Chapter 11 Accept

Max

April 19th, 2014

4:04 PM

Arcadia Bay, Oregon

Two Whales Diner

After the toast, everybody begins the celebration of my victory and freedom. Before Chloe and I could celebrate, a young woman walks into the diner. It was Kris Prescott. Sean's daughter and Nathan's older sister.

"Kris, I didn't expect you to drop by," said Crosby as she entered. "What are you doing here?"

"I'd like to speak with your client, Mr. Crosby," said Kris. "I'd also like to talk with Chloe, that Rachel girl, and that David guy you mentioned. I want to talk to them outside in private please."

"Ms. Amber, Mr. Madsen, you have a visitor who want to talk with you!" Crosby called out to them.

"It's Kris right?" I ask trying to remember her name. "Is there something wrong?"

"Yeah, there is," she replies. "It's about my Dad and something else. I want to talk with you all privately."

"So are you going to stay here and celebrate?" Chloe asks Crosby. "While we have a private chat with I believe to be Nathan's sister?"

"Sorry, Chloe," he replies. "But I've got some business to attend to in Portland and my duty calls. I'll be seeing the two of you on Tuesday night at the expo. Take care."

"Hey, Crosby," I say to him before he walked out.

"Yes?"

I give the man a brief hug before he leaves as a thank you staying at my side.

"Thank you," I say to him. "For everything you've done for me. I couldn't have won this without you."

"Anytime, Max. I'll always be there for you."

As soon as Crosby left, Chloe, Rachel, David, and I walked outside the diner to talk to Kris privately. I knew it had to be something about her crazy father who once took over Arcadia Bay with an iron fist. The four of us gather around to begin Kris's conversation.

"I'm not sure if you all remember me, but we last saw each other at my brother's funeral months ago," she begins.

"I know who you are," said Rachel. "Your Nathan Prescott's sister. Kristine Prescott. My condolences for your loss. Your brother was a good friend to me before he died. He once told me a few things about you."

"I appreciate that," replies Kris. "But there's something more severe I'd like you all to know."

Kris clears her throat before continuing.

"I understand in winning this trial, you've managed to save this town and take down my inane father," she says. "By now you must realize he had been working with Neo-Chrysalis this entire time making him perpetrator behind that storm."

"That hasn't been ever more understandable to us until now, Kris," said David. "Get to the point. What's something more severe that you want us to know?"

"The point is, you haven't heard the end of this," she continued. "My mom and I and even the rest of my family on the outside known by about my father's involvement with these terrorist from the very beginning. They are the reason my brother died and the reason so many people we swore to serve right died a futile death. I will grant you the benefit of the doubt we were never bad people. We were only corrupted by the influence of terrorist who thought our legacy was the exception to be pawned with. We never asked for this. My family isn't criminal. Only my Dad is. He's the reason our family spread a dark reputation throughout the years. His decision is what tore the family apart."

"And for what, Kris?" I ask. "Your Dad makes his choice of working for terrorist and goes rogue on the family on purpose?"

"Yes he did and no he didn't," answered Kris. "My family had been under the leverage of these people for years. They made us do their dirty work or else they'd hurt us. We've always begged for my father to step up to these horrible people and he'd always refuse. He'd only tell us that we'd never ask again and that we no one is to about our activities with them. And since then, they just kept owning our lives miserably. For the record, I'm glad I'm father's locked away forever. He was always a terrible one to me and Nathan since our first encounter with the bad guys. He deserves much worse. I'm glad he's of our lives."

"You've must've come here for more than story about your father's crimes," said David. "What is it that you really want from us?"

"Like I said, you haven't heard the end of this," she answered. "All I know is that Neo-Chrysalis is still plotting something big. Something so much worse than the storm. All ask from you people is to free my family from our crisis. The fact that you were all brave enough to stop my Dad's scheme in terrorism, I expect the same kind of bravery from all of you to stop whatever the bad people are plotting next."

Kris's limousine had arrived parked on the side of the street by the diner. It belonged to her father and the driver honked the horn to signal her time to leave.

"I gotta go," said Kris. "Don't forget about what I've said today or what I've asked from you. The time will come when you won't be."

The young Prescott lady left our presence and took off in her limo. Leaving us with more questions than answers about what she said.

"Well, she was interesting," said Chloe.

"I now get the feeling that this is somehow far from over," I said.

"Last I checked, this was a celebration freedom," said Rachel. "I say we quite debating about what Kris had said and start partying."

"Rachel's right you two," said David. "Let's put this to rest for now and enjoy the party. It's best that the three of you leave this to me."

My Number - Foals

About half an hour had passed and everyone at the diner had been celebrating delightfully. Joyce had put on some music from the jukebox to tune up the party. One that wasn't going over to Davy Jones's Locker. Blackwell kids had been sitting around socializing and about half of my Blackwell colleagues were having a little reunion with Rachel outside in the parking lot. Rachel was sitting outside with Frank during her reunion with all her Blackwell buddies she had known before me.

My parents were at the counter talking with Chloe's parents. Principle had sat around on one of the tables inside. Samuel and Ms. Grant sat outside where Rachel had her reunion with her friends from the past. Chloe and myself sat at a nice comfy table indoors discussing our victory. Ironically, we were sitting at the precise table I convinced Chloe of my powers from that week. I wasn't sure if Chloe remembered, but I know I did.

"Remember that time back during that week when I predicted the future with my powers?" I ask Chloe. "That second day back together? Before the junkyard, the train, Kate on the roof, and our Blackwell break-in?"

"How can I not remember anything from that week?" she says. "Why?"

"It's ironic how we're celebrating at the exact spot I rewound to predict the future. If you can recall."

"I do recall, actually. I miraculously do. Whoopty do. We're sitting at the same space at a different time. I can't believe I still remember that six months from then. There's so much we can never forget from that week. From that time in the bathroom to that time on the cliff. Surely we both find that very ironic indeed."

"You know, I'm kinda still thinking about what Kris was saying to us. Still remember that whole end of time thing I've been obsessing about since Seattle? Nathan's sister had told us Neo-Chrysalis was plotting something bigger than the storm. You think it could be related to the end of time?"

"I bring you back to Arcadia Bay as a free girl and the first thing you talk about is the end of time. Why am I not surprised?"

"You didn't answer my question, Chloe. You don't have to be so evasive about it every time I bring it up."

"Of course I do. Every now and then it's end of time this and end of time that. We just threw a freedom party for you, Max and that's all you want to talk about."

"Chloe, were you not listening to what Kris was saying? She sounded pretty stern and serious about what she said. I'm only trying to take it seriously. I know I'm supposed to be having a good time here, but we should consider getting on board with it when this party's over."

"I know, Max. But right now, we could be partying till the end of time. How bout that?"

"I'll do anything you say, Chloe. Looks like Rachel's having time of her life out there. Inviting her to this party really is stealing the show from me. No offense."

"None taken. I remember the last time Rachel and I had the time of our lives back at a Vortex Club party before she disappeared. It was nothing compared to what's going on with her now."

We look out the window and see Rachel laughing with her old buddies outside with her boyfriend Frank and his dog Pompi. My parents drop by to where we sit and talk to us after a long journey to victory.

"Max, there's my daughter," my mom said. "I'm so proud of you. I'm so glad I have my baby girl back."

I give my mom a hug and thank her.

"Thanks, Mom. I'm glad to see you and Dad again, too."

"How's our gay couple doing today after such a long-awaited victory?" asks Dad.

"We feel like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield," said Chloe. "This is what we call our light at the end of a tunnel."

"If you ask me, I'm just lucky not to have six-hundred people on my conscience," I said. "If you know what I mean."

"Max, your mother and I wanted you to know that we you an apology for how we acted with this," said Dad. "I'm not sure how else to say it, but we really do had we known it wasn't your fault."

"Dad, if it were anything," I said. "You and Mom have nothing to apologize for. For the record, I'm not sorry for what happened to this town or that Blackwell fiasco that turned into a Michael Bay movie car chase scene. But I am sorry for letting you live through this though. I hope you can understand why I didn't tell you about my powers before. I just knew how you react."

"I know, Max," my Dad replied. "The least we can do is just put this behind us and move forward. That's the least we can do for now."

"Does this mean you can expect my gift now?" I ask them. "You still love me even if I'm a time wielding superhero or whatever, right?"

"Max, sweetheart, listen to me," my Mom spoke. "I know I overreacted in front of you and when I first saw your superpowers or whatever, but I still love you. We'll always love our little girl no matter who you are or what you do."

"Your mother's right, Max," Dad said. "As much as it was hard for us before, it'll be easier for us to deal with now."

"Thanks, Dad," I say. "I'll still love my parents, too, no matter what I am. I'm glad you accept it."

My parents left the table and Chloe parents had came. It was there turn to talk to us now.

"Well if isn't the two star-crossed lovers themselves," said Joyce, holding her coffee server. "How's our favorite customers in this diner today?"

"Great, Mom," said Chloe. "We got Max back and it feels so great to be back together again."

"Well I'm glad to see that all this work put into winning this thing paid off," said David. "It makes me proud to see the two of you back together again."

"You know, I just apologized to my mom and dad about this whole time powers thing of mine and I feel like I owe an apology for keeping this a secret from you two also," I say to them. "Chloe and I only kept this a secret because one, we knew you wouldn't believe me. Two, we knew how you'd react if we made you believe me."

"Max, sweetie," began Joyce. "I know this was difficult for you and we honor that. After what Chloe had said on that stand, I'm only glad there was proof that proved everyone wrong for such an insulting trial to sit through."

"Damn, right," I said. "As insulting as that trial was, I'm still the same old me. Superpowers or not, you should all at least be in my debt that my powers are the reason Chloe is still sucking air. How's that for gratitude."

"That's a little besides the point of what we're saying, Max," said David. "Nonetheless, I couldn't be any more grateful than I've ever been in for being there that day in the bathroom for Chloe when I couldn't. Just gives me another reason to never trust a Prescott in town."

"Would you trust Kris Prescott about what she told us and what she asked of us?" I ask. "She looks like a nice lady who lost her little brother and had seen her father get sentenced to death row. Wouldn't you feel bad for her? I know I do."

"I'm not saying I distrust all Prescotts in town," he replied. "I'm saying I've never trusted two out of all Prescotts that exist on this planet. If my instincts are correct, maybe that young woman can be trusted."

Before Joyce and David left the table, I stop David to talk to him some more.

"David," I begin. "About what Kris was saying, if she can be trusted, what's your plan to help her."

"I don't know, Max," answered David. "I was hoping the two of you might come up with a plan. Maybe even Rachel could come up with one too. Since she was the only girl who knew how to bust you out of your ally, I say you should ask her for a plan perhaps. It's the only way to be sure."

"There's one more thing I should tell you," I continue. "Here's a little irony for you. A girl who messes around with a fire alarm and takes the heat for your step-daughter's drugs in her room all in the same day, actually saves her life the day she would've been murdered if not for me and my powers. Also, she's Chloe's life-long childhood partner. How's that for irony?"

"As ironic as that may sound, Max," David began. "I think it's just fate. Ever since that day I first say you in Chloe's room, even though I did reprimand you, something was telling me it was never your drugs to begin with. Even I couldn't possibly be that naive."

"After all these months," Chloe interfered. "Your just now admitting it was really my pot from the start?"

"It doesn't matter," he replied. "All that matters now is that Max is free and the two of you are happy. I accept that."

Note: I should have at least one more chapter to write before the party ends. It may be more exciting to read than this chapter.

Until next time, stay golden.

P.S. I almost forgot. I saw the Star Wars Battlefront 2 trailer and everything else that was announced at Star Wars Celebration this year. Looks better than the first Battlefront now that we get a single player campaign with the sequel. It should be good.