Mz Hyde

Song by Halestorm

Max sat in Chloe's hospital room and watched her friend sleep as the dawn's early light began to filter through the closed blinds and illuminate the otherwise dark room with a golden shafts of sunlight. Half-asleep herself, Max stretched a bit in her seat and smiled tiredly as she watched Chloe's chest rise and fall slowly as the bluenette's face exuded a calming feeling on her. She's so tranquil, so at peace, Max thought as she quietly got to her feet and walked over to the window. Peering through the blinds, Max watched a hazy mist begin to dissipate as the Sun warmed the air in Arcadia Bay, the October weather bringing cooler nights despite the still warm days. Well, warm for Oregon.

All but demanding that she get to sleep in Chloe's room, her caregiver at the hospital had relented when Max wedged shut and braced herself against the door to Chloe's room. Chloe, lying in her hospital bed with a hand to her abdomen where she'd been stabbed, had snickered at first before breaking into a fit of pained, raucous laughter when her mirth seemed to entice Max further and the brunette had threatened to barricade the door shot. A minute-long shouting match and two doctors' reassurances later, Max was opening the door to bolt down the hall toward the room that she had been using. Grabbing the camera bag from her hospital bed, Max trashed the throwaway flip-flops that the hospital had provided and slipped on her stockings and boots before walking hurriedly to Chloe's room. Worried that they would have secured the door after she left, Max saw her doctor smirk and wink at her when she audibly sighed in relief as the doorknob turned. Opening the door, Max sat her camera bag on the room's dresser and climbed into bed with a waiting, smiling Chloe.

Max's and Chloe's smiles were a little warmer when their eyes met than they had been just the day before, a change occurring not only between them but in them separately. Max felt Chloe was no longer looking into her from outside the walls she had put up after her parents died but within those remaining walls. While Chloe was still just as sarcastic and irreverent as before, there was a softness in her voice and eyes whenever their eyes met. When their hospital dinners arrived, Max had playfully fed Chloe nothing but the gelatin side dishes and had laughed when Chloe complained about tasting like bad cough syrup before Max had crashed into her lips with a kiss that was interrupted by their own laughter. Only when Chloe's attention was momentarily elsewhere would Max's smile fade as she would just watch Chloe as she'd look out the window or watch TV. Her face unreadable, Max wondered what the future in this timeline would mean when she didn't know five years of her own past. Never mind me. Chloe's been through so much while this Max… while I was away. I'm here now though, and I will never fucking let you go, Chloe.

"Max?" Max heard Chloe ask in a sleepy voice before turning around from the window and her thoughts to see Chloe watching her with a smile and twinkling eyes. "Dude, you look like you have a halo. You've got this… this radiance, standing in front of the sunlight like that. Shame you're the photographer, nerd, because I'd totally snap a shot of you right now."

"W-Why don't you, then?" Max asked, feeling at being called anything along the lines of radiant, walking over to the dresser to toss her camera bag at Chloe. Max winced when it landed close to where her friend had been stabbed, "Sorry…"

Watching Chloe give her an irked grimace before shaking her head in amusement, Max scratched at the back of her head and an embarrassed laugh escaped her lips. Her hand fishing through Max's bag, Chloe brought out the old Polaroid camera and began to line up a shot as Max stood motionless in front of the window. Noticing that Chloe seemed to be waiting for something, Max tilted her head and smirked in puzzlement at the bluenette only to get a camera flash momentarily blinding her in reply.

"Max, you are hella cute, but it's near-impossible to get you to really smile," Chloe remarked as she shook the photo and placed it on her lap, sliding the camera back into Max's bag as she handed it off and saw Max staring at her. Do you have any idea how the light looks when it hits your hair, Chloe? It's like you are the ocean. Never mind when you smile, dork. "Hey, I didn't mean anything bad by-"

"I know, Chloe," Max said, standing at her bedridden friend's side, rubbing her thumb against the back of Chloe's palm as they held hands. "I am something of a hardass, huh?"

"Hot piece of ass, more like it," Chloe teased, winking at Max as the brunette rolled her eyes before leaning in to kiss Chloe good morning. "Mmm, morning smooches. Got to say, Caulfield, you got some mad skills. I… I'm really liking this, Max, like hella liking."

Another development coming out of Chloe's self-proclaimed 'Brush with Death' was an intensifying of their relationship. "More than friends, less than lovers" had been the way Max described it while lying alongside Chloe in the hospital bed the previous evening. Fingers interweaving only to trace along each other's arms randomly, both Max and Chloe wanted to get closer despite lying side by side. They had talked for hours, Max's hopes regarding whatever happened with her standing at Blackwell and college along with Chloe's desire to get out of Arcadia Bay and pursue her interest in art. They made plan after plan about what to do together now that they were reunited and had giggled at their collaborative idea of sailing the coast like the pirates they'd pretended to be when they were younger. Kissing each other until both of them had cherry gelatin breath, Max had slid out of bed long enough for the nurse to come in and administer a shot so Chloe would be able to sleep more easily. Feeling Chloe nuzzle into her neck, Max slid up on the bed a little until her friend's head was nestled in the crook of her neck. Watching Chloe fall asleep, the bluenette peacefully breathing with a contented smile on her face, Max had ran a hand through Chloe's blue hair and watched her sleep.

"Good morning to you too, jerk," Max replied, giving Chloe one more kiss before standing back up, "You gonna miss me?"

"You going somewhere?" Chloe quirked an eyebrow, smirk on her face, "I see how it is, Caulfield. Get me to sleep with you twice, make out with you a fuck-ton of times, and now you take off and leave me half-naked. Oh, the life of a nerd's mistress, afraid a badass like me will kill her geek cred."

"Yes, that's exactly it, drama mama," Max flipped Chloe off before taking a seat on the edge of her friend's bed. Lacing her fingers back into Chloe's hand, Max looked up to see the sarcastic grin soften on Chloe's face turn into a faintly blushing smile. "I'm getting discharged in an hour, Chloe. We'll have to settle for visiting hours this afternoon until you get discharged tomorrow, okay? It is tomorrow, right?"

"Ugh, kill my happy why dontcha," Chloe nodded quickly before turning her head to face the window with a defeated look on her face, watching Max from the corner of her eye, "I… I wish you didn't have to go, Max. Every time you take off, part of me worries that I might not see you again. Five years was too long for this, whatever this is." Chloe squeezed her fingers against Max's and Max returned the gesture.

"I know, and I feel the same way, but a delinquent like me still has shit to do," Max slumped her shoulders and brought a hand to the bluenette's cheek, gently rubbing her thumb against Chloe's jawline as she looked to the window, "Fuck, you make me so damn mushy, you brat. You want the blinds open, Baby Blue?"

"'Baby Blue'?" Chloe looked at Max and snorted before seeming to acquiesce to her new nickname, "Yeah, blinds open. When we dye your hair I'm totally gonna come up with a nickname. Baby Blue? F-Fucking hippie…" Max looked over her shoulder as she opened up the blinds to smirk with one of her eyebrows raised at a scarlet-faced Chloe. "Yeah yeah, I know. You look like as much of a hippie as I do. Days gone by, huh?"

"…Something like that." I haven't been that girl in a long fucking time, Chloe. Don't know if I could even go back there if I tried. Hope that what you see in me is enough, because I don't think I could fall any harder for you. Taking her spot on the edge of Chloe's bed, Max spread her fingers wide to let Chloe's slip back in and bit her lip as she watched the blue nailed- fingers bend down to clasp onto her hand. Swallowing hard, Max looked up to see an amused look on Chloe's face. Okay, asswipe. I'm totally allowed to get flustered with all this mushy crap, too. Sometimes. Besides, Chloe, I had you blushing last night, didn't I? "Anyway… Doth the punk-ass have a request for when she is released from thine cell tomorrow?"

"The 'punk' hella does, but the good stuff'll have to wait," Chloe snickered, "I'd like some quality grub and quality Max time, but I want to work on finding out what happened to Rachel. Max, you're gonna still help me with that, right?"

Rachel. Max couldn't help but think of the girl who was her sister in another life, her smile when they would meet to hang out or how she'd laugh over the dumbest things. She was an angel in my timeline, and Chloe's in this one. Now, if I want to have any chance of a real future with this Chloe I have to figure out what happened to Rach. This is going to be fucking brutal. Lost in her thoughts, Max looked up and made a sheepish face when Chloe coughed to get her attention.

"I suppose I shall have to appease you and grant your wish, then," Max smiled, exaggeratingly rolling her eyes as she leaned in to kiss Chloe, their lips a little dry from not having drank anything since last night. Feeling Chloe's tongue slide along her lips, Max let out a low purring moan before pulling back. "Can't we just skip ahead to the happy ending where we burn down the school and roast marshmallows, Chloe? I could so get used to this."

"Heh, I am hella fine," Chloe smiled and motioned with her chin at the door, "Thanks for agreeing to help me, Max. Now, get out of here before I decide to hide you under my blankets, nerd."

"Hmmm…," Max opened both her palms and began to lift her arms up and down to mime weighing her options.

"Ugh. You are such a fucking tease, Caulfield!" Chloe groaned when Max laughed and pulled one of her pillows out from behind her head to throw it at the retreating Max. "Get outta here, you dirty little shit! See you this afternoon, and you better fucking show! Bring smokes!"

Max closed the door behind her and heard what she assumed was Chloe's pillow smack against the narrow window. Snickering, Max stuffed her hands into her jacket pockets and walked down to the coffee machine that was nestled in a corner next to a table with what looked to be at least two-day old donuts. Poking at a glazed donut with her index finger, Max winced at how stale the food was and heard her stomach growl as she dropped in a couple quarters she'd managed to get from the night duty head nurse before she'd taken off an hour ago. The coffee was hot but acrid to the point of Max coughing from just a sip. This tastes like it sat at the bottom of a percolator from the fucking dawn of time, Max thought as she cringed while sipping at the overly-dark beverage. Leaning against the machine's side that was facing the double doors leading into the hospital's front waiting area, Max reluctantly pulled out her phone and bit her lip anxiously at the emphatic lack of messages. Wow. At least they listened, I guess.

Max: *GROUP TEXT* You all caught me at the worst possible time yesterday. My bad if you got butthurt.

Jesus, I scared them all off, Max thought as her eyes widened in anticipation while staring at the blank screen until a series of pings accompanied a small list of messages. Oh, thank Dog.

Dana: worst apology ever, "Mad" Max lol

Max: At least you get something of an apology. I'm not that great at those. Also, Mad Max is a legit nickname and one I already have eheheh

Juliet: I still want my interview, Mad Max!

Max: Ugh, Juliet. Motherfucking UGH

Dana: LMAO she just slumped into my couch, Max

Juliet: Hey!

Kate: Hey, Max :D

Kate: How's your friend?

Max: She's gonna be out tomorrow morning. I'm getting discharged shortly, so there were sadface moments and kisses.

Dana: ? She? Kisses?

Kate: Aww, that sounds sweet 3

Juliet: Gossip! Deets, Max. Now.

Warren: …at least now I know why you keep shooting me down, lol

Max: lol, I am hella gay. (ﾉヮ)ﾉ*:･ﾟ

Dana: (^o^)

Kate: :)

Juliet: I'm kinda surprised that you'd say it so freely, Max.

Max: No Ragrets XD

Dana: jfc lol

Warren: So, um, who's this mystery woman?

Dana: YES WHO

Juliet: TELL

Kate: You guys! Max will tell us when she's ready

Max: Yeah, we're taking things really easy and slow rn. More than being friends, but nothing official past that…

Max: She's going through some heavy stuff and I want her to heal first before I bum-rush her with feels and heavy petting

Kate: Max!

Dana: OMG Kate lol

Juliet: Kate yelled your name out loud, Max

Juliet: We could hear it from Dana's room

Warren: Awww, Kate…

Kate: …I'm fine

Kate: I'll be fine, really

Kate: TMI, maybe?

Max: Heading there for clothes and shit around noon for clothes. See you all soon. Even you, Waldo

Warren: O_o

Max: Heh. I meant Warren. Just fucking with you. ;D

Putting her phone away, Max turned to see a nurse approaching her with a clipboard. Hastily scribbling her initials where indicated by the blue arrow stickers, Max handed the paperwork back to the nurse so suddenly that he nearly dropped it as Max spun on her heel and hurried through the opening double doors. Pulling a set of keys from the camera bag hanging off her shoulder, Max found the one she was looking for and unlocked Chloe's truck.

Chloe's stepfather had been reluctant to hand over the keys to someone he only knew as the "delinquent that hit another student", but caved under the withering stare of Joyce Price when he was reminded that the young woman before him likely saved his stepdaughter's life. Goddamn, you're an asshole in this timeline, too? I cannot win, Max had thought to herself as he begrudgingly handed over the truck keys. Still on edge, Max had suppressed the urge to try and punch him in favor of a fake smile as she swiped the keys from his hand rather than let him give them to her. Seeing Joyce sigh a little in resignation, Max pointedly looked away from David's narrowed eyes until it got to be too much and she met his glare with one of her own.

"You two, please! Not now, okay?" Joyce had asked in a raised, irritated voice as she moved to step in-between them, "Max, I swear, you are as bad as Chloe… What happened to you?"

"…I had a really fucked-up five years," Max had admitted to Joyce, shrugging with a deadpan look on her face. Don't know if I actually did here, but who the fuck cares at this point? Parents alive, Chloe and me becoming a possibility, and I'm making friends. High school stuff. She didn't know too much about this new timeline aside from what she'd gathered over the past couple days, but Max was more interested in not being this timeline's Max Caulfield than trying to imitate her. I'm not going to be pussy-footing around like some shy, delicate little shit. I guess I don't need to be complete and utter shit, though. "…Sorry, Joyce. I'll try to be better, for Chloe's sake."

"I hope so, Max," Joyce had turned to take ahold of Max's shoulders, "She needs you, Max. Lord knows she won't listen to me, never mind David. Go on back in and look after my daughter."

"Ugh," Max groaned when she caught a whiff of the disinfecting soap that the hospital had used on her clothes as she climbed into the driver's seat of Chloe's truck. "I smell like hospital and hand sanitizer. Maybe I'll borrow some of Chloe's gear, too. I only really have this and the other plebian shit from before I got here."

Max waltzed through the front door of Chloe's house and was met with silence. Nobody home, I guess. Max mentally shrugged and walked into the kitchen to get something to drink, heading upstairs with a glass of water and slice of cold pizza. Pizza slice in her mouth, Max used her free hand to turn the knob and enter a room that was hauntingly familiar. Managing to catch herself before she dropped the glass of water, Max couldn't salvage what remained of the pizza slice as it hung for a moment from her dropped jaw before falling to the floor. Oh my…Oh my God, this is crazy, Max thought to herself as she surveyed the room.

Graffiti in the exact same place, swipes of black marker streaked across the same areas that she had already come to know, Max examined the posters next after setting the water down on Chloe's desk. Most of the posters were familiar to Max, some even in the exact same place as the other Chloe's were. The few band posters she didn't recognize weren't a shock, nor were the lack of fight posters. Chloe never got into fighting here, at least not trained fighting. Running a finger along a piece of graffiti that unnerved her, a filled-in black circle with "hole to another universe" scrawled above it, Max turned and took a piece of paper from the desk before falling back on Chloe's bed.

"Rach…," Max whined softly, reading off in her head the information that Chloe had listed in the poster. Same name, same birthday, same goofy-ass feather earring. You used to have two of them, Rachel, but you never did tell me where the other one went… Where the fuck are you, Sis? How the hell did you wind up here, of all places? This time-space shit is really wracking my brain… Setting the paper down, Max searched through Chloe's various boxes and shelves until she managed to scrounge up a cigarette and disposable lighter. The tobacco was stale and nearly as choke-inducing as the hospital's coffee but some relief to Max was better than no relief. Sitting back on the bed, cross-legged with the flyer in her lap, Max pulled out her cellphone and began to type.

Max: Che?

Chloe: Hey Max what's up?

Max: Curious – when did Rachel move here?

Chloe: Uh, why? I mean, it was a few years ago. She never really talked about it. Only mentioned that her folks in Arcadia Bay were like an aunt and uncle.

Chloe: What you getting at? Why THAT question…?

I can run with this, maybe not be so hella awkward. I don't want to lie to Chloe, but I don't want to fucking hide five years of my life, Max paused, popping the knuckles of her still-bruised hand before resuming their discussion.

Max: You promise not to get pissed?

Chloe: Uh, what…?

Max: I won't say until you promise

Chloe: Ok, fine I promise. Max, you're weirding me out. I'm reading and can tell you're suddenly all fucking bidness.

Chloe: You can tell me anything, Maxaroni. You know that.

Max: …I…I kinda knew Rachel from before she came here

Max waited for a response, biting the nails of her free hand as she held the phone with trembling fingers. She didn't know how Chloe would respond, was afraid of being called out on it or Chloe just shutting down. While it was true that something was different between them now, Max knew that they were both perfectly capable of just switching everything off. Max knew because she knew how she was, and Chloe was an easy guess to the punkster because Chloe and she acted a lot alike.

Chloe: don't fuck with me, Max

Max: She has a mole on the small of her back with a scar next to it from where she got into an accident as a kid. Something about mountain biking and loose rocks on the trail, I think. Shit's confusion after a while...

Chloe: JFC you DID know her!

Chloe: WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING?!

Max: Because I didn't want you to freak the fuck out, Chloe

Chloe: and yet here I am, freaking the actual fuck out

Chloe: Dude, when we all hook up it is going to be EPIC. And you're both gonna pay for fucking knowing each other and neither of you telling me. Goddamn jerks. You, Max Caulfield, are hella lucky I like you so damn much

Max: Heh

Max: I'm gonna borrow some of your clothes and head out, try and pick up some clues. I'll see you this afternoon, okay?

Chloe: drop a knowledge bomb on me only to walk away to avoid looking at the casualties?

Max: UGH, you motherfucking whiner! I'm sorry okay?

Chloe: lol we'll talk later, Max. Be safe. Don't need me leaving here only to have you get brought back in, dude

"Well, that bombshell went off better than expected," Max thought as she took the cigarette out of her mouth and leaned into her hands, "God, Max, what the fuck are you doing? What was that, lying so openly to Chloe like that? I know my Rachel but this is her Rachel… That shit's not fair to either of us."

Lifting up her hand, cigarette still lit between her fingers, Max cleared her mind as much as she could and began to pull time in the reverse of its usual flow. Looking down at the phone on Chloe's bed, messages winking out in reverse order, Max waited until nearly the beginning before letting time resume normally. Scooping the phone back up, Max started their discussion again.

Chloe: Hey Max what's up?

Max: not much

Max: Miss you, want to be with you so I can actually feel chill

Chloe: D'aww am I your security blankie?

Max: You're going to be in the fucking trash if you don't quit it :P

Chloe: No emoji

Max: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Chloe: u r fucking evil

Max: heheh um I'm gonna ransack your wardrobe, raid your fridge, and head out. Time to look for clues

Chloe: For Rachel?

Max: who the fuck else am I supposed to be looking for, dork? Waldo? The One Ring?

Chloe: Max we're gonna have to talk bout your lack of ppl skillz and uber nerdage

Max: Coming from you, it will be half-filled with "hella" and "fuck" so I think I'm good as is.

Chloe: Fuck off, nerd

Max: Later, asswipe! ;*

Setting her phone down, Max took one more whiff of her tank-top and wrinkled her nose up before stripping.

Clad in a red and black flannel, tank-top with a spiked skull, and jeans that she had cut into shorts, Max pulled into Two Whales to get a cup of decent coffee and a donut for the road. Fixated on her mission to find Rachel, Max made a sharp left into the diner's parking lot and nearly hit an RV that was parked in three spaces. What a shithead, Max thought with a faint scowl as she parked the truck and climbed out. Hearing a dog bark from inside the camper, Max walked past the vehicle and toward the diner only to see one of her classmates get splashed with water when a truck hit a roadside puddle. Max couldn't remember her name, but rewound anyway and called out to the girl so that she didn't wind up soaking wet. Seeing the girl look at her confusedly, Max turned and headed into Two Whales, Joyce greeting her from across the counter with a mixed look of greeting and apprehension. Uh oh, I'm on Joyce's shitlist.

"Max," Joyce said, her tone neutral and professional as she set a coffee cup on the counter for the punkette, "Raid Chloe's closet?"

"Yeah," Max smirked as she tugged at the flannel shirt, "The hospital detergent reeks, and Chloe's got hella better fashion style than I do. Mousey clothes do not suit me, well, I guess they don't anymore. Joyce, look-"

"I know. You're sorry. It's just… I wonder where that shy, friendly girl that would come over to visit Chloe even if it was only for a few minutes has gone. You said that you've had… a messed-up life, Max, but what does that mean? What could make someone so bright and cheerful become so angry?"

Almost five years of near-constant hell, Joyce. Burns on my arms, cuts on my thighs. Fights, not getting to eat for days at a time. My parents dying before my eyes.

"It's hard to explain," Max said before reaching out to lay her hand over Joyce's as she finished pouring Max's coffee, "Look, I am sorry. I… I don't respond well to bullies and I know how David and Chloe are. You can't blame me for getting pissed at the guy who hit my friend."

Joyce seemed to soften at that, satisfied with Max's answer as she leaned against the counter. The visible tension in her body easing up, Joyce gave Max a warmer smile than the previous one and slid her hand free to pat Max's affectionate.

"I know you're just lookin' out for Chloe. God knows I try to, but that girl is as stubborn as a mule and twice as irritable. She and David have never seen eye-to-eye, and I'm not sure they ever will," Joyce gazed over Max's shoulder to the diner's windows, her face pensive and sad, before shifting her gaze once more to Max, "I just want us to be a family, y'know? David is rough, but that's because Chloe pushes him and he doesn't know how to react. He paid his dues in war, Max, but how can he learn how to be a father when he has a daughter who isn't willing to help?"

Max gave Joyce an apologetic look, unsure of what else she could say. David might mean well. Sometimes that isn't enough, Joyce. Breaking their hands apart, Max lifted her cup of coffee and ordered a cherry Danish to break the awkward silence between herself and Joyce. Sipping at her beverage between bits of flaky pastry, Max scrolled one-handedly through her phone. Searching for information on Rachel's disappearance, Max found months-old missing person reports, news articles, and a couple interviews; nothing that could help her investigation.

"Rachel?" Max heard an oddly familiar voice ask and she felt a hand spin her around on the stool.

Oh. Oh, fuck you, Max nearly blurted out as she sat looking directly into the eyes of Nathan Prescott. As if in sync, both of them narrowed their eyes into slits and Nathan took a half-step back as though Max were toxic.

"Whatthefuck," Nathan muttered as he sneered at Max while glancing her over, "Halloween come early, Max Amber?"

"I don't know, Nathan?" Max slid off the stool to stand inches from Nathan's face, "Drug any girls at a Vortex party lately and snap a few photos?" Memories of coming in Nathan's dorm room from the other timeline, the satisfying feel of her boot slamming into his midsection as he whimpered in pain, popped into Max's head as she squared off with Prescott. Max realized she must've been making some kind of face because Nathan hesitated before speaking up.

"Hey, my family can sue your ass," Nathan's voice was venomous as he poked Max in the chest with the enunciation of every word, "Besides, you'll likely be dragging your family into the poorhouse once Victoria decides to sue you. Nice cheap shot, but you could never take her down in a fair-"

"Fair?" Max felt her body tense up and the next thing she knew she was dragging Nathan by his arm out of the diner. Feeling his hand try to pry her fingers free, Max threw him against the RV and leveled a hateful gaze at the boy, "You drug Kate, you fucking bring a gun to school so you can shoot my friend in the restroom. You're a goddamn psycho, Asscott."

"S-Shut the fuck up!" Nathan sputtered, flinching when he heard the dog bark from inside the RV, "At least that lez got what was coming to her. Frank shanked her ass, so now you two can go play badass else-"

Max leaned into the RV, hands on either side of Nathan's head, and slammed her knee into Nathan's crotch with enough force that she felt his body shudder from the impact. Grabbing him by the chin, Max lifted his head up so that they were eye-to-eye once more. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't feel a thing if I killed you and rewound. Feeling disgusted with herself at the idea, Max settled for kneeing Prescott again and chuckled a bit when the boy started to moan.

"Don't like it when a girl fights back, huh?" Max asked as she let go of Nathan, watching him crumple to the ground before curling into a fetal position. Kneeling down next to him, Max reached inside of his jacket and pulled out the handgun she remembered from the restroom where he'd initially shot Chloe. "You think this makes you strong, but all it does is show how fucking scared you are."

"What the hell do you w-want?" Nathan wailed, sobbing a little as Max stowed the gun behind her back and stood up to glower at him.

"I want to know why you dosed Kate. I want you to tell me what you know about Rachel. And you're gonna tell me, Nathan," Max said menacingly, eyes narrowed into slits again, "I'm not the little girl you fucking all think I am."

Max listened attentively to Nathan for the next five minutes or so, the fright in his voice seeming to make his words come out in a rush, Max felt herself disassociate further and further from where she was. She knew she was standing in the diner's parking lot, looking down at Nathan Prescott as he confessed everything that he'd done but Max could only pick up a numbing sensation that seemed to permeate her both inside and out. I… I can't feel anything, Max thought after she sluggishly raised her hand to reverse time when Nathan began to beg and plead for Max to not tell his sister or Victoria. Pulling time all the way back to just before Nathan had grabbed her shoulder in the diner, Max spun around in her seat to look at Nathan with dead eyes.

"What?" Max asked, her voice lifeless and hollow. She stared at him with a blank expression and Nathan walked away muttering "fucking creepy bitch" for Max to spin back around. Feeling a trickle of something hot run down from her nose, Max reached over and grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped absently at the nosebleed.

"Max? You okay, hun? That was Nathan Prescott, wasn't it?" Joyce asked, looking over her shoulder to see the blank look on Max's face. "Max? Max…?"

"…Um, h-how much do I owe you?" Max stuttered as though she was shaken out of a troubling thought. She's dead.

"For coffee and a half-eaten Danish? Max, I think I can cover that," Joyce said with an affectionate smile, leaning down to try and look Max in the eye. Noticing that Max was averting her gaze so that she wasn't looking at anyone, Joyce sighed as a faint smile came across her lips in recognition of something. Finally looking up at Joyce, Max gave her an odd, quizzical look.

"What?"

"Oh, nothin'," Joyce said, giving Max a good lookover, "Well, it's just that you look good in those clothes."

"Uh, thanks?" Max looked down at her shirt and frowned, "There something special about this particular flannel shirt? Chloe had a shitload of them."

"That's Rachel's shirt, I think. It-," Joyce cut herself off when Max's frown turned into a horrified scowl and she ripped the flannel shirt off and ran out the door, leaving Joyce to call out after her from behind the counter.

The first thing that Max felt as she made it to Chloe's truck was the sensation of what was in her stomach come up and out. Her stomach knotted up as she leaned against the truck's hood and threw up in the space between a brick wall and Chloe's vehicle. She's dead, kept repeating over and over in Max's mind. She's dead…She's dead. Rachel… Rachel is dead. Oh God… Oh god this is all my fault. I fucked with time, changed history, and this is my karma. I get my parents back and lose the only family I've had for the past five years, for my five years. Hearing footsteps, the sound muffled from the sound of Max's heart pounding loudly enough that she could feel it everywhere, the brunette looked up and put out a hand to halt Joyce Price's approach.

"Max, what is going on? Is there something you're not telling me?" Joyce asked, her voice a mixture of concern and apprehension. "You come back and you're so… You're so-"

"I am tired," Max croaked, and Joyce flinched at the cold look in Max's eyes, "I am so fucking tired of people telling me that I'm acting different. I am different. The Max you knew from all those years ago went through a lot of shit, Joyce, and I'm what survived. I'm angry, I'm hurt, and I'm fucking tired. Please… Please just go away…"

"…I'm not so sure it's a good idea to leave you alone," Joyce said, crossing what little distance remained only to have her hand brushed away when she tried to console Max, "Max, whatever it is you're holdin' onto can't be somethin' you have to do alone. I'm here, Chloe's here-"

"How the fuck am I going to tell Chloe?" Max whimpered to herself, leaning her head against the hood only to jerk it over so that the bile that rose from her stomach didn't splash across the truck. Coughing, her throat raw and voice cracked, Max looked up at Joyce with bloodshot eyes and a trickle of blood coming from her nose. "I can't, Joyce. I can't tell anyone. No one would believe me if I did. No one."

Forcibly pushing herself away from the truck, Max stumbled for a few steps before walking around to the passenger side of Chloe's truck so she could avoid Joyce. Unlocking the door, Max climbed in and slid over to the driver's side and ignored Joyce's pained face as she started up the vehicle. Waiting until she could see from her peripheral vision that Joyce had backed away from the truck, Max pulled out of the parking space and sped out into the street. Rachel is dead and it is all my fault. Chloe… Chloe will be devastated. Her Rachel is gone, her angel, and I have to find some goddamn way to tell her… Max let out an angry, frustrated scream, people along the sidewalk turning to look in the direction of a speeding truck as it shot down Main Street and into the turnoff that led towards Blackwell Academy.

Max threw open the door to her dorm room's floor with enough force that it banged against the wall, alerting people who were still in their rooms that someone was pissed. Seeing a couple people she didn't know poke their heads out, Max flipped them off with an angry look on her face and watched them quickly turn tail and shut their doors with a dark satisfaction. I don't need to be liked. I don't want to be the bully, but I sure as fuck am not a goddamn hero. Seeing Dana's room open with herself and Kate sticking their own heads out, Max stopped in mid-step and let out a weary sigh before turning her head to look over at them.

"Hey, are you okay?" Dana asked, opening the door entirely. Max could see Juliet typing away on her phone until she looked up to see Max. Feeling her phone vibrate, Max looked down at her jacket, then up at Juliet and smirked.

"From you, I take it?" the sarcasm in Max's voice was subtle enough that Dana smirked while Kate looked back at Juliet thinking that Max was actually asking, only realizing when Juliet looked away in mild embarrassment that Max was teasing the high school rpeporter. "I… I don't really have time to talk right now, dude. Sorry."

"Max, wait," Kate said, scurrying from behind Dana to take Max by the hand, "You can talk to us. I-I've seen that look before, Max. In the shower room, with Victoria. Please, please just-"

"Kate," Max put her hands onto Kate's shoulders and leaned her forehead against her friend's. Watching Kate's eyes widen, Max figured that the sweet girl must've figured she had been crying and pulled back after kissing her friend on the forehead. "You are so kind and sweet. You're honestly who I wish I could be right now-"

"You can be, Max. You can-"

"-But I can't, Kate," Max bit her lip and tried to give her friend a smile. "I can't be nice, or kind, or sweet right now. I… I don't know if I'll ever be any of those things again…"

Max felt her body begin to shake and she tried to hold back the pain and tears. Feeling Kate wrap her up in a hug only made things worse for the angry brunette and she let out a warbled moan that started to turn into a mixture of sobs and screaming. Attracting the attention of some other dorm residents, Max squeezed her eyes shut to try and block them all out of her mind as Kate patted her back. The gun. She's going to feel the gun if she reaches any lower! Pull back, Max. Pull the fuck back! Ripping herself out of Kate's hug, Max turned and ran into her dorm room. Slamming the door shut, Max hurriedly stashed the gun in a dresser drawer and made to lock the door behind her when Dana, Kate, and Juliet barged in. Seeing Taylor peek out from Victoria's door out of curiosity, the screaming having drawn everyone's attention, all the eyes on Max was too much and her awkwardness and shyness from so long ago took hold. Backpedaling into her desk, Max shook her head as the three girls came in and begged them to leave her alone.

"J-Just leave me alone, p-please. Please," Max implored. "You d-don't want to know this, don't make me t-tell you. I-I… I haven't even t-told C-C-Chloe…" Max brought her hands up to her face to hide the outpouring of tears as she fell apart. Falling to her knees, Max wailed and Kate knelt down to wrap her arms around her. "I-I-I have seen too much f-fucked up s-shit, Kate. I-I can't go on like t-this, I fucking can't."

"Someone call a teacher!" Dana shouted from Max's door only for Max to jerk her head up in horror.

"No!" Max shouted, Dana flinching at the raw way the brunette sounded. "No teachers, n-no security assholes. O-Oh… Oh Jesus Fucking Christ…"

Max heard Kate's sharp intake of breath at the curse but didn't care. Bowling over, Max dry heaved with her head inches from the floor as the bile aftertaste from earlier turned into a coppery tang of her throat getting sore. Feeling more hands trying to console her, Max looked up to see Dana and Juliet joining Kate in holding onto her. Seeing the three girls starting to cry, Max felt only more miserable and caved. She couldn't keep it in; she wanted to be cold, be fucking ice so that she could avenge what was done to Rachel. She still might be able to, somehow, but Max knew that if she didn't let what she'd discovered out it would take her into a series of consequences that would end up with Chloe being further away and not closer.

"I-I need to call Chloe," Max managed to stutter, "I n-need to see her now."

"Okay, Max. Okay," Dana whispered soothingly, running her hand through Max's hair as the brunette took in painful-sounding gulps of air, "Jules, can we-"

"Absolutely," Juliet said as she helped Kate get Max to her feet. "Goddamn, Max. What the fuck's happened?"

When Max didn't answer, the three girls led her down the hall and out of the building. With Juliet in front, Dana to the left, and Kate to the right Max was shielded from prying eyes all the way to the parking lot just as Nathan Prescott came sauntering up the stairs leading to the quad. Something snapped in Max and the girls picked up on her seething hostility as Kate held Max back when the girl's fist tried to collide with the face of a bewildered Nathan.

"You! This is your fault!" Max screamed as the girls forced her down the stairs, Max fighting them every step of the way only to see Victoria run up to meet Nathan. Her nose taped up but surprisingly not broken, Max bared her teeth and flailed in Dana's arms, "You stay the fuck away from him, Victoria! He'll drug you and do all types of weird shit! You hear that, Nathan?! I know! I FUCKING KNOW, YOU SICK FUCK!"

Max was calmed down enough by the time they all reached the hospital that Kate and Dana no longer had to restrain her; her rage had turned into dry sobs, with those eventually turning into whimpering cries of "Chloe…" With Max in tow, her hand being held by Kate as Dana and Juliet walked ahead with worried glances at each other and back at an emotionally devastated Max, all four girls entered the waiting area of the hospital. Dana and Juliet approaching the counter, with Kate and Max behind, flagged down a nurse and he looked behind them to see Max.

"Hey," the nurse said, the cheerfulness in his voice sounding like it was empty, "You're the girl from earlier, right? You here to see your friend? Visiting hours aren't until after lunch, so I'm afraid you'll have to-"

"So," Dana said in a hostile voice, arms crossing over her chest as Juliet copied the action, "It's okay for straight couples to get to see each other any time when one of them is injured by if it's a gay couple you balk and make excuses?"

"T-That's not what I-" the nurse raised his hands and gave them a nervous smile only to be cut off by Juliet who took Dana's lead.

"This is the type of stuff I need for my news article at Blackwell. What's your… 'Andy'? Hi, Andy. Juliet Watson. I'm the student editor for Blackwell Academy's newspaper. Did you know that alumni get electronic copies of all our articles, right? You do know how many alumni donate to local establishments…like hospitals, right?"

"W-What room number is h-her partner in…?" Nurse Andy asked as he brought the desk phone to his ear.

"…013," Max's voice was strained and hoarse, the brunette coughing until Kate left momentarily to return with a paper cup filled with water, "S-She's -cough- in 013. Chloe Price?"

"I can get her in," Nurse Andy said hurriedly after talking with someone on the other end of the phone line, "The rest of you… You three will have to wait out here."

Sniffling as Kate led her to the opening double doors, Max spun around and hugged Kate. Clutching at her friend's cardigan, Max felt tears start well up again and she pulled back and wiped them away with a finger.

"I'm a fucking mess," Max said, a shaky chuckle escaping as she nervously looked past the doors and back to Kate, "I'm s-scared, Kate. W-What I have… It's the worst news ever and she's in a hospital. What the fuck am I… How about we just go-"

"Max Caulfield, you… you go down there and see your girlfriend right now. Stop this hiding. You defended me, protected me when everyone else was either scared or laughing. You go do this because you can," Kate ordered, pointing past Max and down the hall. Trying to sound bossy, Kate reemphasized her command and Max snickered before nodding reluctantly as the doors closed behind her.

The walk down the hallway was longer than Max remembered from only a few hours ago. Her throat sore and her eyes squinting from the harsh fluorescent light because they were so bloodshot, Max gulped down another mouthful of water and stopped at a water cooler to refill her paper cup. Having been noticed, a nurse started to walk towards Max only to get called away by the ward's head nurse. Seeing a kindly woman walking toward her from around a counter, Max could only nod mutely in thanks when the nurse gave her a bottle of water and politely took the paper cup away. I have to tell Chloe. No, no I need to leave. I need to run as far away as I can and hope this shit… No. I need to tell Chloe. She deserves to know, she has to. I promised her I would help, and even if it kills the both of us I will tell her. I… I just hope it doesn't kill us. With that last thought, Max knocked on the door leading into 013 and heard a snarky "Yeah, what?"" in reply.

"Maxaroni!" Chloe said, her face aglow as she ran across the room to hug her friend. "Dude, you weren't supposed to be here yet. I was totally going to surprise you with my getting discharged early, Max! I was… Max? Max, you look like hella shit. You okay?"

"…I'm really tired, Chloe. Tired of so fucking much," Max let out in a slight moan as she buried her head into Chloe's chest. "I try to be strong, I try so badly, but I can't fucking keep having shit dropped on me. I can't and I'm sorry."

"Max," Chloe leaned down in her hug to rest her chin on Max's shoulder as she rubbed the girl's back with a hand, "Max, you have nothing to be sorry about. Is this… Is this because of me…?"

"What? No!" Max pulled back in alarm, eyes widening as she brought her hands to Chloe's cheeks and gave the bluenette a loving, desperate kiss. Leaning her forehead into Chloe's, Max let out a choked whine. "…Rachel's… Rachel is…"

"…You know where Rachel is…?" Chloe asked, her voice conveying her shock as she pulled back to give Max an excited smile before finally taking in just how bad Max looked. "Max, i-it's bad isn't it?"

"I'm so sorry, Chloe," Max said in a pleading voice as she wrapped her hands into the soft leather of Chloe's jacket collar, looking into the bluenette's watery eyes, "I wanted to protect you from this, avenge Rachel for you so that the burden would be mine. I-I failed myself a-and you. I-"

Max felt Chloe rush her into another, tighter embrace and felt her friend shake as Chloe began to cry. Looking out through the window to see a nurse checking in, Max shook her head when she made eye contact with the healthcare provider and ran a hand through Chloe's azure hair. Both girls crying, Max pushed herself into Chloe's hug a little more tightly and felt the bluenette wince in pain before pulling back. Letting go of Chloe's jacket, Max watched as the azure punk paced in the small room. Chloe, please. Please look at me and tell me you're going to be okay. I need you, Chloe. I-I can't do this by myself, can't be here alone. When Max felt her lip start to quiver, Chloe glanced over at the slight movement and put a shaky hand to Max's face.

"I… I just c-can't believe it, Max," Chloe whispered in a hollow voice, tears running down her face, "Why… Max, what kind of a world does this? I mean, who does something like that, take away someone so w-wonderful and kind? Someone killed my angel, Max. R-Rachel's really gone, isn't she?"

"I'm sorry, Chloe," Max said, her eyes full of compassion for the only girl she felt deserved it as she turned her head to kiss the open palm of Chloe's hand before placing back on her cheek. "P-Please don't leave me, Chloe. Please don't."

"Max, I am never leaving you," Chloe said, moving her hand so that she tilted Max's chin up with an index finger, "Why would you think something like that?"

"Because I'm the one who told you." Because this is my fault. "Because she was your angel and I will never live up to that, not after five years of nothing." Please forgive me, Chloe. Please. "I l-love you so much, Chloe. I love you so fucking much it hurts and terrifies me and I don't know what I'll do if you're gone-"

Max felt Chloe's lips press into hers and she let out a shaky breath as a feeling of relief poured out from within her. Tearlessly sobbing again, Max felt Chloe press their lips together even more intensely than the first time when the sobbing started as the bluenette fought against Max's despair to end the crying. Moaning a little as Chloe brought a hand down to the small of Max's back, Max pulled back and looked at Chloe's tearful, scared eyes.

"C-Chloe, why did you do that?" Max asked, her face a mask of confusion. "Why did you kiss me?"

"Because I fucking need you right back, you stupid nerd," Chloe leaned into Max, "Because this town keeps taking and I only h-have you left to give and I won't, Max. I won't give you up. The world can eat a dick because I fucking won't give you up. You're my best friend, and I'd like to get a chance at maybe more someday soon. Don't you dare let this be it, Max Caulfield. Don't you fucking dare."

Sitting in the bathroom of Chloe's hospital room, Max ran her hands through her hair as she sat on the toilet lid. Having to do a final cursory exam and fill out her discharge paperwork, Chloe had promised to be back shortly and Max had taken that promise along with a heated kiss. What had been a curious, amazing development the night before was now a desperate need; Max couldn't leave this Chloe behind any more than Chloe could leave her. I've been sitting on the fence about this since I got here but I can't be in two places at once, can't think of one time while living another.

Max pulled out the photo she'd found the first morning in this new world, Chloe still being fast asleep in her bed at the time. A battered Polaroid photo, the white material faded and stained a little with what looked to Max like coffee, a 13 year-old Max and her parents looked back at her with cheerful smiles as the young girl gave the peace sign with a toothy grin. Pressing the photo to her forehead, wiping snot from her nose with a wad of toilet paper she'd already been using, Max stifled the start of another round of crying and just shook as she took in forced, measured breaths. It looks the same because it really is the same. Same photo, same exact fucking photo. Pulling out her phone, Max dialed a number that she had burned into her mind over and over. After two rings, Max heard a familiar click and knew the voicemail was kicking in.

"Hey hey, this is Rachel coming to you live from, well, my phone," the message said with an intermittent giggle as Max felt the breath hitch in her chest and she fought not to bawl for what felt like the billionth time to her. I get into all this crazy shit and I'm a goddamn waterfall. Ugh, I suck so bad. "Don't cry, Max. Max Caulfield doesn't cry." Uh, yeah. Right. "I hope you leave a message, because if you don't you're shit outta luck. I'm likely hella busy, so I hope you do. I…oh, for fuck's sake put that down it's not a-"

-BEEP-

"H-Hey," Max said in soft voice, thankful to whoever was listening that Rachel's family here left her phone line up and running, "You'll never get this, not really, but I just wanted to tell you I love you so much and I'm sorry. I'm a selfish bitch but there's a girl here who needs me. Ugh, this is so fucking corny, I know, but she actually completes me like I hope I do her. You are my sister… You're my sister and I'll always love you. I-I'm sorry."

-BEEP-

"To delete this message and try again, press one. To-"

Max ended the call and scrolled down the phone's list of contacts until she came to a number labeled "Home". I need somebody, somebody who will tell me what I should do and give me some certainty. Please pick up the goddamn phone…

"Hello?" a warm, gruff voice asked over the line. "Max? I see the caller ID, kiddo. Max?"

"H-Hey Dad," Max blurted out, a rough-sounding laugh escaping the back of her throat, "Oh, uh, sorry 'bout that. I just called to say 'hey'."

"Hey yourself, punkin'," Ryan Caulfield said with a chortle, "Your mom told me what happened in school the other day. You really pop another student in the face?"

"…Yeah. Yeah, I did," Max said, wishing she had a cigarette or a joint. Letting out a quiet breath, Max waited for Ryan Caulfield to respond.

"Well… Did this student deserve it, at least?"

"She was hassling a friend, put up a video online that-"

"I don't need you to go into specifics, Max. If you feel it was really the right thing to do then I got your back with Mom, kiddo. 'No Regrats'."

"Ugh, dads aren't allowed to try and be 'hip with the youngsters', Dad," Max said with a hoarse, dry giggle.

"What are you really calling home for, Max? Not that I'm not happy you are. I miss my daughter, but you are obviously callin' for a reason."

"Y-Yeah, I am," Max wiped at her face with the back of her free hand, the dampness from crying earlier leaving her feeling like a mess. "Dad, if you like two people and they… and they're so alike it's as if they were twins, how do you choose who to stay with?"

"Wow, kiddo. That's a tough one," Ryan said, her voice taking on a more serious tone, "How do you feel about them? Individually, I mean."

"I've fallen pretty hard for both. One is easy to be around, and I laugh a bit more with her. The other fits me, like so much of what we've been through is similar that I'll pick up on what she needs and she'll do the same with me. Ugh, this is all so damn confusing!"

"…'She', huh?" Ryan asked, the question more to himself by the sound of it than to Max, "Well, I guess the question is who do you feel you can be yourself around the most. Not how you present yourself. You, you mother, and I all know that you're not the quiet girl under all that shyness, Max. You want to tell me who these ladies are that have caught my baby girl's eye?"

"I'm not a baby," Max said, pouting on instinct at the word only to snort when she caught herself, "I'm not. Um, the girl… one of the girls is Chloe. Chloe Price."

"Oh, Chloe!" Ryan said and Max winced for a second and switched the phone to speaker when her father laughed directly into his phone, "Oops, my turn to be sorry for that. You loved that girl, I remember, you were… you were so torn up when we had to leave. Max, is the reason you were so sad then over leaving because you had feelings for Chloe?"

"…Yeah…," Max answered reluctantly, putting her head into her hands as she leaned her elbows against her knees. "Yeah, Dad. That's why. That's why I never called or wrote, either. I was such a chickenshit, I didn't even fess up until a couple days ago. Chloe's had so much going on, so much has happened to her all these years… All I really want, being back here, is to just protect her from every shitty thing that comes her way and love her."

"Love? Ooh, feel sorry for you, Maxie. Young love is the strongest and the most dangerous, but if you and Chloe have got the guts you'll push through if it's mean to be. Sweetheart, you are one of the most kind-hearted people I know," Ryan said, his words getting Max to look up from her hands as she listened intently to the encouragement coming over the line, "I am so proud to have you as a daughter, and your mom is just as proud. Hey, if Joyce is okay with it how about you bring Chloe up some time for the weekend and we'll all go out for dinner. Chloe still into pizza like crazy?"

"I'm pretty sure she's secretly a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle," Max said, choking back a laugh, "That sounds nice, though. When everything here is f-finished I will most def ask Joyce. I-I need to get going, Dad. I love you."

"Love you too, Maxie. Hope to hear from you soon, and try to not punch another student. You're always welcome to come back home for school but I'm guessin' you'll want to tread lightly for Chloe's sake. Say hello to her for me and your mom, okay? Talk to you later, kiddo. Bye."

"Chloe, please forgive me," Max mouthed silently to a girl who was faraway as put away her phone and pulled out the disposable lighter she'd found earlier and brought a tiny flame to life. Having covered the smoke alarm with a wet washcloth a few minutes earlier, Max's hands shook as got up slowly and walked over to the sink. Max put the picture just over the small flame and thought It's so small as the tiny fire seemed to almost quiver under the photo. It's as hesitant about this as I am. Maybe… Maybe I shouldn't do this. Maybe I should-

The flame caught, and Max held her breath as curling wafts of toxic smoke began to float into the air. The picture seemed to shake for a second, Max realized she was focusing on it too much. Dropping the photo into the sink, Max watched the photo distort and bubble, watched the faces of herself and her parents turn a yellowish color before melting entirely into a smear of nothing. Leaning against the wall opposite the small sink, Max put a hospital towel to her mouth and nose to watch safely as the frozen instant of time that had been her parents and herself from before the crash turned into nothing but melted photo material and dark grey smoke. Max watched the remnants sizzle and instinct took over; her hand raised, Max rewound time and watched the photo expand and uncurl, color seeming to spill out from the blackened pools and distorted forms until it was restored. What have I gotten myself into? Max thought as she opened the door to find Chloe leaning next to the door frame, an indecipherable look in her eyes. Her lips pulled down in a frown, arms crossed and her beanie tugged down almost to her eyes, Chloe was in her jacket and dressed to leave when she looked over at Max. The wounded look in Chloe's eyes nearly broke Max's heart. How much did you hear, Chloe?

"You never called or wrote…because you've had feelings for me for the past five years," Chloe stated, her whispery voice sounding distant. Max stood motionless with her hand still resting on the doorknob. "You…You've loved me for five years and never said a word to me."

"Chloe, I-" Max tried to speak but was cut off by Chloe raising an open palm to silence the brunette.

"Five years. M-Max, were you scared of me? Was that it? Is that it?" Chloe's voice took on a slight pleading tone.

"I was scared of you being scared, Chloe," Max remembered what it was like, leaving Arcadia Bay 5 years ago and struggling with the phone whenever she held it with the Prices' home number dialed in. "God, I was so fucking terrified of losing you I never-"

"Just stop. Max, please just stop," Chloe moved over to the hospital bed and patted at the space next to her. When Max apprehensively took her seat, Chloe spoke while keeping her head down as she fidgeted with her hands.

"You could've fucking called, Max. I would have listened, y'know."

"Are you kidding? I practically worshiped you back then, my feelings were so strong. I was scared of myself, Chloe. Not just of your rejection but how strongly I felt."

"If they were so strong then how did I never, not once, pick up on them? God, was I the only fucking one-"

"No one knew, Chloe. I think Joyce might have suspected before I moved, but she never said anything so I don't really know. I was over all the time, even when either of us or both of us were sick. I remember she'd sometimes give me this look and I would just freeze up, worried fucking silly that I had slipped up. No, to answer your question again, nobody knew."

"People tell me I'm a punk. Goddamnit, Max, you could have… I wish you would have told me…," Chloe looked up at her and the watery state of those blue eyes looking at her made Max want to both die and scream out loud how much she loved the girl sitting next to her. "I was right here, Max. I was here and y-you, ugh, I don't even know what the fuck to say anymore. First you leave, then Rachel comes along. Rachel disappears and you not only come back but have evidently pined for me for-fucking-ever. I swear I cannot win. Ever."

"There is something you could say," Max said, her voice testing the words as they came, "There is an answer to a question I've had for five years, Chloe. Only you can give me an answer, so only you get this question."

"Max…"

"I know it's a shit time to ask," Max put a hand on Chloe's knee and gave the bluenette the best smile she could manage, "I'm not asking for the world, Chloe. I'm asking for you to just answer a simple, well, I guess it isn't a 'simple' question. Look, when all this is fucking done, this hella nasty-ass business, may I ask you my question?"

"Max," Chloe pulled Max's hand off her knee and held onto it, looking at small hand in her own blue-nailed one, "You've waited for five fucking years. I loved Rachel, yeah, but she is…was my friend for a while. She wasn't into me like that. I miss her a fuck-ton, sure, but I don't love her like that anymore. Not really. Max, what I'm trying to say… Max, I'm not the fucking mushy type so can we just go and-"

"Chloe. Elizabeth. Price," Max said, the intensity behind each word met with Max holding Chloe in place by not only refusing to let go of her friend's hand but keeping it positioned exactly where it is despite Chloe trying to stand up. "You better fucking finish whatever the hell it was you were saying. I swear to Dog, if you don't-"

"I love you, okay?" Chloe blurted out, her face turned away from Max's and Max found herself struck dumb from Chloe's quick admission.

"Chloe" was all Max could manage to say as a reply, thought almost escaping her entirely. Bringing a trembling hand to Chloe's cheek, Max gently cupped Chloe's face and brought the other girl around so that they were looking right at each other. "You really love me, like love-love?"

"Yes, like love-love," Chloe said, smiling in embarrassment only to have a giggle escape as she leaned her forehead against Max's. "Goddamnit, Max, why do you have to take so long for shit like this? D-Don't you know I've been waiting for five years, too?"

Max brought a hand to her face, a horrified look in her eyes that was quickly brought to ruin when Chloe leaned in and kissed Max on the lips. Not a long, wanting kiss like the previous day; the kiss Chloe gave Max now was sweet and tender, the right amount of force to balance out Max's as the brunette pushed back by leaning into Chloe. Despite the kiss being short-lived, both girls panted when the simultaneously pulled their heads back and looked at each other with wondrous eyes. Biting her lip, Max slid her hand forward across the small gap between her thigh and Chloe's to find Chloe's own hand meeting her halfway. Hesitant for a split-second, Max kept her eyes trained on Chloe's until her head was resting on the other girl's shoulder.

"Is this okay?" Max asked, her voice sounding meeker to her than it ever had before. You fucking win, Chloe. You happy? You motherfucking win. Your sickeningly shy and cutesy nerd is still right here.

"Max, we were making out last night…," Chloe said with a hint of sarcasm.

"This is different. It means more."

"…I guess it does, and yeah, it's okay. Can you promise me something, though? Before we get too far ahead into this, can we resolve this shit with Rachel? I'm not going to be able to move forward with anything until this shit's done."

"I can do that, I promise," Max pulled her head up to kiss Chloe on the cheek, "But you need to promise not to fucking pull away or push me away. I expect we'll both try, so we'll have to watch each other for that."

"Deal. So, you and me?" Chloe slid off the bed to see Max give her a wry smirk.

"Actually, there're some people in the waiting room and I think we could use all the help we're gonna get, Che. Neither of us is in any state to go at it alone or even with the two of us together. If we're going to do this, we need to be smart. I freaked out on Nathan some, so he's going to know something is up and we need backup. The crazy he's wielding, fucking psycho can't be working alone."

"A team, then?" Chloe asked, and Max felt butterflies in her chest at the crooked grin that adorned her love's face as she pointed at Max with finger pistols. "Check it, Max. 'The Eyyy Team'."

"Get it? Tension diffuser? …Max?"

"…Goddamnit, Chloe."

Author's Note –

Boo-yah! Get it? I'm like an angsty punk ghost?

How about that chapter, eh? Eh? *nudge wink nudge*

I wanted to explore with this chapter just how fragile Max is despite the hard "outer shell". She's endured a lot in her life and despite being in a timeline that is relatively brighter in regards to her past she's living in a present that has some seemingly unavoidable obstacles set out for her. Also, I wanted a budding Pricefield romance between the two punks to have a more realistic tonality than some of my other stories: kisses, hand-holding, fights, and generally being assholes to each other at times.

Read, review, and I'll see you later!

Stay hella, Cinnamon Rolls!

PS – I feel like someone should play "All Along The Watchtower" the closer we get to having a Polarized teaser trailer…