Chapter 1.
Greetings. I'm going to put my other story ("Lost in Azure") on a hold for the time being and instead focus on this one.
Hope you enjoy. Feel free to leave a review.
Special thanks to Isabella Mariana for allowing me to use this cover image.
"Chloe, you can't keep blaming me and everyone for everything wrong in your life. It's so not fair!"
"I gotta blame somebody. Otherwise it's all my fault. Fuck that!" tears were flowing down the blue-haired girls cheeks as her eyes were fixated on the road ahead. Max and Chloe had broken in Frank's RV and found evidence that Rachel, Chloe's best friend, was romantically engaged with him behind Chloe's back. This had enraged the punk-girl, and now she was having a serious meltdown while driving Max back to Blackwell.
"So now it's Rachel's fault too?" Max said with a questioning face.
"Jesus, she was banging that pig Frank! She lied to my face, Max! I can't trust anyone again. Everybody pretends to care, until they don't. Even you!"
Those words hurt, but also made Max angry. She knew that she'd been an ass for not contacting Chloe for five years after she left for Seattle. But ever since getting back together with her, Max had done everything in her power to be there for her. She saved her from getting shot by Nathan, she risked her scholarship in Blackwell by jumping out of hiding and taking the blame for the joint after Chloe was busted by her step-father David, she saved her from that ricocheting bullet in the junkyard, she saved her from the train, and even put her morals aside and allowed Chloe to steal money from the handicapped fund so she could pay off Frank. All this, only for Chloe to accuse her of 'not caring'?
"Chloe Price, you better take those words back. Right now." Max shot back.
The punk-girl took a quick look at Max, seemingly regretting what she just said. "Okay, fine." she continued after a split-second of silence. "But you just don't understand. It's like I'm being punished by the universe..."
Chloe's eyes were bloodshot and filled with both sadness and rage. It was as if Rachel's 'betrayal' released all the negative emotions and memories that had lingered in the girls heart and mind for the past five years.
"So who do you most want to blame for the problems in your life?"
"My fucking dad of course, hello?!" Chloe shouted out as she slammed her hand on the steering wheel.
"You blame William? Really?" Max couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yes, I do. Damn right. He chose to go out that door and leave me forever."
"Chloe, your dad didn't choose to 'leave' you."
"I know that, Max. My mom actually blames herself... Just because she wanted a ride home from work. Sometimes even I blame her."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, Max, I do! Do you know what it's like to wait for your father to come home when you're kid, and he never does?" Chloe's voice was getting increasingly darker.
"No, of course not. But I was with you that day. It was just a terrible accident."
"I wish that made me feel better. But ever since he died, my life has been dipped in shit!"
"God Chloe, you're not the only one in Arcadia Bay with problems. Kate Marsh almost-"
"So what if Kate Marsh almost killed herself?! Buhuu, such sad. That doesn't make me feel any better about my own fucked up life! Get it?"
"Chloe, I..." Max felt a sense of regret wash over her for having downplayed Chloe's problems by comparing her to Kate.
"My dad died, you hella bailed on me, Rachel disappears after betraying me and I get drugged by Nathan! You expect me to just walk on and act as if everything is alright?! ... You know what? I don't need this."
Suddenly the truck took a quick turn and stopped in the parking area of a kebab-shop.
"Get out of my car." Chloe whispered, signalling to Max that she should exit her vehicle.
"C-Chloe, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean t-"
"Get. Out." Chloe interrupted her. "And don't you dare rewinding."
"I can't do this on my own. I need you with me. And Rachel needs you..." Max's voice was shaking as she was litterally pleading to her best friend to not abandon her... but it was to no avail. Chloe just sat there with arms crossed and head turned away from Max.
Taking the hint, Max left the truck and started walking with slow steps towards Blackwell Academy, which still was a couple of hundred meters away. She was angry, her eyes were teary, her heart ached and her legs felt like jelly. In the background she heard Chloe's truck finally take off. "Fuck, what have I done?" For a moment Max considered breaking her principle of never using her rewind powers to manipulate Chloe, but decided not to as it felt wrong. Besides, she doubted that she'd be able to change the result.
"It was foolish of me to think that the pain I caused her in these five years would heal this quickly." Max thought as her eyes finally gave in to the pressure, and tears started flowing down her cheeks like a great, violent river.
It hurt seeing her friend like this. Max wanted to be with her again like when they were kids, but Chloe just kept pushing her away everytime she tried to reach out to her. One moment it would feel like they were inseparable, and the next moment Chloe would be giving her hell again for the smallest and most ridiculous things. Like when Max answered the call from her suicidal friend Kate Marsh when they were at the diner yesterday. Or when she refused to shoot and kill Frank Bowers. Chloe just made her feel so confused, guilty and sad when she acted like this.
After strolling around like a zombie for some time Max eventually found herself standing in front of her school. With the exception of Samuel cutting some leaves, and a small group students talking to each other near the fountain, the whole area was empty. Max tried to avoid contact with anyone as she looked like a total mess from all the crying. The events of the week were starting to strain Max both in body and mind, and the only person she could find solace in was pissed at her. She felt lonely, insecure and vulnerable, and wanted to just go into her room and isolate herself from the cruel world outside. "Was this how Chloe felt when I left her when she needed me the most?" she thought while staring down at the ground.
"Max? Are you okay?" A voice suddenly bursted in and startled Max, causing her to let out a small scream as she turned around with haste. It was Mr. Jefferson.
"Oh, uh... Mr. Jefferson. Y-yes, I'm fine."
"Sorry for startling you Max. Has something happened? Your eyes are all teary and red." Jefferson gave her a concerned look while putting an arm on her shoulder. "Should I fix an appointment with the school counselor for you?"
"N-no. I just feel a little tired from yesterday." Max replied with a shaky voice.
"I know yesterday was though on you. You did a tremendous job talking Kate down from that roof." Jefferson said while giving her a slight grin. "But I have a feeling that this isn't entirely about Kate."
Max just stared to the ground with a thoughtful, but sad face for a moment, trying to make up her mind if she should talk about her meltdown to Jefferson or just lie. Seeing Max's hesitation Jefferson suddenly shot out:
"Has it something to do with your friend Chloe?" Max was suprised that he knew about her, but decided to just nod in agreement.
"You are wearing Rachel's clothes, so I kinda guessed that you must've hanged out with Chloe in order to attain them." he continued.
"Yeah... Rachel had left some clothes in the 'Prices' house before her disappearance. Chloe convinced me to try them for fun." Max lied. She didn't want to mention that the only reason she wore them was because her own so-called 'generic, unfashionable' jeans and shirt smelled like chlorine, as that could turn both her and Chloe into suspects for yesterdays break-in at the swimming hall.
"Well, they look good on you Max." he took a deep breath before continuing. "I just hope you're alright. You can always talk to me if you need anything. See you in class." Jefferson said before leaving Max to her thoughts once again. After sitting on the chair for a couple of more minutes, she finally stood up and went to the nearest bathroom to splash some water on her face, before getting on with her day.
Chapter two will be up by the end of the day.