"Repeat after me, Warren. My friend wants to be friends with me, and that is it."
Warren's face was still half-frozen by his intense surprise at the character change. He nodded slowly and allowed words to escape his mouth in shame. "My friend wants to be friends with me, and… and that is it?" Warren shook his head at this idea of being forced to believe that Max could talk to him this way. "Max, I can stand being just friends. But I don't like this new attitude you have. It's like you've been somewhere else for the past few years of your life, but you've been here the entire time."
Max sighed and glared at Warren. It was true. She's not the same person anymore. But who would be? Who could be after all that? "I so want you to be happy Warren. I'm sorry I've been so out of it lately. I just… I guess I've been wishing for a happier set-up here. It's so gloomy when I look around." None of the words were lies. While Max held the idea that she was meant to go back and be stronger, she just… she thinks about each loss suffered. That could be suffered. That could be undone and then cause more suffering by trying to undo that suffering. How the fuck could whatever superior being that gave her this power be such a sadist? Was she some sort of holy pawn?
Sighing, Warren failed to grasp what Max had actually gone through. "I know, I know that there's something else going on. So what is it? If you really can't tell me, then I feel like all of the trust I've given you shows we just can't be friends." Warren snapped at Max. Eyes stared deeply into hers, eyes that have seen so much rejection and manipulation. Isn't that what Max does to him? Use his puppy love for her benefit. God, it hurt the boy so much. Little did he know Max would do it all again! Even let him die just to save her love, Chloe!
"Warren, I… I don't know what to say. I'm going to go out for tea with Kate tomorrow, I'm hoping. Please come with if you think you're ready to talk again." Tears seemed to engulf Max's entire brain. But why would they not come?
Capabilities of crying have lowered due to her seeing so much grief. This depressive state was life-threatening. Life… that wasn't what she felt she should call it anymore. Knowing everything that happens this week she now knows that there is nothing she wants more than to be normal.
Not, well, persay, normal. Considerably less inhuman than she has been these past two days is what she hopes for. Max's hopes are crushed when Warren's response comes after an undeniably long pause. "I don't know if I can be your friend after how you've acted recently. Sure, I care about Kate. She's so lost. And I thought I cared about you. But you're making me doubt it a bit."
Max nodded and left the room. It was too hard to tell Warren the truth. How she felt. There couldn't be another rewind just for an explanation. Someone like Warren would want a lot more information. She knew he would. But he wouldn't get it. Nor would he ever get Max's hand in a relationship. It wasn't that he was gross, or ugly, or Max just didn't like boys…
Warren and Max would never make it in the long run. They were not lovers, or soul-mates, or anything she considered she was with Chloe. So if Warren and Max couldn't make it in the long run as lovers, she wanted him to know they could be in the long run as friends. Apparently it was easily misinterpretable. Maybe the timing was bad. Finally, there's always the idea that Warren wasn't that good of a friend. So what if Max had to be done with him. Good riddance.
Whoa, what in the Two Whale's Diner am I telling myself? Warren is a good friend and I don't want to lose him. Another friend that could be easily lost just strolled by. Kate Marsh looked as gloomy as Max's vividly depressing view of Blackwell. To Max's surprise, Kate looked like she was straining to breathe. Like there was blood coming out of her mouth and some struck her body really hard. Yet she continued to walk like she was fine and hadn't jumped off of the roof. hadn't jumped hadn't jumped hadn't jumped
"Heyyyy! Kate, it's me, Max. I was just wondering if you wanted to do talk and tea really soon today? I'd so love to." Max spoke nonchalantly, attempting to ignore what Kate looked turned around and faced Max in her current state. Reality took over again and Kate looked like a regular sulky Kate. But there was something definitely really fucked up going on here and Max didn't like it. First Chloe, and now Kate. I get it, Father Time. You want to challenge me. Well, I accept.
Kate simply frowned. "I don't know if I'm up to tea, Max." She had eyes that were drained of all motivation to be kind. Promoting abstinence and singing church-songs. That was the Kate Max knew and wanted to remember. Doodling and aspiring to be a children's book artist. Even author, Max was sure. That Kate hadn't shown her face around recently and it made Max quite sad. As this Kate turned to go, Max stopped her.
"I would never want you to be hurt. Kate, listen to me. Stay strong. I love you so much. Warren and Alyssa would be so sad if you were up on that roof some day. So don't let me catch it happening - cos' then I'll have catch you. Oh, I just remembered. I've got your book handy." Max smiled at the slightly trembling Kate. Words came out rushed and enlightened. No filter was on Max anymore. Whoever she'd been before…
God, what is up with Max? Kate thought in obvious horror. The borrowed book was nudged over to her chest. She lifted it closer to her chin, hoping that something will come and end this nightmare. While she felt a bit better when Max began to speak, the next sentences filled her with horror. Their tone - the words and how they came out. Nerd language was one thing with Max Caulfield. But now her words were inhuman. "Thank you, Max." Kate mumbled.
"You're welcome Kate. I'll see you in class tomorrow - unless you changed your mind about tea today?"
Kate nodded. "Yes, we can have tea. I would be so happy to do that." Lies were spoken in a voice of fear. Max couldn't sense it. Max wouldn't understand even if she did. Not anymore. Empathy made people the humans that they were. So much of Max was lost when she went back for the last time. Maybe it wasn't the going back that did it… having powers… it caused her to lose sanity.
Being normal and sane again sounded so sweet to Max. If she had the ability to forget this week and its happenings she would feel so happy. There's no doubt in her mind that it would be best. Best to forget that Kate attempted to jump off of a roof. Best to forget that Chloe Price died so many times. That it was apparently her fault for leaving. Best to forget that Warren wanted nothing more than to be with her. Best to forget…
"All right Kate, I'll see you then." Max said, unenthused. Though a couple of seconds ago she was determined and aware. Cheerfully readying to have tea with Kate and return her back. Now her voice was emptier than those glassy eyes of hers. Something started to snap and squirm in her heart. Grief was not finished with her yet. She had faced so much these past several days. So much has happened and she can't bring herself to be normal again. Instead of showing Warren how happy friendship was, she just proved that she was not the same Max. Something seemed different about Kate. Even Chloe seems slightly unsettled by the way Max has acted.
Kate watches as Max Caulfield walks down the dormitory hallway longingly. It was a slow pace highlighted by the stunned girls nearby. All of them heard Max had been seeming different… but this was an all-time high for her. Victoria snickered at her while Taylor snapped a picture of Max's indifferent expression. Somehow, Victoria felt saddened by Max's lack of dorky awe and mysteriousness. "Don't just pass me by, Caulfuck. What are you doing moping like that?" Max didn't stop walking, but it was still slow.
"I'm not moping. I don't feel anything in particular right now." Max stated matter-of-factly. Since she's come back to what was meant to be her timeline it's been very orderly. Factual and not emotional. To her answer Victoria Chase scrunches her nose. Behind close doors was a kick to the face. Victoria really didn't like seeing Max this way. It was normal seeing her being so weird. Victoria never tried to be as obtuse as she was. This pain she felt now was intense. Seeing into Max's marble eyes in which something else was seen...
"Yeah, right. Whatever's got you down I bet it's Nathan's refusal to give you drugs." Victoria said. Rather unseriously if one considered the notion that Nathan would ever give Max drugs. Frank doesn't even want to give Nathan drugs. Yet it's still supply and demand. That's right, I need to end it for Jeffershit and Nathan. I need to talk to David and get him to bond with Chloe. And I'm going to save Kate. But this time I will do it all with my power, the one that I wasn't given. Max thought, ignoring Victoria.
"Have a nice day, Victoria. Tell Nathan that I said hello to Jefferson." Max mumbled. She did not emote. Victoria watched as Max left the girl's dorms and went outside. The walk, the posture, the speaking, the expression. It all told Victoria that Max was depressed. Something was keeping her from being who she used to be. Annoying and in places she shouldn't go. Meddling with her spot on Jefferson's good girl list. So why was Max, the selfie-shit from photography class, getting Victoria down by being depressed?
God, whatever the reason, it still made Victoria sad. And Victoria felt guilt. "Okay. I will." She seethed venomously, backing away from the door and creeping back into the dormitories. Then she saw Kate. Usually she would've passed her by or ignored her. This time she felt different. "Kate, I want to know that you're okay. You're okay right? And that means that I can go?" Victoria asked defensively, crossing her arms. Kate simply looked to Victoria and frowned.
"Leave me alone." Kate replied, not having any desire for a manipulative moment with Victoria. Sorrow flashed in Victoria's eyes quickly. Anyone who didn't have the artist's eye might've missed it. "Are you okay? It feels like everything is off today, not just me." Victoria was so happy to hear someone else say that. Speaking the thoughts made them more normalized and healthy.
"I'm annoyed right now, frankly. I know Nathan gave you drugs but now I think Max believes she can get in on it." Victoria hisses.
"If you ask me, she doesn't need them. There's something off with Max already and I think I hold your Nathan accountable." Kate said. It almost sounded like a joke. If Kate and Victoria had just shared a joke, something was definitely fucked up with the universe. Victoria was also still attempting to decipher the comment about Nathan and Jefferson. Max had all of the pieces to a puzzle completely impossible for Victoria to solve.
So instead of trying to solve the puzzle, Victoria would go to Nathan.