Max shot forward from her seat in shock. Her breathing was heavy and her eyes darted all around the peaceful classroom. Mr. Jefferson was speaking. The clock on the wall said 11:30 in the morning. What just happened? Max thought completely baffled; did I fall asleep? But that dream was so real. It couldn't have been a dream. She looked around the classroom again. She saw Taylor throw a crumpled paper ball at Kate. Victoria's phone buzzed by her desk. Everything seemed normal. Max let herself fall backwards. "What a dream," she muttered. Her eyes fell on her camera. She cast a cautious glance about and then picked it up.
"Better take a snapshot of myself to ensure I'm still here." With a click her loyal camera obeyed her command and out came her photo but with it came the attention of the whole class.
"Shh," Mr. Jefferson was saying before locking his gaze on Max. "I believe Max here has just taken what you kids call selfie. A dumb word for a wonderful photographic tradition and Max… has a gift. Of course, as you all know the photo portrait has been popular since the early 1800's. Your generation was not the first to use images for selfie expression. Sorry I couldn't resist. The point remains that the portraiture has always been a vital aspect of art photography, as long as it's been around. Now Max since you captured our interest and clearly want to join the conversation, can you please tell us the name of the process that gave birth to the first self-portraits?"
Max wished she could vanish. The whole class was now watching her as she rampaged through her mind's information stash. She had to answer. Mr. Jefferson was waiting but she still couldn't find it.
"Uhh you're asking me? Let me think…"
"You either know it or don't Max," Mr, Jefferson said a tad sharply with a slight smack to his desk. "Is there anybody here who knows their stuff?"
"Louis Daguerre," Victoria responded while sending a satisfied smirk in Max's direction. "A French painter who created daguerreotypes a process that gave portraits a sharp reflective style like a mirror. Now you're totally stuck in the retro zone," she added to Max. "Sad face." A couple of girls burst into sniggers. Mainly Taylor and Courtney, Victoria's little army.
Max looked away abashed. She waited in humiliated silence for the class to end so she could disappear into her own world. When the bell rang and Mr. Jefferson spoke a few parting words, Max gladly shot from her chair. She exchanged a few words with Kate. The religious girl seemed unhappy. That wasn't a surprise. There were bullies here just like every other school and Kate was a prime target.
Max opened the classroom door and a wave of sound hit her. "Welcome to the real world," she couldn't help muttering at the student packed hallway. "I need some serious timeout in the bathroom. Splash some water on my face and make sure I don't look like a total looser. Alan would probably say I need to stop trying to make myself likeable. I wonder where he lives."
Max leaned against the wall with one leg up. Opposite her were Taylor and Courtney. The two girls were whispering with snide smiles and glancing towards her. Max ignored them and put in her earbuds. She set her music player to start and once the music began, her eyes closed and she took a deep breath. She was in her own world now where she could move about and observe the crowd without consequences.
With the soft soothing voice reverberating through her ears she walked down the hallway towards the bathroom. It was almost dreamlike with the music cutting off all sounds. The students about were like phantoms on another plane. No one gave her a glance. Why should they? She was just another geeky nobody. At the bathroom she glanced around before opening the door. Once inside she pulled out her earbuds and the sound of life came rushing back. The dull murmuring of the school outside. The incessant dripping from a faucet somebody sloppily closed. Nobody else was inside. Good.
Max walked to the dripping faucet and stared into the mirror. A dull unhappy face stared back at her. With a sigh she turned the faucet on and splashed her face thoroughly. She looked back at her reflection before indulging in another dose of water accompanied by a good scrubbing. Satisfied she took a photo from her bag. It was a shot of herself from behind. She was standing in her room facing her wall of photos. Max grimaced at the picture. How can I show this to Mr. Jefferson? She wondered, her insecurities piling up. She clenched the picture then muttered "fuck it" and ripped it in half. The discarded pieces floated to the floor.
Max stood realizing that she might have just made a mistake when she saw a butterfly glide by. It disappeared behind the corner of the stalls. How did a butterfly get in? Max wondered. It would make a great shot. She followed it and there it was perched on a bucket containing a mop. Careful as to not startle it, Max raised her camera and snapped the shot. At the flash the butterfly flew away but the deed was done. Max removed the picture when the sound of the bathroom door being opened came to her ears.
Disturbed and wondering who it was Max cautiously peeked around the stalls and promptly ducked back. It was Nathan Prescott. What was he doing in the girl's bathroom? Max stood with her back hugging the stall as Nathan began speaking to himself. He sounded panicked and slightly mad. It scared her and then she heard the door open again.
"What do you want?" she heard Nathan speak.
"I hope you checked the perimeter as my step douche likes to say." It was a girl.
Max heard the second person pushing open the stall doors one by one. She clenched her hands in fear as she heard the sound of opening doors creep steadily closer but thank god for Pandora's box of sloppiness. The new arrival stopped a couple of doors away before addressing Nathan again.
"Now that the coast is clear, let's talk bidness."
"I got nothing for you."
"Wrong. You got hella cash."
"That's my family not me."
"Oh boo hoo poor little rich kid. I bet your respectable family would help me out if I went to them."
"Leave them out of it bitch!"
"I could tell everyone Nathan Prescott is a punk kid who begs like a little girl!" The girl's voice grew steadily louder. Max turned her head as the voice suddenly turned scared. "Where did you get that?"
"Don't mess with me bitch!" she heard Nathan cry out. "Nobody would ever even miss your punk ass would they?"
"Get away from psycho!" The girl screamed and then to Max's horrified ears, a shot rang out.
"No!" Max shouted dashing forth from around the corner. Her right hand was outstretched in a futile gesture of prevention. Then something happened she couldn't explain. It seemed like everything began to move in slow motion and suddenly she was back in her classroom.
What the fuck is this? Max thought frantically. She looked at the time. It was exactly the same as when she woke up from her nightmare before. Her eyes swept the scene. Everything was exactly the same. Mr. Jefferson was speaking the same words. The paper ball was again thrown at Kate. Victoria's phone buzzed. This was impossible. Can I actually reverse time? Max wondered. If I'm crazy I might as well go all the way.
Swallowing hard, Max raised her right hand as she had done in the bathroom and concentrated. She focused hard on going back a minute to when she had knocked her camera from her desk in her shock at what just occurred. Everything became blurry and noises jumbled together in a confused pitch. Max was forced to stop as her vision became red and sharp pangs of pain shot through her head. But it worked. Her camera was there fully operational back on her desk. Max stared at her hand in amazement. I don't believe it, she whispered silently. I can actually go back in time. Oh my god that girl! I need to save her. Just like before she picked up her camera and took a shot of herself. Everything played out like she had experienced only this time she knew the answer to Jefferson's question. She felt a distinct smugness as Victoria shot her a disbelieving angry look as Jefferson praised her. As soon as the bell rang Max was out of her class but Mr. Jefferson stopped her. This was odd. It didn't happen last time. Maybe it was because last time she had stopped to talk to the teacher.
Max turned to Jefferson hoping her impatience didn't show. He congratulated her again on her answer and then reminded her to turn in her picture for the contest. Sadly that won't be happening, Max thought. I'm going to retrace all my steps in the bathroom. There was no music playing this time as she broke into a quick jog for the restroom.
Inside she once again splashed her face, shredded her photo, then snapped the shot of the butterfly, so good so far. The moment Max heard the door open she took a quick peek. It was Nathan alright. She looked about desperately wondering what she could use. The fire alarm?
"Damn it!" Max cursed when she saw its glass cover had to be broken. The door opened again and she heard the girl. "No time. You need to move now Max." Max cast her eyes about. The cleaning cart caught her attention and she moved it. A hammer was underneath, perfect. Things were now fast approaching the climax. Without hesitation Max swung the hammer against the glass. At the sound of the shattering material, the voices stopped. Without wasting a moment Max pressed the alarm and wailing screech filled the Academy.
"Get off me psycho and don't ever touch me again!" She heard the girl cry out followed by the sound of someone collapsing.
"Just another shitty day," she heard Nathan mutter. The bathroom door opened and swung shut. Max peeked around the stalls then rushed to the door. She opened it cautiously and was promptly met with the head of Blackwell security, David Madsen.
"Hey! Don't you hear that alarm?" The man demanded harshly. "What were you doing?"
The man wasn't satisfied with her explanation and things might have ended badly had not the principle exited his office.
"Mr. Madsen please leave Miss Caulfield alone and turn off that alarm as it is your job."
The guard gave her a final glare and stomped off. Max shot the principle a grateful look and would have left the Academy had he not stopped her. Standing in front of him, Max bit her lip, torn on what to do. Should she report Nathan or keep silent? She decided on the former. After all Nathan was one crazy arse with a gun who would have killed someone had she not intervened. The result was not to her expectations. The principle didn't seem to believe her and promised to investigate the matter and Max knew what that would lead to in the end. Nothing.
"Of course that academic drone won't do anything," she muttered as she left the Academy building. Outside the sun shone down brightly. Squirrels were scampering around and pair of birds were perched on the fountain statue in the middle of the academy grounds. She heard the principle on the speaker system asking Nathan to please come to his office.
Max looked about the ordinary scene of everyday life. Her classmates were scattered all around the grounds engaged in various activities.
"So much for fitting in," she muttered to herself as she gazed about. "I can't believe what has happened to me. This.. this can't be real can it? Oh what am I thinking. Of course it's real. Why me? What's so special about me that I should be given this power?"
As she looked about miserably trying to cope with her experiences, a car pulled up in front of the grounds steps. Max's heart leaped as she recognized Alan's car. Sure enough the British boy got out followed by a burly man in his mid-thirties. Alan was carrying a backpack. He pointed his keys at the car and there was a beeping sound as the remote operated locks engaged. Then he slung the pack across one shoulder and tossed the keys to the man accompanying him. Max eyed the latter with trepidation. That man was huge. But she quickly refocused on Alan. The sight of him sent relief seeping through her every nerve but then her mind grinned and whispered cruelly: "Will he believe you?"
Max swallowed and grasped her left arm in her common expression of nervousness. Alan by now was walking towards her and at seeing her, his face creased into a welcoming smile.
"Howdy hosh!" He greeted cheerily. His smile and warm voice flowed like syrup into her, undermining the defenses her mind had erected. She didn't know why but she felt like she could confide in him. Her unsteady defenses now collapsed and she could feel her mind screaming but she ignored it. She was going to tell him.
"Max I say you're looking rather pale," Alan said as he came up and studied her with concern flashing in his eyes. "Too pale… something must really be bothering you. Is it Chloe?"
Max shook her head. "Something really bizzaro happened today. Something so out of this world.. it's totally freaking me out. Alan I need help," Max pleaded desperately, "I can't handle this…"
"Alright, alright, Max," Alan said soothingly raising his hands to calm her. "Whatever it is we'll sort it out pronto." He glanced back at his approaching companion. "I'll need to see the principle first. Wait for me alright? It shouldn't take but tick." At that moment Max's phone rang. Wondering who it was, Max opened it and saw it was from Warren. The boy was reminding her that he needed the flash drive he lent her. He'd be waiting in the parking lot. Alan positioned himself so he could peek at the device.
"Well hosh, guess you oughtta sort this out while I settle things with the principle eh?"
"Yeah," Max murmured. "I'll get the drive and meet you back here."
Alan gave a comforting pat on the shoulder before walking on. Max stared after him. His sudden appearance was as if a weight was lifted from her. But why did he come to Blackwell and what could he want with the principle. Hope blossomed in her chest as her mind tossed her a bone. Could it be he's here to enroll? She watched as he entered followed by the massive man that was with him. Remembering her task Max hurried in the direction of the dormitories.
Anticipating her talk with Alan, Max felt significantly better as she hurried towards her dorm. Getting the flash drive was not as simple as it seemed. Dana had borrowed it and said girl was now locked in by her friend Juliet for sexting her boyfriend. The incident gave Max an opportunity to experiment with her newfound power. Juliet had refused to divulge what had happened unless Max could tell her last name. Of course Max got it wrong but now she was able to rewind. It worked like a charm.
"Naughty little precious," Max muttered as she now had to infiltrate Victoria's room to find evidence that the sexting had been a lie. Max almost felt like a thief as she browsed through the rich girl's room but at last she found it on the girl's laptop. She quickly printed it and left the room with a sigh of relief.
Now that the lie had been cleared up Max was able to collect the drive. "Must protect my precious so Max never has to chase it down again," she said imitating Gollum from the Lord of the Rings. Dana gave her a funny look but thanked her for her help. Her phone buzzed with a couple more texts from Warren. Max sent a quick answer and then left the dormitories. Outside she was given another opportunity to use her power. The girl Alyssa was hit by a flying football. Max reversed a few seconds and hurriedly told the girl to move a little bit to the side. The ball flew past and cracked a window.
"Oh thanks Max. You helped me. Damn jocks, I bet they wouldn't pull this off if I was in the Vortex club."
Max felt elated despite her uncertainty. She had actually helped someone. At the gate leading out from the dorm grounds she halted and darted backwards.
"So don't think I'm blind. I see everything at Blackwell, you get what I'm saying?"
"No, please.. leave me alone."
It was David Madsen and Kate Marsh. The security chief was steadily getting closer and Kate was backing fear. For a moment Max stood undecided and then she left her position and strode forward.
"Hey!" she barked out surprising herself. "Why don't you leave her alone?"
Kate glanced at her gratefully while the guard clenched his jaw. "Excuse us. This is official campus business. Don't interfere."
"Excuse me but you shouldn't be yelling at students or bullying them."
"Hey, hey. No one's bullying anybody. I'm just doing my job."
"No you're not."
"You're part of the problem missy. I will remember this conversation."
David stalked off giving Kate one final look.
"Oh Max," the girl said thankfully, "that was amazing. I think you scared him for once. I-I need to go but thank you."
"Anytime Kate," Max said with a soft smile. She looked after the retreating girl. Kate's gentle voice filled with gratitude and the thankful light shining in her eyes filled her with pleasure. The sight was worth the animosity she had now aroused between David and herself.
Alan was standing by the entrance into the Academy when Max arrived at the main grounds. She moved towards him gladly.
"Alright Max. What's wrong?" Alan said as soon as she walked up.
Max looked about. "Not here," she said taking him by the hand. She led the surprised boy to a corner of the building housing the swimming pool. Alan scratched his head.
"Max you know nobody was close."
"I just want to be absolutely safe." Max took a deep breath and closed her eyes. This was it. The moment of truth that would label her either a complete lunatic or some freaky superhero. She opened her eyes and gazed at Alan's serious features. She wet her lips, took another breath, grasped her arm and then ploughed forward.
"I can time travel." Max winced so tightly that her eyes squeezed shut. How long she kept her face like that, she didn't know. Her ears twitched expecting to hear laughter and his voice complimenting her on a good joke. There was nothing. She opened her eyes to see Alan staring at her without expression. There was absolutely nothing, it was like a featureless mask.
A minute passed like that. It was utterly unnerving but she supposed it was a good thing he hadn't immediately split his sides. Then his features moved. Finally! Max thought. For good or bad, she didn't care.
"Start from the beginning."
Those words unlocked the overflowing tank within her and all her anxiety and fear came gushing out leaving her weak with relief. She nearly sobbed in her emotional release. Alan's hands were on her shoulders and his voice whispering soothingly, "Shhh… easy there hosh, tell me whenever you're ready."
Max took a shuddering breath and looked up with bright smile. She paused to recollect herself and then began to talk. She told him everything starting from her nightmare on waking up at the lighthouse during a huge storm where she witnessed a massive tornado moving towards the town to saving the girl in the bathroom and the two instances where she rewinded at the dormitories. Alan was left staring with a pensive frown. Max watched him timidly. "You do believe don't you?"
"Of course," Alan responded reassuringly. "Only a professional could pull of acting such genuine emotions and I'd whop myself if you are a professional." He chuckled and fixed her with an eager and sly look. "I want some proof though. I'm going to do something alright?" and Alan removed his backpack. "Now what I'm going to do is-"
"Is show me your ID card and then have me rewind and tell you the details and what you were about to do," Max interrupted with a smirk as Alan froze in the act of reaching in. "By the way your full name is Alan James Hunt. Your day of birth is 1995 March 10th. Your serial number is 10445154."
Alan stared silently then a wide smile creased his face and he replaced his backpack. "Amazing," he murmured then shook his head, "and bloody awful too. Now I won't rest easy and be wondering just what you've been pulling with your ability."
Max smiled highly pleased at herself. Suddenly it didn't seem so bad after all. She had someone who believed her, someone she could confide in. It made all the difference in turning the darkness to light.
"Alan," Max asked hesitantly. "Are you enrolling in Blackwell?"
"Why yes hosh indeed I am." Alan replied lightly. His face clouded for a moment. "Took a bit of convincing and quiet pondering but I've decided to give it a shot."
"Oh you have no idea how relieved that makes me feel," Max exclaimed. "I finally have another friend and one I can confide in."
A chuckle sounded from the Brit. "Not the most popular bird in the school aye?"
Max shook her head. "Oh we'll work on that right soon enough," Alan said.
"Ala-" Max began but was interrupted as her phone buzzed with more messages. "Oh my god Warren…" Max sighed lifting a hand to her head. "I forgot all about his flash drive. Can you come with me? It's right at the parking lot."
"Wilco hosh," Alan affirmed adjusting his backpack straps.
"Who was that mountain of a man with you earlier?" Max asked as the two set off.
"That was my adopted father Sergeant Mendez. He's the one who wanted me to attend Blackwell and see what teenage life was like. The old bugger said he wanted me to experience something other than the harsh life of the army."
"Army?" Max said confused. "You are in the army?"
"Was," Alan replied as they rounded the corner of the swimming grounds. The parking lot was a few yards ahead. "Tell ya about it later. I think that's your friend over there isn't it?"
"Yeah that's Warren."
The pair walked towards the brown-haired teen who looked slightly puzzled but approached with a smile.
"Hey Max, how are you?" Warren asked holding his arms out for a hug. He was quickly rebuffed as Max held out the drive. Alan stood by pursing his lips awkwardly at the embarrassed scene.
"Here's your flash Warren. Thanks for letting me borrow it."
Warren rubbed his head sheepishly and took it.
"No problem Max," he said giving the flash a little shake. An uncomfortable silence grew and in an attempt to break it, the boy turned towards Alan. "So who's your friend? I don't think I've seen him around before."
"Alan at your service," the British boy responded with a sweeping bow. "Reason for my vagueness was because I just enrolled here."
"Oh… wait how do you know Max then?"
"Toshed into her a couple of times."
"Toshed?" Warren looked confused. Max gave a slight laugh. "Alan has his own special selection of vocabulary. I think that stands for bumped."
"Right you are hosh."
"Hosh is it now?" Warren shook his head. "The fellow's queer."
"That's what you yanks generally think of our mannerisms," Alan said lifting his arms in an exaggerated shrug, "but that's different cultures for ya ain't it?"
"Too right. Are you British? You sound like one."
"Spot on chap."
"Did you get a chance to check out the movies on my flash drive?" Warren asked turning to Max.
"No," Max answered. "Been busy… life, exams…"
"Damn girl! You had it like a year."
"More like a week drama queen, I was disturbed with all the emo vampire flicks you had on there."
"Can't a sensitive boy like sensitive vampires?"
"So you're sensitive?" Max questioned in a playful tone that made Warren wince. Allan moved back a space to give the two privacy. He crossed his arms and looked about the parking. It was clear Warren liked Max but the boy had a hard road in front of him. Alan's ears twitched as he heard Warren attempting coerce Max into coming for a movie drive-in. The attempt went down in flames. Alan chuckled silently. His roving gaze then settled on another boy in a dark orange jacket stomping towards them. Alan frowned. His instincts whispered trouble
"Sorry Warren. I've got too much to deal with right now. I haven't got time for a drive-in." Max was saying.
Warren looked disappointed but quickly shrugged it off. "Okay Max but anytime you change your mind okay? It's still a few days away."
"Yeah sure thing."
"Hey!" Both turned to see Nathan Prescott march up. Shit. What does he want?" Max wondered as the boy came right up to her.
"Are you Max Caulfield? I hear you're one of Jefferson's groupies."
"I'm one of his students," Max answered slowly.
"What the fuck ever!" Nathan said roughly. "I hear you like to take photos especially inside girls bathrooms. You'd best tell me what you told the Principle now!"
"Hey settle down." Max sighed internally in relief as Alan spoke out.
"And who the fuck are you?" Nathan demanded turning to the newcomer. "This is none of your business. Stay out of it or you'll regret it."
"Oh that's sweet." Alan replied walking up. "It's my business when you go around threatening my friends."
Nathan suddenly shot his head forward in an attempt to head-butt the other boy but Alan jerked backwards with knee-jerk timing. The Brit slid into a stance. "The bloody hell is your problem? Mind settling down before I crack your teeth?"
"Did you threaten me just now? Do you know who I am?"
"And do you know who I am punk?" Alan retorted. An amused smile crossed his face as he saw the boy pause. Just then a rusty battered pickup screeched to a stop beside them.
"No way… You again?" Nathan exclaimed as he saw the driver, a blue haired girl wearing a beanie. But the girl wasn't focused on him. Instead she was staring at Max.
"Max?" she exclaimed disbelievingly?"
"Chloe?" Max exclaimed in equal shock.
"This is your time to make up." Max turned to look at Alan. The Brit gave a quick glance toward the blue haired girl in curiosity before giving Max a supportive smile. "Go with your friend and sort things out. I'll handle things here."
"Get in Max," Chloe urged leaning over to hurriedly open her door.
"Get your punk asses out of there now!" Nathan screamed as he kicked the door shut just after Max had dived in. "Don't ever try to mess with-"
"I told you to settle down!" Alan said sharply moving forward and grabbing Nathan by the shoulder. The boy responded by swinging at him which Alan evaded. The tires squealed as the pickup roared off. Max cast a backwards glance at Alan grappling with Nathan right before David Madsen came rushing up followed by Alan's adopted father. She sighed in relief. At least things were okay. Then her mind processed just where she was and her skin grew cold as she realized she was sitting beside her childhood friend whom she had ignored for five years. This wasn't going to be pleasant.