We didn't speak much on the long walk back to Blackwell.

It wasn't an uncomfortable silence though, and I could tell from Kate's expression that she was thinking hard about what I had said and was trying to get her head around it all. That was understandable really, it wasn't every day that one of your friends suddenly announced that they had travelled in time, and had memories from an alternate timeline, after all! I was glad that I had told her though, somehow I knew that she would believe me, or at least hear me out;. I hadn't planned to tell her, but there had been something about her eyes and her expression that had made her want to open up and tell her the truth. Of course Kate had always been the caring sort; the fact that she had immediately pushed her own worries aside to care for me spoke volumes, and I don't know if I could ever truly thank her for what she did; pulling me from the depths of despair and giving me hope, just by listening, believing and giving me hope that the world hadn't ended and that life went on.

I wasn't in a good place by any stretch of the imagination, but I was on the right path now, and somehow I knew that Kate would be by my side all the way.

We arrived back on Campus to find the place in an uproar. All of the students and teachers alike were out on the Campus outside the Main Building either in groups, more than likely gossiping about what had happened today, or on their phones doing the same to family or friends further away. What looked like the entire Arcadia Bay Police Department had apparently sealed off the Main Building, and there was crime scene tape all over the place. A devastated looking David was milling around; for all that Chloe had liked to think otherwise, her 'step-ass' did truly care for her, I had started to see it during the week that never was, it was truly sad that Chloe had never been able to see it too.

Just another thing to chalk up on the list of things you've fucked up, Caulfield.

I got more than a few strange looks from students and teachers alike as me and Kate made our way across the campus towards where Warren was sat on the grass looking up at the building. This was to be expected; everyone knew that I had been in the Girls Bathroom when the shooting happened, that I had desperately tried to save Chloe's life only to fail, and that it was my word that was likely to send Nathan to prison. And of course Kate was the girl who had starred in that disgusting video. The one upside to my situation was that it would draw the attention away from Kate; sure she would still have to deal with her family, and I would be there for her as she was there for me now, but she wouldn't have to deal with the same degree of harassment as she had in the other timeline; and if what Nathan had done to her came to light, well she would be seen as the victim, and that was better than being seen as a slut, especially for Kate. I did my best to keep my head held high as we crossed campus, but I felt the tears in my eyes again; I hadn't been back to Blackwell all day since… well, since Chloe's death.

"Hey Max," Warren said as we approached. "I… I'm sorry about Chloe."

I frowned, how did Warren know who Chloe was, and that she meant something to me. I glanced across at Kate who looked a little sheepish but looked me back in the eyes and nodded. Of course she had given Warren a head's up; she knew that I needed my friends right now.

"Thanks Warren, I appreciate that," I nodded awkwardly.

Since when don't you do anything awkward?

"What do we know about Mr Jefferson?" Kate asked after a few moments.

"The police caught Nathan freaking out in the Dorms, managed to bring him out without a firefight though, he dropped his weapon after her shot your friend, he looked messed up as hell," Warren replied. "I think they interviewed him in Wells' office, then a few hours ago they took him away in a police car, Jefferson was then called in for questioning, and about an hour ago he was led out in cuffs."

"Does anyone know what they arrested him for?" I raised an eyebrow.

"No clue, I know a few people went and asked Principal Wells, and Victoria, Courtney and Taylor all tried to chat up the policemen, but no one is saying a thing, at least not for the moment," Warren shook his head. "Wells did say that he wanted to speak to you, Max, and to you Kate, as soon as you got back."

I shared a glance with Kate. Was it possible that Nathan had rolled over on Jefferson , telling the police everything about the Dark Room, and what he had done to Kate, in an effort to get some leniency for his murder of Chloe? That was an unpleasant thought; was I going to have to choose between justice for Chloe and justice for Rachel Amber, and all the other girls that Jefferson had so badly violated in the Dark Room. That wasn't a choice that I particularly wanted to make; I wanted Nathan to suffer for what he had done to Chloe, but could I allow my revenge to take away any chance for Kate, and Jefferson's other victims, to not get the closure they so needed and so deserved. Particularly when Chloe was dead and wasn't going to benefit from Nathan going down, whereas Kate and who knew how many others would take great comfort from Jefferson's incarceration.

I just hoped that I wouldn't have to make that that choice.

"Come on Max, we'll go see the Principal now," Kate said firmly. "Together."

"Together," I agreed.

Thanking Warren we made our way back towards the Main Building where two police officers were manning the police tape to stop anyone from going into the building. We explained to the two officers who we were and they immediately took us inside to where Principal Wells was sat in his office with a Detective who told us that as we were being questioned about separate matters we could be interviewed together if we wanted. Kate glanced with me but I was already nodding insistently, although I couldn't help but smile slightly at the smile that formed on her face at my frantic nodding. As we were taken into Wells' office and told to sit in the seats in front of the desk I felt my worry begin to return; it was a well known 'fact' that the Arcadia Bay Police was in the pocket of the Prescott Family, surely that wouldn't be enough to cover up a murder… but what if it was? Especially if it was combined with Nathan cutting a deal to sell out Jefferson.

They questioned me first, and I felt Kate take my hand and squeeze it tightly several times during the interview when I had to recount what I had seen in the bathroom and when I had to talk about Chloe actually dying. Not to be overly dramatic but I honestly don't think I would have been able to get through the questioning with my sanity intact without Kate grounding me, and I felt an outpouring of gratitude to her. It was pretty much instinctive that, when the questioning turned towards Kate, that I took her hand myself and squeezed it comfortingly.

From the questioning it was obvious that Nathan had indeed told the police what had been going on with Jefferson, what had happened in the Dark Room and that Kate had been one of his victims. It was obviously incredibly difficult for Kate to talk about this, and she gripped my hand tightly throughout the interview, not letting go. Fortunately the Detective was far more understanding and than he had been with me, only heightening my concerns that Nathan was, somehow, going to weasel his way out of the consequences, but at least it was easier for Kate.

Never the less, Kate's hand didn't leave mine for the entire duration of her interview, and she squeezed it tightly a few times, obviously needing the comfort of the physical contact, and I found that I did't mind in the slightest

"Thank You, Miss Marsh, I'll probably want to speak to you again, but I'm sure it's been a very difficult day for everyone," The Detective said finally, and I felt the relief flow through Kate as she sagged slightly in her chair. "I have nothing else for you either, Miss Caulfield."

We both felt a great deal of relief as Principal Wells didn't hold us any longer either and we were both able to escape out the door and soon enough we were outside once more. The sun was beginning to set and, unlike the Monday evening in the week that never was, there was no mystery snow, nothing to indicate that anything was amiss. At least that meant that the storm wasn't going to happen; that the world had sorted itself out and that Chloe's sacrifice had meant something. I had worried about that as well, what if we had been so damn wrong about it all, and Chloe's death had changed nothing.

"I can't believe that Nathan actually dropped Jefferson in it," Kate said softly. "That now we have proof that I didn't mean to do what I did in that video."

"Will it help with your parents?" I asked as we sat down on the edge of the fountain around the stature of Blackwell's founder.

"I don't know; I think my mother will still hold it against me; probably say that I shouldn't have gone to the party in the first place; she's right I suppose but you should see some of the things she's sent me Max," Kate shuddered, and I felt the sudden urge to put my arms around her shoulders, but I didn't for the moment. "Oh Max, I felt so alone this morning, when I thought that I had no one and that everyone thought I was some sort of slut, I can completely understand how I ended up on that roof in your timeline, but I should have known that you'd have helped me there as you have here… and who else but you would have?"

"And I always will, Kate, I promise," I replied instantly.

Whatever else I might have to deal with, I wouldn't let Kate ever feel alone and without friends again. She might not need it as much as she had in that other timeline, but I still remembered how depressed she had been, and I still remembered how my heart had caught in my throat as I saw her plummet to the ground, only saved by my rewind powers. Never again would I let her have to face everything alone, her being there for me this morning had only strengthened that desire.

"Thank You, Max, as I said, you've never lied to me before," Kate replied with a sad smile. "And I'll always be there to help you too."

"I know," I replied.

We looked into each other's eyes for a few moments, seeing only truth and affection in each other's eyes. We only looked away when we realised just how long we had been holding each other's gaze, and Kate's cheeks turned a very interesting shade of pink even as I realised that mine were heating as well. Not that I minded, she looked cute as hell when she blushed.

Wait…What!?

Since when did I look at Kate, or any girl for that matter, and decide that they looked cute when they blushed… since when did I decide that any girl looked cute at all for that matter, outside of an objective assessment of their physical appearance. I had always academically known that Kate was beautiful, in her shy, understated sort of way, but I'd never looked at her and declared her 'cute' particularly because of a specific thing as intimate as noticing that she was blushing.

Well… Caulfield, that's something for you to start turning over in your mind all night!

"We should probably be heading back to our dorms," Kate said at last, breaking the awkward silence.

And just like that the awkwardness was gone, and we were back to being just Max and Kate, and we walked in companionable silence across the campus until we reached the Prescott Dormitory. There was still a lot of people milling about in the open space in front of the Dorms, and we got a few strange looks, but for the most part we ignored them, our head held high, as we made our way up the steps and into the building. It was quite on the Girls' Corridor as we made our way towards our respective rooms, most people still outside. I noticed that a lot of people had changed their whiteboard messages to say things like 'Justice for Chloe', and I couldn't help but feel the urge to throw-up, how many of these people, if any, had even known Chloe? And yet here they were, declaring their outrage at her murder. I suppose I ought to be grateful for the support, but it just felt like people jumping on the bandwagon of a tragedy; it would certainly be interesting to find out how many people had actually known Chloe.

"Well this is me, Max," Kate commented as we stood outside her dorm, I noticed that her board was lacking in any sort of unpleasant insult, an improvement to say the least. "Are you going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine, I'm just down the corridor," I promised. "Are you?"

"I'll be fine," Kate repeated with a slight smile. "Text if you need me, okay?"

I nodded and mustered a smile as Kate slipped into her room. I remained looking at door for a good few minutes before I realised what I was doing, and only then because another voice snapped me back to reality.

"You okay, Max?" Dana asked quietly, standing in the door to her room.

"No," I replied truthfully, glancing over at her. "But I will be."

Dana looked unconvinced, and I could see concern in her eyes. Whilst me and Dana hadn't been particularly close, we were friendly and, if the other timeline was anything to go off we could become good friends, something I had to make sure I encouraged in this timeline as well. Chloe in the other timeline had brought me out of my shell, and I had started making friends with several others at Blackwell, and to my surprise I had discovered that I had actually enjoyed it; that beneath sometimes prickly exteriors most of the people at Blackwell were a decent sort. Including of course a certain Christian girl who looked cute when she blushed.

Damnit Caulfield!

"Seriously Dana, I'll be fine," I reassured her. "Thank you for the concern though."

"Anytime… listen, we'll have a chat tomorrow, alright?" Dana replied. "But you should get to bed, you look beat Max."

"I will," I nodded. "Goodnight Dana."

"Goodnight, Max."

I made my way along the corridor to my dorm room, and looked back in time to watch as Trevor stuck his head through the door leading to the stairs and crept over to the waiting Dana who greeted him with a passionate kiss before pulling him into her room. Despite everything that had happened I couldn't help but smile at this and roll my eyes as I slipped into my own room. Stripping out of my clothes and pulling on my pyjamas gratefully lay down on my bed; asleep before my head hit the pillow.