The storm ended, Arcadia Bay was in ruins and there was no sign of life except for the deer and birds. Max and Chloe had to find Chloe's truck first and then clear the street of some wreckage before leaving.
Max was looking out of the car window, facing all the destruction that somehow was caused by her, all the wreckage and some corpses could be seen under them. She felt a sharp pain on her chest and the sound of the waves and the seagulls were making her feel even worse, everyone died because of her. It´s true there's always someone that survives a tornado, but still the most would be dead. She couldn't stand it she just wanted to forget what she just did.
Then a thought hit her when the woman next to her stopped the truck and put her hand on her left shoulder; the reason she had decided to let the city die, was right next to her, and she couldn't be happier. She couldn't carry the weight of losing her again, Chloe couldn't die, she was her priority and she would do anything for her and Max proved that by sacrificing Arcadia Bay. Chloe showed the brunette a reassuring look and Max smiled back, then the bluenette restarted the car and both left Arcadia. Chloe supposed Max wasn't in the best condition to try finding survivors and to be honest she wasn´t ready herself… Thinking about her mom being dead inside the Two whales was way too much for her. They needed some time for themselves.
A few hours passed after their departure. They didn't sleep all night, their clothes were soaked and they hadn't decided yet where they would go. Max was in the worst condition of the two; she had very visible dark circles under her beautiful blue eyes and Chloe sometimes looked at her from the corner of hers to see if she had any change of emotion, and when Max noticed that she was being observed she looked at Chloe with empty eyes.
They left only with the clothes they had on their bodies, and they didn't have a place to go. Chloe sighed in relief because they were having some money at least. The punk was grateful for Max letting her steal the money and telling her not to give it to Frank. Now it will be very useful; at least they hadn't to worry about getting food and a place to sleep for the following days.
An awkward silence had filled the air. Chloe let out a yawn because she was so tired of driving so many hours so she had an idea.
"Hey Max?"
She didn't get a reply, forcing her to look at Max to see if she was okay.
"Ya know, could we switch? I'm hella beat girl."
The only thing near an answer that Chloe got was Max shrugging.
"Okay… I'll drive. But let me know when you feel okay Max…"
The two girls didn't decide if they were going to Los Angeles, to Seattle or other place, so Chloe would go wherever her truck would take them. She wanted Max to call her parents, but the girl refused, perhaps she didn't want to worry them but it is impossible that this tragedy wouldn't be on the news for now. They will call her in any moment and Chloe is not sure if Max would answer.
They stopped by a Mc Donald's and bought some food. Max stayed in the truck and Chloe went inside to get some fast food. When she returned she handed a little bag with a burger and a coke to Max.
"Here Super-Max. Lunch is served."
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry…" Max said in a weak voice.
Chloe now sat on her seat, looked at the food she still had on her hands and then to Max, and to the food again.
"I know it's not the best to eat, but it's the only thing we found now. You need to eat Max, you didn´t chew on anything for at least 10 hours. Come on." She said taking the burger out the bag and pressing it to Max's lips.
"You know you want a piece of this, just a bite Maxi-Pad."
"Argh… fine." Max grumbled giving up. "If you really want me to eat…"
"Of course. I don't know if you noticed but I do care about your health, hippie."

Chloe continued driving with one hand and eating with the other, she stared out the truck and looked at the left part of the road, just a few cars could be seen now and then; something about it made Chloe feel… nostalgic.

"Could you put on some music please?" she asked when seeing that Max had finished her meal.

The brunette turned on the radio and an indie song was playing. Chloe was even singing along, but in a low voice that sounded more like a whisper so she wouldn't disturb the girl next to her. However it ended some seconds later and one man started uttering the news of the day.

"Now talking about a tragedy: The coastal city of Arcadia Bay was completely destroyed by a tornado last night. Nobody knows the reasons for such happening, and it was unpredicted. Everything is in ruins, houses, establishments, schools. Some ambulances and firefighters are already in the local trying to find any survivors. We just got the information that there's already 40 deaths confirmed and at least 343 missing people. That's all the information we have for now…"

Chloe heard a sob, looked in the direction of it, and it was like her heart was being crashed; her best friend and lover Max was crying and trembling like a child.

"Max?" she asked, with concern in her voice. Max didn't answer. Instead she looked outside the window, refusing to answer.

Chloe stopped her truck some moments later when she found a place where she could actually park.

"Please talk to me Max!"
Chloe turned her body to the side the most she could and placed her hands on Max´ shoulders, shaking her lightly. "What's wrong Max?"
"I-I…" Max stuttered, sobbing. "I killed everybody."
"YOU didn't kill anybody Max! It was the tornado, it wasn't your fault. None of this was your fault!" Chloe said, caressing Max cheek with the back of her hand. "You didn't choose to have this power… it was just destiny… And destiny is a bitch!"
"The storm was caused by me… Of course it is my fault…"
Maybe she was right, maybe it was Max´ fault that the storm destroyed Arcadia Bay because she refused to sacrifice Chloe, but she made her choice.
"Max, if you didn't let Arcadia Bay be destroyed, I wouldn't be here with you. You choose to save me, and I couldn't be more grateful for that. I knew that anything that you decided would be the right thing to do. You went against the universe to save me, one of the persons that least deserved to still be alive…" Hearing herself was making her eyes get watery. "But you still choose me, you're my hero Max…"
"Chloe…" Max said as she snuggled her head on the crook of Chloe´s neck, letting her sadness taking over.
Geez Max your body is super tense, and you look a mess. Chloe thought sadly. She surrounded her comfortably with her arms and stroked her hair at the same time. "Try not to soak my shirt much m'kay?" She declared with a smile.
"Sorry… I'm so, sorry."
She's hella broken Price, you're making her feel even worse you dumbass. Chloe kicked herself for that, but she was just trying to make Max somehow laugh, it didn't work.
"Let's just try to find a motel somewhere. I don't think I can stay awake much longer, besides that my ass will get square shaped if I keep sitting here."
Max let out a little smile, when hearing this statement and Chloe couldn't be happier.
She kissed Max's freckled nose softly and the words that followed this gesture touched Max deeply: "I want to prove you I was worth saving Max. I will not let you down".


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