"I've been living here for a while," Kate says during their bus ride, "And by a while, I mean my whole life."

They were the only ones on the bus, aside from the driver, sitting in the middle row. They sat right next to each other, arm to arm, as they talked about their lives.

"I used to live here." Max adds.

"Oh really?" Kate raised her eyebrows. "Where did you move to?"

"I moved to Seattle when I was thirteen. And... now I'm back, only because I really wanted to go to Blackwell. Well, Chloe too, of course."

"Oh wow, it must've been nice to live there while it lasted."

"Oh yeah, it was really exciting. But, if you knew Chloe, you'd want to come back again."

"I don't think she would want to be friends with someone like me."

Kate knew Chloe as a misfit troublemaker with the blue hair and tattoo sleeve covered in roses and skulls. She found her interesting, but knew that Chloe would not want to associate with her. She sees her and Rachel together constantly and felt a small envy for their close friendship.

"I think she wouldn't be able to hold in her potty mouth, but she would be your friend."

"Maybe now, if we ever all hang out."

The two walked into the Two Whales diner, the smell of bacon hitting them in the face. They sit at a booth next to a window, across from each other, and already ordered. Max wanted waffles and Kate wanted an omelette and bacon. Both ordered a cup of coffee.

"What are you going to take a picture of for the project?" Kate asks, eyeing Max's vintage camera.

"I haven't thought about it yet," Max replies, "What about you?"

"I haven't found anything yet." Kate meets Max's blue eyes. She felt her heart skip a beat on contact.

"Enough of that then. We have one week." Max smiles. "Would you say you like it here? In Arcadia Bay, I mean."

Kate lets out a sigh. She wanted to admit that she does not like the small town recently, but this is her and Max's first time having a real first conversation. She held her tongue.

"I guess," Kate shrugged again, "It has its ups and downs. I would say I'm okay here."

Their food has arrived, the waitress greeting in with "Here you go ladies, enjoy!"

"Is there something wrong with here? I feel like that wasn't very honest of you." Max cut a piece of her waffle.

Kate hated to lie so much in one sitting; it wasn't in her nature and was a sin no less. She looked around at the table, ceiling, bar, jukebox, and behind Max, before replying.

"I truly like it here. I adore the pier and being by the water," Kate took her fork and cut into her omelette.

For the rest of their breakfast, they continued to talk about their experiences, mostly Max talking about Seattle and her time living there.

"I made a couple friends while I was living there," Max had been speaking of her life, even up until they're on the bus ride back. There was a few more people during this ride, the two still sitting in the middle, comfortably side-by-side.

"I spoke to Chloe everyday and I got to see her change into this bad ass punk girl. I love her, but she's a bit much at times."

"What do you mean?" Kate cocked her head to the side.

"She's pretty wild, but I think you know that. Like the other night..." Max got closer to her to whisper, "she and Rachel snuck into the school and went into the pool."

"No way," Kate whispered back.

"Yes way," Max smirked.

"Are we really surprised?" Max added.

"I'm not," Kate shook her head, "I actually spoke to Rachel last night."

"Oh yeah? About what, if I may ask?"

"Don't think we're weird anything, but she wanted to talk about you," Kate started, "It's really funny because I walked into the bathroom and then she walks out-"

"What did she say?" Max asked urgently. Her eyes opened up wide, showing her dot-like pupils. She grabbed Kate's hand with a tight grip.

Kate looked back, surprised by her reaction, "She just asked what I thought about you. Are you okay?"

She became visibly relaxed, letting out an audible sigh, "I'm fine. Rachel's just... She's just very honest."

Kate looked back and forth between Max's face and her hand still holding hers. She didn't expect that kind of reaction, especially after being in a conversation with her for so long.

"S-sorry," Max retracts her hand quickly.

Kate smiles at reassuringly, "I'll say she's very confident. She walked out bare naked while I was in there."

"Whoa," Max breathed out.

"I didn't see anything," she nearly stuttered, "I covered my eyes as soon as the curtain opened."

Both the girls laughed at that, but Kate only saw the pink blush on Max's freckled cheeks.

The two girls arrive to Max's first period, World History class.

The hallways were still full of students, using up all their passing period time to talk to friends or grab things from their lockers. Both girls stopped right by the door of the classroom.

"Here we are," Max grinned at her. Kate has not stopped smiling at her since they've gotten off the box. She found Max a charming and slightly awkward girl. She had to be honest, she is attractive. Rachel would not let her hear the end of it if she was that direct. She clears her throat, not wanting to leave, but she knew she had to.

"I have to get to class now." Kate starts to turn.

"H-hey um, we can meet at the front after school." Max adds in. Kate turns back to see Max, who was rubbing the back of her neck, and looking more at the ground than at her.

"I would like that," Kate nods, "See you then."

She waves her, earning an awkward one back, and goes to her Photography Lab class. On her way, she meets Alyssa and Stella, her friends she walked with everyday. Alyssa Anderson was her taller, purple-haired friend who would admit to have a bit of bad luck, but she and Kate shared similar religious views. And Stella Hill was her intelligent and studious friend who was very outgoing. Kate shares her Language of Photography class with the two.

"Hey Kate," Stella greets first, "Was that the new student?"

"Yes, we ate breakfast together, so we hung out for a bit," Kate brings up.

"How is talking to your friend from London?" Alyssa changes the subject.

"I didn't talk to her yesterday. I've been tired in recent days. I'll talk to her today, I promise."

"Is she cool?" Stella asks, "The new student?"

"She's very nice. I suggest giving her a chance at being her friend."

"We will! You're always right, Kate."

Throughout the day, Kate just couldn't stop thinking about Max. She thought about those deep blue eyes, the simper on her lips, how soft her hand was when she held on, the freckles that graced her cheeks...

Kate figured that she just really adores Max and changed the feeling into more of a small jealousy. As the hours go on, she would lose focus and not pay attention in class.

"Hey hey, Kate!" She hears a male voice next to her. In her Chemistry Lab class, her last class of the day, she sat next to an acquaintance, Warren Graham. He was dorky and made plenty of science puns that she only half-understands. He was a brunette with a fun-loving and kind personality, but Kate didn't hang out with him much.

"Ready for another day of mixing chemicals together?" He sits in the stool next to her.

"Of course," Kate replies with a smile, "I do have the best partner out there."

"I should be saying that to you, Ms. Marsh, but I'll take the compliment," he puts on his safety goggles, "I did see you were smiling at the wall, so what's on there that's making you do that?"

Kate's jaw clamps tightly, "Oh nothing, I... I just remembered a joke and it was hilarious."

She had to lie once more, pinching herself on her thigh at that.

"I know that feeling!"

She lets out a silent sigh in relief.

She puts on her safety goggles, ready to start today's lab.

After class, she went outside, sitting at the fountain, as she waited for Max to come out of the double doors.

She stared down at her feet and her manicured nails as she sat patiently. Once in a while, some people would greet her and she would seen a drone fly around her.

"Hey Kate," she hears after five minutes. She looks up and sees Max, who was looking at her with a welcoming smile.

"Hey Max," she stands up, "How were your classes?"

"They were good," Max replies, "Worth it because I get to see you after them. How were yours?"

Kate giggles at the sneaky flirtatious statement, "Good. Same as always."

"Great," Max nods, "I came to see you but Chloe and Rachel really need me for something."

"Oh, another one of their adventures?"

"Yeah, I want to be with you, but I have to go, okay? We can go to breakfast again."

"It's a plan."

"Okay, enjoy the rest of your day."

The two split ways. Kate watched Max head to the dorm building, running in an awkward and stiff position. In the mean time, Kate walked around a bit on the campus, her fingers interlocked together and looked around for what she can do for her photography project. She can take pictures of trees, the students relaxing outside, the beauty of the school, but they didn't scream "the one" to her.

She didn't like any of the ideas, so she continues on her walk in the warm afternoon sun. She decides to go into the dorm building, crossing paths with Dana.

"Kate, I need to talk to you!" She said joyfully.

"Hello Dana," Kate greeted her, "How are you?"

"I'm great! How are you? I haven't gotten to talk to you in a minute. I've been very busy, you know?"

"I'm doing fine. And I know, you seem like you've been running around constantly."

Dana groans in annoyance, "Ugh, I know! I have to do things for the Vortex Club, make time for Juliet, do my homework, do things for the cheerleaders, it's all too much!"

Kate felt confused. Were Dana and Juliet... together? She remember the two having boyfriends before, but if they were dating each other now, more power to them. Kate never minded gay couples and every person she knew who was gay, she supported them and listened to them. In her mind, it made her happy and, sometimes, she thought about if she was gay. It was usually just a second, though.

"I'm sorry if this is a weird question, but are you and Juliet... a thing?"

"Are we girlfriends?" She rephrases.

Kate feels her cheeks heat up and she places her hands on them, "Y-yes."

"We are," Dana replies happily, "We had our boyfriends, but then we were single and then BOOM! Girlfriends."

"I did not know that." Kate smiled widely at her.

"Now you know! Anyway, I have to go, Vortex Club stuff to do, but I'll see you around!" Dana leaves, leaving Kate in the hallway.

She goes to her dorm room, seeing that her door slate has been altered from Matthew 11:28 to "Will twerk 4 Jesus." She erases it with her hand, leaving it smudged and dirty. She goes into her room, dropping her bag by her couch, and then turning on her laptop.

She tends to Alice as the laptop started up. She thought about Dana and Juliet. She knew there was a reason the two even stay in the same room. She knew it was a possibility that they were in a relationship, but then she changes it to just "friends who wanted to be closer together." Now, she knows that the two really are romantically involved, she couldn't help but giggle at the thought. It made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.

Her laptop was completely on. She sees the chatroom box pop up, showing Maximum Overdrive has sent a message to her.

Maximum Overdrive: I'm sorry I didn't text you until now LOL

Kate sits at her desk, staring at the bright screen with the corners of her mouth curled slightly.

Saint_Beverly: I guess we both decided to not text each other.

Maximum is typing... shows up right away. It should be nighttime where her friend is. Near midnight, actually.

Maximum Overdrive: Oh really? LOL wow

Maximum Overdrive: I'll try to make it up to you. somehow!

Kate starts to type, feeling that her friend was still saddened from missing a day.

Saint_Beverly: No need. Your company is enough. :)

Kate decides to turn and sees her dark room. It was covered in dirty clothes and everything was undone, on top of that, her mirror was still covered. She could barely stare at herself in the bathroom mirror.

Maximum Overdrive: I'm still going to do something about it. :)

Saint_Beverly: Please, ots okay!

Saint_Beverly: *its

She gets up and starts to finally clean her room. She felt that she finally had enough energy to do so, throwing her clothes into her bin, opening her window to let the natural light in, and fixing her bed. However, she kept the t-shirt over her mirror.

Maximum Overdrive: I insist! I will plan something for you!

Saint_Beverly: Okay okay lol

Kate audibly giggles to herself. She waits for a reply, but for about five minutes, there was no answer.

Saint_Beverly: Hello?

She hears knocking on the door, two fists knocking simultaneously on it.

She closes her laptop and gets up from her desk. She was glad to have cleaned her room for her sudden visitors.

She cracks it open, seeing through the small opening that it is Chloe, Rachel, and Max. She opens it wider, seeing that Chloe and Rachel has Max in a tight grip, sandwiched in between them. Max had a forced smile, while Chloe and Rachel had more sly smirks. Also, she had an obvious and profuse amount of pink, almost red, color to her cheeks.

"Afternoon Kate!" Rachel greets first.

"Oh, uh, hello," Kate said in a confused state, "I thought you guys were going out together."

"To-the-Max just said that, but we found out," Chloe lets go, "She admitted that you two were supposed to hang out and then she got scared or what-"

Rachel lets go of Max and slaps Chloe on her arm.

"Anyway," Rachel smiles at Kate, who was watching in an awkward state, "You two can hang out, talk about class or projects or even each other. And we'll go and hang out at the junk yard."

The two then push Max hard, accidentally causing Max and Kate to nearly bump heads, and then ran out, laughing down the hallway.

Max seemed stressed out by the situation, so Kate places a comforting hand on Max's shoulder.

"We don't have to if you don't want to."

"W-what? N-no, I'm fine. I really wanted to, but I... I don't know."

Kate smiles, "Then we can. Is there anywhere you want to go? Or just stay in here?"

"Sure, if you're comfortable." Max was already pretty much in the room, but Kate appreciated the question.

"Yes, I just cleaned my room," Kate then takes the shirt off the mirror, tossing it into the laundry basket.

"Wowzers..." Max said as she looked around the room. The room in its best condition was tranquil and comforting to be in. Kate stood a couple feet away for Max to explore and look around for a bit.

"You play violin?" Max looks at the brown violin resting in the black case, sitting on the couch.

"Oh yes, I actually played this morning," Kate mentions, "I love to play it. You play instruments?"

"I have a guitar. I try to play it too, but I haven't been able to in a while."

"I always wanted to learn the guitar. I play more classical instruments, so it would be nice to play something different." Kate walks closer to her to close the personal space.

"I'm not great at teaching, but remind me to teach you anyway." Max says with a grin.

"I would love that."

Max looked to her left, "Aw, you have a bunny."

She walks up to it, putting her face up close to the cage to look at Alice as close as possible.

"This is my rabbit, Alice." Kate follows, "I feel bad to leave her here, but I try to come back during lunch to take care of her."

"I have a pet too... sort of." Max said hesitantly.

"You kind of have a pet?" Kate guessed.

"It's a plant. Her name is Lisa."

The two stand up straight again. The air was awkward and every time they make eye contact, for Kate anyway, she feels this sudden jolt in her chest.

"But, I like your room," Max compliments, "You're very tidy and so bright."

Kate was the only one that knew what the room even looked like before. She liked the nice words, but she didn't believe them. She forced out a smile and a chuckle.

"Thank you, I try to stay as clean as possible. You can sit if you like."

"Oh, yeah," Max goes ahead and sits on the bed, "Sorry for Chloe and Rachel. They never give up."

Kate sits down next to her, similar to how they sat on the bus, "It's fine. It's good to have friends that get you out of a comfort zone."

"It is, but sometimes I just want to stay in it."

"Everyone feels that way. But, you don't have to be scared of me. Or did they just say that to make you look bad?"

"No, I was a little scared," Kate can see that she was starting to lean away, "I dunno why I feel that way though. You didn't do anything to cause fear."

"Would you like to go outside? We can walk around and get some air." Kate rubs a hand on Max's back to relax her.

"I would like that. Those two should be at the junkyard by now."

The two decided to go out for a walk throughout the campus.

Once outside, the two got into a deep conversation about themselves and Max was visibly relaxed. Kate listened closely as Max talked on and on about her favorite photographers, photographs, and why she preferred her vintage camera. She liked the fact that Max was passionate about photography and was talking endlessly.

Kate added her own remarks once in a while. Their conversation revealed that they liked a lot of the same things when it came to art and made each other laugh at each other's bad jokes.

"What are things you like to do during the weekend?" Max asks.

"On Saturdays I try to do some homework, hang out with friends, go out to eat with them. On Sundays, I have to go out and attend church. After that, my Sundays are lazy and I just sleep in."

"I can relate to that part. I usually try to sleep as much as possible. I haven't gotten much because..."

She waited for the sentence to end, but she looks and Max's eyes drifted away, distant and distracted.

"Because?"

"Huh? Oh, homework and Chloe."

Kate found it suspicious. She stopped the sentence and was looking down at the ground. She looked back at her like it didn't happen.

"So have you thought of anything for the assignment?" Kate changes subjects.

Max lets out a tired sigh, "No. I haven't been able to think of anything."

"Same," Kate nods, "I didn't think it would be that difficult."

"It was something positive and makes people happy..."

"More importantly, make us happy."

Their afternoon was simply each other. Kate felt the same comfortable and relaxed state when she's alone... and talking to her long-distant friend. Her Max and this Max were similar in terms of how they describe their lives and what their humor is.

The duo went on and on about their project and their ideas of happiness until they reached their rooms again. It was around 6 PM.

"It was great being able to talk to you," Max said as they stopped next to Kate's door.

"Same to you," Kate agrees.

"I'll see you tomorrow," Max starts to back towards her room, "Wake me up for breakfast?"

"Do you mind waking up at eight?"

Max was quiet, but she replies, "Nope. eight is fine."

"Alright, see you then."