Destruction, destroyed homes and ruined lives, that's all that Max could see as Her and Chloe drove back to the now ruined town of Arcadia Bay. Chloe could easily tell that Max was bothered. I hate seeing her like this, why can't she just stop beating herself up over this?

Chloe did her best to no show any sadness when driving down the main road of the small town. It wasn't as bad as the day they left, but it still looked horrible.

"You know it's funny, I always say how I wanted this town to burn or blow up, but now actually seeing it, it's fucking wrong" Chloe said, trying to her best to lightening the mood, and failing terribly.

"I'm sorry" Max murmurs.

"Stop it Max, please. You have nothing to be sorry for" Chloe said in a serious tone, keeping her eye out for debris.

The rest of the drive was silent as the two pulled into the drive of Chloes home. They sat there as Chloe looked up at the house. Several tiles from the roof had been ripped off, along with a lot of wooden planks. To top it off there was now a massive hole in the garage roof.

"God" Chloe whispered.

Max remained silent. Seeing this isn't helping her, now she'll feel even worse, Chloe thought. Slowly the two exit the truck and made their way to the front door. Chloe let out a breath and opened the door. Chloe could see cardboard over where the sliding door use to be and other damages from the storm.

"Mom" she called "David" no reply.

"Ah, where the fuck are they?' Chloe grumbled and pulled out her phone and called Joyce.

"Mom, me and Max are at the house where are you?" she asked and listened to the response.

As this happened Chloe saw Max slowly walk towards the main living area, a saddened look on her face.

"The diner?" Chloe asked, slightly shocked by the answer, Why would they be there?

"Alright, me and Max will be there soon, yea, love ya to" Chloe said and hung up the phone and went straight to Max.

By now Max was standing like a statue in the living area, looking at the damage. The small girl turned back around when she heard Chloe come closer. Before the blue haired girl could say anything Max rushed over and pulled her into a hug.

"Oh god Chloe, I'm so sorry, I did this" Max sobbed.

"Max stop, this isn't your fault" Chloe said into her ear.

"But I caused this Chloe, it's all my fault, all of it" Max cried.

Damn it Max, I don't know what to say, Chloe thought to herself. Instead she held the small girl in her arms for as long as she needed. Max stayed there for a while, crying and holding onto Chloe for her life, fearing that she may be gone like she had seen so many times before.

"I never want to lose you again Chloe, never, please don't leave me" Max begged, her head in Chloes' chest.

"Max, I'll never leave you, I promise that" Chloe sternly said.


The rusty truck pulled into the parking lot, Chloe mentally grimaced at seeing the look Max had looking at the two Whales diner. The building had seen better days, the billboard on the roof was now gone and several windows were boarded up. Chloe took a deep breath and looked over to her Max.

"Hey, you ok?" she asked and rubbed the girls shoulder for comfort.

"I guess" Max mumbled and hoped out of the truck, followed by Chloe.

The two made their way into the diner, very few people were inside. Joyce sat in a booth near the end of the building with David, the two seemed to be in a sad conversation. One person that did catch Maxs' eye was Warren.

"Warren" Max said and made her way over.

"Max" Warren replied and pulled her into a sudden hug.

Max at first was shocked quickly responded by hugging the boy back, she knew he had a crush on her, but thought that this was more out of relief than anything.

"I'm so glad you're ok" Warren said and pulled away from the embrace.

"I'm glad to see you're ok as well Warren, what's that?" Max asked when she saw a pen and paper where the boy had been sitting at the counter.

"Oh, that" his tone took a much more sadder tone.

"It's a list" Warren said and handed the paper to Max.

"Of what?" Max already knew but didn't want to say.

"Those who, who didn't live through the storm" Warren, a few tears in his eyes.

"Oh god" Max gasped at the list.

Taylor Christensen

Alyssa Anderson

Stella Hill

Dana Ward

Courtney Wagner

Daniel DaCosta

Evan Harris

Hayden Jones

"Jesus" Chloe whispered as she read the list over Maxs' shoulder.

"Yea, it's not good, It's good you came back today you two, we're holding a memorial later today for them, you gonna come to it?" Warren asked.

Max had to choke back tears "Yea Warren, of course, we'll both be there".

Max felt a soft hand rub her back in comfort, turning she saw Chloe looking down at her with kindness "Max, we should go see mom and David".

Max nodded "See you later Warren"

"See you later Max" Warren said and went back to the list, staring at it blankly.

The two girls continued down the diner until they found themselves standing in front of the booth where Joyce and David were sitting. As soon as they got there Joyce stood and pulled Chloe into a massive hug.

"Oh Chloe, I'm so happy to see you're ok" Joyce said and pulled harder.

"It's good to see you to Mom, but I need air" Chloe begged and was released from the hug.

"Oh god, thank goodness you're ok" Joyce then turned and saw Max standing there.

Without saying anything Joyce wrapped Max in a hug as well "You as well Max, thank goodness both of you are fine" Joyce pulled away and saw the look on Maxs face.

"Max, what's the matter?" the mother asked.

"Oh, just, just thinking of that list Warren was writing" Max said.

Joyce let out a breath, "It's horrible what happened, but nothing could have been done about it" Joyce explained, trying to make Max a little bit happy.

"Yea, I guess" Max replied.

Damn it Mom, if only you knew, Max, nothing could have been done, Chloe thought.

The trio stood and said nothing; finally David stood up and spoke up. "Along with that, the school's in pieces, just, so much rubble" David didn't finish his sentence, instead looked at the ground.

"He had to help find those bodies" Joyce whispered in Chloes ear.

God, that must have been horrible. "I'm glad you're ok to, David" Chloe said.

David seemed to brighten at the sound of his name instead of something like step douche, "And I'm happy that both of you aren't hurt, it's good you got out of Arcadia Bay when you did" the man said.

Chloe nodded "Warren said that they're holding a memorial up at the school, or what's left of it I guess, me and Max we're gonna go up to it, after that"

"We we're going to go to Portland, right Chloe?" Max finished and looked at the older girl.

Chloe looked down at the girl and smiled "Yea, it's probably best for both of us to get out of Arcadia Bay for a while".

Joyce nodded "I understand, I think we might need to take a break from the bay soon as well, right David?"

David looked at her and nodded "After we get the repairs to the house done that sounds good".

"Right well, me and Max are gonna go up to Blackwell, we'll stop by the house just before leave" Chloe said and hugged Joyce again, "And I am glad that both of you survived that fucking storm".

Joyce waved them off and David nodded, the two girls sat in Chloes' truck. The bluenette lit up a smoke and took a deep inhale.

"This is so fucked up, so fucked up" Chloe muttered.

"And I caused, I killed all those people Chloe" Max said, looking put the stationary window.

"Shut up, you did nothing wrong Max, you hear me!" Chloe turned to her.

"But Chloe, I did this" Max turned, tears once more down her cheeks.

"You saved me, and to be honest, as bad as a person I may sound when I say this, I'm glad you chose me. If you went back, I would have forgotten all of this, that kiss, the swimming pool, you, everything" Chloe tried her best to keep her emotions at bay.

"I never want to lose you Max, never" the blue haired rebel shuffled over so her shoulders were touching the smaller girls.

"And I don't want to lose you, that's why I chose what I did, but still" Max looked at her feet but felt a hand gentle hand bring her to eye contact.

Chloe looked at her, her cigarette now in the truck ash tray. Chloe didn't say anything, instead she leaned in and pressed her lips against the smaller girls own lips. Max didn't do anything, instead she accepted the kiss with closed eyes. It wasn't a passionate kiss, but it left its mark.

"I love you Max, and I never want to lose you" Chloe said to her, her hand still on the brunettes chin.

"And I love you Chloe, always".