Warning: Strong language advisory.

Chloe Price had just hung up the last of the missing Rachel Amber posters in godforsaken Blackwell Acadamy when she noticed Nathan Prescott walking into the girls bathroom.

Well, well, well, it looks like Nathan rich-boy Prescott is dropping into the girl's bathroom? I'm gonna to get to the bottom of this.

She confidentally strode over to the bathroom door and shoved it open. After greeting Nathan sarcastically, she started pushing open bathroom stalls, "Hoped you checked the perimeter, like my step-ass would say."

She smirked before she pushed open the stall.

"Surprise!" shouted a girl, throwing her arms exaggeratingly in the air. Her hair was short with little bangs. Her familiar blue eyes sparkled with determination and freckles danced across her nose. Her ordinary hipster clothing barely flattered the petite beautiful frame she had. The girl was cute. Was it really…?

"Max…?" she whispered. Chloe's face changed from a smirk to a look of puzzlement.

Nathan was the quickest to recover. He had noticably flinched when Max boisterously surprised the two of them. "What are you doing in here, bitch?"

If this were 5 years ago, Chloe would have prepared a verbal barb that would have protected her more passive best friend from verbal assault. This time, it was Max who was prepared.

"I could ask you the same thing, Nathan Prescott. After all, we are in the girl's bathroom!"

There was a look on Max's face that Chloe had never seen before. It wasn't anger necessarily, it was a look of confidence. In fact, and this was probably the most stunning, Chloe could not remember a time where Max looked and acted more confident.

Nathan scoffed. "Please, my father owns this school! Every room is practically mine."

"Funny that you mention it. What would it look like if Nathan Prescott was caught red handed in the girls bathroom? What would your father say?" She gasps and lifts her camera. "What sort of rumors would start?"

Nathan puts his hands up to cover his face. "Whatever." He flips Max the bird and walks out of the room.

"That was so fucking badass!" Chloe shouts excitedly as the door shuts. She couldn't help herself with that. She would deal with Nathan Prescott later, but now...

She then looks Max up and down. "So this is it?"

"Chloe… I…"

"No, Max! You leave me for 5 years! Five. Fucking. Years. And this is how we reunite? In the girl's fucking bathroom in this town's shittiest school? Oh, and not to mention, the first time I hear your voice is when you're owning that rich douche bag!"

"Chloe, I can explain…" Chloe shakes her head. She walks over to the sink and desperately fetches a cigarette out of her pocket. As she searches for her lighter, she asks coldly, "Why did you come back, huh? Was it for Blackwell? Cause you sure as hell didn't call me or even fucking text me since you've been here." She lights up her cigarette as Max approaches the sink.

"You want to know why I came back?" Max had the cajones to ask.

"Yes, Max," she said after a drag. "I do."

Max took off a necklace she had hidden under her shirt. Chloe noticed the necklace was 3 bullets with a black band weaved through. "I came back because you died."

"How did you get-?" As Chloe spoke she felt her neckline, her necklace was still there. Then, Max's words hit her. "I died? What the hell are you talking about, Max?"

"I mean just what I'm saying, Chloe." She pulled out her journal and flipped to a section of poloroids. She stopped at a photo of Chloe dancing on her bed, a blunt in her fingers. "How did you get this?" she demanded.

"Would you believe traveling through time?" her friend smiled reassuringly. She seemed tired. More than Chloe had ever seen her.

"Maximus," she said squeezing the bridge of her nose with her fingers. "What you're suggesting is hella insane!"

"Chloe", the girl said, putting her hand on her shoulder. "Please. I have never been more serious. Just read what I have entered in my journal. I know what happened to Rachel."

Chloe's eyes widened in surprise. Her heart started racing. "Don't fuck with me, Caulfield. You know what happened to Rachel?!"

"Chloe! As your best friend, your first mate, you have to believe me!" Max's blue eyes implored Chloe's to believe in her. If there is one thing Chloe Price valued above all else, ironically, was the truth. Despite the evidence thrown her way, it was the desperate look on her friend's face that truly made Chloe believe.

And, strangely, want to kiss her.

"Okay, Max." Chloe replied, trying and slowly succeeding in calming the hysteria flowing through her veins. She put out her cigarette on the sink. "I believe you."

Max breathed a very audible sigh of relief. "Thank dog."

"You came all the way back for me?"

"Of course I did," she replied before pulling Chloe in for a hug. "I love you, Chloe. You can't imagine what life was like without you."

"I can't believe you're serious." Chloe said into Max's ear. "I died and you came back through time to save me!"

"Well, duh, Captain Bluebeard. What else would First Mate Max Attack do?"

The two pulled away with grins on their respective faces. Max obviously overjoyed with having her friend back. Chloe, on the same note, was overwelmed with a mixture of emotions. She found herself leaning in for a kiss…

"Whoa, what are you doing?" Max stepped back, a rueful smile on her face.

Chloe, for once, was at a loss for words. She found herself sputtering. "I… uh… Max… uh…"

The other girl giggled, the sound sent a mixture of relief and shame through Chloe. Her face started heating up in embarrasment.

"It's okay, Chloe. I can tell we are both a little over stimulated right now. Besides, I'm actually taken."

"Ooh," Chloe said, her curiosity overcoming her. "Who is she? Or should I say he? You have been using protection right?"

She took satisfaction in Max's vermilion blush. She found herself grateful for the change in conversation and that they could fall so easily into step with their friendship. Chloe was happy. She almost forgot what it felt like.

"We… uh… we haven't gotten that far... ". If possible she blushed even harder. "You might know him though, he's actually-".

Without warning, Max grabbed her head and moaned in sheer agony. Blood started dripping from her nose. "Maximus Prime! Are you okay?" Chloe started to panic for her friend. She grabbed a couple of towels and gave them to Max to staunch the blood flow.

"No, not now! I need more time!" Max moaned desperately.

"Max? What's going on?"

"I can feel myself going back to the present I live in now. I'm trying to stop it, and buy us time so I can explain more."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Just listen. I won't be able to hang on for much longer! Once I go back to the present, the Max that exists in this timeline would have no clue of anything! I doubt she'll recognize you!"

Thank God that Chloe was a closet sci-fi movie fan or else she never would've understood what Max was talking about.

Max, still holding her head, glanced up at her friend. Her breathing was shaky, but she was able to take a deep breathes and begin her explaination. As she started talking, Chloe noticed the bathroom door. Or rather, the handle. It started jiggling.

Someone was coming in.

"Warren Graham?" Chloe asked in disbelief.

"Present," he replied with a smile. He shot a nervous glance at Chloe and a pained expression at Max. "I'm assuming you told her?"

"Wait," Chloe shouted, flabbergasted. "You know too? How the fuck does everyone know but me?"

Both Warren and Max ignored her comment. "Max, you went back in time before I could take my hand off your shoulder. I must have traveled back with you."

"I'm so glad to see you, Warren. But how do we know if I go back you will too?"

"We don't…"

Chloe looked back and forth between the couple. Then it hit her.

"Wait, you're with him, aren't you?"

They ignored her. "I have a theory, Max. You said your powers activated after Chloe got shot right? But when you prevented her death, you still had your powers. What if something else caused your powers?"

As Max digested this, Chloe impulsively asked, "Wait, I got shot and died here?"

They ignored her again. Which annoyed her.

Suddenly, Max grabbed her photography school book out of her bag. She walked over to the sink and smacked her book against the wall. A beautiful blue butterfly fell dead to the floor.

Almost instantly, her headache cleared. Her nose stopped bleeding.

She smiled, "I think I did it."

Then her eyes rolled back. She started to fall.

"Oh shit!" both Warren and Chloe cried as Max crumpled to the ground. Fortunately too. Since Max slumped rather than fell, she didn't hit her head on the floor. The last thing the poor girl needed was a concussion.

"What the hell just happened, Warren?" Chloe shouted, her annoyance overcome with anxiety.

"I'm only assuming here. I believe that Max realized that that butterly is the root of her powers. By killing it, I believe she lost her powers."

"So she can't go back to the present? You're stuck in this timeline?"

Warren almost looked impressed. "I think so. It seems the most rational conclusion."

Chloe thought about it for a moment. While the two were talking, they had kneeled next to Max's unconscious body. The two talked over her, both in a protective stance.

"I still have almost no idea what is going on here, Warren."

"Max thankfully explained it to me before she traveled back here to save you. I can probably fill you in on whatever is left while she's… asleep?"

Chloe nodded to him, accepting his offer. The two looked at Max. She sort of looked peaceful. "This is the strangest day of my life," Chloe muttered.

"You're telling me," Warren answered. "If someone told me I was going to be traveling in time this morning, I would've told them to fuck off."

Chloe was a little surprised the nerd would cuss. She imagined him being more of a goody two shoes.

"Well, I mean… Er… in the past timeline…"

She offered him a smile, "I know what you meant, nerd."

Warren smiled back warmly. "We should probably go somewhere with her. It'll look weird if someone comes in and finds us kneeling over her unconsious body."

"Yeah. Especially since I'm not supposed to be here."

"Especially. So, where should we take her? We could try her dorm?"

"Maybe. But I definitely don't need to be caught by Sergeant Shithead, Blackwell's finest security guard. Not in the dorms. Let's take her to my house! My mom doesn't come home til late tonight and I can distract step-shit so he comes home later."

Warren shrugged. "That works. Less of a risk. How do you suppose we get her out of here?"

"Depends. Can you carry her?"

"Chloe, you literally just called me a nerd about a minute ago."

She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Well, I'll help you get her up. Let her lean against you. Leverage and shit. I'll go pull the fire alarm and distract Dictator Dipshit. The students and faculty will clear out and most likely go to the main campus. There's an exit in the teacher's lounge that leads directly to the parking lot. I know it from my troublesome teenage angst days. Anyway, take that and go to my truck. It's the shitty rusty brown one. Can't miss it, like that zit on your nose."

Warren subconsciously touched his snoz. "Hey, there isn't a zit on here."

"Wow, you're hella gullible," Chloe laughed. Warren smiled in good humor. "C'mon. Let's get this geek up."

The two newfound friends each took one of Max's shoulders and hoisted her upright as gently as possible. They walked her over to the door where Chloe deposited Max to Warren. "Take care of her will ya?"

"Always."

She nodded and opened the door slowly. She peeked out. A couple of students still mosied around the hallway. None were headed to towards the bathroom, but they would easily see Warren half-carry Max to her truck. Chloe turned and walked over to the back of the room. She approached the fire alarm with a large, mischievous grin on face. "Oops."

The blue haired girl pulled the alarm. Instantly, sirens and warnings blared throughout the school. Chloe returned to the door and peaked. The remaining students were rushing to the exits. Then, David Madsen walked out of an office nearby. Chloe closed the door softly. She turned to Warren, "I'll distract Captain Cockhole while you make the escape. I'll tap my foot on the door when you should leave. Count about 30 seconds then get out to the truck as fast as you can."

Warren nodded in agreement.

Chloe was just about to open the door when she heard Warren. "Uh, Chloe?"

"What?"

"Keys?"

"Oh, right," she dumbly stated and tossed him her car keys.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

She opened the door and was met with the moustacheoued monstrocity that was her step father. She leaned against the door casually and crossed her arms.

"Chloe," he said, crossing his arms. "How am I not surprised."

Chloe sarcastically saluted, "Attention Agent Asshole!"

"Enough with the disrespect, Chloe. Why are you on Blackwell school grounds?"

"I came to talk to Justin, okay? Now lay off."

"About what? Don't tell me it's about drugs."

Chloe remained silent.

"Well, Chloe! Any day now!"

"You said, 'Don't tell me it's about drugs.' Therefore, I'm not speaking. Honestly, you played yourself with that one."

"Jesus, Chloe! What the hell am I going to do with you?!"

Chloe gasped, "Language!"

David narrowed his eyes at her. "Please tell me it wasn't you that pulled that fire alarm."

"Hakuna Matata, Step Douche. I was only in there to take a leak before finding Justin. That's it."

Before David could reply, a bald suited man joined the coversation. "Mr. Madsen," said Principal Wells, "and Chloe Price. What a 'lovely' surprise."

Chloe narrowed her eyes at the Principal. Her expression turned sour. She didn't say anything.

"Mr. Madsen, the fire alarm seems to be going off. As I recall, it's your job to investigate and turn the damn thing off."

David was tempted to protest, but he knew it would do no good. With one last look at Chloe, he strode off to deal with the alarm.

"Ms. Price, as you are well aware, you are not supposed to be on campus after your expulsion."

Chloe rolled her eyes in response. "Oh, I know, Raymond. I just came to talk to one of your students. If I remember correctly, it is not a crime to do that. Also, I am aware classes end right now. So, in summary, you can bite me."

Principal Wells didn't even flinch. "Someday, Ms. Price, I hope you learn a trait called, 'Respect for your elders' it could prove useful someday."

"I only show respect for those who've earned it."

"Nevertheless, the point stands that you should not be on campus. It is my duty to escort you out."

"I can handle myself thanks."

"One would hope so, although since Mr. Madsen is preoccupied, I must be the one to escort you to the parking lot."

I can't let him follow me to the parking lot. He'll see Max and assume the worst. Mostly because they would be with me. Chloe thinks to herself.

"Don't you have more important things to do? Like scare freshman? Or, I know! How about finding out who actually pulled the fire alarm? And don't even try to insinuate it was me. There is absolutely no reason I would pull a fire alarm. I don't even have classes to skip."

After some thought, Wells replied, "I suppose you are right. I will choose to believe you, this time. However, I will walk you to the entrance. I trust you can find your own way to the parking lot."

"Fine," she tapped the bathroom door with her foot and calmly followed Principal Wells to the front entrance of the school. She walked as slow as she casually could, given the situation.

Hopefully this buys the nerd enough time. I can see why she likes him.

She removed the thought from her mind and stopped at the entrance.

"Stay out of trouble, Ms. Price."

"Don't I always?"

"Hmph."

Wells opened the door and she casually walked through. She took her time, her hands in her pockets, while walking to the parking lot. She hummed tunelessly as she passed. It actually felt nice outside for early October.

Did Max seriously travel through time to save my ungrateful ass? Did Nathan fucking Prescott actually shoot and kill me in a bathroom? This is hella insane.

How the hell did Max get a boyfriend? The two seemed like they were practically in love by the way they looked at each other.

Chloe was a very vulgar indiviual. She tried to imagine the two being intimate, but she couldn't picture it.

As long as she's happy. I can't believe I tried to kiss her.

Her emotions had been running high, she knew. She couldn't figure out what she meant by the kiss. She always thought Max was beautiful, but did she ever like her as more than a best friend?

Even if she did, Max had gotten really goo goo eyed with Warren. Hell, even in severe pain the mere sight of the nerd made Max smile like Mark Jefferson just told her she had the prettiest picture.

She fought hard to extinguish the jealousy that erupted in her heart. It was unfair to Max, who had just risked everything it sounds like to save Chloe, that she would feel that way. Chloe was sort of a closet geek herself. She knew that if Warren had not been able to follow her into this timeline, Max would have potentially been giving up her happiness with Warren just to save her life.

She decided then to give Warren a chance. She had given him one when they were in the bathroom, and he had proven himself to be smart, reliable, clever, honest and even a little funny. Though she could tell he was a little awkward, he so far inhabited all the traits that Chloe admired.

Hell, she could use more friends. Max had (hopefully) told Warren a lot about her, and Max seems trust him and his opinion. She'll give him a chance.

"Hey," Warren said, breaking her from her thoughts. "I have her seatbelted in. You wanna drive?"

"Yeah." Warren tossed her the keys. Chloe caught them and put her ass in the driver seat. She put them in the ignition and the truck came alive with a roar. "It helps me concentrate. So, talk."

Warren got in the seat farthest from Chloe. Max slumped in the middle seat. Her head rested on Warren's shoulder as she slept. He smiled at her and put his arm over shoulders. He kissed her head and she smiled in her unconscious state. Chloe tried to ignore them.

Vomit. Adorable overload.

"God, where do I begin?" Warren muttered.

He told her as much as he remembered. He started from what transpired the day Max first used her powers and got all the way to Kate's suicide attempt before Chloe stopped him.

"Holy shit, Graham cracker. This is one hella story. You're telling me I died, at least, like, 5 times in two days, and Kate tried to kill herself and Max saved us every time? She's like a fucking superhero!" she said excitedly.

"That's exactly what I'm saying and I'm not even halfway done." Warren replied. He scratched the back of his head as Chloe gave him a look of expectation. He looked out the window for a little bit and pondered whether or not he should continue before they arrived.

Fortunately for him, Chloe would park in her driveway. He took his and Max's seatbelt off. Chloe went around the truck to assist him. Gingerly, the two dragged Max out of the truck.

"Let her piggypack you."

"What?"

"She's your girlfriend, dude. You do the heavy lifting."

Warren blushed a deep scarlet but he didn't argue. To be honest, he never thought he'd be in a situation like this. He knelt on the ground and Chloe helped Max get on Warren's back. He wrapped his arms around her knees and hoisted her up.

"Lighter than I thought."

"You're surprised? Warren, she is literally a stick."

"Point taken." The two chuckled as Chloe led the way into her house. She led him upstairs and guided him to her bed. There, she helped Warren gently lay Max on her bed and they covered her up.

"So what now?" asked Warren.

"Now," said Chloe with a big smile on her face. "Warren Graham, we medicate."

Sorry for the shorter chapter, but since it's shorter I can get it out faster to you guys. I hope you enjoyed. It was definitely challenging but ultimately a ton of fun writing Chloe. On the same note, I hope I'm writing a potential bond between Warren and Chloe well. It's a lot of fun to write this, because I don't think too many people would see them be friends.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed, I'm honestly just surprised this story is getting so much attention! I'm eternally grateful to all of you.

Holywoodunderfed