This fanfic follows the main unchanged time line of events that would have happened in Life is Strange, if Max didn't get her time travel powers.
The Main Time line,
In real life, there are no do over's
By Marry Touchstone
Chapter one, a day in the life of Max Caulfield
whoa, okay you're in class, everything's cool.*
I was in Mr. Jefferson's class and had just had...I don't know Nightmare?
Hallucination…I'm not entirely sure what that was.
And then I made the mistake of drawing attention to myself in class. I took a sulfide and Mr. Jefferson called on me and of course I couldn't think of the answer in time before class queen bee Victoria showed me up. Typical
I kept silent for the rest of class. On top of that, we've got this dorky ass contest at school. Mr. Jefferson really wants me to enter, but there's no way I'd stand out even a little bit. I'm absolutely not entering. As if I'd even make a difference. I tried to drop out of the contest as soon as class was over. Of course, Victoria was there kissing ass again. But I couldn't get the words out. Mr. Jefferson really seems to believe in me. I wish there was a way I could enter with out being exposed for my "gift" read emo ass bitch disease. I tried talking to Kate a little bit before I left. She seemed down so I thought I'd invite her out to some tea, I needed some time with a friend too. I mean, I think I'm friends with Kate; I've never taken part in all the bullying she's been going through. But she said she'd be busy with homework. Aw well, hopefully I'll be able to catch up with her later. Anyway, every one was talking smack about me after class. I just put my ear - buds in and let the sound of stupid teenage life wash away to the sweet sounds of the music. Things felt nice for a second.
Acoustic guitar there's nothing better to zone out to. Thank God the bath room was empty, just to right place to have a melt down. I looked at the picture I had planed to submit for the contest. Mr. Jefferson's words repeated in my head. "You have a gift."
Fuck it
I ripped that picture in half and threw it onto the wed dirty bathroom floor, there's no way in hell I was submitting that trash, Gift or no gift.
But as they say, when a door closes a window opens. Right after I ripped up the picture, a bright blue butterfly flew in out of nowhere and landed on a metal bucket, probably left over by the cleaning lady. It would make the perfect photo, the glowing color of the wings, the flow of the piece; I could almost feel the air moving out of the photo as I took the picture. Almost like I'd captured the sacred image of a spirit long forgotten but for the moment I had turned into a still image
Finally
A decent photo
But before I could dwell on that, the worse thing I have ever seen happened right before my eyes.
It started when Nathan entered the bathroom; it looked like he was having some kind of brake down. Not that I was one to judge, and then he said something about possibly blowing up the school. Did that count as some kind of a threat? But before I could decide if I should bolt or investigate further into the matter, some girl walked in after him. I couldn't see her face clearly enough to see who it was, but she seemed real pissed for some reason. Saying something about talking 'business'
From the way she was almost interrogating Nathan, it seemed like she wanted something he had. Either money or drugs from what they were talking about. Nathan insisted that he couldn't give her anything because
1. Hisfamilyhad control of where the money went, not him and
2. He didn't have drugsanymore
As much as I sort of hate Nathan, I didn't want him to get hurt. After all he seemed under enough stress as it was. But form a totally objective perspective, I could also understand why someone might want to corner Nathan for cash as the girl was doing. First off, Nathan's comes from a very rich family; it's how he got into Black well academy in the first place. And from his photography, well, let's just say he would be the type to get into using drugs at school. I don't know about dealing them out though; feel like I would have heard something about that before this. Either way, this was a tense situation or I made sure to stay hidden behind the last stall.
{The end of Chloe Price}
Then Nathan pulled out a gun out of nowhere. That's right; he had a gun, at school. He brought a gun to school and no one even noticed? I thought that's why we hired that new security guard, wasn't he supposed to catch this kind of stuff? He had even set up cameras all around the school for crying out loud. What the hell was happening right now?
Then before I could do anything Nathan shot her! He actually shot her!
"NO!"
On instinct I dashed out of my hiding place and reached for the girl but it was too late, the gun shot had hit her right in the chest and she fell helplessly to the ground, there was nothing I could do for her.
Nathan dropped the gun in shock, I don't even know if he had meant to shoot her then or not but I didn't care. There was a dead person right in front of me. Everything felt like it was moving in slow motion.
And then I saw the girls face.
No, no! I couldn't be, but there was no mistake, it was Chloe. My best friend
I had just heard about her being expelled from Black well. She had never been too interested in her education though so maybe her reason for trying to get into Black well in the first place was to see me. I had always hopped I could be able to run into her here but...not like this.
I tried to process everything that had just happened.
I had taken a photo of the pretty blue butterfly, and then Nathan and the Chloe had walked in and had begun fighting. Nathan pulled out a gun, and then -
I couldn't take it. I sat down on the bathroom floor and began to cry.
My best friend was gone
Just gone
And… for what
Money, drugs?
What had happened to her to make her come to this point in her life?
I knew she had lost her dad and that it had really messed her up but...
I didn't know it was this bad.
I just couldn't believe it, my best friend was GONE
And I would never have the chance to reconnect with her. Ever
Chapter two, the after math
Things went by like a blur after that
I think I called the security guard; he was David, Chloe's step father, who arrested Nathan. I heard all the students gather outside, watching Nathan get carried away by the police, but I just remember running out of the bath room and hiding in my dorm for a long time. Eventually someone knocked on my door. I tried to ignore it, to just be still with my thoughts but they wouldn't budge. When I finally opened it, I saw that it was Kate Marsh. The two of us hugged each other and cried on the floor for the longest time. I was so glad I still had Kate around. I remember apologizing to her for crying but she just hugged me tighter until it was all out. We spent a long time in each others dorm. That same day Kate told me about what was really happening to her. It started when I talked about why David hadn't caught Nathan with a gun.
"I just don't get it, he's super paranoid, and how could he not notice?"
"There are a lot of things that David doesn't notice Max."
"Wait, so there's more to this?"
"Yes, you see- um- I mean, did you hear about the video?"
I was taken aback. I had heard Kate acting wired in a video a while back. Something about going to a Vortex party
But it sounded bull shit. For one thing, Kate never went to the Vortex parties, and for another she said she wasa Christian. I don't know hardly anything about Christianity or anything, but she seemed like your typical good Christian girl to me. I wasn't going to let one video change my mind.
"I can have but I didn't watch it."
Kate heaved a sigh of relief
"Thank you"
"I'm curious though, why?"
"I went to a Vortex party against my better judgment."
"Tell me about the video, maybe I can help. I mean, you've done a lot for me this past week with Chloe's…"
"Passing"
"Yeah, anyway, can you tell me what happened?
"Basically, I went to one Vortex Club party and ended up making out with a bunch of people…and I have no memory of it…"
"Doesn't sound like you at all but tell me, what happened at the party? Did you drink?"
"I swear to God I had one sip of red wine. And then I drank water."
"Did someone drug you?"
"I remember getting sick and dizzy, and then…*sigh* Nathan Prescott said he would take me to the hospital."
"The same Nathan who killed Chloe"
"I swear I had no idea what he was capable of back then, and he was being nice for a change when he offered to help me. Of course now I know what a freak he is…all I recall next is driving for a long time…and then I woke up in a room…I thought it was a hospital because it was so white and bright…somebody was talking to me in a soft voice…I thought it was a doctor until I felt sharp sting in my neck. And..."
She was quiet for a bit
"…and?"
"I'm sorry, that's all I can remember. I woke up the next day in my dorm room. I didn't have any marks or bruises but I felt gross."
"I'm so sorry Kate, this is serious shit. Maybe I can get the video taken down? Research the Vortex club members and find out who did it?"
"no need, I've already figured out what to do."
"Really"
"Yes, last Sunday when I prayed in Church I saw a butterfly, it got caught in a spider web and I thought it was going to get hurt, and it did a little, but then another butterfly flew to it's aid and it escaped from the web. I 'm not sure but I think it must have been a sign, that I'm doing the right thing by asking for help with this, and I'll be saved in the eyes of the Lord no matter what."
"I'll be honest I've personally never fully understood signs or good omens, but if that's true, I'm happy for you Kate"
"Thanks, and you should know, David is actually the one who did a full background check on everyone and a very thorough investigation on the culprit, do you know who it was?"
"Who, Nathan"
"Well, Nathan was involved but…it was actually Mr. Jefferson."
"What?"
"I know it's hard to believe and I know you were close to him but"
"Actually, I never understood his fascination with me and, I always found it creepy anyways, especially since he never stopped Victoria from cozying up to him."
"Oh well, in that case you were right to be suspicious then. Because it was revealed that he had some kind of sex dungeon in the basement of the Prescott family farm house."
"Oh shit."
"But it's a lot better now, there's a warrant out for him and he'll get arrested for what he did any day now."
Suddenly we heard sirens outside the window.
"Looks like it's today, want to go out and see what they'll do to him?"
"I just want to rest for now, but you go ahead. I'll be with you in spirit."
As I left the dorm room I told Kate something I felt like I should have said a long time ago.
"Kate, always remember that you're not alone. I've got your back, no matter what happens.
So do a lot of other people, we all care. We are all here for you. You need to know that."
"Max, that makes me feel so blessed for the first time this week. I don't know what to say."
"That's okay, neither do I. Maybe we could both use a hug."
I hugged her close. She was the closest thing I'd had to a best friend since Chloe died.
I went outside and saw Mr. Jefferson in handcuffs leaving the building. He was looking down not really noticing I was there at all, not that I really wanted him to see me. It was so surreal seeing him there. Just walking to the swat car
"Max."
It was David he was standing guard as usual I wondered what he wanted now
"Thanks for saving Kate Marsh David."
"If only I could have saved Chloe today too."
Honestly I agreed with him, but he said it so such remorse and grief and pain, I couldn't find it in me to be smug about it, even though I knew Chloe would have.
"Max, I'm so sorry I-
Well anyway, Joyce called. I told her about…everything that's happened. She'd like to have you over for dinner tomorrow just to talk everything over."
"Of course, anything I can do to help."
Your family is what I was going to say, but with Chloe gone, I'd understand if it didn't feel much like one any more.
"Alright, that's all. Let's get back inside now, before anything gets you too. Come on now, I understand it'll be difficult with what's happened to past few weeks, but I'll do what I can while I'm still here."
It was the first time I ever took comfort in David's worrying.
Chapter three, David leaves
The dinner ended up being silent, we only had small omelets that David made as Joyce was too grief stricken to cook. I said my condolences and then Joyce excused herself.
"She's gone to cry in Chloe's room. We did that a lot this morning." David supplied.
I'd be doing that too if I hadn't cried it all out to my parents that morning.
"She blames me for Chloe's death and so do I. I understand if you do to Max. I understand completely."
The man seemed so hurt, so brokenhearted. But what could I say? That he was exactly right about how I felt? All I could do in the end was nod.
"I figured as much. We haven't spoken much at all even when she came to Black well. Was sort of hoping you'd reach out to me about her and-
Well anyway I wanted to tell you, I'm on my way out."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean I'm leaving, and I want you to know I ain't mad in the least about it. I understand. I didn't do my damn job, I failed what little family Joyce had left, and now…I'm quitting my job and…I'll leave."
Tears started rolling down my face. "But David, I mean, maybe you could have done better but it could've been up to the Prescott's ya know? They could have messed with the camera's or done something to distract you or?"
David was already shaking his head.
"I'm touched Max, really but you know it was my fault. The police already checked for that. For real, there was nothing that would have kept me from knowing."
"But you were already on your way over my phone call was for the police, even before that you were already on your way over so you must have known about the gun!"
"I did, I just…didn't get there in time to save her."
His voice broke a little. He looked so broken.
"Anyway, that's why I'm leaving, and I'm glad you'll be the first to know. It's what, what Chloe would have wanted."
I got up and hugged David, he wasn't always that great but he was a nice man, and he had at least tried to protect us.
"Thank you for everything you've done for us at Black well David, you protected Kate and prevented a terrible situation at the school with Mr. Jefferson. You always tried to do the right thing, I won't for get that, ever. Thank you."
"Your welcome Max, It's nice to hear you say that. Now just…be careful now okay, don't you wonder off into the dark."
And with that he got up, packed a suit case and headed for the door.
Despite my sympathy for him earlier, I still couldn't help my anger towards him. He was right. He had failed Chloe. But at the same time I couldn't help but feel bad for him. I mean, he saw Chloe's dead body; he had to take her to the morgue and everything.
He did think of her as his own after all. If only she could have understood that when she was alive
I watched him leave the house with out turning back. Not even once.
Chapter four, Chloe's funeral
I spent that night in my room, four days had it really only been four day's?
"No mom it's okay really."
"Are you sure honey, remember you can come back home anytime you need. And right now with everything, well now seems like one of those times."
"We just think it's best for you to be home honey that's all." Dad said.
"And I will I promise, but I need to go to the funeral dad. It's important that I show up for it, if only to support Joyce. She needs it. Now more then ever, I think I'll even stop by the diner today just to check in and see how she's doing.
And besides, we've got a photography contest still happening this weekend I don't want to pass up this opportunity."
"Okay Max if you're sure."
"I am love you guys."
"We love you too."
I hung up.
Still holding my entry in the contest,
"It's okay Chloe, no matter what I'll never forget you."
Mini episode, going through the motions
At the diner, Joyce brought so many memories of Chloe. An old box she found full of stuff we did together when we were kids. There were even photos of William in there. We chatted for a bit and then she pulled out a photo album.
"I feel so bad I didn't call"
"Max I want you to know that you did the right thing. You moved on with your life and…we'll all move on from this as well. I did after William passed on. And…I know I will again now that Chloe's with him."
"Joyce, I'm so sorry about William, and Chloe. I have great memories of them both."
"As do I, that was their gift to us Max, wonderful memories, and speaking of which."
She presented the photo album.
"I know these photos don't measure up to your work Max, but they help preserve the memories we have of Chloe."
"My favorite photographers probably take picture similar to yours. And you're defiantly right about preserving memories, *sigh* she looks so happy here, with William."
"Yea she was they both were."
"It was the last photo he took before…anyway I didn't show you this to be morbid, in fact I want you to have this…this was when my baby was so full of life and light. So hopeful and positive, it was the last time I ever saw Chloe truly happy. I should have been there for her more."
She was silent for a moment. She was probably thinking about what Chloe would have said to us at that moment. I knew 13 year old Chloe would have laughed and asked to join in but…I don't' know she had changed so much in the years I'd been away. A Chloe I'll never get to know.
"Oh sorry, but I need to go. I have a lot of studying to catch up on" I said, before I could turn into a complete mess in front of the whole dinner.
"Oh that's quite alright, I won't keep ya." Said Joyce wiping her face and putting the box and the album away, I put my new photo of me and Chloe away too. That's a photo that would be just for me and Chloe. Where ever she is now.
"You're still coming to the funeral this evening right? It's right around four."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, I promise."
The funeral was at the only cemetery in Arcadia Bay. So many people showed up. Even people who hardly knew her were there. David came to support Joyce but he knew she was still mad at him, but still needed him there somehow. I think I even saw some man with a dog show up in the background. Did he know Chloe two? Then this blue butterfly showed up again on her casket. I remembered what Kate had said, about butterflies and signs. Well God I don't need a sign I know what I'm doing. But thanks, I guess. Please watch over my best friend. Where ever she is now. While I go out into the world to carry on her memory
Chapter six, Famous photographer Max
The next week, I was on a plane to San Francisco. On my way to a professional art gallery, show casing my art for the first time in my life. I was supposed to be excited for this event. But while it was pretty cool to be considered an artist, it couldn't help but feel bitter sweet somehow…without Chloe there to see it with me.
"This is your day, Max. You can do whatever you want. I hope you take advantage of your status and talk to as many influential people here as possible. Work the room." Principle Ray told me. As much as he insisted I was an adult now, I still feel the need to think of him as the Principle.
I guess you could say I 'worked the room' as he instructed. I had magazines and art critics alike praising me for my work. It was nice being recognized out there. I even got to meet a famous writer who offered to write about me in the next issue. Of course I accepted. Man, did that guy want details. I ended up talking to him for almost three hours. Everything from how I took the picture to how I developed it to why I chose it for the contest. I had been waiting for this moment my whole life.
"I saw it happen right before my eyes; that butterfly just seemed so, magical and transcendent. Especially in the color and movement of the piece, I just knew I had to capture it at that moment."
"I always take great care in developing my photos. I have this space in all my bags and purses where I keep them for photo's I take on the go just like this. It has a special fabric, so they don't mess up the pictures while I'm carrying them, then I take each picture to the darkroom at school, and develop them there. Although I'm hoping I can get a dark room of my own when I move out of my dorm next year, and also to continue my studies in college as well after I graduate."
"Well, I had this special friend when I was in middle school, her name was Chloe Price, and she was my best friend. She used to go to Black well. But a few days after I came to Arcadia, she died in a tragic school shooting. You can read all about her death in our town paper if you're curious about what happened. Please keep in mind that the family is still grieving and wish to keep some things privet, although I did get their permission to use this photo in the contest to hopefully win and keep her memory in the thoughts and minds of all who behold it. It there is any beauty or artistic value in this piece then let it be known that it is in memory of Chloe Price that I submit it for your approval."
Final, Arcadia Bay
After I got back from San Francisco, I went to the coast by the lighthouse.
The sun allowed a golden light to wash over the trees as the weaves on the shoreline washed over the sand.
Everything looked oddly the same. The birds circling the buildings with the cars passing by, that weird pile of rocks.
I took a moment to appreciate the view,
Hesitant in my temptation to capture the moment in a small photograph, but ultimately, I simply turned away with the memory captured in my head instead.
And returned triumphant to Arcadia Bay
Some of it felt sad some of it felt regretful but over all. I felt at peace with my choices. I felt happy with how I had preserved the memory of Chloe Price and showcased it to the world.
The sunset was almost over, yet just before the sun descended upon the horizon, it came out one last time, showing itself between two clouds one thick and one thin slightly over looking the thin one and lighting up the sky in a glow of faint gold, flowing onto the water.
That was the moment I decided to capture. The moment I felt welcomed back to Arcadia Bay.
