sharing kisses with a definitely attractive and way out of my league girl who approached me first.

Fuck it, let's see where this goes.