Rachel didn't recognize this place that Maxine had decided to take her to. What exactly was she expecting to find here? They have never been here before and this is the first time she ever heard about it.

The man at the door seemed friendly enough and recognized Maxine when he saw her. They must have met at a time before her and Maxine got together from the sound of their conversation.

Maxine then introduced her to the man whose name was William.

"Oh and this is Rachel, she is a friend of mine as well and I would like for Chloe to meet her too."

Did Maxine just refer to her as just "her friend"? Usually, she would be all too happy to inform everyone that they were lovers, prejudice be damned.

Then suddenly, she noticed Maxine's expression changing from one of happiness to shock in just a flash and she looked like she just saw a ghost. Whatever she expected to find after arriving at this place, this was not it.

Someone in a wheelchair came to the door. This must have been this Chloe that Maxine went on and on about. Correction, it's just "Max" now, for some reason. It was not a dignified sight though.

Rachel found her to be quite pretty actually and she felt bad for her to be stuck like that. It turned out a car accident a few years ago was to blame for her condition. But she knew for sure that she never saw this girl before in her life.

After the two had reunited, Chloe suggested that they should take a walk along the beach, before the sun would set. Max was, of course, all for it and Rachel decided to play along, even though she wasn't really being included in the making of this decision. She wasn't really sure how to feel about all this. Just yesterday, they had planned on buying tickets to see Firewalk performing at a local venue and attending Vortex Club parties. Rachel loved Firewalk, she would always make sure to be there when they played in the area and so was her girlfriend. But now? It appears "Max" had forgotten all about this and just now suddenly remembered this old friend she once had and just had to see right away. Something didn't add up. This wasn't the Max she knew, for she would have filled her in when it came to decisions like this.

They strolled along the beach, taking in what was left of the light of the setting sun.

Chloe and Max just chatted away like the world was going to end tomorrow. While it is quite understandable that they had some catching up to do, Rachel couldn't help but feel like the third wheel on the wagon. Superfluous and unwanted. She followed them some distance behind.

"Chloe, are you sure you don't recognize Rachel at all?", Max asked her.

"I'm sorry, but I really don't. I can tell that this is important to you for some reason. Sorry to disappoint."

She then addressed Rachel directly by saying, "No offense. You seem like a good person. I'm glad she has made more friends. Anyone getting along with Max is cool to me."

Rachel nodded but remained silent. "Friend". There was that word again. That's not how she saw it. Ever since Max came back here, it has moved way beyond friendship. At least, that's what Rachel assumed until now. Did she take that for granted?

The group stopped at a particularly nice spot that offered the best view of the coast while the dead whales painted a gloomy picture.

"What do photographers call this again?" Chloe asked.

"The golden hour", Max replied.

This seemed like as a good time as any for Rachel to chime in.

"Quite appropriate. It is beautiful. As if the whole world is on fire without actually burning. Too bad it doesn't last long."

"Are you into photography too Rachel?", Chloe inquired.

"No, I don't have the patience for it. That is Maxine's...uh I mean Max's thing. But I gotta admit, sights like this almost make me wanna second guess my choice."

"It's never too late to change one's path. Well, not for you two anyway."

Max seemed saddened, following that remark. She apologized to Chloe for her accident, as if it was somehow her fault. But how could that be? She wasn't even around when it happened. Why did she act like she was the one responsible?

In all the years that she has known Max, she never brought this up. Just one more thing that came out of nowhere. Her earlier reaction at the house to seeing Chloe was too genuine, so there was no way she could have possibly known about this before.

Now they talked about how great it was when they were kids. Rachel didn't have too many friends in her childhood. Unfortunately being the daughter of Arcadia Bay's district attorney meant that most parents refused to have their kids stay at their place as if they would get a ticket for it if they broke something. The schoolyard was also less than merciful to her. Some kids were also too scared of her dad, like he was a monster. Well, they weren't entirely wrong about that. You reap what you sow after all.

Rachel started feeling ignored at the sight of those two being so oblivious to her. They clearly had a bond of some kind and a strong one at that. Rachel had a talent for being very observant and could tell that Chloe and Max acted like they've known each other for a lifetime. They may not have meant to exclude her and might not even have realized that they did it, but that didn't help. She hated that feeling of being envious. It's not something she was proud of but its always been there. She did her best to suppress the feeling and finally, they decided to head back to Chloe's home. Maybe soon she could talk to Max privately and get to the bottom of this, as there clearly was more to this than met the eye. It was time for some answers.

"Chloe, I swear I will never abandon you again. I'm so sorry for acting like an idiot. I really do care.", Max said while gently putting her hand Chloe's shoulder.

"I know Max. You are here now, that's what matters.", she replied with a smile.

To Rachel, this felt like a poisonous arrow that was piercing her heart. She did her best to hold back the tears that were all too willing to start flowing. Rachel felt something boiling inside of her, but again, she managed to subdue her emotions for the sake of not causing a scene.

They arrived back at the house and they entered Chloe's room, which apparently was part of the garage once.

The room was more like one would find in a hospital. That didn't exactly evoke any positive feeling in Rachel. She has always hated hospitals.

It had a bed with weird machines attached to it, like something from an old Star Trek set. A ramp to the bathroom had been put in place for Chloe and all kinds of personal mementos we spread across the room. A snow globe with a model of a doe in it caught Rachel's eye. For a moment, she felt as if it was calling out to her. Without knowing that she did, she had picked it up, feeling transfixed, holding the globe in her hands. Was it trying to tell her something? She caressed it with her hands.

"Hey Chloe, would you mind if I stayed the night?", Max asked her.

This brought Rachel back to reality and at the same time the final straw for her. Something in her head just couldn't take it anymore and something had to give. She respected Max's wishes by coming here, but based on how these two, especially Max herself, have behaved this evening, it was a clear sign that there is more to this than just an old friendship. Rachel wasn't buying this charade any longer. If there was one thing she couldn't stand, it was the thought of a rival to her love. She couldn't hold it back, jealousy was rearing its ugly face. It felt like a fire had burned out of control inside her and demanded to be unleashed.

"Oh for fuck's sake!"

With a loud smashing sound, the globe hit the ground as Rachel threw it down, shattering into countless glittering shards. She was furious.

"Maxine Caulfield, we need to talk. Alone.", she said coldly followed by giving Chloe a death-glare.

She stomped out of the room, heading for the backyard.

"GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!"

Excusing herself, Max followed her outside into the yard outside the Price's home.

"You better start making sense. Just tell me the truth already!", Rachel said angrily.

"What are you talking about?! What did I do?", Max asked in confusion.

"You tell me. Do you really think I don't notice how you look at her? Your eyes were practically glued to her face the whole time we've been here. You say you two were friends. That isn't what my eyes are telling me. And don't think you can get out of this, I can see right through your act. You are pretending to be nice to me, but it is all too obvious that the last few years didn't matter to you at all! The Maxine I knew, or should I say, thought to know, would never behave like this. Also, since when do you call yourself just Max? You gave me hell every time I called you that!"

Taken aback by this, Max tried to respond by saying, "Rachel, this is so much more complicated than you can imagine. If I tried explaining it to you now, you would think I'm crazy! Please, you gotta understand."

"Understand what? That ever since I ran into you today, you have been acting like someone else? First, you did't recognize me, then you forget all about what we meant to do. Then, when I kissed you, you reacted as if I was a stranger to you, I could tell. In case you forgot, that was far from the first kiss we shared. Something is hella wrong with you and I intend to find out what it is. We will play a game right now. It's one you should be familiar with, it's Two Truths and a Lie."

Max realized where this was going. This was not good.

"Well, let's play.", Rachel said with a strong hint of confidence. She knew she had the upper hand and to her, this wasn't a game, but an interrogation.

"I will be nice and start the guessing. Tell me three things about yourself Maxine, if that's who you really are."

Max thought about what to say. If she lied about anything, Rachel could most certainly tell. But if she said something true to her that didn't happen in this timeline, then she would lose too. There seemed to be no way out, she was stuck in a no-win scenario. She decided to play the game honestly. At least her conscience remained clean that way.

"Ok, first fact. I love old instant cameras and use them all the time to take my pictures. For my second fact, I hate the Vortex Club. They may have started out as something positive once, but that is no longer the case. As for fact number three, I have failed to save Kate Marsh from jumping off the roof of Blackwell in a suicide attempt."

Rachel listened quietly the whole time. Her expression remaining in a cold stare.

Then, after a moment, she broke the silence, "All lies. Every single one of them is bullshit! You only ever take pictures with your phone and wouldn't even look at old clunkers like instant cameras. And the Vortex Club hate? Bitch, you run the damn place when Courtney isn't around! Hell, you've got Victoria Chase doing your bidding all the time. And who is Kate Marsh? Another name I've never heard of before. That makes three now. First, there was Chloe, the friend you never called by name before and kept behind my back, then this Frank guy, whoever the fuck that is and now this Kate? Nobody by that name went to Blackwell."

"I'm being honest Rachel. I know it doesn't make sense to you, but I meant what I said. The lie was Kate. I actually did save her. The entire school was watching it happen. She really did try to kill herself."

"Yeah, whatever. I bet you were a real everyday hero.", Rachel said mockingly.

She circled around Max like a shark. And blood was in the water.

"Fine, I will tell you three things about me now, even though I know already that you won't be able to tell the truth from the lie anyway."

Max realized that this is the only chance she had to calm her down. If she could bust out her rewind, she can hear Rachel's answers first and then use them against her. It was her only way out.

"Alright, first fact. I'm ambidextrous. Second, you initiated our relationship, by sweeping me off my feet with a video you sent me online and third, my dad did not approve of you when he first met you. Now let's hear it."

With her back to the wall, Max had to guess and hope for the best. She had no idea about any of these. She didn't pay much attention to Rachel's hands. Could she make a video like that? Sounds like something she would do. But what parent would ever hate her? Then again, this timelines' Max isn't the same as her, as her phone messages made quite clear. She could always rewind to give the correct answers at least.

"Ok. I'm gonna call true on the ambidextrous thing. True on the video and lie on your dad."

"Well, now I know you aren't the real deal, Maxine.", Rachel stated.

"That video was from me. I sent it to you as a proof of my love that I felt for you ever since you stepped into my life. How dare you forget that?!"

Seeing no other alternative, reaching out, Max tried to rewind. But something wasn't right. It felt similar to when she was on the roof at Blackwell with Kate. Something was blocking her and nothing happened, she was done for.

Rachel saw that Max's hand was reached out towards her and swatted it aside in one swift motion. She might as well have slapped her in the face. It hurt about as much too.

Max remained silent, trying not to freak out. Rachel had her pinned down and she knew it. She was so livid, there was no way she could break the whole story to her right now, hoping to convince her. With being as angry as Rachel was, she wouldn't believe any of it. It would only make the situation worse than it already was, if that was even possible.

Suddenly, tears were rolling down Rachel's face. The words that followed were laden with feelings of betrayal.

"Do you understand how much this hurts? I love you more than I could ever say. I have done everything you have ever asked me to do. I was there for you when the world was out to get you. Like those times when you were feeling down because you didn't know if you could make it at Blackwell. Don't you remember how we used to stay up late to look at the stars? What about the kisses we shared? What about the bracelet that I gave you as a symbol of our unity? WHAT ABOUT THE NIGHTS WE SPENT TOGETHER?!"

Max was petrified, not able to respond. Nothing she would say would do any good.

With her back turned to Max, Rachel continued in a shaky voice, "If you wanted to be rid of me, all you would have needed to do was to say it. You would never have to worry about me again. Is that what you want? Instead, you do this, pretending that I'm a stranger? You do this, knowing perfectly well about the damage that lies have already done to my life. Meanwhile, you are getting all warmed up with your old flame that you kept secret from me this whole time. You aren't just a fraud Max Caulfield, you are a cruel one. I could never do this to anyone, much less to you."

Max was shaking like leaves in a storm and she was overflowing with guilt.

"Rachel I'm so sorry. I didn't notice! I was so happy to see my friend, that I forgot to treat you like I should. I know you want to hate me for this and I don't blame you if you do, but there is a reason this all happened this way. I wish I could tell you why right now, but you wouldn't believe it. Please, give this a chance to calm down so that we can talk about this as rationally as possible in the morning. I promise you will get your answers, I mean it!"

Rachel's expression remained unimpressed.

"I will be sleeping in the car since you clearly made up your mind as to who you want to be with tonight. I will be leaving at 9 in the morning. Bring your answers at that time if you have them. They better be good. Don't fuck this up, Maxine Caulfield."

And just like that, Rachel stormed off, leaving Max behind. Max didn't know what to think. Suddenly, she heard a loud cry coming from the direction that Rachel went. It sounded almost like a raven but it was unmistakably her. For a brief moment, she could swear that the wind around her had picked up for no apparent reason. The breeze was cold, making her hair stand up. As fast it came, it settled down again.

With nowhere else to turn, she returned to the house and went to Chloe's room, feeling incredible guilt. She kept telling herself that this wasn't really her fault, but her conscience argued against that.

Being imprisoned in her bed for the night, Chloe didn't catch much of the drama. She could only see Rachel and Max arguing through the window. It got loud a few times and it looked serious. The way Rachel had gestured and yelled, it seemed like she gave Max the guilt trip of a lifetime. Was she herself to blame for all of this?

When Max entered the room, she looked like she just went through hell.

There was no way she could make her listen to her request anymore. Even if it meant more suffering, there was no way she could bear to put this burden on Max now, not anymore.

"Are you ok Max? Damn, she really laid into you there."

"I deserved it. I just wish I could make her understand, but I feel that even I had tried that, I would have argued against a brick wall. She made up her mind and this was my punishment."

Max continued her sobbing, wishing it would stop already.

"I don't mean to judge, but your friend seemed pretty stock up about something. Her way or the high way sort of thing perhaps?"

"That's just it Chloe. She isn't just my friend. She is... my lover."

"Oh. Well... uh, that complicates matters a bit."

"Hella yes it does."

"Hella? Who says that?"

"It's a... I don't actually know where it is from. Just something I picked up.

"Well don't expect me to use that, I hate that word, no offense."

"None taken."

"So what was this about if you don't mind me asking?"

After an audible sigh, Max explained, "She thinks that you are trying to take me away from her. That I've had a secret relationship behind her back I guess. I've behaved pretty stupidly today and didn't consider her enough. This is so messed up."

"There is a quote that comes to mind.", Chloe said.

"Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd,

Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd."

"Look at Chloe the theater expert."

"I just got way too much time on my hands, Max. Considering my body is in the shape it is in, I figured I might as well improve my mind."

Finally, after a while, the tears had finally dried up and Max managed to calm herself.

"What time is it?", Chloe asked.

"8 PM.", Max stated.

"Well, we might as well make the best of the situation. Are you still up for staying here tonight or are you going after her?"

"I've got nowhere else to be, Rachel told me to stay away and she would prefer sleeping in her car. I will stay with you."

"I appreciate that, though I am sorry about what happened. If you feel nostalgic, how about a movie night? I feel like I'm in a Blade Runner kind of mood."

"Let me get it."

Max went looking in the cupboard with the DVDs and browsed. "The Butterfly Effect?" way too apropos. "The Perfect Storm"? "Twister"? Now fate was just mocking her.

Eventually, she found it.

"Director's Cut huh? I don't think I know this version.", Max said.

"You will love it, I'm sure."

"Don't you fall asleep on me though, you always do that."

"I won't Max, don't worry."

Max really wanted to enjoy the movie, but she couldn't forget about the thunderclouds on the horizon. Tomorrow, she would have to face Rachel and spill her insane story on her and hope she understood. While this may not be the life she was familiar with, it was hers now. And she didn't want to lose Rachel if she could do something about it, as that wouldn't be fair towards her. She would make the best out of the situation and get used to having her as a partner if that's what it took. She was a very strong personality and to say she was interesting was an understatement.

And then there was the Tornado the day after.

For a moment, Max wasn't sure which she was more scared of.

Considering what had happened, Max slept like a rock. The night passed and another day dawned. Waking up in the morning, Max noticed that Chloe was already way ahead of her and wide awake. Rachel kept her word and was nowhere to be seen. They were still alone.

"How dare you fall asleep on me during the movie?", Chloe said.

"I guess there's a first time for everything, I was wiped out.", Max replied.

"So, do you think Deckard is a replicant?"

Max remained silent. Her thoughts debating on how to deal with Rachel.

"Sorry, I always talk way too much about movies, you know how I like to pick them apart.", Chloe apologized upon seeing Max's concerned expression.

Awkward silence commenced.

"Max, can you do me a favor?"