R1 Friday Evening

Chloe raised the newspaper over her face as she put her feet on the table and leaned back in her chair. She read the article intently for a moment, scanning the lines. "Alright, Max, this is it, just like I've been saying." Max laid curled on the motel bed, her eyes swollen and red. She didn't respond at all but only stared ahead at the wall. "Here it is, word for word: 'Nearly two weeks ago, both the property and land of Arcadia Bay faced devastating damage from an unexpected tornado, but thankfully, the cost of human life was minimal. Finale estimates are 5 dead, 14 minor injuries, and 3 critical.'"

There was a glimmer in Max's eyes as she looked away from the wall towards the newspaper covering Chloe's face. Almost sensing this, Chloe lowered the newspaper just below her eye line, looking at Max. "Holy shit, she's alive!"

Max's head reamed with disorientation, feeling disconnected from herself. She could barely make the words come out. "Chloe, is this ... real?"

Chloe threw the paper down with astonishment. "You ... talked." She jumped out of the seat and leaped at her. Max's eyes became alarmed as her body twitched back reflexively. Before she knew it, Chloe was on top of her, their heads side by side and arms wrapped around each other. "Welcome back, Max. Now stay with me, dammit." Max was comforted by the contact but continued feeling foggy. Chloe finally registered the meaning of her words. "This shit's as real as it gets, Max; today's newspaper, I swear."

It was easier to speak this time as if Chloe's embrace gave her the will and strength. "No, I mean, I feel so out of it, like I'm still trying to wake up from something. How has it been two weeks, but I feel like ... it just happened? Like we were just there?"

Chloe backed away a little, laying beside her and looking concerned. "You don't remember anything after we left?"

It was hard for Max to focus on anything in her head. "It's like a faded dream; I know I wasn't unconscious, but I wasn't conscious either." She began to feel distressed from the awareness of her lack of clarity. "What's wrong with me?"

Chloe looked sympathetic yet determined. "Whatever it is, it's over now. It's time to move forward in time, Max."

"Right now, I don't think I even know which way forward is ... and I'm so tired."

Chloe rolled her eyes as she sighed, "Max, you've been asleep for two weeks straight."

Max began to feel frustrated. "Well, I don't feel like I was; as I said, I wasn't asleep or awake." She became confused by her own words. "Look, I don't know what I was, OK? I can't even think straight."

Chloe responded cynically in a mildly playful way, "Oh, and it's so good to see you, Chloe; thanks for bathing and feeding me, Chloe; and helping me shit in the toilet, Chloe."

Max's frustration was abruptly interrupted by her amusement, making her smile whimsically. "Yeah, that too." She paused a moment, beginning to feel insensitive as her smile faded to a new sentiment. "Seriously though, thanks for putting up with me; ... love you."

Chloe responded reflexively, "Don't get mushy on me, ya goop." She quickly seemed to regret her words; her features began to soften as she hesitantly reflected Max's sentiment. "But yeah ... love you too."

Max smiled to herself. "The last time you called me a goop, we were kids."

Chloe's face hardened again as she responded coolly, "I remember vividly; it was a great day until about that time."

Max fully recalled, feeling stupid now. "Sorry, I forgot."

Chloe looked critical. "Max, enough with the regrets; what's done is done."

"I know, I feel like a weight's been lifted," her eyes cast down with unease, "but not all of it."

Chloe's hand gently took her chin and lifted it as her eyes looked up again hesitantly. "Like I've been saying, you did what you had to do."

Doubt coursed through her. "But still ... five people."

Chloe pleaded with an edge of remorse, "It was either them or me, Max."

"And if I could do it again, I'd make the same choice; ... it scares me." Her tears began to flow.

Chloe moved closer and put a hand behind her, pulling her head against her shoulder. "At least I won't need a shower today; who needs fucking tap water when you have the plentiful tears of Max Caulfield." An unexpected grunt of laughter interrupted her tears. Chloe sounded mockingly pleased. "Holy shit, consciousness AND a laugh? It's my hella lucky day."

Max brought her head in front of Chloe with a fond smile. "You always knew how to bring humor into anything."

As Chloe returned the smile and their eyes met, a spirit of sincerity and warmth seemed to transform Chloe's countenance. Max was startled; the last time she saw this side of Chloe was on the cliff by the lighthouse, but this time, there wasn't any fear.

Chloe's hand came to her face, fingers tracing along her eyes and wiping away her tears. Her feelings unexpectedly stirred as she felt Chloe's heartfelt gaze. Reflexively, they leaned toward each other and pressed their lips together. Max felt almost instantly whole again, most of the pain and regret vanishing like it was never there; it only lasted a moment, but she suddenly felt far away.

Their heads leaned back, and their eyes met again. Max felt deeply relieved. She basked in this new sense of being as they quietly leaned their heads on each other. She felt at peace for the first time she could remember. Slowly, their eyes closed.