Max went upstairs to get Chloe her morphine injector. Who would have thought that she herself of all people would ever end up bringing drugs for her best friend?

On the way, she ran into both William and Joyce. Unfortunately, things weren't as good as they seemed. It turned out that the Price's were drowning in medical bills. Chloe's continued treatment cost them a fortune and their own home was now at risk of foreclosure and they could stand to lose everything. Joyce also told Max that Chloe's condition was worse than she was aware. Couldn't anything ever go right?

She also came across what used to be Chloe's old room. As she entered, her heart sunk, realizing how empty it was. No punk posters, no desk, nothing scribbled on the wall. The only thing of notice were a few cardboard boxes with Chloe's old toys and shoes.

Max checked the time. It was 8:30 AM. She had half an hour until Rachel could undergo another meltdown. She internally braced herself for it.


Waiting on Max, Chloe could no longer bear to keep her condition a secret. She didn't know exactly how much time she had left. Even considering last nights drama, she just had to let her know before she would leave today.

Max returned with the injector. She hooked it up to the machinery, telling Chloe to call for her folks the instant she might mess things up. Thankfully, she got it working.

"Max, there is something I need to tell you. My condition is not exactly getting any better. I hear the doctors talk about it while they think I'm zonked out. My respiratory system is failing. It is only a matter of time before... before...", she couldn't finish the sentence.

"I know."

"You... you do?"

"Your mom told me. I'm so sorry that you are in this situation Chloe, this isn't what I had in mind at all. I fucked everything up."

"Hold on, what are you talking about?"

Max proceeded to tell her about her time traveling, the pictures and everything she had gone through with the "other" Chloe.

Chloe was speechless for a moment. A rare occurrence.

"I know I'm already high, but holy shit, that is the craziest thing anyone has ever told me!"

"I'm afraid it has all happened.", Max said.

"So tell me, Ms. Time Wizard, what is the alternate Chloe like?"

"She is strong, just like you. She is fearless and she saved me from that Nathan prick who was about to beat me up and a badass. She is just on edge with her family and with Rachel having gone missing."

"I always wanted to be a bit of rebel, but being like this... well I only cause trouble when something goes wrong with me physically. Your Chloe has a good friend in you, Max."

Max held Chloe's hand firmly. There was a crazy thought in her mind. What if...

"Max, could you do me a favor and grab that old photo album over there? I would love to see some of our old pictures."

"Of course. I wouldn't wanna miss that."

Going through the pictures, memories came crashing down like waves upon a rocky shore. Images of her and Chloe having fun, dressing up as pirates and drawing comics. The world seemed so much simpler back then and less dark.

"We look so badass in our pirate gear.", Chloe said, having a smile on her face.

And then she saw it. The picture that got Max here. The last picture William originally took. What if Max could do this again? She couldn't stand the thought of Chloe dying, or the Price's possibly being evicted out of their own home. Assuming Chloe was still around for that, what would happen to her then? The thought horrified Max. Chloe's life was far from perfect where she came from, but at least she would live. What parent would want to lose their only child?

"Chloe, can I have this one?" Max asked.

"Keep it. I don't need pictures to remember you, Max. Besides, it seems you will have to deal with your girlfriend now. I don't want to hold you back and cause more trouble for you."

Max turned to her and looked her in the eyes.

"You never do. We will see each other again. Perhaps, sooner than you think."

"I would like that. Good luck Max."

"Thank you. For everything Chloe."

After saying goodbye to Joyce and William, Max was leaving the house, holding on firmly to the picture in her hand. It was worth a shot. But there was someone she owed an explanation first.


Rachel waited, standing by the car. The morning breeze felt nice today. A good sign she hoped. She was very upset over what had happened for a multitude of reasons. All that anger she unleashed... she felt almost ashamed of it. Not in a million years did she expect to ever explode on someone like that, much less on Max. But once her feelings took control, there was no holding back. Even though she felt more than justified in her actions, she did wonder if she could have handled that better. It was time to find out what was going on. Maxine meant so much to her, she deserved a chance to prove herself. If however, she would be fed more nonsense, she could probably set the entire forest on fire with all the rage that had boiled up last night.

She saw Max coming out of the house, right on time. At least she was punctual.

Rachel stood, arms crossed. The scene almost resembling a classic western standoff.

"Well, you've made it. Now, are you going to tell me where my real Maxine is? Because you are not it."

"You are right Rachel, I'm not, but not for the reasons you are assuming. There is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to be straight to the point. That's what you want right?"

"Of course. This may be the first mystery I don't care about being spoiled quickly. Go on."

"It all happened a few days ago. One moment I was having a nightmare that I was stuck in a storm, a terrible storm that threatened to destroy the whole town. Then I woke up in Mr. Jefferson's class and..."

"Wait. Jefferson? As in Mark Jefferson?", Rachel interjected.

"Yeah, why?"

"Isn't he just the janitor?! What's he teaching? How to watch paint dry?"

For some reason, the thought of Mr. Jefferson in Samuel's getup amused Max, even if only briefly.

"I will explain it, don't worry. So anyway, I then had this bizarre thing happening in the bathroom. I saw Nathan come in and talk to himself like he was paranoid about something. Then Chloe entered the room and tried to blackmail him for money that she owed. In an argument, the fucker pulled a gun on her and shot her dead right in front of me."

Rachel's face went pale. When the did that ever happen? She could tell that Max meant every word she said, she sounded too sincere about it, like she really was there to have witnessed it. It gave her the chills.

"Suddenly, I reached out with my hand and found that I could reverse time. I saved Chloe from Nathan. Ever since then, Chloe and I were looking for you, Rachel. That's why I was so surprised and happy when I ran into you yesterday."

"You were looking for me? Why?"

"You are missing where I come from. Your missing person posters are plastered all over the town. Chloe has been desperately trying to find you for over five months. She misses you so bad Rachel. She told me that you were more than friends and that you got together while I was living in Seattle. You were there for her when I wasn't. I wasn't able to thank you for that yet."

Rachel was deep in thought but kept listening.

"Then, I accidentally found that I could travel through pictures and went back to the year 2008 when I was 13. Do you remember William? Chloe's dad? He is dead where I come from. I went back in time to prevent the car accident that killed him. That's when I appeared here. A different universe if you will. But my memories and my mind are still my own."

"So you are telling me, that you are Maxine but not the Maxine I know? Where is the old you?"

"I guess I must have "overwritten" her when I appeared here. That's the best explanation I have. I can't pretend to understand it all myself, but there is something you should know. Chloe is dying back there. The accident left her with an impaired respiratory system. She ended up this way because of my decision. She doesn't have much time left. I will attempt to undo my change, as much as it saddens me. William doesn't deserve this, but neither does Chloe. It's the only way to return to my world... assuming this works."

"But... if you leave... then what happens to this? To us?"

"I don't know. I think what should happen is that I will lose consciousness and your Max should return, at least that's the hope. The alternative is that this universe ceases to exist. We would all return to where originally belonged and none of this would have ever happened."

"And I won't remember you, won't I? The other me I mean."

"I'm afraid so. Chloe may have told you about me, but nothing flattering I imagine considering I abandoned her for 5 years. I honestly have no clue what would happen if we meet again."

Rachel was pacing back and forth, trying to make sense of all of this. While what Max said sounds like complete insanity, the way she explained it was all too convincing. It would explain everything. And why would she lie about it?

"You wanna know something about me, Max? I got a pretty good bullshit detector. I've been lied to so often, I've gotten pretty good at telling when someone does in fact lie. But I can tell you mean what you say. Every word, as stupid as it all sounds. I couldn't act that convincingly if I tried. I believe you... and Max... I'm terribly sorry for how I treated you last night. You were just trying to protect my feelings while reconnecting with a friend, I understand that now. I hope I didn't totally ruin your night."

"Thank you, Rachel. Know this must be hella weird for you. I'm sorry for making you mad last night. But don't you agree that it would have gone worse if I had told you all of this then?"

"You are right. I would have been tempted to leave you for good. I'm glad you didn't make me. I know that you probably don't feel what I do, but my feelings for you are real, no matter what memories you have in your head, Max."

Max felt herself blushing. Could it be that she was warming up to Rachel? A tempting thought, but she couldn't give in. She had to leave. To stay seemed selfish to her.

Then, something occurred to her and she asked, "Speaking of leaving. Rachel, if you wanted to disappear, where would you go? Anything you can tell me could help me find you when I get back."

"Most of the time if I want to be left alone, I hang out at this old junkyard outside of town. It's been my secret hideout for a while. If I were to still be in Arcadia Bay, that's where you would most likely find me. I meant to show it to you one day. It's not much, but it's mine."

"I've actually been there, in my reality I mean. It's Chloe's favorite retreat too. She told me that you and she spent a lot of time there. We never ran into you there though.", Max said in disappointment.

"You can try Los Angeles. I always wanted to go there. Although I admit, leaving you and Chloe behind without saying a word sounds like a shitty thing to do. Your Rachel has some explaining to do. I thought I was better than that."

"Maybe she does. But I would just be glad if we can find her ... I mean you. Ugh, this is so messed up."

"Wouldn't that be something? I wonder how well we would all get along, given the different circumstances. But if your Rachel is anything like me, be careful around Chloe. You saw what my jealousy caused last night. I'm not proud of it, but I can be a protective bitch. I don't deal well with a rivalry."

"Rachel, I need to ask you for a favor in case this place is still standing once I'm gone. If my other me returns, please tell her about Chloe and what is going on with her. Don't sugarcoat it. If she cares about Chloe remotely as much as I do, then please let them have the time they deserve, while they still can. At least this way, I can give your Max a parting gift for hijacking her mind. I think that's only fair."

"Yes of course. I will be honest, once my rage settled, I came to realize that Chloe is pretty cool. I will introduce you, rest assured. And I will apologize for wrecking her stuff too."

"Thank you. I know this must be kind of hard for you considering what happened. I want you to know that I truly appreciate that."

"Who am I to deny your wishes? I never have and I will be damned if I start now, in case this is the end of the world."

Max remembered her vision. Could it still happen? She didn't wanna leave it to chance.

"Rachel, that storm vision I told you about was no joke. This thing was huge. If it happens, I want you and Chloe as far away from this place as possible. It will happen sometime tomorrow. I seriously cannot overstate how destructive that tornado was. Please, stay safe."

"We will, Max."

"Well, I better get this over with before I second-guess myself again. It was great to meet you, Rachel. I can see now why Chloe loves you so much. You are so powerful, I can tell. It was an honor to finally meet you."

Max pulled out the photo. A part of her really didn't want to go through with it. She tried to focus.

Rachel saw how Max pulled out the picture and started to look at it in concentration. Then, despite her best efforts at maintaining control, fear got a hold of her mind. A terrible realization occurred to her.

"Max!", Rachel yelled out in desperation.

"Yes, Rachel?"

"I... I don't think I can stand the thought of losing you. What if you are wrong and you can't undo what you have caused? What if can't find me? You said I was gone for how long? Five months? Look, I don't know your Rachel, but there is no way in hell I would ever go away like that without a word to anyone, I swear! I said stuff like that once because I was angry with the world and my dad. What if something happened to me and it's too late for you to find me? I don't want to die Max!"

Rachel had a horrified look in her teary eyes. She was genuinely afraid of what fate may have had planned for her once Max went through with this.

Max hadn't considered that. She always held on to the hope that Rachel was still out there, waiting to be found. But then again, both Frank and Chloe were involved with her. Clearly, Frank had no clue where she was either and all of Chloe's efforts led to nothing but feelings of betrayal. The thought of finding out that Rachel could be dead terrified Max. How would Chloe react to such a terrible revelation? Could she even take that at this point? She was already on the verge of going ballistic over Rachel seeing Frank behind her back and who knows who else. This could lead to Chloe to doing something terrible to herself as a result. Max had saved Kate, but the thought of seeing Chloe in a similar situation made Max choke up. What if she were to fail? Fate had tried to kill Chloe more than once this week already. How much further could she push her luck?

"Max, I told that I don't care what's in your head. I love you regardless of your memories. I know we had a rocky start, to say the least, but I'm telling you that I'm willing to try. You aren't completely different you know? I just said these things about you because I was angry and jumped to conclusions. I was too afraid of losing you to someone else. Maybe it was destiny that we ended up meeting like this."

Destiny. Max was in the rare position of being able to choose.

She then considered herself for once. Rachel was attractive, that she could no longer deny and not just in terms of appearance. Despite all that happened, she hasn't left Max's side, at least not entirely. Not everyone would do that. While the Rachel from her timeline had secrets, that didn't need to apply to her now. That, or they may not be the same ones.

Max would still go to Blackwell, but she would have to double down on making good grades. The only real regret was Chloe and the uncertainty about her remaining life span. But what about William? Did he really deserve to die twice? Maybe it was time for Max to accept the consequences of her actions and move on. At least she won't be facing them alone. She really did start taking a liking to Rachel. And what if the whole universe implodes in on itself if she tries this?

"Maybe you are right. I have tried to give life the middle finger and got punished for it. But it has also led me to you at the same time. But Chloe..."

Rachel stepped closer, putting her hands on Max's shoulders.

"I will be with you all the way, just like I promised you a long time ago. I will do my best to help and guide you. If you still want me, Max, then I will be yours until the end of time and I will learn to accept Chloe as your friend."

Max lifted up the photo in her hands. She had to make a decision.