A/N: I do not own Life Is Strange.

Mirrored Memories

Max could feel how soaked her clothes were, the cold seeping into her skin, her bones. The screams could be heard and it echoed around her mind. The teachers were nowhere to be found and more students kept passing by her. Trickling in like a heard of animals, this wasn't something to be running for. This wasn't something to be recorded, her eyes narrowing with anger, at the students who had the audacity to. All too soon, her feet skidded to a stop, her bag hitting her lower back with her sudden halt.

Kate was on the roof.

Kate was at the edge.

Kate was going to jump.

Someone bumped harshly into Max's shoulder, making her cry out in slight pain. The cry traveled and in that moment Kate stopped all movements. Max gasped when Kate looked right towards her, she was right there, so far and so close. Max didn't know when her feet started moving but they did and she was pushing with all her might. The burn in her lungs hurt, it was as if she was inhaling fire but it didn't matter. She needed to get to Kate, she needed to reach her, help her, anything but this. A nightmare.

Max felt every single moment, every single memory, when she watched as Kate pulled her foot over the ledge and let her body fall. Little things, from sharing homework to playing together in the morning. Big things like when Max found out about her powers and had a bloody nose, Kate took care of her. The brown eyes, that shined, the brown eyes that looked so pained. Kate was hurting and Max tried but it wasn't enough because Kate was falling, Kate was going to die.

Two inches.

That's how much Kate had before she met the cold cement ground but she never did. Max rewound once more, the pain surging through her entire body. Her body felt crippled, the spots in her eyes making everything disfigured. She needed to get to the stairs, she needed to get to Kate, she needed too. Max hit the wall a few times, literally falling through the steel doors that led to the roof. The steps felt like mountains, her legs burned, her lungs burned, her entire body was in flames.

The doors in front of her were the ultimate test as she shoved them open falling to her knees with a gasp. The rain pelting her once again, the coolness helping from the inferno that was her body. Her hands were shaking, the tips of her toes tingling but Max needed to find her voice, she needed to. There was another voice, but it wasn't hers.

"Max!"

"Kate." She murmured.

Max clung to the sides of her thighs, her mind screaming at her eyes to focus. Everything was hurting her, the blood trickling down her nose. Max tried to keep her eyes open, they were failing her, she was failing. She reached out shakily, her mouth moving but her ears couldn't comprehend what she was saying.

All she wanted was Kate to be safe, for Kate to come back. They could work this out together, they could do this, no one had to get hurt.
But Max's fight was giving out, her body betraying her and her vision slowly turned to black. The only thing she could hear were screams.

"Max!"

The shout made her entire body jump, the camera in her hands falling into the grass next to her. Max blinked a few times, trying to take in her surroundings. What is this? Where am I? Her eyes trailed around her and widening when she took notice to who exactly was around her. Nathan Prescott looked at Max funny before sending a goofy smile her way. That threw Max off entirely as she took in Taylor, Courtney and Hayden. She leaned way back, when her view was entirely filled with Victoria Chase.

"W-why are you so close?"

Victoria narrowed her eyes. "Are you high? What did you take?"

"High? M-me? I didn't take anything." Max responded.

"Oh fuck, I told you not to take anything."

"No one asked you." Victoria snarled killing Courtney with her stare. She then shifted her gaze back to Max. "Hey, are you okay? Do you need anything?"

No. This isn't right. Victoria wants to kill me, not make sure I'm okay. "I-I need to go."

Max didn't wait for any other sort of response as she took off, her mind reeling in from whatever happened. Kate, where's Kate. Oh, god. Her eyes looked everywhere, falling to Warren and Stella, who were kissing, heavily.

Max cringed, this wasn't her world, she had no idea how she got here. Her steps were heavy and she felt her phone buzzing but ignored it. Thought after thought fled through her mind, she had no idea where everyone she cared about where. This isn't what she wanted and she had no clue as to how to fix it.

Max was lost in a world she never even knew existed.

She bit her lip hard trying to not keep it from trembling, this world was different. It was everything her world was not and then some. It wasn't perfect not by far and Max didn't even really know if it was better. She had spent hours going through her phone and journal, trying to find out about the life she now had to live. It was helping but not by much and now she felt worse than ever.

Her dorm felt the same but not hers, not the Max that she was on the inside. This Max, was cooler, more confident and possibly even dating Victoria Chase, the texts had made her question far too many things.

Max even had to hide under her bed and stay completely quiet, when Victoria started pounding on her door. Max even thought she had heard a sniffle but that couldn't be true, Victoria didn't possess tear ducts. This isn't my world, this isn't where I'm supposed to be.

Max felt her chin tremble, the tears threatening to spill but she couldn't cry, not now. She had done this, trying to make Chloe's life better. In reality, all she had done was cause a mess and now she had to figure out how to get back to her world. Though she had a faint idea how and it didn't make anything any easier. It really only made her wonder why the universe would give someone like her, the powers to manipulate so many things. This wasn't what they showed in the movies and she didn't want her life to feel like one.

The only thing that gave her some sort of sanity was one simple thing, Kate Marsh. She had run into the dorm housing and stopped entirely at room number two-twenty-two. Her eyes stared at the door for minutes, her heart seizing in her chest. Then the memory had come flooding back, making the tears fall down her face. Right there, in front of her, had been the room of the greatest girl she ever met. Her eyes had fallen to the white board, where not one crude remark was drawn on the board. The only thing present were doodles, a small comic, detailing some sort of day.

Max looked down at her desk, the photo she had taken of Kate's white board. It was the most precious thing she had taken from this world. She knew when she got back to her world, she would keep this photo forever, stored safely.

Max was breathing in when her door was thrown open, banging against the wall. Max was so shocked she had chocked on her saliva. Gasping in a lungful of air in the last minute she finally caught her breath. It was only for a second as arms were wrapping around her and Max thought this was the moment she was evidently going to die. Victoria, oh my god, she is going to get me. Right here, right now.

"V-Victoria, I'm sorry I've had a long day and I didn't-"

"Victoria?"

Max froze entirely. "Kate?"

"Who else silly?"

Max felt her eyes burn as she pushed herself out of her chair and pulled the girl close into her arms. She wanted to cry so badly, let out the sobs she felt in her chest. She knew she couldn't do that without looking entirely crazy, so she just squeezed Kate tighter. This is all she had wanted to do, to bring Kate back, off that ledge. A lone tear escaped freely as she felt Kate squeeze her back just at strong. She's here, she's right here, in my arms.

"I'm so happy to see you." Max whispered.

"Max? You saw me this morning. You helped with my hair." Kate said slowly, trying to understand Max's confusion.

"Your hair?"

Max had to clench her hands into fists when Kate pulled away, only wanting to keep her close. Her mind paused when she got a full view of the new Kate that was standing in front of her. Her mind went into a freeze, trying to take in this Kate, the one that was smiling so softly at her.

Her eyes scanned every little detail and the biggest thing to stand out were the dark circles that were not present at all. Instead, Kate had a soft layer of make-up on, making her green eyes stand out all the more and her cheeks a pretty shade of pink. Max felt the gasp in her throat but kept it down when she stared at the blonde locks that were in a smaller, looser bun, only few stray bangs falling forward. Perhaps the most shocking thing was the fact that lower part of Kate's head was shaved. Not being able to hide her shock, Kate picked up on it instantly.

"Did you forget? You helped touched it up!" Kate said happily said.

"I did?" Max blurted out, still trying to take in this Kate.

"Every day since we met." Kate stated looking at Max worriedly, her hand reaching out to intertwine with Max's. "Hey, talk to me. Are you okay?"

Max let her eyes fall on their intertwined hands and if she was thrown off before, she was even more so now. Kate still had her rings but she also had a cross tattoo on the side of her ring finger. Max tilted her head down, trying to disguise her stare as took in Kate's choice of shoes, or rather flats. It was even weirder for Max to see tight fitting jeans instead of a grey skirt. The only thing that seemed to be close to what she was used to was the white shirt, adorned with a cardigan though it was longer.

"Eyes up here, Max." Kate teased.

Max blushed as she looked away, realizing that her gaze had stopped at Kate's chest. "I am so s-sorry. I didn't mean to, I wasn't looking."

"Oh, you were." Kate insisted, adding in a wink before tugging at Max's hand. "Why are you being shy? Did I do something?"

Max shook her head looking up to face Kate. "No! No, it's just been…it's been a really weird day."

"Every day is a weird day with you, babe." Kate joked, pulling away from Max and twirling until she fell into the bed. "Talk to me about it?" Kate asked softly, feet hanging off the edge of the bed.

Max was frozen once again, the one singular word, replaying in her head. Kate had called her babe and she had no idea in what context she meant. Her journal had never mentioned anything about Kate and the word babe, in the same sentence. Trying to keep herself calm, Max rubbed the side of her arm.

"Why are you here?" Max asked.

Kate winced and Max felt guilty at the flash of hurt that came over her eyes. "Do you not want me here?"

"No."

Kate shook her head this time, sitting up from her spot on the bed. "No. this isn't you. Max, today is our day. You know this."

"What day?"

"Scary movie night? Me? You? Cuddling?" Kate explained, lips pursing as she looked over Max. "Where's my best friend?"

"Best friend?" Max whispered and then a thought overcame her. "I thought you weren't allowed to watch rated R movies?"

Kate scoffed. "Not since I was fourteen, Maxine. What did you do today? Was it another Vortex thing?"

"No, Kate. I just- I don't know what's going on with me." Max admitted knowing that it wasn't far from the truth. "I'm sorry, I'm really sorry. I don't mean to be so…"

"Utterly confusing?"

Max smiled. "Yeah, that."

Kate shrugged, patting the side next to her. "Come cuddle with me?"

"Are you sure?"

This time Kate narrowed her eyes. "Max, we've done this a million times before."

"Right." Max steadily said, trying to reassure herself.

Taking slow steps Max reached her bed and slowly climbed in. The creaking of the wood made her wince and only made her feel more awkward. This Kate, god, she looks so happy here. How can I question her happiness? Max moved near the wall, letting herself plop down onto the mattress. As soon as her head hit her pillow, Kate moved herself around to curl into Max. My journal did not mention this.

"I had another fight with Dad." Kate admitted.

Max stilled, knowing that if she acted any weirder Kate would question her. Taking the safe route she replied. "Another one?"

"Yeah." Kate whispered, head nuzzling into Max's shoulder. "He wants me to go back home…to be the girl I used to. I can't, Max, I'm not her."

"You don't have to be." Max replied her hold on Kate becoming tighter. If she couldn't talk to her Kate like this, than she would do it for this Kate. "You be a-anything that makes you happy, you do everything that makes you happy. Don't ever listen to anyone, you are an amazing person."

Kate tilted her head up, trying to catch Max's eyes. "Where did that come from?"

"I can't say that?"

Kate sighed. "You never say anything, at least not like that, not all the time. You just let me talk."

"Not today." Max stated, knowing that if she left, she would write a lengthy note to the Max of this world. Particularly, a list of mandatory things to do for Kate. "Today, I want you to know…that a world with Kate Marsh, is so much better than a world without." Max felt the burn behind her eyes again. "Your smile, your laugh, everything that you are, is so great. Anyone who has met you, has had a privilege."

"Max."

"I mean it Kate." Max insisted, nearly breaking Kate in half with her grip. "Please, don't ever forget that."

"What did Victoria make you smoke?" Kate murmured, a few sniffles leaving her. "You are so out of it."

"You talk to Victoria?"

Kate tapped the side of Max's head. "Were in photography together. Of course we talk to each other, I designed her tattoo."

"Oh, r-right." Max stammered out, trying to figure out what exactly was going on here. "Were cuddling."

"It's our thing." Kate said, worrying her bottom lip. "Are you uncomfortable?"

"No."

Kate smiled, inching closer to Max. "This is going on my board tomorrow you know that, right?"

"Board?"

"Yes. It's going to be a comic, of you and whatever else goes on from this point onward." Kate mused, tapping Max chest as emphasis.

It was such an odd feeling, one that made Max both sad and happy. This Kate was so much more content, even had a friendship with Victoria Chase. Yet, even so there laid a trace of the Kate she knew back in her world. The blonde hair was the same, the bright green eyes, the tender smile and soft smell of vanilla.

It only made Max wonder if that Kate she had in her world, had traces of the Kate that was in her arms at this moment. This moment were Kate was smiling, joking at her expense and showing she could be so much more. Though there was only one thing that Max wanted to know, something that would settle her. Or maybe even break her, she wasn't sure.

"Hey, Kate?"

"Hm?"

"Do you remember how we met?" Max murmured.

Kate choked in a breath, curling herself further into Max. "Why would you ask that?"

"I'm sorry?"

"I am going to talk to Nathan and Victoria. They keep giving you..whatever it is your on." Kate stated more than said before taking in a sharp breath. "You were on the roof, Max and so was I." Kate whispered out, gripping Max tightly by her shirt. "You saved me, on my first day of school."

"First day?"

"My Father had told me that he never wanted to see me again." Kate explained, a tremor in her voice making every word she said sound shaky, "So I was going to make it come true and you were there, smoking a joint." Kate chuckled at that. "You should have seen your face, I wish you could have."

Max could feel a burning shame course through her body. To know that her Kate adored her father and this Kate almost killed herself because of the same man. This isn't right…is it? I am so lost. Max just hugged Kate to her, hoping that it was enough to comfort her. Hoping that maybe this time she was enough.

"I'm so happy you're here, Kate. Please, don't ever go." Max nearly pleaded, wondering why either world wanted to take Kate away.

Kate laughed thickly. "That's what you said the day I met you."

"Good, I still mean it."

"Max? I'm glad you're here too." Kate said.

"Movie time?" Max said not wanting to know any more of this world. She would need to leave, this Max needed to come back to this world. Needed to be here for this Kate.

"How about we stay right where we are?" Kate retorted. "Your comfy and now…I'm tired."

"Whatever you need Kate."

Kate tapped Max's nose softly. "I need you."

"I'm right here." Max murmured her eyes falling shut. "I'm here."

A/N:

So anon asked for this, being disappointed in the fact that we weren't able to explore more of the alternate universe. Especially Kate and if she could have been different. Similar as to how Max and Victoria were different but the same.

It took me awhile to be happy with this, I was writing an OCC Kate but not really, it was a very thin line. I wanted her to be different but still Kate. Still the one we love so much. I left questions in this purposely, it is a different world with different questions as to "why."

I still hope you all enjoyed this alternate timeline fic, it was my first time exploring it. Leave your thoughts!