It's not fun watching your hometown be destroyed. Especially not by something you, in your mind, caused. But that was exactly what was happening for Maxine Caulfield.
And now, it was too late to take it back. Not that she wanted to. She made her choice. She chose to sacrifice all these lives. It was eating her up inside, it when meant it when she said she'd do anything for Chloe.
Silently, she stood there, fingers tightly woven with the aforementioned Chloe Price. Tears and rain became one upon their faces. Chloe had a specific area she was watching. The burning wreckage that was The Two Whales Diner. She knew her mother, Joyce, Frank Bowers and Warren Graham had been in there, Max told her so. She also knew in the back of her mind that they were dead or dying. She wasn't... Okay with it, per say, but she, at least for now, accepted it.
Slowly but surely, the storm hit, and left. Some areas more on the outskirts would be left mostly intact, but in the direct path, things were in ruins.
The pair made their way, wordlessly to Chloe's truck, hands still effectively glued together, to the point that Chloe had to slide in through the passenger's side as Max wouldn't let go.
Chloe drove toward her house, tearfully ignoring the Diner, intent on grabbing what she could and leaving with Max.
After fumbling around on a wet floor, Max saw something. The photo of Rachel and Chloe that Chloe had used for the missing persons posters. She also felt something. That familiar tug... She could go through this photo? But how?
"Ch-Chloe... I think we can still save Rachel." Max said with a shocked tone. "I can travel theough this photo, somehow."
"R-Really? Are... You going to?" Chloe placed a hand on Max's shoulder as she spoke. Max's only reply was a nod before she focused. Chloe's hand never left her, which explains what happened next.
January, 2013
"Was flipping the camera off really necessary, babe?"
Chloe looked around in confusion before seeing it. Max was there, but... She was spectral... And Rachel saw her too.
"What... What the fuck is going on?" Rachel looked at Chloe to find her crying.
"Chloe... Are... Did you... Travel with me?"
Rachel spoke before Chloe. "Travel? The fuck do you mean "travel?""
Chloe finally found her words. "Rachel... I'm not your Chloe. I'm from the future. That spectral girl... Is Max."
Seeing the disbelief, the two explained everything. Jefferson, Nathan, The Dark Room, all of it. To say Rachel was shocked would be an understatement.
"...So long story short, DON'T go to that party, and stay away from Jefferson. Please, Rachel." Chloe's face was streaked with tears of fear and anticipation... Before Rachel nodded.
"Chloe, If it were just you telling me all this, I'd ask you to share the weed... But seeing a spectral Max Caulfield? How can I deny it?"
Max smiled. She wanted to hug the girl, but in her weird, spectral form, it was impossible. "I know it's hard to ask, Rachel, but please, keep this quiet from your Chloe. I don't know if it'll mess anything up."
That was enough. Soon, with an extra large hug from Chloe, she left her past body and Max disappeared... And the world shifted around the girls.
April 22nd, 2013
A photo of Rachel being photographed in The Dark Room morphs...
Smoke floats into the air from Chloe's mouth, shotgunned from Rachel's. "Still cant believe you picked me and a junkyard over a Vortex Club party, babe."
If you only knew... "Felt like chilling, what can I say? I know you would've been alone since Steph is in Jersey 'till Ocrober."
"Still, you never ditch Sticky Vicky and her overpriced boy toy." Chloe took a quick hit from the joint before passing it back. "Why now?"
Because I'd die if I went? "Well... I feel like... I haven't been the worlds best girlfriend lately..."
The world shifted as Rachel met Chloe for a passionate kiss.
October 2nd, 2013
A photo of Chloe, drugged in Nathan's dorm morphs...
"$6,000?!"
"It was my fault, Nathan. I needed repairs to my truck, but Step-Douche refused to help. notthatieverasked..."
"Fine. Alright. But I'm doing this for you, Rachel," he pointed back at Chloe. "not your punk ass."
Chloe merely shrugged. "S'Cool. Hey, ask Sticky Vicky if she figured out the correct periodic elements for calling me a cunt, eh?" She snickered as Rachel elbowed her.
October 7th, 2013
"...Love you too, Rach! Okay, pee and then burger.. Oh, hey, didn't know any- ...Max...?"
Sure enough, standing at the middle sink like a deer in headlights was Ms. Caulfield herself. "Chloe?"
The embrace was... tense. "Five years, Max. Why didn't you call? Or at least write?" Chloe's eyes were glistening with tears. It was a weird place to have the discussion, but everything got hashed out properly.
"Come on InvisiMax, there's someone I want you to meet."
A photo of Nathan choking Max morphs...
"...Is my girlfriend, Rachel."
Max had a noticeable blush. "Girl... Friend...? You're...?"
"Hella gay? Yes, Max. Is that a problem?" Chloe had a glare, fearful yet fierce.
"No, not at all Chloe! It just surprised me. It's nice to meet you, Rachel. Thanks for being there for Chloe when my dumbass-"
"What up, Max?" Max was interrupted by one of her only friends at Blackwell, Warren, before she could finish. "Oh, hey Rachel, Stranger. Was I..?"
"Interrupting? Yes, but it's cool. Warren, this is my previously mentioned and stupidly ghosted best friend, Chloe Price. Chloe, this is Warren Graham. Provably my best friend here. ... Here, I said," she added upon Chloe's scowl.
"'Sup?" Chloe, in customary Chloe fashion, went for a fist bump rather than a handshake, which Warren returned.
A photo of David after slapping Chloe morphs...
Chloe heads along with Max to go retrieve Warren's flash, only to be met with Victoria and The Terrors blocking the stairs. "Well, if it isn't Max Caulfield, the selfie ho of Blackwell. And, oh, my god, Kari Price-" "You know damn well it's Chloe, you cunsn." "-I'll show you cunsn, you-"
It's Max that stops it this time. Victoria, what is your problem? You bully me, Kate and anyone you don't like, hell, you even bully Dana, Taylor and Courtney, and they're ALL in the Vortex Club with you. I dn't know if you get off on being evil or if you're just insecure or what, but it's getting a little pathetic now."
Victoria's face went mad with rage, but as fast as she stood up, she went back down as Chloe's hand came across her cheek. "Grow the fuck up, Chase. You're 18, not 8. C'mon, Max."
The two stomped past, leaving a bewildered Victoria sitting on the steps with Taylor & Courtney... In shock.
A photo of Max & Chloe staring at the sunset as snow falls from a cloudless sky morphs...
Max, Chloe, Rachel & Kate sit at "Chloe's table" at the Diner. After the Victoria mess, Max called Kate while Chloe called Rachel, setting up a date/friend date to relax for a bit.
"... So next thing I know, Merrick shoves the knife into Rachel. I swear, if I hadn't been so concerned with her safety, I would've murdered the fucker. I don't know what ever happened to him, but.. I have this funny feeling Frank Bowers, his friend-slash-employee, killed him."
Max nearly choked on a french fry at that. "Uhm, Chloe, maybe... not appropriate Kate-Is-Here table talk?"
Chloe's face immediately registered fear. "Fuck, sorry Kate. Anyways, point is, that's all over, and we were together 3 years as if this past May."
"I gotta say Kate, I'm surprised you're not more... Apprehensive about us." Rachel popped a fry into her mouth as she spoke, while Kate shyly withered. "I'm... Not like my family. I believe love is love, regardless of where it comes from and from whom. Now, fi you were in front of my mother..."
Chloe reached across, gently tapping Kate's hand. "I... don't think we need to hear about how much I'd wanna punch your mother in the vag, Katie." Surprisingly, Kate giggled at that.
October 8th, 2013
A double-shot photo of Victoria and Taylor bullying Kate in the shower room, aswell as Max erasing the video link morphs...
Max snickers as she closes her door behind her at Chloe's texting antics.
Chloe: no u
Chloe: no but seriously its so cool we get to hang again. n hey if u see cate today make sure to tell her sup from me
Chloe: now I go shower. 2 obese women around 8:30?
Max: Sounds good! (^o^)
Chloe: NO EMOJI CAULFIELD
"Max...?"
Max looked up to find Victoria, in the same clothes as yesterday, a nice bruise the shape of Chloe's hand formed on her face and puffy eyes. "Whaddyou want, Victoria? I don't wanna fight anymore."
Victoria held her hand up in surrender. "N-no, I.. Can we get coffee or something? I... want- No, I... Need to talk to you."
Max peered down at her phone and sighed. "Chloe and I were meeting for breakfast. Hold on." The brunette began typing.
Max: Chloe, are you cool if I bring Victoria to breakfast? (._.)
Chloe: 1 NO FRIGGIN EMOJI and 2 why are you fraternizing with the enemy?
Max: I... Think you actually slapped some sanity into her yesterday, She looks like she's been crying. She wants to talk.
Chloe: oh for... fine she can come but im bringing rachel
Max: More the merrier. See you soon. 3
Chloe: ok a heart isnt technically an EMOji so ill let that slide
"Two Obese W- Dammit, Chloe... Two Whales. No later than 8:40. You've got one chance at this, Victoria. Don't fuck it up. Also, Rachel's gonna be there. Should we invite Kate too? Get everyone you've pissed off in a group?" Christ, I'm being really harsh on her... But... Well, she brought it on herself.
There was a noticeable sob-like shudder that broke Max's resolve. "I'm sorry, Victoria, but you have to admit, you had that coming."
She nodded. "I did... Um.. No need for Kate... We talked already.. I'll be there... Thanks Max..."
A photo of Max & Chloe at the diner morphs...
"It was all... Insecurities... I feel like I have something to prove. What, or to who, I have no idea. But I've... Taken it out on you three, and Kate, even Tay and Court... I'm such a fucking bitch, it's not even funny..."
"I'm inclined to agree. You are the biggest "cunsn" in the known world. But it sounds like we we can change that A into a W-E. I'm not the type to forgive people easily, Victoria. But if KATE forgave you... I kind of have to. Max? Rach?" Chloe finished her sentence with a sip of her coffee, waiting.
"It'd be hella hypocritical if I didn't." Rachel leaned across the table with her brow furrowed. "But I won't forget. Please don't stab us in the back."
"I dont think I could've said it better. That goes double for me and triple for Kate." Max awkwardly held up "To growing up."
The other three replied the same and clinked mugs, with Victoria's cheeks drenched in now-happy tears.
A double-shot photo of Chloe shooting bottles and being accosted by Frank morphs...
"Thank God I went back to change into boots..." Victoria said as she stomped through some mud. "Between your truck and this tetanus infested heap, I should be dead by now."
"Oh, admit it, you love this. You can finally be yourself instead of the coldhearted rich bitch you played for, oh, iunno, eighteen fuckin' years?" Chloe said as she tossed her cigarette butt into a nearby puddle.
"Okay, just because you're right, doesn't mean I gotta like it." There was a playful snark to Victoria's voice.
"Welcome to our home away from Hell!" Chloe threw her arms out with a wide grin, causing Victoria and Max to share a look.
"It's... Very..."
"You."
"What Max said."
"Welp. If you're gonna be one of us, it's time you made your marks." Chloe held out a Sharpie, pointing to the "Was Here" graffiti. "C'Mon, losers. Rebel against the system!"
Max looked at Victoria, then Rachel, before shrugging and grabbing the marker. She wrote "Max Was Here" in her own style. "Not bad, Mad Max. Couple tats and some piercings and we'll make a rebel outta you yet."
Before Max could mutter that infamous line, Victoria snagged the marker. "Oh, get a room, bitches." The blonde wrote her own graffiti before nodding. "Perfect. As usual. We'll need to get Kate here to add her name to the Wall of Fame."
The girls giggled at that, probably all imagining a timid Kate wading through rust and dirt.
A photo of Chloe about to be hit by the train morphs...
"Hey, look. I found Thelma, Lousie, Bonnie and Clyde, all in one place. Price. Money. Where is it?"
Max looked up to the voice and recoiled. Not... so much in fear, but confusion.
"Jesus Christ, Frank... I told you, I-"
"It's my fault, Frank."
Rachel stood up and sauntered over to him, obviously putting on the charm for him. "I needed to help my grandma with some medical bills, I asked Chloe for the money. If you're gonna ask anyone for it, talk to me... Unless... Maybe you can forget the debt, this once...? Please...?"
Frank looked all sorts of confused, but finally agreed. "Yeah... Yeah, alright, this ONCE. But fi ANY of you borrow from me again, you best pay it back... Or else." He took a brief look around. "See you around, ladies. You know where to find me if you need me."
Frank took his leave while Chloe stared at the back of Rachel's head with a cocked eyebrow, quickly changing her look to avoid suspicion of her suspicions.
A photo of Rachel dropping Max off morphs to show her dropping all three off, before a seperate photo depicting Jefferson and Kate's discussion before class, aswell as Kate falling from the roof...
"Uh, Tori, you're being flanked by a wild selfie ho." Taylor looked up at Max with a malicious smirk, although before she could speak, Victoria slammed her hands down on the desk.
"Max, Rachel..." She looked around before speaking again. "...And you, Kate!... Are sityting with us. We're done being bullies to hide our insecurities. If you wanna be OUR friend, that's great. But the bullying's done. Over with. Ka-fucking-put, got it?"
Taylor's eyes registered shock. "I... Yeah, I got it. Sorry, Max. I... Was always... Kinda just following Victoria's lead... I..."
Max held up a hand to stop her, with a smile. "All's forgiven. This is a new day, no worries... Tay?"
Taaylor nodded with a giggle as Jefferson entered the class, and the group sat down. He was... Noticably surprised to see them all together, but otherwise said nothing.
"Alexaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! This isn't DBTTS! What the fuck!"
Yeah, I've hit a wall with that one. I've also lost a good bit of my obsession with DB. Don't get me wrong, I still love it, but the most I play it these days is Dragon Ball Legends. But I've been reading a LOT of LiS fiction lately and wanted to take my own crack at it, so... Here it be! This chapter shoes the events changing on the first two days, aswell as before the game itself. Next Chapter will be Wednesday through Friday and end with the original Max and Chloe taking over.
Let me know what you think, and I have a funny feeling i'll be updating this one more frequently. Hopefully. Maybe.
'Kay I'mma try, but don't take me at face value.
Potama and- Wait. Wrong genre.
Uh,...
Oh!
Catch ya later, Pricefielders~!
