April 10th

Today started out just like any other day. Well, if you consider any other day to begin by seeing the most beautiful girl in the world lying in your bed next to you. But other than that, today started out pretty normal. I woke up, checked social media and watered Lisa. I can't believe I have managed to keep her alive this long, but I guess if I kept an entire town alive, then keeping a plant from wilting would seem like a small achievement. Still though, go Max, you can keep plants from death!

After that I went in the bathroom and showered, like I said, the usual boring teenage stuff. But when I came back, Chloe was loudly rocking out in my room, probably the reason people were waking up in my hall. I almost got angry with her and told her to stop harassing my dorm mates, but that was until I saw her.

She was just, being Chloe; air guitar-ing to a punk song, totally rawking out. The way the sunlight was coming off around her body was just, oh my god. People say that Rachel used to be a model? Well in my opinion, Chloe has that girl beat. After snapping one of the best shots of my entire career, Chloe tried to show off for me and ended up hurting herself. She's such a major dork. But she's my dork.

Chloe then told me to put clothes on and go to class, which I was NOT having. Fuck that right? I deserve to have as many days with my new girlfriend as I want. Cuddling the day away and sharing kisses and hugs and cute nicknames...sorry. I know that was probably kind of sickeningly sweet to read Mr. Journal. I don't want to give you diabetes.

So, even though I protested like crazy, Chloe actually had a really good reason for wanting me to go. She told me that she wanted to change clothes and shower (which I am so glad she recommended because she was staring to smell) but that she was also not sure what happened to her in this timeline. Which I hadn't really thought about. Chloe was supposed to be dead, and now all of a sudden she isn't? Does everyone else here thinks she's still dead? I would love to see their faces if they did think that. I mean, they would probably think she's a zombie or something though and try to kill her...so never mind. I take that back. Alive Chloe is the best Chloe.

I told Chloe there was no way that I was going to let her just go out and have to do all that shit by herself though. We are PARTNERS in crime and time. So we have to do things together. Forever.

We started going down the hall to get to Chloe's truck in the parking lot when we both heard a crying sound coming from the showers. Like, shit. I was getting flashbacks just standing there. I really, really did not want to go in there. Like really did not want to go. Something inside of me was telling me that in there was another maniac with a gun and I do not want to go through that ever again. But Chloe grabbed me by the hand, and before I knew it, I was being dragged straight into the belly of the beast.

When we got inside, the person seemed to be crying in the far away stall, so that's where Chloe dragged me to once again. Chloe opened the curtain at the end to find Alyssa sitting in there and crying her eyes out. She looked so exhausted and hurt. I never knew that she had problems, now I feel bad for never really taking the time to get to know her.

After asking for a little bit what the problem was, I found out. I didn't find out by her telling me, but she dropped...her razor in the shower. I still can't believe this. Alyssa is a cutter, and I have done nothing to try and help her. She told us that she felt so shitty in her life, that all of the things that I helped her with in the previous timeline never happened because I wasn't a time traveler there to help her...I felt like such a failure. I had no words to say to her, but thankfully, Chloe did.

Oh my gosh. She is so...fucking amazing. She sat there and told her how things would get better, how wrong she was about no one caring about her. I couldn't believe how amazing she was being. Chloe Price, the girl that last year hated everyone and put herself first, was actually counseling someone else and helping. I was am, so very proud. She even told Alyssa that I was her savior. Me. I saved her. I was her reasoning for being alive. I can't write this. I'm gonna cry again.

Alyssa told us she needed to clean up and told us bye, so we both left the showers. I just felt this, overwhelming feeling running through my body of just how in love with that blue haired punk I am. I held hands with my beautiful girlfriend all the way down stairs, just as happy as I could possibly be. Until I heard a sound I will never be able to forget, a gunshot.

Even though my blood felt like it had been kept in a freezer all day, Chloe and I ran towards the sound to investigate. In hindsight, bad idea. We could have seriously been hurt. But when I saw David holding a smoking gun over Nathan's dead body, my blood wasn't the only thing that was frozen.

It was kind of like in Saving Private Ryan where Tom Hanks couldn't hear and just stood there for a second. Then when sound came back to me, all I could hear was Chloe screaming my name. She was crying and screaming at me, begging me to rewind to save David. I don't know what came over her. She looked so full of regret and broken all over again. It killed me to see her like that. But...I had never used my powers.

I was so scared. I knew that if I used my powers again, everyone would die. The whole town would once again be wiped out by a huge bullshit storm...but David didn't deserve to go to jail for this...so...I did it. I rewound time to just before David shot Nathan. David was yelling at Nathan like a crazy person. He just kept yelling about almost killing Chloe and not letting him get away with it. It was so scary to watch. I yelled at David before he took his gun out, and the second he looked up at me, Nathan bolted toward the dorms.

After that, David sprinted off away from us, he didn't even say anything. I guess after years of combat, David was really a talented runner. So we never could find him after we got to the front grounds of the school. Chloe decided that we still needed to go through with our plan, and that we could find him later. So, I agreed and we both got inside her truck and went to the Price house.

Driving back to Chloe's was so painful. I didn't want to talk about what happened. I knew that I had just killed an entire town again. I was replaying all of the voices in my head from that nightmare I had when Chloe was dragging me up to the lighthouse. When we pulled into the driveway, Chloe finally broke the silence.

I just couldn't take it. The fact that I had gone so long without dooming everyone. Now her sacrifice was for nothing all over again. Now I would probably lose the only thing I care about again. I can't. I will never pick anyone over Chloe, ever again. She then showed once again just how amazing she is by making me feel better about it. Telling me that she won't make me choose between her and a town ever again, then she showed her sappy side once more and made me blush by calling me cute. Ah, she is so wonderful.

Once inside, Chloe told me to do what I do best, snoop. But only after she asked me to shower with her. My god. Part of me really really wanted to, but I don't think I'm ready for something like that. I do know that I would love for Chloe to be my first...and my last. But I don't want that right now. Besides, we both needed to focus on finding out what happened to Chloe and why David shot Nathan.

The first place I thought to go was the garage. It was the place I happened to get all of my information last time, so I thought, why not try again right? Once I went inside though, everything felt so weird. It was like David hadn't come in here once since last October. The car was even still being worked on. It felt a little like an episode of Twilight Zone, like I had stepped back in time or something. Well, I don't guess now that stepping back in time would be an episode of Twilight Zone now, it would be more like My So Called Life.

I dreaded looking around and trying to find that password again, I know it was one of the pass codes in the room, but there was like, 20 different things in there. It would have taken forever to find, but I thought why not just give it a try first and see if I can do a muscle memory or something? To my awesome surprise, it wasn't locked! Too bad I didn't get to show off my Crash Override skills though. Another time, Max.

Instead, it came up with an email David was reading that morning about being suspended until Nathan Prescott graduated. I can't believe those Prescott's! They actually paid their way back into a school and got the head of security suspended so he wouldn't hurt Nathan. They turned out to be right, but that's still such a low blow.

I made my way upstairs and went inside Chloe's room for the first time since I had cleaned it out. Which brings up the question, how did I still have that shoe box in my room if I never cleaned out her room in this timeline? Maybe this Chloe gave it to me as a gift for memory sake. Who knows? That's when I found something I will never ever forget...

I found the butterfly photo. The one from the bathroom. Yeah, that one. It was in a frame with this note on it. One that this Max had written to Chloe, telling her that she loved her. Wowsers. Chloe came in not too long after and I showed her, it was right then that we both just knew, in every timeline, we end up together. If that isn't destiny, I don't know what is.

Chloe was still in a towel and wanted to get dressed, so I let her and went into David and Joyce's room. There I found a journal of David's just chilling on the nightstand next to the bed. Of course, me being me, I had to snoop...

That's where I found out what happened. Chloe was shot in the bathroom, she just didn't die. She got grazed and let out of the hospital soon after. Poor this timeline Chloe...but at least she got to live. I'm glad that this Max got to have her Chloe. Flipping it all over to a more recent date, I saw that David was going through some really bad PTSD. Poor David, he felt like he had to protect Chloe, but he failed. I can see why he went to the extremes he did.

Showing Chloe wasn't fun either. She freaked out way harder than I thought she would, which was kind of a good thing. To see Chloe care about David was a nice change from 'step-douche', even if he did kind of deserve it back then. But she was panicking and getting really angry, like when she found out Rachel had been seeing Frank, so I did what any good girlfriend would do, and I held Chloe until she felt better. I am the best girlfriend, obviously.

We both then decided that seeing Joyce would probably be the best thing. We could find out information about the two of us, as well as possibly why David was going so crazy. I told Chloe about visiting her grave on the way over, and she actually put the fact that I totally saw the butterfly both times that time started fucking all around me. I can't believe I never put that together.

Then...Chloe told me that I was her soulmate. Soulmate. I can't even begin to say how hard my heart was thumping in my chest. I...I love her so much. I didn't have the words then to tell her just how amazing she makes me feel, but I swear to dog that I will. I will tell Chloe just how important she is to me. She's my everything, journal. Let's start there (also, I know Chloe likes to sneak read these while I'm asleep. So in case you're reading this now and I didn't tell you, now you know. I am in deep love with you. Now stay out of my stuff, Price.)

Of course with our luck, as soon as we got to Two Whales, Chloe ran out of gas. Also, with our luck, the gas station was right across the street. True form of duality. So with a lot more effort than it looks like, we finally got the thing across the street. Chloe told me to go and talk to Joyce while she fueled up, which I was not comfortable with, but then I got one of those amazing Chloe kisses, and all was right with the world again. Mental note, Chloe is great at giving and getting kisses out of pity. Act more pitiful around your girlfriend.

Just as I was making my way inside (cue piano line) I heard someone call for me. Well, not me by name, but it was young senior. What the homeless lady called me back in the other timeline. She then told me about...about the other timeline. She mentioned the storm and Chloe and...something about two stones being thrown in a pond...oh my gosh. I still have no idea what she was talking about.

Right there on the pavement, I had another panic attack. I hope they don't become regular customers in the cafe of Max's mind. But Chloe scooped me up and did what she does best, make me feel better. I felt like I was on the floor of the diner forever, but once I calmed down, I was so grateful to have her there. She really is my savior. (Like all the compliment's you're getting Chloe?)

After I calmed down, I told Chloe about the homeless lady sending me into my horrible panic, and then...she told me...something so unexpected. I almost couldn't believe her. She said that there was no one there. How? There was clearly that old homeless lady there. Did I just imagine her every time? Has anyone ever actually seen her? Is she REALLY Arcadia Bay? So many questions left unanswered...

Of course, since we were at the Two Whales, Chloe and I ate together. I didn't think about it at the time, but I think that was our first date. Technically. We were dating, and we ate together. Is that a date? I've never been on a date, but I would guess that's what people do on dates. I mean, we held hands, we kissed some, I paid for her meal...yep I totally took Chloe out.

Joyce seemed so happy to see us, which, I'm honestly glad that she was. Because to be honest, I was really happy to see her. It feels wrong going so long without seeing your second mom you know? Well, now I suppose she really is one of my mom's. Weird to think about. Speaking of, Chloe told Joyce that we had a 'big announcement' and held my hand. She then looked at her right in the eyes and told her that we were dating. But, it wasn't just that, she told her, and I'm quoting here: "Mom, I finally have the one thing I always wanted. Max is my girlfriend mom, and I couldn't be happier." I. Turned. Into. Pure. Sap. I almost cried when she smiled at me. God, she really is perfect. Joyce broke the moment with something I kind of expected to hear though, telling us that we had already told her a few months ago that we were a couple, asking Chloe if she had hit her head. Never change Joyce.

We then asked about the thing we came to ask about, David. Joyce told us that he had gone to Blackwell today, and that she hadn't seen him since. That she didn't think he would be anywhere else than work. So she had no idea that David had been suspended. Wowsers. We finished eating, I paid for the food, then we made our way back to Blackwell to see if he might still be there somewhere.

Once we got back, there was a huge gathering in front of the dorms, and my mind went directly to Kate. Thankfully, no one was on the roof of the building. But, there was a fight between Warren and Nathan going on. To my surprise, Warren was the one who started it. He actually fought Nathan Prescott and ended up kicking his teeth in. I couldn't let someone get destroyed like that, so I had to rewind and stop him. I'm glad it didn't take long, because I'm still not sure rewinding isn't the problem. Maybe if I only use it sparingly, it will all work itself out? I mean, no freak weather as of so far. I call that a good sign.

Next thing I know, Chloe is dragging me to my room by my wrist. Which brought up all kinds of repressed memories. She then broke down and told me that she wasn't like me, and never had the time to get over Rachel, to get over being killed, nearly drugged to death and put in the dark room, everything that happened to her. I never thought about it. Poor Chloe. She is still so angry and hurt, I guess she's just trying to move forward now. She told me that she can't go through time anymore after. She says she saw David shoot Nathan and heard Nathan's teeth getting kicked in and told me to tell her something no one knew about me, then rewind to test and see if she was right.

It hurt. It hurt so bad to tell her. So fucking bad to tell. About the one month anniversary of Chloe's death, I tried to kill myself. I don't even want to write about it. I want to forget it happened. So I'm not going to talk about it. Instead, I'm going to say what Chloe did for me when I told her about it was beyond perfect. She wanted me to get the note, but being that we were in a timeline that didn't have a no Chloe in it, it didn't exist. Don't ask why I kept it. So I instead folded up a piece of paper, and Chloe and I burned it as a symbol of us being together forever. We held hands as we watched it burn into nothing. I...there are no words for how amazing this was...how much it meant to me. How much she means to me.

We both decided that we should go out and see where David was, but lo and behold, time was frozen completely. There Chloe was, completely moving in a frozen time. Shit. Of course though, she took it well. Now we really are partners in time.

As soon as I opened the door to the stairwell, Kate bumped into me. At first I thought maybe Kate could come through time with me too, somehow. But then, I realized that this was a different timeline, and Kate was going to the roof.

Kate wouldn't listen to me. I mean, I didn't say the same things I had back when I helped her down, but it was all similar, and for some reason...it didn't work. She was going to the roof, and I let her get there. I couldn't save her. Until, once again, Chloe came out of nowhere and saved the day. She was just as amazing with Kate as she was with Alyssa, as she was with me. She told Kate that she would be famous and would never remember this day, she called Kate cute, she told her about her own life and that Chloe though she was cool. I don't know what it is, but Chloe seems to have the same pull to her that Kate does, only in a different way. She seems to have this natural want to talk to her, to listen to her. She saved Kate's life, and right before we both left the timeline, I told Kate to tell the police about under the Prescott's barn.

Everything around us was gone, and we were in this black abyss place. The only thing around me that I could see was Chloe, and staring at her, I felt that tingling feeling come back as I found the words to tell her just how much she means to me. It wasn't as perfect as she was, but it was as good as I could do. I made her cry tears of joy when I told her. It was then I realized, Chloe is my soulmate. I will never leave her again. Ever.

Blood was all over my shirt, like I was in a cheap zombie movie from the 90's, so Chloe carried me to my room and cleaned me up. She didn't even make one sex joke, I'm proud of the girl.

Then Victoria came crashing in and told us...told us that Nathan was dead. He killed himself by jumping off the roof. I...I can't believe he did that. I tried to rewind but...I couldn't. Helping Kate over did it for my powers. Nathan Prescott is dead.

Victoria stormed back out of the room when I suddenly remembered Nathan's voicemail from the last timeline. I played it and put it on speaker so Chloe and I could hear. He sounded so broken, so defeated, so helpless. It actually hurt to listen to, more than the last voicemail he gave me. But that wasn't even the worst part. The worst part is what it said...

He told me that he saw visions of the tornado too, and that he knew that I stopped it somehow. That...That Sean Prescott was responsible for the storm. That the Prescott's caused it. That only I could save everyone. It was never my powers. It was always the Prescotts. I feel so shitty for feeling relieved about it, but also...it means Chloe never had to die. It only means that something happened when Nathan went to jail that stopped them from going through with it. What though?

All I could think about was chiaroscuro that Mr. Jefferson had told us about. That with everything light, there must be a shadow, and vice versa. Chloe is my light in all this crazy shadow bullshit. As long as we're together, we will fix this.

Safe to say, I couldn't stay at Blackwell that night. I had to leave. Too many memories of jumping off the roof to stay there. So Chloe let me stay at her house, we packed up all my shit I would need and headed over to her place.

Joyce wasn't too happy about us staying in the same room, but she let us. Telling us that what she doesn't know, won't hurt her. Now both of the Prices are trying to get me in bed with Chloe, wowsers.

It was just like old times though. I think this is the first "official" sleep over I have had at Chloe's since William was alive. We decided against "Netflix and Chill" (or I decided against it) and instead made a pillow fort and claimed the house in the name of Arr-cadia Bay's pirates. It was like living in a memory all over again. Except this time, I didn't have to worry about fixing things. I just got to have fun and be with Chloe, act like a kid again, and even get some 'booty'. Not that kind! I can't believe I wrote that. Oh my dog. I meant kisses. We kissed. Wowsers.

After dismantling the fort, I decided to pick a movie I knew Chloe would love, Legion of Fire: Killer Ants! Just as I suspected, Chloe was so in love with the cheesy acting and the horrible effects of the ants spewing fire everywhere. It was even better than I could have ever pictured it. I remember finishing the movie and cuddling against my girlfriend, and that's about it. I fell asleep not long after. Another batshit crazy day, with a perfect ending. Hopefully you'll get a normal day sometime.

Authors Notes:

Hey yo, so, journal entry! I enjoy writing these little things, so I'm going to continue to do so! I know there wasn't as much new stuff in this one, but I thought there was a few things I could clarify in here. It really isn't the same when you see most of Max's thoughts in the chapters anyway, but, like I said already, gonna keep it all going on anyway!

I'm currently about to be in the process of beginning Episode 3. I'll say that this episode will feel a lot like The Dark Room with all of the events that go on, and less like Chaos Theory. I feel like This Action felt a lot like Chaos Theory in terms of theme and writing personally, with Little Pieces of Time being very Out of Time. Anyway, you can expect to start seeing the next episode very soon! So stay tuned! Same Bat-Time! Same Bat-Channel!

Until then, stay golden.