If you ever asked me what I think about Warren, it would be this: he is sweet and he is kind. Most likely, if not definitely, he is the best person I have ever met and will ever meet. Not that I've ever asked, in fear of lowering the mood, but I'm sure that he has his own insecurities and problems. I've seen them through the way he acts; confidence is not one of Warren's traits. He's stronger than I am or Chloe is and I'm not talking about physical strength, that counts for shit and can only get you so far. I'm talking emotionally and mentally. "Hey," hey says softly. "Why would I think any less of you, Max? It's that bastard, that animal."

Although, lately, I've seen him grow angrier towards people and I'm not sure what to do about it. He is losing himself for me but he doesn't realize that's not what I want. I was right when I said there were no good guys left; I've changed into a person I don't like, I'm reckless, emotional and impulsive. Warren is consumed by his rage, Chloe is consumed by Rachel and Rachel is consumed by lies. We all have the ability to hurt another person, it's just some of us refrain from doing so. I use to be one of those people but, lately, all I can think of is my retribution on Jefferson. I'm bitter and twisted again.

+Some Place Else+

The wind combing her hair with its fingers, I watch Rachel stare outside of her open window. We have sat in silence for the last two hours, both exhausted. It feels like a never-ending car journey; Max, the hipster girl with her cool camera and my best friend, gave us the money to get to California. The plan is: we'll drive, stay in a motel in Oregon and then drive to California.

We're two teenagers, pretending that we have the best plan on the entire planet. The truth is I have no idea what I'm doing, it seems like this plan was all thought out until we actually did it. Rachel and I could be waitresses, live in a motel for a couple of months (most likely, years). She could go for modeling jobs at the same time, I could, I guess, do something else, too.

Ever since we left, I've been thinking about my mom. What's she going to do when I'm gone? Step-dick is there but she'll miss me, even if I'm an argumentative bitch sometimes. I'll call her and tell her it's just a road trip with Rachel and, uh, I won't be coming back from this trip. It's permanent. I can't take her back if she's in trouble. I love - "Keep your eyes on the road," Rachel touches my cheek, pushing my head so I face the road, smiling. "You'll have plenty of time to gaze upon the majestic Rachel when we get to Oregon."

"Aye, aye, captain." I salute her, she rolls her eyes and I hear her laugh. It's a beautiful sound and I don't know why but I feel like I haven't heard her talk, laugh or anything in months. Some other part of me feels sad as if this is all just a memory or a dream. "As instructed."

+Max and Warren+

When Warren punched Nathan, his eyes covered behind red glasses, I became scared. Once, he was a nerdy boy that was my best friend and now we're totally different people. I don't want him to change for me, to be willing to hurt someone else for me. That was never what I had intended to happen, I didn't want him to ever change for someone like me. "Warren, calm down," I sigh, placing my hand on his upper arm to soothe him. "You don't want to grow bitter, I'm trying not to."

"How could you not?" He asks, bewildered. "Max, that guy... laid his filthy hands on you. How could you not want to annihilate him? I want to kill him and I'm not even you! That bastard! That man, that ani-"

As if he needed to remind me of what Jefferson did, I flinch at the memory which pulls him from the crimson sea of rage and he surfaces to me again. The old Warren. "Warren," I sigh, pulling him further to the surface. I've been there before. I'm there all the time. "You can't change what happened to me, this is my fucking villain origin story and I don't want that. You can't let me become like him! I don't want to be like him I can't be I can't I swear he's ruined me I fucking hate this I hate me I hate myself I fucking hate everything!"

Usually, my inner monologues stay, well, in my mind but, around Warren, I can't help but slip every once in a while. Strong, warm arms surround me, the true hero of the story is him. "You're so strong, Max," he comments, stroking my hair. "I'll help you, I love – I mean, I love who you are. You're probably the best person I've ever met and I'm so, so upset that this happened to you."

For a moment, I live through the reality of him helping me like Chloe did. I wouldn't feel alone all the time and I'd be contained with him; unfortunately, I can't put him in danger. I'm tired of living through playbacks of what's happened, I don't want to see Warren die in fifteen different ways before I rewind. "Thank you," I sigh. "But you can't help me."

I try to think of all the things that I want to say before he interrupts me. This is something I should do alone, I don't want you to think of me any less when I have to do atrocious things and I love you and I'm sorry that I am this way. Let's be honest, I'm damaged goods. "I'm damaged goods," I repeat, whispering to myself. "Warren, I told Chloe and Rachel. I sent them away."

No one knows this other than me; no one knows the millions of alterations of reality I've made, or how many stories, how many lives, I've tweaked by correcting a mistake. "Then I should help," he says soothingly. "You can't do this on your own and I don't want you to."

No one knows how many times I've seen my best friend die. "Warren, you don't understand. If they had stayed, they would have died." I pull my knees to my chest in his car, hugging my legs. "Which is why you can't stay."

"Just hear me out, Max, because-"

"No, Warren, you hear me out." I reply firmly. "I can deal with this hatred I have, I can deal with not having my best friend around to talk to anymore and I can deal with you not being mine. Do you know what I absolutely can't deal with? Seeing you die. I love you, why would I want to see you die? Why can't you or Chloe understand that I can't take that anymore? I love you so don't make me."

His jaw strengthens as he grinds his teeth, erasing sentences that never made it from his mouth. "Okay, Max," he pinches the bridge of his nose and frowns. "I won't help you but you can't stop me from doing this on my own."

"This isn't a game of fucking superhero, Warren," I state angrily. "If you do this on your own, you realize I won't be able to rewind, right? I won't know you're dead, that's even more dangerous!"

"No, as you said, it's not a game of super hero," he clenches his jaw after he speaks. "It's a game of who's willing to do worse and I'll take the burden off of your shoulders because after everything, you come first to me. Always, Max."

I should have rewinded as soon as he said I'll do it on my own but, for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to do it. I love him and I can't take away his free will or knowledge, it's not my place. "Warren," I reach over to his seat and hug him in the confined space of his car. "I'm sorry you're doing this. I'm sorry I told you anything."

"Don't be, Max," he smiles. "I'm glad you did, let me take care of you just this once."

And that's what I did, I became selfish.

A/N: So, I know it's short again but I tried to pull myself together to write this one chapter. I got two reviews whilst I was ill and they really made me feel better and happier, thank you. I'm doing a bit better now. I wanted to update for you! :) I hope you enjoyed, if you have anything to say review~ Anyway, thanks for reading.