Author's notes: Well, soon apparently means 9 weeks later... I'm terribly sorry this took so long to come out, but with the end of Season 1 of Life is Strange, I have newfound interest to write this story again. So, hope you enjoy and sorry again! .

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Chloe waited patiently outside the changing "box" as Max was inside, putting her bikini on. Chloe hadn't realized before now that she was about to show her terribly scarred body to someone she cared about, not to mention to the other people on the beach.

Why would Max like it if I loathe it?

Chloe's mood was downcast, but she knew she had to go through with this anyhow. It was her idea and after all that talk in the car, she couldn't back out now. Chloe sighed deeply and soon after the door opened and Max stepped outside from the box.

Chloe was immediately envious. Max's body was so smooth and pure looking. She wasn't toned or curvy, but her body wasn't deformed. Chloe turned her gaze away after a while, causing Max to tilt her head questioningly.

"You okay Chloe?" Max asked in a worried tone.

"I'm fine, it's just that... Your body is so… perfect." Chloe's words could be taken in quite a few different ways and Max's interpretation was quite different from what Chloe actually meant.

"Oh… I uh… Thanks?" Max stuttered a bit, clearly liking the compliment from someone more matured than her, but when Chloe shook her head, Max was even more confused.

"You misunderstood. Well, surely, your body is very… desirable, but that's not what I meant." Chloe felt like she should just bury herself in the sand right now and disappear.

"You're confusing me Chloe." Max said in a gentle and teasing tone.

"Just, wait here a sec and I'll change to my bikini. Then you'll see what I meant." Chloe huffed in frustration as she entered the box.

Max couldn't help but chuckle a bit at her friend. Chloe usually wasn't this embarrassed or awkward, but it was… cute and fun to witness.

When Chloe stepped outside, Max's reaction was quite what Chloe had expected. She looked shocked, but not disgusted. It was something; something more than Chloe had dared to hope.

"Chloe…" Max nearly whimpered in a low, hushed tone.

"See now what I meant?" Chloe said in a defeated tone, but Max shook her head.

"You may have a few scars, but they don't matter as long as you don't change Chloe, as a person. Our bodies are only the vessels for our soul or something poetic like that."

Chloe burst out laughing and Max couldn't keep a serious face either.

"You're such a dork. Come, let's return our clothes and such to the car." Chloe managed to say after her laughter began to die down. Chloe felt so stupid for even thinking about the possibility that Max might feel disgust towards her. She is too kind and caring to ever harbor such feelings.

"And there. Let's just leave the key inside. If somebody cares enough to steal this piece of shit someone once called a car, I say, let them have it." Chloe joked as they finished stuffing their clothes in the backseat. Max chuckled a little as she slammed the door shut before starting to follow Chloe back towards the beach.

"This beach is so serene, almost like it isn't even part of the rotting carcass of Arcadia Bay." Chloe said melancholily as she sat down on the soft sand close to the water line. Max sat down beside her and admired the sun, which was just at the perfect height.

"So beautiful…" Max spoke in a dreamy tone, which brought a pleasant smile to Chloe's face.

"Thanks sunshine." Chloe jested and watched as Max turned towards her with a mischievous look on her face. When Max began to pile up sand into her palm, Chloe knew she was in trouble.

"Oh no, don't you dare Maxine Caulfield, I will fucking-…" Chloe tried to resist it but Max splattered her body with the semi-hot sand. Chloe didn't stay stunned for long and tackled Max down so that she couldn't toss more sand at her. They rolled around in the sand, wrestling like they were still kids.

When Chloe suddenly stopped rolling around, they found themselves in a very intimate situation, Chloe hovering dominantly over Max, with her hands pinning Max down to the ground. Chloe stared at Max and when their eyes met, Max leaned upwards, catching Chloe's lips between her own.

After a second long shock, Chloe kissed back. The sensations in her body were incredible and she could feel goosebumps in her arms. Max felt the same sensations as Chloe could feel her tremble beneath her. The kiss didn't last that long, but when they broke apart, their eyes couldn't move.

"I'm so glad you came back."

"Me too."

The words were simple, but the situation was anything but that. As the bliss of the moment wore off, Chloe started to remember what had happened last time, when she was previously in love with someone. Images of her and Rachel, lying at the same exact beach, came to haunt her mind, along with Rachel's last moments.

Max could see the building terror in Chloe's eye, but couldn't stop Chloe from jumping away from her and sitting down at the sand next to her. Chloe curled up, her legs drawn close to her chest and her head resting on her knees.

It won't happen to Max, it can't happen to Max, I won't let it happen to Max…

"Chloe?" Max asked in the most gentlest of tones as she carefully placed her hands on Chloe's shoulders. Chloe slightly trembled and looked at Max, but saw only the cliff that was past her head.

No, no, no, no, no…

"I'm here Chloe, talk to me. It's Rachel, isn't it?" Max continued in that gentle tone and Chloe nodded weakly.

"Can we just… get away from here? Somewhere more… secluded?" Chloe asked in a weak tone that Max hadn't heard before. She kindly nodded and helped Chloe to her feet. Max knew that whatever this was, between them, it wouldn't be so simple. They weren't kids anymore and Chloe wasn't like before. Max smiled a little as she let go of Chloe at the car.

Whatever obstacles we might face, getting through them will be worth it. Today proved that, without a doubt. Let's just hope that the obstacles don't take any more of my Chloe away…

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