Chapter TEN: Our own prison

THEN

"Why don't you take your bitchy ass out of my fucking RV" yelled Frank at the woman stood in front of him.

He was shacking! Full of rage and anger like always, whenever SHE started shit. The two always argued like this, they were too similar and neither would back down on in a fight. She stood firm like she always did and stared daggers into his eyes. This had only started because he was being a little moody because of another shitty date and it devolved into another shouting match and like usual, she would not back down.

"I wish you'd stop being like this. I don't fucking get it!" she shouted back, moving into his face. She knew what she was doing. Getting in his face like that would only piss him off more, make him the bad guy in this. Not this time. This time, he was fucking pissed.

"I'm warning you...get the fuck back or…."

"Or fucking what? Huh big man. What exactly will you do? I am so sick of this shit. All I do is support you, help you when you're worst and I tolerate it when you act like a child but lately, you've been like this every day. You're starting to scare me so why don't you calm the hell down before I…."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Frank exploded. He regretted it as soon as he yelled but he couldn't stop himself. He just couldn't, he was too fucked up on whatever shit he took a few hours ago to stop. He wasn't done.

"How many times do you have to hear it before you get it? You are not fucking special. You are not a fucking model. You are NOTHING. You're just like every other Blackwell asshole, a kid pretending she's an adult. You are not. I am done with this shit and you and all the crap you lay on me".

Now it was his turn to get into her face and he got close...close enough he could smell the shampoo she had used earlier. He reached down and grabbed her wrist hard and even when she pulled away, he pulled her forward. He wasn't letting this one drop. She shouldn't yell at him like everyone else, she was supposed to be different from them but here she was, calling him names like all the other people in this shithole town. He carried on his rant, even though the sober part of him buried deep was begging him to stop.

"You want to act like the others, I'll treat you like the others. Now hear this little miss high and mighty...if you come into MY place again and yell at me...I'll rip your fucking throat out. DO YOU FUCKING GET IT? HUH! DO YOU?" Frank was yelling so much that spit was flying out of his mouth.

The room was silent for what felt like hours. It was only in that silence that Frank Bowers truly realised what he had said. What he had said and to whom. Whatever he had taken had fucked him up but this was on him and his anger. The guilt hit him full force, striking him like a gunshot to the stomach.

What the fuck did he do?

Why her?

He didn't mean to...he didn't want to…

No….

The girl just stood there. Just staring at him. The anger was still there but it was hidden behind a look that was much worse and hurt a hell of allot more. Fear. She was scared! He had just hurt his lioness.

Rachel Amber began to back away very slowly. At that moment, Frank would have preferred it if she had just hit him there and then. She didn't say anything, just turned around and walked away slowly. He wanted to run after her and get down on his hands and knees and say sorry and beg her to stay but out of shame or whatever the fuck, he just stood there looking down at his feet. Even Pompidou was nowhere to be seen.

Just after opening the RV door, Rachel turned to Frank and simply said, "You scared me today Frank" and walked out, closing the door quietly behind her.

Frank Bowers was just left alone in his silent RV. Alone and to himself, he asked himself…

"What the fuck have I done?"

…

NOW

Frank threw the empty bottle into the trash can and rubbed his head. He had a massive headache that was beginning to sting his eyes. It was more likely to say that it was a hangover. Like always, it hurt like hell. This was the third day in a row. Frank knew he shouldn't be drinking as he was driving again tomorrow morning and it scared Pompidou when he starting getting angry as he always did after a drink. He supposed being drunk was better than what he would have been a if Price hadn't talked with him. It was no fun being dead. Just ask Rachel.

Rachel Amber...holy shit did he miss her. He missed her so much. It felt like so long ago when he found out what happened to her, that a scumbag teacher and a scumbag kid had overdosed her after kidnapping her. And they had used the shit HE sold. For song long he believed...he knew...it was his fault his lioness was dead. She was good to him when everyone else was a piece of shit. Of course, he knew she didn't love him, not really, at least not in the way he wanted. In a way, he always knew and that was one reason he blew up at her so often. Like a child lashing out because he didn't know how else to say it. Frank knew she wasn't leading him on or at least she wasn't in the end. It may have started that way, maybe she pegged him for an easy source of cash so she could get out of Arcadia Bay with Chloe Price but she had felt something for him, he knew that. Or at least he wanted to know that. No one really knew what Rachel Amber was thinking, probably not even her.

Jesus fucking Christ! Now he wanted to drink again. Shit. This is what he got when he thought about Rachel and giving up the drugs. It was kinda hard not to think about Rachel considering he was travelling with Chloe Price, following her and her wife across the country in their road trip. Who would have guessed? If anyone had told him a few years back that he would one day travel with a married Chloe Price and Max Caulfield across America to make himself 'feel better', he would have told them that they were full of shit and probably stolen whatever shit they were taking and took it himself. Then again, he would've done the same if anyone told him that a huge tornado would rip through the entire town of Arcadia Bay and kill almost the entire population. It was still crazy to think that it had actually happened, he saw first hand. With everything he had been through, no wonder he was like this. Suicidal and a drunk. So much for starting anew.

Frank got up from the couch in the RV and wondered over to the cabinet. He was hungry enough to eat a horse. He was sure he had some cookies somewhere in this shithole. On his way to the cabinet, he stepped on a discarded bottle and nearly feel ass over head but managed to keep his balance. If anyone was an expert on walking drunk it was Frank Bowers. After retrieving the cookies, he decided to eat them in the chair outside. It was a very warm day with thick clouds and the sun shinning bright and glimmering over the blue water in front of him. To any normal person, it would be an incredibly beautiful site to behold but to Frank it was just another headache. Flopping down onto the garden chair he had place just outside the front of his RV, Frank threw a cookie into his mouth and stared at the large red bridge in front of him. The Golden Gate bridge was impressive and even looked slightly intimidating standing high above everyone. Chloe Price-Caulfield was currently standing on the bridge this very moment, having a drink and probably talking shit to people. Frank couldn't help smile at that thought. It shocked him to his very core but he actually missed Chloe this past year after the storm. He often thought about her and even wondered if she was okay and made it.

Frank genuinely believed he wasn't worth shit. How had he survived a giant storm when others, better people, had died. He had wanted to better his life after he escaped the storm, promised it to himself and the memory of Rachel. He had even managed to get a job and meet people, good people, but the guilt over his past would make itself known again and again and he would turn to the bottle. He was fired and lost everyone yet again. Even now when he thought about that horrible day when he scared Rachel properly for the first time, it stung so hard.

Once again Frank found himself asking what the actual fuck he was doing. Why was he following two young women who he once threatened across the damn country? What would it prove? What did Max and Chloe expect to happen from this? Did they expect that he would magically change to be a better person just like that? Bullshit. Im-fucking-possible. Right?

Pompidou made his way out the door and led down with a heavy sigh at Franks feet. Frank looked at his dog. His most trusted companion for so many years now. Pompidou had saved his life more times than he could remember and he was a damn good judge of character too. As long as Pompidou was here, Frank kept going. Suddenly a thought came to Frank. He could just leave. Right now and none would be the wiser. Max and Chloe had gone to different parts of San Francisco and promised to meet up with him later on in the day. But he didn't have to, he had no real reason to. Sure, he had agreed to follow them to San Francisco but he never said anything about going any further. He should just leave with Pompidou and go to a wood somewhere and drink all day and remember the shitty times. It would be the easier option and one he wanted to do if he told the truth. But was what Chloe said possible? Could he maybe become a better man now, so late into his life. All of his life, Frank Bowers just got through every day. Not giving much of a shit about anyone else, selling and using drugs and working for one asshole after the other. He had been doing that for thirty-three years and he wasn't sure he could believe he could be anything else. Even if he wanted to be someone else. He even found himself asking aloud,

"What would she do? What would she want me to do?" he asked. In his head, he saw Rachel Amber. Exactly as she looked back when they had argued and he had scared her. Her beautiful blonde hair looked stunning with the sun behind her and her earrings and bracelets only complemented her already beautiful image. Her eyes were as deep and hazel as he remembered. She looked directly at him, neither smiling nor sad. Not angry or happy. Just...her. He looked up agaun at her and had to fight back the urge to cry. To weep at his guilt or just generally because he missed her so much. He had so much he wanted to say to her. To apologise for that argument, for every single one they had. He wanted to ask her what happened to her when she was taken by that creep Jefferson and his ward, Prescott. He wanted to hug her and kiss her and just have one last momment with her. He knew he couldn't, that she wasn't really here. He knew he could never properly say goodbye to the woman he loved. Instead he just stared at her in silence. Finally he found the nerve to ask her,

"What should I do lioness? Should I leave and carry on like always or should I stick it out and stay, follow Bonnie and Bonnie around like a lost dog?" he was fully aware he was essentially talking to himself.

Rachel finally smiled and she told him what he should do.

…..….….…...

Chloe Price-Caulfield smiled and took another sip of her beer. What a view…

She was looking down from high up on the Gold Gate bridge and had an amazing view. She could see sparkling blue water and the ominous looking Alcatraz Island where her wife Max currently was. After arriving in San Francisco earlier that morning, Chloe, Max and Frank Bowers of all people decided to split up for a day. Frank wanted time to himself and Max wanted to take some photos of the infamous prison, something about great framing and symbolism. Obviously Chloe wanted to go with her too but she desperately had to to take some time to come up with some new tattoo ideas as well as call her mom and David. Plus, Max had a deadline so she would be super focussed on her photography. It was only for a few hours so Chloe didn't mind but it felt weird not to have her constant companion by her side. Chloe wasn't trying to clingy but she had to admit she already missed her wife. Chloe held up her beer bottle in a silent gesture over to Alcatraz and toasted Max Caulfield and then took a big swig after chastising herself for being so mushy.

Chloe was sitting on the very side of the railings on the bridge. She probably shouldn't be doing this and would probably attract the attention of some asshole yelling at her to get away. She didn't give a fuck though, as it was a damn amazing view and was giving her some pretty awesome inspiration for her tats. Truth be told the bridge wasn't all that great itself, it was simply a bridge for cars to cross but it looked cool and felt cool to sit on it. Chloe was waiting for her phone to ring to signalise the call from her mom. Oh how she remembered the days when she dreaded a call from Joyce Price, much less her step-douche David Madsen. But times have changed and more importantly...time had changed Chloe. In more ways than one. The death of William Price had hurt Chloe and sent her down a dark path culminating in her near death, cold and alone on the bathroom floor of Blackwell Academy. Then she had met her best friend Max Caulfield once again after years apart and the two began an investigation into the disappearance of someone very close to Chloe's heart, Rachel Dawn Amber. Everything else, Max's time travel abilities and giant fucking tornado, felt like a different Chloe had lived them and she had died along with the town of Arcadia Bay but something amazing happened. Arcadia Bay had started to rebuild and so did the lives of the survivors. Max and Chloe married and the rest was history. A history she was loving every minute of.

The telltale sound of her Firewalk ringtone snapped her out of her reminiscing. Chloe answered it on the second ring after taking a final drag of her cigarette,

"Hello, you've reached Chloe Price-Caulfield, please leave a message after the beeeeeeeeeeep"

"Chloe knock it off" chuckled Joyce on the other end.

Chloe had to admit, it felt damn good to hear her mom's voice. Chloe and Max had been travelling for a little while now and it had been a decent time since she had actually seen her mom.

"Hehe sorry. How's life in Arcadia Paradise?" asked Chloe, sarcastically.

"Fine thank you Miss Cheeky. Can't say the noise of the building work hasn't sent me insane most nights but it is what it is. They say the diner might be next on the rebuilding list"

"Hey, that's awesome! But have they finished all the homes yet?"

"No sadly not. There is so much still left to do. The only reason they apparently want to get the Two Whales done is so it can bring back some morale back to the town although David thinks it's so the Presctotts can get a source of cash back into the town"

"I hate to say it mom but I think David is right. It makes sense that the biggest leeches in Oregon would want to make some money out of a nearly dead town"

"You're not wrong there honey. Anyway speaking of David, he wants to have a word with you"

Chloe took a second.

Times really had changed.

Only just over a year ago, Chloe would rather jump in a vat of acid than accept a call from her step-dad. From the very beginning, Chloe and David were at eachothers throats. They pretty much had a hate-hate relationship. David was an ex-army vet and had a very paranoid militaristic outlook on life and Chloe was a natural born punk. They clashed on every occasion from birthdays to everyday life. They had pushed eachother millions of times and it would be Joyce who would try to bring them together only to suffer the most. Chloe Price and David Madsen were like two children, arguing because in all truth, they were more similar than either wanted to admit. Chloe chose to stay angry after her dads death and David chose to bark orders rather than act like a step-dad. Home life was not good for years until Rachel had saved her. Then Jefferson and Nathan Prescott had taken her away from Chloe and the storm destroyed their home town. It took the near decimation of an entire town and it's population to bring Chloe and David together. Now, they had a better relationship than ever before and were good friends at least, step-father and step-daughter at best.

Chloe had spent so long angry at David, cursing his very existence and causing trouble for him every chance she could that she never stopped to think about her part in it. Sure, David had been a severe douche from the beginning but she hadn't helped matters, in fact she had been the cause of many of their disagreements. Now, she felt a great deal of guilt from her past actions, not that she would ever tell him that. David Madsen had proven himself to be a good man in recent times and Chloe now enjoyed talking to him and being around him but back then, she had said some real bad shit. He had said really shitty things as well but Chloe had long since phased out her anger on him, leaving only anger at her own self. Whilst waiting for her mom to hand the phone to David, Chloe remembered a time a few years back on her birthday…

It had started the way most of their arguments did. With Chloe coming home late and high. She had been out with Rachel and partied all night long. They had a fucking great time and more importantly to Chloe, she was away from her mom and step-douche another night. Chloe had stumbled through the door and intended to sneak to her room and crash but David had expected this and was waiting in the living room. The very first words Chloe heard was the bellowing voice of David exclaiming,

"What the hell kind of time do you call this Chloe?"

Chloe dropped her bag in irritation and casually wondered over to David who predictably was standing with his arms crossed with a massive frown behind his attack moustache. Either because she was high or maybe because she was was not in the mood for an argument, Chloe just pretended to look for something in her pocket, only to flip him off and just walk away. She was surprised and uber pissed off when she felt a hand grab onto her arm, stopping her from walking away.

"I asked you a question" growled David. Chloe instantly wretched her arm away and stared daggers at her step-dick.

"Don't you fucking touch me! I was out with my friends. Not that it's any of your business" she snapped back.

"Well maybe you were out with the wrong kind of friends. Who were you with?" David demanded.

"Are you deaf? I said it was none of your business" Chloe was starting to get pissed off now. She was beat and wanted to crash not argue with Dickless David.

"You you with guys? Rachel Amber? Tell me who you were with Chloe, that's an order!" he barked.

What the fuck was it with this asshole? Did he actually think this was some kind of military camp or something? Either way Chloe wasn't having it and nearly lost her cool completely there and then.

"Look David I am not in the mood right now. It doesn't matter to you who I was out with. Just because you have no friends or family who give a shit about you doesn't mean I have to be here when you feel sorry for yourself. Now either fuck off out of this goddamn house and leave us all in peace or leave the fuck alone. Your call." Chloe was so close to shouting. If she could just get to her….

"I've had enough of your disrespect Missy! Now I want to know..."

"Would you just FUCK OFF..." before David could say anything, Chloe was off…

"First you polute my mom with your presence and then you ruin this house by moving here but now you think you can run my fucking life! Not anymore fucker. All you do is get me down and push me over and over again, not letting me live how I want to live and I'm seriously fucking sick of it. But I think I get it. I get why you're like this. The truth is, you know how much we hate you and it pisses you off and yes I said WE. You might think mom loves you but she dosn't, not really. She loved my dad. She loved William Price not you. It's just a desperation thing. Soon she wull realise what a lazy, good for nothing asswipe you are and get rid of you. No one loves you, no one likes you and no one respects you. You make life un-fucking-bearable for me and my mom. You can't even become a proper cop. All you can do is pretend people give a shit about you but no one does. Now why don't you do us all a favour and fuck off out of all our lives! This is a shitty world, my dad gets in a car accident and dies and yet a no good fucker like you lives" exploded Chloe. She even had to take a hard breath after her rant.

Both David and Chloe stood in silence for a while. Chloe expected and wanted David to say something back. She was fired up and pissed and wanted someone to yell at and David would do just nicely. He was an asshole anyway and this was a long time coming. But David didn't yell back at her. He didn't try and hit her. He just looked down slightly and brushed past her, quietly climbing the stairs and into this room. Chloe was just left standing in steaming silence. She didn't know what to think back then, she didn't remember if she felt any guilt or even anger. She just stomped upstairs, slammed the door and passed out near her bed. The next morning David refused to even acknowledge Chloe. Of course, Joyce had given her shit but her hangover was worse at the time.

Now, a few years later and after a giant tornado and time travel escapades, Chloe did feel guilt. She thought about that night for the first time in so long. She had said something awful. Sure, David was being a douche barking orders at her and even the man himself would admit he was in the wrong but that didn't excuse what she had said. No way. Of course Joyce loved him and maybe it was because she knew that back, that she had blown up so hard. God did she feel bad for that crap now. There were plenty of times David had said bad shit he should never have said but that was definitely her bad. Chloe found herself tearing up a little, not noticing the voice trying to get her attention on the phone.

"Chloe...Chloe?...Are you there" David's voice slowly dawned on her and she shook her head.

"Uhhh...shit yeah, hi David. Sorry I was uhh...thinking about shit" she admitted.

"Anything wrong? If some asshole from San Francisco has pissed you off, let me know and I'll drive down there right now" proclaimed David. Chloe couldn't help but let the tear drop. This man who she had despised for so long was actually offering to help her.

"No, no one here has been an asshole, well at least not a huge one. I was actually just thinking of the past. A bad day, is all." explained Chloe.

"Hey, you should be having a good time out there with Max, not thinking about the past. Now, I don't know what's happened but I can say that you have been through a truck load of shit in the past and I haven't helped with that. I've done my share of ruining your life but one thing I do know is that living in the past is not going to help anyone. There is always the future and one thing I know about you darlin' is that you have a bright future ahead of you"

Now Chloe had no choice but to let the tears fall. This was probably the nicest thing David had ever said to her. He was right too! The past was the past and she needed to live for the future otherwise she'll end up like Frank, anchored to the past and desperately trying to come to the surface. She smiled to herself and decided to forget about that night when she blew up at David…

"Thank man. Honestly...thanks! So then step-douche, tell me, have you actually managed to revive that corpse of a car you drive yet? Asked Chloe and the two laughed for a long time afterwards.

…

Max Price-Caulfield smiled wide. More of an excited childish grin. She was actually at Alcatraz Island looking at the infamous prison itself. Prisons didn't generally interest Max but this one had such history. Allot of it was horrible and kind of scary but it was history nonetheless. When speaking to one of her fellow photographers, she was explained the theory of how history was captured and immortalised on each and every photograph ever taken. It was a lovely idea and it made Max smile.

The prison itself was a very intimidating building and was bigger than Max thought. Of course, it wasn't a prison anymore but it still looked the part, minus the metric ton of tourists that were currently marching all over the grounds. Chloe would so totally make fun of both of them for being touristy. Max hoped her wife was doing well, up on the Golden Gate bridge. She also hoped that Frank Bowers was doing good as well. He was in a bad way when she and Chloe had bumped into him again and hoped the talk he and Chloe had helped in some way. The three had decided to split off for a few hours to do their own thing and Max had taken the opportunity to join a tour group visiting the former prison. She just knew she could get some great shots with the gorgeous surroundings and brilliant perspective. Plus, she had a strict deadline to provide some establishing images for a website.

Max walked up a steep stone stairway and towards the front area of the former prison. The weather was a beauty and the sound of the swaying trees made for a truly surreal scene. There weren't all that many people around for the tour, which was a good thing. Not only was Max still a little uncomfortable around large crowds but she found it was better to take as long as she needed to line up a good shot. The air around smelled clean and warm with a tiny hint of metal and sweetness. She could see a few boats drive past making their way to wherever it was they were going and some even waved over to her on their journey. From here, Max could see the giant red giant that was the Golden Gate bridge and just knew Chloe was up there somewhere. Max hoped she could see a small blue dot surrounded by the sea of red paint and metal. A very small and extremely rusty boat stuttered past with a clearly very tired old man at the helm. It was a brilliant contrast between the small old man and even older small ancient boat with the large and new looking Golden Gate bridge. It was an opportunity the young photographer could not pass up.

Max walked over to the side of the island where she was and knelt down on one knee. She to wait and time it just right. All the area around her, the swaying trees, the loud tourists and the noisy boats all seemed to stop dead and the world around froze in time. Max was focussed on the boat and the bridge. All she needed was to to time it just right. The boat edged ever closer to the bridge and the old man began to wipe his forehead with his sleeve and a bird flew up above towards the bridge.

Perfect….

'click'

Max took the shot. She waited a moment and pulled the photo out of the bottom of the camera. Then there was that moment of scary anxiety just before she looked at the photo. Was it any good? Did I fuck it up? Was it even a good shot to begin with? Did I wait to long or not long enough? Mercifully when Max looked at the photo it was perfect! Brilliant landscape, beautiful colours and incredible contrast. Max placed the image in a small folder she kept with her at all times. Later on, with all of her others photos she would take that day, she would send the photo to the client and they would scan it digitally. She was super glad she didn't have to get a new digital camera. This way, she could use her classic camera and the image would still arrive on the digital website and still look awesome.

Satisfied Max carried on towards the prison to take the shots she had originally come for. Before she did however, she took another long look at the giant bridge and thought about her wife up on it. Things really had changed in these last few crazy insane years. Only a few years ago she had been an average shy geek girl who hadn't had all that many friends. Then she found out she had the ability to rewind time itself, saved her best friend who she had not seen in many years, witness a giant mega storm rip through her entire home town which she may or may not have caused then fled the ruined town. She then married her best friend and went on a country wide road trip. It was almost scary to think about. Max couldn't have done a single thing without Chloe Price by her side. Chloe was her best friend, her closest ally and the love of her life. It took Max so long to realise that she had always been in love with that blue haired punk from Arcadia Bay. They started of as two kids playing pirates in a backyard to time travelling partners in crime to a married couple trekking around the country. How time can change, Max knew that better than anyone alive.

Of course Max and Chloe hadn't always been as close as they are now. Well, they used to be as kids but then Max had to move to Seattle with her parents on the very day of Chloe dad's funeral. At the worst time in Chloe Price's life, Max had abandoned her. Not intentionally but it still happened. Chloe then went through the next few years in a depression and what did Max do? Didn't answer her texts. Didn't pick up phone calls. Ignored her. It was one of Max's biggest regrets and still hurt to this day. Max learnt a long time ago to let go of the past. She often wondered if it was her meddling in time that caused the storm to cause so much destruction but a little while ago, again thanks to Chloe, she learned to put it behind her but she couldn't help but dwell on her mistakes of the past. She had hurt Chloe, the woman she loved. Max though back a time she really regretted. An action that caused a lot of pain for Chloe and a source of guilt for Max.

It wasn't too long after she moved to Seattle. At first when she got there, all she felt was pain and regret. Regret for leaving Chloe on the very day of Chloe's dads funeral. Sure, she had left a voice note explaining a few things but it didn't replace the guilt of leaving her best friend. She was even a little cold to her parents. She knew it wasn't their fault but was angry nonetheless. They had moved and made her move too, away from Chloe Price, her very closest friend. For the first few months to a year, she didn't really speak to many people and made less effort to make friends. She built up a repuatation for being a shy cliché geek. Later in life she learnt not to be ashamed of this and to be who she is. The only friend Max wanted was Chloe and she couldn't see her again.

Then she met two people called Kristen and Fernando. She had met them at a local store when they were trying, in vain, to get a high score on an old vintage Packman machine. Max and Chloe had played the game a bunch as kids and Max felt an uncommon urge to show them how to play properly. Kristen was so full of energy and was a total proud geek and Fernando knew so much about pop culture and was a total art obsessive. He could see the 'art' in literally anything and Max found herself seriously enjoying their time together. The three quickly became friends and Max started to come out of her shell. Of course, there was still Chloe. All the way back in Arcadia Bay, Oregon, Chloe Price was still there. Max kept up only a few texts with her best friend but slowly dipped out of contact. At first it was because she was ashamed of having to leave on the horrible day and was struggling to fit in with her new surroundings but gradually, it turned into not being able to reply due to being out with Kristen and Fernando or maybe a few other friends she had managed to acquire in Seattle. Then she was busy working or busy doing homework or busy out somewhere else. Suddenly every excuse was there meaning she didn't speak with Chloe. Max tried to keep up a few phone called with her best friend but even they gradually became shorter over time. She still remembered that day in March when she was planning to finally have a good lengthy conversation and catch up with Chloe Price. She had planned it for a few weeks, knowing Chloe was going through a rough patch. Max had even cleared her schedule for that day and was sitting in her room thinking about what to say. It had been a while since they talked and there was now a feeling of anxiety and worry about what exactly she would say. The burning horrible question in Max's mind was is it too late? Did she and Chloe still have anything to actually talk about? Max genuinely didn't know the answer to that but she would find out today when she promised Chloe she would call in a few minutes time.

Suddenly Max heard her text ringtone. She hopped off her chair and went over to her bed where her phone was currently located. The screen indicated a text from Kristen.

Kristen

Hex M, guess what we've manage to score?

Max

Uhh I don't know. Don't leave me in suspense :)

Kristen

Me and Fernando have actually managed to get tickets to that Uber cool artsy place yall have been harping on about :) :) :)

Max

WAIT! Are you cereal? Do you mean…

Kristen

The Seattle Canvas? Yep! Totally no frickin joke. Apparently Fernando has some family member who helps organise it every year. Better than my family having front row tickets to prison every year. So you in or what? We gotta leave right now though

Max

We have to leave right now?

Kristen

Uh huh. Right now. It's only on today . I know you had some personal crap on today but come on, you've been on about this for MONTHS and we gotta go.

Max frowned to herself. Why did it have to be today of all days? She needed to call Chloe. No...she wanted to call Chloe. Right? Today was an important day for Chloe after all. But...The Seattle Canvas was a HUGE event and it would mean another awesome day with Kristen and Fernando in a place she would feel most at home. She could call Chloe after right? Or the next day or perhaps at the end of the week if she wasn't too busy. Chloe would understand. Chloe always understood Max and Max knew how strong her friend was. She would be fine and it wasn't like Max didn't want to see her. How she wished Chloe lived in Seattle or that she could be back in Arcadia Bay to be there with her friend. But still for now, Max couldn't wait to go to this art event.

Max

Yeah, why the hell not? Plus you can show me that awesome app you have on your phone ;)

Kristen

You mean that Hawt Dog Man game? It is sooooooo addictive. Are you sure whatever you were doing today can wait?

Max took one last second to think. She popped up Chloe's name on her display and thought one last time about calling her. Max promised herself that she would call her soon, as soon she could. She pulled up Kristen's texts again and replied;

Max

Yeah it can wait. I'll meet you in the usual spot in 15. Thank SO much for this.

Kristen

Make it 10 slow ass. See you soon!

Max jumped out of her bed and started throwing clothes on and in only a few minutes, was saying goodbye to her parents and off to the Seattle Canvas, leaving Chloe's contact page still up on her phone.

Max hated thinking about that day. Yeah, she was only young and desperately wanted to make friends in a place she still wasn't fully comfortable yet but it was still selfish of her. Not only had she made the decision to not call Chloe and instead go out with her new friends...but she did it on March 11th. Chloe's birthday. Even worse, Max and Chloe didn't speak again until she came back to Arcadia Bay and saved her from death at the hands of Nathan Prescott.

It suddenly dawned on Max that she had been standing still for a little while now and the rest of the tour group had moved on. The wind was still bellowing and the sun was shinning brighter than before. The old man in the boat has now completely disappeared from view. Max found herself looking down at her feet, just stood there in silence. Even after time rewinding powers, a giant mega death storm, a psychopathic teacher and his boy ward and everything else she had faced afterwards, she still felt guilty over something that happened years ago now. That was enough to prove to Max that the past was a vindictive bastard after all. But maybe she wasn't the only one dwelling on the past. Maybe Chloe and Frank were doing the same. It felt shitty for her when she remembered the selfish crap she had done in the past, she didn't want them feeling the same. Maybe she should have a conversation with them later when she saw them again.

Either way, that was a conversation for later. Max shook her head, somehow trying to shake the bad memories away. She had to talk to her wife about this, clear her head. For now, Max hurried along and rejoined the group to get her photos.

…

It was around 8:00pm later that day when they all met back up. Chloe had gone to a few stores and picked up some new shit to wear and Max had taken a few more photos at Alcatraz and then visited the Golden Gate bridge herself to take some lovely shots there. By the time they all met up, Max and Chloe were very tired. It had been a long day. Not just physically. Max, Chloe and Frank all found that when they were alone, without their friends and family to talk to, their minds ended up dwelling on the worst memories and the guilt comes back in full force. That wouldn't happen anymore. It couldn't.

The spot they had chosen to meet up was a nice little dip by a small road. There was a small wooden bench just by a map of the area and two barbecues spread around. It was an overlook, looking towards the water with the Golden Gate in the distance. Max, Chloe and Frank were siting on the bench and had made small talk for an hour. They had discussed their day and what they had all gotten up to and talked about where they were going next. Truth is, no one really knew. Chloe suggested they just drive and see where they ended up. It was a great idea! That way, it was a true adventure and no one knew why they could end up. From the ass end of nowhere to a scary small town with weird secrets...they had a whole country to explore. It was truly the beginning of a brand new adventure! But before they could do that, each of the three had something on their minds. It was essentially the same thing really. The past.

Chloe was the one who began…

"So...I've been doing some thinking today" started Chloe

"Why does that fill me with dread?" asked Frank

"Shut up asshole" Chloe jokingly shoved the man.

Max looked up at her wife and held he hand. Max wanted to say something as well.

"Actually I wanted to say something too. When I was at Alcatraz, I started to think about the shit I've done in the past. Some selfish crap you know? It was kinda all I had on my mind" explained Max.

"Me too!" both Chloe and Frank said at the same time.

Everyone was silent for a second. Then Frank did something weird...he started to chuckle. It occurred to Max and Chloe that they hadn't heard this man laugh before. Suddenly, Chloe started to laugh as well and like an infectious disease, it spread to Max and soon all three were roaring with laughter. None of them really knew what exactly they were even laughing at. Maybe it was the strange situation they were in or maybe it was the fact all they had done when on their own was be miserable. Like some kind of bad romance novel.

After wiping his eyes, Frank smiled at the two women.

"You know you too are fucking weird as shit. What the hell are we doing here? You know something...I could have left today. I wanted to. Just leave and drink myself to death in some forest somewhere but...well...I convinced myself to stay. That somehow you two would set me right in the long run. I spent all day thinking I was a looser because of shit I did a long time ago. Turns out I wasn't the only one. Something really fucking funny about that. And kinda sad. I won't be with you two long, a near middle age dude hanging around with two young women might be considered a little weird but I'll stick with you for a while. Might get my ass checked into rehab some place. Turns out I might be worth something after all. Who would have though huh" mused Frank.

He was right of course. All three of them had thought about something they had done when they were younger. They were either angry, desperate or both. Chloe decided to speak next,

"I really hate to say it Bowers but you're right. I tried to call my mom and ended up having a personal conversation with David Madsen of all people" she began.

"What? That pretend cop asshole, the security guard at Blackwell?" Frank asked.

"Yep and not much of an asshole anymore" replied Chloe.

"No shit? You must have that affect on people Price. Turning assholes into decent folk. Wish I'd never have met you girlie. I was better off being an asshole" Frank smiled.

Max was observing the conversation. She remembered when Frank threatened them with a knife and in one alternate horrible universe, Chloe had shot both Frank and his dog in self defence. Max was so glad that reality didn't come to pass. Like everything they had all thought about today, it was a long time ago. Max decided it was her turn to speak,

"You know what I think? Chloe is right. We should just drive and see where the fuck we end up. Screw a plan. And Frank, you are welcome to travel with us however long you want. Just follow us in Chloe's truck. Every single one of us have spent the entire day just dwelling on the past. The past is the past and no one can change it and no one should. We need to start living FOR the future rather than living IN the past. So let's do that. No more listening to the voices of the past, fuck that! We could do anything we want and tomorrow is a new day, a new adventure. Let's fucking do this" Max surprised herself by that little speech. Even Chloe and Frank looked a little taken aback but soon, smiles made themselves known on both their faces.

"I love you super-Max. Really!"

"Yeah that was a pretty good speech Max" Chloe and Frank responded.

"So it's settled then, we drive and see where we end up. Let's have one more adventure" smiled Max and with that the three laughed again and toasted their drinks. They toasted eachother, the good memories and most importantly of all, they toasted the future because as Max and Chloe both knew more than ever...the future is all that matters.

…

The man known as W.P.C stood by his car, watching the three people laugh and joke in the distance. He smiled. All that talk about the future being important. They didn't know right they were. And boy...do they have an epic future ahead of them. A happy one. A fantastic one! At least it was now. W.P.C recalled a story both of his moms told him when he was super young about a dark storm and the dark days it had bought. Still, that was a long time ago now. Longer for him. He had a few things left to do before he went home to see him parents again but he was glad he did this. He lived with a loving and happy family so he wanted to see how they always were. Glad he wasn't disappointed. After taking one last smile, he got into his car and drove away. Max and Chloe were right, the future was going to be an adventure after all.

I know it's been so long since I uploaded a chapter. Life was being life I'm afraid but I loved writing that chapter and am excited to carry on with this if people are still reading hahah! Hope everyone is doing okay and is safe as well!