Chloe lay on her bed looking up at the ceiling while she talked quietly with Gail, who had somehow calmed herself a bit, she sat in Chloe's desk chair. Chloe had extremely mixed feelings about bringing this strange girl, who looked and sounded so much like Max, to the house where they'd spent most of their best years together. But here...there was no Max. There never had been. That thought alone was enough to push Chloe to the brink of insanity and she fought it violently…she had no idea how she'd held it together this long. Rachel, a little bit. And the liquor bottle in her hand, a little bit. But she had been ready to give up...just end it all, before…
Before...I met her in the diner.
"You are crazy, Chloe", Gail said, looking at her surroundings.
"Yeah. Hella fucked in the head. I know", Chloe muttered, sadly.
"No...I didn't mean it in a bad way…"
"Heh. That's a new one."
Yes, the room was a mess, yes, the walls were covered in spray paint tags and ripped posters, yes, there was a ripped up, inverted flag in place of a curtain, but it felt oddly...comforting, to Gail. The exact opposite of how Blackwell made her feel. Though, Chloe was sipping from a bottle of liquor of some kind, Gail didn't know anything about that sort of thing, every so often and it was making her feel a little uncomfortable.
I swore I was never going to do this shit again...the smoking...the drinking...but does it fucking matter anymore? Everything is so fucked now anyway, Chloe thought. She probably couldn't function at all without it right now, anyway. This was too surreal. Even for her.
And the crazy shit i've seen and the places i've been and the crazy shit i've done...
"...so how did you know about Kate, really?"
"I already told you, I know things. Things I shouldn't. And a lucky guess."
"Are you trying to tell me you can see the future, Chloe?"
"No. Not at all. Just the past...like...everyone else."
Gail turned away from Chloe, and gazed out the window.
"...not everyone", Gail's voice got smaller, if that was even possible.
"...shit. Sorry. I forgot."
"No...it's...alright. I just…"
"Maybe, you're the lucky one."
"...What?"
"With the shit in my head...it would probably be better if I was in your position."
"You say that like it's a...possibility...or are you just drunk?"
Chloe sighed and sat up, into a cross-legged sitting position. She set the bottle down next to the bed.
"Look, Gail. You have no idea what's going on in my head. I'm fuckin' losing it. Majorly. I...myself...don't...even know what's...real anymore...something happened to me...recently. And it changed….everything."
"And I guess you're not going to tell me what that something was?"
"I can't."
"Okay, Chloe", Gail was still looking out the window, but her tone betrayed her confusion...and a little annoyance.
Gail wondered what she was even doing here, in this strange girl she had just met today's messy...understatement...room, in the middle of the night. Did she really believe her about Jefferson? She didn't know. She knew that there was something very wrong about Jefferson, though. And this made as much sense as anything, she supposed. She felt a hand on her shoulder. Chloe. She turned and looked up into the blue haired girl's face.
"I don't expect you to understand, Gail. I really don't. I'd ask you to just trust me, but….I guess you really have no reason to."
"And why do you trust me? Why did you let me come here? It's...because I remind you of your friend...right?"
"...What friend?", Chloe asked passively, though her eyes betrayed the truth. Gail saw a single tear run down Chloe's cheek.
"You said I reminded you of someone. And you called me something, when we first met in the diner and again...on the roof….Max? Right?"
Chloe shuddered at the questioning mention of her name, and...in her own voice. Chloe turned, picked the bottle up, and walked to the other side of the room. She did this a few times, running a hand through her blue hair, like she was deep in thought. She took another pull from the bottle.
Chloe had immediately stripped from her ocean soaked clothing down to nothing but a black t-shirt and her underwear after they'd quietly entered the house and gotten into her room. It gave Gail a strange feeling, and she couldn't help but stare at Chloe's long legs as she paced back and forth. To say Chloe was attractive would be putting it very mildly.
But i'm not...I mean...not that I remember...ever being attracted to...anyone
She forced herself to focus on something else.
"Who is she, Chloe?"
Chloe stopped and looked directly into Gail's eyes.
You.
"...just a..pirate, I used to know."
Pirate...that story...is she...really...insane?, Gail thought to herself. But somehow, she didn't think so. Sad, yes. So very, very sad. Kate's helplessness looked like nothing, in comparison. Chloe just hid it better, when she wasn't getting angry. Sad, but not insane.
"Chloe...do you know who I am? Who I really am? Did you know me before…"
"...no."
Chloe felt this was only a half truth, but what if she was wrong? What if it was some crazy fucking coincidence? And besides, it's not like a very young Max Caulfield had hit her head, and woken up with no recollection and a new name, since not even Joyce remembered her ever have existing at all. Chloe and Rachel had spent hours and hours and hours looking for Vanessa and Ryan Caulfield, even, every part of the internet, every phonebook, every document they could get...and...nothing.
Part of Chloe's mind, the rational part that almost never broke through the more familiar part, knew that in this...time...or...reality...or...this life...there had never been a Maxine Caulfield. There was a Rachel Amber, who wasn't even supposed to be here. And a Gail Roberts, who happened to look just like Max, sound just like Max and was a photographer...like Max. But...not...Max.
Cause and effect, Chloe...i'm not even supposed to be here...nothing happens by chance…, Chloe recalled Rachel's words and something was starting to fall into place in her mind, but she still didn't quite have it yet.
"Okay...Chloe. So in the story you told me earlier...those two girls...which one of them was you?"
"...that was just a story, Gail."
"...was it?"
"Yes", Chloe said, very gently. Fragile.
Gail didn't know how to take this answer, or anything about this situation. So she changed the subject, though Chloe seemed to be somewhere else.
"So what do you and Rachel plan on doing about Jefferson..."
"Well, I was kind of hoping that Nathan would snitch when the police showed up over the gun, hospital or not, but...he apparently didn't. So, Plan B...", Chloe's voice was passive, she was still somewhere else.
"Which...is?"
"The hard one."
Chloe and Rachel had in fact discussed this earlier, Rachel just needing to turn the subject away from Max to calm Chloe down and realizing that if this timeline was as similar as it seemed, this was going to be a problem in the very near future that only they could stop, they needed to start working on something.
"How can you possibly know this-", Gail stopped herself, this was question was getting repetitive, now. She turned back to the window.
Something had shifted in Chloe's mood. Gail could feel it, but wasn't sure what it was. Maybe just the alcohol. Before she had a chance to really process what was happening, she felt Chloe's arms wrap around her from behind. Chloe's chin rested on her shoulder.
"Do you trust me, Gail?"
"...I...think...I believe you...I mean...everything with Kate and….I know something is up with Jefferson, there has to be…"
"Do you trust me?", Chloe asked, Gail could smell the alcohol on her breath.
"I...Chloe...we just met...today…"
"So...you don't."
"I don't know, Chloe...i'm so confused, so...lost."
"It's alright. I'm lost too."
Chloe still hadn't moved, she didn't for a few moments. Gail didn't know how to feel, why she didn't mind it or why it somehow felt familiar. When Chloe finally moved away, Gail almost wished she hadn't. She wasn't used to human comfort.
"Let's attempt that sleep thing", Chloe said.
"Wait...where am I sleeping?"
"Uh...in the bed?"
"With...you?"
"I...uh...yeah?"
"I…"
Gail seemed embarrassed. Chloe had almost forgotten she wasn't talking to Max. This wasn't Max she had let stay here, still…
"I...can sleep on the floor or something, if it bothers you, Gail."
"N-no...it's fine...I just...this is new to me...everything is kinda new to me."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
Chloe didn't want to be conscious anymore. She couldn't take this. Any of it. She got in bed and shut her eyes tightly. Tears came again. A few moments later she felt Gail lay on the bed next to her. Chloe didn't face her. Acted like she was asleep….until a sob came that she couldn't choke down.
"Chloe..."
"It's nothing."
To her surprise, she felt Gail's arm wrap around her, and Gail herself although obviously trying trying to keep room between them, was basically spooning her.
What am I doing here, they both thought...at the same time.
Chloe was woken by someone entering the room. She panicked momentarily, she opened her eyes very slightly. Light outside. Somehow, she'd slept through a night.
Don't be David, don't be Mom, don't be David, don't be David…
"I...holy shit, Chloe", Rachel said gently, looking at Gail asleep next to Chloe, "that was quick."
"...what?", Chloe snapped, though she was whispering. She sat up gently, to avoid waking Gail just yet. She looked at Rachel, her blonde hair and blue jay feather earring painted in a slightly surreal...dreamy looking light from the light filtering through her flag.
Rachel picked up the half empty Jack Daniels bottle on the floor at the foot of the bed.
"After everything...you're back to this...and how did you even get Gail here..I-"
"Nothing happened, she needed a place to stay…"
"Chloe...are you trying to make this week...the same…"
"...no. It's not the same. Fucking obviously."
"...alright...care to explain her, then?"
"I already told you...she needed a place to-"
"She has a place to-"
"I told her. About Jefferson."
"You, what? Was this before or after this?", Rachel asked, holding up the bottle.
"Before...and I didn't drink all of that last night. What, do you think I have an addictive personality or something?", Chloe asked sarcastically.
Rachel sighed and sat down in the chair at the desk.
"How much does she know?"
"Enough. Look...somehow...here...she doesn't like Jefferson...always sensed something hella...off. About him. She told me she sees him in her nightmares...which she apparently gets...on top of headaches, nosebleeds and-"
"Okay. I get it."
"Do you?"
"Yes."
"So why are you pissed at me?"
"I'm not. I didn't want to drag her into this mess...yet, anyway."
"Rachel...this time isn't the same...but it's almost the same..she could be his next…"
"I know...I know. I just don't want this to get more complicated than it already is…"
"Yeah Rachel, because clearly we're not in over our fucking heads here, either way. How did you even get here, anyway?"
"I had Frank drop me-"
"Holy fuck, the last thing I need is him knowing where I fucking live, Rachel."
"Chloe...first of all, I had him drop me around the block, second, there's no problem here, I took care of it."
"And what equaled three grand, what did you let him do to y-", Chloe's voice rose, she didn't intend it to, it just did.
"Chloe."
"Alright, whatever."
Chloe was feeling an odd mixture of feelings towards Rachel about this subject, yes, this entire thing had been Chloe's idea, but...was she still mad about Frank? No, it couldn't be. Not after everything. She didn't know. Her head was a mess, not that that was anything new. She guessed it was a lingering effect of this reality. Which didn't make it any easier to deal with.
"...hey...what…", Chloe heard from beside her.
"Morning, Gail", Chloe said, gently, looking over at her, So pretty. So fucking cute. Just like….
"...good...morning", Gail said sleepily, sitting up, next to Chloe, "...Rachel?"
Rachel sighed, "Hi, Gail."
They both looked at Chloe, who had suddenly gone totally silent.
"Holy shit...Rachel", Chloe said suddenly, shooting up from the bed.
"What?"
"I know who's next, without...Max...here…"
"...Chase."
"Yep", Chloe sighed.
"Fuck."
"What...is going on, guys, I…", Gail started.
"We have a problem…", Chloe started.
"...about Chase…Victoria?"
"She's in serious trouble", Rachel said.
"...like the serious trouble she put Kate in with that video?"
Chloe sighed, she knew that had been coming.
"Gail, this is serious. Really, really serious", Rachel said.
"Goddammit, we go to David, right fucking now", Chloe said.
"And tell him what, exactly?"
"I haven't gotten that far yet."
Chloe had undressed and redressed, in front of them both, Rachel sighed, Gail blushed and looked away. Gail hadn't removed anything but her shoes. When Chloe was finally ready, after obviously making this process take as long as possible, trying to buy time to figure out how to go about this, much to Rachel's annoyance and Gail's embarrassment, the three of them exited the room and started down the stairs, they could hear David and Joyce talking, in the kitchen.
"How are we going to do this?", Rachel asked.
"Improvise", Chloe replied.
"Are you guys absolutely sure about this?", Gail asked timidly.
"No, i've actually considered just following Jefferson around and putting a bullet in his head when I have the chance but-"
"Chloe-", Rachel interjected.
"Well...he did it to me once."
"I know", Rachel replied dryly.
"Wait...what?", Gail asked.
"Don't worry about it", Rachel said.
These two are fucking insane, Gail thought.
"How exactly are they going to react to her being here?", Rachel asked, gesturing to Gail.
"I have no idea, but you know what, the more the better here, probably...maybe. Back the story up...you know?"
"No, I don't...because I know David."
"Rachel Amber, do not to use logic on me."
"Oh, never, Chloe."
"Then it's settled."
They rounded the corner into the kitchen, all three of them at once. David was arguing with Joyce about Chloe's "alleged" presence at the time Nathan was beaten. They stood listening for a moment before they were noticed. David was clearly angry, though...he wasn't exactly...blaming her, he seemed more curious, than anything. Chloe supposed maybe some pieces were coming together for him, that maybe he figured out she knew something.
Joyce eventually turned her attention from David and just kind of looked at this motley crew standing in her kitchen. Her daughter, with her blue hair, leather jacket, tank top and motorcycle boots, Rachel with her model looks, long blonde hair, feather earring and flannel shirt and Gail...the same as she'd been yesterday...for some reason here with them, a girl she knew had no memory or...friends...to speak of.
"...what the…", Joyce started.
"Chloe, perfect timing", David finished.
Rachel looked nervously at Chloe, wondering how in the hell she was going to handle this. Gail was trying to hide behind them both, not knowing how to process any of the events of the last twenty four hours.
"Good morning, mom, David. Yes, before you even ask, I overheard, I did beat the shit out of Nathan, me and Rachel here, you should have seen it, hella epic beatdown. Never even had the chance to go for the gun. Yes he had a gun. David knows that. We probably should have stopped at breaking his nose, but you know, we got carried away and somehow Rachel here wound up kicking him in the ribs. I know, I know, kicking a boy when he's down, but you know, he did have a gun, so…"
Godfuckingdammit Chloe, God fucking dammit, what the fuck are you doing?, thought Rachel as she glared at Chloe.
"Oh my...Lord...Chloe...what the hell is wrong with you...I...and Gail...what is she doing here...I…", Joyce started.
But David, David wasn't angry, or shocked. He wanted to know exactly what had happened. He'd noticed a change in Chloe's behaviour. She was actually...nice...to him. And to Joyce. And though she still had tantrums, she wasn't getting high or vanishing for days or weeks at a time anymore. This was why he had erased messages on the answering machine from the police department asking for Chloe. And actually made excuses for her in her defense. She didn't...push him, anymore. She didn't treat everyone as a problem. And even he, from his own life experiences, was seeing a sadness causing her anger. It wasn't an indirect rage towards everyone and everything anymore.
"Joyce...would you mind leaving me alone with Chloe and her...friends...for a moment?"
"David, you better not do anything extreme, I swear…", Joyce started, this was still her daughter, her little girl. Even if she had done many, many bad things.
"You have my word as a soldier."
"I...alright…", Joyce wasn't entirely convinced, but left the kitchen.
"Chloe...", he started when he was sure she was gone.
"David. You are absolutely right about Nathan and Mark Jefferson. Don't ask me how I know. Don't ask me how I know there is even a problem. Please. But you are absolutely fucking right. The code for the door in the barn is five, four, two."
"...Chloe...I...how...did you even know…"
"Please, David. Don't ask me. Not right now. But I do know."
"...I guess it's a good thing I actually gave you the benefit of the doubt about Nathan, I don't know how long I can hold off the police and the Prescotts, though, Chloe. You assaulted their son."
He was going to….he did kill me...he…
"All the more reason to get this over with quickly. He's after Victoria Chase, David."
"Is that why...Gail is your name...right? Is here?"
"She...helped me with this…"
How did I help….
"Is she in any danger that you know of, Chloe?"
Chloe did not want to answer this question. Not with Gail right here. Not with her mostly calm, though very confused. But she wasn't going to risk it.
"She might be next, David. I have...a hella strong reason to believe she might be next on Jefferson's sick fucking list."
Gail shrank behind them.
"But you said...Victoria…"
"If he can't get her, Victoria...David, everyone in that class is in danger, the girls anyway...Kate…"
"I fucking knew it. I FUCKING KNEW IT", David said, angrily, Chloe was just glad his anger was directed towards someone other than her, "Don't go back to Blackwell, Gail, not yet."
Gail had sunk to the floor and was holding her knees to her chest, crying into them. Chloe realized this and kneeled down beside her and hugged her.
"It's okay...it's okay..Ma-...Gail...i'm not going to let anyone hurt you."
"I...I don't want to go back...I...i'm scared...but...if I miss anymore….i'm going to get kicked out and...i'll have to…go back to Seattle…the foster home...I don't...want to...I-I-I-"
Seattle…, Chloe thought.
"I'll see what I can do about Wells, Gail. I have plenty of evidence now. I just need the final piece and I think Chloe just…somehow...gave it to me", he gave her a questioning look.
"Five, four, two, David", she ignored the look and turned back to Gail.
"...Thank you...Chloe...you girls get out of here...go somewhere safe. I'll try to deal with this. I'll deal with Joyce, too."
Chloe had tears in her eyes, seeing Gail this way. So much like Max after the storm...after…
"Thank you, David", she said seriously, not looking up at him.
David left the room, heading up the stairs where Joyce had gone a few minutes earlier. Chloe helped Gail to her feet.
"How...how...do you...know...that I...why would he even...I-", Gail sobbed.
"Do you trust me?", Chloe asked.
Gail now knew that Chloe had to be right about everything. If even David knew what was going on, though she still had no idea how Chloe knew these things...but
"Yes", she choked through a sob.
"Thank you", Chloe said through her own tears and hugged Gail again.
Rachel just watched all of this unfold, dumbfounded that Chloe's brash approach had worked. And seeing Chloe's genuine concern for Gail, whoever she actually was, warmed her heart.
"We need to get out of here", Rachel finally spoke, "before he questions it or Joyce comes looking for answers."
"Right…", Chloe said.
She handed the keys of the truck to Rachel.
"What is this?", Rachel asked.
"The keys, you guys go get in the truck, i'll be right there."
"Where...are...you going?", Gail asked.
"I have to get something."
"Chloe...no...don't...I know what you're thinking and-", Rachel tried.
"Insurance, Rachel", Chloe said, walking past them.
"Fuck", Rachel sighed.
"What...is she-"
"Don't ask, Gail."
Rachel sat in the passenger's seat of Chloe's truck, Gail in the middle of the bench, Chloe hadn't come out yet.
"Rachel...is...she...how does she know...these things?"
"I can't really say, Gail. I know everything she does. I think. I just...it's complicated...extremely, extremely complicated."
"She...said the same thing."
"I'm sure she did."
"Who are...you two?"
"Your friends. But...that's a hard question to answer."
"It's always fucking riddles with her...and you too, apparently."
"Because...we don't really know who we are, anymore. Gail. Things have changed."
"That's...what I keep...hearing", Gail was still crying but it wasn't the horrible sobbing it had been.
"When this is done and over with, i'm sure Chloe will tell you everything, Gail. She just doesn't want you to get hurt."
"You can't tell me?"
"It's not my place. You're going to have to trust us."
"I do...trust her...I just…"
"I know, Gail."
Chloe came out of the house, securing something at the back of her waist, under her jacket, Gail couldn't tell what it was. Rachel knew what it was.
"We have to get the hell out of dodge for a bit", Chloe said, as she climbed into the cab.
"And where would that be?", Rachel asked.
"I know a place", Chloe replied.