So here it is. I'm sorry this took a little while, holiday preparations were more involved than I thought they would be, especially considering I'm spending it alone. No partner to worry about, and my family will be off doing their own things... still add up to a surprising amount of stuff to do. I'm not sure I'll have anything new up till after the new year either, but we'll see. This arc is almost over, and we might be heading towards the end of the story all together. It mostly depends on how winding of a journey to the end it turns out to be. In other news I have an idea I might start working on to publish alongside this story, and alongside Life waits, when I finish this one. We'll just have to see if I can handle two stories at once. Lol Anyhow Happy Holidays if you celebrate anything, and if not well I hope you have a good December.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Max ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stand outside my house, staring up at it. The picture is either going to be here, or at the Price's house, but I can't bring myself to move, not yet. If Chloe... If I can't save Chloe, I'm going to kill my parents, and... probably Rachel too. I need her on my side right now, and I feel terrible for manipulating her like that, but Chloe is more important than anyone. I don't know if it's worth the risk of losing Chloe again to save Rachel. I don't know if I can trust Rachel to help save Chloe if I even do save her, or what will happen if I even try. If I do try I suppose I could still always just jump back to that same day if everything goes wrong... but then again I don't know if the new timeline will mean something happened to to the photo. I want to do the right thing here, I want to save everyone, but it just seems like the more I try the more fucked up I make things. I take a deep breath, and head into the house, hopefully my parents won't be home. I'm not sure I can look at them considering what I'm planning to maybe do.

Stepping through the door, I can hear the murmur of conversation stop. Well they're home, and know I'm here now. Dithering just inside the door, trying to decide if I should go see them, or just head up to my room to begin my search, my decision is made for me as my dad calls out of the living room to me. "Hey kiddo, could you come in here and talk for a minute?"

I take a deep breath. You can do this Max, you can do this. I make my way on into the living room, where my parents await me. They're sitting there, together on the couch, side by side looking at me. I missed them so much, and now they're just right here, like everything is normal, which I suppose it is in this timeline. The normalcy doesn't stop my eyes from welling up. Mom looks stern, and dad just looks sympathetic. Dad gestures me towards the chair nearby, and I hesitantly make my way over and have a seat. They both turn to look at me. I feel like I'm in trouble.

"Maxine... honey, I got a call from Principal Wells today..." my mom starts.

"Max... It's never Maxine." I correct softly. I'd normally get more forceful but, well... I'm still awed to be here with my parents, and I also don't want to them to know I'm not the same Max anymore.

Mom sighs softly, looking like she just tasted something sour. "Max...He said you weren't in classes today. Now, I know things have been hard on you, but we talked about this... just this morning even. You can't keep doing this. You have your future to think about, so much potential you're letting go to waste. You're eighteen now Max, it's time to start acting like it. You just can't throw your life away because your friend left you."

"Girlfriend." I correct automatically. Mom stares at me for a long time. Fuck! Was other Max not out to mom and dad? This might get really awkward really quickly. Is there something she knows about our parents that I don't? They never seemed like the types to have a problem with anyone's sexual orientation, let alone their own daughter's. Maybe she was just afraid. I kind of am right now, since I just outed myself, maybe, to my parents. Maybe she just never thought about it? I mean they weren't exactly a secret to anyone else, even if they weren't exactly out either. Maybe I should rewind, I don't want to start a fight, I just, I want this time with my parents to be good, since it could easily be the last time I ever get to see them, again.

Dad nudges mom gently with his elbow. "I told you so..." he says softly, before turning his attention back to me while mom recovers.

"Max... kiddo, we know you're hurting, that you're worried. We're worried too. Chloe is practically a part of this family as it is, but we're also worried about You. Considering just how deeply you felt for Chloe, maybe we could come to some arrangement, let you take a year off or something... but..." he holds up one finger to forestall any interruptions. "It might be best for you to go back to school anyhow, focus on your work, and keep your mind off of things. I'd really like it if you kept trying for just a little longer, and then... we can talk about, in say a week? But you Have to really try."

Mom looks back at dad for a moment lips pursed, and then deflates, looking back at me. "I... agree with your father, though I wish you had felt like you could come to us about this, about you and Chloe. You know we love you no matter what, right sweetheart?" she looks genuinely concerned that I might feel like they wouldn't love me for me, no matter what.

It feels like a vice has wrapped itself around my heart, and just keeps squeezing. Fuck, keep it together Max. Don't start crying, don't start... wait, why the fuck not? Why can't I just let go here, and now? I don't have to be strong here, I don't have to watch my back, and hide anything that can be taken as weakness. My parents won't use it against me. They might not even get to live this long if things don't turn our right. Fuck, that's right, and now there's a fresh feeling of loss as I remind myself of what I might need to do. Why is this even my choice? Why was I blessed? Cursed? With this power? It's not fucking fair. I don't fight the tears, not this time, maybe never again, I don't know. My parents get up, and suddenly I'm just surrounded by them, encircled. They're holding on to me, and I'm just crying even harder. I missed them so much, and I might have to start missing them again soon. Then there's also Chloe. Oh Chloe, I wish you were here. I'm so afraid of what I'm going to find when we go searching. I want to let myself cry to exhaustion, but I can't. I don't have time for that, and it's never going to completely stop hurting anyhow, not unless I can get Chloe back safely.

I hold on to my parents desperately for a little while longer before I take a deep breath, and push everything down inside to be dealt with at another time. All this repression I end up doing, I'm probably a therapists wet dream, or worst nightmare? I'm not sure which. I pull away from my parents, and look at them for a long moment. I can feel everything trying to slip out again, and I have to steel myself against it. I've had plenty of practice over the years. Still, I'd like nothing more than to just let my parents comfort me for a while longer. I need to get moving before I lose my nerve. "I... Look I'll try and do better, okay? I just... Right now I need to go. I'm meeting Rachel in a little bit. I love you guys."

I'm up and out of there before they can ask any questions, or try and stop me. I don't want what might be my second last memory of them to be of us fighting. I rush up to my room to tear through my pictures, wildly searching for the one I need. I have pictures everywhere. On the walls, in piles on my desk, in boxes, and drawers. It's a fucking nightmare. I quickly realize that most if not all of the pictures featuring Chloe are all kept where I can see them easily, and so that narrows down my search a little bit, but I find nothing. It's probably at the Price's then, just like in my original timeline. Or I missed it somewhere among all these pictures. I wish other Max had more hobbies, or maybe a more active sex life. I guess I can always come back if the picture isn't in Chloe's room. This isn't going to be pleasant either, poor Joyce... I take a deep breath and head on out to visit the Price home.

Once again I find myself just standing outside, staring up at a house, though this time it's the Price home. I know I'm wasting time, I know that the time I'm not looking for Chloe could be more time for something terrible to happen. If I'm honest with myself though? It's probably too late to stop something terrible from happening, at this point all I can do is hope she's still alive. Hope she can still be saved. The fear gripping my chest intensifies, as I think of facing Joyce. I did this, it's my fault Chloe's gone now, and I'm afraid to see her, to face her, even though I so badly want to. She needs comforting now, just like I do. Then again, maybe she's given up just like other Max was ready to do. That doesn't help my anxiety either, not knowing what happened, not knowing if I'm going to say something wrong, or reopen healing wounds. I guess it won't matter if I have to go back, she'll never know, but I'll always remember. I need that photograph either way... so I don't really have much of a choice.

Stepping up to the door, I ring the bell nervously. What if Joyce blames me for some reason... I blame me, so could I really face her down? I fidget nervously on the step, until the door jerks open startling me. Officer Madsen glares down at me from inside, as I blink up at him confused by his presence here. His face softens a little as recognition sets in, though he still looks a bit like he swallowed something sour. I'm not sure if that's directed at me, or if his face just looks that way all the time. "Joyce isn't home right now..." her purses his lips, and steps back gesturing me inside. "But... I suppose you can come in and have a look around Chloe's room...again." He adds the last part almost under his breath, but I do still hear him.

What is he even doing here anyway if Joyce isn't home? Is he trying to gather evidence or something? I mean you'd think they'd be done with that by now. Then again maybe not. It's not like any of them even give a shit. Probably only off his lazy ass because Joyce finally made a big enough stink to get someone on the case. I can feel the heat rising with my temper. Still, he is letting me come in to have a look around, when he could just be an asshole and tell me to get lost. I take a deep, calming breath and step inside. "Thank you..." He just grunts at me, like a douche, and heads deeper into the house. I have no idea what he's doing, but he's not getting in my way, so I'll just take the win, and leave it at that.

I head up the stairs slowly, apprehension building in my stomach as I go. What if the picture isn't here? What if we lost it somehow, or had a fight and destroyed it or something? Not knowing what happened in this time line is nerve wracking. Other Max seems to have been the timid type, like I used to be before I was forced to toughen up, does that mean Chloe remained the bold one? I mean I was here the whole time in this timeline, but she still would have lost William eventually. Fuck! Maybe I should have tried to do something about that too? I pause outside her door, disappointment with myself flooding my chest. Everything is so fucked up right now, and here I am wondering if I should have tried to make even more changes. Maybe we'd both be missing if I did that. Though... at least we'd be together where ever we'd have ended up. I slowly push the door open.

Chloe's room is a little different. It's messier for one thing, and her hipster band posters have been replaced by more hardcore artists. There's even a little graffiti on her walls. This Chloe seems to be a little bit of a badass, and it brings a small smile to my face. Still, would she be able to love this version of me? My smile dies as a heavy sense of melancholy settles into my chest. We're still essentially the same, but also very different in my timeline. In this one we might be too similar now to fit together anymore. That might just be another way I've managed to fuck everything up. If we can save her... and we don't work anymore, do I go back anyway, and fix things? Is that right, or fair? If she's alive, and safe and healthy, is it right to go back, and condemn some people to die, just so we can be together? I can feel the pain, and guilt lancing through me at the thought of killing my parents to give us a chance to be a couple, but the pain that lances through me when I consider us being apart is so much worse. Still, I don't know what I'll do. Neither choice is a good one, and I want to make it.

I shake my head roughly, trying to dispel the visions of doom, and gloom taking residence there. I need to find that picture, so I should focus on that. A cursory glance around the room would make it seem like finding anything would be an impossible task, but I know Chloe. Or, at least I know the other Chloe, and they are hopefully not so different that I won't know where to look. I could tear the room apart if I need too, but I'd rather get this over with quickly. Next to her bed, in easy view is a more recent picture of me and her together. I'm making bunny ears behind her head, and she's flipping off the camera. There's another one of the two of us, and Rachel. It's so weird seeing her in our lives like that. I know in this timeline she's alive, and knew us, but it's still weird, since she's pretty much a stranger to me. There's a picture of me and Chloe as kids, dressed up as pirates there as well. Not the picture I'm looking for but closer to the right time period. I pause for a moment looking at the picture of us as kids, all smiles, and innocence. A wave of nostalgia washes over me, and I'm more acutely aware of the hole in my life left where Chloe should be. It hasn't been long, from my perspective, since I last saw her, but the lack of her presence now is palpable. I have to find that picture.

There's a little lock box sticking out from under her bed, so I investigate that next. There's baggy of weed, which I pocket, sharing is caring, and a few more photos of us. My cheeks flush a little as I look them over. These are definitely the kind of photos you hide. Way to go other Max! Maybe she wasn't quite as timid as she seems, or maybe Chloe's just really persuasive. I'm definitely on the scrawny side in this timeline, but it doesn't seem like Chloe care at all. These pictures, while enlightening, are not helpful at all, so I shut them back into the box, and move on.

Poking around I find another box, this one not really hidden anywhere, full of more pictures. Hopefully this will be it. It's got a lot of old ones, so the odds are good, that it'll be in here. There are some old pictures of Chloe and William together, as well as some with the three of us, or even Chloe with me and my family. There's a whole life lived in this box that I was a part of but can't remember anymore, if that's even how any of this works. This is not what I wanted when I went back. Maybe this is a wake up call from the universe or something. Maybe it's trying to tell me I need to be more responsible with my special abilities. I try hard not to let the melancholy I'm feeling rise to the surface again. I need to try and stay as focused as possible, for Chloe. The picture isn't here either. My apprehension grows as I continue my search.

Maybe I did miss it back at home. It doesn't seem to be here at all. That growing sense of apprehension solidifies into a spike of fear. Maybe it's just gone forever. What am I going to do if I can't find it? That's the day, that's the one that changed everything. Other max already tried different photo jumps, and nothing worked. I don't even know if I could use one of her pictures to go back with, this isn't technically my timeline. Fear is building into full blown panic, and I'm having trouble breathing. I'm spiraling quickly out of control. I'm getting dizzy... I can't even... I think I might be ready to pass out, when Joyce's voice calling from downstairs snaps me out of my panic. "Max sweetheart? Are you still up there?"

I head out of Chloe's room, and stand at the top of the stairs looking down at Joyce. "Yeah Joyce, I'm still here."

She nods, smiling at me a little sadly. "David said you were here. Why don't you come on downstairs and visit for a bit... when you're done up there of course."

David? She's on a first name basis with officer douche? When did that happen? "I... think I'm done now. I can come down."

Joyce nods, and heads deeper into the house. I can't find the picture anyhow, so I start down the steps slowly. Maybe Joyce will have some idea where it is. Then again, what if Joyce blames me for Chloe's disappearance. This thought causes me to pause on the steps. Shit, I never considered what my relationship with Joyce might be like in this timeline. How it might be different because of what did, or didn't happen. What if Joyce doesn't know we were a couple either? What if she thinks I'm acting weird about my best friend. Though, considering how she reacted in my original timeline, I doubt she'd make an issue over it. I still don't know if we were closeted, or just hadn't told anyone specifically. Or maybe just didn't think to? I guess the worst that could happen is she just kicks me out, and if I need to keep searching I can always just rewind. I take a deep breath and continue my way down the stairs.

Joyce is sitting at the dining table waiting for me, as I walk down the hallway to find her. I settle nervously in the chair across from her. She looks tired, and sad, completely worn out. She offers me a small genuine smile, and reaches across the table to take my hand. "Max, sweetheart... I know you're suffering, we both are, but... You need to try and and live your life. Not that I don't love having you here, lord knows I can use the company sometimes, but you know you're not to blame for Chloe running off right? That girl is so stubborn, but she always comes around eventually. She'll call, and everything will be...alright again." her voice breaks at the end.

Poor Joyce, she's trying so hard to keep positive. My heart aches for her, and I reach out to place my other hand on hers, and give it a squeeze. I'm not sure how much comfort I can give her, but I'm trying. Especially since it really is my fault. That reminder cuts like a knife, and I can feel my eyes welling up. I did this. Chloe would be here now If I hadn't gone back and changed things. This is all my fault, and I have to find a way to make it better. I have to find Chloe, or change everything back to the way it was. "Joyce I... I just, I'm trying so hard..."

She wipes at her eyes gently, and gives my hand a little squeeze. "Hush now... I know you are sweetheart. We're all doing our best right now." she shakes her head. "It's all we can do right now, that and try to keep positive. Try and remember the good times, and wait for them to come back again."

Joyce's face is blurry through my tears, and I just let them fall for the second time today. "I... I'm so sorry Joyce. I'm so sorry..."

I can make out her shaking her head, and she gets up to come around and give me a a hug. She holds me gently, rocking in place a little. "Hush now... you got nothing to be sorry about Max. Either Chloe made her own choice, or... it's all out of our hands." her grip on me tightens for a moment, and then relaxes as she calms herself, probably more for my benefit than her own. "Try to stay focused on the good things Max... I know Chloe wouldn't want to see you so distraught."

I nod against her, sniffling as I try to recompose myself. "Yeah... I-I know she wouldn't. I'm trying, really hard to... to concentrate on the positive."

"Sometimes, it's good to look back and remember the good times. I know it can seem bittersweet, but allowing yourself to enjoy those memories can be therapeutic." She pulls away from me, and heads over to the small bookshelf built into the wall. She looks over it for a few moments before selecting a large book, and bringing it back over to me.

I wipe my eyes, and look down at the book she sets in front of me. "What's this?" I ask softly, my hands moving towards the book, curious.

She gives me a funny look for a moment, and shrugs. " It's our Photo album."

I laugh awkwardly, and wipe at my eyes. "Sorry... I'm still a little out of it."

She nods sympathetically, and opens the album for me. "I understand sweetie..." she settles down next to me, and looks down at the album. "When I'm missing William, I like to get out this album and remember the good times we had together. I thought maybe you'd like to do the same. I know most of these photos weren't taken with your flair for the art, but I thought maybe you'd like to see them anyhow." She laughs softly at her self deprecating comment.

"These pictures were all taken with Love Joyce, they're all absolutely perfect in their own way." I smile, and look down at the album. There are old pictures of William, and Joyce, of the whole family. There are old pictures of Chloe, and of Chloe and I together, and among them, the picture I've been looking for. I run my fingers around the edge of it reverently, as I stare at it.

"This was the day I found out we were moving..." I pause, wincing internally because that's not true in this timeline. "Or well, I guess I mean the day I found out we might have moved, but didn't?"

Joyce chuckles softly. "I understand what you mean Max."

I nod and look back down at the picture. "I've been looking all over for this... I guess I forgot it ended up here." I bite my lip hoping that sounds plausible, or that Joyce will at least attribute any lapses I have to grief.

"Why don't you go ahead and take it then. If it'll remind you of better times, I'm sure there are no better hands for it to be in than yours." she reaches out and gently removes the picture from the album, and presents it to me.

This is exactly what I wanted but, right here in this moment it feels wrong to just take the picture away from her. "Are you... sure? I mean... I know I said I was looking for it, but.. you don't..."

Joyce shushes me gently, and places the picture in my hands. "Of course I'm sure. You go on and take it now."

I stand up and wrap my arms around her, hugging her tightly. Tears well up in my eyes, this woman is just too good. "I'll make everything right again I promise..."

She doesn't say anything, and that's fine I couldn't explain, not in a way that would make any kind of sense to her. She just reaches up and strokes my hair soothingly for a time. She doesn't fuss or complain as I hold her there until I manage to get myself under control again. I pull away and give Joyce a small grateful smile. "Thank you Joyce... for everything."

She offers me a small smile in return. "You're welcome Max, you know you're like family here."

I nod, and take a deep breath. "I guess... I should go now." I step away from Joyce, and head for the door. I look to the sky as I step out into the sun. It's almost over now, I have the picture, and it's time to go meet up with Rachel again. It's time to find Nathan and find out what happened to Chloe, to find out how this ends.

- Chloe -

"...Bright... too bright..."

"Hurts..."

"Max...?"

"Collect more samples, we need to connect her to more locations to make her useful." some strange man is talking. "Oops... Looks like she might be becoming lucid."

My neck suddenly stings.

"Dark..."

"...hurts."

"...help..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Rachel xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Max calls me to let me know she has the picture and is ready to go, I've revised my list at least three times. I decided to add a few more little tidbits about myself, and take out the note at the end. It's weird how attached to these two I realize I've become, but I know I'd never believe it before meeting them, before having that time with them. I know the old Max wouldn't lie to me, couldn't lie really, but I'm not sure about this new Max. Part of me believes she won't even try to save me if it comes to a photo jump. I'm not used to being this anxious. It sits in my chest, and fills me with a jittery energy, making me want to move, or do something constantly. The drive to go pick her up just isn't quite good enough to dispel any of it.

It's obvious she's been crying, but there's a fire there in her eyes I don't remember ever seeing in the other Max. It's a little scary how intense she's gotten, especially since from my point of view it's basically happened over night. Was the other Max capable of this too, or is this only possible because of whatever she went through in her original timeline? Nature versus nurture. It also leaves me with a stab of jealousy, nobodies ever loved me like this, at least not without me pushing them to. After whatever happens next though, there's a chance nobody ever will either. I always thought that maybe someday, I could open up, and let someone in, maybe. It hurts me to think of all the possibilities that might just disappear for me. I'll be dead, six months back, and I won't ever even get to try to come to terms with my life. I hand Max the list I made, and she immediately begins to read it over, presumably committing it to memory like she promised, or at least trying to look like it.

I do my best to bury my fears as I drive us towards Blackwell in silence while she studies, but butterflies still fill my stomach, and my hands tighten on the wheel. Trusting people isn't easy for me, but I've got nothing on this new Max, that would give me control over her choice. If she betrays me, I guess I'll never know. I'm not sure if that's better or worse, but it makes me want to re-evaluate my choices in life so far. This is sort of what I've been doing to people, and being on the other side of it, it's not pleasant. If she goes back though, I'll never have this epiphany, I'll never know this happened. I can't help myself, it fills me with a dark sense of mirth, and I begin laughing. It's tinged with hysteria, and it just won't stop.

Max looks over at me, curiously, at first, and then with a look of growing concern. She reaches over, and gently places a hand on my shoulder, and I can't see anymore. Laughter has become tears, as all my fears, and regrets bubble to the surface. Max helps me get the car pulled over, and then she wraps her arms around me, and pulls me close against her. She strokes my hair soothingly, as all the tension in my chest tries to release itself all at once. I've never been this vulnerable around someone else before, I've never been this scared before either. "I don't want to die Max... I don't want to die..."

She hushes me softly, still holding on to me like we had really been best friends for years. "You're not going to die Rachel... it'll be okay. I'll find a way to fix everything."

"You can't know that Max... you can't. Unless you can see the future?" Hope blossoms in my chest for a moment, and I look up at her.

She shakes her head sadly. "No... sorry, I can still only go backwards, at least so far."

"If it comes down to it, you're going to choose her over me." I say flatly despite the turmoil inside.

There's a flash of guilt that crosses her face, almost too fast for me to catch, and she sighs. "Yeah... I won't deny that. You think I haven't considered all of this? I'm already planning to choose the both of you over my parents. My parents will fucking die Rachel, so that Chloe can live, and you can have a chance." she purses her lips, and shrugs the shoulder I'm not leaning on. "So yes... I choose Chloe. I Love her, and I would choose her over this entire fucking town. I would choose her over, and over again until we were the last two people on earth if I had to!"

I pull back a little, suddenly feeling very nervous about our proximity. For her part she does take notice, and looks a little embarrassed as she loosens her grip on me. "Max that's..."

"Crazy?" she finishes for me, her brow quirking up. "I don't know... maybe it is..." she shakes her head slowly. "But that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and save you. I made you a promise Rachel, and I'm going to keep it." There's conviction in her voice, but it sounds new, like she's only recently made that decision. This doesn't help me feel much better, but I guess it is something at least.

"Look..." she sighs softly. " I don't even know how this all works, I don't know if this is a multiverse theory thing, or not. So... even if I do go back to change the timeline, you might just keep right on living in this one, and probably just get your old Max back." She purses her lips for a moment, and shakes her head. "And if I do go back, and she returns... she's going to need someone to take care of her. She's going to need you Rachel."

I pull away, wiping at my eyes sheepishly. I'm definitely feeling self-conscious about my little breakdown right now. People don't usually get to see this side of me, and the earnestness of her admission leaves me feeling a bit overwhelmed. I take a deep breath, and look at Max, who for her part seems to understand how I'm feeling and is pretending not to notice. I appreciate the pretense, even if we both know it's an act. There's a little sting of jealousy in my chest, over the fact that Chloe has someone like this in her life. Max may be intense, even a little crazy when it comes to how far she'll go, but you can't deny just how deeply she feels for Chloe. "I'm... actually kinda jealous of Chloe right now..." why am I telling her this? "I mean she's lucky to have someone so devoted to her... and you know, not have to...um... force it?"

Max laughs softly, but not unkindly, and shrugs. "I bet you could have that too, if you just... opened up for real, and let someone in. There's a person worth knowing in there, you just have to let her out."

My cheeks flush lightly, even as I'm not sure if I really should be flattered or insulted by her assessment. Does she mean let her in? Or probably Other her? I give her a shrug. "I have a hard time trusting people... my family doesn't have the best track record with honesty..."

Her brow perks up incredulously. "And so you... what? Just go around doing the same thing despite knowing how it feels? I mean I've fucked up a lot too. I don't have room to make judgments or anything, I admit I'm a complete fuck up... but I'm trying, and you can too. If you want to."

Ouch. That one stung, I want to yell at her, defend myself, but I guess she's not exactly wrong in her assessment. I frown, as I mull over what she said. None of this will matter if she changes the timeline though, but maybe, if she doesn't. Maybe I could actually give it a try? It's scary for sure, and I just don't know if I can manage, but... Max admits she's trying. She's right, why Can't I try too? I take a deep, steadying breath. "Well... I... Thank you Max. We should probably get moving though. Wasting Time and all that..." I give her a sly look, as I say time.

Max laughs softly, and shakes her head. "I can't believe you, making jokes at a Time like this..." she gives me a little wink when she says "time" and I find myself laughing as well. How did I end up here like this? What did these girls do to me without my realizing it. I shake my head, and start up the car. "Well... no Time like the present." My insecurities, and uncertainties remain, and Max's probably do as well, but we both laugh as we continue our ride towards Blackwell.

Getting into the dorms is easy. I live there, so I'm authorized to be there, not that security is especially tight, but no one could stop me from going in with Max in tow. Technically we could be stopped for heading onto the boys floor, but again security inside the dorm is not very tight, so it's smooth sailing as we head down the hall looking for Nathan's room. Max said she'd been here once before in the other timeline, so she was leading the way. Not that I hadn't been in the boys dorm before, but never specifically to Nathan's room.

Max pauses outside of a door, and presses her ear against it. Curious, I do the same. We can hear him inside the room, talking to someone, maybe on the phone? I can only hear his voice so if he's using his computer he's probably got a headset on. The way he gets louder, and softer at regular intervals implies he's pacing back and forth as he talks. "...reams have changed. Something Major is different now. I don't know... but the hourglass has shattered into a giant fucking storm that sweeps through and destroys everything."

"No... No."

"Look, I don't always know what it means right away, but the dreams haven't been wrong yet. Something major has changed, and we're going to get caught up in it."

"I don't know, she's avoided letting me get close enough to verify for sure so far, but it's only a matter of time. If it Is her though, I want back up."

"You're damn right, I don't know what the fuck changed, but if this bitch is suddenly a fucking storm, then I want back up." he sounds pretty agitated, the rhythm of his pacing seems to have increased as well.

He let's out an aggravated growl. "Fine! I'll do it. Just fucking be ready with a team on stand by or something. I have a feeling this isn't going to go down easy."

There's a clatter, which might be him throwing his phone onto his desk, and then silence. Max pulls her ear away from the door, and looks at me. She motions me back away from the door, and I comply readily enough. I watch her look around for a few moments, before her eyes settle on the nearby fire extinguisher. She grabs it, and I stare on wide eyed, as she moves towards the door, and brings it down hard on the knob till it gives. She kicks up the door and surges inside. "Surprise fucker!"

I cradle my face in my hands as I follow her inside. This was not going to end well. She grabs a hold of me as soon as I'm close enough and the world begins moving in reverse. I a surprised looking Nathan jump back into his bed, and settle down to relax, as the door behind us closes and repairs itself. It's really weird seeing what Max sees whenever she rewinds. It's just like watching a video in reverse, if that video was three hundred and sixty degrees, and in 3-D. She grabs her head, as the world suddenly snaps back into forward motion. She pushes me towards Nathan as he jumps up out of bed surprised by our sudden appearance. This is really only slightly better than the break in, but at least there's no noise to alert anyone else, yet.

I rush forward, placing my hands soothingly on Nathan's shoulders, and giving him my best bedroom eyes. "Relax Nate... we're all friends here..." and I Push that feeling into him.

He looks like he might fight me for a moment, but then just relaxes. Most people don't fight me. It's probably a combination of my size, and well... my looks. I'm very attractive, and I'm fairly small, no threat to anyone. People Want to believe me, Want to be my friend, or more, and so giving them those feelings, is just giving them what they already want. Honestly, most of the time I wouldn't even need to push, it just makes things easier, or faster if I do. I settle myself next to him on the edge of the bed, my arm around his waist, and keep on pushing those relaxed friendly feelings into him.

Max takes a deep breath, and straightens up. She looks like shit, but that fire is still there behind her eyes, making her look dangerous. "Okay Nathan... We'd really appreciate it if you'd tell us where Chloe is."

I can feel him tense up, and he sneers at her. "I don't know where that dyke went."

Max looks like she's about to make a lot of noise again, so I reach up and gently turn Nathan's face towards mine. "Come on Nathan... we'd really appreciate it if you'd help us. Don't you want to help us? Please?" I give him my biggest puppy eyes, as I Push the desire to please into him.

He looks at me mouth open for a few moments, like he might just start talking, and then shakes his head. " I...I can't. If I do I'll be in so much trouble."

"You'll be in a lot more trouble if you don't tell us." Max shoots back at him, while taking an aggressive step forward.

Everything about his demeanor changes the moment she takes that step. He pulls back in on himself a little, trembling mildly. I mean new Max is intense, but not This intense. He takes a trembling breath, turning his head down, lowering his eyes from Max's own. "Y... You. You're the storm... You're the storm..." he just trails off babbling softly to himself.

So, it seems like maybe Nathan's not completely stable, and whatever power he's got, whatever it is he's seen, has pushed him over that edge. Max for her part doesn't seem at all surprised by his sudden loss of coherence, or at least she's not disturbed by it. I try harder to Push more calm into him, to maybe help him back to lucidity. He does stop babbling softly to himself, and his rate of breathing slows a bit. I'll take whatever win I can get. "Nate... please tell us what happened to Chloe." I say softly into his ear.

He shakes his head slowly. "If I tell you... My father... He won't hesitate to make me part of The Imperious Project." He looks over at me, his eyes big, and full of fear, like a child. "But if I don't..." he looks back at Max, with just as fearful a look.

Max's aggressive facade just melts away as he looks at her. A look of pity crosses her face, perhaps touched with a bit of guilt. The old Max still is in there after all. She takes a deep breath, and steps forward slowly, hands out to show she's no threat. She kneels down in front of us, and looks up at Nathan. "Nathan... if you help us, we'll make sure nothing bad happens to you. Okay? If you help us, we'll protect you."

For her part, or maybe to her credit? She looks and sounds sincere. The Old Max definitely would have been, but it's harder for me to read this new version. For my part, I Push the desire to trust her into Nathan. He's so easy to control, I can definitely see how someone so broken could end up as a part of whatever is going on in this fucked up town. It's even more fucked up that his dad is part of it, and is threatening him to do what he wants. It kind of reminds me of my father. Fuck! Max has got me empathizing with everyone now. I kinda wish everything could go back to being simple again. I let out a little sigh, and Max spares me a quick glance. Her hand lands gently on my knee, and gives it a reassuring squeeze before her attention returns fully to Nathan. I don't know why, but I do feel a little bit better.

"Well Nathan... will you help us find Chloe?" Max asks softly, pleading with him, with her eyes.

Nathan takes a deep breath, and then nods. "Yes... I'll take you to Chloe. Just... promise, no matter what you see, you'll still protect me."

I can see the fear flash through Max's eyes, then the determination that takes over. She nods once. "You have my word Nathan. If you help us, we'll protect you. None of this will come down on you."

He takes a deep breath and stands up, a bit of his old demeanor steeling back into place. "Alright, we'll need a plan, because I have to get you two bitches into the main Prescott lab compound. That's not going to be a fucking cake walk."

Max laughs shrugging. "That's easy... you take me in as a volunteer for employment... then I find a place to hide, and rewind. Then when it seems like I've disappeared to you and Rach... you take her in for the same reason. If we run into any issues on my run through, I text you instructions from inside. Easy."

"Rewind?" his brow perks up curiously.

Max nods. "Yeah... I can rewind time. We have as many do overs as it takes to get this right."

He laughs, though it sounds a little tinged with hysteria. "Okay... with as many do overs as we need... yeah, I think we got this. We can go whenever you're ready."

"We're ready now... let's do this." Max says standing.

I'm not so sure I'm ready for any of this, but I'm not sure I have much choice now. I'm neck deep in this, and well if I want to have any hope of survival I have to ingratiate myself to Max. I have to trust her. With that turmoil in my head, I follow the two of them out of Nathan's room, and towards my ultimate destiny. I just hope it's a good one.