I'm back... I'm back in the bathroom where this crazy week started.

I'm alone right now so I take a long deep breath and wait for Nathan and Chloe to come in.

I can't believe I'm doing this... after everything, everything I did to keep Chloe alive... I'm going to let her die again. It feels like it was all for nothing.

No.. it wasn't for nothing, I tell myself, I s till might be able to do something to fix this, something that will clarify both our timelines .

I close my eyes for a moment, pressing my finger softly against my mouth.

I can still feel her lips on mine, I can still smell the strong scent of cigarettes and weed that constantly clung to her form, and I can still feel her warmth embracing me.

That kiss... it was real... it was so real.

I loved Chloe more than anything I've loved before. I still love her... I am in love with her, I always will be.

This week, I gave her a reason to live, to love, to laugh and to smile. Her soft, sweet voice still rings in my ears, her final world playing on repeat in my head.

" Wherever I end up after this, in whatever reality, all those moments between us were real, and they'll always be ours. No matter what you choose, I know you'll make the right decision,".

But this isn't the right, choice. Why did I make this choice? It doesn't feel right. How could I live in a world without Chloe Price? And how could that world be a good one?

My thoughts are interrupted when finally... Nathan enters and starts mumbling to himself like a maniac. Part of me feels bad for him, he really didn't mean to hurt anyone.

I hate what Nathan did, I think to myself, but I could never hate him.

I don't believe that he killed Rachael Amber either... Jefferson did and somehow manipulated him into thinking it was his doing.

"It's cool, Nathan... Don't stress... You're okay, bro. Just count to three... Don't be scared... You own this school... If I wanted, I could blow it up... You're the Boss..."

A moment later, Chloe enters the bathroom and starts harassing him.

"I know you've been pumping drugs 'n shit to kids around school," she says.

Okay, Max... you seriously need to consider your options here. There are only so many ways to fix this and they all end in someone getting hurt .

"You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!" Nathan yells as he pulls out his gun and pins Chloe against the wall.

She begins to struggle, "Where did you get that... w-what are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!".

Oh god, I need to think of something! I only have a few more seconds! I think to myself, suddenly starting to panic.

"Nobody would even miss your punk-ass would they?!".

Oh god, I can't do it! I can't do it. I can't let her die. No, no, no not again, not again! Rewind, Rewind!

I jump out from behind the stalls, tears streaming down my face as I scream for Nathan to stop. But the shot still goes off.

No… please, no...

My ears are ringing from the gunshot that echoes through the bathroom, but when I open my eyes...I see Chloe is still standing, staring at me in disbelief.

I flick my gaze over to Nathan, seeing that he too...is facing me.

Just as it did the first time I saved her, time seems to slow to a crawl as I watch Nathan's gun clatter to the floor.

Suddenly, I'm aware that I've been thrown back, a searing pain ripping through my abdomen.

As I fall against the cold tile wall, I look down at my stomach.

A large crimson stain begins to grow on my shirt and pain begins to register in my mind.

I-I... I got shot...?

I actually got shot?

This wasn't supposed to happen... was it?.

And just like that, time jolts forward and the first thing that reaches my ears… is Chloe's blood-curdling scream.

"MAX!" Chloe screams, watching as I fall to the floor.

Nathan just stands there, dumbfounded that he actually shot someone… and that someone being me.

"Oh god...oh god... Max," Chloe says kneeling beside me.

I look at her, my eyes searching her face in a panicked frenzy.

My breathing is labored, my heart pounding in my chest.

I can't say anything, my mind still processing what's going on.

I- I didn't think this was going to happen but... I'm ok with it.

As long as Chloe is ok, I'm happy.

"W- what did you do... why did you do this... Max...y-you.. y-you saved my life".

I nod, continuing to pant wildly.

Chloe carefully rests her hand on my cheek and shushes me.

"Shh shh, calm down. Calm down… I'm here, I'm right here," she coos softly then turns to Nathan.

"Don't just stand there, get help!".

He blinks a few times and looks down at me, eyes crazy with fear.

It's no surprise when he flees the small room.

We both know he's not coming back.

Chloe's attention then turns to my wound.

"You haven't seen me in 5 years and you take a fucking bullet for me... damn Caulfield, you sure know how to make an entrance," she says, pressing her hands down on my stomach, stopping the seemingly endless flow of blood.

I cringe in pain, letting out a small cry.

I can feel her hands shaking.

"Chloe..." I mutter softly, "I...I'm... s- sorry...".

"Shhh... I know, now stop talking," she says.

I nod and swallow hard, my throat feeling unusually dry.

After a few moments, someone barges into the bathroom, making us both jump. I whimper a bit as pain shoots through my body.

I don't need to look to know it's David.

"David! Please... please, you gotta help her" Chloe cries as her step-father rushes up to us.

He nods and radios for someone to call for a medic.

He sits beside her as she reveals my wound, her hands are stained with my blood.

"Is she going to be ok?".

David doesn't reply, he just keeps staring at me blankly.

"David!" Chloe snaps, bringing him back into reality.

"Just hold on, kid" he mutters, placing Chloe's hands back down on my stomach, "Just hold on".

I nod and look up at Chloe who gives me a very small smile, "You're going to be ok... you're going to be ok" she repeats, continuing to cry.

I nod again, my breathing gets funny for a second as I slip my hand into hers.

She squeezes it lightly.

"I'll miss you," I whisper quietly.

"Don't... don't say that, Max. You're going to be ok, you have to be... you have to".

Things are starting to fade, a dark cloud begins to fog my vision.

"Y-you're the best thing to ever happen to me".

I can feel myself slowly slipping away from this reality.

"Max... please. You can't leave me. You can't die... we still have to take over the world together," Chloe cries even harder, "Please... please don't go... don't leave me. I don't want to be alone".

"You're my hero, Chloe," I mutter, "And I'll always love you".

David starts yelling as we all hear the paramedics running down the hallways.

"Max...".

I gather up enough strength to hoist myself up towards Chloe's face.

Our lips briefly touch as I whisper, "Don't forget about me".

I let out a little sigh and allow myself to fall to the ground once more.

By sacrificing myself I will give Chloe the chance to live a good life... no tornado, no guns, no pain.

"Max... please don't go...".

Eventually, she'll find my journal and read about what really happened between us. Sure it'll hurt... but, I know she'll find someone and fall in love with them, get married, have kids and grow old. A tiny part of me regrets my decision, wishing that I would be the one Chloe would grow old with. I wonder what our lives would be like if I had chosen to save her and sacrifice the town instead...but it's too late for that, it's too late for anything now.

I draw in one last breath, taking one last look at reality, one last look at Chloe.

She has her head resting on my chest, gripping my bloodsoaked shirt... she's crying.

"Please please please stay... Please. I love you, I love you!".

Suddenly, her head whips up as the door swings open and the paramedics rush in, but it's too late.

Everything is dark now, quiet and tranquil. I can no longer feel Chloe's soft hand in mine, nor can I feel the bullet in my gut.

This is how it all ends, my life has been so weird and just different than anything I could have imagined... but I guess that's the thing about life, it is weird, it's so not fair...

Life is...Odd.