Prologue: Quantum Mechanics states that there are an infinite number of worlds. This is boring, and you have likely heard it before. Something more interesting that you might have not heard is that on one of those worlds, Max Caulfield never met Chloe Price before leaving Arcadia Bay. Let me tell you the story of what happened when she came back.

Chapter 17: Sins, Not Tragedies

Thursday, September 26th, 2013 (5:00 PM)

I sat on the bench by the fountain outside Blackwell, breathing in the fall air. It was a bit chilly, but my hoodie was more than up to the task of keeping me warm. The trees nearby were changing colors, and they looked beautiful, so I got up, taking a few photos with my camera, and walking around the pavilion.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of hands cover my eyes, and I spun around, nearly dropping my camera in the process. As I did, I bumped into someone much taller than me, losing my balance. As I did, a pair of arms caught me, and I saw who it was.

It was Chloe, standing right in front of me, larger than life, her arms wrapped around me, stopping me from falling over. She was wearing her jacket, along with a pair of ripped of jeans and a black t-shirt with the name of a band I didn't recognize. I looked up at her, and straightened up, so that I didn't need her to hold me up anymore. She kept her arms wrapped around me though, and tilted her head downwards, looking directly into my eyes. I closed my eyes, and our lips met.

After only a few moments however, she pulled away, and I could see she was shaky, unsteady. Her eyes were the palest shade of blue I had ever seen them, almost a shade of gray.

"Chloe, are you okay?" I asked.

"No-well yes- but it's just- I fucked up, Max. I screwed up and I'm not sure what to do."

"Tell me what it is that happened." I didn't want to believe it, I didn't. What Victoria had said couldn't have been true. It couldn't.

Chloe took a deep breath, before launching into a monologue at a pace fast enough that I had trouble keeping up.

"Well after our date in the morning when I went to use the shower, I ran into Victoria, and she was being a bitch and saying rude things about you, and me, and us, so I said- I said some horrible things to her. I told her that Kate didn't love her, and that no one would. And it was dumb, and terrible, and impulsive. And- And-" Chloe was taking in huge gasps of air now, like she was trying not to drown. She was pale and trembling, and- wait what did she say?

I felt like I was in a dream… or a nightmare. Victoria wasn't lying, oh god, and I was just standing there, and then all of a sudden I wasn't even controlling what spilled out of my mouth, wasn't thinking before I spoke.

"Why would you say that? They're broken up now, and Victoria is devastated, and if Victoria is hurt by this, then how do you think Kate feels? You've ruined something beautiful, something that meant an awful lot to two people who I consider my friends, with just a few impulsive words?"

"Max, just can you- can you understand, please? Max, I need you." Chloe was shaking, and I didn't understand and wasn't sure and why would she say that?

"Just go. Okay Chloe? I need time to process this. Just go."

So I watched Chloe turn and walk away, looking more hurt and vulnerable than I had ever seen her. And then I walked back to my dorm, feeling more hurt and vulnerable than I ever known I could.

AN: ...What have I written?