Christ, get your shit together Chase, I mentally chastised myself. Why was I sitting in my room, alone, reading something that couldn't possibly be true, when I could have been out actually enjoying myself at the Vortex party?

I tossed the journal in my waste paper bin then stood up and straightened my dress out.

I left my room with my shoulders squared and my head held high. I tried to forget everything I had read as I made my way down the hall way. I tried to let the sound of my heels tapping on the floor drown out my thoughts. I tried so hard, but failed even harder. That stupid little voice just would not stop whispering. 'What if it's all true. What will you do then? What will you do if you get to the party and Kate is there?' The answer? I had no idea.

I could hear the music from the party booming when I was still a ten minute walk away. Either the people I put in charge of music have half a brain cell between them or they were actually trying to get shut down. I leant towards the former, seeing as it was Taylor and Courtney. I really needed to re-evaluate my friends.

When I finally arrived, I scowled when I saw Taylor guarding the door. "Taylor, what do you think you're doing? You're on music. I paid Stella to watch the door. You're on music with Courtney. Can you not even follow simple instructions?"

"Well, we thought you weren't coming Victoria. So we made some executive decisions. Staying on one post all night get's kinda boring, so we decided to switch it up. That's cool? Right?"

"No, that's not cool." I folded my arms and glared at Taylor. "If you want to be within a fifty mile radius of the next Vortex party, I suggest you get your skinny ass back on music right now. And play something better. I know twelve year olds that have better tastes."

"I ... we're sorry. I'll find something better, I swear."

"You'd better."

As Taylor turned to leave I placed a hand upon her shoulder. She jumped and turned back to look at me, looking kind of terrified. "Y-yes, Victoria?" she stuttered.

"Did you happen to let Kate in here?"

Taylor's eyes widened and she took a couple of steps away from me, her hands held up in front of her. "I'm so sorry Victoria. I know she wasn't on the list. But Nathan said we should let her in. I think he slipped something in her drink." When I didn't try to murder her, Taylor's expression became slightly less worried and she smirked. "I heard she's been making out with everyone. So much for all the abstinence crap."

"Taylor, you can be abstinent and still make out. She's not fucking people in there. Right?" Realising I was defending Kate I asked myself why. I barely even know her. I couldn't afford to be losing my reputation over her. "Clearly she's a huge slut though." I added sharply.

Taylor looked slightly confused. "Well, no. But -"

"Music. Now."

Taylor nodded before running in the direction of the music booth, pushing her way through the crowds.

I entered myself, and scanned the crowds for Kate. My stomach churned as I realised her been here, possibly drugged by Nathan and apparently getting her slut on meant that Maxine quite possibly hadn't been fantasizing.

But whatever. Maxine said I was going to do something awful, which I guess meant recording Kate. I wouldn't, and then everything would be fine. Then I could get on with my life and forget about all of this.

Except if this was true, then shortly Nathan was going to become a murderer.

I felt a hand upon my shoulder. I turned to see who it was. Nathan. "Nathan? Get your hand off of me. Now."

His hand slid off my shoulder, and he looked hurt.

"Are you going to drug me too, Nathan?"

"What the fuck? I didn't drug anyone. Don't accuse me of shit I didn't do."

I laughed at Nathan's attempt to hide the truth from me. "You're a terrible liar. I know you think you're not because everyone is terrified of your family and don't dare to cross you. But I know you Nathan, and I know what you've done to Kate. You're an asshole."

"You don't understand. I have no choice. I did it to try to protect her. Fuck. She would never come with me if I didn't do it. I have to take her. I have to keep her out of the dark room."

"Nathan, you need help."

"I'm getting help. From people I pay. So I don't need any fucking help from you. Since when do you care about bitches getting what they deserve anyway?"

I couldn't defend myself. I had always known what Nathan did at these parties. I never questioned it though because I wasn't interested. Why was I suddenly acting all morally? I think maybe because I had finally realised I had a choice. I might not be able to stop Nathan but I didn't have to agree with what he was doing. "Get the fuck away from me." I said coldly. Mostly, I just wanted to avoid answering his question.

Nathan walked away from me, sniffling. "I thought you would understand."

I wished I did understand. I wished I could help Nathan as he had once helped me. I knew he was a good guy. I couldn't help him though. I had been trying, but he wouldn't open up to me. I could only meet him half way. Sometimes I felt like I had been meeting him at three quarters and I just couldn't do it any more. Not with what I knew he was going to do.

The party sucked. Everyone else there was having such a great time, but my mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about the old world. The old world that Maxine destroyed. I bet that time I was having a lot more fun at this party.

I spotted Courtney. She had her phone out, clearly recording something. I had an awful feeling I knew what. I followed where the phone was pointing. My hunch was right. Little Miss Abstinence being not so abstinent.

I marched towards Courtney and tapped her on the shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"What?" Courtney asked, cupping a hand around her ear. It was damn loud, and my voice had been tested enough trying to speak to Nathan.

I somehow managed to raise my voice over then din. "Turn it off." I said, pointing at Courtney's phone. "What happens in Vortex stays in Vortex."

"Uh, no. Kate isn't in Vortex. That rule doesn't apply."

"Did you forget? I made the rules. And I say turn it off."

"You are being so uncool tonight. Did you know how upset Taylor is? You turn up hours late, and then treat us like crap when we've been busting our asses to run your party? I don't know about Taylor, but I am so done with your crap."

"Courtney. You know I love you, right?" I tried to inject a lot of sweetness into my voice, but it wasn't happening. "I was just stressed earlier. I'll straighten things out with Taylor later, okay? Just please, delete that video."

"No, I don't think I will. In fact, I think I'll upload it to Facebook. Right now."

"You can't do that."

"Uh, yes. I can. What's wrong with you anyway? Are you going soft or something?"

"No. I just ... You know what? Whatever. I don't even care. It's not my problem any more."

Suddenly not feeling the party vibe I left, running. I ran most of the way back to my dorm. However, I didn't go back to my own dorm. Without even thinking I pounded upon Maxine's door, which she answered promptly. "Tori? Are you okay? Aren't you supposed to be at the party?"

"I didn't take the video Maxine. But Courtney did. And I think she -" Spotting Maxine's laptop, I pushed past her and turned it on. I did a search for Courtney on Facebook. "She did it. It's on Facebook."

"What? Didn't you try to stop her? How many views does it have?"

"Of course I fucking did." I snapped at her. "Two thousand already. This is bad. Maxine, what do we do?"

"Sorry. Dumb question." She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe I can't save anyone."

"No. No. You don't get to say that. You don't get to show me everything I had and then steal it away. Just rewind. Rewind and don't tell me anything. If Kate has to die, at least don't let me know what I could have had with her."

"I can't do that. Using my rewind is what got us into this pickle in the first place."

"Fuck you, Maxine. If you're not going to help, then I'll sort this mess out myself."

"I don't think you can. I don't think fate can be changed."

"But which is fate? Kate dying, or you saving Kate?"

"Me? Do you really think I'll be in any state to save Kate? Have you forgotten what I have to let your boyfriend do?"

"Nathan is not my boyfriend." I sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I came to you Max. You have your own stuff to deal with. I'll see you around." I headed towards the door "And remember, I'm Victoria. Not Tori. I'm not your friend."

"Not yet. If you actually believed me, then I think there's hope for you yet." Maxine said with a small smile. She pushed me out of the door and shut it. What the hell just happened? Nobody pushes Victoria Chase out. Especially not Maxine Caulfield.