Hey guys it KirbyHazard. Just finished playing the game Life is Strange and I was completely won over by it storyline and characters. Its been a while since I had a game move me so much and I particularly warmed to Kate Marsh's character, so this story will be about her and her struggles. This story will start roughly two weeks before the game starts. So I hope you enjoy :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Life is Strange or the dialogue include. I own my OC Alec Taylor


The sun rose like a beacon of hope over the horizon, encompassing its surroundings in a glorious warmth for mid-autumn. White seahorse waves galloped towards the beach, crashing on it slightly before retreating backwards away from the shoreline. After four long years, nothing had changed in Arcadia bay since he left. It still looked the same, although there was not as many shops since he was last here. As he drove his car along the coastal route through town, Alec caught his reflection in the window as he stared off into the distance. He looked quite rough, after his long drive from Wisconsin through yesterday and the night, he couldn't wait to collapse into bed. His bright blue eyes were a mixture of excitement, anticipation, curiosity and fatigue. His short brown hair was quite ruffled from having his hand prop his head up from falling asleep. He furrowed his eyebrows in frustration as he turned his gaze back to the road in front. His navigation device alerting him that he would arrive to his destination in 10 minutes.

'This place has hardly changed. Hmmmm. I wonder if it was the right decision to move back here after all of this time?' He thought to himself.

As he drove along the straight road he passed by an old diner which he instantly recognised. 'Oh the Two Whales diner! It's still here after all this time! I'm definitely going to have to get a breakfast off Joyce one morning' He licked his lips subconsciously, thinking about the crispy bacon and the freshly grounded coffee. 'No, no! Stop thinking about it Alec and concentrate on the road. Nearly there now'

Numerous thoughts were running through his head at this point, serious doubt was taking over. Had he made the right decision to come back here after all this time? So many memories both good and bad had happened here. He sighed out loud. just what was he doing, trying to make amends? Then again he had nothing left in Wisconsin and nothing here, so either way this was going to be a clean slate. Alec thought about how he was going to fit again, an academy with a bunch of hormonal eighteen year olds. They would all be there with their large friendship groups, drinking habits, sex habits and drug habits and here he was a social outcast who had never had a girlfriend in his life. Sure he had interest from girls before, they were practically throwing themselves at his feet but he would always push it off.

Following his navigation device, Alec made a sharp left on the road and began the accent up hill until he levelled out into a car park. Finding himself a space, he parked his red Jeep Wrangler and turned off the engine. He sat there a while with his hands on the steering wheel with his head looking down towards his lap. 'C'mon Alec you can do this. You can do it'

Alec unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his car door, he stood up out of his car and folded both of his arms on top of the door and rested his chin. 'Blackwell Academy. You've definitely seen some renovations lately' he thought as he whistled out loud.

"Impressed with how it's changed Mr Taylor?" A voice spoke, interrupting Alec's thoughts.

A small and plumpish man of African American decent walked towards him dressed in a very smart suit and colourful tie and stood before Alec at the front of his car.

"Mr Wells? You're still here?" Alec questioned.

"That's principle wells now young man. You look a lot more different than you did four years ago? Must be all that cheese in Wisconsin I here so much about" Principle Wells laughed.

"Haha yeah maybe" Alec laughed awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Um. I have to admit Mr wells - I mean Principle Wells. I'm a little apprehensive about coming back here after being gone for so long. Not to mention I'm pretty tired from my journey" Alec mentioned uncomfortably.

"Ha. Why of course you are my dear boy and I'm not surprised you're tired after all that driving. I've arranged our head of security Mr David Madsen to collect your valuables and transfer them into your new room, so don't worry about that. Here's your set of room keys as well. As soon as he arrives, I'll give you the grand tour of Blackwell and introduce you to my faculty staff before giving you your timetable" He explained.

"Oh erm- thank you for your hospitality. I'm glad to hear someone will be carrying my things. I'm pretty sure i packed an entire house into my car"

"Why of course. Well I hope you don't mind me saying but after everything that happened there's no point leaving anything behind in Green Bay" Principle wells frowned.

Alec stood uncomfortably, keeping his down and kicking his feet underneath him. He was trying to formulate something to say but the words would not leave his mouth. Fortunately a tall and muscular man with a moustache came over and tapped wells on the shoulder.

"Ah David. Good timing. This here is Alec Taylor a former student of ours who is returning to us this year. Alec this is David Madsen our academy's own security guard. If you should need anything or deem anything dangerous or unsafe, then please feel free to speak with David" Wells informed.

The two men just nodded their heads in recognition. He seemed like a nice enough man but Alec could see that there was something suspicious about him. He definitely gave off military vibes.

"So anyway, these are Mr Taylor's things. If you would like to take them to room 112 of the boys dorm and ensure that the other boys are aware of Alec's arrival" He instructed.

David made his way over to Alec's jeep and opened up the rear doors. Just as he was about to grab some objects he retracted his hands and stood up to look at Alec, holding one hand out. Alec looked at him strangely, trying to figure out his actions until he realised what he wanted. Alec fumbled around in his back pocket before pulling out his car keys and placing them in David's hands.

"I'll drop these off to you in lesson when I finish unpacking these boxes" David said plainly before returning his attention back to the task at hand.

'There is definitely something off about him, what's his angle' Alec thought before his thoughts were once again interrupted.

"Come on Alec. We'll leave Mr Madsen to that and we'll get you reacquainted to Blackwell again- and a large coffee may I add" The principle chuckled as he began to walk through the car park. Alec followed like a dog in a new home. His gaze was constantly searching the environment, the buildings, the people as they approached steps up to the courtyard. Trees after trees was all Alec could see, the orange of the leaves reminding him once again of the time of year, yet it was incredibly warm for late September. He took notice of what he was wearing, a simple grey T-shirt, accompanied by a pair of black jeans and all white trainers. He accepted them as being appropriate, he wasn't too hot or too cold and the clothes were more than comfortable to do work in, let alone drive in. He looked at the people around him, most students were in pairs as they walked around or gossiped about what they did at the weekend. There were only two groups that stood out, those who were sat underneath a tree, most with academy jackets on and a group near the bus stop who sat on the railings with skateboards in hand.

'Ah the jocks and skaters. Nothing has changed too much then' he thought to himself humourlessly as he stared at the sight.

"Hey-um principal wells. What are the students like? Anyone I know left or some new faces?"

"Hmm yes there is quite a lot of new faces here actually Alec. Many who are new this term just like yourself. Blackwell became recognised as an academy, not just school several years ago and brings in talented people such as yourself from across the country to partake in our courses such as science and art. I believe someone who you maybe familiar with who has 'left' was a miss Chloe Price. Became a bit of bother a few years back, went through a real rebellious phase and still is now. We had no choice but to expel her from Blackwell. Our reputation must proceed us" He informed in great detail.

"I see, so I doubt I'd know anybody here then now? I guess it makes good for a fresh start after-" Alec trailed off.

"Yes unfortunately. But like you said, a fresh start. I am sorry for everything that happened Alec and I know this can't be easy for you but I'm proud that you're doing this after all this time. Anyway let's not dwell on the past, as your future is right through these doors"

Principle wells took off up another flight of stairs which seemed to lead to the entrance of the academy's main building. Alec sighed as he looked up at the ominous building.

'Okay here we go. Day one of the rest of my future, just do it Alec' he spoke to himself as he motivated his legs to move forward and begin his student life.


Alec left the principles office with a timetable in one hand and his other hand grasping the strap of his backpack. He looked around at his surroundings noting the long and narrow corridors branching off into different directions with lockers lining the majority of the walls. The hustle and bustle of the corridors was strange for Alec and almost foreign as during his time away in Wisconsin, his days were usually full of reading, drawing and walking round the lakes. This however, was something out of s jungle almost as people fought past each other, pushing them out the way or running straight through people. Some unlucky souls found themselves pinned against lockers by bullies and others pranked with the ol' water fountain trick. Alec looked down at his timetable and searched for when he was meant to be this morning.

"Art with Mr Jefferson?" Alec spoke out loud to no one in particular.

"Did you say Art with Mr Jefferson?" A voice asked. Alec looked up from his sheet to see a pair of dark brown eyes gazing into his own. The person stood before him had black silverish hair which flicked into a small quiff. He wore thick black glasses which framed his face and seemed incredibly well dressed. He appeared stylish in his black chinos, blue buttoned shirt, suede shirt and all finished off with a cotton scarf.

"The names Evan Harris. Are you new here?" The boy spoke.

"Oh erm hi. I'm Alec- Alec Taylor. I guess you could say I'm new" He laughed awkwardly.

'Dammit I'm a mess. Can't even have one conversation without getting shy. Stupid Wisconsin and its isolation'

"Nice to meet you. I'm in the same class as you, we can go there together if you want?" Evan asked with a genuine smile on his face.

"Yeah sure, that'd be great. Principle Wells gave me the tour but I'm still trying to remember where things are" Alec replied gratefully.

Evan nodded and began to walk forward before taking a right down the corridor, Alec once again followed along like a lost puppy as they made their way past more students. On the left was the science rooms and with a quick glance inside it seemed heavily chemistry based with its lab tables and test tubes out ready for its students.

"So I guess I should tell you about Mr Jefferson. He's a pretty awesome guy, very witty and funny but you know he's got a lot of knowledge and experience with art. He's pretty famous actually. The girls however, pretty much drool over him for his good looks and the way he dresses" Evan explained as they made their way into the classroom.

Just as they walked into the room, the school bell rang and the students who were already in the room stopped their gossiping and made their way to their seats. Alec stood there awkwardly as he didn't know what to do and found himself with several pairs of eyes looking at him. It was then that he felt a pair of firm hands grasp in shoulders. Alec turned to see a tall slender man stood over him. He had short spiked brown hair and light brown eyes which were slightly hidden by his glasses. His chin adorned a well groomed beard and his tidiness didn't stop there as he wore a black blazer with a white shirt, blue skinny jeans and a pair of shiny black leather loafers.

"Ah you must be the new boy we've heard so much about. It's a pleasure to meet you and welcome you into the world of art and photography. My name is Mr Jefferson and this is my class. Over by the wall we have Stella, Hayden, Taylor, Victoria and normally Nathan. Right at the back of the room is Max Caufield and Evan. And finishing it up by the window we have Kate, Alyssa and right in front is David. Would you like to introduce yourself to the class and give us some information about yourself?" Mr Jefferson went on.

'Oh great. Just what I needed'

"Um hello my name is Alec Taylor. I'm originally from Arcadia bay but I moved to Wisconsin about four years ago and now I find myself back here. When it comes to art I enjoy and partake in fine art, calligraphy and graffiti art. Besides art I enjoy reading, films, soccer, jogging and volunteering. I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to trying or doing new things. Um I don't really know what else to say...I hope I'll get time to get to know you all personally" Alec spoke shyly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"Nice to meet you Alec, I look forward to seeing your style of art soon. Especially that of graffiti. If you would like to take a seat over by the window in between Alyss and Kate and I'll give you s brief overview about what we're doing this term" Mr Jefferson.

Alec nodded slightly and walked over to the window he looked at alyssa briefly who seemed to be on her phone somehow underneath the table. When he looked over to his right he saw Kate, who turned to looked at him as he sat down, she smiled when his gaze met hers and he smiled back as got comfortable in his seat. He looked straight across the room to see a girl with very short blonde hair and striking hazel eyes looking at him. She pouted her lipstick red lips and waved at him slightly before winking at him. Alec felt a warm pink tinge rise to his cheeks as he averted his gaze to focus on Mr Jefferson.

"So today we will continue on with looking at the process of understanding the connotations of black and white. Alfred Hitchcock famously called film "little pieces of time" but he could be talking about photography as he most likely was. Can you give me an example of a photographer who perfectly captured the human condition in black and white?" Mr Jefferson asked the class.

Just then as he was turning around a white crumpled paper ball was hurdled through the air by Taylor and hit Kate in the face before falling to the floor. Kate raised a hand to her eye in pain before lowering her head and averting her gaze to the table. Alec looked on in disbelief, sure he'd seen these types of things happen in movies but he really didn't believe they happened in real life. He looked over to Kate who now has her back to him as she stared down at the table with her head propped up by her arm. He then looked at the floor and noticed the ball of paper lying near to his chair. Using his feet he pushed the ball under his chair and mentally reminded himself to pick it up after class.

"Alec? Perhaps you know the answer?" Mr Jefferson inquisted breaking his trail of thought.

'Oh crap what was the question again? Something about a photographer who uses black and white was it?'

'Erm I would have to say Ansel Adams or Elliott Erwitt" Alec stated.

"Oh very good. I didn't realise you were aware of so many abstract photographers. Why them?" Mr Jefferson asked curiously.

"Well they both looked at depicting images to mean something. Something that wasn't so black and white as the photos, they had a hidden depth to them, one that could be interpreted differently each time by someone who looked at them. They depicted life as being that way. That it's not so clear cut and black and white as it seems. Everyone has a story and people can depict them in a different way, a different judgement, a different stereotype" Alec finished. Art was one of only subjects that he really could relate to the world and life. He loved finding different interpretations of artwork and finishing the hidden meaning.

"Wow. I um- wasn't expected such a well thought out answer. I'm personally a fan of Robert frank and his work...


The class bell rang to signal to a students that it was time to get some food into their bellies. Most of the class were already packing their bags and sprinting out the room for their daily fix of gossip and loitering.

"Okay everyone, enjoy your lunch and remember it won't be long until the submission date for the 'Everyday heroes' contest. You only have two weeks left!" Mr Jefferson shouted over the mob of students clawing their way out of the door.

Alec sat back for a while as people left, giving himself a chance to process everything that had happened so far today. He was to divulge in his thoughts when he felt a presence looming over him. Looking up he saw a pretty and well defined face smirking at him.

"Hi. I thought it would be nice to meet and get to know you personally before the day is up. I've got to say I'm very impressed with your knowledge of photographers and contemporary art and also the little bio you gave us before. The names Victoria, Victoria chase. But you, can call me anything you want" Victoria introduced flirtatiously as she purred out the last part.

"Um thank you. I had a lot of free time in Wisconsin and art is a major hobby of mine, I like to divulge in various aspects of it from time to time. It's nice erm nice to meet you Victoria" Alec stuttered. This girl was really pretty but almost too pretty and very intimidating, not in a scary way but she made Alec feel like he was a 12 year old boy again.

"Likewise. You know, i understand that it's difficult being the new guy on the block and that it can get especially lonely at times. If you ever feel alone, you can always visit me in my room at any point. My bed can bring out the best in anyone" She continued as she bit her bottom lip.

Had Alec been drinking something he definitely would have spat it out at that comment. He looked at her in embarrassment and disbelief. He couldn't believe how forward and loud she was being infront of Mr Jefferson, Taylor and Kate. He opened his mouth to reply but the words wouldn't form, luckily she spoke for him.

"I'll let you think on it but my offer still stands. Perhaps you should join us all for lunch?" Victoria asked.

"I appreciate the offer but I'm afraid I'll have to pass I erm...need to...erm ring someone..that's right" Alec murmured.

"Okay, well you know where we are. Nice to meet you, Alec" She said as she winked one last time before leaving with Taylor.

Alec could only exhale loudly as he shook off his awkwardness and discomfort. 'Maybe I should start taking my anxiety tablets again, damn!' He inwardly cursed himself for not thinking it would be appropriate to take them on his first day at the academy. As he began to pack his bag he felt a crunch under his shoe. Stopping he reached down and picked up the paper ball that had been thrown earlier. He held it in his hands contemplating whether to read something that wasn't any of his business, but curiosity took over him and he began to unfold the edges. Once opened he began to read the smudged message. 'You preach abstinence but we all know you'd fuck for Jesus, whore!' Alec swallowed hard and found himself getting angry at the note. He crumpled the paper back up and threw it in the trash can nearby before standing up. There was no one left in the class now except himself, Mr Jefferson and Kate. He turned round to look at her but her back was still facing towards him. He felt sorry for her, he got the feeling she was used to this and that shouldn't be the case at all, no one should get used to being bullied. Mustering up some strength, Alec took several steps towards her and lightly tapped her on the shoulder. Surprised, she turned round to face Alec, her face filled with intrigue and uncertainty. She was really pretty. Unlike Victoria, Kate was more of a natural beauty. She wore hardly any makeup and her mousse hair was tied up effortlessly into a bun but somehow she still looked stunning. Her eyes were a deep blue and gleamed brightly but Alec knew that that was caused by her crying. Her waterline was wet with tears yet you could see she was trying her hardest to keep it together. Her outfit consisted of a white blouse covered by a black cardigan. Across her blouse lay a golden cross necklace illustrating to Alec that she was very much so religious and that was emphasised by the mention of 'abstinence ' in that horrible note. She wore a simple grey skirt and white trainers to finish her look.

"Hi, um sorry to bother you Kate, wasn't it, but I was wondering if you wanted to get some lunch together?" Alec asked nervously.

She looked at him strangely as though he had been set up to say this but when she saw the sincerity in his light blue eyes, she realised he was being genuine. She smiled slightly and stifled a small laugh before looking back to him.

"Thank you for the offer, Alec. I really appreciate it, really I do. But I'm not really feeling up for lunch today, I'm quite tired but maybe tomorrow?" She replied gently.

"Ah yeah! Sure! Sounds great. I hope you feel better soon. I'll see you after lunch" Alec beamed. She smiled back. There was some genuineness to it but Alec could tell it was forced to make him feel better. He grabbed his backpack and made his way over to the door.

'Really Alec? "Hope you get better soon" Real fucking genius. She's not ill you idiot, she's clearly upset. Oh man, I really didn't think four years would render my speech and thought process completely void' He argued to himself.

"Alec! A word if you will?" Mr Jefferson inquired as he saw Alec about to leave.

"Yes, Mr Jefferson?"

"I was very impressed with your knowledge about black and white photography, have you done work on it previously? In Wisconsin was it?"

"No I haven't actually. I was home tutored whilst I was in Wisconsin so I found myself with a lot of free time, I was constantly surrounded by art through nature in the lakes nearby. I learnt a lot through reading and drawing, it teaches you to take a step back a view things from a different angle. Art and people" Alec explained inspiringly.

"Wow. I can see that your time away has taught you a lot. I was the same really. I was born and breed here in Arcadia Bay but I moved away to Chicago. It was there that I discovered myself" Mr Jefferson spoke.

"I think you and I will get along well, Alec. If you need anything or help with some of your work in your first few weeks here, feel free to come speak to me"

"Thank you sir" Alec said as shifted his backpack uncomfortably. As he left the classroom he saw Mr Jefferson walk over to Kate and hover her, resting an arm on her table. There was something strange about him under all of that niceness and professionalism.


So that's the end of chapter one. Hope you've enjoyed it so far. Let me know your thoughts and comments in the review section as I don't know whether to incorporate Max's ability to control time and also whether to continue the story in third person or to use first person pov. But let me know and I hope to have the next chapter up soon.