Hi guys, Sorry this is taking a touch longer than anticipated, But on top of everyday life this recent heat wave is BRUTAL.
Myself and Olivia (Mostly Olivia) are trying to shrink down this week into something that doesn't span 30+ chapters, But still doesn't just skip everything. Of course, the multiple choices in the game give us issues as we try and figure out what happens if you do X Y and Z instead of B, D and F, Yeah that's fun...and frustrating at times lol.
SO here's the other part of Monday, Tuesday is looking to be its own chapter, And hopefully we can get each day down to just the one chapter, Touching on a few bits that are just fun to read no matter how many times you read em, And where the warnings from Reap come in obviously.
Hope you're enjoying it so far, Incase you hadn't figured it out, the ending is not canon...at all :P
Monday Part 2
The second she stepped out of the bathroom, David Madsen was on her, asking her a ton of questions. Thankfully, Principal Wells swooped in to save the day... for the moment. As she tried leaving, he called her back. "Miss Caulfield, can I have a word?"
Reluctantly, Max made her way over to the waiting principal. 'Crap... Ok, Reap, no prizes for guessing this is what I don't tell him.'
"You're looking a little stressed out. Are you ok?" he asked, sounding concerned.
"I'm... I'm just a little worried about... my future," Max replied as calmly as she could. 'Not a complete lie, at least.'
"You're sweating pinballs. Is that all your thinking about? You can always be upfront with me, Max." His expression suddenly shifted, from friendly concern to mild accusation. "Or have you done something wrong... Is that it? Well, Max, talk to me."
"I just got sick in class... um, female trouble." That was the only excuse she could think of on the spot.
He didn't seem to buy that, not one bit. "Except you're wondering around like a zombie. And do you think that's the first time a student has used that line on me?"
"It's the truth. I felt dizzy in Mr. Jefferson's class." 'Again, not a total lie.'
"Just tell me what your hiding. You can trust me," he insisted, refusing to drop this.
"There's nothing to hide," Max replied with as much conviction as she could muster to make herself sound believable. "I got sick, it happens you know."
Unfortunately, Wells took her attempts to convince him as back talk. "There's that teen tude again. You know I've heard enough. Don't think I don't know what goes on around here. You've only been here for three weeks and you're already causing conflict. I don't think your parents will approve when they find out. Now get outside with your class... please."
'He did not buy that at all. I may have just flushed my scholarship down the toilet... I could rewind and tell him the truth, but then Reap said not to tell him... ugh.'
So far her pen-pal was two for two. Deciding to trust Reap once again, she made her way outside. After receiving a text message of Warren asking for his flash drive back, and consulting her cheat sheet again, she made her way to dorms. Stopping to chat with a few people on the way, mostly gossip about Rachel Amber - the missing girl, Max approached the Prescott Dorm. Unfortunately for her, Victoria was blocking the way with her minions and had no intention of letting her through.
"Oh look, it's Max Caulfield, the selfie ho of Blackwell." The Queen Bee stood, circling her. "What a lame gimmick. Even Mark -Mr. Jefferson- falls for your waif hipster bullshit." She came to a stop in front of Max, smirking. "'The Daguerreian Process, Sir!' You could barely even say that. I guess you got your meds filled." Courtney and Taylor snickered as she joined them back on the steps. "Since you know all the answers, I guess you have to find another way into the dorm. We ain't moving." When Max didn't move, Victoria grabbed her phone. "Oh wait, hold that pose." She snapped a picture, mocking the other girl. "So original. Don't worry, Max, I'll put a vintage filter on it right before I post it all over social medias." She paused, smug as could be. "Now, why don't you go fuck your selfie?"
'Oh yes Victoria, I'll get your bony ass out of my way'. Spying the white paint can next to the steps, Max raised an eyebrow. 'Paint can check. Sprinklers check... This can NOT be a coincidence'.
On closer inspection, Max saw Samuel use the paint to spruce up the windows very close to where Victoria was. In the distance, she noticed that the door to the maintenance room - where the sprinkler controls were - had been left conveniently open and unguarded. Setting up her trap with the aid of a rewind, all Max had to do was to bait it and wait. She tampered with the paint can's handle and hit the sprinklers, getting Victoria in the right spot. It worked perfectly, the Queen Bee getting drenched in white paint. Not her finest moment. After chewing poor Samuel out, who was only trying to help in his weird way, Victoria's minions left to get some towels.
'It worked! Don't mess with Max, bitches.'
Samuel shuffled away past Max muttering "Reap what you sow" as he went past her, causing the brunette to frown as she looked over at Victoria. Honestly, she looked kinda pathetic without her entourage, not as threatening.
Max approached her, subconsciously rolling her eyes at the irony of the situation as she remembered the next part of Reap's letter. Now seemed as good a time as any to comfort her, probably her only time. "Uh… hey, Victoria…"
"What do you want, Max?" she snapped, frowning.
Awkwardly, the young time traveler did her best to comfort her. "I am sorry. That's an awesome cashmere coat…"
Confused by the response, Victoria simply shrugged. "It was. But there will be another."
There was a moment of awkward silence before Max continued. "Well, you always seem to know how to pick the right outfits."
"I do have some talent. Mr. Jefferson told me-" she began, not getting the chance to finish that thought.
"I've seen your pictures. You have a great eye, Richard Avedon-esque." Honestly, Max did think Victoria had talent, that was no lie.
The blonde gave her a strange look, not expecting this. A moment later, her guard dropped just a fraction. "He's one of my heroes… Thank, Max." The second of vulnerability soon faded as she glanced back to the door leading into the dorm building. "I hope those sluts get me a towel before they hang a sign on me." When she turned back to Max, she seemed conflicted. "You deserve a better shot. Sorry about blocking you and… and the 'go fuck your selfie'."
"That was mean… but pretty funny," Max admitted. If it hadn't been aimed at her, and in such a hostile way, she would have appreciated the effort.
Sighing, Victoria titled her head to one side. "Just one of those days, you know?"
"I know exactly what you mean, Victoria. I'll see you later."
"Au revoir," she muttered, moving aside to let her pass.
'Victoria probably played me. I should have played her… Better get to my room before I find Warren'.
Max entered the Prescott Dorm and climbed the stairs. She saw Taylor and Courtney run for their lives back down to Victoria, towels in hand. On her way, she noticed a crude drawing and message on Kate Marsh's whiteboard outside her room, wiping it off and replacing it with a peace sign. When she got to her room, she visibly relaxed. It was a mess of books, papers, and junk, but it was home. A plant sat in the corner, looking very sorry for itself. On the search for Warren's flash drive, she came across a note.
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.
Sighing, she pocketed the note and left to give Dana a visit. On the way, she heard someone shouting. "You can't get out now, Dana! So tell me the truth, or rot in there!"
'Welcome to The Real Drama Queens of Blackwell...'
After resolving a mess involving Juliet and Dana - some relationship drama involving a jock and Victoria making shit up - by retrieving an incriminating email from the Queen Bee's room, Max managed to get Warren's flash drive back. On her way to the parking lot to meet up with Warren, she stumbled across Kate. She wasn't alone, David Madsen bearing down on her. Not able to stand it, Max intervened and managed to fend him off. Kate seemed grateful for the help, so that was worth the Madsen brand death glare.
More than ready to hide in her room for the rest of the day, make that week, Max hurried to the parking lot before she could get in more trouble. Unfortunately, today trouble seemed to have it in for her. While she was talking with Warren, Nathan Prescott approached and started threatening her. When Warren tried to intervene, Nathan headbutted him and grabbed onto Max's throat, earning him a set of fresh fingernail marks down his cheek. Off balance, Max backed up almost getting run over by a beat up truck.
Using the hood of the truck to pick herself up, confused by the sight she saw. The girl from the bathroom, except... now that she got a better look at her, she seemed familiar.
"Max?" the blue-haired girl questioned, gobsmacked.
"Chloe?" Max replied, unable to believe her eyes.
Nathan was on the warpath when he saw Chloe again, suddenly tackled by Warren who told them both to escape. Max jumped in Chloe's truck, with her encouragement, and the two sped off leaving a very enraged Nathan behind. Max's heart raced as she sank back into the passenger's seat. "Man, Nathan Prescott is messed up. And dangerous… This day never ends…"
"Oh, and thanks, Chloe!" the bluenette added forcefully, "After five years you're still Max Caulfield." That accusatory statement made Max shift uncomfortably, making her sigh and tone down the bitterness. "Don't give me the guilty face. At least pretend you're glad to see me."
Max relaxed with the change of tone. "I am seriously glad to see you. Oh, and thanks, Chloe. It makes perfect sense I'd see you today."
That didn't last long, Chloe getting understandably defensive about Max not getting in touch even though she had been in Arcadia for a month. Chloe had changed so much appearance wise, very punk rocker chick with blue hair and tats - it was why the young time traveler hadn't recognized her straight away. In the silence, she realized her camera was busted, with Chloe offering up her stepdad's - or step douche's as she preferred - collection of tools.
The truck pulled into the driveway and the pair made their way up to Chloe's room. It had changed a lot since Max was last here, messier and covered in graffiti. She almost didn't recognize the room. Tasking Max with putting some music on, the blue-haired punk got her smoke on. Of course, the young time traveler had a good snoop around, discovering who the new Chloe actually was. Eventually, she came across an open lockbox under the bed. She took the CD from the top, curious about the photo underneath. Two girls, one was Chloe and the other... she recognized from the missing person posters hanging up around Blackwell.
Noticing her sudden interest, Chloe had a better look at what she had in her hands, quickly snatching it back when she realized what she was holding. "Hey, give me that!"
Surprised, Max almost jumped out of her skin. "Sorry I wasn't trying to be nosey. Obviously, she was a good friend."
Chloe sat back on the bed, looking very depressed all of a sudden. "That's putting it mildly."
Cautiously, Max joined her. "That's Rachel Amber… Her 'Missing Person' posters are all over Blackwell."
"Yeah, I put them up…" her expression softened, as did her voice, "She was my angel. After my dad died and you moved, I felt abandoned. Rachel saved my life."
Guilt surged through the young time traveler, threatening to swallow her up. "Man, I had no idea."
That made the bluenette frown. "Well, you never made much effort to find out. I was fourteen, we were best friends."
"I never forgot," Max added remorsefully. "Even if I was an asshole and didn't keep in touch. But you had Rachel…"
The ghost of a smile tugged at Chloe's lips. "Rachel had my back. We were gonna kick the world's ass. You would laugh at how different we were… She wanted to be a star."
"She looks like a model," Max replied, remembering the pretty face plastered up all over Blackwell.
Chloe nodded. "That was her plan. Our plan. Get the hell out of Bigfootville, and into Los Angeles."
"So what happened? Did your folks, your mom, try to stop you?"
"My mom was too busy hooked up with Sergeant Shithead," Chloe stated bitterly.
Joyce and Chloe used to be pretty close, never as close as she was with William, but still... it was sad to hear. "I feel the love… Now, when did Rachel actually disappear?"
"Six months ago. She just… left Arcadia. Without a word. Without… me." That thought made her look even more depressed than before if that was possible.
"How do you know she disappeared? Maybe she wanted to start a totally new life…" Max suggested. Wrong move.
The blue-haired punk scowled at her. "Unlike you, she would have told me, okay? Something happened to her."
Eager to retract her earlier statement, Max shuffled awkwardly. "I believe you. I'm just trying to get all deductive…"
Explosive anger soon faded, replaced with resignation. "Before Rachel left, she said something had changed her life… Then poof."
"And you haven't heard anything from her since?" Max asked cautiously, not wanting to enrage her again.
"Like everybody in my life. My dad, you… and Rachel. Gone…" Chloe's voice cut out for just a second, her next few words stiff and evasive. "Can you put some music on now?"
Taking the hint, Max switched the Hi-Fi on as Chloe inhaled and exhaled smoke.
Goodbye to my Santa Monica Dream/Fifteen kids in the backyard drinking wine.
Clearly not wanting to talk about Rachel anymore, Chloe sent Max to David's workshop to retrieve the tools she needed. The short journey brought back so many memories, dripping with nostalgia. In the meantime, she got a grateful text from Kate for saving her from David. After some artful rewinding - the tools she needed getting stuck under something the first time - Max returned to Chloe's room. She sat at the desk, fiddling around for a while before giving up.
Chloe helped herself to Max's photos, taken aback by the one of the blue butterfly. She somehow put two and two together, with Max admitting that she was indeed in the bathroom when Nathan had been threatening the bluenette. Blown away, Chloe put off providing an explanation of why she was meeting up with Nathan in favor of gifting Max her dad's old camera, snagging the photo of the blue butterfly and dancing. Their fun didn't last long, David crashing the party. Their fun didn't last long, David crashing the party. He was not happy when he realized Max was around, threatening her. Even less so because she took the heat for Chloe's weed, something the bluenette seriously appreciated.
The pair bailed out of Chloe's bedroom window, taking refuge on the clifftop near the lighthouse. Max relayed to Chloe that David had a whole security camera system set up in her house, and Chloe revealed both her crippling debt and her relation to Nathan, that she had been trying to blackmail him but it had backfired.
"I won't always be around to save you…" Max stated, only now realizing the extent of the danger her childhood friend was in.
Shaking her head, Chloe gave her a grateful smile. "You were here today, Max. You saved me! I'm still tripping on that… Seeing you after all these years feels like-"
"Destiny?" Max added, finishing off her sentence.
After some time, Chloe stood near the edge of the cliff top, Max joining her. "If this is destiny, I hope we can find Rachel. I miss her, Max," her tone became resentful and bitter, "This shit-pit has taken away everyone I've ever loved… I'd like to drop a bomb on Arcadia Bay and turn it to fucking glass..."
Without any warning, Max's head began to hurt and she collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
When her eyes opened again, she was at the bottom of the winding path leading up to the lighthouse, rain pelting her skin. Oh no, not again… Why is this happening to me? Why am I here again?
This time, she noticed a ghostly doe just feet from her. Feeling compelled to follow it, she did just that, the doe leading her up the path. She avoided getting squashed and blocked using her powers, finally making it to the top. The doe was now standing by the edge of the cliff, vanishing as she approached the bench she and Chloe had been sitting at moments ago. The tornado was huge, swirling over the water headed right for Arcadia Bay. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a paper stuck and flapping in the wind. Grabbing it, she gasped when she saw the date.
"October 11th? Is this Friday! That's only four days away…" The paper was ripped from her hands, lost in the tornado. "Oh no." That tornado is headed straight for the town…
Chloe's hand on her shoulder suddenly brought her out of the vision, the blue-haired punk looking concerned by how shaken up Max was. When the young time traveler explained what she had seen, what she had done, her old friend was understandably skeptical. Then, it started snowing out of nowhere.
"What the hell is this?" Chloe asked, really confused now.
Max looked up at the sky, both in awe and fear. "Snowflakes…"
Standing up, Chloe frowned at the bizarre snowfall. "It's like 80 degrees… How?"
"Climate change," Max suggested, getting to her feet. "Or a storm is coming."
They stood there, staring at each other for a few seconds. After some time, Chloe gave her childhood best friend a sobering stare. "Max, start from the beginning. Tell me everything..."
Max proceeded to explain the full situation to Chloe in as few words as possible. She knew her friend had a... short attention span, sometimes. It took a while but eventually, she got through all the weird and wonderful things that had happened, more weird than wonderful.
To her credit, Chloe was quiet the whole time, deep in thought. "Ok, so... Samuel delivers some cryptic letters yesterday that gave you answers to problems you faced today. You save me by reversing time... you get these visions I guess, and it starts snowing... that about cover it?"
"Pretty much," Max agreed, rummaging through her bag to retrieve the first letter, holding it up, "Now tell me I'm crazy... PLEASE."
Taking the letter with a slight frown, Chloe gave it a read her eyebrows shooting up before snickering. "Whoever 'Reap' is, they know you too well. You always were terrible at waiting."
"You suck. I'm not that bad," Max defended, crossing her arms and pouting.
"Oh, really?" Chloe replied, already armed with evidence. "Twelfth birthday, I left your gift on the counter, told you not to peek till I got back... And what did you do?"
"That was ONCE... ONCE." Max could come up with at least a dozen times Chloe had done exactly the same; she had an infamous lack of patience.
"That you were caught," Chloe retorted, earning a shove off the brunette. "What about the other letter?"
"Oh... It said to wait till..." Max replied without thinking.
Chloe sighed, using her fingers to count off the events leading up to this moment. "You've met Step-douche, and we escaped out a window, AND you had another vision. 'Something that happened will happen again'. I think the conditions have been met."
"In all honesty, I forgot I had it on me till just now," Max muttered as she retrieved the second yellowing envelope from her bag.
"And you haven't read it... Ya know you coulda read it and then reversed time," Chloe pointed with mild accusation.
Max held her hand out, pinkie finger extended. "Pinky swear I haven't read it."
Wrapping her own finger around the young time traveler's, Chloe sealed the deal. "You do remember the penalty for breaking a pinky swear, right?"
"All too well." Max smiled as she opened the letter, Chloe scootching closer so they both could read it.
Hi Max and Chloe,
It's still weird writing it like that, doesn't feel right. Oh, BAD Chloe for wanting to blow up Arcadia Bay... Bad, bad Chloe, Minus bacon for you.
Right now - if everything's going the way it should - you two should be sat on the clifftop near that old lighthouse, and just witnessed a small amount of snowfall.
I'm also assuming the little hints I gave you helped, Max. I hope so. Do you see now, why I have to do things this way? I can't change what's happened. The final outcome has to happen, or things will get even more fucked up. Ya freaking out yet? Of course you're not. You're both tougher than that, and your gonna need to be for what lies ahead... Urgh, this would be so much easier if I could give you a play by play, but I can't. So, I'll get the obvious out the way.
Yes, Chloe, Max can time travel. She's not crazy or high, unlike you with the latter. Hey, I'm not judging, but try to keep a level head this week. You're BOTH going to need it. Also know - and this is more for Max than you, Chloe, seeing as Max is the one that can ya know... TIME TRAVEL - you both come out of this at the end of the week in one piece. It's not much comfort for what's ahead, but there is ALWAYS a way, Max.
It's not all doom and gloom, there's some fun too. Again, I'm not giving spoilers. I can't, as much as I wish I could. Things are complicated, to say the least. By the end of this, you will both understand what even the little things can lead to.
I really wish I could help steer you away from some of the shit you're about to go through, but some things have to happen. The consequences if they don't... let's just say I'd rather not go down that particular route, but I can and will help where I can. So, a few tips, again mostly for Max.
- Answer your phone, every time
- The tire NOT the bumper
- The red wire
Oh, and this is crucial - MEMORIZE THIS, Max - it could LITERALLY mean life and death.
'Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest'
Remember, it's not all doom and gloom, but keep you guard up, both of you. And Chloe, Max is going to need you just as much as you need her, and she's not the only one. Remember that.
See you around,
REAP
"You got told, 'Bad Chloe'." Max smirked as she finished reading the letter.
"Ok, this is as freaky as fuck," Chloe muttered under her breath, confused. "How did they know, and who the hell are they?"
That was the number one mystery of a long list. "Best guess at the moment, they're a time traveler too. One thing's clear, though..."
"Oh?"
"Whoever it is, so far all they have done is help. So, I'm not about to dismiss 'em." From the sounds of it, they would need all the help they could get.
Not one hundred percent sold, Chloe sighed. "Ok... let just say they are like you, can do what you can do, then why didn't they step in to stop Nathan? Why leave it to you?"
That was yet another question that needed an answer, one of many. "No idea, but they did say there are rules to this... Do any of the tips mean anything to you?"
Frowning at the letter, Chloe shook her head. "Nothing leaps out at me. That last one, though... I think that's a bible quote."
"What would I need a...? Oh my god, KATE, but why would it be a matter of life and...?" An involuntary shudder ran down her spine. Was this all related to Kate's recently strange and detached mood?
"Whatever the reason, it must be pretty bad. I'd memorize that if I were you," Chloe advised.
Feeling very anxious, Max nodded in agreement. "No kidding. After today, I'm gonna memorize the list. The last thing I need is another close call."
Until next time.
Peace out