The Price Household.
September 28, 2008.
Max recoiled, as she entered her body once again via the selfie of her and Chloe. This time, she was back to undo her actions. Her first jump had been to prevent William from driving to go pick up Joyce, and she thought that it had worked. Right up until she returned to her timeline in 2013, to find herself part of the Vortex Club, and a whole host of other things fucked up in that part of the timeline. Not to mention... Chloe.
Her actions had effectively destroyed her best friend, despite being in the best intentions to do the exact opposite. Hence why she was back, again. She didn't want to do it, but allowing William to die would be the sole way to fix the present; or at least, it would fix what she'd just fucked up. Max jumped as the phone rang, its tone akin to a knell.
"Hello? Hey, honey."
Here we go again. Oh God, I'm so sorry William.
"..Of course I'll come pick you up!"
As William collected his keys and stepped out of the door, and the bounds of the photo, Max walked across to the fireplace, drawing out the Polaroid of this day. Before she had a chance to incinerate it, Chloe surprised her.
"I know you aren't the Max from this timeline, okay? I've... I've... Got something I need to explain."
Max froze, almost unbelieving what she had just heard. The photo fell out of her hands, missing the fire and landing in front of the fire guard. She turned to face Chloe.
"W-what? H-h-how??"
Chloe hugged her, ignoring the pain of the electrical shock that preceded her side effect.
"Agh!"
"Chloe!" Max whined, her concern and confusion spiking through the roof.
"Look, I know what's gonna happen today, and that neither of us will remember this. But trust me, it's me. From your timeline."
Tears were building in both their eyes.
"Chloe...how?"
Chloe smiled. "Some day, Max. Some day I might be able to explain this. But for now, just know that I got this covered."
Max smiled, before her expression turned as she clutched her head, pitching forward.
"C-chloe..." Old Timeline Max was back.
"Shhh... just rest, Max. Oh, and I know that you're moving soon."
Max paled, horrified. How does she know?? Oh fuck, fuck, she's gonna-
"I'm not mad. Well, I will be, sometime, but I am far from mad. You'll understand, sometime."
"S-so y-you don't m-mind?" Max was shuddering somewhat. Mainly as her body was telling her a thousand different emotions to be used right here and now. "Just promise me one thing, Max."
"Y-yes?"
Chloe took a step up to Max, taking her by the shoulders. "Don't you forget about me. And wh-if you come back to this place, let me know. Like, the split-second you come back, okay?"
Max nodded, still shuddering.
Aw, Chloe mused, concealing the glow that was building up inside her, younger Max is just as cute when she's dumbstruck. Wait, what? Where'd that come from, Chloe?
"A-and C-chloe?"
"Yeah?"
Chloe's cheeks lit up red, as Young Max decide to kiss her. "T-there... That's my p-promise. Happy?"
Chloe shrugged off the knowledge of the impending shock, choosing to embrace her younger best friend in the biggest bear hug she could manage. Max yelped slightly in surprise.
"Of course I am. Now, last one across the line has to do the dishes?"
"You betcha!"
As Chloe and Max bolted for the controllers sat on the floor, in front of the Prices' (ancient) TV, Chloe felt that already familiar buildup of energy throughout her, like a hundred bolts of lightning coursing throughout her.
Limbo.
Everything went white, once again. The white receded, but with no trace of Other-Chloe anywhere. Chloe glanced around the space, ever more frantically. She didn't want to admit it, but she was royally fucked without some direction from her; even if it meant a hundred arguments had to happen, it was worthwhile if it meant that she could fix the future- present- and make everything right.
"BOOYAH!" the holler came through her ear, as a pair of hands jabbed into her ribs from behind. Chloe shrieked, jumping in the opposite direction. As her panting breath and fluttering heart calmed, Chloe heard that oh-so-familiar and frustrating laughter. Her laughter.
"Bitch."
The laughter receded, with another sigh. "I had to have some kinda fun with ya."
"Yeah, of course you did. Now, tell me: did that do anything, or have I fucked things more?"
Other-Chloe gave a half-hearted laugh. "You should learn to trust your instincts more."
"Oh yeah? Like what, fucking smash Nathan Prescott's head into a thousand bits?"
Other-Chloe stood for a few moments, at a loss for words. "Yeeah... Maybe not. And you've had some effect on how shit goes down."
Chloe stood back up, taking a pace toward Other-Chloe again. "Some?"
"Yeah. As it stands now, you still die, same place, same time. However..." She paused. Of course she would, I would most definitely leave me hanging where shit like this is concerned.Other-Chloe relented, seeing the expression on her recently-joined companion- or would ragdoll be more appropriate?- turning from one of suspense, to annoyance, to a look that Other-Chloe had seen innumerable number of times, just within the past day. That look of "Tell me, before I start teaching you what pain is."
"Okay, fine. You and Max end up meeting a little earlier in that timeline."
Chloe huffed, more with relief than frustration. "And how does that pan out?"
Other-Chloe gave a half-smile. "You get- somewhere- closer to knowing what happened to Rachel. But that, in a way, makes your death more inevitable."
Chloe sighed, staring up at the top of this white, featureless box. "So, no closer to getting outta here, huh?"
Other-Chloe shook her head. "Nope. Still, your last idea might just work."
Chloe shot her a puzzled look, met with laughter.
"That short a memory span, huh?" Other-Chloe afforded herself another chuckle. "It's time to go see your friendly neighbourhood dealer. And by 'see', I mean 'snoop his shit while he ain't looking.'"