Max has seen hell. Max have been broken but Max was saved by Chloe. Her support, her savior her, her flame.
Max still has her demons with her, haunting her but she moves forward to a bright future. But is the future safe for her?
Seattle 2012
Max was sitting in the dark with tears in her eyes. She looks at the bruises Bill gave to her. 'Why is this happening? What did I do wrong?' she hugs her knees close to her chest and cries for her parents "Mom, Dad. I miss you. Please someone help me. Take me away from here." She cries.
Her diary was her only way to be connected to something she feels she has forgotten and she should remember. She keeps remembering a place, a smiling girl looking girl with her long strawberry blonde. A kind looking woman, a tree house.
Her counselor said she will get these gaps in her memories back in time. So, she writes in her diary whenever she remembers something.
Last night she saw her again in her dream. She was sad, she was crying and she was calling for Max. Begging Max to not to leave her. She remembers getting close to the sad girl, and holding her face in her tiny hands. She remembers looking into her begging eyes. She remembers her face getting closer.
Then she remembers the girl shoving Max away and calling her a lying bitch for leaving her. She remembers herself crying and apologizing to her. But the girl refuses to listen to her. Then she remembers her telling Max to go die. She remembers calling after her 'Chloe….' And then nothing. She doesn't remember anymore.
Max woke up with tears in her eyes and a name on her lips. "Chloe…" 'Who is Chloe?' she thinks while wiping her tears. She cruses her memory gaps and quickly gets up to write in her diary. She doesn't want to forget anything. She wants to write so she can feel she's connected to something from her past. She wants to feel connected to her.
Dear Diary,
I saw it again. That dream. And it just felt real as always. It was like I had to be there with that girl. Even in my dream I was feeling everything. When I touched her, I felt my heart swelling with this warm feeling. She was crying again. When I looked at her sad eyes I felt a sadness that wanted to tear out of my chest. Everything just felt right. I want to remember. Who is Chloe? Is she just a dream or someone real? If she's real. I want to meet her.
Bill doesn't tell me anything about my memory gaps. He adopted me as his daughter but not for a single day I felt I belong here. I miss mom and dad. A whole year and half in this house but I still don't feel like I should be here. I always have this longing to be somewhere else.
But Bill never lets me leave the house unless I am with him, Ava or Alvin. He doesn't tell me anything that happened from before Mom and Dad died in that accident.
Daryll and Matt don't care about me and being there mean selves as usual. They took Captain from me. I was so embarrassed when Matt tried to touch my chest mocking me that I should sleep with guys instead of teddy bears. He even hit Alvin yesterday when he told them not to tease me and stop harassing me. Bullies. Poor Alvin. He's always like a good brother to me.
Only Ava and Alvin in this whole house makes me feel I am alive and worth something. Bill, Daryll, Matt, they treat me like I am unwanted here and worthless. Then why did he adopt me and keep me here. Can you tell me Dear Diary?
I know I have to be somewhere else. That place, he never tells me about. I just feel I have to be there. But where is that? I want to see Chloe. But who is she?'
Max closed her diary and leaves her room towards to get freshen up. She misses Bill going towards her room and closes the bathroom door.
She was bathing when she hears someone banging at the bathroom door. She got startled and shrieked. She couldn't make it out clearly but she heard arguments and curses.
Max quickly wraps the towel around her body and slowly moved towards the door and twists the knob with her shaky hands.
As soon as she opens the door she sees a furious Bill standing in front of her and fuming. Her heart starts thumping because she knows the look. This look of his always ended with a slap on her face. She, on her fear and instinct tries to step back. But he grabs her arm.
Max winces at his steel like fingers gripping her rapidly reddening arm. She's in a shock and can't say anything. She breathes heavily and her tears prick on her eyes. She doesn't know what she did wrong but she knows she will get punished for it. She cowers under his gaze and feels embarrassed that her half naked body only wrapped in a towel is in front of him.
"You little wench" His voice full of agitation and he fumes. "I take you out of that shit hole. I bring you to my home. I feed you and look after your worthless existence and this is how you repay my kindness."
Max is confused what he is talking about but as soon as she sees her diary in his hands, her confusion turns into anger and then to fear.
"Please give it back" she says meekly while trying to reach for her diary. She feels her vision darkened and a sharp sting on her cheek. She falls on the ground. He slapped her. The towel around her body loosens, she's still has her hand on her cheek and struggles to cover her body.
Bill kicks on her hands with his foot and yanks her towel away. Max screams and tries to cover her body. She prays the ground to open and swallow her whole for save her from this shame and embarrassment.
Bill pulls her by the hair and looks at her menacingly. "I think it's time for me to teach you where you belong. You worthless bitch!"
Max screams and thrashes as he drags her out of the house in her naked body. She cries and pleads to Ava and Alvin to save her but they are also frozen and have tears in their eyes and. Nobody in this house could go against Bill.
She even begs to Matt and Daryll who have a cocky smug on their face and eyeing her exposed body.
Bill drags her to the shed. Daryll opens the trap door ignoring Max's screams and pleads that she is sorry, she won't say anything anymore but little she knows that her screams will be ignored for a long time. Little she knows, her personal hell has just started.
Price House August 2013
"Photography?" Max, while lying down on the bed, swinging her legs and munching chips looking at Chloe, who's moving around from one corner of the room to another, going through each drawer and her closet.
"Yep" Chloe looks through the last drawer and curses. She gives up and moves towards Max and lies down next to her and snatches the packet of chips from Max's hand.
"Hey! Mine!" Max tries but fails to get the packet back.
"Nof' an'mo', mun'mob" Chloe grins with her mouth full of crispy deliciousness.
"Thieving hog!" Max lightly rebukes Chloe
"Says the tiny glutton with bottomless pit… mmmh! Delish!" Chloe mocks while licking her fingers.
Max crosses her arms and pouts "hmph!", Chloe chuckles and passes the chips to Max who snatches it back and greedily start eating from it again. 'Gosh, She's hella spoiled' Chloe snorts again earning a stink eye from Max.
"Anyways, what about photography?" Max finished with her chips in record time and asks again while dusting her hands cleans.
"Well, you were always a passionate nerd about cameras and photography Max. I still remember never seeing you for one minute without your hipster Polaroid. Always taking photos" she plops down on the bed and turns to Max propped on her elbow and continues "So, I was thinking you should continue with that"
Max taps her finger on her chin and wonders "Yeah, you may be right but…" she pauses and frowns a little "it's been a long time since I've touched a camera" she says in solemn voice.
The past three years have been literal hell for her, one misfortune after another and a past she wants to forget but still stuck with her and still haunts her. Her only support to deal with all of this is Chloe, who in turn had been true to her own imposed vow to keep Max happy and do whatever to push Max to come out of her past ordeal and face the world again.
'Chloe is so sweet. She still trying her best to make me happy and all I do is hog on her kindness. But don't misunderstand I do want to hog on her but in a different kind of way' her heart skips at her own thought and she looks at Chloe and gives her most genuine smile which Chloe returns albeit confusingly. 'Maybe one day, I'll have the courage to tell her'
"Oh! C'mon Max! You're hella natural." Chloe waves her hand disregarding Max's comment and suddenly jumps snapping her fingers. Max's looks at her confusingly while she does a one-two hop and kneel to her stereo's shelf and start rummaging through.
"Aha! Found it! C'mere Max" she gets up holding something in her hand. Max gets a closer look to see Chloe holding a dusty Polaroid camera.
Chloe blows the dust off it and coughs a little, turns the camera as if looking for damages. Satisfied, she looks at Max, who's still looking at the camera with longingly. She grins at Max 'See, I knew it. You are still Max Caulfield the hipster. Look at her drooling over this antique. Just now you were hella worried if you can take photos or not and now look at you girl. You want to snatch this from my hand, no?'
"Max, I know you..uh….lost your camera and belongings back in Seattle" she grimaces. She's always been conscious not to mention much about Seattle or Max's past years in front of her but when she looks at Max who's looking at her attentively, she gives Max the camera "It's my Dad's, I want you to have this."
"Thanks Chloe, but I can't take this. It's a memento of Williams" she smiles sadly at Chloe. Mentioning William has always been a touchy subject for Chloe. Chloe again brushes off Max's excuse.
"Of course you can. You know my best skills are blazing and thrashing and my sexy ass will look good only in front of the lens, not behind it. I'm sure Dad will be pissed if I never use it and who's the best to pass it on other than my own resident hippie" She rubs Max's hair messily.
Max smiles with glassy eyes and takes the camera from Chloe's hand and hugs her "Thank you so much Che! I love it. I'll take loads of pictures and yours and Williams share too" Chloe hugs her back.
'This is what I want from you Max. Just be yourself. You don't have to live in that horrid past anymore. If I have to I'll keep lifting you out of that dark pit' Chloe squeezes the younger girl as if trying to protect all of her existence in herself.
She releases Max and grins "Of course tiny, and to commemorate the revival of Maximum 'Hipster' Caulfield, let's take a photo of us. I think it still have some films lefts in it."
Chloe slings her arm on Max shoulders. Max feels a sweet flutter in her stomach to have her so close to her. They have been living together for past three months but still gets flustered when Chloe is near her or touchy. She inhales mixed sweet scent of tobacco and strawberries. 'So much for a punk to smell like strawberries. But she's my punk' Max snorts at her own thought inwardly 'I wish I could just tell her about how I feel. No. She deserves better than me. Not someone impure like me' her mirth wanes and she frowns 'No, I should stop thinking this way. I don't want Chloe to worry anymore' she reprimands her self and sighs.
"Max?" Chloe looks at Max with worry in her eyes. Max mentally punches herself for worrying Chloe.
"Oh, it's nothing. Just nostalgic and all. Anyways, you ready?"
"As ever" Chloe grins
"Say bacon and cheese" "Cheese"
*Click* *whirrrl*
Max takes the photo and waves it to dry and develop. She looks at the photo.
'How much have I changed in past few months?' she thinks 'Chloe's definitively influenced me all together. I've been her pet project and she totally went all out on me. My hair was messy, uneven and long for being unattended. Reasons, you know. She dragged me to the saloon and begged me to let her choose. The first few choices of her made me want to just up and run out of the salon. I mean, why the heck would I want a hairstyle that looks like pinwheel and spikes sticking out. That's soooo not me. So, we compromised and went for a long and choppy bob cut which I admit looks good on me. Next again with her puppy dog eyes and hands joined, pleading wanted me to dye my hair red then and there. Just how could I say no to her? But I didn't want to go all out. Joyce would've a heart attack. I pacified her with a promise that I'll do a full dye when I get used to it and we decided on streak over my bangs with red.
Next request from her about tattoo. No, nop! Not in this decade at least. So, our compromise came with a piercing. A nose ring. Ooh, I so love playing diplomacy with Chloe. My attire is pretty much the hybrid of a punk/hipster which Chloe dubbed as punkster. I don't want to lose my own identity but oh so great me also wants to make Chloe happy too. So yeah, tank-tops and leather jackets and skinny jeans. I also got myself a gray hoodie which is dear to my life. Chloe joked one time that I wear my hoodie like a skin, that is, all the time. Whatever that means, she said it when she was blazing her joint.
Well that's me. I just wish it was easier to forget my past and change everything as I am trying to change my present and looking for a good future. But a future with my Chloe.' Max was so deep with her monologue that Chloe literally had to shake her out of it.
"Max, I know I'm hella irresistible even in photos but stop gawking at it and show it to me."
'Oh Chloe, you have no idea how irresistible you are' Max thinks to herself and passed the photo to Chloe.
"Sweet! I knew you still have it in you."
"Gee, it's just a selfie Che" Max modestly replies.
"Then you have a knack for selfies. I can already see an album featuring 'Max' Selfies" Chloe smirks wiggles her eyebrows
"Max Selfies? Really, Chloe? You couldn't resist." Max pouts. Chloe crackles and Max shoves her shoulder playfully.
"C'mon mate. Let's go capture some treasures with your old-new baby"
"Aye" replies Max cheerfully. They both laugh and leave for their day's adventure.
Two-Whales
"Mom! food" Chloe announces as she bangs the diner's door open. Max follows suite giggling.
"God! Girls, you'll be the death of me someday!" Chloe chides playfully to the girls. Max mouths a sorry to Joyce "Chloe, for once please try not to tear the door down"
"Sure Mom!" she chirps. Joyce sighs and Max meekly takes the last booth. Chloe hops, swings and plops on the booth.
Joyce approaches them. She looks at Max with a smile "So, what's my favorite daughter and her freeloading tag along friend wants to order?"
Chloe looks at Joyce with a mock hurt "Mom, you can't call Max a free loading tag along!" which earns her a slap in the arm by Max.
"Funny! Last time you paid for anything in the diner was when it didn't exist" Joyce rebukes her playfully
Chloe grins "Two-whales cannot exist without Chloe Price anyways and you know I am hella helping you promote by eating in here"
"As long as you pay for it"
"Don't worry Joyce I've got it covered" Max interjects, praying Joyce and Chloe don't start an argument. She always tried to be the pacifier between the mother and daughter.
"Max, that money you got from your parent's insurance and inheritance is for your future. All of it is yours but please be careful not to deplete it only on food"
Max looks down and almost shrinks. Chloe seeing that interjects this time. "Mom, food, please?"
Joyce sighs "Usual?"
"Yep and for Max too" Chloe confirms without looking at Joyce
"Coming up" replies Joyce and leaves for the counter.
"Jeez! Mom's hella becoming a hard case. Spending much time with Step-tator I guess" Chloe makes a gagging face.
"It's not like that Che, you know she's just worried. She's right. I've got a ton load of cash with the insurance and everything. But I don't plan to live off on that. I want to do something with my life. I can't be stuck in the past forever" Max frowns.
"You're right Maxi. I shouldn't give Joyce reasons to put me in a grinder too" Chloe says while pulling her beanie down while leaning back.
She jumps and leans in "Actually, I spoke to Ronnie yesterday. He's willing to give me a job at his tattoo parlor. Though at accounts for now. But it's a start"
"That's great Che, why didn't you tell me this before. You could've told Joyce too. She'd be so happy"
"I know Max, I just wanted to confirm it first and get used to it. You know me. Nobody can rule Chloe fucking Price" she says with a cocky grin.
Max raises her eye brow and a lopsided smirk looks at Chloe "I can always tell Joyce to cancel your order Oh so great Chloe fucking Price"
Chloe's grin disappears instantly and replaced with worried look in her eyes she bows to Max "Max, you are my lord and my savior. Have pity" she pleads and tries to stiffen a laugh
"Uhuh! Yes, you better remember that" Max grins and shares a laughs with her.
Joyce returns with food in tow and looks at the girls' playful banter. Her heart swells with happiness. "What are you talking about girls?" she asks
"Well, Chloe wants to tell you something"
"Max!" Chloe eyes Max "What? You will tell her eventually" Max counters
"What's this about, Chloe?" Joyce looks at Chloe worriedly.
"I kind of, got a job at Ronnie's place" Chloe answers here while scratching her beanie.
Joyce looks at her daughter in disbelief, it's not that much of a big news but for her. Chloe trying to be responsible is a news relieving enough. She has always been worried about Chloe, her antics causing her to be in constant danger. But since Max back to them and the circumstances surrounding her. Joyce has breathed in relief that Chloe somewhat mellowed down and now having a job, Joyce can rest easy.
She hugs Chloe and smiles at her lovingly "That's great news Chloe, why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I wanted to get confirmation for Ronnie first and uh.. you know wanted to see if I fit in and all" She says timidly.
Max grins looking at her best friend being all bashful and speechless. Chloe glares at her and Max giggles even more.
"Mom, Max also has something to tell you" Its Max's turn to glare at Chloe who smirks tauntingly in returns 'Serves you right Caulfield for putting me in the lion's den.'
"What's with you girls today? One news after another. Don't tell me there's gonna be a third one that you both are eloping."
Both girls go full hue of Red. Nice play Joyce.
Joyce chuckles at the girls 'I can play this game too, girls. Don't you both pretend I don't see the looks you give each other. It's only a matter of time. Whatever choice you girls make, I will not love you any less and only wish for your happiness'
"I-uh, I want to continue my p-photography" Max struggles for words to come out, she's still flustered over what Joyce said to them. 'Does she know. Oh my dog! Am I that obvious?'
Joyce places her hand on Max's shoulder and beams "That's great Max. And I think Blackwell Academy has this photography classes or program, something like that which you can apply for"
"Yes, Chloe convinced me to take up photography again. She also gave me William's camera today to take photos"
Joyce looks proudly at the taller girl who's still flustered and blushes even more. "I am so proud of you Chloe" she gushes at Chloe
"Jeez, Mom. Stop it" Chloe tugs her beanie over her eyes and slides further under the table.
Both Max and Joyce share a laugh at Chloe's bashfulness and Joyce turns towards Max "So what are you planning Max?"
"I've been taking photos with Chloe around the town to build my portfolio but I was hoping you and David could help me out. I am not sure they'll accept me since you know, I've fallen behind on my studies because…" she trails off.
Joyce understanding where she was going interjects "Of course Max! You don't even need to ask about that. You're my daughter now, so it goes without saying. Beside David also works there. We can go there tomorrow and speak to Principle Wells"
Max gets off the booth and tackle hugs Joyce "Thank you so much Joyce! I love you!"
Joyce pats on her back "I love you too dear" Suddenly she remembers something and releases Max.
"Girls, your food has gone cold"
"Oh!" All three of them look at each other and laughs.
Blackwell Academy – Principal's Office
Ray Wells, Principal of Blackwell Academy for eighteen years now. He holds his position of leadership with stern rules and conduct. In his career, he has seen to bullies, difficult and estranged children. Children with family issues who required counseling. His stern and strict attitude has earned him a reputation of dividing compassion with rules and judgement of fairness. But today he feels sick.
He feels uneasy and sweating. Right now, he'll kill for a swig of whiskey to calm his nerves. But he has to keep an appearance and air of authority. Still he feels uneasy.
He looks left and right to avoid looking directly at the girl sitting in front of him with David and Joyce Madsen. 'She's barely eighteen' He thinks. She's barely eighteen and seen and survived things even a grown up like Ray Wells feels uneasy to just listen to.
He coughs and clears his throat "I sincerely appreciate your willing openness to confide in me with your unfortunate period of life Ms. Caulfield. I assure you in my name and in the name of Blackwell community, that your past as you want it not be disclosed in any circumstances, will be kept within my office and in utmost secrecy."
Max only nods. She knows if she tries to speak, she'll stutter. She still doesn't feel easy to talk to any member of opposite sex. She curses them. Curses the Ernest family inwardly for making her go through that hell. She curses herself for being so weak and broken. She curses and hates it to disclose even if a layer of her past to someone she doesn't even know. But she has no choice.
She wants to enroll in Blackwell Academy but her academic results are far behind nevertheless the circumstances. So, she has to scratch at the coffin of her despair again so they can peak inside and look at her demons snarling and gnawing her bare soul. She has to let them peak under her healed skin to look at the hideous scars. The trophies of her torments just to earn a place of her own. And she hates it.
What she hates the most are the tears that betray her every time she has to recall her torments and their unruly march downwards from her to cheeks to her chin. She hates that that the most. She hates her weakness.
Joyce, dabs the tissue to collect the tears formed in her own eyes and sniffs "Thank you very much Mr. Wells. This poor girl had her good 3 years of life snatched from her. But I assure you, my girl here is strong. She's strong and she came out of it. Her biggest win over her past is that she is willing to move forward and look at her future, towards her dreams. It's her dream to be a photographer. I might not be her real mother but I am proud of her as much real as I feel" She smiles at Max and squeezes her hand.
Principal Wells nods and smiles at Max "But of course Mrs. Madsen. Blackwell will be at a big lose to pass such an aspiring and exceptionally strong willed student. Max, you are more than welcome to Blackwell Academy and I personally will see through your admission and will take care of any formalities requirements. Your classes will start from 3rd of September. If you require any sort of assistant, please feel free to visit me.
"T-Thank You, Mr. Wells" Max curses again for stuttering.
"I've but one condition which I unfortunately don't have the authority or willingness to override though" says Wells while facing Joyce with brows slightly knitted together.
"Since circumstances led to interruptions and loss of Max's academic progress. Earning a scholarship originally would have been near to impossible for her. But as I said I am willing to work things for her favor to enroll her as a student at Blackwell. But the condition being she will have to live her academic years as a live-in member of our school dorms."
Max starts to feel worried. From the day since her release from her prison, she has been living at the Price House in its comfort and security and the biggest bonus, being close to Chloe. Just the thought of living on her own and again in an environment where she has to fend for herself scares her. She knows there's nothing to be worried about but what scares her are the anxiety of her past torments will make her vulnerable and weak in a new place.
Ray looks through her worries and assures her "Max. There is nothing to be worried about at Blackwell. The dorm is as safe as you will feel at home. Besides its full of students, girls your age whom you can be friends with. It's the best environment specially for you"
'Fuck off baldy, what do you mean specially for me? I am not a fucking charity project for hurts and feels. Go eat shit.' Max seethes but hides her expression and looks at Joyce who although equally worried smiles and nods at Max and rubs her shoulder.
She looks at Wells, nods and meekly affirms a weak "O-okay". Wells flashes his teeth
"Good. Here is the form. Please fill this out and drop it off at my assistant's table. We'll contact Mrs. Madsen for any other required documents" he smiles.
Max nods frantically for the first time since entering the tacky office of the Principal.
Seeing this Wells sheds another toothy mirth at Max
"Welcome to Blackwell Academy Max"
EN: Hello guys, your faithful here.
I know, I know I won't release any more chapters before new year but my impulsive urge to share the opening of the new arc and couldn't resist.
In this chapter I wanted to shed close a few holes from the first arc. Why Max never contacted Chloe or Joyce after her parents death. So the answer is her memory gap caused by the trauma of her parents death. Usually dissociative amnesia only blocks the trauma and events related to it. But I wanted to go beyond that and my own imagination, that leaving Chloe in Arcadia Bay also played toll on her traumatic experience and her mind blocked those memories too, forgetting about Chloe and Arcadia Bay.
I also wanted to disclose about Max's past, how and why it all begin. But worry not. I also have thought and planned about Bill's motives.
Again writing light-hearted scenes which i play in my mind are really hard for an inexperienced writer like me. But hey, I tried. :)
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and looking forward to Max's adventure in Blackwell. See you next time.
