Chapter One: Miscommunication

Okay Max, you don't have time to screw it up this time. Focus.

"You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!"

I've heard those words before, just a few more seconds…it'll be okay Chloe. I'll save you this time. I promise.

"Where'd you get that? What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!"

Her voice…it's so hard to get Chloe that scared.

"Don't EVER tell me what to do! I'm so SICK of people trying to control me!"

"You are going to get in hella more trouble for this than drugs!"

It's all the same. Just like it always has been. I have to do something. I HAVE to.

"No one would ever even miss your punk-ass, would they?"

"I would."

"Who's there?" Nathan's voice could cut diamonds with the anger in it. No, not anger, hurt. Nathan has always been in such pain and we never even noticed. I never even noticed.

"I think you know me." I stepped out from behind the stall, hoping I could keep my voice from shaking too much.

"Max?" Chloe took a sharp intake of the stale air and messed up her face in confusion.

"Oh great, it's that fucking weirdo from class. Why the hell are you here?"

"I don't think you know what you're doing, Nathan." I swallowed hard and took a step forward.

"You didn't answer my question freak! Are you spying on me? Trying to get me kicked out? Cause it's not gonna work."

"I don't want to get you kicked out of anywhere, Nathan. I want to help you. And to do that, you can't hurt Chloe."

"You know her? I never took you as the drug type, Caulfield."

"This isn't about drugs Nathan." I took a step closer towards to both of them, ready to use my power in case things didn't turn out the way I planned again.

"Oh really? Isn't it though? Isn't it always." Nathan looked down for a second, giving me enough time to nod at Chloe. I hoped that through some cosmic universe shit, she would understand what I wanted her to do.

"I don't think you'll be needing this." In a sharp movement, Chloe took the gun from Nathans hands and tucked it into the waistband of her jeans.

"Hey, give that back to me you bitch!" Nathan made a pass for it, but instead slumped to the side, holding his head in his hands. He moaned loudly and clutched onto his head like it was about to crack open.

"Woah, Nathan, are you alright?" My hand moved out to touch his shoulder before I could even think about what I was doing.

"Don't touch me dipshit! Goddammit…" He wavered on his feet, like he would fall over at any moment.

"It's the drugs." Chloe crossed her arms and swayed casually over to the both of us, like she wasn't about to be murdered two seconds ago.

"Huh?"

"Come on, it's classic. You go too hard and you feel the heat. Everyone's been there at least once. Nathan here is no exception."

"Stop…stop talking…stop FUCKING TALKING!" Nathan jerked and fell on the floor with a low thud, still holding his head on his shoulders.

"Chloe, are you sure?" I touched her arm the way I always would, but she quickly moved back, leaving my hand hanging in the air.

Shit, wrong Chloe.

"What are we going to do now? You know, none of this looks good for any of us here. Including you, Max."

"You remember me." I'm sure my face was lighting up like a complete idiot.

"Why the hell wouldn't I remember you, we were best friends. We were best friends." I could see a lightning bolt of pain flash across her face.

"Chloe I—"

"Argggg!" Nathan was curled into a ball, mumbling gibberish to himself. Before I would have thought he was going insane, but now I knew the truth. Nathan was not crazy. He needed help. And if I let things happen the way they had before, he wasn't going to get that. He was going to end up in a hole somewhere because of Jefferson. That bastard wasn't going to take away my chances this time.

Not even Nathan deserved that.

"We're going to get you help, okay Nathan? You don't have to live like this forever."

"You're going to help him? He was going to shoot me Max! He's a fucking lunatic!"

"It's a long story. A long, LONG story." I looked up into Chloe's eyes, praying to see the recognition appear and the Chloe that I had come back for make her transition.

"Did you lose you mind here at Blackwell too?"

Damn.

I bent on my knee beside Nathan, reminding myself not to touch him. "You aren't alone Nathan. Can you hear me? You aren't alone!"

"Why is this happening to me?" Nathans words were more of a plea than a question.

"You've been through a lot and I'm going to help you get what you need."

"I don't need you!" Releasing a hand from his head, Nathan pushed me back before I had the chance to balance myself. I felt the sting on my tailbone but the thought was out of my mind in a second.

"Okay Prescott, I don't really understand what the hell Max is on, but if she says we need to help you, then I guess…I guess I'm in. So listen up or this is going to be a lot harder for you than necessary."

There she is. My shining princess in blue.

Chloe put out a hand to me, helping me to my feet. "You're okay, right?"

I dusted off my jeans and nodded to her.

"Great, I knew Super Max was still in there!" She clapped her hands together and looked me straight in the eye for the first time. "You grab one side; I'll get the other."

We both got a hold of Nathans arms and pulled him to his feet. He felt like dead weight, but eventually gave up when his body shifted into a ragdoll formation.

"So where are we going?" Chloe struggled with the words as she supported half of Nathans weight. I couldn't blame her much, this was a lot to carry when you didn't even know what was really going on.

"Principal Wells! We can get to him and explain what's going on and maybe he can help us!"

"You actually trust that dick who calls himself a principal? Fine, but one question. How are we supposed to drag Nathan around the halls when everyone is out there?"

I hadn't thought of that.

"Maybe we could wait here until the bell rings, then the halls will be clear and…"

Riiinnnggg.

Bingo.

"Wow, that was hella good timing! Lead the way, Max."

I told you I wouldn't forget, Chloe.