Yep, I'm already back with what is hopefully the second AND final part to the first of this little mini-series within a mini-series. This immediately picks up where we last left everyone off. Hopefully you guys can forgive the more redundant bits of the first part, I'm still getting used to weening myself off what I usually do, so that I can hope to make my writing more interesting for a general audience.
Arcadia Bay, Oregon
Tuesday
9:45 AM
Rachel is just getting off the bus that will take her to the Two Whales diner. When she gets there, she finds Max sitting there, waiting for him on a bench. "Hey Rachel, weird you put my body in that outfit." She said. Rachel put a hand behind her head. "Well, I'm surprised you even had anything that matches my style like this." She replied gesturing down to her outfit with her free hand.
A blush creeps up Max's neck. "Well, since Chloe and I have been hanging out a lot more and since we're dating and all, she took me to Portland last weekend for a day trip and we went to a thrift store and bought me cool stuff like that. Saying I needed to find my inner punk chick. What about me? Does this outfit look like something you'd wear?" Max said gesturing down to her outfit.
"Yeah, actually. I like how you did my hair, cute." Rachel replied. "Thanks." Max said. "Anyways, I'm starved, let's go in and eat and then you can train me on your cool time travel powers." Rachel replied walking towards the door, with Max following her from behind.
The two eventually find a free table and sit down. Joyce catches them out of the corner of her eye and walks over to them. "I thought I saw you Max, darling, why are you dressed like that? It kind of reminds me of something Rachel or Chloe would wear..." She said. She gets not response. "Max, hello?" She asked.
Max glares at Rachel and kicks her shin from under the table. "Ow! The hell is your- Oh, um, hi Mrs. Price, sorry I was lost in thought about umm, stuff." Rachel replied. "Mrs. Price? Max, if I told you once, I told you a thousand times, you're definitely a family friend, you can call me Joyce." Joyce said. Max shook her head annoyed.
"Well, never mind her, Joyce. I guess we'll just order our breakfasts now." Max replied. Joyce looks at the two again more closely. There's something weird going on here, but never mind, it's none of my business, what will you two kids have to eat?" Joyce asked. "I suppose I'll take the Belgian Waffle." Max replied. "I'll have the Bacon Omelet." Rachel replied. "Right, so you'll have her usual breakfast, and you'll take her's. Yeah, something odd is going on here. But like I said, not my business." Joyce said walking back to behind the counter.
"Well, that could have gone better. Did you really have to kick me?" Rachel asked. "Well, she's definitely suspicious, probably helped by the fact that you don't even try to answer to my name, which you do now have by the way, since you're me." Max replied. "Sorry, I'm just not used to being someone else..." Rachel said.
"Well, me neither, but I thought you'd be good at this, since it's like an acting exercise." Max replied. "Good point, and here I thought you'd be the first one to screw up and blow our covers." Rachel said. "Blow your covers, huh? Is there something you both want to tell me?" Joyce asked amused. The two trade a look. "What, no, we're just uh, rehearsing for a play." Rachel replied. "Really? What play? I'll make sure to see you in it..." Joyce asked.
"Erm, Prelude to a Kiss?" Max replied. "What?!" Rachel asked. "What?" Joyce asked. "Okay, now this is getting too weird for me. Look, whatever is going on between you both, just don't do anything dumb. Here's y'all's breakfast by the way." Joyce said putting the food and drinks down on their table. "Okay, maybe it would be better if you just keep your mouth shut from now on. I mean, Prelude to a Kiss. What even is that?" Rachel said.
"Sorry! It was the first thing I could think of that had to do with body switching. I always sucked at lying, you know? I'm just kind of freaking out, I mean, first I have this weird power inside me and now I can wake up in another girl's body." Max replied. "Look, I get it This is freaking me out too, I almost keep doing a double take when I see me looking back at me. We just have to keep this up for a bit longer and then you can teach me how to use those powers." Rachel said.
"Cool, I can do that." Max replied. "You're going to have to." Rachel said. The two finish their breakfasts and are getting ready to leave. "Come on, let's go before-" Max said. Just as they're about to leave, Justin spots them and walks over to them. "Oh hell yeah, it's the Max and Rachel. What's up guys?" He asked.
"Hey Justin, look, hate to cut and run, but we were just going to-" Rachel replied. "Yeah, cool Maxster, hey wait, you two are sitting together, oh damn, are you guys dating?" Justin asked. "What?! No!" The two replied in unison. "You do realize that she's dating Chloe?" Max asked. "Oh yeah, so why are you guys hanging out together?" Justin asked.
"We're just friends who are hanging out. We were actually just about to head out and do something real quick before class." Rachel replied. "Wow, you guys actually want to go to class? I was just going to skip. So, Rachel, are you down to cut class?" Justin asked. "Damn straight." Max replied brushing past Rachel and heading in tow with Justin and Trevor.
"Max!" Rachel whispered angrily. "Sorry, it's just, I never get a chance to hang out with cute skater boys, now that I'm you, I finally get my chance." Max replied. "Well, this is going to be a long day." Rachel said letting out an annoyed sigh before leaving. Justin and Max are sitting down waiting for a bus to pick them up.
"So Rachel, you want a hit?" Justin asked pulling out a joint. "Right now? No, I'm okay." Max replied. "So, why were you and Max hanging out? I mean she's cool I guess, and she's kind of hot, but she hangs with Kate and Warren, and I don't know, you and Chloe seem too chill for her." Justin said. "Friends can't hang out? Justin, I know you think Max is kind of weird or whatever because she hangs with Kate and Warren, but don't forget that they had detention with us a while back, so obviously they're capable of being bad." Max replied.
"True, I guess." Justin said. Max and Justin sit and watch the bus pull up to the curb, just as it does, it starts to go backwards. "Hey guys, what're you up to?" Rachel asked.
"Oh, hey Max, we were just talking about you." Justin replied. "Yeah, Justin, do you mind letting us know when the bus is coming again? I got to talk to Max." Max said. "On it." Justin replied staring out at the street. Max drags Rachel behind the Two Whales. "Dude, I thought we went over this. No using time travel whenever you want." Max said.
"Sorry Max, but did you really want me to miss the bus? If we are stuck in this swap together, we might as well stick together." Rachel replied. Max sighed. "I suppose you're right. Just, be careful. If people catch you doing it, they might get curious." She said. "Yeah yeah, I hear you. I'm not a kid, you know." Rachel replied. The two stand by the bench next to Justin waiting for the bus to come.
The bus arrives again, this time, Justin, Max and Rachel board it heading back to Blackwell Academy. The group arrives at the school and finds Amanda, Jade, Kate and Lola hanging out by the fountain outside. Justin and Trevor walk over to a nearby tree and start lighting up a joint.
"Jade, why do you look like Kate's twin?" Rachel asked curious. "Because Max, I'm not really Jade. I'm Kate, we switched bodies." Kate replied. "You guys too? Who else in our group?" Rachel asked. "Amanda." Amanda called holding up a hand. "Lola." Jade called holding up a hand.
Rachel grinned. "Damn, that sucks for Mike." She said. "I'm going to guess you guys are somehow swapped too?" Amanda asked. "By the way Rachel, how did you, well, you know...?" Max asked with a blush creeping on her cheeks. Mike chuckled. "How did I get deal with seeing your goods? Sorry Max, it didn't get me too excited. Don't take it personally, you're just not my type. "What does that mean?" Max asked.
"Well, no offense Max, it's just, I don't know, you're a bit needy." Rachel replied. "How am I needy?" Max asked. "Maybe needy is the wrong word for it, but you have to admit you do tend to butt into everyone's problems and then try to make it all about you." Rachel said. "Yeah, maybe I used my powers to help make friends, but I'm sorry we can't all be like you and just manipulate people into being our little servants. I know what Chloe told me about you." Max replied.
"Fuck off, Max. You think Chloe didn't tell me about what a shitty friend you were to her? I was there for her when you weren't, and I never manipulated her into doing anything, she loved me for me. I don't know why she loves you, especially with how you just so easily abandoned her." Rachel said. "I didn't have much choice, Rachel. I had to leave Chloe behind and I wouldn't have done it if I had a choice. You don't know what we've been through, because you're too busy looking to get high and hooking up with creepy older men." Max replied.
"You... you're..." Rachel said before lunging at Max. The two girls grab each other by the hair and throw themselves down on the floor. "This is crazy!" Kate said. "Jesus, Max, Rachel, what the fuck are you two doing?!" A familiar voice asked running over to the two to break it up. "Stay out of this, Mike." Rachel said. "Please, this is between me and Rachel." Max said.
"Jesus, you don't even recognize your own girlfriend?" The person asked. "Chloe, you and Mike..." Max said. Rachel and Max look at each other and trade a laugh. "It's not funny!" Mike said joining the group. "No, it wouldn't be. But, the fact that you're a guy who knows nothing about how to be a woman is pretty funny." Rachel said.
"Well, I can only assume this is going to get more confusing for everybody, maybe we should wear name tags?" Kate asked. "No offense, but that seems kind of lame. Let's just get to class." Jade said.
"Now, are you both going to tell me why you almost tore each other's faces off?" Chloe asked. "Rachel made fun of me and then said I was a terrible friend and didn't deserve you." Max replied. "Rachel?" Chloe asked. "I said Max was a bit needy and nosey, but if she didn't call me manipulative, I wouldn't have gotten pissed." Rachel replied.
"Look guys, I really wanted you guys to be friends so that the three of us could be best friends forever with no drama. So, why do you guys always get pissy with each other?" Chloe asked. "Whatever, I don't want to be lectured right now, Price." Rachel replied. "Just let them work it out on their own, Chloe. It's all you can do." Mike said.
"I don't think you understand what this is like." Chloe replied. "Right, like I wouldn't know what it's like for my two best friends to begin to be at each other's throats before we all became a trio of best buds?" Mike said. "That's what it is at it's base level, that's obvious. Now add in the factor that you both were in love with them at different times." Chloe replied. "Well, yeah, that's different." Mike said.
"No shit." Chloe said. "It's fine Mike, just go to class or hang with Justin and Trevor." Rachel replied.
Mike walks into Blackwell Academy to meet up with the group. As she walks to Amanda's first class, Lola feels someone push her. "Hey! What is your problem?" She asked coming face to face with Juliet. "So, what is this I hear about you having sex with my boyfriend?" Juliet asked. "Excuse me?" Lola replied.
"Don't play dumb, weirdo. I heard the whole thing." Juliet said. "What the hell do you think you're doing to her?" Amanda asked walking towards them. "Butt out Lola, this is between me and this... this slut!" Juliet replied. "Shut. Your mouth." Amanda said pushing Juliet back. "Whoa..." Lola replied.
"How cute, the freaks are standing up for each other." Taylor said walking over to the three in tow with Victoria and Courtney. "Yeah, because that's what friends do for each other." Amanda replied. "More importantly, what are you doing here?" Lola asked. "See Juliet, it's just like Vic told me, this little whore was sleeping with your man." Taylor replied.
"You know what? You want to slut shame her? Erm, me. Just don't. Why don't you four nasty little bitches just take a good, hard look in the mirror. Now if you don't mind leave me, and my friend, alone!" Amanda said angrily turning a heel and being followed after by Lola. "Thanks for that, I guess" Lola said. "It's what friends are for, right?" Amanda asked.
"Look, I don't need your charity. I could have handled that myself." Lola replied. "Would you knock this shit off? Look, I don't know how many times I can say I'm sorry for being a shitty friend to you." Amanda said. "You can apologize all you like, it doesn't change anything between us. You made your choice in friends a long time ago." Lola replied.
"Jesus, you're really jealous of who I used to hang with? I had to blend in with the preps somehow, middle school is bullshit enough without being constantly reminded that you're an outcast loser every day." Amanda said. "Yeah right, you were not blending in, you were one of them. I knew it the day you snubbed me in front of everyone in the cafeteria. I needed you, so bad. My mother had just lost her job and I needed someone there to cry my eyes out to, and you just treated me like I was nothing." Lola replied.
"Jesus, I am so sorry, Lola. I can't believe I did that to you. You should've told me." Amanda asked. "I tried to!" Lola replied. "Well, that's over now. I've found my friends, and I would love if you were one of them." Amanda said. "I'll consider it." Lola replied.
On her way to class, Jade collides with Victoria. "Nice one, why don't you look where you're going?" Victoria asked. "Shut up, you think I'm in the mood for your shit?" Jade asked. "Wow, when did Kate Marsh use swear words? I don't think God would like that very much, would he?" Victoria asked. "Don't you dare insult her faith." A voice said.
"Aww, the freak wants to stick up for the loser. That's just nice." Victoria said. "Don't worry about this, I'm fine." Jade said. "I know, but I can't have this happen, not like this." Kate replied. "Ugh, if you two are going to fight each other, can I just go?" Victoria asked. "No! You stay right there. I know you're better than this, Victoria. What happened to that nice girl who sent Kate well wishes when she tried to take her own life? I know that the only reason why you do mean things to people is because of your own insecurities. You could take those insecurities and make some wonderful art with them instead of hurting other people and bringing them down to your mean level." Kate replied.
"Whatever, I don't have to take this crap. I'm already late for class as is." Victoria said. "One last thing, what do you gain from this? What do you gain?" Kate asked. Victoria shook her head annoyed and walked to her photography class. "Well, that happened. Nice job verbally destroying her basically." Jade said. "Thanks, I just know she can be better than this. I know it's dumb." Kate replied.
Back outside, Chloe is still sitting across from Max and Rachel. "Guys, we've been at this for a while now, and you guys know how much I hate touchy-feely shit, so can you guys please just make peace finally?" Chloe asked. "I'd like that, Rachel, instead of saying I'm being selfish and whiney can you please just tell me why you don't like me." Max replied.
"Fuck! Fine! I'm jealous of you, Max! I'm jealous that you get to have a relationship with Chloe and I just wish it could be me with her instead of you, but I lost my shot and all I'm left with is this constant remind her that I did crappy things like hang with Frank and even have sex with him." Rachel said. "I never knew you felt that way. Why didn't you at least tell me, Rach?" Chloe asked. "How could I? You were so busy with Max all the time, and besides I knew you would hate me if you found out about Frank and I." Rachel replied.
"Wow, I mean, all this time I was jealous of you too." Max said. "Really?" Rachel asked. "Yeah, I was. But, I don't think Chloe would hate you for what you did with Frank." Max replied. "When Max and I found out about you and Frank, yeah I was pissed, but obviously I forgave you, or else we still wouldn't be friends. So, are we all good now?" Chloe asked.
"Yeah, we are. But shit, we have to get you out of Mike's body. It's beyond weird." Rachel said. "Speak of the devil..." Chloe said. Mike walks over to the three alongside Justin and Trevor. "What's up guys?" Max asked. "So, are you still switched?" Justin asked.
"He knows?" Chloe asked. "I kind of speak my mind when I get high, sorry Price." Mike said with a hand behind his head. "Where the fuck are you, new kid?" A voice asked. "Shit, that sounds like Nathan. What did you do?" Chloe asked. "I think he still wants to kick my ass after what happened in the shop yesterday." Mike replied.
Nathan storms over to the group. "You want to talk shit? Come on! Fight me! Fight me!" He said throwing Chloe to the ground. "Fuck you, Nathan. You're a bitch." Chloe replied. "Back the hell off of him!" Mike said. "Shut up Chloe! This is between me and him. "No, we're between you and him." A voice said being follow by another boy. "What's the matter, new kid? Can't fight without calling for back up? You think I'm a bitch? Ha, you're a pussy!" Nathan said.
"It's called having actual friends, dipshit. You know, not paying people to kiss your ass? Try it sometime." Chloe said. Ryan throws Nathan to the ground and stomps on his chest holding him down. "So? What now?" Ryan asked. The rest of the group comes outside. "What the hell happened here?" Lola asked. "Well, Nathan wanted to kick Mike's ass, and now Ryan's about kick Nathan's." Mike said. "Okay, well we were just heading back to that shop from yesterday to fix our little problem." Amanda replied.
"What problem?" Salem asked. "You'll find out. Just come on." Jade replied.
Moments later, they are back inside Alana's shop. "Well, I'm glad to see you all back here so soon. Have you come to thank me for solving your problems?" Alana asked amused.
"Sure, some of us might be closer than ever, but that doesn't make what you did okay." Mike replied. "Well, don't pin this on me. I was not the one that did this. I just happen to own the item that did." Alana said. "Mom... you know what, fuck it." Salem replied walking over to the mirror and throwing it on the floor, smashing it to pieces. Chloe and Mike collapse on the ground simultaneously. Eventually, so do Rachel and Max, Amanda and Lola, and Kate and Jade.
"Ow! What's going on? Mike? Where are you?" Amanda asked. "I'm over here." Mike replied. "That really is you though, it's not Chloe anymore?" Amanda asked. "Yeah, and you're not actually Lola, right?" Mike replied. Amanda grinned. "Why don't you kiss me and find out?" She asked. Mike grinned back at her and pulled her in for a kiss.
Eventually, everyone else comes to and when they find their partner, they kiss. "While I am glad to see everyone is back to their normal states, I do have some unfortunate news for you all. See, due to my son's rash actions. The mirror's curse is now stuck, which means that this cycle of switching could last for a while." Alana said solemnly. "So, I'd hate to ask, but who's switching with who tomorrow?" Max asked. "Funny you should ask, because you all seemed so eager to kiss your partners when you came to, that's who you'll swap with. From then on, who knows what will happen..." Alana replied. "Well, it's a shame that the mirror had to get smashed, it's design is pretty good and could have made for an interesting prop for a play at Blackwell." Steph said. "Yeah, and the least we can do is pick up the pieces, come on Steph." Samantha replied walking over to the broken shards of the mirror.
Victoria, Nathan, Courtney, and Taylor come inside the shop. "Fuck off Nathan, I'm not going to throw down with you." Mike said. "That's actually a rule, no fighting inside my place of business. "What happened to that mirror? It was actually kind of vintage." Taylor asked.
"It got smashed, would you maybe help us out and pick up the pieces?" Dana asked. "Why would we do that?" Victoria asked. "Because I know that you guys have that kindness in you hearts." Kate said. "Fine whatever, as long as it shuts Sister Kate up." Victoria replied grabbing shards of the mirror alongside Nathan, Courtney, and Taylor.
As they do, they feel a cold chill run through their bodies. "Let me guess, that's probably not supposed to happen." Salem asked walking over to his mom. "Precisely dear, that's just more fuel to this mirror's fire, so to speak." Alana whispered in reply. "Well, that's the best we could do. Hopefully, you find a way to fix this." Steph said.
"I'm sure I'll find a way, and if I do, I'll let you have it for your school." Alana replied. "That would be great, it was nice meeting you." Steph said walking out with the others. "Hopefully, this can get fixed." Alana said with a sigh, putting her head in her hands.
Nearly everyone else leaves the shop, the only ones left are Kate and Rachel. "Weird day, huh?" Rachel asked. "Tell me about it, it was weird. Being in Jade gave me some perspective, I think." Kate said. "How so? Rachel asked. "Well, she's bi-sexual and being inside her body, it didn't feel wrong to be bi-sexual, I wonder just how in control I was of her body. Like, were her memories controlling me and that's why it felt okay or does it naturally feel okay?" Kate said.
"Well, do you feel attracted to girls?" Rachel asked. "I don't know, I've always loved Max, but I don't think it was anything more than platonic. It's sinful to be otherwise, isn't it?" Kate replied. "Well, why would someone as good as God be so restrictive of which people are deemed okay in his eyes?" Rachel asked. "I don't know, Rachel." Kate replied.
"Kate?" Rachel asked. "Yeah?" Kate replied. "Maybe I could help you figure out whether or not you're bi-sexual." Rachel said. "What? Um, what are you implying?" Kate replied.
Rachel pulls Kate in for a kiss, but she does not pull away. Rachel smiles at her. "Did that feel right?" She asked. "I guess so." Kate said. "Well, congratulations then, Kate Marsh. I guess you're bi-sexual." Rachel replied. Kate blushes and then walks out of the store, being followed after by Rachel.
And that's the end of part 2! Yeah, this is going to be quite a lengthy read, but hopefully it's something that will hold you over while I'm planning out more stuff for this. I wanted to try and get both parts finished this week. Why? Because, as of the time that I'm writing this, it's Kate Marsh's in-game birthday in Life is Strange, and tomorrow would be Friday the 13th. Aka Freaky Friday, or the day when Jason Voorhees comes back for revenge. Whichever you prefer...
Anyways, that's all from me!
Update: Yes, I just re-did this chapter too. Now, you might be wondering why I decided to throw in some last second AmberMarsh, and that's because it's a ship I've wanted to toy with for a while, and I needed to establish them as dating before I could continue on with any of my other fanfics for this series.
-Phantom