Ripples
"Max, you okay?" she sets down the paper bag.
"Chloe?" Max steps inside. Her eyes are wide and her heart lurches.
"Oh, sweetie." She says walking up and embracing her. Max clutches to her, squeezing her tight. "Max, what's wrong?"
"Wha-what? Chloe, how!? Where-" Max buries her head into Chloe's shoulder, and keeps sniffling. She's pretty sure snot is dripping all over her. Chloe holds her close, kisses her on the forehead and smiles.
"I take it you zoned out again." She says in a low whisper, "Where'd you go this time? How far back?"
"Zoned- ugh-to-Th-the- to the bathroom."
"All the way there?"
"Chloe, what happened after that!?"
"Ahh- lot." She smirks, "It was one hell of a day, Max."
"No, seriously. I've been trying- so long to save you. How? How- how'd we do it?"
"Max, we just did. We took things one day at a time."
"Why here? Why are we back in Arcadia Bay?"
She tilts her head, "It's what we wanted. I mean- not at first. Hell, I still fucking hate this place, but it's a part of us."
"Nothing bad happens to you?"
"Fuck I wish. We just follow the system. Photo a day. Something happens. Reset. Been pretty foolproof," she grabs Max's hand and pulls her to the living room. Picking up a remote Chloe turns on the radio, she spins to Max and smiles, "Dance with me, hippie."
Max cuddles into her as Chloe rocks her around the room, "So- how many times have you tried to save me?"
"Never kept track," Chloe tilts her head and Max smiles, "Cause there'd never be a number where I'd stop." Chloe gives her a squeeze and Max giggles.
"I'm glad. And now that you're back, maybe you'll stop zoning out so often."
"Zoning out?"
"Yeah. You aren't really here anymore, you know? You're always somewhere else. Looking back. I think you fried your poor brain," she pinches Max's cheek, "I'm worried you're missing out on living."
"I still don't understand- how everything's worked out."
"It didn't though, Max. Chloe's dead. Remember?" He says.