Chapter Three: Chrysalis, Part 3

Now everyone was settled after Max's power display, she once again resumed the film.

Max continued towards the Prescott Dormitory, stopping for a brief chat with her fellow students. Kate, who was sat on a bench, didn't have much to say for herself.

As Kate watched herself shut Max down, she frowned. Judging by her closed off posture and general aura of exhaustion, something serious was going on. This gloomy attitude just wasn't like her at all. While she had bad days like everyone else, this was on a completely different level.

Finally making it to the dorm, she was blocked by Victoria, Taylor, and Courtney, who were lounging around on the steps.

"Oh, this should be good," Rachel remarked wryly while glancing over at Victoria, who merely scoffed in irritation.

"I'm personally hoping to hear some more cringe worthy phrases," Chloe snickered, much to the blonde's obvious disgust.

"You had better watch your step, Price," Victoria threatened menacingly.

"I am practically quivering in my boots," Chloe teased, placing her hands behind her head as she leaned back in her seat, evidently not afraid of her.

They seemed to have recovered from their time freezing incident. Max had practiced using her newly developed power on actual people a handful of times, so it was refreshing to see them back to their old selves. Maybe things were starting to go her way for a change.

"Oh look, it's Max Caulfield, the selfie ho of Blackwell," Victoria sneered tauntingly, shuffling off the step and slowly circling her. "What a lame gimmick. Even Mark -Mr. Jefferson- falls for your waif hipster bullshit. 'The Daguerreian Process, Sir!' You could barely even say that. I guess you got your meds filled." Taylor and Courtney laughed on cue as she sat back down on the step. "Since you know all the answers, I guess you have to find another way into the dorm. We ain't moving."

Still needing to get into the dorm, Max stood there clutching her arm.

"Oh wait, hold that pose." Victoria snapped a picture on her phone, smirking. "So original. Don't worry, Max, I'll put a vintage filter on it right before I post it all over social medias. Now, why don't you go fuck your selfie?"

Chloe and Rachel exchanged brief glances before bursting out into an uncontrolled fit of laughter.

"Victoria, not to interrupt the whole Queen Bee vibe you've got going for yourself, but maybe you shouldn't piss off a time traveler?" Warren said sardonically. "Just for future reference."

Kate nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "That would be good advice to pay heed to."

The adults in the room gave Victoria a disapproving side-ways glance, while Taylor and Courtney sat there trying to gauge how they should be reacting to this. Victoria scowled angrily, her icy glare lingering on Chloe and Rachel for a fraction longer than the others.

Chloe stuck her tongue out, while Rachel tauntingly blew her a kiss and smirked, knowing full well that it would piss her off. Had it not been for Max's earlier display, she would have torn into them. Instead, she sighed in exasperation, muttering under her breath.

Max's eyes flashed vindictively. Oh yes Victoria, I'll get your bony ass out of my way.

Max allowed herself a victory smirk, leaning forward and steepling her fingers in front of her. As much as she didn't like to admit it, this particular scene was quite satisfying to relive.

Her gaze fell on the sprinklers dotted around campus, a plan forming. I could crank the sprinkler up and give Victoria and her clones incentive to beat it… It took her a few attempts to move Victoria, involving the sprinklers and a tampered paint can. With some manipulation, the self-proclaimed Queen Bee was covered in paint.

"No way! No fucking way!" she screeched, stepping back away.

Chloe broke out into a wide grin, lightly punching the young time traveler's arm. "Holy shit, Max. That was hella awesome."

Rachel sat back in her seat, a smug expression on her face. "I guess Karma does exist."

"Only when people make it so," Chloe smirked in agreement.

Max shrugged. "Seemed like a good idea at the time."

Warren smiled at the freakout, unable to feel too sorry for her. She kinda deserved it for mercilessly bullying people like Max and Kate. The shy blonde took no pleasure from seeing Victoria covered in pain, but she was glad Max found a way to move her. Getting bullied was horrible; she knew that from experience. She didn't advocate revenge, as much as this small action felt like justice.

The adults in the room remained silent, Max's parents giving her a conflicted look. They didn't enjoy seeing their daughter being subjected to this kind of treatment, especially in an environment where she should feel safe.

Taylor and Courtney stare agape, Victoria's silent disbelief turning to rage aimed at the brunette. "You will regret that, Caulfield. Mark my words."

Smirking at the laughable threats, Max shrugged. "I'd like to see you try, actually. It might be fun, for me at least. Not so much for you."

If she chose, she could do terrible things with her powers – ruin the lives of every single person on this earth with a single hand gesture. The fact that Victoria thought she stood any chance against her was almost hilarious.

Speechless, the blonde narrowed her eyes. Her threats were a knee jerk reaction to any challenge to her authority. With Max as an opponent, she was grossly outmatched, well out of her depth. Some battles weren't worth fighting.

"You know Max, you can be pretty scary when you want to be," Rachel observed, casually brushing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "It's not every day that one bests the Queen."

"She's hardly done that," Victoria snorted.

"Uh-huh," Rachel grinned knowingly.

From what she'd heard, Rachel Amber was as close to perfection as you could get – talented, intelligent, pretty, socially adaptable and so much more. She could be whoever you wanted her to be. In the space of one five-minute conversation, she could make you feel as if you knew her intimately. At the same time, she was a real enigma.

In that sense, Max didn't envy her. All those expectations were a heavy burden, yet she appeared to meet them with ease. Victoria also pretended she was someone else for the sake of others. She must be jealous of how easy Rachel made it all look, hence the hostility. It was almost surprising how deep Victoria's hatred and jealousy seemed to run.

Through her time travel adventures, Max knew Rachel was far from flawless. It wasn't her job to be, either. Trying to be perfect had led to her downfall. In a way, the blonde was the catalyst for everything.

Shooing Samuel away as her minions went to fetch some towels, Victoria returned to the steps. Max watched from a short distance, smiling to herself. It worked! Don't mess with Max, bitches.

"I am dying to see how this plays out," Chloe chortled, rubbing her hands together with anticipation.

Wincing at the phrasing, Max's mind filled with all the close calls. While she had managed to save Chloe, she still remembered all the failed attempts. There was no way she could ever forget the piercing gunshots, desperate pleas for help, the flash of fear in her blue eyes and the blood… so much blood…

"Uh… hey, Victoria…" Max stuttered, cautiously taking a step towards the sulking blonde.

Hearing footsteps, she lifted her head and scowled. "What do you want, Max?"

Once again, the screen froze and two options appeared: MAKE FUN OF and COMFORT.

"It's decision time again," Max said, trying to even out her breathing before anyone else noticed how draining this was for her.

Rachel said nothing, her eyes narrowing slightly. For the first time, she wondered just how much Max was risking now. Max herself had mentioned that everything had consequences. Logically, the larger the risk, the harsher the repercussions.

Smirking evilly, Chloe turned to Victoria. "Well, well how the tables have turned. This one is hella obvious. Make fun of without a doubt."

"Fuck you, Price," she growled threateningly.

"Payback's a bitch," the bluenette replied, not even bothering to hide the smug satisfaction.

Max clenched her teeth, their persistent arguing not helping the mind crushing throbbing in her head. "Can you guys please stop it for more than five seconds? Seriously, we need to get this moving and you are not helping."

"Anything you say, Mad Max." Chloe shrugged, leaning back in her seat.

Chloe Price being compliant was a novel concept. Normally, she rebelled at every given opportunity. Whatever the reason, Max wasn't about to call her out. Anything for a smooth run.

"Comfort, of course. That's my vote," Victoria huffed with Taylor and Courtney nodding in agreement.

As before, Rachel followed Chloe's vote. Warren was up next, sheepishly joining them on the make fun of bandwagon.

Kate shook things up, adding her own vote for comfort. "She's been punished enough," was her simple reasoning. The morbid irony…

"Alright, adults next," the brunette muttered to herself.

Unsurprisingly, they all sided with Kate. However cruel the behavior, they couldn't condone further bullying. Before all of this, Max's moral compass had been unwavering too. Being forced to make one morally obscure question after another had drastically altered her perception of 'right' and 'wrong'.

"I guess that means comfort has won. Only just, though," Max commented, feeling slightly disappointed by the outcome.

Before she could continue, Chloe deployed her infamous pleading puppy dog eyed look. "Wait, Max. Can we see the make fun of option anyway, just once? Pretty please."

The request did not sit well with Victoria, her head snapping around to face the bluenette. "Um… excuse you?"

Considering it for a moment, she couldn't deny the appeal. After much deliberation, she shrugged. "I don't see why not. I'll do that one first so I only have to rewind it once."

Victoria's jaw dropped. "Are you being fucking serious right now?"

"Thanks, Max. I owe you one." Chloe grinned gleefully. Seeing her happy after everything was more than worth the pain she was about to endure.

"You already do," Max remarked as the image on screen started up again.

Victoria's shoulders hunched, anticipating the return of earlier mockery. "Don't… Don't say a word, Max."

Blue eyes flickered with amusement as she mimicked the blonde. "Oh wait, hold that pose!" Max snapped a shot of her looking downright pathetic, white paint splattered over her clothes, skin, and hair. "And no filter needed before I post this. Now please move. I've had a messed up day and I'm going to my room."

Reluctantly, she shuffled aside. "You do that… I know where you live… So does Nathan…"

The brunette's glare turned icy. "Fair warning. Threaten me and mine in this timeline? You'll find that my supply of mercy is almost used up."

With the way now clear, Max began to climb the steps towards the dorm, glancing over her shoulder. Maybe I shouldn't have done that… Now I have to get to my room, then see Warren.

Chloe smirked contently, satisfied by the outcome. "Totally worth it."

Smiling, Max started to rewind. There was more resistance than before, the screen flickering. Just when it felt like her mind was about to explode she stopped on the decision screen. It was getting harder to concentrate, her right arm warm and tingly. Ignoring it, she now chose the comfort option.

Hesitantly, Max shuffled closer to her. "I am sorry. That's an awesome cashmere coat…"

Shock by the lack of teasing, Victoria's eyes narrowed skeptically. "It was. But there will be another."

An awkward silence hung between them, both uncertain of the other's agenda. "Well, you always seem to know how to pick the right outfits."

Victoria regarded the brunette with mild disdain – as if this was the most commonly known fact. "I do have some talent. Mr. Jefferson told me-"

"I've seen your pictures," Max interrupted. "You have a great eye, Richard Avedon-esque."

Expression conflicted – both annoyed by the disruption and confused by the praise – she stared at the shorter girl, suspicious. After a tense few seconds, her face and voice softened. "He's one of my heroes… Thank, Max."

"It appears that the Queen Bitch of Blackwell can be tamed," Rachel wryly commented, only loud enough for those within a foot radius to hear.

"I have to hand it to you, Max," Chloe whispered, impressed. "We all thought it was impossible."

"I have a knack for performing the seemingly impossible, especially recently," Max muttered under her breath, looking down at her right hand.

The vulnerability dissipated as soon as it had arrived. "I hope those sluts get me a towel before they hang a sign on me." Tapping her foot impatiently, Victoria took out her phone. "You deserve a better shot. Sorry about blocking you and… and the 'go fuck your selfie.'"

Stifled laughter came from where Rachel and Chloe were sat, earning them an irritated eye roll.

"That was mean… but pretty funny," Max admitted with a smile.

Sighing, Victoria rested her chin on her hand. "Just one of those days, you know?"

"I know exactly what you mean, Victoria. I'll see you later."

"Au revoir," she muttered as she moved out of the way.

"You actually do use the French thing very well," Max commented.

Victoria shrugged. "Practice."

Her parents had insisted that she learn some French, if nothing else, in preparation to continue the 'Chase Legacy'. Had it not been forced on her, she might have accepted it. Nathan was the only other person who understood high familial expectations, which was why she defended him so fiercely.

Victoria probably played me. I should have played her… Better get to my room before I find Warren. Confrontation resolved, Max climbed the stairs to the girls' dorm, passing by Taylor and Courtney rushing back downstairs.

Off-white paint peeled from the walls, which were covered in overcrowded cork boards and leaflets. The remnants of a TP war sat on the stained thin blue carpet. As she walked past Room 222, she paused to look at the whiteboard. On it were the words 'Will bang 4 JESUS' with a crude drawing underneath. Grimacing, she rubbed it out and replaced it with a peace sign.

Kate perked up and smiled shyly at Max. "At least someone is looking out for me."

That sentence made her heart ache. She could've done so much more for Kate if she'd picked up on the signs sooner, made more of an effort. Without her power, that would've been it. Much too late. Despite her dire situation, she was glad to have her rewind sometimes. A world without people like Kate wasn't worth living in.

"I should have done more," was all she could say in response.

Home, sweet home. My favorite cocoon… Her body relaxed as she entered her room, shoulders rolling to release tension. Books and pieces of crumpled up paper covered all surfaces and the floor. Her walls were covered in posters and photos, particularly close to her bed. A small plant sat in the far-left hand corner of the room, looking very wilted. Her trusty guitar rested against the beat-up couch opposite her bed.

Striding over to the Hi-Fi at the end of her bed, she turned it on. Gentle guitar strumming and a soft haunting voice came from the speakers. Don't you know that I'll be around to guide you/Through your weakest moments to leave them behind you?

The Queen Bee shook her head. "That's about what I expected from a hipster like you."

Vanessa's eyes widened at the state of her daughter's room. "Max, your room is filthy."

"You think that's bad, you should see Chloe's room," Rachel quipped playfully.

"That's a bit harsh, Rach," Chloe protested. "It's not like you're much better."

"At least I can see my floor," she retorted, sticking out her tongue.

"I'd like to see a single teenage keep their room clean," she murmured to Joyce, shaking her head in mild despair. "Just one."

"You speak for moms everywhere," Joyce chuckled.

Max glanced over at Kate. "You know, there might be just one I know of."

The blonde's room was almost always immaculate. Even when she was dealing with the constant stress of bullying, the only thing that had really been out of place was the small pile of semi-clean clothes on her floor.

Kate looked down shyly. "I can't stand too much mess. I never have been able to."

"Maybe you should spend more time around Max to get her in shape," Vanessa suggested half-jokingly.

Kate glanced over at the brunette, who offered a gentle smile when their eyes met. "Maybe I should."

Something about Max's presence soothed her. It was such a strange feeling and she didn't understand the reason behind it. Maybe she would find out soon enough. In fact, she was certain – for better or worse.

She retrieved an old photo from a drawer – two teen girls, both decked out in pirate gear. The one on the right was a younger Max, mid-length brown hair and an eye patch over one of the soft, blue eyes. As for the other girl, there was a black captain hat perched atop her head, long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders. She grinned mischievously at the camera, dazzling blue eyes sparkling with joy. They both looked so young and carefree.

"Aw, well don't you two look cute," Rachel teased.

Chloe didn't react to her obvious goading, her azure blue eyes falling on Max. "You… kept that photo."

How should she feel about that? Honestly, it confused the hell out of her. For so long, she'd assumed Max had totally forgotten about her, moved on. If that was the case, why would she have this photo at Blackwell?

"Of course I did," Max replied without hesitation. "It's… a precious memory to me." She looked down at her feet, mumbling this last part.

As Max stared at the photo, she sighed deeply. Max and Chloe: Best Friends Forever. Who even says that anymore? I'm going to have to call Chloe eventually and find out what she'll say. The longer I wait, the worse it'll be. Idiot.

"I really fucked up, huh?" Max muttered, refusing to meet Chloe's eyes. No matter what she said or did, there was no making up for what she'd done. Still, all she could do was keep trying, like now.

The bluenette wanted to say something to ease her pain, but the words got caught in her throat – rendered completely speechless.

Just then, a quiet beep rang out. Max glanced at her phone, groaning when she saw the long text from her mom about the 'false' accusation against Nathan Prescott. Today just isn't my day it would seem…

Ryan shook his head. "There goes my faith in the education system."

"Welcome to the club," Warren added sympathetically.

"No-one really gives a shit," Chloe sighed resignedly. "Not when there's money or power to be had."

Kate began playing with her cross necklace for comfort. "That is... a very saddening thought."

Chloe nodded, tiredly running her fingers through faded blue hair. "Ain't it?"

Max wanted to tell her that she was wrong, to instill some hope, but that would be a bold-faced lie. She knew that better than any of them.

Shoving her phoned in her bag, she noticed a post-it note stuck to her desk.

Hey Girl,

I borrowed your drive so I can watch some flix while I study. If you need it back, just track me down in my room.

Xoxo D.

On a mission, she headed down the hallway to retrieve Warren's flash drive, hearing someone shout. "You can't get out now, Dana! So tell me the truth, or rot in there!"

Welcome to 'The Real Drama Queens of Blackwell'…

Rachel snorted in agreement, smirking. "Understatement of the century. Every day a different adventure."

"I almost miss it. It kept life interesting," Chloe snickered in agreement.

"You do just love trouble," Joyce sighed, shaking her head at her daughter's eagerness to pursue trouble.

David merely grunted. He'd been unnervingly quiet, not that Max had expected any less. He was a man of few words, something that was often mistaken for indifference. Honestly, she had the same problem, just different reasons. They had a lot more in common than first met the eye.

Max approached the blonde-haired girl stood outside Dana's room, who was checking her phone agitatedly. "Hey Juliet, is everything cool?"

She looked up from her phone. "Oh yes, Max. I've locked Dana in the room because we're 'cool.'"

From the following conversation, Max learned that Dana had been sexting Juliet's boyfriend, Zach, behind her back… according to Victoria. On Dana's behalf, Max snuck into Victoria's room and found an incriminating email, proving it was all lies. That was enough to get the poor girl released. Flash drive retrieved, Max made her way over to the parking lot.

On her way back to the main part of campus, a stern voice carried over. "...so don't think I'm blind! I see everything here at Blackwell! Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Peering around the corner, she saw David Madsen towering menacingly over a cowering Kate.

"Glad to see it's not just me who gets this treatment," Chloe commented bitterly. "At least I know it's nothing personal."

"I could have told you that," Rachel added, just as biting.

Max turned to the ex-soldier to gauge his reaction. His body was extremely tense as he watched the one-sided confrontation. Kate Marsh didn't seem like a trouble maker, but looks could be deceiving. He glanced over at Joyce, whose expression was stoic.

Blue eyes shifted to the girl in question, who was understandably shocked. David sure was terrifying, even now wincing at his harsh tone. What had she done to inspire his ire? As a rule, she avoided trouble at all costs. Did it have something to do with the video mentioned in Taylor's note? No doubt she'd find out soon enough. Part of her wanted to leave now before things got worse, but deep down she knew she couldn't. One reassuring smile from Max and she knew that leaving wasn't an option.

Backing away from David, her voice quivered. "No, and leave me alone!"

Another decision materialized on the screen: TAKE PHOTO or INTERVENE.

The stress of maintaining everything at once was starting to catch up on Max. Her body shook a minuscule amount, pushing past the dull ache with gritted teeth. She had to keep going, uncertain how much time she had left…

As Max struggled, the edges of the image started to fade, faint static flickering across the screen before she solidified her grip. Every pause required more of her attention than the last to keep steady. She hoped that the others were too engrossed in the experience to notice these small glitches. The last thing she needed was them worrying over her.

However, some were noticing. Rachel glanced at the brunette out of the corner of her eye. While she didn't see the need to pull the brakes on this yet, she was worried. Chloe was also becoming increasingly aware of the strain. As much as she wanted to mention it, she trusted Max's judgment.

"So, votes," she muttered distractedly. Full sentences were too much for her now – what with the pause and pounding headache.

No-one spoke, uncertain how to proceed. They had next to no context to work with, just what they saw on screen.

Chloe finally spoke up, her expression distant and tone low. "If it were me, I think I'd appreciate someone stepping in right now." In all her fights with David over the years, having someone on her team would've really helped.

Rachel nodded in agreement, offering no further reasoning. Anyone in Kate's situation would want someone to intervene, regardless of whether it was better in the long term.

Warren's brow furrowed slightly. "Just as a point of discussion, wouldn't it be better to have some proof here?" He looked over at Kate briefly, quick to justify himself. "Not to let you suffer or anything, but in the long term, wouldn't that be best? Max did say we should focus on the long term after all."

David and Kate remained silent, still trying to process everything.

"Not to push or anything," Max spoke through gritted teeth, "but it would be great if you guys reached a decision soon. We have a lot to get through."

"How about we let Kate decide here?" Rachel suggested. "Even if she doesn't know exactly what's going on here, I think she'd have a better grasp of the situation."

Slowly, the others nodded, even David. As of now, he had no proof Kate was up to anything suspicious. Taking an outsider's perspective, he certainly appeared to be the bad guy and he tended to jump to conclusions.

All eyes turned to Kate now, waiting for her verdict. She took a deep shuddery breath and looked Max straight in the eyes. "I would like to choose intervene here, if that's okay."

Even though Max could barely think right now because of the pain, she still managed to offer Kate a genuine smile. "Of course, Kate. I told you, your vote is important."

The weight of her words finally dawned on the group. Their decisions here really would have grave consequences, even if they didn't know what. This was not a game.

Stepping out of her hiding spot, Max hesitantly advanced. "Hey, why don't you leave her alone?"

Startled by the interruption, David drew himself to his fullest height. "Excuse us, this is official campus business-"

"Excuse me, you shouldn't be yelling at students. Or bullying them." Her voice became more confident with each word.

His jaw tightened at her accusations. "Hey, hey, nobody is bullying anybody. I'm doing my job."

The brunette shook from the surge of adrenaline. "No, you're not."

Stepping back from Kate, he towered over Max and jabbed his finger at her. "You're part of the problem, missy. I will remember this conversation." With one final glare at Kate, he skulked off.

Chloe stared on in disbelief. "Damn, Max. That was hardcore."

Max hated confrontation, no matter how trivial. As a kid, she shied away at the first sign of trouble. Unlike the bluenette, who fearlessly barged head first into the fray without hesitation – a trait shared by Rachel. Max had been the counterbalance to her recklessness, while Rachel was the catalyst.

Blackwell's head of security met Kate's eye awkwardly; neither knew how to react. He tensed considerably, waiting for the predictable anger and hatred. Instead, he received a forgiving smile. Taken aback, his expression softened, once steely eyes flickering with warmth. Few would forgive his seemingly unjustifiable behavior, especially someone as undeserved of his wrath as Kate. Yet, she had.

"In retrospect, it is easy to start seeing the Vortex Club everywhere," Max mused, her eyes hardened. "But not in a nice girl like Kate."

"That's sweet of you to say," Kate beamed gratefully. It was strange to know the brunette thought so highly of her, yet she knew next to nothing about Max – aside from her having a kind heart. As soon as she could, Kate would change that.

"It's only the truth," Max added matter-of-factly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Oh god, will you two stop being so damn adorable please," Rachel grinned. "I don't think I can take much more."

"Yes, it's almost sickening," Victoria huffed, irritated as she tapped her manicured fingernails on her leg.

The short blonde blushed slightly, clearing her throat as she focused straight ahead.

Kate grabbed onto Max's hands, her face lighting up for the first time. "Oh Max, that was great. I think you scared him for once… I have to go, but thank you. It means a lot."

"Anytime, Kate."

"And I mean that," Max affirmed. "Even now."

"Seems like you've got yourself a guardian angel," Rachel smiled wryly.

"Maybe we all do," Kate noted while looking over at the young time traveler.

Not many people would have gone to such lengths to protect those around her. In that moment, Kate had an unwavering faith in Max, the strongest she had ever felt in another person. It almost overwhelmed her.

"I don't know if I'd go that far," she shrugged. "I'm just doing what I can."

"Modest as always," Chloe chuckled lightly.

"Unlike you," Rachel smirked, playfully nudging the blue-haired punk's shoulder.

As hard as she tried to look annoyed, Chloe's face strained from trying to suppress a grin. "You know, I'm starting to go off you."

"Come on now, you don't really mean that," Rachel grabbed onto her arm, eyelids batting innocently. "Do you?"

Chloe shrugged, letting the smile loose. "Who knows?"

Before David had the chance to pounce on her again, Kate wisely made a swift exit. I felt like an everyday hero helping Kate but now Officer David Dickhead is after me. Maybe I should rewind and mind my own business?

"I'll assume everyone is satisfied with this outcome?" Max asked, sighing in relief when no-one spoke. Pausing the whole show was much harder than letting it flow naturally.

Finally, Max reached the parking lot and, after much coaxing from Warren, joined him over by an old, beat-up car. And there's Warren… Did he actually buy a used car?

Said pop culture enthusiast perked up at that. "Good to know he actually follows through with that."

"What do ya mean?" Chloe asked curiously.

"Eh," Warren shrugged. "Just wouldn't be the first time my uncle passed on something that doesn't exactly work well."

Digging out the flash drive she approached Warren, who held his arms out for a hug. "What up, Max? How are you?"

The prompt went straight over her head, handing it over. "Here's your flash. Thanks."

Taking the flash, he scratched his head awkwardly. "No problem."

"Ouch," Rachel winced at the oblivious move, "that was kinda embarrassing to watch."

Warren sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

"You aren't quite finished yet, Warren," Max mentioned, feeling a little sorry for him; she sure could be dense, sometimes – unintentional or not.

He shrugged. "Well, let's see the damage."

"Check out my new wheels..." Warren motioned back to the car with his head.

Max took a good look at his ride, seeming mildly impressed. "Cool. Very old school."

He leaned back on hood casually and patted it. "1978 to be exact. Now we can go to the drive-in. There's on in Newburg, just 60 miles away."

"That's a Volkswagen, right?" Rachel asked tilting her head. She was no car expert by any stretch of the imagination, but she could recognize different car brands easily enough.

"Yup," Warren nodded. "Not exactly great on gas, but it's durable."

"It looks sturdier than Chloe's truck anyway," the blonde commented, shooting the bluenette a sly grin.

"Well, maybe you can hitch a ride with Warren the next time you want to go to the store at 3 am in the morning," she grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

"The only winners in a collision with those two vehicles would be the manufacturers of tetanus shots," Max quipped, grinning to herself.

"I think you might be right there," Joyce muttered in agreement.

"Hey, I like my old truck," Chloe defended.

Victoria's lip curled in disgust. "Why am I surprised that you actually like that piece of junk?"

"Not all of us can rely on daddy's money," the bluenette bitterly retorted.

"Now, Chloe," the older woman cautioned, "there's no need to be like that."

"Whatever," she mumbled, shoving her hands into the pockets of her patched up gray pants.

"You're in the wrong time, Warren. But then, so am I…" Her expression suddenly became troubled, today's events crossed her mind again. So much drama to contend with.

Warren picked up on this change. "You okay?"

"It's been one strange fucking day," she exhaled deeply.

"That's certainly one way of putting it," Kate said, finally rejoining the conversation.

"You can say that again," Joyce mumbled. A lot had happened in such a short space of time and she was having trouble wrapping her head around it. They all were.

David merely nodded stiffly, being the usual talkative person he wasn't.

"Well, it's about to get stranger, so prepare yourselves." She wished someone had been there to walk her through this, or at least warned her how messed up it would get. Some things she would never be able to erase from her mind.

"Not sure how much more weird stuff I can take right now," Ryan sighed, stroking his unkempt beard. Facial hair care had been the last thing on his mind recently, too preoccupied with finding his daughter.

"I second that," Vanessa added, glancing over at Max.

There really was something different about her daughter, not necessarily good; she had the air of a person who had seen way too much. A pang of worry entered the pit of her stomach. Just what else had Max faced alone? She'd already seen her childhood friend get shot and discovered that she had time powers. How much more would there be to shock her?

Warren grinned to himself. "I bet. I heard Victoria got a faceful of paint… I'd pay money to see a photo of that…"

"Wouldn't we all?" Rachel grinned cheekily in Victoria's direction, who sneered in response.

"At least people would pay for my head shots. I'm not so desperate that I hand them out to everyone I see on the street just for some attention."

"Ouch, low blow," Rachel winced, pretending to be offended. "So I want to be a model, sue me."

"Why bother? It's not like you have anything worth taking anyway," the taller blonde scoffed.

She simply shrugged. "There are some things money can't buy."

"You're definitely gorgeous enough for it," Max offered up as reassurance.

Rachel turned to the brunette, hazel eyes widening in shock, soon replaced by a flicker of amusement. "Well, aren't you just a smooth talker?" She grinned charmingly and winked. "I'll take a compliment from a pretty lady."

"Uh, will you two shut up and get a fucking room or something, somewhere away from me," Victoria growled, rubbing at her temples.

"Is someone getting jealous?" the mischievous blonde lightly teased. "Don't worry, there's plenty of me to go around."

"Now you've done it, Max," Chloe groaned. "There's no stopping her."

"You say that like it's a bad thing, Chloe," Rachel pouted.

At this point, David cleared with throat awkwardly as if to alert them that there were, in fact, other people in the room. Everyone settled down again and continued to watch the story unfold before their eyes.

Max laughed quietly, brushing her hair behind her ears. "Really? I wish I would have known…"

"You probably would have raised a Kickstarter fund just for that one image of her covered in paint," Warren chuckled amusedly, crossing his arms behind his head.

Managing a smile, Max shook her head. "Had I known that… Anyway, Victoria took down my photo. So that drama ended well."

Curious, he tilted his head and changed the subject. "So did you get a chance to check out the movie booty on my flash drive?"

She nodded. "Yeah, thanks. You had some cool shit on there, from 'Akira' to 'Twilight Zone'. Which seems apropos today…"

"Max, you are such a nerd," the bluenette chuckled fondly.

"Like you can talk," Max retorted wryly. "I'm sure our misspent youth watching anime had absolutely no influence on that blue hair of yours."

Chloe reached up and twiddled a fade blue strand between her fingers. "Maybe…"

Warren grinned cheekily. "I consider myself a pop… cultural pirate connoisseur."

"That does sound better than 'thief'," Max pointed out, rolling her eyes.

He forced out a laugh. "Ha ha. Make sure you watch 'Cannibal Holocaust'."

Kate's eyebrows shot up to her hairline at the -frankly disturbing- title. "Cannibal Holocaust?" she asked incredulously, glancing over at Max for some sort of confirmation and reassurance.

"Don't take it too seriously," Max consoled. "It's mostly a gore fest. Has next to nothing to do with World War 2." She paused for a moment. "I probably still wouldn't watch it if I were you, though."

"Doesn't seem like something you'd enjoy, Kate," Chloe mentioned, recalling when Rachel had literally forced her to watch it in the early hours of the morning for the 'optimized viewing experience'.

Rachel shuffled in her chair, absentmindedly inspecting her nails. "Don't knock it till you try it."

"Seen it," the brunette countered smugly. "I was more disturbed by all those emo-vampire movies on there."

Warren shrugged. "Can't a sensitive high school boy love sensitive vampires too?"

Max raised an eyebrow in amusement. "So you're sensitive…"

He visibly winced at her mildly teasing tone. "Ouch… That sounds awful the way you say it."

"How so?" she questioned curiously.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, staring down at his shoes. "Sensitive usually means: 'Won't be having sex with you'."

Some of the group shuffled awkwardly at his directness, namely Warren himself. "I'm sure not pulling any punches, huh?"

"It certainly is an… interesting approach," Kate hesitantly interjected.

"With people like Max, you've got to be blatantly obvious," Chloe mentioned, remembering the numerous times when things like this went straight over Max's head… and the fun of explaining them in great depth, watching her get all flustered.

Ryan was currently making Warren squirm with the side eye he was giving the kid.

Ignoring the implications of his bold statement, she shook her head. "Oh, gawd. You need a sensitive woman to kick your ass."

"Damn, Max," Rachel chuckled. "Even when people are spelling it out for you, you just brush it off. It's pretty impressive, really."

"That's one word for it," Chloe added, feeling a weird sense of relief wash over her. Witnessing Warren's questionable flirting attempts irritated her.

He recovered quickly, grinning. "If I was lucky… Speaking of hip and fast, we should cruise out in my car to an actual movie this week… But you seem distracted."

Considering something, her body tensed up. "I need to talk to somebody… just to get it out of my system…"

"Dr. Warren Graham is in da house," he chimed in. "I won't even prescribe you any meds… Tell me everything."

Max stood beside him, leaning against the hood of his car. "For reals, Warren, this is between you and me, not social media."

His brow furrowed at her suddenly serious expression. "Don't insult me. Max, go on."

She took a deep calming breath and hesitantly began. "I had this incredibly bizarro experience in Mr. Jefferson's class today… I mean, life changing. Have you ever had a dream, so real it was like a movie?"

Before she could explain further, heavy footsteps stomped towards them. A boy with blonde hair and a resting scowl strode over to them, Nathan Prescott.

"This is going to go so well," Warren sarcastically mumbled.

Rachel leaned back in her chair and sighed. "For sure."

When he reached them, Nathan pushed Warren out of the way, his icy blue eyes glaring at Max. "Max Caulfield, right? You're one of Jefferson's photo groupies..."

Vanessa looked on worriedly, recognizing the boy from the bathroom shooting. Her husband tensed up, understandably concerned by this situation. Joyce seemed almost as apprehensive about this as Max's parents. Max was like a daughter to her, so having to watch her go through this ordeal was difficult. David's expression remained mostly impassive, however there was a slight uncontrollable twitch.

Victoria's brow furrowed at Nathan's appearance. This was not the Nathan she knew; his relaxed, cocky swagger replaced by an agitated stomp – more aggressive than she'd ever seen. Everything about him seemed tense and troubled, like a bomb just waiting to go off without warning. Taylor and Courtney sensed it too, exchanging worried glances. Just like the Vortex Club posse, Rachel could sense something was wrong. While Nathan was a rich kid brat on occasion, he could be fun to hang around with and certainly knew how to party hard, with the money to do it.

Chloe clenched her fist, wanting more than anything to punch that smug bastard's face. She had done it before to people who had tried harassing Max at school when they were kids. It had earned her a few bruises and some trouble – totally worth it. The desire to pulverize Nathan was stronger than any she had ever experienced.

Warren shifted uncomfortably in his chair, feeling helpless as he watched Max almost fold in on herself at Nathan's presence. Kate bit her lip, worrying it nervously between her teeth. Once again, she gripped onto her cross, silently praying that Max would get out of this without coming to harm.

"I'm one of his students," she corrected. 'Groupie' implied that she didn't have a mind of her own.

Nathan's jaw clenched and his hands balled up into fists beside his legs. "Whatthefuckever. I know you like to take pictures, especially when you're hiding out in the bathrooms. You best tell me what you told the Principal. Now!"

She cowered at the venom in his voice. "I told him the truth. A student had a gun."

Body shaking with rage, he drew himself to his fullest height, controlling the situation. "No, you told him I had a gun. That's why he dragged me into his office."

"And did what? Give you a stern lecture?" she shot back with shaky confidence, meeting his icy stare.

"Nobody, nobody lectures me. Everybody tried though… They try…" he muttered, voice low and unstable.

"You should talk to somebody, Nathan…"

That made him snap. "Do not analyze me! I pay people for that. Worry about yourself, Max Caulfield."

"I could call the police," she threatened weakly.

He couldn't keep in his twisted laughter. "Do it. The Prescott's own the pigs here."

David frowned, dissatisfied with Nathan's blatant disregard for the law.

"And here I thought Arcadia was a decent place." Joyce's voice came out strained.

"It's not the place that is the problem," Max mentioned quietly, "it's the people."

The older woman nodded, barely keeping it together. "You're right. Some of the best people get taken away first…"

Guilt flooded Max's body at the thought of William Price. She tried so hard to keep him alive for Chloe and Joyce… only fucking it up more.

Almost out of nowhere, Warren pushed Nathan back. "Get away from her, dude!"

Without hesitation, Nathan headbutted him hard. The impact made him stumble back and clutch onto his head. As Nathan was about to pounce on Warren, Max grabbed onto his arm and pulled him back,

"Hey, leave him alone!" As she set out her demand, he spun around and grabbed her by the throat.

Involuntarily wincing at the memory, Max felt her neck constrict in sympathy for her on screen counterpart. It was surreal to watch this from an outsider's perspective.

Ryan's fists clenched as he watched his daughter get harassed. He wasn't a violent man, but he wouldn't hesitate beating this kid to a bloody pulp. No-one threatened his family, no-one. Vanessa looked on in horror, almost not believing her eyes as Max struggled against his vice-like grip.

Victoria warily watched the screen, not saying a word as her friend threatened and physically harassed another student. The way he was acting right now terrified her, as much as she hated to admit it. Taylor and Courtney glanced over at her, wondering what she was thinking now. They both knew Nathan could get a little carried away sometimes; this was way beyond anything they'd ever seen.

Kate brought a hand to her mouth and gasped quietly, eyes widening in horror at his violence. Warren swallowed hard, hoping that he would recover in time to help her. Chloe silently seethed with rage while Rachel's brow furrowed in concern.

"Nobody tells me what to do. Not my parents, not the Principal, or that whore in the bathroom," he spat at her as she struggled against him.

"Stop that! Right now!" she shouted as she raked her nails down the side of his face.

He howled in pain, suddenly releasing her. She stumbled back, falling to the floor as a run-down yellow truck screeched to a halt just behind her. Scrambling to her feet using the truck's hood, she turned to see who was driving.

Her eyes widened when she saw the girl from before, who seemed equally shocked. "Max?"

After a moment, Max stuttered in disbelief. "Chloe?"

"Oh yeah," Chloe smirked. "Dream team together again."

The brunette offered a melancholic smile, knowing full well that Chloe had made the impossible possible. Without her, Max was… nothing. That was why she could never give up until she literally collapsed to the floor, never to move again. Even then, she'd find some way to keep Chloe safe.

"I have a feeling the whole of Arcadia Bay, Nathan Prescott in particular, should watch out now," Rachel chuckled.

"They really should," Max muttered through gritted teeth. She had little mercy to spare anymore, especially for those who constantly fucked with her.

"No way. You again?" Nathan growled, mostly recovered from Max's attack.

Unexpectedly, Warren tackled him to the ground, attempting to pin the larger boy down.

"Warren!" Max cried out in shocked concern.

As Nathan began wailing on him, he waved her away. "Go, go! I got this."

"Impressive," Chloe whistled, grateful for his timely interference.

"I have to hand it to you, Warren," Rachel smiled, "not everyone can fend of someone like Nathan."

Warren scratched his head awkwardly, a light blush creeping onto his cheeks at the praise. "Thanks, I guess. I am kind of getting pummeled out there, but I suppose it did the trick." When his eyes fell on Victoria, an icy shudder was sent up his spine. He quickly turned his attention back to the screen, but would still feel her glaring at him.

Kate winced as Nathan mercilessly punched him in the face. "That is probably going to leave a nasty bruise or two."

"Everyone loves a good battle scar," Warren shrugged nonchalantly.

"Nerd alert!" Chloe teased.

Not wasting time, Chloe opened the passenger side door and coaxed her in. "Get in Max!"

Taking one last glance at Warren, she jumped into the truck. Nathan turned to the noise, his expression the pure embodiment of rage as he kicked the door in frustration. "Get your punk asses out of there now! Don't even try to run! Nobody messes with me! NOBODY!"

Flooring it, the bluenette drove out onto the road. The inside of her truck was messy, empty cans and unpaid parking tickets littering the dashboard. Graffiti was scrawled onto almost every square inch of the truck's interior, with a skull and feather charm hanging down from the mirror.

Rachel shook her head, suppressing a smile. "And I thought it was bad now."

"It gives it character," the blue-haired punk defended.

"Chloe…" Joyce sighed, unable to express her disgust with the predictable state of her daughter's truck.

"If you think this is bad, you'd better close your eyes when we get to her room," Max mentioned.

Joyce shook her head in disappointment. "I might just have to."

"Figures," David muttered to himself, not offering anything further in response.

Slumping back in the worn seat, Max tried to catch her breath. "Man, Nathan Prescott is messed up. And dangerous… This day never ends…"

Irritated, Chloe tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. "Oh, and thanks, Chloe! After five years you're still Max Caulfield."

The brunette shifted uncomfortably under her almost accusatory gaze.

Even now, Max couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She'd been such a coward, selfish. While she had been scared of Chloe hating her, the older girl had been hurting; her dad died and her best friend disappeared almost without a trace when she needed support the most.

The bluenette's face softened considerably. "Don't give me the guilty face. At least pretend you're glad to see me."

For the first time, Max's expression showed genuine warmth. "I never have to pretend with you, Chloe."

Max looked almost exactly as Chloe remembered her – the young teen running around Arcadia Bay in search of adventure and treasure, armed with an eyepatch and plastic sword. Although, there was something different, easily overlooked. The bluenette couldn't quite put her finger on it, maybe her eyes?

Max relaxed as the tension faded. "I am seriously glad to see you. Oh, and thanks, Chloe. It makes perfect sense I'd see you today."

"Yes, it's been that kind of day." A flicker of cautious curiosity entered Chloe's eyes. "So what did that freak want with you?"

"Hopefully nothing after today," Max murmured, more to herself. "So, how do you know Nathan?"

She shrugged. "He's just another Arcadia asshole…" Before Max would question further, the bluenette changed the subject. "Your friend really took a beatdown for you."

"Warren? Yeah, I owe him big time," Max noted, conflicted about her choice to leave him at Nathan's mercy.

Chloe gave her an indecipherable look. "You're not the only one in debt, and you're already causing trouble."

There was a brief awkward silence as Max glanced out of the smudged window, watching the scenery speed past in a blur. "I thought it would be quiet here. Feels so weird to be back."

"So I guess Seattle sucked hard?" the older girl asked, hopeful.

Max looked down, eyes shadowed by her hair. "I guess. It was cool but… I felt kinda lonely, out of my league."

"You never really were happy at Seattle, were you?" Vanessa suddenly asked.

As much as she might want to say she enjoyed every minute, it would be a blatant lie. In Seattle, she never seemed to have a second to catch her breath, not like in Arcadia – where inaction could easily swallow you up, if you let it. In truth, she'd always preferred the whimsical mysteries of nature and its relaxed aura to the fast-paced inner city life.

"Not really, no," Max admitted after much deliberation.

Ryan sighed deeply. "I had a feeling that was the case. I doubt you would have pushed so hard to come to Blackwell otherwise."

"I get why we had to move," she added understandingly, "and it's not like I hated it or anything, it… just wasn't me. I felt out of place."

"It's just a shame that Arcadia essentially became a ghost town," Ryan muttered. That was the reason they moved in the first place. Work had dried up and, while the properties in Arcadia Bay weren't expensive, they still needed the money to live.

"You can blame the Prescotts for that," she scowled.

"I would think you'd fit right in with the art school hipsters…" the blue haired punk lightly teased.

"Right. You look like the cover of Hipster Girl dot com," Max quipped with a light smirk.

Chloe rolled her eyes playfully at the comment. "At least you're still a smart-ass."

"That's why I'm here," the brunette grinned.

"Please, girl. You came back for Blackwell Academy," the older girl scoffed.

"Of course," Max agreed instantly, "It's one of the best photography programs in the country… and my favorite teacher, Mark Jefferson."

"So you came back to Arcadia for a teacher… not your best friend," Chloe summarized, shooting her a sideways glance.

With the tension rising again, Max shuffled uncomfortably. "Don't you think I'm happy to see you?"

Chloe's face hardened again. While her tone was calm, it was clearly forced, flickers of anger coloring it. "No. You were happy to wait five years without a call or even a text."

Each time Max heard the betrayal in her tone, it chipped away at her very soul – a constant reminder of her fuck ups. Yet another reason why she was trying so hard to set things right. Chloe sure as hell deserved it.

"Max… look, I was hella pissed when you left, but more than anything I'm happy to see you again." Chloe suddenly found her boots really interesting. "You know I'm not good at dealing with my emotions properly, so... I just thought you should know that."

A small smile tugged at Max's lip. "I do know it, and I can't blame you for it." Not as much as she blamed herself…

As that fateful week of their reunion passed, Chloe had slowly begun to let the brunette back into her life – almost picking up where they left off when she realized Max was on her side. Sure, they'd fought but they supported each other through difficult times. If everything went according to plan, they still would.

"Good," was all Chloe could manage in response, tension fading. She had a feeling this experience would provide them both with the right words. All she had to do was wait.

Max's shoulders hunched over as the words cut through the tense atmosphere. "I'm sorry. I know things were tough on you when I left."

Grip tightening on the steering wheel, Chloe's knuckles turned white. "How do you know? You weren't even here."

Chloe saw the brunette bow her head, hair covering her face. If only she had approached this more calmly… Unfortunately, that wasn't in the blue-haired punk's nature. She let it all build up, exploding at the nearest person – whether they deserved it or not. Then, she calmed down and regretted it. Gently, she nudged Max's foot, trying to reassure her.

After a second or two, Max returned the nudge. Enough with the whole 'Woe is Max' act. Sitting up straight, she concentrated on the important task at hand. When she lifted her head again, she noticed the flickering on the screen again, this time much more obvious. Some of the colors were faded, a soft hum coming from the speakers. The insistent pain in her head intensified as she focused on hiding the deterioration.

Avoiding the betrayal in Chloe's eyes, Max stared at the floor. "I didn't order my parents to move specifically to fuck you over, Chloe."

"You've been at Blackwell for almost a month without letting me know. 'Nuff said," she snapped abruptly.

"I just wanted to settle in first and not be such a shy cliché geek." As Max spoke, her excuses began to sound more and more pathetic. "I totally would have contacted you."

Chloe exhaled deeply, adjusting her dark blue beanie. "I bet you don't use these sad excuses on Mr. Jefferson… Don't use them on me, Max."

Slumping back in her seat, Max glanced over at the bluenette. Sunlight seeped through the window, illuminating her features. Her style had changed, now a heavy punk rocker vibe. A colorful tattoo sleeve poked out through the right sleeve of her jacket.

Reaching into her bag, Max pulled out her camera to find it smashed from her fall in the parking lot. "Broken. Oh man, are you cereal?"

The outdated phrase made Chloe smirk. "Wow, haven't heard that one in a while…"

"Not everything changes. Except my camera has officially taken a shit," she groaned in annoyance.

"My step-douche has a boatload of tools. Maybe you can fix it in my place…" Chloe casually suggested.

"Very smooth, Chloe," Rachel grinned.

"Shut up," was all Chloe could manage to reply, her cheeks growing faintly pink at the suggestive tone.

"That touched a nerve," the blonde taunted, enjoying every second making her squirm.

In response, the blue-haired punk glared at her, only amusing Rachel more. Max wondered how Chloe and the others would react to the middle of the week, one decision in particular. No doubt it would bring up some embarrassing conversation.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a spike of pain in her already throbbing mind. She recoiled, clutching at her head as a thin trickle of blood ran from her nose. Biting her lip hard to stifle a grunt, she pushed through.

"I need very specific tiny tools," Max muttered as she thoroughly examined the damage to her camera.

"Nerd alert!" Chloe exclaimed gleefully. "My stepdad has a fully stocked garage. And he actually is a tiny tool." She paused for a moment before offering a warm smile. "Welcome home, Max."

Several things happened at once. There was a sound like shattering glass, and the image abruptly vanished by spinning into a vortex and warping away. Those gathered both felt and saw the ripples of energy converge on Max, who was on all fours and panting hard.

It hurt. As time resumed its normal course, Max felt bile rush through her digestive system. Her entire body convulsed violently as the backlash from her power usage surged through her. Vaguely, she registered movement and voices – distant and smothered, as if her surroundings were submerged underwater. Everything slowly faded away from her by the second.

Desperately, she tried to fight it, to maintain control… but her body wouldn't allow it. Part of her was relieved when the darkness finally overcame her, taking away the pain. She almost hoped this would be the end. It would be nice to just give up here, but that just wasn't an option. Not anymore.