Blinking slowly awake, the soft refrains of Something Good playing from her phone, Max stared at the ceiling. She wasn't a huge fan of Alt-J, but had settled on this song as her perfect wake up song years ago. It always took her most of the song to feel human enough to get out of bed to start her day.

As the song moved toward its conclusion, Max finally swung her feet from the bed to get ready. She had to be on her way to work in two hours. She used as much of the time as possible to laze around and get ready. Mornings really weren't her thing.

Locking the door behind her, she hurried down the stairs and toward the bus stop. Today was her job in the cafe. She only worked fifteen to twenty hours a week. Thankfully most of that time was in food and drink preparation. Customer service was not really her thing.

The cafe she worked at was close to both one of the universities and a small business district, guaranteeing plenty of traffic. She supposed that was the only reason the cafe owner gave her a job. The number of staff was small. More than once Max had been called in to cover someone's shift.

The nice thing is the cafe closed at 3 PM every day, and wasn't opened on Sundays. That gave her plenty of flexibility for her second job, and pursuing her true passion. The pay was lousy though, which meant funds were always tight. After work today she needed to do some grocery shopping, then spend the rest of her time at the co-op photo lab operated by her second job.

She made it to the cafe with about five minutes to spare, clocked in and grabbed her apron. It was a typical day with two lulls and two busy periods. Today they didn't run out of food though, which meant no cranky customers. Well, at least no customers cranky about lack of food.

A couple of times the manager was called over because the customer was unhappy with the service. Each time it was not one of their regulars. The way the customer behaved Max suspected they weren't Portland-natives either. The manager was cool. She would listen to the customer's demands, ask a couple of questions, and then patiently point out how the customer needed to leave and eat elsewhere.

The manager, and cafe owner, were two reasons Max really liked the job. Both valued their employees and usually took their employees side against customers. It was tough getting a job at this cafe because they didn't want bad employees.

Preparing drinks, heating baked goods, and making sandwiches were Max's main responsibilities. Her only dealing with customers was when she called out their name and handed the order to them. More often someone else did that part so she could focus on food prep.

Apparently a hidden talent she had was in sandwich preparation. More than once in the weeks she worked here patrons commented on her sandwich skills. She couldn't see what they saw, ur taste rather. But if it kept her in food prep, she didn't mind the compliments.

Taking a break in back, Max unwrapped her sandwich. Her lunch break was only 30 minutes, which had the habit of going quickly. While she ate she checked her email. To her surprise there was a message from Steph, labeled "D&D".

Opening it she found Steph had setup a D&D session for next week and wanted her to come.

"Heya Max! A couple of friends will be in town next week, Drew and Mikey. They used to be in my gaming group back in High School. If you can come, we're going to start Tuesday at 7 PM. Just bring yourself and any snacks or drinks you might like. We'll have plenty of food and drink to share. It will be just five of us, counting you. Let me know!"

Chewing through the rest of her sandwich, Max checked her schedule. Next Wednesday was one of the times where both jobs had conspired to give her the day off. Tuesday she got off at 5 PM. For several seconds she looked at her phone, the last bit of sandwich forgotten in her mouth.

She could actually make it, attend a gathering. Do something social. Did she want to?

Hell yes she wanted to!

Swallowing the last bite she quickly typed up a response and sent it.

"Max: I'll be there, but might be a few minutes late. I get off work at 5 PM on Tuesday and have to go home and change. But I'll be there! Thanks for the invite :)"

A strange jitteriness settled into her stomach. She couldn't recall the last time she'd been with a group of people her age, not working.

Cool it, Max! You got this!

The rest of the work day passed quickly. Soon she was cleaning up, hanging up her apron and clocking out. It had been a really long time since she'd played D&D. It was in another life actually, a life that no longer existed.

Forcing that thought away before it could hurt, she took a deep breath. Holding it, she concentrated on how that fullness of breath made her body respond, before slowly exhaling. It was one of her breathing exercises she used to calm herself.

Stepping outside the cafe, she pulled her jacket tight against the cool breeze and made her way to the bus stop. Grocery shopping, home, dinner, then the lab. That was the remainder of her day. Checking the grocery list on her phone while she waited at the bus stop, she added a couple of items.

Curious, she also checked her bank balance. Same as it was yesterday. Fifty percent of the check was marked as available, much better than the $46 actually there. If that check cleared soon, she could get ahead on her bills for once.

The bus pulled up and Max got on, finding a window seat. It was five stops to the grocery store, and no changes. As the bus pulled away she realized she forgot to check her numbers last night on whether she could get a drone. Opening her task manager, she added that to the list. Groceries, dinner, lab, can I buy a drone were now the entries.

The grocery store was one of the large national chains. She'd much prefer to shop local, but on her pay checks she couldn't afford the markup. A half hour later she was on her way home, two bags of groceries on her lap.

At home it was a simple matter of putting the food away and then changing into something more appropriate for the lab. More than once she'd spilled something on herself. In the beginning she had rewound every accident. Now she just rewound the costly ones.

After a quick dinner, she locked her apartment, grabbed her bag, and was off for the lab

Her second job was at a local camera shop. They sold and repaired equipment, as well as offering various photography services. Many of the people that worked there did photography on the side. The owner enjoyed sending different jobs their way. The shop also had its own darkroom, the lab, which it offered as a service. The fee covered materials and the cost of having an employee on staff to monitor usage.

Max was really excited, practically bouncing in her seat on the bus. Tonight was the first time she got to use the lab for one of her projects!

Two bus changes and almost an hour later, she was at the lab. Upon entering the lab, she checked the sign-in sheet. Even better, she was the only customer! Signing in, she went through the procedure to enter the lab, saying hello to Gillian on her way.

Gillian was the employee on duty tonight. Max suspected the lady was in her thirties or fourties, although it was hard to tell. "You're the only one here tonight, Max," Gillian said, "No one else reserved a slot."

Smiling at the lady, Max thanked her and entered the lab. You could only enter the lab at preset times. If you missed one of those times, you had to come back later. That ensured someone didn't come in and ruin anyone's developing photos.

Opening her bag, she dug out the rolls and film and began arranging the equipment and supplies needed. With everything ready, she waited. No one else showed up, and the time slot began. Shutting off the lights, she began her work.

A few hours later, she sat idly in the chair, waiting for the negatives to dry. Her stomach was feeling a bit empty. Tonight she would just scan the negatives in. Tomorrow or Friday she could print the ones she wanted to show Steph.

Standing, she checked each of the negative strips. Each was dry. Cutting them into strips, she placed them carefully on the counter, then pulled out her laptop and negative scanner. As she scanned she noted the ones that she wanted to turn into prints. Those she would come back to later.

Once done, she slipped the negatives into sleeves and placed those into her bag. Taking out her phone she composed a quick message to Steph, stating she'd have some pictures for her on Saturday. It would be late in the day, since she worked at the cafe on Saturday.

Cleanup took another thirty minutes or so. Nodding to Gillian on the way out, she stepped into the night air. She was tired when she got home, but knew she had one more thing to do.

Placing her pack in the corner, she pulled out her laptop then got ready for bed. Once in her jammies she snuggled into a soft, warm blanket and opened her laptop. Could she afford a drone?

In a few minutes she had a spreadsheet built with the projected income from the project, her outstanding debts, and some wish list items. It would be tight, but she though she could get one of the drones as well. Of course she could just ignore her student debt and use the money for other things. That didn't sit right with her though.

Happy that she might get something fun out of the project, she set the laptop aside. It still needed to sync all the new files to her cloud service so she left it on while she unfolded the futon and went to bed.

Morning came sooner than she wanted. It had been past midnight by the time she went to bed, and she had to get up earlier today to make it to work. Groaning as she mentally cajoled herself from the snuggly blanket, she set the coffee brewing while she showered and changed.

After breakfast it was a repeat of last night: two bus changes and an hour commute. The camera shop was fun, but slow, for work. Lightly staffed, she got to talk shop with her fellow employees in between customers.

She brought her bag with her today as she wanted to print some of the negatives after work. As an employee she had a discounted rate for use of the lab and printers. It was deducted from her paycheck each month, which made it both easy and painful.

The first month she'd gone a little crazy, so excited to have access to the lab. The result was a five dollar paycheck. That was an experience she didn't want to repeat. She was still playing catch-up from that month on some of her bills. After that she tightly controlled her use of the lab and equipment.

The day passed easily, as it often did. In between customers, and conversation with her coworker, she started planning the other shoots. She needed a good residential area, one that looked like the houses were built in the 60s or 70s. Also a college or highschool campus was needed, and an area that could pass for a small town's down town. That last one was the hardest of these shoots.

A thought, a memory really, came to her then. She knew where she could get all three of those shoots, just two or three hours away. No! She could find them here, in Portland!

That thought unsettled her. And none of her techniques were working to re-settle her. The discomfort followed her into the lab, where she messed up several prints before she gave up. She couldn't work with this mood upon her.

Giving the employee on duty a farewell, Max left the lab. Tomorrow was payday, but that thought didn't help. Leaning her head against the window of the bus, she watched the passing people and buildings.

She had no one to talk to. No one to share things with. A bit of a loner by nature this usually didn't bother her. At times though, that great big hole inside her just felt too big, too weighty to carry on her own. Like right now.

Damn this! Why were these thoughts coming back now? It had been months, more than a year since the last time. Why now?

Wiping away the tears she felt forming on her cheeks, she sniffed and turned her attention to her shoes. Music. That's what she needed. Putting her earbuds in, she sank herself into the soothing embrace of her favorite artists.

Friday came and the first thing she did was check her bank balance. Her paychecks were direct deposit, but she always checked to ensure the amounts were there and proper. Only this time something was weird with her account.

"Funds frozen" read the message on her app.

No! No! No! No! Frantic, she called the bank. She didn't have time for this. Worse, she couldn't afford to have problems with her account. If she didn't submit a payment today she might lose her electricity. The bill was already past due.

It took a long time to reach a human at the bank. In between holds, menus, and transfers, Max dressed and left for work. She hated having to hold this conversation in public, but she needed to get to work and she needed to know what was wrong with her account.

Sitting on the bus, Max's heart sank as the bank representative said her account was placed on hold due to suspicious activity. Her deposit of the $5000 had triggered some algorithm somewhere which flagged her account for possible fraud. It could take up to two weeks to clear.

Ending the call, Max dropped her head into her hands. Not now! Not when it seemed like she could catch up and even get a little ahead! She checked her wallet and found she still had twenty dollars in it. That would be enough…well it would have to be enough. The groceries she bought the other day and this twenty dollars would have to last her two weeks.

It was with a dark mood that she left the last bus and walked to the camera shop. The morning was dead, customer-wise, which made it drag. It also meant she had no distraction from her thoughts which threatened to run rampant.

During lunch she got a text message from Steph. "Hey, will you have pictures to show tonight?"

Darkly, she looked at the message. This was all because of that check! If-No! That was unfair. Steph didn't cause this problem.

She looked a long time at the message. Last night's work had resulted in only one set of photos. She had planned on working on more tonight but…with the mood she was in she just knew she'd blow more prints. If she went to Steph's tonight, then tomorrow and Sunday she could devote to printing the rest of the photos.

Plan now in mind, she texted back, "Sure. Is 7 PM ok?"

"Yep."

Smiling for the first time today, she put her phone away and finished her lunch. The afternoon went better than the morning and she left the store shortly after 5 PM humming a little tune.

Get home, grab a bit to eat, change and leave again. It was a simple plan that should get her to Steph and Beth's apartment complex close to 7 PM. As she walked toward her apartment she wondered if Beth would be there tonight. She'd like to meet this other client.

Unlocking the door, she flicked the lightswitch as she placed her bag on the futon. Nothing happened. Frowning, she flicked the lightswitch several times. Nothing.

An emptiness opened in her stomach as she realized how silent the apartment was. A weakness swept her and she collapsed against the wall and slid to the floor. Her electricity had been turned off.

She couldn't stop the tears this time and they came freely. She was so close to something good happening and now this! Her fist pounded against the floor in frustration. Burying her face against her knees she let herself cry out her anger and frustration until a ding from her phone grabbed her attention.

Steph: Hey, if you're still coming I've got some pizza if you're hungry.

Staring at the text through tear blurred eyes Max had to read the message several times before she understood. Wiping her nose on her hand, which she then wiped on her pants, she sniffed and composed a reply.

Max: yeah…I'll be there. Thanks.

Steph: cool - see you soon! 👍

Leaning her head against her arms she stayed that way several more moments. At last she made herself get up. She guessed the food in her fridge would spoil within the next day or two. Quicker if she opened it a lot. The thought made her sick. Just yesterday she'd bought most of that food and now, gone!

Using the flash on her phone, she washed up and changed. How would she charge her phone? If she had a car she could use that. She could charge it at Steph's, but would the charge last all night? She didn't want to be late to work tomorrow.

One problem at a time, Max!

Grabbing her charge cord, she stuffed it in her bag. Wait! Didn't someone give her a portable battery when she left home? Looking through the boxes under her bed, she gave a little yell of triumph when she found two portable chargers. She stuffed them and their charge cords into her bag.

Slinging the bag over her shoulder, she locked the door and trudged down the stairs.

It was a little after 7 PM when she arrived at Steph's. The girl (it was hard for Max to think of someone her own age as a woman) opened the door after the first ring.

"Max! Glad you're here, come in!"

Steph ushered her into the apartment, closing the door behind them. Unlike the other day the living room was a mess. Clothes and papers were strewn about, along with several laptops and monitors.

"Sorry about the lived-in look," Steph said as she plopped on a chair. "The last few days were really productive for Beth and I and then today she had to go home suddenly. So we haven't had time to clean up. That's actually why I have extra pizza. Speaking of…I'm rolling one's again. What is wrong with me?"

Max smiled at Steph's easy-going behavior with her. It was refreshing after the retail world of the last three days. "It's fine," Max said as Steph got out of her chair. "I didn't clean my place today either." And now I can't, at least I can't vacuum until I get my power on.

She hid the frown as Steph turned and entered the kitchen.

Get ahold of yourself, Max! She's a customer, not a friend. But she did invite you for D&D, doesn't that mean she also wants to be a friend? This is confusing.

Moments later Steph returned carrying a pizza box. "What do you like to drink? I've got teas, water, juice, soda, beer, or if you want something harder…?"

"An herbal tea is fine." Even though tea always reminds me of…I still drink it to remember.

Taking the box of pizza, Max set it on the table and opened it. A whole medium cheese pizza! The kindness Steph was showing was getting to her. She quickly used one of her breathing and mindfulness exercises to keep herself together.

"I put on the kettle," Steph said as she retook her chair. "Here." She held out a couple of paper towels to Max. Taking them, Max placed one on her lap and kept the other next to the pizza box.

"This looks so good," Max gushed, "are you sure…?"

"Yeah, take it. That was Beth's but she had to leave suddenly, like I said, and she won't be back for a few days."

Gesturing toward her bag, Max asked, "do you want to look at the pictures while I eat?"

"Nah. Eat girl. You can show me afterward."

Putting her bag on the floor, Max looked at the pizza. Locating what seemed the smallest slice, she carefully lifted it and took a bit. Mmmm, it was so good. "This is so good," she said after swallowing.

"That place makes wicked pizza. We love to order from them. You should try them sometime."

"I doubt they deliver as far as my apartment."

"Maybe not, but I bet door dash or uber eats does. They are on both services."

Max couldn't comment as she was too involved in the pizza. But not too involved to notice Steph was studying her again, like the other day. Feeling a bit self-conscious she couldn't help the warmth that spread to her cheeks.

Noticing her blush, Steph looked away. "Sorry," she said as she turned her head.

"You were doing that that other day," Max said after she finished the slice.

"You noticed?"

"It's something I do, remember?" She smiled to show her sincerity.

"Of course, photogs eye and all that. It's just, well you remind me of someone."

Frowning as she grabbed another slice, Max asked, "Who?"

"I don't know yet. That's…well that's why I keep looking at you. I'm trying to find the memory you keep triggering."

Giggling a little at the explanation, she said, "well I hope you find that memory soon. I'd like to know who I remind you of."

Steph smiled as well. "I'll do that, tell you once I figure it out. Tell me, though, how was your day?"

Max almost choked on her bite when Steph asked that question. Putting the remains of the slice down, she wiped her hands and face with the paper towel. She hadn't wanted to blur the lines here, but…Steph was being so kind and it was touching through to the loneliness she felt.

"Truthfully? It sucked."

"Oh no! I'm so sorry, Max. What happened?"

It took Max a while to answer. She didn't want Steph to feel bad because of the check. Keeping her eyes focused on the pizza, Max said, "My bank account was frozen and my electricity was shut off."

Silence greeted her statement, then "Damn and I thought I was rolling ones because I forgot to offer you a drink. That really sucks, Max. I'm truly sorry."

"Thanks."

"If you don't mind my asking, why is your bank account frozen?"

The paper towel on her lap drew her fingers with this question. They began to worry it, twisting and tearing it. "I…deposited a check the other day that set a fraud flag."

"A check? That's all it took? Wait…was that our check?"

Looking at her hands twisting the paper towel, Max nodded.

"Shit."

"It's not your fault," Max quickly offered.

"Not my fault? I caused your account to be locked!"

"But if I had been on time with my power bill it would still be on." And if I hadn't wasted my money several months ago with all those lab experiments. The towel was being reduced to torn bits.

"That's true, but has nothing to do with your account being locked."

"It'll be ok. The bank said the fraud check should clear in about two weeks. Then I can get caught up on all my bills and get my power restored. Speaking of, is it ok if I charge some of my devices right now?"

"Yes it's ok."

Max finally looked at Steph. The girl looked tense, with her shoulders bunched and her arms crossed. Getting out the portable chargers, she quickly had them connected to an outlet, their little lights cheering her up a bit.

"Your food's gonna spoil before then, won't it."

"…yes."

"Do you use the power company's mobile app?"

"Yes."

"Ok, here's what's going to happen. You're going to open the mobile app and hand me your phone. I'll use one of my cards to pay your bill, which should get your service restored."

"What? No, I can't let you do that?"

"Why not?" Steph leaned forward in her chair as she said that. "We helped put you into this mess. The least I can do is help get you out of it."

"Because…" she really couldn't think of a good reason. She wanted to say she wasn't worth it…but that would just sound really weird.

Sighing, she nodded and opened the app. "Here," Steph said, "let's go sit on the futon. That way you can watch what I do, so you'll know I'm not snooping."

Max almost made a joke about that, but Steph didn't look or sound like she was joking. Nodding, she carefully put the bits of paper towel on the table and rose. Steph went to the futon first and removed some of the clothing and other things until there was enough room for them to sit side by side.

Seating herself next to Steph, Max changed the screen timeout setting before handing the phone to her. She didn't want to keep unlocking the phone if there were any delays in getting service restored.

Steph busied herself with adding her credit card into to the payment section. Max's eyes wandered to the pile of stuff Steph had moved. A shirt in the pile caught her eye. She could almost make out the name embroidered on it.

Tilting her head for a better view, Max stopped breathing when she read the name: Blackwell Academy.