Chapter II: Admission


AN:

Ok, well… Howdy y'all. Long time no see. I'd love to say I was writing all that time, but I wasn't. I got some hideous illness and basically spent about a week and a half there just alternating between crying in a corner and trying to stop vomiting. It wasn't fun, and definitely didn't put me in the mood to write, or read. So, I'm a little rusty. These chapters are a little shorter to help me ease back into the game and hopefully keep up the weekly schedule again.

On that note, I'm really not sure what my plan is anymore. Before I got sick, I had a full chapter for each story, but I wasn't happy with them and felt I didn't do the idea justice, so I deleted pretty much all of them in a fit of pique. So, those stories are on hold for now while I work out what the fuck I'm doing with them. The current plan is to keep going with the 5 I have posted until they're done and upload the others when I finally get a chapter I like. But, that's pretty flexible for now, so don't hold me to that. I might change my mind.

Well, the rustiness means I'm not really sure how good these chapters are. I'm probably being insecure and hating on my work again, but I'm pretty sure these aren't up to my usual standard. I hope they are, but I don't think they are. It's a weird feeling. I've mostly just decided "Fuck it, I'll let you guys decide as usual." So, please, let me know if these are shit or not. And be honest, if I've fucked up, I'd like to fix it. Constructive Criticism is the only way to know what to focus on for improvement, right?

Anyways, thanks, fan-fic-folks, and, as always, please review.

W1ll1m1234: Thank you! I'm actually rewatching from the beginning too, just to remind me of the big plot points. I never made it past about season 2 before, so it's going to be interesting to actually get further this time. I hope you enjoy the rest of my story.

Momijifan Low-ki: Thanks dude. I hope the destination lives up to your expectations.

Guest: Thank you! As I said in the main AN, I'm definitely continuing all the five stories I have uploaded atm until completion. I hope the rest of the story keeps your interest.

Time Dragon: Thank you! And you really should take a look sometime, if you're into superhero stuff. I'm really and truly not, comics and superhero movies were a phenomenon that just passed me, but even I like the series.

Lycan13: I know, right? I just came up with the 5 years on an island connection and couldn't avoid writing it. And sorry for the delay, like I said in the AN, crippling pain and throwing up doesn't make for a very helpful writing atmosphere. I seem to be over that part of the problem though, so hopefully I should be able to keep the update schedule as usual. :)

MaxNeverMaxine: Thank you! I'm quite the arrow fan too. Half for the story, half for the drooling over Stephen Amell muscles. ;) I'm quite excited for this fic, too. I've got plenty of plans for it, one of which I'm highly looking forward to trying out. I hope the rest of the story lives up to this start for you.


I heard the door click closed and immediately sat up to see Max fucking creeping into my… our room. Still weird to say after all these years.

I mean, she's fucking alive!

I growl. But not after I'm fucking done with her.

"What the fuck time do you call this? Where the fuck were you, Max?"

I pause for a sec, staring open-mouthed at her, before dropping my head into my hands. "Oh my fucking god, I sound like step-douche…"

"I was out." She looks down at the floor. "Sorry, Chloe. For making you worry. It was just… uncomfortable."

My shoulder sag and I don't feel as pissed off anymore. Damn it. I grin. "We never could stay angry with each other, huh?"

She smiles back. "Never ever, Captain." She sags a little and rolls her shoulders and neck. "I'm tired, Chlo. Can we go to sleep?"

I grin and wiggle my eyebrows. "Sure thing, grandma. You wanna be the big spoon?"

She laughs and sinks down onto the left side of the bed. "I'll take this side. Night Chlo."

"Night Max."


I wake up to the sound of thunder and screaming.

"What the shit…?" I wipe at my eyes.

"Oh, fuck." Max was in the middle of a nightmare and I had no fucking clue what to do.

Do I wake her up? Do I leave her alone? Fuck if I know.

I reach out and shake her shoulder. "Max! Max! Wake up!"

Well, more like "Wake U…" because she grabs my hand and fucking flips me halfway through the word, slamming a hand into my throat. Her eyes are open now, just staring blankly off past me.

I just yell in her face, hoping she'll let go. "Max! Wake the fuck up!"

She blinks at me for a moment. I don't think she even recognises me.

Then it clicks and she backs away from me into the corner, curling up into a ball like a fucking cornered animal. "I'm sorry. Dog, I'm so sorry Chloe."

I put my hand up to my throat, taking as hella deep breaths as I can to try get some fucking air in my lungs. It's harder than I thought. Fuck, Max really hits hard now. "It's ok, Max. Seriously. You've been through some shit, right?"

I laugh, and it sounds fake, even to me. "Besides, you just fucking flipped me, it was so cool! You gotta teach me how to do that shit, ok?"

She doesn't smile back.

"Seriously, Chloe. I'm really sorry. I just…" She sighs, pauses for a second.

I nod and interrupt her. Shit, when I can see she ain't ready to talk about it, you know she definitely isn't ready. No fucking way I'm gonna force her to. "I get it. Bad dream. Don't sweat it, Maxipad."

I stick my hand out for a hella awesome brofist. "Still best friends?"

She smiles. "Always."


"Aargh!" I reach over and slam my hand down on the snooze button of my alarm. Fucking noisy fucking thing fucking waking me the fuck up. Aargh.

"Good to see some things never change." I roll over to see Max smirking at me from my desk chair. I roll my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, fuzzball."

I roll out of bed and land on the floor with a thud. "Ow."

I feel a hand settle under my shoulder and pull me up off the floor. "Come on, Chlo. I need breakfast."

I slump a little when she moves away again. Shit, I really fucking hate mornings. I waft at her. "Fine. Ok. Awesomesauce. Just let me get my shit on." I yawn and stretch out, trying to crack my back.

I head over to my fashion hole and pull on a tank top and crowbar myself into some jeans. "Have you seen my...?"

She waves over at the door. "Your shoes are over there."

"Booyah. Thanks, Maximilian." I pull on my boots and lace 'em up. "And done. All ready for noms."


We head downstairs to find Mom is already up. Of-fucking-course. Pretty sure she's up at the crack of fucking dawn. "Morning, girls. You ready to eat?"

Max smiles. "Chloe is always ready to eat, Joyce."

I shrug. "True."

Mom rolls her eyes. "Well, what can I get you both then? Any requests?"

I turn to Max. "You missed Mom's cooking for five years, so your choice, first mate."

Max thinks for a second. "Bacon and Eggs please, Joyce."

Mom grins. "Comin' right up. You just sit down at the table and I'll bring it over."

We head over to the table and sit down next to each other. Step-douche was already sat on the other side, reading the paper and neither of us was gonna sit next to that asshole.

A few minutes of silence later and mom heads over with the plates. "Here we are. 4 Price Specials."

Max smiles. "Thank you Joyce."

I don't. I just dig in. Then, I slow down, noticing Max and Step-douche are both staring at me expectantly. "Fnkx Jyce." I mumble, mouth full of delicious noms. What? I don't want any of it to fall out.

Mom rolls her eyes. "Incorrigible as ever, Chloe." She sits down next to step-douche and starts eating. Those two start chatting about shit, but Max and I just sit in silence, eating. It wasn't awkward though, we were just both concentrating on eating.

Then Mom just has to cough and start fucking talking. "You know, Max. Now you're back, it'd be a good idea to get back into School. Blackwell Academy has a great photography course, if you're still interested in that."

She waves over at David. "And David works there, so he could put in a word."

Step-douche nods. I roll my eyes. "Fucking hell, Mom, she's just got back from being stuck on a fucking island a couple days ago, is it really a good idea to just throw her into fucking Blackwell?"

She nods. "Actually, yes. The doctor recommends this sorta thing."

Step-douche kicks up too. "Your mother is right. Getting back into life really helped after I came back from Iraq."

I shrug and look at Max. "Up to you first mate. You ready for Blackhell?"

She frowns for a second, then gives another awkward smile. "I think so."


"So… Maxine, isn't it?"

Principal Wells sat there, pretty determined to ignore me poking about his office shelves and focus on Mom and Max, who were sat in front of his big-ass desk.

This asshole's office was just as tacky as I remembered.

"Max. Never Maxine."

I grinned. So there is still a bit of the old Max in there. Awesomesauce.

"Max, then. So, you want to come to Blackwell?"

She nods. "Yes sir."

He frowns, writes something down. "We don't usually take students this late. You'd have a lot of work to catch up on."

Max shrugs. "I'll get it done."

The frown disappears, replaced by a smile. "An admirable attitude, Max. So, it says here you'd like to study photography?"

"Yes sir."

The frown was back. I rolled my eyes. Fucking hell, Max. He doesn't like the short as fuck answers, say something more.

"Mr Jefferson was a hero of mine, before…"

She smiled, absently. "Before the island."

He nods, writes in the file again. They spend another few minutes talking about Max's plans for the future and all that shit. Dull stuff, but if it gets her in, I guess.

"Well, based on the portfolio you submitted" He gives an awkward smile. "And your clear motivation, I think Blackwell would be foolish to pass you up. There's some paperwork I'll need Mrs Madsen to sign, but we will definitely be offering you a full scholarship here."

Max smiles. It's a small smile, but it's definitely there. "Thank you, Sir."

He slides a piece of paper over to Max. "Welcome to Blackwell Academy, Max."