Life is Strange: My Unusual Journey

Chapter 4 of my Life is Strange novelization, enjoy.

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Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Life is Strange or its characters.

Chrysalis – Fate

Stepping out of the dorms I once more stepped into the fresh air. I smiled lightly, feeling relieved, I just had to get to the parking lot and meet Warren, who had jokingly texted me about keeping him waiting. I had responded just as jokingly; I was feeling lighter than I had all day, I guess helping Dana out had something to do with it.

I stepped down and began walking along the path, I noted that now, the only people in the courtyard were Alyssa, still reading her book, and Zachary, checking his phone. He likely received Juliet's messages and was aware of her anger and finding out the truth about his actions.

I stopped, startled by his sudden outburst as he threw his football.

"Fuck this shit man!" He yelled as he did so.

As I watched, the ball hit the ground and bounced up, hitting Alyssa in the back of the head. Alyssa reacted and cried out.

I couldn't just leave that. 'Shit, better rewind.'

I quickly did so until finally I stopped, right before Zach lost it, I quickly approached Alyssa.

"Alyssa, move your head." I said urgently.

She looked up at me, confused, but shrugged. "Okay Max, whatever you say."

She shifted over the bench, just as Zach threw the ball again. This time it bounced and, without Alyssa in the way, flew right over and struck a nearby window in the dorms.

Zachary didn't notice however, too caught up in trying to call Juliet back; Alyssa seemed surprised at what happened but then smiled, I smiled too.

'That's what I'm talking about, I actually helped someone.' I thought to myself.

Alyssa shook her head. "That was close, thanks Max."

I nodded and, as Alyssa returned to her novel, I continued on my way over to the parking lot to find Warren. As I walked I slowly found myself thinking once again, perhaps overthinking.

'Urgh, all this time and I still haven't got around to calling Chloe…I still have that picture mom took of us in our pirate gear in my dorm room drawer.' I thought. 'This isn't right, I can't believe I've been so, stupid, neglectful. I'll have to just take the risk and call her soon.'

My mind continued to whirl as I sought a new subject to try and consider.

Of all things that came to me, it was my power. 'Okay, so I can rewind time, undo mistakes, help people out of dangerous or otherwise painful situation…after seeing them happen. But why do I have this power? There has to be more to this, but what and how can I find out…Then there's that dream in class, what was that about, no, this isn't…this isn't the time to dwell, Warren's waiting for me. One thing at a time Max.'

So, composing myself; I continued onwards, walking towards the gates that led to the exit of the dorms.

As I reached the gate however, I heard something and stopped, I slowly peeked around the corner and froze. Kate was standing there, clearly frightened, while David Madsen approached her, glaring darkly.

"…So don't think I'm blind." He was saying, clearly having been talking to Kate before I arrived. "I see everything here at Blackwell; do you understand what I'm saying?"

Kate stepped back, looking devastated and scared. "No and…leave me alone."

I glared, unable to believe what I was seeing, Madsen was harassing Kate Marsh of all people. I mean, okay, he did that with everybody; some deserved it, some didn't, but Kate. Angered I actually stepped out of my hiding place and stepped up to them.

"Hey, why don't you leave her alone!?" I called out.

Kate started, turning to stare at me in disbelief. Madsen was startled too but then glared.

He shook his head. "Excuse us, this is official campus business."

I shook my head, unable to believe he was trying to use that as an excuse.

I glared and made it quite clear what I thought about that. "Excuse me, you shouldn't be yelling at students. Or bullying them."

That got him to back off, he stepped back, looking surprised; likely at my accusation.

"Hey, hey, nobody is bullying anybody, I'm doing my job." He remarked, uneasily.

I was so sick of this guy's shit. "No you're not."

He fumed; clearly knowing he was getting backed into a corner. Clearly nobody had confronted him like this before and he didn't know how to react.

The look on Kate's face was one of utter surprise, and I was sure there was a light of relief in her eyes.

Madsen looked disgruntled as he snarled at me. "You're part of the problem, missy. I will remember this conversation."

With that he turned and stalked away, clearly in a foul mood. I let out a slow careful breath, shocked at my own actions; I couldn't believe I was that brazen, although it felt good to have helped Kate out. Turning to Kate I saw her approaching me, looking relieved.

"Kate, I…"

She grasped my arm and spoke. "Oh Max, that was great, I think you scared him for once…I have to go, but thank you."

I had to admit, while still not truly smiling or looking happy, she was certainly a lot happier than I'd seen her all day.

"It means a lot…" She said softly before heading back to the dorms.

Before she left I smiled and replied. "Anytime Kate."

I watched as she left and considered what just happened.

'It felt good to help Kate, but now Sergeant Shithead is on my case…But it's worth it if it helps Kate out.' I thought to myself.

Smiling I prepared to continue onwards to the parking lot, noting to myself that, surprisingly, I had managed to do all that without using my rewind power. Wow, talk about being a real 'Everyday Hero'. Still smiling I made my way across campus, heading for the parking lot.

When I finally reached the parking lot, I reached the bottom of the steps and looked around. There were several cars around, some I recognized, others I didn't, in particular a rather dirty looking RV and a beat up truck that was taking up two parking spaces.

I spotted Warren across the parking lot, leaning against a car. I smiled as I spotted him; he was a good couple of inches taller than me with casually messy thick brown hair and warm brown eyes. He was fair skinned and dressed casually in denim jeans, a black and grey striped T-shirt with one blue stripe level with the top of his arms.

Poking out from the sleeves were the sleeves of a yellow undershirt. A pair of simple dark sneakers rounded off the outfit. I also spotted Juliet seated nearby, she was crying, clearly upset and I bit my lip, knowing it was due to the issue with Zachary.

I slowly approached her. "Hi Juliet, how are you doing?"

She looked up and composed herself. "Oh…hey Max, sorry, I'm still screwed up."

"Sorry you had to find out about Zachary that way…or any way." I replied softly.

She nodded and sighed. "Better sooner than later, now that skank Victoria won't be laughing behind my back anymore."

I hesitated before finally asking her. "Have you talked to Zach yet?"

"Mr. Badass Football Hero is such a chickenshit." Juliet remarked angrily. "He said he sexted Victoria as a joke. Ha, ha…"

She trailed off and seemed to calm down before pointing out. "I think Warren wants your attention."

"He usually does." I replied kindly. "Hang in there Juliet."

She nodded. "See you around Max."

I turned and began to make my way over to Warren, I couldn't help but noticed that, attached to many car windshields were more Rachel Amber Missing Person posters.

'Somebody has gone overboard with these posters, at least it's clear someone cares about this poor girl.' I noted to myself.

I shook my head and approached Warren.

I couldn't help but note, as I approached that the car Warren was leaning against, clearly his own, was actually a vintage model, a used car, certainly old-fashioned.

"Yo!" He called out cheerfully. "What up Max, how are you?"

I smiled and approached, turning my head and reaching into my bag, fishing out the flash drive.

"Here's your flash, thanks." I said, holding it out for him.

I bit my lip as I saw Warren standing, awkwardly, arms open, I knew right away what had happened and I too felt awkward.

'Ah, sorry Warren…' I thought at that point.

But he recovered well, scratching the back his head as he took the flash drive from me.

"No problem." He said with a grin, before gesturing to the car. "Check out my new wheels."

I smiled at that. "Cool, very old school."

Warren shrugged casually before leaning against the car again. "Nineteen seventy-eight to be exact, now we can to the drive-in, there's one in Newberg, just sixty miles away."

I gave a short laugh.

"You're in the wrong time Warren. But then again, so am I." I remarked.

"You okay?" He asked and I guessed I must have been looking awkward.

I sighed. "It's been one strange fucking day."

"Oh yeah, what happened?" He asked.

I bit my lip, wondering how much I should tell Warren.

I let out a soft sign and shook my head.

"I had a weird experience in Mr. Jefferson's class today…" I said at last, uncertain when I was going with this.

Clearly seeing how awkward I was feeling, Warren tactfully changed the subject.

"By the way, I saw Daniel's sketch of you online." He remarked; before smirking. "Not bad, but I could do a much better job."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Oh, you can draw? I thought you were blinded by science, not art."

Warren laughed at that. "Art IS science, music is math, seriously, I'd put Stephen Hawking against Picasso any day."

I laughed too, it was remarkable how easy conversation with Warren was for me, especially compared to other people. He and Kate were the only people here at Blackwell I really seemed to connect with.

"Hardcore, so, you must use a computer to draw?" I queried.

There was really only one difficulty for me, talking with Warren. I hate to admit it, but it is kinda obvious, Warren had a massive crush on me.

Why I don't know, surely there were better girls out there, but he did. I on the other hand, wasn't certain how I felt, sure I saw Warren as a good friend, sometimes a geeky brother, but did I feel more than that, that was a question I just couldn't answer yet.

"Of course." He replied, before then offering. "I'd love to tweak one of your selfies with some cool graphics."

I grinned. "Well, that might not suck, I'll let you know."

Warren nodded and a brief silence, we once again changed the topic of conversation.

Grinning Warren spoke up first.

"So, did you get a chance to check out the movie booty on my flash drive?" He asked

I nodded, smiling. "Yeah, there was some great stuff in there."

He smirked before making a suggestion. "Make sure you check out Cannibal Holocaust two huh?"

I rolled my eyes. "Seen it, I was more disturbed by all the emo-vampire movies you had on there."

"Can't a sensitive high school boy like sensitive vampires?" He queried in reply, shrugging.

"Oh so you're sensitive." I shot back grinning.

He laughed a little. "Ouch, sound mean when you say it like that."

I shook my head; remember some of the more classic films on the flash drive too. "No, no, really, I was impressed you had 'Faster Pussycat Kill, Kill'."

"Russ Meyer was the expert on old black and white cinematography." He remarked, before then admitting. "Plus babes with breasts…"

"Who'd beat your sensitive ass down." I teased as I also moved to lean against Warren's car.

"If I'm lucky." He replied with a laugh. He looked worried again however when he then asked. "Are you sure you're okay Max, you look worried."

I sighed; clearly the stress of all this was visible; I wondered if maybe I should tell Warren about what happened. Of all people, Warren wouldn't laugh if I told him I could rewind time.

I pondered for a moment before finally remarking.

"I have something I need to get off my chest." I admitted at last.

Warren grinned and joked around. "Well Dr. Warren Graham is in da house, I won't even prescribe you any meds."

His joke about medication was softer than Victoria's, without any malice behind it. He knew after all about my medication.

I remained serious however. "Seriously Warren, this is between you and me, not social media or anything."

"Don't insult me, Max, go on." Warren replied, trying hard to be reassuring.

I took a deep breath and tried to think how to explain things.

I made up my mind. "Have you ever…had a dream, so vivid and real, it was like a movie…?"

Warren listened patiently, but as it happened, I never got the chance to explain, for at that moment another voice cut in.

"Max Caulfield right, you're one of the Jefferson photo groupies!"

Warren and I both looked up shocked; I could scarcely believe it when I saw Nathan Prescott stomping toward us, looking more like the scary wackjob I had come to know and fear, than how he was in bathroom.

Trying to act calm I replied. "I'm one of his students, yes…"

"What-the-fuck-ever." He snarled, pushing Warren aside making him stumble slightly.

I frowned at that; it always bothered me that Warren, due to his geek status, was seen as a target for the bullies and 'elite' students. Even something light like a simple shove infuriated me.

Nathan then suddenly got in my face.

"I know you like to take pictures, and you like to hide in bathrooms and listen to things that don't concern you." He snarled. "I suggest you tell me what the fuck you heard, right now."

I tried to play dumb. "What are you talking about?"

He glowered at that. "I know you're knew here, but don't even play stupid with me."

"I'm not new; I've lived here for years." I snapped.

Nathan merely shook his head at that. "Then you should know the Prescott's own this shit-hole."

I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Then you don't have to worry about me, worry about yourself."

Truthfully however, inside, my heart was pounding and it only got worse when he suddenly exploded with anger.

"Do not analyse me!" He yelled before continuing in a quieter voice. "I pay people for that, worry about yourself Max Caulfield."

I glared, trying to put up a strong front. "Take a step back, Nathan Prescott."

Nathan nearly laughed at my comment and not in a friendly way. "Oh man, you're telling me what to do?"

It was then Warren managed to step in and tried to intervene.

"Get away from her dude." He said, trying to turn Nathan away from me.

Nathan's response horrified me, he reacted by suddenly lashing out and head-butting Warren, right in the eye, knocking him to the ground with a grunt. I reacted at once while Warren tried to recover, clutching his eye.

"Hey, leave him alone!" I yelled, trying to pull Nathan off Warren.

Nathan reacted to that, with greater anger than before.

He turned and suddenly grabbed me, by the neck, shoving me back.

"Nobody tells me what to do!" He yelled, actually switching hands for some reason as he did so. "Not my parents, not the Principal, or that whore in the bathroom!"

I struggled, crying out. "Stop that, right now!"

Acting purely on instinct, I ended up scratching his face, leaving deep cuts in his left cheek, causing him to drop me as he grunted, grabbing at his cheek.

It was then I heard the squealing of tyres and the beat up truck I spotted earlier sped around the corner and stopped right behind me.

Acting desperately, I pulled myself up on the front of the car, still shocked at nearly being attacked by Nathan and now nearly being knocked over, and locked eyes with the driver.

It was the girl from the bathroom, her eyes widened in recognition as she saw me.

"Max?"

I was perplexed at first but then it clicked, this close up, I realized exactly how I felt as if I'd recognized her before, I did know her, of all people it was the last person I ever thought to run into, especially here in Blackwell.

"Chloe?"

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.