* Tuesday, 10 a.m., After the Funeral *

'It's still bothering me. I think it's the key to this whole... shit storm.'

'Max, you're over analyzing it. We need to find the woman you saw.'

'Sure, I know that. But I just can't get out this whole decide-choose thing Future Me was talking about. It's like she was purposely being opaque about it.'

Out in front of the school, the day is in full swing. The unnatural fog is now rapidly losing ground to the sun. Of course, blue sky reigned down upon the students of Blackwell.

Victoria jesters to their left and right sides. 'Yeah. Not like we need to deal with anything else clouded these days.'

Warm sunlight combats against a chill in the air.

'Look, Vicky, I know we need to find her. But we have no friggin' idea where to-'

'Heads up!'

A Frisbee, in no danger of hitting the two girls, lands several feet from where they lounge. Justin walks up, grabbing the toy and bro-nodding at them before tossing it back to the students on the far side of the grass.

'Hey Max. And... Victoria? How you doing?'

'Just fine, Justin. Got deal with some work before class.'

'Sure sure, Tori. Hey um, Max.' He turns fully to the brunette. 'A couple of us were going to blaze and chill after class. You know, hang and stuff. Wanna come with?' An easy smirk plays across his face. 'It won't be a total sausage fest. Dana and Jules will be chillin' too.'

Sausage fest? Who the hell even talks like that? And he's inviting just me... Acting a puppy dog.

Max takes a moment before responding. 'Sorry Justin, got plans tonight. Rain check?'

'No problem Maximus. Catch you later.'

He hurries off, rejoining the group with a call out and raised hand.

Victoria tsks between sips of her drink. 'I can't believe you were ever such a loner.'

'What gives?'

'Max, he was hitting on you.'

Elongated emphasis. 'No he wasn't. He was just... being Justin.'

'He was totally asking you out.'

'Seriously Vicky? He just was-'

'Max, trust me. He was asking you to "hang out" because he's interested.' She leans back on one hand, taking another sip. 'A group activity so that it isn't a one-on-one date. His friends, possibly to gain their approval in pursuing you. Mentioning females you're friendly with to make it non-threatening.'

She turns and pokes Max in a shoulder.

'He likes you.'

'Don't be a bitch.'

'Calls them likes I sees them.'

Vicky is crazy. There's no way someone like Justin would be interested in me.

'Maybe you should go out with him. If he asks you, of course.'

'No no no. I already saw what you did to Warren today. I'm not letting you be matchmaker for me. Besides, I'm just not into him.'

A raised eyebrow. 'Not into him or not into boys?'

Not really into... anyone.

'I don't know.' She ponders. 'I never really thought about it before. I mean, I've thought about it. And I have thought of men, you know, that way...'

Victoria relishes the moment. 'You mean sexually.'

'For the love of- yes.' Ears burning and eyes held shut. 'Be nice Vicky.'

''Sorry. It's not too often I get to see you so embarrassed.'

'Laugh it up.' Max's turn to poke and arm. 'I just... I never really thought too much about that. I mean, I never really pictured someone in mind. You know, when the topic came up.'

'You're such a prude.' Immediate backpedal. 'Not that there's anything wrong with that. God, I wish I could take back some of the things I've done.'

Sensitive ground we're walking on.

'Has there been many... encounter's?'

'A few guys.' Breath. 'One girl.'

Whoa

'We were both drinking. But neither of us was nearly as drunk as we let it on. I have to say, it was definitely... different.'

Who-

'And I'm not telling you who, before you ask.'

'Didn't cross my mind.'

'Sure. Anyway, how about you?'

How about me...

'I've had a, uh, total of two kisses in my life. Well, technically three.'

'Technically...'

'One I sorta rewound. To, you know, take back. But she looked so dejected I had to...'

'Ah. Chloe.'

'Yeah.'

The tension starts to build.

'She a good kisser?'

So might as well push through it.

'I, uh. I guess?'

A bark of laughter. 'You guess? Seriously? You've been kissed two-maybe-three times. Did you at least like it?'

'Well... Well the first one- or two- whatever, one. The first time was a dare. We woke up Wednesday morning and Chloe was making fun of me. As per usual. So to prove how "hardcore" I was, she dares me. And I just, you know, got on my toes and kissed her on the lips. It was over in like half a second.'

'No tongue?'

'Gross. Be nice or I'm done.'

A smirk. One with a glint of white between the lips. 'Please, then. Continue.'

'The other...' Dammit. Just... dammit. 'The other was when we stood on the cliff. Right at the end.'

'Oh. Max, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-'

'No. It's fine. I, uh... I need to talk about this stuff.' A settling of nerves. She has to close off her heart, just a bit. 'We were standing there, watching the Bay die. She was... was pleading with me to go back. To save everyone. And I-I chose to do it. But before I could... we kissed. Not all friendly. A bigger kiss. It was... goodbye. And sorry. And a whole lot of other things. I think that was when I realized. Who Chloe really was. To me.'

No tears no tears no more fucking crying.

'Max. That's...' An arm moves around her back. Instinctively, Max leans over, relishing the warmth. 'I'm sorry Max. Sorry you went through that. Sorry that you figured something like that out at a time like that.'

Fewer tears fall than expected. 'It's okay.'

'No it's not.'

Steeling herself, drying her eyes. 'You're right, it's not.' A weak chuckle to lighten the mood. 'It's not every day you get to save a whole town, though.'

Max calms herself. Dares herself to continue.

'I loved Chloe.' Reassessment. 'Fuck it. I love Chlo. I kinda always will. I guess that makes me gay.'

'I don't know...'

Really Victoria?

'Is it that you're attracted to women or just her?'

'I, uh. I want to say just Chlo?'

'Then I wouldn't just outright say gay.'

'Then what am I?'

'Does it matter?' A squeeze before letting go and turning towards the brunette. 'It isn't something you have to decide and set in stone. It's a lot more important to find someone you connect with, who feels the sane way that you do, than try to base it off a gender.'

'Very mature, Vicky.'

'Eh, I've had a few years figuring out my own stuff. Puberty hit and I started noticing boys and girls both. Luckily my parents are very liberal about this stuff. Artists and all that.'

They both let the conversation lull, staring out towards the open water in the distance.

'We're stalling the real conversation.'

'Yup.'

'You gonna pretend to be cool with everything?'

'Gotta, Vicky.'

The view doesn't change. Still, it darkens in their eyes.

'Max, we need to find that girl.'

A nod and a refusal to tear her eyes from the supernaturally calm waters.

'Time isn't exactly on our side.'

'That's where you're only mostly right.'

'Max, you can't photo-hop anymore. We don't know if that's part of the problem. Or if it's really the whole problem.'

'I know. I meant we still have time. Friday. Everything will happen on Friday. We can afford a few more minutes wasted relaxing before we head to class, pretending everything is fine. Like everyone else.'

Steps in the grass behind them draw attention from the glass waves. Warren sits down, favoring Victoria's side. A smile seems glued to his face.

Max states the obvious. 'She said yes.'

'I don't even know how I did it. One minute I'm walking up to her in the library. Next thing I know, I'm waving goodbye like a total idiot and walked into fifteenth century history.'

'Told you.'

Beet red, he still can't wipe the grin off his face. 'I know. Thanks, by the way.'

'No problem. So, when are you going out?'

'Saturday.' He fumbles through his backpack, pulling out a pamphlet. 'Going to a Robocop marathon at the drive-through. Not staying for the third one.'

'Cool. Gives me more reason to fix everything by Friday.'

A wet blanket is thrown all over Warren's mood. He follows eye lines to the waters of the Bay.

'Yeah.' A momentary lull. 'Almost forgot about that.'

Victoria gives Max another slap on the shoulder. 'Come on, Caulfield. Don't pop lover-boy's balloon just yet.'

Max feels the chagrin creeping up her neck. 'Damn. Sorry Warren. I just meant... I meant that it was good, having something else to look forward too.'

'No worries.' He get's up, head swiveling between the two girls. 'So, need any help with homework?'

Crap. Knew I needed to do something this morning.

'Nope. I already finished it. I'll let Max copy if she needs.'

Warren's face! It's like we kicked a dozen puppies in front of him.

'But, that's cheating.'

A dead-eyed stare is all he receives in response.

'How will you learn the material?'

Victoria puts in perspective. 'Warren. Really. We are trying to figure out how to stop the world from ending. What's homework at a time like this?' A full toothy grin emerges. 'Weren't you the one who skipped classes yesterday?'

Backfiring like an old car. 'I just... I needed to do research for the...' Triumphant, the blonde turns to Max. Warren refuses to go without a fight. 'Come on, that was more important...'

'Bow out now. Vicky has you beat.'

'Fine.' He slowly retreats back towards the school. 'Some of us still have work to do.'

A parting shot. 'See if Brooke needs any help.'

'Why would she... Oh. OH!' A spring in his step as he recedes across the grass. 'Thanks Vicky.'

Alone again, save for the boys still playing Frisbee. 'You know, this whole "Vicky" nonsense is starting to grow on me.'

Wow, non-sequitur. 'You know I'm not nearly as good reading your mind as you are mine.'

'It's just that before, when I was Tori, it was the Vortex Club. Completely different people in my life. A completely different life. One I kinda abandoned.'

'You didn't abandon it...'

Neither believes that.

'I just... I liked my life before. Mostly. It was pretty awesome. Aside from the terrible parts, I mean. But this new life. This new reality. It's really something.'

My fault, that. 'I, uh, I'm sorry. I didn't really mean to-'

A surprised look and hands thrown up. 'No! Don't apologize. I really love it. Aside from the terrible parts.' The chuckle let's Max know she's only joking. 'I know everything kinda sucks right now but I'm still glad knowing. I'm still glad being caught up in all this with you.' A clearing of her throat. 'And I'm sure Kate and Warren feel the same way.'

I just don't get her. 'Why, though? All I'm doing is putting you through hell. I keep throwing drama in your face.'

'Really? You're a goddamn time traveler.'

Pause.

'And you're a pretty good person too. In spite of the "drama" you bring, you want to do the right thing. Hell, the reason for so much drama is because you beat yourself up over every little decision you make.'

That's really swee-

'We need to fix your fashion sense, but otherwise...'

The mischievous grin on Victoria's face doesn't quite let Max know if she's kidding or not.

'Bitch.'

'Hipster.'

'Like that's an insult.'

'It is from where I'm sitting Maxine.'

The brunette's turn to slap a shoulder.

'Max. Never Maxine.'

The comfortable silence that falls over the two of them is a familiar one to Max. An itch in the back of her mind can't place where. Doesn't matter. She just enjoy's it.

But before it becomes too comfortable, it needs to be broken.

'We are still avoiding the whole prophecy-dream stuff.'

'Yeah, I know. But without anything else to go on what can we do?'

'Maybe I can induce a dream.'

'Think you can?'

'Nope. But what else do I have?'

The grunt in reply is noncommittal yet lady-like. 'We just need one thing. I know it. Can you draw?'

'Not if my life depended on it.'

'What about if we got someone, like Daniel? Do you think you can describe the woman to him well enough?'

That's... 'Not a bad idea.'

'I know. Go. I'll hit up Kate and see if she's feeling better.'

Twenty minutes later and Max finally finds the artist. In the quad, of course. Should have checked here first. 'Hey, Daniel, how's it going?'

Quiet as ever, she only has to strain a little to hear him. 'Hello Max. I'm doing fine. How's your day?'

'Pretty good. I have a, uh, favor to ask,'

A bit startled. Not many people come to Daniel for help. 'Sure Max.'

'I, uh, had this weird dream. In it was a person a didn't recognize. I was wondering if you could... could draw her.'

One cocked eyebrow. 'That is a very unusual request. Is there something wrong? Is the dream bothering you?'

Actually- 'Well, yeah. It is. I can't get it out of my head. It's a really weird dream. I think... I think I can sorta leave it behind if I could see it in front of me.'

'In that case, I would love to help.'

'Cool!' Sitting down on the grass, Max look expectantly across the notepad. 'So, what do I do?'

'Well, let's run through the process I use. First, describe the subject.'

'Well, it's a young woman. About five-seven. Her back is to me, and her hair is down to about here...'

Nearly an hour later, through several variations of the same sketch, Max has her picture. Right height, right build. Daniel even broke out colored pencils to try and match the proper shades of hair and the hand just peaking out of a sleeve. A bit of it Max had to guess at. The back and forth flipping of red and blue tints made it hella hard to see the real colors of something, but this... this is about as perfect as I can get.

'Wow, Daniel. This is just spot on. Your really captured her pose perfectly.'

A satisfactory smile crosses his face. 'It was just my hand making what you saw. You had all the details laid out for me. It's amazing that your photographer's eye translates even to your dreams.'

More like nightmare. 'Don't be modest. I barely know what side to hold when I'm drawing.'

'But you understand details so well. It's like you absorb it all at once, like you take a picture in your mind before you ever grab a camera.' He stands, offering a hand to help Max up. 'It's a rare gift for an artist.'

It doesn't hurt that I was frantically trying to memorize everything so I could save the future.

'I do have a favor to ask in return, Max. Two, really.'

'Sure.'

'Well, I like to post all my work online. I would really like to post this drawing. I can even give you credit for the inspiration if you want.'

Let's not let this out in the open. At least connected to me. 'No, you can keep me out of it. Instead just say something like "commissioned anonymously" or something. It'll add mystique.'

A laugh, a nod. 'Sure. And the second favor. It's a bit touchy.'

'Yes?'

'Would you mind posing for me sometime soon? I used to draw... someone else, for my portraits. She's no longer available. I realized I was so used to one face that I neglected to try and challenge myself with someone else. I thought, for my midterm project, to try and draw a bunch of students around campus, and You'd be my first subject.'

He's talking about Rachel. It's... is it morbid? But it's Daniel. He lives to capture people in pencil.

'Sure. Give me a few days and we'll set up something. I've got a hella full week right now.'

He beams. 'Thank you. I can message you Saturday?'

'Perfect.'

He heads off to the dorms. Probably to pick up his books for Science Lab. Who's homework I still need to do.

Max stares at the woman in her hands, looking for flaws. There are none. She stands just as Max remembers. She can still picture Victoria confronting her, the Bay just over the edge of the cliff. The hand raised as if grabbing or striking Vicky.

The other visions surface. The fear on Kate's face. Her friends calling out from the lighthouse.

From the corner of her eye, Max catches the glint of sunlight on metal.

No. No one gets hurt this time. Not even...

Not even if you need to kill someone?

About time you spoke up.

What happens when that trigger needs to be pulled?

'I won't let it happen.'

What if it saves lives?

'How? Why? Why do I keep getting thrown into life and death positions?'

When are you going to decide?

'Decide what?!'

Her yell echos in the empty courtyard. No, not empty. Nearly. Just entering from the parking lot, carrying a cardboard box, walks David Madsen.

'Max? Max Caulfield, right?'

Red eyes and a hesitant gait make their way over.

'I, uh, I have something for you. From Chloe.'