Max Caulfield
Blackwell Academy - Prescott Dormitory : Room 219
October 14th, 2013 1:53 AM

Max blinks owlishly from her bed, looking across the room to the sleeping church girl, curled up on the small couch. You can hear Kate, puffing soft breaths, showing signs of her deep sleep. The room is dark, but partially illuminated with hints of lights, slipping through the blinds of the windows, smearing onto the white ceiling above. It has been about a few hours of sleep after their long talk together. Many thoughts begin brewing into the mind of the young hipster, slowly stirring her more awake.

Kate didn't want to say it, but I can sense she is a little wary of Rachel. I don't blame her. For someone to have that great amount of power, and you're uncertain of their motive, can be a little unsettling. I feel all of this, must be breaking Kate's heart, in a spiritual sense. Something that I wonder though, how did Kate's memories remains? I don't think I used my power to rewind. Did Rachel somehow...do it?

Max rolls out of her bed, as silently as she can, to not squeak the bed and disturb the peaceful resting blonde girl across the room. She shuffles her feet almost blindly to feel for the flip flops right beside her bed. She puts them on, and heads straight towards her door. The brunette gives one last look over her shoulder at Kate, turning the knob until the distinct click. Then, she opens it slowly, carefully stepping out the room.

The hallway is dark, as she proceeds in it. The only sound in the otherwise, cold silence, is the flip flop snapping back against her sole, and against the muffled carpet. Max is in her pajamas, and didn't bother to bring her phone. One of the door on the left is opened, emitting some warm, inviting light into the hallway. She alters her course, sneaking up to opening.

It is Dana's room. There is a small desk lamp that is turned on, with her sitting at her desk, browsing on her laptop. Sensing the footsteps from the 'Not-So-Ninja', she turns around, pressing her elbow against the back of her chair. "Hey Max." Dana quietly responds seeing the photographer, trying not to wake up anyone else on this floor.

Max nosily walks into the room without permission, and finds a open spot on her couch, next to Dana's neatly folded laundry. "Hey Dana, what are you doing up?"

"Same goes with you," says the beautiful cheerleader, who is in her gray tank top, and white shorts. She shifts the chair to face Max and asks, "Can't go to sleep?"

"Yeah," Max murmurs quietly, glancing around nervously.

Dana stares with intention in her eyes, with some words boiling up to her tongue, wanting to ask if it is about Chloe. Instead, she just squashes that idea and mutters out a simple, "I see..."

No one is made aware about the deaths of Max's parents, earlier today. Not yet, at least.

Max looks on, a little preoccupied, "I promised Kate to help with her abstinence stand. I feel like I over promised." I have to deal with my parents' stuff. And Kate still has her own things to deal with, with Nathan and Mr. Jefferson. But I think Kate is going to stick on me, after the...talk we just had.

"Abstinence stand?" The cheerleader lets out a cute giggle. "She's so adorable, I love Kate. But, you wanted to skip out of it?"

Max slowly nods her head. "A little bit, but she's been so helpful. And it may take my mind off things."

"I'm sure she'll let you skip it. She's Kate, the sweetest person in the school." She gives a wink to the brunette, and a little elbow nudging motion. Max's heartbeat quickens for a second from the gesture. "I'll swing by over the stand. What time will it be set up?"

Max chuckles, grasping her arm, nervously. "Ten in the morning. Now that photography class is cancelled. Me and Kate have a free time slot for the time being."

"Yeah...that asshole."

"I know."

"Max, speaking of assholes, if you see Zachary, stay away from him."

"Why?" Max, then remembers the story that Kate told her. "Umm...besides that he is a bully."

"Well that, and Juliet broke up with him just earlier today. She got so pissed after what he did to you. So...just in case. Text me, if he does anything with you."

I normally don't like people doing stuff like that for me, but he totally deserves it. "Go Juliet. He is a total dick. Thanks Dana."

"Yeah he is. And no problem, Max."

"I'm going to go for a walk, Dana. Even though it way past curfew."

"Do you want me to walk with you?" Dana shuffles her legs around, getting ready to stand up from her chair.

"I'm good Dana. Just need to clear my mind."

"Alright." Dana nods her head, "Have a good walk, Max."

"Good night, Dana."

Max gets up from the couch, being careful to not knock over the stack of laundry, and walks out of the room to continue on down the dark hallway. She pushes through the double door, and head straight down the stairway. The loud clanking of the metal surface from the flip flop, surely would wake the nearby sleepyheads up.

Then, there's a familiar voice behind her. "Ahoy, huge nerd ahead."

Max stops in her track, looking back up. There's Max right there, or rather another her. Just sitting on the hand railing of the center part of the stairs. It must be the Nightmare Max, or something, like she saw back during the storm. "What are you doing here? Is this a dream?"

The other Max has her legs dangling off the railing, with her left shoulder pointed towards Max. She glances with a sheepish stare. "You see a damn deer spirit prancing around in the junkyard, and your recently dead mother, six years ago on the highway. And you complain about seeing me?"

Max steps back up the stairs, so she is back on even level. "You were a damn jerk to me. Talking about Chloe…"

"And you end up sacrificing her anyways. And I applaud you for that. You are as easily manipulative, as always."

"Shut up, I had no choice."

The other Max shrugs her shoulder. "Choice?...Yeah, that's true. Or at least an illusion of a choice. What about that ghost you been chit chatting with...Rachel?"

Max's eyebrow raises, "She isn't a ghost. And what do you know about Rachel?"

"Well, both you and me knows how she going to end up right?" Her smile seems almost sinister. "Beaten up. Sexually abused. Murdered by an overdose. Without a single person to care about her." She lets out snicker under her breath.

"Shut up…"

The other Max tips her nose up, "You want to save her?"

"She is not going to end up like that."

"Like always, that is some wishful thinking from you. Always caring too late, like you did with Chloe, Kate, and now Rachel. Everyone is just trying to end their own life around you. You do have some serious social disorder." Max's eyebrow lowers, not appreciating the abusive bullying, and the words coming out from the other version of hers' mouth. "I would like to chit chat with you some more, but there is something going on right now."

Max's face fills with curiosity, with the change in subject. "What's going on?"

"There's two moons out there."

"Two moons in the sky? How?"

The other Max, presses her lips, again shrugging her shoulder. "I'm a total smart ass, but I'm not even sure. It is like if the two timelines of this one and Rachel you been talking to, gets very close. Both of your time travel powers becomes very strong, too." She looks over at Max, finally with a serious look. "And you guys can actually hop into each other timeline."

Max has a blank expression on her face. "No way…"

"Well, Rachel did rewind a non-time traveler's memory during this two moon business. Totally doubt she knew exactly what she was doing but that is something…" The other Max scratches her chin, "It is almost like she knew what was going to happen."

Max's mouth slightly opens, with her wide-eyes stare. "Rachel did that? I thought I did it?"

"Please Max, you're such a pussy right now. You wouldn't even rewind if the Coke machine swallowed your quarter."

"Shut up."

The other Max nods her head, "That is nifty though. So you don't have to repeat your damn 'how I have time travel power' story all over again. First of her, Name. Mother of all Bad Puns. Breaker of all Fragile Items." Her face became more serious. "Though that does mean Rachel saved you. So for now, you on her good side." Her eyebrow lowers, giving a glare, "Before she gets murdered, why don't you pretend to care about her, to be on her good side some more? Then maybe you can have your Chloe back."

"I...I'm not asking her to save Chloe."

"Not yet, at least. But it is going to happen. And uh...you probably don't know this. But Rachel loves you...A lot. She loves to see you happy, even if it isn't with her."

Max shakes her head profusely, "She has me in that timeline of hers. She is in love with that Max." She adds, later to clarify. "But I still care about her."

The other Max scoffs, "Please...once you get your prized blue haired girl, you won't even remember who Rachel is. Unless Chloe dies again, then you will come crawling back to Rachel for help again."

"No, stop trying to make me feel bad."

The other Max's fingers clenches tightly on the railing, "Do you ever think about the future you going to have?" Max steps back, pressing her back against the wall of the stairway. "It might not be the best path, but…not too bad, either."

"I…" Max's words is a little frozen, as the snobby Other-Max does have a point. A future without Chloe and my parents? How is that a future 'not too bad'? I don't think I'm even strong enough to deal with it, even with Kate. But who knows? Maybe I do get strong enough. Maybe saving Chloe and my parents could lead to someone else that is much worst. Max says nothing but just looks on, blankly.

"Poor Rachel, she going to go on this path to make everyone she loves, happy. But at the end of the path, she will finds that everyone has already closed their doors on her. What a fool." The other Max shakes her in disappointment, pressing her lips thin. "But it's alright."

Max's eyes drift downward. "I'm not going to do that…"

"Oh Max, you have powers of a God, but you're selfish like any human beings. Rachel is out in the front yard of the dorm, so you better go there quick..."

Max's eyes lighten up again, looking down the stairways. "Rachel...?" She hesitates for a second, grabbing her arm nervously. She gives the Other-Max one last look, then she hurries down the stairs.

The other Max, looks down over her shoulder with her lips pressed, with a stare of pity. She can hear the clanking of the flip flops rushing down the stairs, then followed by the sound of the stairway doors. She lets out a sigh, and flutters her eyes closed.

Rachel Amber & Max Caulfield
Blackwell Academy - Prescott Dormitory
October 14th, 2013 2:01 AM

Max walks out the double door, and down the short steps into the cold night. In addition of being in her pajamas and shorts, it is colder now, than it was few hours ago with her and Kate. Up in the sky, there were two moons, definitely looks like something out of some apocalypse or supernatural story. In the middle of the yard, there is a body, with a red haze glowing out of it. It is Rachel! Max, hurries towards her, while looking up in the sky.

There were two moons, on the night that Jefferson captured me. I wonder if that is some coincidence.

Max reaches to Rachel's body, who is supine position, flat on her back. Getting close to her, there is a weird, unnerving aura around here, like some miasma next to her. Entering it, it seems like time is frozen in it. If what the Nightmare Max saying is true, it does seem like it would be area that connects the two timelines.

"Rachel!," Max wraps her arm around her body. She is real! I can actually feel her! She lifts her gently, propping her back and head. "Rachel?"

"Maxine?" Rachel stirs awake softly, rubbing her eyes. "What happened?"

"Yes, well...it's Max-Never Maxine-Max. If you know, what I mean."

Rachel still rubbing her eyes, takes a little while to digest the voice tone, and the much shorter hair of this brunette. "M-Max? Like...Dorky Little Max? How is that possible?"

There is excitement in the brunette's tone. "I don't know, Rachel. But I'm so happy that I can feel you."

Rachel's eyebrow lowers, as she looks down at her chest being arched into the air towards the brunette. "Uh...what exactly were you feeling?"

Max begins sputtering nonsense words, as the arm that was propping Rachel's body up, becomes weak, making her lower the beautiful blonde's body, back gently into the ground. "No-no….I wasn't feeling...anything." Her eyes unable to maintain complete eye contact anymore.

Rachel presses her knuckles into her lips, giggling, "Oh my god, you're so fucking cute." Her body shoots upward, so she is sitting on her butt, looking at Max with enticing eyes. She licks her lips, "Can I squeeze something?"

Max's eyes widen, she glances down at her own body, then back at the sultry blonde girl's eyes, and squeaks out, "What...is...there...to squeeze?"

Rachel's eyes widen, grinning at the shy brunette, "Too bad!" she hobbles her way towards Max, with her knees, and squeezes the brunette's cheeks. Max pretends to resists, but can't stop giggling at the silliness, reminding her of Chloe back at the car ride from Portland.

"Rachel…" The poor brunette tries to talk through the assaulting given from the blonde girl. "You saved me."

Rachel stops her abusing, and her eyebrow raises up. "I did?"

Max gently pushes the blonde back, but still holding her. "Yeah I had sort of had a breakdown with everything, getting frustrated with everybody, including Kate. I was counting on my rewind, to take back everything I said. But instead, you did the rewind, except Kate remembers everything I said."

Rachel's mouth opens, slightly. "Oh...I'm so sorry…"

"No, in hindsight, I think it's good what you did."

"Kate...she is the church girl that was sitting next to you in the police station?"

"Yep, she's sweet. We had a nice talk about everything, including my time powers…" Max thinks about Kate's reservation about Rachel, and then ignores it to continue on. "Then she sleeping over in my room right now, for comfort."

"For comfort, eh?" Rachel does the 'double quotes' gestures with her fingers. "Max, you horn dog. You can't stop staring at my rack, and some church girl, now."

"No, Rachel...we're just friends now."

Rachel grins, showing her teeth. "She has a nice chest." Max blushes, shaking her head from the teasing. "Do you think she's cute?"

The brunette lets out a sigh, and gives a honest nod to her head. "...Well...yeah." Her eyes drift sideways, nervously, trying to avoid the huge grin from Rachel. She thinks about what to say next to help alleviate the embarrassment. "Rachel, I really hate to ask you for favors, because you been absolutely amazing. I'll repay you back…"

"Alright, I'm cashing in." Rachel winks her eyes. "Repay me now…Give me a kiss, I dare you."

The words strikes into Max's memory lane, causing her face to freeze, "Umm…"

Rachel quickly curbs the uneasiness, "I'm kidding, Max." The blonde presses her lips thin, but does a soft, elbow jab at the brunette to change the subject. "What would you like?"

There is a short pauses, as Max tries to gather her words. "I would like to see Chloe, again. And...I want to test this two moon, thing."

Rachel looks up into the sky, at the two moons, "What is this two moons, thing?"

"I saw my...subconscious or another version of me. Nightmare Max, if you want to call it that. She mentions, our powers becomes very strong together. And...we can actually hop into each other's timeline."

"So, you want me to hop into your timeline?...Where I am dead?"

"I...was hoping you can rewind a good distance back. Where Rachel was alive." It is a little awkward to say, but Max wanted it emphasized it is a different person. "Maybe you can find something out."

Rachel scratches her chin, "That...might be interesting." Could be something bad too... "So uh...what do we do?"

"Let's hold onto each other..." Max reaches for Rachel's hand, interlocking the fingers.

Rachel looks at her hand, holding on to the brunette. Am I really going to learn anything from this timeline? If I do, is it something I shouldn't know? "Sure…" Rachel holds out her right hand, as a red smoke erupts from that hand.

"Wowser…" Max looks at Rachel, totally amazed with her red aura. Oh my god, she's like some Super Saiyan. A female Super Saiyan! Looking past the impressive red aura, she sees Rachel, who all of sudden is decayed, of a dark brown grime color. Her skin is rotten completely, with only slight amount of flesh on her bones. Her face is almost a skull, with a thin heap of flesh that lingers on her bone. For being so frail-looking, her body is still holding up altogether as a whole. Despite the absence of any facial features like eyebrows, lips, or even eyes, you can sense the sorrow and pain just from her body language alone.

With the other hand, Max grasps at her chest at the horrid sight of this savior Rachel, becoming like this. Rachel…This is the decaying deceased body of Rachel, right now. Even though I've known that Rachel has been dead in this timeline for a long time. Just seeing it, puts a sheer amount of dread into Max.

"Well, both you and me knows how she going to end up right?" The nightmare Max's voice echoes again. "Beaten up. Sexually abused. Murdered by an overdose."

There no way this Rachel will end up the same way...right?

Rachel looks down, bewildered, at both of her frail skeleton hands. A sense of hopeless is bellowing with the girl.

"Rachel…" Max quietly mutters, not wanting to point out the obvious. "Let's go..."

Rachel didn't even reply with a word. She went on ahead, holding out her right hand, and rewinds back in time.

Rachel Amber & Max Caulfield
Amber Residence - Rachel's Room
December 14th, 2008 12:13 PM

"...Nothing compares to a quiet evening alone. Just the one-two of us, who's counting on..."

Rachel wakes up on a bed, with a blinding blue light that causes her eyes to squint instantly. She rubs her eyes, stirring from her sleep to the low volume of punk rock music playing in the background. Giving a moment, she slowly opens her eyes, seeing the blue curtains that does nothing to prevent the blinding afternoon sun from flooding the room with its lights. There is a small desk with almost nothing on it. Other than that, seems like a typical young teenager's room.

She looks down, sticking her hands out, with fingers extended, and letting out a huge sigh of relief. I have fucking fingers with skin on it. Damn, that was terrifying! She wraps her arms around her body, hugging it, and loving it. Just happy to see that her body is no longer rotten. "Yes...," she hums under her breath, with fists clenching with relief and satisfaction.

Compared to her regular body, this is thinner. She runs her soft fingers, over her chest and then to her flat stomach. Damn, I'm not pudgy at all. I have to be younger. Her eyebrow lowers, as she ponders for a moment. Nah, I think I'm just thinner in this timeline. She nudges her head to the side, seeing the shorter hair barely reaching her shoulder, and a clinging sound on her left ear. Hmm, is that my blue-jay earring?

On the desk, is a phone resting flat on it. She reaches for it, letting out a grunt, then brings it back to the comfort of the bed. She looks at it, seeing the reflection of her face on the phone screen. Wow I am younger! She tilts her head, seeing the blue jay earring on her left ear. Odd, I wear it on this ear in this timeline. Also, looks a little too polished or fake. Like it has been preserved.

With her other hand, she lifts up the collar of her shirt, to looks at her chest. Hmm, my boobies are smaller, but not bad. And I'm wearing a cotton bra with a cute design. She fumbles her hands down to her waist, shuffling her thumb down to her jeans to lift them up for a peek. And non-matching cotton panties. I'm digging this…

Her phone vibrates in her hand, drawing her attention.

Todd: I think you're very cute. Want to hang out sometimes when you get back from winter break? (12:14PM)

Rachel's eyebrows arch upward, amused at the text of this person she doesn't even know. With a grin, she replies back.

Rachel: Only very cute? No, thanks, asshole. (12:14PM)

She snickers, rubbing her cheeks in embarrassment of how snobby she is being, and she puts her phone back on the desk.

Her eyes scan around the room some more, as there were incense burning, with a 'Paramore' band poster taped up on the wall. Typical...

She grips on the side of the bed, and dips her head down to peer underneath the bed, and sees a chest. Let see if I started young in this timeline... She opens the chest, and pulls out a small black book on the top. There is a journal, that says "Rachel Amber 4 Ever". A surge of embarrassment fills Rachel's face, causing her jaws to drop. Wow...how pretentious am I, in this fucking timeline? I hate myself already.

She opens the journal. It seems there is only one entry in it.

I'm still suffering some serious and massive PTSD. I'm also been getting visions with my old and new life. They both are melding into my mind almost interchangeably at times. So I decided to buy a blue jay earring, and wear it on my LEFT ear for this life going forward to tell the differences. Sure, I could choose not to wearing any blue jay earring, but I feel it is a nice reminder of where it came from. If I suffer from an anxiety attack in the future again, I can at least feel which ear it is on, to know if I'm dealing with my old or new life.

Besides that, it is now time to move on from my old, hopeless life. I'm going to start a brand new life. A life where I'm growing up and enjoying it with my father and mother. I don't think I'm going to change anything else. I may save Samuel, to make sure he doesn't join the same Construction Crew my dad did. Then I have to see if I'm grown up enough to leave my past. I really hope I don't wind up back to Arcadia Bay. I want to leave Maxine. Completely. But will I actually do that? Who knows.

If the Rachel from the other timeline (RIGHT earring) is reading this. I'm just putting this here, because I know time travel can be pretty fucked up. Anyways, leave behind that timeline, by saving dad from moving to Arcadia Bay. If you are still stubborn or if saving Daddy was somehow the wrong choice, then you need to be strong and search for hope somewhere out there. Do yourself a favor and never truly love anyone. As a time traveler, you may feel like you have a grasp at something. But then you realize you don't have any control at all.

Rachel stares blankly with the journal in her hand.

Old life? She brushes both her ears, knowing that she normally wears the earring on the right side. So this version of me in Max's timeline, also have time travel powers. Is this timeline, the future for me? Does that mean after everything I did, I'm just going to end up…dead? Rachel closes her eyes, as well as the journal. She grips it tightly, almost wanting to make a crease on the book. Then her eyes shoots open, throwing the journal across the room. "Fuck you," she mutters out of frustration.

But leave Maxine completely? Why? She's...kind of my only hope. Without her...there is no hope. She runs her fingers through her shorter hair, tugging on it.

She gets up from the bed, trying to take her mind off things by exploring. She walks to the desk with some admission paper works from Blackwell Academy. So, I'm attending Blackwell Academy in Arcadia Bay? Looks like I didn't grow up with my initial plan. So am I in Arcadia Bay, right now?

Rachel turns around, approaching to the bedroom door. She can hear a television playing on the other side, confirming there is life in this house. Still cautious, she turns the knob, opening the door, as the TV sound gets loud. Sounds like there is a game going on. She peeks into the small dull looking hallway, at the direction of the sound. And there is Bradley, Rachel's father sitting on the couch, looking back at her.

"Hey, honey, did I wake you up?" He picks up the remote control, turning down the volume. "Sorry about that...big game."

Rachel looks on grasping her chest, who is paralyzed except with heart thumping loudly in it. Dad? She shuffles her feet in a hurried fashion, still holding onto her chest, moving towards him.

"Honey, are you okay?" Her father glances at Rachel, gripping her chest.

"Yes!" Rachel replies in a excitement. "Yes…" she repeats in a calmer tone. "Dad!" she closes the gap and dashes to hug him.

"Woah, hey there. Nice to see you, too. You wanna see the Chargers choke against the Chiefs? Probably not what you imagine to start your winter break, huh?"

Rachel turns around facing the television, still hugging her father with one of her arm, "Daddy! No, I would love to watch…" The rest of the living room is very plain looking, even the television itself is considered small. But Rachel is delighted to be reunited with her father.

"What? Thought you hate watching football."

"No, I'm totally down to watch it." Rachel snugs her head onto her father's shoulder. "Where's Mom?"

"Uh, burning her experimental pizza."

"Bradley!" her voice calls from the adjacent room.

He laughs, "Not bad for your first day back to Long Beach, huh?"

Rachel cuddles next to her father, trying to enjoy the short moment she has with him. But same time, the journal has her wondering about her fate and role in all of this.

Rachel Amber & Max Caulfield
Arcadia Bay Women's Health Clinic
December 12th, 2008 12:13 PM

Max hunches forward almost tipping over, but she catches herself. Instead, falls backward into the chair to what looks like the lobby of a doctor's office. Shit, that was kind of terrifying! She leans her body up, scanning across the room. The place did not seem inviting at all for any health reasons, as the furniture are pretty stained from wear and tears from who knows what. There were no windows for warm, natural lights. Only cold, artificial lights, that paints a gloomy feel to the room.

The young brunette presses her hands on the arms of the chair, with a frightened look. She looks at her own hands, realizing she does seem smaller, almost around she was wearing the pirate outfit with Chloe on her birthday. She murmurs under her breath, "Rachel?" But there were no response back from the blonde girl.

Hopefully she is in her physical body in this timeline, somewhere safe. Fucking shit...is she destined to die? Assuming there's no consequences, do I have to make a decision quick, whether or not I want to change the past?

She tips her head higher, trying to glance over the receptionist counter. Where is this? Feeling something on her leg, she reaches into the pocket for her phone, but it is the wrong pocket. Instead, she pulls out two multi-colored bracelets, that alternates blue and pink in a 'V' patterns. Max, looks on in horror at the bracelets.

Oh no, this is it. This is the last time I actually see Chloe. These are the friendship bracelets, I wanted to give to Chloe today, before I left. And it didn't end well. She got so mad at me, and threw them back at me.

The brunette is waiting for a moment like this to see her best friend again, as a overwhelming amount of dread and guilt pours into her belly. Part of her feels like a coward, hoping Rachel will bail her out by rewinding or fast forwarding in time. And another part of her has a slight sense of determination, to have the courage to deal with Chloe.

Chloe walks out the door, sending a mixed warm feeling and an impending doom to the brunette's stomach. Chloe... She still has her long strawberry blonde hair at this time, just like the time when her and Max were making pancakes before William's death. But instead of full of joys and happiness, there is none of it anymore inside her. She walks straight towards the receptionist, resting her arms nervously on the counter. She looks over shoulder, with her lips pressed thin at the brunette that is sitting all by herself.

Max gets up from the chair, approaching up to Chloe. She reaches her pocket to pulls out $80 dollars in cash and hands it to Chloe, without any hesitation. I wanted to see her but I'm not sure what to say to her.

Chloe looks at the money, with still surprised eyes, then back at Max. Her throat squeaks out, "Thank you." She closes her hand, taking the money and hands it off to the receptionist.

"What a great friend," the receptionist smiles at Max, then she looks back at the blond girl, who is holding the tears in her eyes. The receptionist's smile subsides, and she continues on with processing the transaction.

Max and Chloe walks out the clinic building, in the gloomy partly cloudy day. The tall trees overlooking the clinic building, blocks majority of the remaining warmth and color from the sun. Chloe walks a short distance ahead of Max, leading the way, without any words. They make their way to a nearby bench, sitting down on it.

Finally Chloe, breaks the silence with her bold voice. "I'm fucking glad they were able to give me the pill. I wouldn't want to have a baby, to join my fucked up life." She crosses her legs, looking over at her best friend. "Thanks Max…" She nods her head, "I owe you."

I know how this conversation carries out, at least somewhat of it. Chloe got very bitter and resentful to everyone, including me after William's death. When I was younger, I did my best to sympathize with Chloe, but even I got irritated by her. Of course, I took stuff our friendship for granted. Little did I know, the next time I see Chloe is her getting fatally shot. You never know when it is the last time you see someone.

"I'm always here for you, Chloe." Max nods her head, "So, will you tell me what happened last night?" Max tries her best to reenact the conversation the best she remembered.

Chloe leans forward, pressing her knuckles into her lips. "Todd…" Max closes her eyes instantly, knowing what is going to happen next. Chloe, sees this, and becomes all defensive. "I fucking knew, you were going to do that, Max."

"No Chloe...I'm not mad at all." Max says that calmly, staring blankly ahead and not at all frustrated. "Please continue."

Chloe looks away, totally ashamed of herself. "We did it last night. We fucked…"

Max's eyes drifts away as well, not showing her expression. "Go on…"

Chloe shakes her head, profusely. "I didn't fucking like it at all. But I just let it go on. I asked him in the end if 'loved me'. He said it is typical for a girl's first time." She runs her fingers up her hair, pulling and tugging on it. Her throat begins to get very thick, "Then, I heard some noise in the closet. And of course, his fucking sick friends were hiding in the closet, busted out laughing."

Max closes her eyes, releasing some tears that were hanging at the corner of her eyes. Forgot how fucked up those people are.

Chloe begins sobbing, unable to hold in the pain. She continues through it, "And Todd is laughing too. I got so angry but more so, humiliated. I basically ran out there naked, holding my clothes."

Max squeaks out through her throat, "Shit, Chloe."

"I just got desperate, Max. Ever since Dad died, I've...not been feeling well. With you leaving too, I feel all alone, right now."

"Chloe…"

The sobbing stops as Chloe's voice erupts. "I know Max. I'm a stupid moron. Sorry if I don't have a father that is fucking alive, like you."

No, I won't blow up on her. Max looks dearly into Chloe's furious blue eyes. "No, it is fucking Todd and his friends that are the morons. I can't even imagine how bad it is like to be in your shoes." Max reaches out her hand, holding onto to Chloe's. "William was like a second father to me. He was such an amazing person."

Chloe looks down at Max's hands, with the anger dissipating from her face and nodding her head. "Yes, he was." She squeezes Max's fingers. "I really need someone. And I'm losing...sight of myself. Please keep in touch with me when you're in Seattle, okay?"

I'm such a liar. Max bites her own tongue. "Of course, Chloe." She reaches in her pocket for the bracelets. "Chloe, I know you don't like me leaving for Seattle."

"Yes, I don't fucking like it at all."

"I know you don't. I don't either. But I got you this." Max pulls out both of the bracelets, holding them up in the air, dangling from her hand. Chloe looks at them with amazed eyes. "I know they seem corny and not cool at all. But it was the only thing I can find."

Chloe looks at them. "No, Max. I really like them."

Max's eyes widen in excitement for a moment. "Here," She carefully puts on the bracelet onto Chloe's hand, as a smile slowly emerges from the blonde.

She looks at it, admiring it, "Thank you so much." She turns her arms around, examining the bracelet some more. She lets out a puff of air of excitement, as there is finally some life into her body. "Max, uh...there's one thing I wanted to tell you before you leave." Max stares back at her, waiting for her words. Chloe, swallows to clear her throat, looking back at the brunette. "I love you, Max."

Max's mouth opens, almost wanting to automatically reply with Chloe's same word. She bites her lips, thinking about it. Even though the conversation went very differently in the past, I remember she also said this too. I shrugged it off like it wasn't a big deal, end of conversation. Maybe because I was angry in the past or a little clueless or didn't think much about it when Chloe said it. I had my parents, they were all the love and emotional support I needed. But Chloe, didn't have that. She searched hard looking for it, hoping to find some boys that can show her real love. She never found any. Deep down inside, I know she really loved me. Maybe I felt I was too young and shy or confused to even confess such of a thing.

There is a long silence, longer than how the scene originally played out. Chloe's body fidgets, becoming uneasy with the rising tension. She lets out a joke, "Sorry Max, I didn't mean to sound all stupid lesbian in your face. I know you-."

Max grabs Chloe's cheeks with both hands, immediately silencing her. She looks dearly in Chloe's ocean blue eyes and give her a quick kiss on the lips. Chloe's face went stiff for a moment, but it relaxes with a smile, with tears dripping down her face. The tiny brunette whispers, "I love you, Chloe. I've always had."

Chloe bites her lips, hearing the brave, bold words from the thirteen years old girl. She bursts into tears, wanting to cover her face, but she couldn't because the brunette was holding onto her face. Through her sobbing, "Max, let just fucking run away together, okay? Fuck Seattle." Max sniffs her nose, and grab both of Chloe's arms. "Oww!" She flinches, repelling away.

Max looks down at Chloe's arms, who were covered up in long sleeves. This never happened... "Chloe, what's wrong?"

Shame fills into Chloe's face, as she turns her body away from Max, shaking her head.

"Chloe..." Max looks at her with earnest eyes from behind.

Chloe peeks over her shoulder, to see Max's eyes, then she gives a loud sigh. She turns around, holding out her left arm, whimpering, and crying.

Max gently rolls up Chloe's sleeve, as the blonde lets out a soft hiss from the sharp pain. Underneath, there were bandages with dried blood on it. "Chloe…what happened?" I've never seen this before.

Chloe pulls her arm away, putting it down on her lap. She leans forward, dipping her head down, "This morning, I..." She lets out a sigh. "...just got fucking depressed and shit. I thought about everything, my Dad dying, that I just got knocked up by a fucking trash, then later tossed aside to be laughed at by his friends. And you fucking leaving to Seattle. I wanted to just end it all. Quickly. So I grab a kitchen knife and…"

Max rushes over and pressing her face into Chloe's jawbone. "W-What?!"

"I gave a few slashes to my arm. It felt good for a little bit. A sharp pain to numb my fucking miserable mind." Sorrow begins creeping into her tone, "But then I started thinking about you and Mom."

Max sobs into the blonde's neck and gripping her body. "Chloe!"

Chloe closes her eyes, dipping her head, "Sorry, Max. I didn't mean for you to find this out."

Max pulls her head out, to give the blonde girl a peck at her cheek, "I'm so fucking glad I did."

Chloe looks at the brunette in her eyes, squeezing both of her shoulders, "I know Max. I suck for not telling you. I know it just absolutely silly to be hurt yourself or even the idea of putting an end to your own life."

Max's eyes drifts down, not even nodding in agreement to her best friend's words. She gently pushes back from the blonde, carefully settling back onto the bench. "Chloe...there is something I have to tell you."

Chloe looks at her with a puzzled look, "What? Of course Max."

"I know how you're feeling right, now."

Chloe's voice became stern, not liking the assertive words she is hearing, "Max?"

"Before I tell you that..." Max takes a deep breath, and pouts her lips. She glances curiously, hoping to see affirmative eyes, after she tells her best friend what she has to say next. She starts with a calm voice, "Chloe, I found out that I have the ability to reverse time. I'm actually eighteen years old, and from the future. I came back because I wanted to see you again."

Chloe's eye brow raises, her eyes drifting to the side, then back to the brunette. She lets out a silent chuckle, but confusion slips back into face. "Max...uh, what the fuck? Are you going crazy?"

"Chloe, you were nineteen when you get murdered. I saved you with my power, but that caused a tornado to destroy Arcadia Bay. I had to let you die, to save the town." Max brings her knuckles up to rest her chin on. "Then my parents dies in a car accident, shortly after your death, driving down to Arcadia Bay to visit your grave."

Chloe scoffs, shaking her head, "Max...seriously, don't fuck with me."

Max's body falls back a little, distancing herself from the blonde, "Listen Chloe. I don't expect you to believe me at all. I know you just went through a tough time yesterday and today. I hate seeing you like this. But at the same time, I absolutely happy to see you." Max presses her lips thin trying to form a smile, but there is no joy in her face. "I've been struggling with processing everything with you and my parents' deaths. So this very moment, means so much to me right now. Even if this is just a dream, and I'm able to stay asleep just for this very moment. Thank you, Chloe." Max's eyes were filled with tears, hanging on. "I love you Chloe. We can end this conversation, right now."

Chloe looks back, seeing the teary eyes of her best friend, and sensing the deep sorrow inside her. While both of the girls do tease with each other a lot, Max isn't the type of person to joke around especially right after her best friend just poured her heart out, and showing that she was about to take her own life. Chloe knows this, and has to swallow her disbelief and trust her best friend's words. "No, don't." She comes in closer, grabbing Max's hand, and interlocking it with hers. She flutters her eyes closed for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Let's talk about everything. Your parents is gone too?"

Max wets her lips, giving a soft smile to Chloe. "Thanks for listening to me." She nods her head, "Yes, I'm all alone. I don't have you or my parents. And Chloe, I didn't talk to you for five years while I was Seattle, because I was fucking stupid! I hate myself for doing that to you."

Chloe nods her head softly, squeezing their interlocked hands, "You...had to have a good reason, Max. I know you did."

"No, I didn't. When you got shot and killed, it was actually my first time seeing you in years. And I was hiding in the restroom when it happened."

"Max...Wh-at…"

"There isn't anything else to say." The brunette dips her head. "My mind is slowly crumbling. I've been holding it in, dreaming that I can save you, and my parents. But I can't, because it will destroy this entire town. I'm so detached from reality now, that even my own parents' death who died earlier today, hasn't sunk in yet. Because a part of me feels I can still save you guys. But at same time, I know I can't."

Chloe shakes her head, having trouble processing all of this. Couldn't think of anything better, she mutters out, "Max, you have to stay strong."

Max's throat thickens, making it difficult to talk, "I'm not strong. I don't know how I will feel in the future. What if more people gets killed around me? And I can't do anything about it."

"Max, that is life. People dies all the time beyond our control."

"I know. The only differences is that I feel I'm responsible. Because if I could only rewind time to stop you from getting killed in that bathroom. Or rewind time to call my Mom and Dad, to tell them to not come to Arcadia Bay and stay in Seattle."

Chloe looks down at the bench, "So, if you use your power, the tornado comes?"

"Yes. Or at least I think that is the reason. One came when I saved you. The tornado basically kill almost everyone in the town."

"Can't you warn the town about the tornado?"

Max closes her eyes, trying to recall that awful week, "There were several other complications. I also didn't think it was real until it was too late. There just weren't any time to properly set off any warning. There are limitations to my powers, and it isn't just the tornado."

There is a short silence, as Chloe puts both of her hands on top of her head, looking down at the bench, again trying to process everything Max is saying. There's probably isn't any good words to give, Max is just content with seeing her best friend.

Max glances at Chloe, hesitating on what she has to say next. "I'm getting very desensitized about death. Along with this huge burden on my shoulders, I don't think I can ever live a normal life, anymore. I keep thinking if it worth killing an entire town, to save the three most important people in my life. Or maybe...I've been thinking possibly, just...ending it all completely."

Chloe turns her head, peeking her eyes through her fingers, "Ending it?…What do you mean Max?" She puts down her hands, to give the brunette a full look at her face. "Max? You better not even think about ending your own life, you hear that? I love you, too fucking much."

Max presses her lips thin, "Chloe, you almost tried to kill yourself."

"I know. I thought about you and my mother, that's what keeping my life is going."

"Doesn't matter, you're not even here with me anymore. Neither is my parents." Max snarls back but her abrupt anger quickly subsides back into her sobbing.

Chloe's lips quiver, knowing that her words may not have enough effect, because Max no longer have anyone to go to anymore. "Max…You have a lot to live for in your life. I know you may feel like you're in a very dark place, right at this moment. And believe me, I know how it is. Fuck I'm so bad this mushy shit. But seriously, you're too great of a person, to throw their life away. You will find another best friend. You will find someone that'll treat you like their daughter. You will do fine, Max. Think about your friends…"

Max grasps at her chest, thinking of her best friend's words. "Joyce."

Chloe nods in a cheerful manner, "Mom...Yes! My mother would love to take you in as her daughter."

Max continues, "And Kate...and Rachel."

"Who is this, Kate?"

"Kate Marsh is a very sweet girl. Very pure and the most kind person you'll ever meet."

"Sounds like an amazing person, Max." There is an odd gleam of positivity in the eyes of the blonde girl.

"And there's Rachel Amber...she is a time traveler like me too. She's the one that actually took me back here."

"Rachel Amber?" The eyebrows of the blonde girl raises in curiosity. "The smart girl in my class? Really? She took you back here?"

"Yeah, she's in your class? I never knew that."

"Yeah…" Chloe dips her head down, pondering about the conversation. Something has been a thought in her head, ever since hearing about her fate. "Max, so is my destiny doomed? Like even with you telling me all about my future?"

"Yes. We're going have to reset all of this so the conversation never happened. So the future remains the same."

"Damn, Max." She lets out a sigh of frustration.

Damn, this must be tough on Chloe. To feel so hopeless. "I'm so sorry Chloe." Max looks back at her helpless best friend, to know that you're days are marked and nothing can be done about it. There were more to it than that, so the brunette continues explaining. "The Rachel in this timeline, the one that is in your class, she actually died months before you died. There is an alternate parallel timeline or something, somehow the Rachel there can interact with this timeline. The alternate timeline Rachel is the one helping me, and she actually took over the Rachel in this timeline, at least for now."

The blonde clenches her teeth, but rest of her face went numb. "Shit, this is some pretty weird sci-fi shit."

"No joke. I really want to be with you, but I don't know. The more I think about it, I think this Rachel is the key to saving you, but at the same time she will hold the key to our future. If you know what I mean…"

"Her time rewind power is different than yours?"

"Yes, and it is much stronger. I'm just worried that she may...retaliate against me one day. If she brings you back, she probably wants to bring herself back in this timeline. She wasn't exactly the best influence on you. Her death eventually led to your death, as well. So if I bring her back, I'm afraid it'll lead to you dying again. And again, an endless cycle of depression for me."

"Max...I would love to be with you. What makes you think she will retaliate?"

"She seems very obsessive. She loves the version of me in her timeline. And I think in this timeline, she may have been in love with you Chloe, as well."

"Who wouldn't love you, Max? And wow, I do think she is kind of hot." The blonde girl nervously eyes the brunette, and mutters quietly, "Sorry…"

"It's okay. I think she's hot, too." Max lets out a soft smile, agreeing. "But should I get close with her, or distance myself from her?"

Chloe pouts her lips, hunching her body a little bit. "Max, I know I'm the worst person to say this, since I'm guilty 500% of it all the fucking time. But don't burn any bridges, okay? I mean, I obviously did that with you, and that is what got me killed."

"Chloe, it not on you-"

Chloe interrupts with a bolder voice, "Max...we can't always be thinking about the regrets in the past, then we lose sight of the things we have around us in the present and future."

Max dips her head, down. "I know…"

"I'm not saying to not rescue me and your parents. I'm just saying there are other people than just me and your parents. You have to cherish their lives and wishes, too."

It is odd to see Chloe, talking like this, quite a opposite to her usual personality. Perhaps, deep down inside Chloe can be mature, selfless and sympathetic person. Or in combination, she knows when she has to put aside her ego and hotheadedness, when the person she cares the most in the world is in a difficult situation.

Max nods her head in agreement, "I guess I used to hate it, to have your life, my parents' lives, and all of Arcadia Bay in my hand. But now, I feel my life is in Rachel's hand, too."

"She will take care of you." Chloe's phone buzzes, totally grabbing the blonde girl's attention. She pulls it out of her pocket, cursing at it. "Fuck, who is this 562 area code? Where the fuck is that, anyways?"

Max, looks at her phone, being reminded how Rachel and her are separated right now. "Chloe, pick it up."

"Max, no. I want to talk to you."

"Just pick it up, and make sure it isn't Rachel."

"What?" She looks at Max's concerned look, then swipes the phone before it went to voicemail, "Hi, who is this?"

"Is this Chloe Price?" asks the voice on the phone.

"Yes, who is this?"

"Thank fucking god. I'm glad I memorized Two Whales phone number to call your mother. Is Max with you?"

"Yes, but who are you?"

"This is Rachel Amber. I'm so relieved that she's with you. I wasn't sure."

"Rachel? You…really did bring her back to me?" Chloe smiles, looking at the brunette sitting right next to her. "I hate you because I don't know how you're so hot, yet so smart."

Rachel laughs on the phone, "Well I love you, too Chloe. You're pretty hot, yourself. And yes I did bring her back. She really cares about you, Chloe." She puffs out a breath on her side of the line. "She loves you."

"I know." Still keeping eye contact with Max. "I know she does."

"Am I bothering you with something? Or may I talk to Max?"

"Yes, you can talk to Max. But...Rachel?" Chloe's eyes lift up, with something boiling on her tongue.

"Yes, Chloe?"

"I know I don't really know you that well. I'm in your class but you probably know me for being a punk ass. If I do get to know you more in the future, I apologize for being a total bitch. I just know it. But I take it you don't really know Max? At least the Max in this whatever timeline."

"...Not really."

Chloe continues on, "Max, I know she may be dorky and nosy." She looks back at the brunette, reaching over at her cheek, squeezing it. "She can be reserved and awkward as hell. But deep down inside, is a girl with a real heart." Max pouts her lips from the touching words from her best friend. "I've been making excuses and neglecting her. And yet, she is still so loyal. It may take a while to break through her shell. But she is the most amazing best friend, anyone can ask for." The blonde glances over at her cuts on her arm with wide-opened eyes, in silence. Slowly, she seeps in the thought of it and everything Max said. Seeing how her life currently is, and what path she is probably going to take in her life. She flutters her eyes closed for a heartbeat, "I know I don't get to live long in this world...and I think I know why. Because I'm stubborn and reckless. But please...can you take care of Max, when I'm gone?"

There is a short silence on the other line as Rachel needed a moment. "Of course, Chloe." She sniffs her nose, "I know Max is a great person. And I know you're a great person, too if Max loves you this much."

"Thank you so much, Rachel. Here's Max." She hands the phone to her best friend.

Max wipes her wet nose with the sleeves of her shirt, and picks up the phone. "Rachel?"

"Max, sorry that I'm not with you, right now. I'm in Long Beach."

"That's fine. Did you get to see your family?"

"Yes I certainly did. We watched the rest of a football game and ate some burnt pizza together."

Max laughs through her thick throat. "That's sounds fucking awesome. I hope you had some good moments."

"Yes, I did. Are you ready to go?"

Max sniffs her nose, "Yeah...Let me say, goodbye."

"Sure."

Max puts the phone, faced down on her lap. She dips her face close to her best friend, whispering to her. "Goodbye, Chloe."

Chloe doesn't hesitate, and dips her face forward, so their lips make contact. She runs her lips to the side to Max's cheeks, and whispers softly close to her ear. "You can trust her. Be strong, Max. With or without me. I know you'll make the right decision."

She backs away, with one of her hand holding onto Max's hand, and the other one, reaching to pick up the phone, holding it up for the brunette.

Max nods, and pick up the phone. "I'm ready to go."

Author's Note: This chapter got very long, so it is somewhat abrupt ending. I apologize for it. Of course, it'll pick up where it left off in the next one. I'm happy to finally introducing some connections between the Rachels, even if it not a lot. I did like writing this chapter because of it still darker tone, but a little different message. Max, always been someone that has the burden of controlling everyone with her time power. And finally, she can be the one to be manipulated and be controlled. There's been some talk about people thinking if Max is a hero or a villain in the game. That always something that strikes me interesting. I always think it is very subjective in the context. I know I mentioned about jumping back to Rachel's timeline, but this is the sequence I wanted to add. I really want Max to get some inspiring hope and thoughts from her best friend about everything. Of course, naturally Max will want to save her best friend and her parents, but there are many questions.

My other intention of this sequence is Rachel seeing this timeline also planted a thought in her mind. Not much is talk about it in this chapter, but more so next one.

Thank you for keeping up with the story. Feel free to leave any comments about my story, or even theories you thought were interesting in Life is Strange.