AN: I saw some potential concept art for Warren's room awhile ago. It looked pretty awesome.

At least a couple people had mentioned theories about Mr. Jefferson being a time traveler or having the same or similar abilities to Max. This probably won't be canon, at least, not very much. And out of character? Maybe a little? But this has been bugging me for a bit to write, so I thought that I would try to...well, write it.

P.S. most of these stories kind of revolve around dreams, sleeping, insomnia, ect. Taking place when you're asleep or daydreaming? That type of stuff. But not every story is. IRL these are almost all written because of insomnia.

—-

I'm so happy that I was able to help Kate, that I managed to talk her off of the rooftop, though I wonder if there might have been more I could do for her but I either missed it or ignored it.

But now, Kate was safe in the hospital, getting the help she needed and was far away from the toxic environment of Blackwell Academy.

I was a little out of it when I walked back into photography class, I didn't look up, didn't greet anyone. Not even Warren. If anyone said anything about it, I didn't hear it.

Mr. Jefferson has said something, but I'm not sure what and upon lifting my head to look at him, he must've seen something that I didn't. Lips forming a thin line as he shut his mouth, shook his head gently and turned back to the rest of the class and with that my head dropped again.

Partially out of curiousity, anxiety and an attempt to not let my mind drift to darker places, I had been trying to figure out how I had managed to freeze the whole school.

Was it a miracle? Yes. I didn't doubt that.

But could I do that again? Maybe not freeze an entire courtyard of people, but could I stop time and move freely? Of course, that hurt, very bad. 10/10 would not recommend to a friend.

It was dangerous and stupid…but I had been trying to repeat it, trying to figure out if I could do it more than once. If I could…maybe I could help Chloe more? Or Joyce? Or Arcadia Bay as a whole?

The world maybe. No. No a headache that bad would probably kill me, not that I was confident that it would work if I did try it on larger scales of people. Zero confidence in fact.

'You have a death wish, Max.'

This wasn't my best idea, though with everyone seemingly avoiding me now, it was easier to focus on trying to reach out like I had done, so many times before, though this time I was awkwardly having to keep my hands low and below the table. Like I said. Awkward. Though To be fair…I couldn't just raise a hand like I usually did, that would draw attention.

Repeatedly reaching out at nothing? Normal people don't randomly grasp at thin air.

My attempts had been pretty fruitless though, only managing to get a few nosebleeds, which I somehow had the foresight to hide.

Pausing for a moment, I lifted my eyes to glance at the clock and saw that class was ending soon.

'Crap…'

It's not like I had a time limit but my attempts to recreate the may my powers had distorted, grew a little bit more desperate.

'Let it go, Max. You're going to hurt yourself.'

There had to be someway to do this…what if rewinding wouldn't be enough in some situations?

The incident with Chloe and the train tracks suddenly flickered forth, she had gotten her foot wedged in between the tracks, I had just barely managed to get the train to switch tracks, Chloe had been so close to getting hit- the train's whistle had been so loud it almost reverberated though us.

A few more seconds and I would've been to late, "I-"

Tipping backwards, I covered my ears with my hands and clamped my eyes shut, braving myself against the noise…

The memory was cut short as my chair that had been ripping back finally clattered to the ground, taking me with it, I almost banged my head as I fell and made impact with the floor.

I curled into a ball, trying to breath calmly and slow down my heart rate,

'You're ok, Max. You're ok. Chloe's ok too, just breath.'

After a moment my heart had stopped hammering itself into my rib cage.

'Ok Max. Time to get up, people are going to think there's something wrong with you.'

I carefully sat up, righted my chair and stood up…I expected to be greeted by questioning looks, rolling eyes or hushed whispers...but I was only to be met by an empty classroom.

My stuff was still here, but everyone else's belonging were not. Not even Mr. Jefferson was here…

I listened carefully as I gathered up my things, slipping my camera into my bag as I did so.

I expected to hear people walking in and halls and talking…but I heard nothing.

'Oh crap. Oh crap, I am so late for the next class. How long was I sitting there?'

I shook my head, nobody had said anything to jar me back to the real world. It's not like I was expecting them to be suddenly full of concern or doting on me.

But for even Mr. Jefferson to have left...did he just get frustrated with trying to get my attention from before? Was I given a rare moment to myself?

'Wait, the clock.'

Not only had everyone left but now the next period had to be starting too.

I shot a quick glance at the clock, only just for a second. Not enough to really fully register the actual time.

"Great, this is great, I needed another excuse to get interrogated by Principal Wells." I couldn't stop from mumbling as I made my way out into the hall, but stopped short when I collided with something.

Or someone.

After taking a step back to see Logan, I immediately backed up several more steps, ready to stutter out on apology when I noticed that he…wasn't moving.

When I sidestepped to wave a hand in front of his face, thinking that he was just being a jerk and this was some stupid attempt at a jump scare. But that's when I caught something over his shoulder.

Another student was frozen mid-walk.

As I took a proper look around us, it was clear that this wasn't not some dumb joke.

Students and faculty alike where frozen in various positions.

"Wait…it worked? But…" I held up my hands in front of my face, then turned them over, trying to figure out what just happened.

Out of reflex, one hand went up to my nose but came back clean.

No nosebleed.

And now that I was more aware of myself I noticed that I didn't have a headache, not a normal headache I had almost grown used to from acting as a human universal remote and not the almost debilitating one I had gotten when I had gone to help Kate.

It was kind of sad, expecting pain but questioning why I was pain free?

'You're not in crippling pain on the floor. Don't question it.'

For a moment…one stupid and somewhat mean moment, I considered messing with Principal Well's office. I think it may have been unlocked. He didn't exactly keep a constant eye on everything after all, and he wasn't inside. In fact he was right down the hall from me with Mr. Jefferson.

Glancing back and fourth, "He does kind of deserve it…and I wouldn't actually damage anything. And I'm not going to steal, so…"

I was about to head for the door, when I thought I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.

I could have sworn that Mr. Jefferson move,

But no…no, I'm seeing things. How could he?

Cautiously, I leaned a little closer, though still kept a respectful distance as I stared hard at him, trying to figure out if I was truly just imagining things.

But to my horror, I was not.

Though moderately still, I could still he his chest rise and fall, unlike everyone else, His eyes scanned something on the bulletin board before he turned and raised his mug in a 'cheers' sort of gesture.

I staggered back and almost tripped over my own feet but Jefferson carefully caught me by an arm before I could fall,

"You look rather distressed, Max. Perhaps you should have a seat."

'Sit down? No- nope nope nope. What's going on? Why isn't he…'

I rather frantically motioned with a hand, but unlike all of the other times…nothing happened. No 'time resuming to normal' and no headache following it.

Mr. Jefferson simply inclined his head, watching me curiously.

'Crap. Crap, crap crap!'

I tried again and again…and again, all while backing away from our teacher.

He made no move to follow me. Not that I really noticed, since I was panicking and all.

"Max?"

'Why did I try to do this? This was so stupid, I can't help Chloe now! Am I going to die like this? Can I die? I'm never going to see my parents again-'

"Maxine Caufield!"

Jerking at the mention of my name, my internal panic being derailed,

"We need to talk, Max." He began and held up a hand when I opened my mouth to say something, " I believe that I owe you an explanation."

I think I could feel my brain shutting down.

He gestured around to the teachers and students, "And I don't want you to have a panic attack and pass out."

'Wait…what?'

As my heart rate slowed and returned to a more normal rhythm I was left more confused that anxious.

"I don't understand…" this would've made my head hurt.

' has encountered an error.'

Mr. Jefferson briefly looked out of one of the windows, "For the moment, it's dry enough outside to walk."

More confusion.

"Okay? And?" I shrugged my shoulders.

Jefferson sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in what I guessed was irritation.

"Walk with me, Max. Like I said, we need to talk, the fresh air might help your nerves and I'd rather discuss this, not packed in a crowded hallway. I understand that this is…rather unorthodox but please humor me."

Ultimately, I followed him. I don't know if it was because my brain had seemingly imploded in on itself or if it was just curiosity. Or both? Probably both…although being alone with a teacher was, to kindly uncomfortable to say the least, there wasn't much I could do about it.

'You're stuck in the confines of the school or you're outside.'

Mr. Jefferson was right about the fresh air though.

"In any case, I promised you an explanation." He began from beside me as we made our way around the grounds in front of the school.

"I'm going to be a bit blunt so you'll have to excuse me."

I just nodded along.

"Your…powers? Is that was you called them? They are intact. They're not lost forever, at least not as far as I can tell."

Almost tripped, 'Wait- he knows about my powers? How? Only Chloe knows! I never even got to tell Warren.'

Motioning towards the school and our surroundings, "You're not the one responsible for Blackwell currently being stuck on pause."

A knot started to form in my stomach,

"And for lack of a more delicate way to way it. That would be my fault."

In a desperate last ditch effort not to trip, having heard this, I stepped to the side but also almost slammed my face into a tree.

"Your fault? You…" any more coherent responses left me then, as I apparently transformed into a goldfish. Caught somewhere between trying to open my mouth to speak and shutting it again after not having been able to say anything.

Instead I opted to plop down on one of the seats of a nearby bench. Which was a serious mistake, because there was still some water on it from the rain.

' has been corrupted. Please hard restart.'

Burying my face in my hands and letting out a barely audible, muffled scream, venting out more than a few feels and a few words that I'd probably get scolded for if they hadn't been unintelligible.

'Ok Max, you have released your bottled up feels, you need to listen to…whatever else Mr. Jefferson has to say…'

My voice still cracked when I spoke again, "Why…why did you do it? Freeze everyone, I mean? And how'd you know about my powers?"

For a moment his brow was face was almost twisted in confusion, if I had to guess…maybe it was the sudden muffled screaming.

Though a neutral look soon replaced it, "That's not quite what I…It's hard to explain. Let's just say that it's something you pick up with time. Though there were a few times where you seemed to know the exact thing to say, or rather what someone else would say. Word for word."

He continued, "As for your first question, I had to do this before you hurt yourself."

Jefferson tapped his nose with his index finger, "Or should I say, so you wouldn't harm yourself further?"

My hand immediately shot up to stop the nosebleed that was not there. I can't believe I'm so used to this that it's a knee jerk reaction now.

A chanced a glance up at Mr. Jefferson but he was just giving me a somewhat pitying look.

"It's not like I'm doing it on purpose." I mumbled, awkwardly withdrawing my hand only to begin fidgeting with and wringing both.

'Ok anxiety, that's enough for now. Time to change the subject!'

"So there's two oddities as BlackWell? ...wait, are there more people?"

I hadn't even thought about the possibility of anyone else having the power to rewind. Though, I had no reason up until now to suspect that.

Mr. Jefferson shook his head, side eyeing the bench, willing away any water maybe? Nobody wants to sit in a puddle. But standing in one spot wasn't the most comfortable and I didn't know how long we would be here.

He settled for learning against it instead.

"Oddities is rather harsh, don't you think? And no. To my knowledge there are no other...similar individuals. Not in Arcadia Bay anyway. Certainly not in BlackWell."

Moving his hand in a wide arch, he continued. "I wouldn't be surprised if there are others, elsewhere in the world." Giving a quick nod back at the school he added.

"I've yet to meet any. Although..."

He inclined his head, making eye contact, "Now that's certainly not the case. Is it?"

I just mumbled and shrugged in vague agreement.

Another question popped up then.

"You were saying that you...didn't freeze the school? What exactly did you do?"

He closed his eyes and braces himself against the bench, "I'm afraid that I can't give you a simple and straight forward answer. Not right now. As I said before, it's complicated. I can say this though, my...for lack of a more tact way to phrase it- my 'powers' are quite different from yours. Though it seems that there is an ability that she share."

I wasn't very happy with his answer but nodded along anyway.

'Now for the second question.'

I couldn't help but study his face for a moment, "What can you do?"

His eyes suddenly opened, head turning to look down into my face. I saw something odd passed over his face for a moment, eyes darkening.

When he spoke again, he sounded very different than the usual semi-serious, professional, occasionally nagging voice I had grown used to.

Though I didn't know what about it sounded off.

"Well that's a separate question in of itself, Max."

Something flickering across his eyes, something that I couldn't place but whatever it was it made me shiver.

I had to fight off the urge to squirm in my seat and not look anywhere else.

'Power through Max.'

"Does that mean that you won't tell me?"

Equally unexpected, the tall hipster bent down in front of me so we were at eye level.

"It's not that I won't explain it, Max. To say that I can't would be more accurate."

'Battle to not squirm like a nervous puppy has been lost.'

Even so, I was confused.

I tilted my head as I asked him, "Is it hard to put into words?"

The dark bled out of his eyes then, replaced by something sad, pained.

"In a way. Let's just say that it's best that you're kept in the dark about some things." He pushed himself up and began straightening himself out. "I can't imagine that this has been all that helpful, in fact it seems I have left you with far more questions and only brief or cryptic answers. I apologize."

I frowned and opened my mouth to respond when he held up a hand.

"I'll better explain a few things in the future. But please, just take my word for it." He began walked once again, back towards BlackWell and I had to scramble up from where I was sitting to catch up.

Soon we were back in the school and walking back down the hall, Jefferson stopped halfway to stand where he had been before, next to Principal Wells.

"For now, trust me on this. You'll sleep a lot better without knowing what I've done, Max." He finished and before I could ask him what he meant he gave a quick wave of his hand and suddenly the school was alive again, everyone going on their way, doing their thing. Earlier silence replaced by the regular droning of multiple people gossiping at once.

That was so ominous of him to say...what did he mean by that? Maybe...could he have something to do with the weird weather too? Even if that was the case, why phrase it like that? Like he did something horrible?

Any more questions I had were derailed when Warren suddenly popped up in front of me.

"Hey Max! Feeling any better?" He cheerfully asked.

I looked over my shoulder but saw that Mr. Jefferson was now at the far end of the hall, in a heated conversation with Wells.

'So much for asking more.'

A hand suddenly waving in my face drew my attention away.

Warren's face was screwed up in concern, "Max? Are you ok?"

Shaking my head, I put Mr. Jefferson's words at the back of my mind and refocused instead on Warren.

"Yeah, Sorry. I'm...well, as good as I can be. So I guess I'm ok." I gave a nervous smile, "Sorry, I guess I'm zoning out a bit today, I think I'm going to try and get some rest..."

Warren eyed me for a moment as if trying to determine if I was really ok. He must've decided that I was alright, he smiled and nodded "Yeah. You could use some sleep."

I gave a theatrical gasp as I swatted Warren on the arm, "What's that supposed to mean?"

He quickly backpedaled, "Not like that, I swear."

He waved both hands in a panicky motion.

"A lot has happened, you know? Especially to you. You could use a minute to yourself. You saved Kate." He nudged me, "The hero of BlackWell deserves a break."

I could just chuckle in response, "I won't say no to that."