Chapter 1

Max woke with a start. "Oh, no way!" she exclaimed, looking at her clock. It was already 10:00 am. "I'm gonna be late to class!" She hurriedly threw the covers off her and got to her feet, only to realize that it was the first day of winter break. Wow Max, great job. Now you're stressed and freezing, she thought to herself. Climbing back in bed, she took a deep breath. It was calming to see the cool cloud emanating from her lips, even though it was just an indication of how chilly it was in her room. The only safe zone was her bed, and if she was quick, the showers.

She turned over, squinting at the calendar across her room. "Hm, got nothing planned. I could just stay in bed all day, and catch up on some shows. Netflix and chill, but I have no one to chill with." Max hadn't had much free time for the past few months. Teachers had been piling on projects and homework. It was a challenge just to keep up with the workload, let alone trying to have a social life.

*Ding!* Max's phone went off, snapping her back into reality. Glancing at it, she saw that it was a text from Warren. Max had half a mind to ignore it, but in the end she had to find out what he wanted. 'Hey mad max, want 2 hang in the coffee shop today?' 'Sure! I'll be there at 11.' She replied. At least it was something to do. Besides, this break would be so boring if she didn't do anything. Again, Max flung off her warm covers, and quickly grabbed some clothes and ran off to the showers.

When that was over with, Max headed back to her room to grab her camera bag, phone, and earbuds. After a couple minutes of searching for the later item, Max was out the door and off to the bus stop. Sadly, she had just missed it in the time she had spent looking for her headphones.

After about fifteen minutes, Max was on the next bus that had arrived. Thoroughly frozen and slightly annoyed, she quickly put on her headphones and turned on some calm music to enjoy for the rest of the trip. "I hope I'm not going to be late.." She thought out loud. It was already 10:45, and she had just gotten on to the bus.

After four and a half songs, Max's stop arrived in downtown Arcadia Bay. From the stop, it was just four blocks to the coffee shop. However, four blocks in the freezing cold makes it seem a lot longer than it is.

The crunching sound of the snow underneath her foot was always an enjoyable and calming thing to her. 'Even if it's fucking cold, I love winter. Almost as much as I love fall.' She thought. Max forgot about being late, subdued by the pitter pat of her walking.

'I wish there were two sets of those sounds. Close together, arms holding each other close for warmth.' Max thought to herself. When she arrived at Blackwell, she was hoping to meet someone that she felt she could really connect with. Someone who was interested in her as much as she was in them. So far, she hadn't had much luck. Besides, her workload in school made it nearly impossible anyways. 'Who knows, maybe I'll find someone during my winter break.'

Approaching the coffee shop, Max took her hands out of her pockets to check her watch. 10:56. 'See, there was no reason to stress about being late, silly.' She put one hand on the door handle, and the other reached to take off her hat. As she stepped inside, she was greeted with a rush of warm, coffee scented air. "Mm, that's hard to beat", she said aloud. She scanned the room for Warren, and saw him waving to her from the second floor balcony. He already had his computer open, and was no doubt in the middle of a quest in one of his games.

"Would you like something?"

Max turned her head quickly, to see who was talking. It was the barista, talking to the person in front of Max. She leaned her head, but still couldn't get a look at what the worker looked like. The voice sounded feminine, but that's all Max could get out of it. She had gone to this shop many times, and didn't recognize the voice. 'Must be new here', Max thought. The person in front of her started to order, and Max realized she should have something already in mind, as to not be a nuisance to the new employee.

'Hm, maybe just a cider?', Max pondered. She was still quite cold, and needed something to warm her up. '..and a chocolate muffin!' She knew how unhealthy they were, but it didn't matter right now. She was cold, on a break, and frankly couldn't give a fuck. Plus, she could always share it with Warren.

The person in front of her took their order, and shuffled off to the corner of the room to enjoy their snack. Max, looking towards the floor, slowly walked up to the counter. 'God Max, you don't have to be this fucking shy.' She told herself. But she couldn't help it, it was just who she was.

"Don't worry, I don't bite. Usually.", the barista said. Max started to order, while starting to look up at the worker. She was surprised to see the barista staring right at her. Suddenly Max cut off what she was saying, amazed by what she saw.

'Damn, she's really cute!' Max thought inwardly. The barista had dyed blue hair, several piercings, as well as a necklace with three bullets on it. She was wearing the required shop uniform, but she didn't look comfortable in it. 'She must be new in town, I've never seen her in Arcadia before. Who is she?' Max wondered.

"Um, so, do you want something?", the barista asked nervously. Max gulped, realizing just how long she had been staring at the worker. "Uh, I'll have a.. a c-cider please?", Max replied. 'Idiot, what are you doing? It's not supposed sound like a question!' Max scolded herself. She was messing this up pretty bad. "Cider? Uh, okay, sounds good! I'll bring it up to you when it's ready. It's 2.75$" Max fumbled around in her wallet for a few singles, as well as her punch card for the cafe. She handed over three dollars and a punch card, hands shaking. 'Why are you getting so worked up? Jeez, Max. Get a hang of yourself.' As the barista was getting the change and punching the card, Max took several deep breaths, trying to calm down.

"25 cents is your, uh, change. Here you go.", the barista handed over a quarter and a card, dropping the items into Max's out held hand. Max quickly stuffed them into her wallet and rushed up to the second floor to join Warren.

"Hey, Maximus Prime! What's going on?", Warren greeted her. Max didn't reply, just quickly reached for a chair and sat down across the table from him. "Hey, are you okay? You're as pale as a sheet!", he asked, a tad concerned. "I'm fine, Warren. Don't worry about it.", Max replied. "What are you up to?", trying to change the subject away from her. "Eh, not much, just farming to get some better weapons.", he replied nonchalantly. 'I don't see what agriculture has to do with weaponry, but I don't want to seem like a noob to him, so I better not ask.', Max thought to herself. "Nice!"

Their 'conversation' was quickly interrupted by the barista coming by the table to give Max her order. "Here you go, ..?", the barista said. "Max, and thank you! What's your name?", She replied. "Chloe. I'm still pretty new to this area, and this job. I'm still learning the ropes.", Chloe said. "Ah, okay. I thought as much, I didn't recognize you. I'm quite a regular here. Maybe a bit too regular, I guess.", Max said. "Cool! I'll be seeing you again soon then!", Chloe replied, as she turned to go back to the counter downstairs.

Max turned around in her chair, to face her cider, and Warren. "Who was that?", he asked. "Chloe. She's new around here.", Max replied quickly. A little too quickly. "Oh, I see!", Warren mocked, as he raised his eyebrows up and down. "That's why you were all worked up when you came up here, huh?", he said. 'Oh man, are you cereal? I go out to town for fun and this is what ends up happening?', Max thought. "No! I was just really cold from the walk outside, that's all!", she lied, looking down at her warm cider.