Everything was ready. Finally, Rachel and I were finally going to get out of this hellhole. Once I got the money from that shithead Prescott, I could pay off Frank, and we'd be free to go. I hadn't told Rachel what I was doing yet, and I couldn't wait to see the look on her face when she saw the cash. The corner of my mouth creeped up in a smile at the thought. She was always so cute in the very few moments she found herself speechless.

I pushed my way into Blackwell. It'd been quite a while since I'd walked through those halls, with the blue, red, and grey lockers against the walls. I felt myself looking around, and as much as I hated it, I knew I was secretly hoping to see Max. Rachel had told me she was back about a month ago. What kind of best friend moves away for five years without a word, then comes back and after over a month still hasn't spoken to you? Fuck her.

I made my way through the hall and paused in front of the bathroom door. I took a deep breath and shook away the nerves I felt building inside me. I threw the door open and marched inside. Nathan was already there, leaning over the sink. I pushed open the stalls, to make sure we were alone, spotting the scattered graffiti all over the doors.

"So what do you want?" He tried to deny that he had the cash, but I knew it was bullshit. He was from the richest family in Arcadia Bay. It seemed like I was finally gonna get it out of him, when he whipped out a gun. He started screaming at me, and panic began to rise inside me. I heard myself responding without thinking. The gun pointed directly at my chest. I'd seen how unstable this fucker is, and I didn't doubt for a second that he'd pull the trigger. Instinctively, I start to shout at him.

"GET THAT GUN AWAY FROM ME PSY—" Before I even had a chance to finish the sentence, something happened. A body seemed to come out of thin air and pressed up against me. I stood frozen, when

BANG.

The body slammed into me, and I felt the wind get knocked out of me as my back smashed against the wall. I heard the gun go off, but I felt nothing. Why didn't it hurt? Then I remembered the person in front of me. Soft, brown hair. Blue eyes. Blue doe eyes. It couldn't be. I knew those eyes. It'd been so long, but I knew those eyes as well as my own.

"Hello, Chloe." No. This wasn't right. I couldn't speak. She was smiling at me, and she looked so happy. Her body suddenly crumbled to the ground, and I automatically fell down beside her, cradling her. No, please. A warm wetness began spreading onto my body, and I looked down. Max. She was smiling. Why is she smiling? Her whole shirt is red. No. This is wrong. Wait. Stop. No. My eyes began to with tears, as I brain struggled to accept what just happened.

"M-Max?" Her body started to become limp, and her eyes slowly began to close. "NO! MAX DON'T YOU FUCKING DIE!" The door crash open and someone ran inside. I heard soemthing metal sliding across the floor and the sound of a boot meeting skin.

"NOT YOU! MAX, PLEASE DAMMIT! DON'T LEAVE ME AGAIN!" Someone shoved me away, but I crawled back to her. Please, no. My hands left red stains on the tile.

"MAX!" He pushed me away again, and I finally looked up to see who it was.

"CHLOE! STAY BACK!" Step-douche was yelling at me, and for once I couldn't yell back. I felt myself curl into the corner. I saw the broken bathroom door. I saw the faces of students gathered outside the bathroom. I heard their chatter and their silence. I saw Max. He was doing something to her. Why isn't she moving? I heard sirens. I saw something being wheeled into the bathroom by people in white coats. I saw Max's body being lifted onto the stretcher. I saw her being rolled away. I saw myself following them. I saw the tears flooding out of my eyes, dripping down onto my chest and arms. I heard myself wailing for them not to take her away from me. I saw myself pushing and shoving to get onto the ambulance. I saw them pushing me away. I saw David grabbing me and pulling me to his car. I saw us driving toward the hospital after the ambulance. I saw myself running to get into the operating room. I saw myself being pushed back, being told only family can see her. I saw myself sitting in a chair, eyes blank and forward, tears flowing, my body covered in blood. I saw David putting his arm around. me. I saw myself, for once, not pushing him away. I felt the pain. I felt the hurt. I felt the fear. I felt the guilt. I felt the rage. I felt. I felt. I felt.

"Chloe! What the hell is going on!" I knew that voice. That was a good voice. That voice was Rachel. That voice made me happy. Why do I not feel happy?

"I've tried," a voice says with a sigh. "We've been here three hours. She hasn't said a word." I knew that voice. That was a bad voice. That voice was David. That voice made me angry. Why do I not feel angry?