Reunion
Max is back again for another visit. She blinks away the flash of the polaroid, letting the bathroom-blue tile come into focus. Habit kicks in as gears begin to wind. Max tilts the camera, snags the photo, gives it a few shakes, and stows them away. She pauses, pressing her hand against the outer pocket of the satchel.
The butterfly lingers as Max approaches the sink. She rests her rear on the corner, feeling it shift under her weight as she peers down old friend's glowy-blue wings. But the spirit of this timeline stays with human Chloe for now. There's several ways to rescue her - but this seems to work best. With a thud the door swings open. She catches glimpse of the lava like abyss that awaits her outside. Nathan emerges. His brow rises as Max stares him down. Sometimes she yells at him. But that usually leads to an argument, so silence shall do as he holds up the door. Chloe says something, and he winces, backing into the haze. Max smirks, she's probably giving him all kinds of shit. The door snaps open again. She approaches and Max shudders, slamming her eyes shut. She listens for the flutter of wings.
"Max?" Chloe whispers. That brings out a smile. Maybe things can be different. Chloe's always gone when she returns. So Max comes back. Stays over, drives along the coast, visits the junkyard or lighthouse –- anything - just to spend just a few fleeting moments with her.
"Hey, Chloe," It too is a whisper. Max catches the familiar hurt in her in the eyes, but forces another smile, "Been a while."