Chapter 1

Maximilian Bennett reclined against the wall and looked both sides of the hallway. It wasn't the usual spot, but it was good enough.

At length he saw her, the brunette with blue eyes and freckles. But far more noticeable was the old instant camera hanging around her neck. She spotted him, and joined him with a big smile.

"Hi, Max," he greeted her.

"Hi, Max," she said back with a chuckle. "Ready?"

"Let's go learn something," he said.

The two had met on the first day of school, two new people hanging together to lessen the stress; the fact both were called Max sealed their friendship.

"So I looked up the Mr. Jefferson pictures you told me about," he told the girl.

"They were awesomesauce, right?" she asked eagerly.

"Yeah..."

"You don't sound too convinced," the girl raised an eyebrow.

They reached the classroom before he had to answer, thankfully. As usual, Girl Max sat by herself on the back, while he took the seat behind Victoria, the seemly most popular girl in school.

"Hey, Maximilian," she turned around and flashed him a gorgeous smile.

"Hey," he replied politely. After knowing her for three weeks he was sure he didn't like her, but also knew he didn't want her as an enemy either. "How's it going?"

"Amazing," she replied. "You missed Friday's party."

"Family stuff," he lied.

"Shame, it was really entertaining," Victoria said, laughing with her other friends and, he noticed, glancing at Kate Marsh.

He looked at the girl, busy drawing on her notebook. She was pale-skinned, with hazel eyes and blonde hair tied on a bun. She ran the Abstinence Club and he'd attended a few times; first to see what actually happened there and later because it was kind of fun.

But, as he watched her, Kate Marsh was a mess. Her bun was messy, and when she briefly looked up her eyes were puffed, and had bags under them.

What happened to her?

"Good morning, class," Mr. Jefferson walked into the classroom, and Max readied himself for another round of the Art of Photography.

A million years later the bell rang.

"And please don't forget the deadline to submit a photo in the 'Everyday Heroes' contest," the teacher announced. "I'll fly out with the winner..."

"We're having a little get-together this afternoon," Victoria said. "Care to join us?"

Not really, he thought. "Sure, let me know at what time." But I can only turn down so many invitations.

"Awesome, I'll send you a text," she flashed him that flirty smile again before going to actually flirt with Mr. Jefferson.

Max looked at Girl Max. She was acting weird since she fell asleep, but still managed to motion to him and Victoria and mimic kissing. She gave him a small wave and left in a daze, ignoring Mr. Jefferson calling her.

He packed his things just as Kate walked past him, looking at the ground. He hesitated, then followed the girl.

"Max Bennett, I won't let you run away too before we talk," Mr. Jefferson called.

"Now's not a good time, sir," he called back. "I'll come during lunch."

Max left the classroom and scanned the hallway. To his left, already a good distance away, he saw her, scurrying around avoiding everyone, flinching when someone pointed at her. He caught up with her.

"Hey, Kate," he said, walking at her pace. "Everything all right?"

She looked at him, and it was heartbreaking.

"What happened?"

"You really don't know?"

"About what?"

She studied him, making sure he was sincere, and a small smile appeared on her face. "Let's keep it that way," she said just as the fire alarm went off.

The two walked outside in silence, and away from everyone to the fountain.

"I'll see you around, Max," the girl told him. "I want to be alone for a while."

"All right," he sat on the fountain and watched her walk away.

"Boy Max!" he heard, and a moment later Girl Max walked up to him, looking even more freaked out than in class.

"What's up?"

"I need to talk to you," she grabbed his arm. "The craziest shit just happened to me."

A/N: First, a disclaimer: I really didn't like Life is Strange. I liked the characters and concepts, but the execution was, in my opinion, not good at all. But browsing here I've read a few stories that actually deliver, and it got me wanting to tackle it too.

Now the actual author's notes. I've never done OC before. I always think it's fun challenge to use the already-established characters and, using their OG personalities, make a different story. But there really isn't one (as far as I remember at least) I can use for this story, so I said 'what the hell'.