As Chloe starred at the computer she felt warm arms wrap themselves around her. She jerked in surprise, but quickly settled into the embrace, letting Max's touch relax her. For a moment she forgot everything going through her mind, just let herself drift away as her best friend held her. For a moment. Then it was over.

"Sorry Chloe, I know we didn't part on the best of terms but I wanted…" Max said behind her, but her words died as Chloe shifted to the side, giving Max a clear view of her computer screen. "What is…" Max started as she looked in confusion, then her eyes widened in recognition.

It hurt, seeing the panic on Max's face. Some part of Chloe had been hoping Max didn't know.

"Why don't you tell me," Chloe said quietly. Max quickly glanced between the computer screen and Chloe.

"I don't know what you're thinking Chloe, but its not…"

"Don't lie to me!" Chloe said sharply, louder than she meant to. Max jerked away from her, her mouth snapping shut. "Don't lie to me," Chloe said again, quieter, as she turned her chair around to look at Max. "Not this time. Please. For once just tell me the truth," Chloe said, her voice practically a whisper now.

"...you weren't supposed to find out," Max said quietly, backing away from Chloe.

"It's the age of the internet Max, no one has secrets," Chloe said.

"Please Chloe," Max begged, moving beside her so neither were facing the computer. "Just forget this. Trust me." How many times had Max asked Chloe to trust her? How many times had Chloe blindly followed? It was almost embarrassing how easy she must have been to fool.

"I can't do that Max. You lied to me," Chloe said, turning away from Max.

"...I can't Chloe. Please…"

"It says the hospital you're at Max, in Seattle," Chloe said, pointing at the screen. "Tell me, or I'll find the answers there." Max turned her head away, her eyes squeezed shut as if trying to block out everything that was happening. Chloe waited, but Max didn't say anything. Chloe slumped in her chair and absently scrolled up and down on her screen causing the name of the article to appear and disappear at the top. It read "Father decides to stop feeding tube after more than a decade." Behind her Max walked to the edge of Chloe's room and collapsed by the closet, staring at the ground. Chloe waited. Max remained silent. Eventually Chloe couldn't handle the disappointment anymore. She stood up.

"I wanted to give you one last chance, but I guess that was stupid…" She said as she started for the door.

"Chloe!" Max called out behind her. Chloe stopped.

"Just tell me Max," Chloe said. She turned around to face her. Max's face was streaked with tears, but Chloe ignored it. "How about we turn this around? How about you try trusting me for a change?"

Max gaped at her. She looked so vulnerable, her eyes bloodshot as she held herself on the ground of Chloe's room. Chloe's heart tore itself apart as the desire to kick Max in the face intermixed with her desire to hold the girl and tell her it would be alright. She loved and hated Max right now, and neither emotion subtracted from the other. It was a feeling she was all too familiar with, something she had felt every moment since her dad died. She didn't know if she was up to going through it again.

And yet.

She walked over to Max and sat down beside her.

"There was an accident. When you were a kid," Chloe prodded. Max looked at her and Chloe could see the hesitation in her eyes. She waited, hoping Max would trust Chloe like Chloe had trusted her.

"It wasn't an accident," Max said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. Chloe's stomach turned, but she wasn't surprised to hear her say it. She just hadn't wanted her too.

"You were six, there was a car. You wandered into the road…" Chloe tried to rationalize, but Max shook her head.

"It wasn't an accident," she repeated. Chloe stared at her, saw the emptiness in her eyes.

"...why?" Chloe managed. Max's eyes stopped watering, the emotion draining out of her face.

"I talked about this with you. Partially. I couldn't find a solution Chloe. No matter what I did everything ended up broken. Either I let you die, or I killed an entire town and watched the guilt destroy you anyways."

"Which was why you tried going back further," Chloe said, still clinging to a hope she knew wasn't there.

"At first," Max said. Her voice was so cold. Unattached. It sent a shiver down Chloe's spine. Had this always been inside her friend? Had she just been too naive to see it? "I tried going back, but it didn't matter. The storm still came. People always died. Because of me."

"It wasn't because of you Max, how many times do I have to…"

"I couldn't save everyone Chloe. And I couldn't make your life right. No matter what I did, I always took something from you. Always hurt you. Which is the last thing I want to do."

"But Max...that doesn't mean you had to...I mean...why Max?" Chloe asked again. Max's eyes flashed as something dark crossed her face.

"What else was I supposed to do Chloe?!" Max burst out. She stood up, suddenly towering over Chloe.

"I was eighteen! I hadn't even graduated high school! And the world expected me to…" Max stopped as she saw the look of fear on Chloe's face. Max grimaced before turning away from her. "I couldn't choose Chloe. I couldn't. I just...wanted it to end. I couldn't do it anymore. I thought, maybe if I wasn't there, then…"

"No!" Chloe said firmly, interrupting her. She stood up and walked over to Max. Her arms went up, and then awkwardly hung there as she realized there was nothing she could do with them. All she wanted was to hold Max and she couldn't. All she could do was stand there like a dumbass and try. "Max don't, don't say those things. Never."

"I did it Chloe," Max said flatly. She turned to look at her friend, but her eyes were far away. "We were going to the park, Mom had taken a picture of me and Dad walking. I was six. I thought if I...it was before we met so maybe without me everything would…" Max paused, and then she smiled at Chloe, tears streaming down her face. "But I fucked it up. I didn't die. I ended up like this and now we're doing this damn week all over again. And I'm not sure how much more I can take."

"I can't…" Chloe began, the words dying off as soon as they formed. She wished she could shake Max, force that lost look off her face. She didn't know what to say. She only had an inkling of an idea what Max was going through. Living through her father's death had almost killed her, and she only had to do that once. But what she did know was that she wasn't going to lose Max too.

"I don't have the answers Max," Chloe said. "All I know is I'm going to fix it, no matter what it takes. And saving you is the first step."

"Chloe, what are you doing?" Max asked as Chloe started towards the door.

"I'm going to Seattle Max. I'm going to stop your father from pulling the plug. And then I'm going to wake you up and get us out of this mess."

"Chloe, no, you can't do that," Max said, her voice sounding almost scared.

"Actually I can, it's remarkably easy to drive to Seattle. People do it all the time."

"Chloe! Stop!" Max yelled as Chloe reached the door. She paused for a moment. And then she turned the doorknob. "He's doing it because I asked him to," Max said. Chloe froze, her eyes going wide.

"...What?!" She asked as she rounded on Max.

"I'm stuck in a limbo, I didn't lie about that. And as long as I'm stuck like this then I have to follow the path it sets, the one that leads to the storm. I have to break the pattern. I have to cross into the tear Chloe. That hasn't changed." Max breathed in deep before looking Chloe in the eye, her face determined. "But to do that I can't be tethered here. As long as I exist in this timeline, I won't be able to cross. I have to sever the connection."

"Sever the…" Chloe began, but then her eyes widened as the implications set in. "You're talking about killing yourself Max! That's your grand fucking plan?!"

"The plan hasn't changed Chloe."

"That isn't the same fucking thing. That isn't what we talked about! How has it not changed?! You said you were going to die anyways. You promised there was nothing else we could do!"

"Because it doesn't change anything," Max said sternly.

"Fuck that, it changes everything. You're alive, you're a real person, and I'm not watching you die. Not if I can do something about it."

"I'm not alive Chloe. That Max, she's been in a coma for twelve years. This isn't like the movies, you don't get up from that. You have to accept that."

"You think I don't know that?" Chloe asked, tears starting to stream down her face. "You think I haven't spent all last night reading every fucking fact on comas and vegetative states and everything? I know how hard it will be. I know what the chances are. But there is a chance. And you lied about that. You tried to take that from me. Fuck that."

"Because I knew what you'd do! You can't throw away everything, let this whole town be destroyed for some slim chance I might live. You can't do that."

"Fuck you Max Caulfield," Chloe said quietly as she turned away from her.

"Chloe?"

"Fuck you Max. You can't stop me." Max's eyes went wide.

"No Chloe."

"It's not your decision anymore. This time, you don't have to choose. This time, it's all on me," Chloe said as she turned the doorknob.

"Chloe...No! Chloe stop! You don't know what you're doing, what this can do to you! Please listen to me. Chloe!" Max yelled, but the door slammed shut. She ran to it, desperately pushing against it, trying to push through, but it might as well be made of stone. The harder she pushed the more her mind started to blank until she couldn't push anymore.

"I thought I heard you yelling upstairs Chloe, everything okay?" Joyce asked carefully from the kitchen as Chloe reached the bottom of the stairs. She could tell by her voice that Joyce must have heard everything. She couldn't care less. None of that mattered now.

"I'm going to Seattle," Chloe said as she tried her best to ignore Max's screams echoing from upstairs.

"Excuse me, no you aren't," Joyce said, her gentle demeanor disappearing. Good, Chloe preferred this. She hated being treated like she had 'fragile' taped all over her.

"I'm nineteen and there's no school for at least a couple days, what's the harm?" Chloe asked as she walked into the kitchen. Joyce stopped fiddling with the dishes and leveled a look at her.

"The harm? I'm not blind Chloe, I can tell you're not doing well. I'm not letting you drive across the whole damn state."

"You should come with me then if you're so worried," Chloe said with a shrug. Joyce blinked, clearly thrown off by the sudden invitation.

"Come with you?" She asked.

"Yeah," Chloe said carefully, trying not to sound too interested. "It could be a daughter/mother bonding thing, like you see in those shitty family comedies."

"Chloe that's...sweet actually, but I have work. If you'd said something last week…I know you didn't know but, I'm sorry Chloe maybe we could plan for another day?"

"Maybe," Chloe said. So much for that plan. It'd been pretty weak anyway.

"Anyway Chloe, I want you in town. Just for this week, we can see about something later. There's just so much going on right now." Joyce said as she turned back to the dishes, apparently thinking the conversation was finished. Chloe sighed. She hated doing things the hard way, no matter what people thought.

"I'm going to Seattle Mom, I'm serious."

"Chloe," Joyce said as she dropped her sponge into the water. "Just one time could you not…"

"Max is in Seattle Mom," Chloe said. She stated it calmly, but the way Joyce jerked made it look like she'd yelled.

"Chloe, Max is…" Joyce said slowly as she turned back towards her. "You know she isn't...I thought you were over this?" Chloe didn't answer, instead she dug a printout out of her pocket and held it out to her mom. Joyce frowned and wiped her hands on her apron before taking the paper.

"She's at the University of Washington Medical Center. She's a real person, she always has been." Joyce looked at the page and then furrowed her brow.

"There must be hundreds of Max Caulfields in the world Chloe. This doesn't make her your Max."

"They're going to kill her Mom. I can't let them do that."

"You're not going Chloe. I don't know what's got into you this week, but I'm worried."

"You don't understand Mom, I'm not asking. I'm going and I want you to come with me."

"That's not happening Chloe. What we are going to do is call Dr. Strong. It's been too long since your last session." Joyce said as she walked towards her purse. Chloe grabbed her arm to stop her. Joyce looked at her in shock, but her face softened somewhat when she saw the tears on her daughter's face.

"I'm trying to help you Chloe." Chloe flinched. Too many damn people wanted to 'help' her lately. Why didn't they understand that it was everyone else who needed her help?

"If you want to help come with me."

"I can't honey, I know this must be hard…" Joyce cut off as Chloe's grip tightened.

"You don't understand Mom. You can't stay here. You have to come with me."

"Chloe, you're scaring me," Joyce said calmly.

"Good!" Chloe burst out, letting go of Joyce. "You should be scared! You should be fucking terrified! You don't even understand what's at stake here!" Chloe said as she paced around the kitchen.

"Listen to me Chloe, you need to see Dr. Strong. Please. For me. Then we can talk about Seattle." Chloe paused, looking over at Joyce.

"Just...just trust me one fucking time Mom. Trust that I know what the hell I'm talking about."

"You know I love you Chloe…"

"Just…" Chloe stopped. Joyce wasn't going to go with her, and it wasn't like she could kidnap her. Chloe had known this was how it was going to go. She hadn't even entertained the idea she'd convince her mom to drop everything and travel to Seattle. But still...

"Do me a favor then Mom."

"A favor?" Joyce asked, clearly confused.

"Watch the news tonight. It's really important."

"The news? What does that...Chloe!" Joyce called out as Chloe walked out of the kitchen. "Chloe!" She called again as she started after her.

"Just watch the fucking news!" Chloe said as she yanked the door open and then slammed it shut behind her.

Chloe walked out of the only gas station in Arcadia Bay with a receipt for a full tank of gas, a Planter's can of peanuts, a way too big can of Arizona sweet tea, and a pack of cigarettes. She opened the truck door and threw her bag onto the passenger seat before climbing in herself. She slammed the door of her truck shut as she slid in. The door collided and then bounced back, slightly agar.

"For the love of fuck, not now fucking…" Chloe muttered as she tried again. "Not today, fuck!" Chloe screamed as the door bounced again, the latch not catching. She slammed her forehead against her steering wheel, the pain relieving some of her frustration. Not bothering to raise her head off the wheel, she reached into her pocket and took out her phone. She barely needed to look at it to call the only number she had on speed dial.

"Rachel," Chloe said as she heard the phone answer.

"Not go well?" Rachel asked. Of course Rachel could already tell. She could read Chloe like an open book. Too bad Chloe had never been able to do the same to her. And here she'd thought Max had been different.

"No, not with either of them. Max is pissed at me and Mom thinks I'm crazy all over again," Chloe said.

"We...kinda figured that's how it was gonna go," Rachel said sweetly.

"Still wasn't fun," Chloe grumbled. "How'd it go on your end?"

"Perfectly," Rachel said proudly. "I guess that's an advantage of small town living. There was literally nothing better to put on the news tonight."

"Good, at least I convinced my mom to watch it."

"Was that before or after you convinced her you're crazy?" Chloe groaned.

"After. And after I told her I was driving to Seattle."

"So let me get this straight, you crazied up the place, admitted you're running away, and then told her she had to watch the news tonight?"

"...Okay, I could have handled that better, but the point is she'll be watching."

Mom 8:30am 10-10-13

Chloe, are you okay?

Chloe please respond

This isn't funny Chloe text me

I'm worried.

Chloe 9:45am 10-10-13

Just got to Seattle. I'm fine. Don't worry.

Mom 9:51am 10-10-13

Come home.

Where are you even going to stay?

You have no money

Call me

When Chloe pulled into the parking lot of the University of Washington Medical Center she immediately realized that she definitely could have benefited from thinking through this a bit more.

She had thought about it, constantly, unendingly, the whole drive here. But it hadn't been the 'lets plan out my next course of action' kind of thinking. No, it had been more the 'Oh shit my imaginary friend is real, but she's in a coma and I have to save her, but she doesn't want me to save her, and her dad probably doesn't want me to save her, and how can I even possibly save her, but I have to save her, oh fuck oh god oh fuck oh god oh fuck fucking shit fuck…." kind of thinking. Emotionally cleansing, but not terribly helpful.

And one thing she definitely had not thought of was the fact that she'd never been in a hospital before.

Well, she had been in the tiny building Arcadia Bay had passed off as a hospital, but that was like saying she'd been to the White House because she'd stepped into a house one time that happened to be white.

The University of Washington Medical Center was huge. The Arcadia Bay Hospital could have fit in the parking lot of this thing. How was she supposed to find Max in all of this? For starters it was a fucking center. Which meant it had more than one building, any one of which was bigger than anything Chloe had ever stepped foot in.

As Chloe walked towards what she hoped was the main building she spotted some protesters standing in the parking lot. Her eyes almost bugged out when she saw the words "Save Max" blazed on the front of a sign held up by one of them. Her first instinct was to run over and high five every fucking one of them, but something held her back. These people were on the outside, and while she appreciated the effort, it wasn't likely they'd actually be achieving anything here. It'd probably be better if Chloe wasn't associated with them for now.

Chloe walked into the main building and stopped. She glanced around, trying to find some kind of clue how to start. In front of her was a large desk with several staff pounding away at computers. She shrugged. As good a place as any.

"Can I help you?" A lady behind the desk asked as Chloe walked up.

"Uhhh…I'm looking for a patient," Chloe said.

"Which wing are they in?" The lady asked in a completely reasonable voice. She made it sound like Chloe should understand the question. Unfortunately Chloe did not. She knew there were, like, baby wings and...other wings. Was there a coma wing?

"I...don't know," Chloe said unhelpfully. The lady sighed slightly.

"Well what are they here for?" The lady asked. It was a much more reasonable question, and one Chloe actually knew. Chloe just didn't want to answer it. She's here to die wasn't something she felt like saying out loud.

"Coma," Chloe said instead.

"Patient name please," the lady asked.

"Maxine Caulfield," Chloe replied. The lady paused from typing and looked up at Chloe.

"What is your relationship to the patient?" The lady asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Uhhh...cousin. I'm a cousin," Chloe said, cringing even as she said it. The lady's eyes narrowed even further, which Chloe hadn't thought was possible.

"Close relatives only I'm afraid," the lady said evenly.

"We're close!" Chloe insisted. "We're practically sisters!"

"Well, I'm sure her parents can arrange a visit then. I can't give you her information though I'm afraid," the lady said before turning back to her computer.

"Wait!" Chloe said. The lady looked up at her. "I don't have a way to contact them."

"I thought you said you were close?" The lady asked, her voice slightly mocking.

"We are, it's just that I don't talk to her parents much. Please, you got to help me." The lady paused before leveling Chloe with a glare.

"Ms. Caulfield is in a very delicate situation. The last thing her family needs is to be bothered right now. Now please, unless you have actual business with this hospital step away from the desk."

"Please, could you just…" Chloe began, but the lady was politely ignoring her now. She ground her teeth in frustration and tried to resist the urge to crawl over the table and beat the information out of the lady. She took a couple breaths, letting her anger die down. Unfortunately, the only thing to replace it was a hollow emptiness she was all too familiar with.

"Nurse, could you, could you just relay a message for me? Please, you have no idea how much it would mean to me," Chloe said, her voice low. The nurse looked up, her eyes searching Chloe. Something she saw must have quieted her suspicions because she sighed and nodded.

"I'll see what I can do. What did you want to tell them?"

"Tell Mr. Caulfield not to listen to Max. Tell him he doesn't know the whole truth. If he wants the full story, I'll be here in the lobby."

"Uhhh…" The nurse said as she clearly was struggling to understand her.

"Just tell him. Please." Chloe begged.

"I'll...see what I can do," the nurse promised. In a calming manner. Like she was talking to a crazy person. Which Chloe sounded like right now. Fuck, this is fucked. Chloe thought to herself.

"Please do," Chloe said sadly.

Rachel 2:32pm 10-10-13

How's it going?

Chloe

At the hospital.

Rachel

And?

Chloe

And nothing. I'm sitting in the waiting room.

Rachel

Well do you have a plan? We don't have much time.

Chloe

I sent a message. Now I'm waiting.

Rachel

Do you have time to wait?

Chloe

I don't think you understand how big this place is. I'd die of starvation before I ever found her on my own.

Rachel

So you're just waiting?

Chloe

For now. I'll save breaking and entering for tomorrow.

"I honestly haven't had a tremendous amount of success with my modeling quite yet, though I'm not letting that discourage me," Rachel said with a shy smile. In the hospital waiting room Chloe rolled her eyes at her phone. Rachel hadn't been shy a day of her life. The news host was eating it up though.

It had been Rachel's idea of course. She'd contacted the local station and requested a TV interview. She had also greatly exaggerated the success of her Portland modeling career. Chloe didn't think it would work. Rachel thought the news team would eat it up, a native coming home to share their success. She seemed certain it would be a great feel-good piece after the last couple days of more serious stories. Of course she'd been right.

"Of course you aren't, we here at Arcadia Bay know you'll make it," the news host said with a friendly smile. "And we'll be rooting for you the whole way."

"Thanks," Rachel said, reaching across and patting the man's leg. "That means a lot to me." The man practically beamed at the attention.

"Could you be more pathetic?" Chloe muttered darkly as Rachel continued talking.

"But I don't want to take up all your time talking about my little life, I'm not that conceited," Rachel said with a laugh. The anchorman laughed as well, though his laugh seemed a touch confused. He glanced to the side, his eyes questioning. It seemed Rachel was going off script.

"Of course not. We'd never…" The anchorman said, but Rachel mercifully interrupted him.

"No, there's something far more important I wanted to talk about," Rachel said with an inviting smile. The smile said to trust her. The anchorman, fool that he was, did.

"Oh, w-well then. What was it you wanted to talk about Rachel?"

"I just wanted to add some clarification to some of the stories you've been airing lately. Namely to explain some of the stranger things that have happened the last couple of days," Rachel said sweetly. The anchorman's face furrowed in confusion.

"Oh? Well I know that's on everybody's minds these days so I'm sure they'd love your take on it."

"Of course, who couldn't have noticed. The snowstorm on Monday. The eclipse on Tuesday. The abnormally large number of dead animals yesterday. It's quite the mystery. Thankfully I have a perfectly sound explanation."

"You do?" The anchorman asked. He looked slightly afraid now. Chloe almost felt bad for him.

"Of course. It's because Arcadia Bay is about to be destroyed." She said it so matter-of-factly that it took the anchorman a moment to process.

"Pardon me?" He asked. Rachel's smile disappeared as her face went blank. She turned so that she was facing the camera, staring directly at Chloe.

"Tomorrow a tornado will come from the sea," Rachel began. Her voice had changed as well, there was a rhythm to it, a cadence Chloe associated with telephone fortune tellers. "It will raze Arcadia Bay to the ground and any who stay in the city will be flattened with it," Rachel continued eerily.

"What the fuck?" Chloe said to herself. They'd never talked about this. She was supposed to just state the facts not end up sounding like Miss Chloe!

"I'm...Rachel?" The anchorman sputtered, and then went silent as Rachel turned to him.

"Of course I don't expect you to take my word on it," she said regally, like the way Ms. Grant talked to Chloe sometimes when she used to skip her class. "You want proof of course. Luckily, I can provide it. The signs will continue just as they have, today being no exception. A double moon will rise tonight. All who see it will know the truth of my words. And any who wish to live…" Rachel paused and turned towards the camera again, earning a groan of embarrassment from Chloe.

"...will leave." She finished dramatically. Chloe gaped at her phone's screen, looking very similar to to the anchorman. An awkward amount of time passed as Rachel stared at the camera and the anchorman struggled to think of some way to save the situation. Finally, right when he looked like he was going to say something, Rachel turned back to him.

"Thank you so much for having me Chris," Rachel said with one of her winning smiles. "It's been a pleasure." She reached across and patted him on the leg, appearing unconcerned with the look of horror on his face. She stood up and started to walk off of the stage.

As she reached the edge of the stage she paused and turned, looking back at Chris. "And remember, if you want to live, don't be here on Friday!" She said chipperly and then sauntered offstage.

Chloe 6:30pm 10-10-13

What the fuck was that Rachel, you came off like a crazy person!

Rachel

Chloe, I was going to come off as a crazy person no matter how I spun it. This way they'll at least remember it.

Chloe

Not a single person is going to believe you Rachel. I don't believe you and I know you're speaking the truth.

Rachel

You'd be surprised Chloe. People respond to confidence.

"Wake up," a voice said. Chloe groaned and rolled over. Waking up was the last thing she felt like doing.

"Wake up," the voice said again, gruff and masculine. This time the command was followed by a soft kick to her side and it woke Chloe just enough that everything came crashing back.

She bolted upright, groggily looking around the waiting room. It was dark now. It hadn't been when she fell asleep. What time was it? She started looking for a clock, which was when she noticed the stout, grizzled man staring down at her.

"Gah!" She screamed intelligently as she involuntarily jumped back into her chair. At least she was awake now.

"You slept here, is that even legal?" The man demanded. Luckily for Chloe, she was used to middle-aged men judging her life decisions. She didn't even need to be fully conscious to have this conversation.

"It's not not legal," Chloe said as her heart started slowing into its usual rhythm. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Look, I appreciate what you're doing for my daughter. I know you probably don't believe me, but I really do. And I appreciate you being more civil about it, but you need to go home. Go to school or work or whatever it is you'd normally be doing on a Thursday night. Just leave my family alone," the man said. It took a moment for everything to click.

"Mr. Caulfied?" Chloe asked.

"Go home," the man said without answering. Chloe narrowed her eyes.

"No," Chloe said. The man exhaled in frustration.

"Don't know why I bothered," he muttered under his breath before turning to walk away. Chloe quickly got up to follow him.

"Because you don't want to do this either," Chloe called after him. She didn't know why she said it. Maybe she just refused to believe he would. He didn't stop. "But you have to, because she asked you to didn't she?" Mr. Caulfield slowed. Not stopped, but he definitely slowed down, so Chloe pushed on.

"You've talked with Max, I know you have!" Chloe cried out. This time he did stop, frozen in place. "You've talked with her. I know because she told me, because I've talked with her. She's been with me my whole life, ever since I was eight. You have to believe me Mr. Caulfield. There's more to your daughter than the girl laying in that hospital bed. And I know you know that."

Mr. Caulfied stood there for a moment, long enough that Chloe was able to catch up to him. Though now that she had she wasn't sure what she should do.

"I've never told anyone about that," he said suddenly without turning. He wasn't walking away though, so Chloe counted that as a small victory.

"You didn't have to. Max told me," Chloe said.

"That's not possible," he said quietly.

"I think you know it is," Chloe said. He paused, long enough that Chloe started to feel like she needed to say something, but then he turned and sat down in one of the waiting room chairs. Chloe sat down beside him. He didn't look at her, in return she didn't look at him.

"I've seen her three times," Mr. Caulfield said. "The first was the night the accident happened."

"I was running home real quick, grabbing some things so we could stay at the hospital. Clothes, her teddy bear, things like that. I was in her room when I heard her voice behind me. I thought I was going crazy, but when I turned around there she was. She was in her pajamas like nothing had happened, real as you or me."

"Spooks ya, when she just appears like that," Chloe said. Mr. Caulfield nodded.

"She just kept saying 'I'm sorry' over and over again. I didn't know what to do so I told her she had nothing to be sorry about. It scared her for some reason, me talking to her. It was almost like she didn't expect me to. And then she just...wasn't there anymore."

"She probably didn't know you could see her. Not many people can I guess."

"But you can?" Mr. Caulfield asked. He turned towards her and they made eye contact. It shocked her, to see Max's blue eyes in someone else's face. "Why?" He asked.

"I'll explain, but it might take awhile. Please, finish your story. It's important," she said. She didn't expect him to listen to her, so she was surprised when he nodded and then looked down at his hands. She kinda understood though. It felt good, talking about something you thought you'd never get to say out loud.

"The next time I saw her was right before we moved to Seattle. I was packing up the house when I heard her voice. She looked the same, but...different. I know that doesn't make sense. Something about her was off though. She looked so serious, so grown up. I ran to her this time, tried to pull her into a hug but…" His hands reached out and he swooshed them together. Chloe nodded, she knew that feeling all too well.

"She told me that I had to keep her alive. That no matter how hard it got I couldn't give up on her. She said there was something she needed to do after she turned eighteen. I tried to ask her what she meant but she just said she was sorry and she was still trying to figure everything out. And then she was gone." He exhaled and shook his head. "The first time made sense, I was stressed and grieving so I thought I saw my daughter. But that second time…

I tried to forget about it, rationalize it. I was just grieving and trying to find meaning in something meaningless. But it stuck with me. For ten years I held on to that conversation. If I could just make it till she was eighteen then maybe I'd get to talk to my daughter again. Some days it was the only thing that got me through." Chloe opened her mouth, but found that her throat was too dry to speak. She worked up some spit as quick as she could.

"And the third time?" Chloe asked hoarsely. She already knew what he would say, and part of her didn't want to hear him say it, but she had to.

"I got a letter in the mail. It was a couple years ago. No return address. The letter claimed it was from Max. She brought up some details, little things to convince me it was her. She told me she loved me and that she needed to talk to me again. She wanted to meet with me, at a park in Seattle months from when I got the letter. It listed a very specific time and place. She stressed how important it was I show up at that exact time. Then she ended the letter by saying that she needed me, more than ever." Chloe closed her eyes, fighting back the wave of repulsion that ran through her. It was cold, cruel even, what Max had done. She didn't want to think she was capable of it, but she knew better. Ten years and she'd never guessed how much desperation was hiding in her best friend.

"I thought I was crazy," Mr. Caulfield continued. "But how could I not go? I wanted it to be real so bad. So I went, and there she was. For some reason I expected her to still be six, but she looked just like the Max in the bed back at home. She was a little different, her hair was cut better and she looked healthier, but it was her. Just to see her with her eyes open was such a shook. And when she smiled at me…

You know what she said don't you?" Mr. Caulfield asked. There was a plea in his voice, begging her not to make him say it.

"I know what she told me, but I'd like to hear what she told you. Please Mr. Caulfield, I know it's hard," she said, even though it made her sick to her stomach. He stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide.

"She wanted me to kill her," he whispered finally. "I'd kept her alive this whole time so she could die at just the right time. How crazy is that?"

"Did she say why Mr. Caulfield?"

"Some...tornado in Arcadia Bay. She tried to explain it, but I could only understand half of what she was saying."

"But you agreed to it?" Chloe asked. She tried to sound neutral, but she couldn't quite manage it.

"She asked me to, begged me to. What was I supposed to do?"

"How about telling her no?" She said. Mr. Caulfield stood suddenly, wiping his eyes. He turned and Chloe cussed under her breath. She'd pushed him too hard. She stood up.

"I'm not telling you you're a bad person Mr. Caulfield. I'm not saying that you're a bad parent or that you aren't following Max's wishes. You are. You're doing exactly what she wants, and she's so thankful. What I'm asking is, would you like to be a good parent, or would you like to see your daughter awake again?" They both stood there, frozen as Chloe's heart hammered in her chest.

"That's not possible," he said.

"She said it's not right? She told you there's no chance for her to wake up? It was a lie. I know, because she's lied to me too. She's manipulated both of us because she doesn't want to be saved. But we can save her."

"You can promise that?" He asked finally. "You can promise she'll wake up?" Chloe's eyes went wide. The temptation was huge but...she couldn't do that to him. She couldn't take his choice away.

"No," Chloe said, the word tearing at her heart. "I can't promise anything. But there's a chance." Mr. Caulfield nodded and walked away.

Chloe 9:13pm 10-10-13

Is this Kate? This is Chloe.

God I hope this is Kate.

Sorry

Kate

Chloe? How'd you get my number?

Chloe

Oh thank God!

Rachel got it for me

Kate

How did Rachel get it?

Chloe

Being Rachel? Fuck if I know.

Heck if I know

Is heck better?

Kate

You're fine Chloe. What's up?

Chloe

Have you been watching the news?

Kate

You mean the thing with Rachel and the moon? It's all anyone is talking about. Half the nurses want to leave town but I think they feel bad about abandoning us.

Chloe

Shit, I'm so sorry Kate. Some friend I turned out to be. I didn't even think of that until now.

Kate

Think of what?

Chloe

Listen Kate, I'm already in Seattle. I should have grabbed you before I left, but I'm sending Rachel to bust you out

Kate

Bust me out? Do you mean Rachel was right?

Chloe

Every word. Don't worry, Rachel's going to take care of you.

"Chloe," Chloe heard a voice say right beside her. Her eyes snapped open as she turned towards the source.

"Mom?" Chloe asked as she stood up.

Joyce looked at her daughter with a sheepish expression, which was almost more surprising than the fact she was here. Chloe couldn't remember her mother ever looking like she'd done something wrong.

"Hey Chloe," Joyce said softly. She looked like she wanted to say more, but was interrupted as Chloe pulled her into a hug.

"Careful sweetie, you're going to bruise my ribs," Joyce said with a laugh.

"I'm so glad you're here, you have no idea," Chloe said, hugging her harder. "You have no fucking idea."

"I brought some of your stuff, some clothes and things. You haven't let me in your room in years so I wasn't sure what you would want. There's some more stuff in David's trunk, I just tried to grab what I thought was important, it's amazing how much crap doesn't matter when you only have a trunk and a back seat to fill."

"Mom," Chloe said, interrupting her ramble. "What are you doing here?" Chloe asked as they sat down.

"Well...I had a talk with Rachel after her little episode on the news."

"You did?" Chloe asked. Rachel hadn't mentioned that.

"It's just...I'm not sure what I believe Chloe. I don't know what's happening in Arcadia, and I'm not sure who is in this hospital. But when I saw that moon…I'm not saying you're right. But I am saying I don't know you aren't," Joyce finished. Chloe arched an eyebrow.

"It's a start," Chloe said with a shrug.

"That's it?" Joyce asked with a laugh. "I was expecting at least an 'I told you so'." Chloe chuckled, but it was short and bitter. She glanced around the hospital room.

"I don't really feel like an 'I told you so'." Chloe said with a half smile. Joyce looked at her daughter.

"Oh Chloe," Joyce said quietly. She reached across and brought Chloe into another hug and Chloe started to cry.

"Chloe," Joyce said, nudging her daughter. Chloe glanced at her and she pointed. Chloe turned and saw Mr. Caulfield walking straight towards them, a concerned look on his face. Not that that was notable, so far the only two emotions she's seen the man use were concerned and irritated. Not that she blamed him.

"Hello," Mr. Caulfield said as he got close. He eyed Joyce, not being subtle about it.

"Relax dude, this is my mom."

"It is?" He asked, looking between the two of them in apparent disbelief.

"Yes it is," Chloe said flatly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Joyce said as she held out a hand, years of diner experience making it easy to ignore his less than gracious introduction. Mr. Caulfield frowned, but took her hand. "I can't imagine what you're going through," Joyce said as she shook his hand.

"Yeah," Mr. Caulfield said as the handshake ended. "Me either." He turned back to Chloe.

"It's done," he said. Chloe's heart leapt up into her throat.

"What?! You fucker, after everything I told you…"

"She's on the feeding tube again," Mr. Caulfield said with a cock of his eyebrow. Chloe's mouth slammed shut as her face went a little red.

"Right," Chloe said with an awkward smile.

"Just...wanted you to know," Mr. Caulfield said with a nod. Then turned to walk back.

"Hey dude, wait!" Chloe called out. He stopped and turned. Then gasped in surprise as Chloe rushed forward to pull him into a hug. Apparently she was in a hugging mood today.

"Thank you," she said as she held tightly to him, more to block everyone's view of the tears starting to well in her eyes..

"...don't thank me," Mr. Caulfield said after a moment. He pulled back and looked into Chloe's eyes, tinted pink from the tears she was quickly wiping away. He looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he merely clapped Chloe's shoulder and then turned and walked away.

Chloe 1:30pm 10-11-13

I saved her!

Rachel

What?!

Chloe

I saved her!

Rachel

Details Chloe!

Chloe

Mr. Caulfield agreed to put Max back on a feeding tube! She's not going to die.

Rachel

And you saw him do it?

Chloe

Oh come on, he promised to my face. He did it.

Rachel

Just saying.

Chloe

How's it going there?

Rachel

Crazy. My phone's going off the hook. My parents have pretty much disowned me. And there's still plenty of people here. At least most of the Blackwell students have left.

Chloe

Its fine, they just want to stay and see if you're right. Once it gets later in the day they'll bug out.

Rachel

I hope you're right.

Chloe

How's Kate?

Rachel

Terrified. Every time she sees a police car she thinks they're coming for her. You'd swear the girl has never crawled out of a window before.

Chloe

Thanks Rachel. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Rachel

You'd be a mess Chloe Price. We can talk compensation later.

She was sitting by herself the next time Mr. Caulfield came into the waiting room. After the initial euphoria of saving Max wore off, Chloe quickly realized she didn't know what she should do now. Should she still be waiting? She never asked Mr. Caulfield if she could see Max. And even if she did, she didn't know why he should let her.

She almost left with her mom when Joyce had decided to go see about getting a hotel room. Joyce wasn't keen on sleeping in the waiting room and David was still out in the car waiting. Chloe thanked her mom profusely that she hadn't brought him in.

She hadn't gone with her though, and not having to see David was only part of the reason. She wanted to be here when Max woke up, even if she wasn't in the room with her.

"I never asked you your name," Mr. Caulfield said as he sat down beside her.

"Chloe Price," she said.

"Well Chloe, let me ask you this. Were you telling the truth when you said you've talked with my daughter?"

"She's my best friend Mr. Caulfield. She has been for years. I swear to you," Chloe said, looking over at him.

"I should call you crazy and have you kicked out of the hospital," he said dryly.

"If I'm crazy, what does that make you?" Chloe countered. To Chloe's surprise he actually cracked a smile.

"Tell me about her," he said. Chloe frowned, thinking how to answer.

"She goes by Max because she hates the name Maxine," Chloe said, and then cringed. "No offense," she said quickly.

"Go on."

"She's quiet but funny. She's quick with a comeback, though she usually pulls her punches. She's an artsy type, little bit on the hipster side. She still thinks pirates are cool. What did you want to know?"

"Would you like to see her?" Mr. Caulfield asked instead.

"Yes," Chloe said, trying not to sound too desperate.

"Good. Come with me." He stood up and walked towards the far exit. Chloe quickly leapt up and followed after him. She didn't know what was racing faster, her mind or her heart.

He walked quickly, he obviously knew his way around the hospital well. Chloe, however, quickly got lost as they took turn after turn, eventually ending up in an elevator.

"Are you okay visiting with her on your own for awhile?" Mr. Caulfield asked as the elevator started climbing.

"What?" Chloe asked, confused.

"Would you be okay by yourself, once I get you to the room?"

"You're going to let the girl you just met sit with your daughter by herself?"

"You'll be fine. If you wanted to hurt Max then you wouldn't be here. I would have taken care of the rest on my own. Plus she's hooked up to every kind of monitor imaginable with nurses on standby, you'd never get away with it," he said. Chloe cracked a smile.

"Okay, next question. Why are you leaving your daughter with a complete stranger?"

"I...need to talk to someone who just got to the hospital. I'd prefer to do it with just the two of us. This might sound sad, but I don't have many other people to stay with Max. No one really. I'd feel better leaving her with you then leaving her by herself," he said as the elevator doors opened. He immediately started walking again.

"Wow, yeah that is sad. What about Max's Mom?" Chloe asked as she rushed after him.

"That's who I'm meeting," Mr. Caulfield said as they walked past a large nurses station. A couple of the nurses greeted Mr. Caulfield and he nodded back in response.

"I take it you aren't…"

"My wife and I haven't been on the best of terms lately," Mr. Caulfield finished for her.

"She hasn't been here?" Chloe asked.

"She's...come and gone a couple times. It's hard for her."

"Does she...does she know? About Max and, you know," Chloe asked. Mr. Caulfield glanced at her, his face hard. Chloe involuntarily paused a moment, falling behind Mr. Caulfield to escape his glare.

"She doesn't," he said, a note of finality to the statement. "And we're going to keep it that way.

"But she agreed to having Max...to removing the feeding tube? Even without knowing everything?" Chloe asked as she fell in step beside him again. The fact that Max's Mom didn't even know about Max did not leave a good taste in her mouth.

"She did. Because I convinced her it's what Max would have wanted. She didn't take it well."

"And does she know you changed your mind?"

"She does now. It's what I need to talk to her about," Mr Caulfield said as he stopped in front of one of the rooms.

"And you're going to explain things to her now?" Chloe asked, giving Mr. Caulfield a look of her own.

"No," he said simply.

"That's a fucking dumb thing to do dude," Chloe said.

"She's through there," he said, pointing at the door. "I'll be back. Don't touch anything," he said and started walking back the way they'd come from.

"Just tell her!" Chloe called after him. If he heard her he gave no sign.

It took Chloe eighteen minutes to open the door. Not that she was counting.

It seemed ridiculous to doubt at this point, all the evidence was lining up, but some part of Chloe was terrified at what she'd see on the other side of this door. What if she walked in there and it wasn't her Max? What if she really was crazy?

Finally Chloe grit her teeth and pulled open the door.

She was frailer than the Max Chloe knew. She wasn't exactly skin and bones, but that's about all Chloe could say.

As Chloe walked to the edge of the bed she could see her hair was longer. Max had always kept it above her shoulder, but this girl's hair settled down below her collar bone. She looked peaceful, laying there, more peaceful than Chloe could ever remember her. Max always had a serious side to her. Now Chloe knew why. Chloe couldn't imagine living every moment knowing exactly when you were going to die.

Chloe shoved the thought away as she stared down at Max. She wasn't going to die, she was right here. A real, living, breathing human being. And that's the way Chloe was going to keep her.

Chloe's hand reached out towards Max, hesitant and shaky.

"...oh this is beyond creepy, let's not touch the non-responsive and in no way consenting sleeping person," Chloe muttered, but her hand continued to inch forward. She stopped just centimeters from Max's face. Her heart hammered in her chest. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this terrified, even the Dark Room hadn't been this bad. She couldn't even say what she was scared of.

She swallowed and reached forward. Her finger lightly graced Max's forehead as she brushed her hair to the side, tucking it behind her ear. It was soft and warm and Chloe realized with a start that this was the first time she'd ever touched Max's ear. And she could do it again, any time she wanted.

Except she wouldn't, because, again, not a consenting human being. But she stood there a moment, her finger just barely touching Max, afraid to break the contact.

Chloe had no idea how long she stood like that. I could have been moments, it could have been half an hour. Eventually, though, it ended.

"It's so hard, fighting alone, feeling like the rest of the world doesn't care anymore ," a voice said from behind Chloe, causing her to jerk back. She turned towards the door and eyed the women standing there, her hearting beating so fast she couldn't even keep track of it. For her part the women didn't even glance at her, her eyes were on Max "I'm so tired of fighting, I'm just so tired…" The women continued, more to herself then anything.

"And then some blue-haired teenage girl comes out of nowhere and convinces my husband to change his mind after one conversation…" The women paused and Chloe expected her to turn towards her. But she didn't. She just kept staring at her daughter by the edge of the room. Finally, after Chloe couldn't take the silence anymore, she opened her mouth.

"Your daughter isn't alone Mrs. Caulfield. She won't be, ever," she said, the words pouring out of her. Finally Mrs. Caulfield glanced towards her. To Chloe she looked worn out. It went beyond the bags under her eyes, it was a blankness in the way her face set, as if all emotion had been drained out of her.

"I hope you're right," she said quietly. And then she turned and walked away.

"I told my wife the news," Mr. Caulfield said as way of greeting when he entered the hospital room a few minutes later. Chloe sat in the chair against the opposite wall, facing Max. She didn't dare walk up to her again. All of her willpower had been used up and spent. All she wanted was to run her hand through Max's hair till the day she died. But she also didn't want Mr. Caulfield to kick her out of the hospital for groping her daughter, so sacrifices had to be made.

"I know, she stopped by," Chloe said dryly.

"Then you probably know how that went," he said as he walked into the room. He didn't glance at Max at all, just looked down at his hands.

"You could, I don't know, try actually telling her the truth. Lord knows you'll have some evidence soon," Chloe said darkly. Mr. Caulfield shook his head.

"No, no, she's already been through enough. I don't want to...when we get Max back she can start to heal, move on from all of this." Chloe eyed him.

"I think I know where she gets it," Chloe said with a sigh.

"What?" Mr. Caulfield asked, looking over at her in confusion.

"You tried bottling up all that guilt the first time and it sounds like it's almost cost you your marriage. What the hell do you think is going to happen the second time? Maybe try talking to the person you supposedly love," Chloe said with more venom than he probably deserved from her.

"I do love her," Mr. Caulfield said quietly. "Which is why I want to keep this from her. I can't do this to her, make her feel this way. "

"Tough shit, that's life," Chloe said.

"Excuse me?" Mr. Caulfield said, his voice lowering as he leveled a look at Chloe that reminded her way too much of David. Part of her was alarmed at what she was about to do. Yelling at Max's Dad didn't seem like a good long term investment. But another part of her, a larger part of her, was tired and frustrated and scared to death and was fucking tired of Caulfields making stupid ass decisions. Chloe stood up.

"It's a marriage. For better or for worse right? What did you think that meant? For better or for slightly less than better?"

"You're an expert on marriage now are you?" Mr. Caulfield growled. "Life isn't perfect Chloe, and neither is love."

"It's not going to be if you don't fucking try! If you love someone then you help them through their shit. And if they love you then they help you through yours. That's the point of a relationship, so you have someone to help you through the bullshit and be there to listen to you complain. That's it."

"It's more complicated then…" Mr. Caulfield began, but then Chloe moved forward, getting in his face.

"Fuck that! That's all you hear when you're a kid. It's complicated. It's fucking complicated. No it's not!" Chloe held her ground, weathering Mr. Caulfield's glare and returning one of her own. Chloe wasn't good at a lot, but glaring, that was one thing she excelled at.

Mr. Caulfield blinked and then looked down. He exhaled heavily before looking back up.

"I don't want to hurt her. You can understand that," he said.

"You already are," Chloe said back as she folded her arms in front of her. For a moment Mr. Caulfield stared at her. Then all of a sudden he started laughing.

"What the hell dude?" Chloe asked, at a complete loss.

"You're annoying you know that?" Mr. Caulfield said as his laughter calmed down.

"Some people would agree with you," Chloe said warily.

"Good, don't change," Mr. Caulfield said as he started for the door.

"Where are you going?" Chloe asked.

"To find my wife. It seems we still have some things to talk about." Chloe blinked in surprise. Did she just win? Since when did that happen?

"Oh, Mr. Caulfield!" Chloe called out as he opened the door.

"What?" He asked.

"Don't forget to mention the tornado. She probably won't believe you, but when that sucker levels Arcadia Bay she'll have to listen." Mr. Caulfield paused by the door.

"That's really happening?" He asked. Chloe nodded.

"Max wasn't lying." For the first time Mr. Caulfield glanced over at his daughter, a frown forming on his face.

"You're going to have to sit down and tell me the full story."

"I'll try, but I barely understand it. Go find your wife."

Chloe 5:30pm 10-11-13

Rach, u still in Arcadia?

Rachel

I'm on my way to Portland. Got Kate and a carload of Blackwell students who don't have rides.

Chloe

Fucking tell me next time!

Rachel

Awwww, worried about me

Chloe

Of course I was

Rachel

How's Max?

Chloe

No change.

Rachel

I stayed as long as I could. Tried to convince people who were still there.

Chloe

You did amazing Rachel. I knew you would.

Rachel

There's still so many left…

Chloe

They'll leave Rachel. They'd be an idiot not to.

Mr. Caulfield looked up at the clock as the time clicked down. Beside him Mrs. Caulfield held on to his arm.

"Is it happening?" He asked. He'd seen her checking her phone constantly for the past half hour, but he hadn't commented on it yet. Apparently he couldn't hold back anymore.

"It is."

"Is it bad?"

"...it is," Chloe said. She put her phone away.

Chloe 9:30pm 10-11-13

Fuck Rachel, I never asked. Did your parents leave?

Rachel

No fucking clue. I blocked their number

Chloe

are you okay?

Rachel

It's like you said Chloe, we did what we could. Either they believe me and I'll see them again some day, or they didn't.

I got bigger things to worry about

Like how to get these high schoolers the fuck out of my apartment.

Chloe was talking with Joyce in the food court when she saw Mr. Caulfield running towards them. Five days had gone by. Nothing had changed in Max's condition. None of them were admitting it yet, but there was a tension in the air that was building constantly between them. It had been Joyce who had suggested eating in the food court today, to get some air. Chloe hadn't left Max's room since Friday.

Chloe watched, stunned, as Mr. Caulfield approached. It seemed one way or another that tension was over.

"She's awake," Mr. Caulfield said as he reached the table, his eyes world's away.

"She's awake!?" Chloe yelled, jumping to her feet. Beside her Joyce stood as well. Chloe turned toward her. "She's awake," she said to her mom as if she hadn't just heard. Joyce smiled, tears coming to her eyes.

"She's awake," Joyce agreed and then Chloe pulled her into a hug, squeezing her hard.

"She can't...uhhh…" Mr. Caulfield continued, a smile on his face as he watched the two of them. "She can't...talk really. Or do anything. Her muscles are too weak even if she wanted to do something so we aren't sure how much of her is there, but she's awake."

"She's awake," Chloe said with a smile of her own. Then she pulled Mr. Caulfield into a hug.

"Would it be okay if I went in by myself?" Chloe asked as they reached the door. Mr. Caulfield hesitated, but then nodded. Chloe slapped him on the back.

"Thanks man." Mr. Caulfield cracked a smile.

"Least I could do."

Chloe pushed the door open slowly and then walked in. Nerves flared up inside her. Her palms instantly started to sweat and Chloe rubbed them on her jeans as she tried to look around the room as nonchalantly as possible.

All her cool evaporated as she locked eyes with the girl sitting in the bed.

She didn't expect that for some reason. She thought Max would be lying down still, maybe staring blankly at the ceiling. Instead she was staring at her.

"H-hi," Chloe blurted out. Max blinked, but otherwise didn't react. She still looked frail. Chloe suddenly felt ten years older than her.

"Max?" Chloe asked as she walked towards the bed. Max's eyes didn't follow her and she gave no indication that she knew Chloe was there.

"Do you...do you know who I am? It's Chloe," Chloe said as she reached Max's bed. No response. Chloe didn't know why she expected her too, she hadn't responded yet. Chloe guessed, despite everything, she really had thought she'd find her old best friend here.

"Right…" Chloe said, trying not to sound disappointed. "Well hey, I should, uh, let your dad in and…" Chloe managed to get out as tears starting forming in her eyes. She turned, ashamed at her own weakness, but as she started to walk away she felt a small hand take hold of her arm. It wasn't a strong grip, the hand was more laying on top of Chloe's arm than actually holding it, but the touch sent a jolt clear up to Chloe's ears.

She turned, her eyes widening as they met Max's again. Max didn't say anything, just stared at her blankly.

"Don't worry," Chloe said softly. "I'm not going. Never Max. I'm right here."

Chloe 2:13pm 10-18-18

She's awake Rachel

Rachel

Holy Fuck! Does she remember? Is she still mad?

Chloe

She's...unresponsive. She's got her eyes open but that's about it

Rachel

So are we not celebrating then? She's going to get better right?

Chloe

The doctors don't know. They don't know anything really. We're all just waiting.

Rachel

She'll pull through

Chloe

Of course she will.

Chloe, Max is asking for you.

Chloe read the text. She read it three more times before her brain let her believe it. For the past three days Chloe had been with Max, and while everything physically seemed to be progressing well, mentally there had been no headway.

She what?

Chloe typed quickly as she stood up in the bathroom stall. In moments the reply followed.

She wrote it on a piece of paper. Where's Chloe? Now we can't get anything else from her. Get your butt back here now!

As soon as its clean!

They were looking at her when she walked into the room. Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield. Three doctors. And Max.

Max's eyes relaxed as they found her. She didn't smile, but Chloe recognized the look of contentment on her face. Chloe glanced at everyone else, but they weren't much help. They looked as unsure as Chloe.

Chloe walked forward, coming to Max's bed again. There was a pad of paper sitting in Max's lap. She could see the crudely written "Where's Chloe?" scribbled on it. She looked back to Max.

"Do you know who I am Max?" She asked. Max looked at her. Then, slowly, she shook her head.

"You don't?" Chloe asked again, confused. Again Max shook her head.

"Okay, that's okay. Thanks for answering Max," Chloe said. Max scrunched her eyes and then tapped on her notebook. Chloe glanced down at it as Max started writing.

When I look at you I feel really sad. But also happy? Or. I don't understand. Chloe laughed as the girl finished writing. Laughed harder than she had in over a month. She curled up and laughed until all the emotions bottled up inside her came leaking out, warm tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

Again she felt the warm hand take hold of her arm. Chloe looked up to see Max watching her with a concerned expression on her face.

"I don't either Max, not one bit," Chloe said as she wiped her eyes. "But I'd like to figure it out."

Rachel 9:14am 10-22-13

Kate went home today. I'm actually going to miss her. It feels weird going to bed and not hearing her praying from the other room. It was kinda calming.

Chloe

Told you she's cool.

Rachel

How's Max? Is she writing more?

Chloe

Very rarely. Most of the time it's like no one's home, but then sometimes the light turns on and she's there again.

Rachel

You think it's your Max in there?

Chloe

I don't know Rachel. It's like she recognizes me but she doesn't remember me if that makes sense.

Rachel

It doesn't but that seems to be the new norm.

When Mrs. Caulfield entered the room Chloe was tangled in the sheets with Max. It sounded worse than it was. Max just slept better if Chloe was nearby. Sometimes she wanted to touch her and would get agitated if she couldn't, almost like if she couldn't touch Chloe she was afraid Chloe would disappear. It was a feeling Chloe very much understood. It didn't make it any less awkward though.

Mrs. Caulfield glanced at the two of them but didn't say anything further. She walked up and looked down at Max as she lay cradled against Chloe.

"You know, I haven't been a mother for over ten years," she said quietly. Chloe had no idea how to respond to that one. She'd never been a mother, let alone the rest of it. Instead of answering Chloe decided to keep quiet, which seemed the correct choice because Mrs. Caulfield quickly started talking again.

"We'd only ever planned to have one child. And after...what happened with Max, we kept hoping she'd recover. We kept hoping, and by the time we lost hope we just...another child felt like we were admitting Max was gone. I'd given up ever being a mother again. A real mother anyway." She paused as she looked up at Chloe. She made eye contact with her, which terrified Chloe. This was completely out of her depth. "What do I do now?" Mrs. Caulfield asked. She waited a moment, but when Chloe was too petrified to answer she smiled and looked away.

"Sorry, I shouldn't lay that on you."

"It's okay, I know what it feels like to be out of your depth," Chloe said before she released how rude that sounded. "I mean, I don't think you're…" She quickly corrected, but Mrs. Caulfield started laughing.

"It's okay, you're completely right. I am out of my depth. It's almost a relief to admit it," she said as she reached out a hand. She brushed it through Max's hair with a small smile on her face.

"Did she look like this, the Max you knew?" Mrs. Caulfield asked suddenly. The question brought all of Chloe's other thoughts to a crashing halt.

"He told you?" She asked. She'd thought he had, but Chloe had never asked. She'd been too preoccupied. Mrs. Caulfield nodded. "And you believed him?"

"I have no idea. I've been numb for so long it doesn't register really. It might sound terrible, but I don't care. I really don't. I have my daughter back. That's all that matters." Chloe nodded. That was something she could easily relate to.

"She looked pretty similar," Chloe said. "She was a little less skinny. Though honestly she's always been a bit of a bean pole." Not that I can talk. Chloe thought bitterly. "Her hair was shorter, that's probably the biggest difference. She had it above her shoulders the last time I saw her."

"Above her shoulders huh?" Mrs. Caulfield asked as she ran a hand through Max's hair slowly. "I always liked her ponytail."

"Maybe that's why she cut it," Chloe said with a laugh. Mrs. Caulfield frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing. It's just...sometimes teenagers are assholes. It's our nature." Mrs. Caulfield continued to frown. Then, suddenly, she burst out laughing.

"I suppose that's true. I'm the mom of a teenager now."

"Good luck," Chloe said with a smirk. Mrs. Caulfield smiled back before frowning at Chloe.

"Did she have as, uh, colorfully interesting hair as you?" Chloe quirked an eyebrow.

"Nice save," Chloe said. "No worries, your daughter had perfectly normal, boring, beautiful brown hair."

"Oh thank God."

"We're leaving the hospital tomorrow," Mr. Caulfield said as he entered the room. He didn't even bat an eye at Chloe resting in Max's bed.

"Oh," Chloe said, trying to think about what that meant. She hadn't really thought about what would come next. She disentangled herself from Max, careful not to wake the girl. "Does that mean Max is getting better?"

"Yes. She doesn't need help breathing and she's capable of feeding herself. Her condition isn't serious. It's time for her to move into a rehab center," Mr. Caulfield said. Chloe rolled that info around in her mind.

"She's not going home?" Chloe asked.

"Not yet. She's going to need a lot of physical therapy. It'll be easier on everyone, including Max, if she stays at the center at first. At least until she can move around in a wheelchair," Mr. Caulfield said.

"A wheelchair?"

"Her muscles are really weak Chloe. I've done my best over the years to keep her muscles stimulated, but there's only so much I can do. She's got a long road ahead of her," he said.

"She'll make it," Chloe said firmly. Mr. Caulfield nodded.

"I know she will. So I'm getting all the arrangements set. She'll be moving in tomorrow afternoon."

"Right," Chloe said, trying not to sound upset. Here at the hospital she could see Max all the time. She thought she'd be here for everything, until they took her home. She really should have done more research.

"Look Chloe, I'm pretty sure the staff at the rehab center isn't going to let you sleep in the room and steal all their food, but I'll make sure you're on the approved guest list. You'll be able to come and go as you please," Mr. Caulfield said, giving her a reassuring pat.

"Thank you Mr. Caulfield! Seriously, thank so much," Chloe said, sitting up in excitement.

"Don't thank me Chloe. You've more than earned it. Plus," he said with a glance towards his daughter. "Max seems pretty attached."

Mom 7:33am 10-25-13

We have a new hotel room. Insurance is covering for it for now.

Chloe

Is it any bigger?

Mom

A little.

Chloe

That sounds promising. I think I'll sleep in the truck.

Mom

You will not. If nothing else, consider the smell. You'd kill the poor girl.

Chloe

I do not stink. I have a healthy musk.

Mom

I know you don't believe that. How's Max adjusting to the center?

Chloe

Seems to be doing okay. She's doing well at the therapy. Better than I would at least. They're pretty much dictating her whole day.

Mom

Its for her own good Has she said anything yet?

Chloe

No. She's starting to write more though.

Mom

She'll get to it.

"Hey Chloe," Chloe heard a soft, hoarse voice say behind her. Chloe choked on her coffee and then spilled it all over her lap as she wiped around. From her position seated at the foot of the bed she looked up at where Max was sitting. The girl smiled down at her.

"Max?!" Chloe said as she quickly got to her feet.

"Yeah," Max said simply as she watched Chloe stumble her way to her.

"You're talking?! Dude, you're talking!" Chloe said as she grabbed Max and pulled her into a hug.

"Too hard, let me breath," Max gasped out with a small laugh.

"Fuck man, you have no idea how good it is to hear your voice again," Chloe said as she let Max go. Max smiled weakly.

"Sorry," Max said as she looked down at her hands resting on her blanket. Chloe reached out and took one of them, causing Max to look over at her again. Max's face flushed as they made eye contact, but Chloe stared hard at her, forcing Max to stare back.

"Say sorry again and I'll pull you out of this bed and beat your ass myself," Chloe said, her face deeply serious.

"O-okay," Max said, her eyes widening slightly.

"Good," Chloe said with a nod. She stood up so she wasn't as close to Max anymore, though she didn't let go of her hand. Max glanced down at it and then back up at Chloe.

"Thanks Chloe," she said.

"No need to thank me dork, that's what best friends are for," Chloe said with a shrug. Max paused a moment, her eyes dropping away from Chloe.

"Are we?" Max asked quietly.

"Best friends?" Chloe asked. She leaned forward and flicked the girl hard on her freckled nose. "Of course we are Max." Max rubbed her nose thoughtfully.

"Even if...I don't remember anything?"

"Dude, we're best friends. No matter what. It's a fucking cosmic fact Max. Doesn't matter what happens, it's you and me," Chloe said as she sat down on the bed beside Max.

"Thanks," Max said.

"You don't need to…" Chloe began, but let it drop. "So, what do you remember? No pressure, just trying to understand," Chloe said as she looked over at Max.

"Not much. It's like...someone shoved cotton balls inside my brain. Everything is so fuzzy. It makes it hard to think."

"Then don't," Chloe said as she settled down beside Max. "Don't worry Max. Just concentrate on recovering and we'll make the rest up as we go." Max nodded slightly and then leaned against Chloe, settling into her. Chloe blushed slightly, but quickly adjusted herself so Max would be more comfortable.

"I know there's this whole...history between us. I can feel it. I look at you and I know you're important. But I don't know why," Max said quietly beside Chloe's head.

"I don't know all of it either Max. It doesn't matter. We're here now. We'll make some new history, and it'll blow that old dumb history out of the water." Max nodded and curled into Chloe's chest.

"Sorry, hard to talk," Max mumbled.

"Y-yeah, no worries. Doctors said your throat would be weak. Don't push yourself," Chloe said as she tried to ignore the feelings Max was causing to bubble up.

"I like this," Max said quietly as her eyes closed.

"Me too Max. Me too."

Chloe 10:53am 11-5-13

How's it going Kate?

Kate

Good. As good as it can at least. Mom's trying. And they got me into therapy with my old priest.

Chloe

Yeah? How's that going?

Kate

Well actually. It's helping get some perspective on things.

Chloe

I understand that. Hey, if you ever need rescued you just let me know. Have truck will travel.

Kate

Rachel said the same thing. Thanks. It's really nice having someone looking out for me.

I've never had that before.

Chloe

Anytime Kate.

"How's your hotel room holding up? Must be unpleasant cramming all three of you in there," Mr. Caulfield said.

"You have no idea," Chloe muttered under her breath, earning a elbow from Max.

"We're making due just fine, thank you for asking. Our house never was very big. We'll manage," Joyce said with a smile.

"Manage to almost choke to death on David's rancid socks," Chloe whispered, causing Max to burst out laughing.

"Sorry," Max said, turning red as the whole room turned towards her. "It's Chloe's fault," she said quickly.

"I'm sure it is," Joyce said with a smile.

"Is your house...do you think you'll be going back?" Mrs. Caulfield asked.

"No. Arcadia Bay was already on its last legs. This tornado...even if they rebuild it it won't be Arcadia Bay," Joyce said sadly.

"I'm sure the Prescotts will see to that," David muttered darkly.

"Now there's a name I haven't heard in awhile. Hard to forget that one," Mr. Caulfield said.

"Actually, I have an interview tomorrow," Joyce said with a nod to Mr. Caulfield.

"Oh, so you're thinking of settling in Seattle then?" Mrs. Caulfield asked, sounding surprised.

"Seems as good a place as any, especially with Chloe having to start school next year," Joyce said.

"Are you starting college?" Mrs. Caulfield asked Chloe.

"Nope, high school. Third time's the charm," Chloe said with a forced smile. The very thought of starting high school yet again was enough to murder any good mood.

"School trouble?" Mr. Caulfield asked.

"She…" Joyce began.

"It's okay Mom. I had a complete breakdown my sophomore year of high school. Had to take a break. I wasn't handling my dad being dead or Max disappearing or David..." Chloe glanced at David. "No offense," she said to him. "Being around very well. That's what therapy's for right?"

"Max disappearing?" Max asked. Chloe ran through a stream of cuss words in her mind. Fuck she needed to think things out. Every eye in the room turned from Max and then back to her.

"It was...my...imaginary friend Max," Chloe said.

"Imaginary friend?" Max asked, staring at her. A thousand possibilities ran through her head, but there was really only one thing she could do.

"It was you Max. Kind of. You've been my imaginary friend for years, ever since you got in that coma. That's how I know you. I think it's why you kind of know me. Some part of you remembers I think," Chloe said. Max scrunched her eyebrows as her eyes bored into Chloe's.

"Chloe, Max isn't…" David began, but was swiftly interrupted by Mr. Caulfield.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm about ready to call it a night," Mr. Caulfield said.

"That sounds like a good idea. Are you coming home with us Chloe?" Joyce asked.

"No, Max and me were going to have a movie night," Chloe said without turning away from Max. "That is, if you're still up for it?" Chloe asked. Max blinked a couple times, the question seeming to catch her off guard.

"Of course," Max said.

"Well...don't overstay your welcome," Joyce said as she made her way towards the door.

"Okay, I'll go score some vending machine popcorn. I'll be right back Max, okay?" Chloe asked as she stood up.

"Don't be long," Max said absently as her eyes lost their focus.

"No worries," Chloe said slowly, already not heeding her own advice.

"Come on Chloe, I could use a coke before I head out. I'll meet you in the car honey," Mr. Caulfield said to his wife.

The two walked in silence all the way to the vending machine. Chloe, lost in thought, barely noticed. She was far too worried about the conversation she was almost certainly about to have. How was she even going to remotely explain things to Max? And how was Max ever going to believe her? She'd wanted to wait a bit longer, until Max was doing better but she just had to open her stupid mouth.

When they reached the machine Chloe fumbled in her pockets for a couple bucks, the last of her pocket money. That was going to be a problem real soon. One she was definitely going to worry about another night.

She bought a couple cokes and a bag of popcorn, then almost jumped in surprise as Mr. Caulfield moved forward to use the vending machine himself. She'd forgotten he was still there.

"You're good for her you know," Mr. Caulfield said as he reached down and grabbed his own drink out of the machine.

"Huh?" Chloe asked.

"Max. She tries harder when you're around," he said as he straightened up and popped his coke open. "She talks more, moves more, thinks more. I think being with you is her main motivation for getting through all this."

"She's amazing on her own, doesn't need me," Chloe said, not sure how to react. She wasn't used to people praising her.

"I wouldn't sell yourself short," Mr. Caulfield said matter-of-factly. "You drove across the state and saved her life. I'd call that pretty amazing."

"I've always been good at arguing," Chloe said with a shrug. Mr. Caulfield smiled. He was doing that more now. Chloe was actually getting used to it.

They walked back down the hallway, sipping their cokes in peace before Mr. Caulfield paused suddenly.

"You must really like her, going through all this," he said, giving her a curious look.

"Of course, she's my best friend. That's what you do."

"I've had plenty of best friends in the past Chloe. I'm no expert, but when I look at the two of you I don't see best friends," Mr. Caulfield said before resuming his walk. Chloe stared at his back a moment in stunned silence. Then she ran to catch up with him.

"What the fuck does that mean?" She asked as she fell in step beside him.

"It means," he said without turning towards her. "Take good care of my daughter. Break her heart and I'm contractually obligated to hate you, no matter what you've done."

"Imaginary friend huh?" Max asked as she entered the room, still reeling from what Mr. Caulfield had said. Today seemed to be the day for conversations she didn't want to have.

"...yeah," Chloe said. She closed the door behind her and then turned around to lean against it. "I guess we've never really gotten into it have we?" Chloe asked as she looked down at the unopened bag of popcorn in her hand.

"I never really asked," Max said with a small reassuring smile. Chloe smiled back, relieved that Max wasn't freaking out or mad at her.

"The whole time you were in a coma, some part of you wasn't. And I don't mean like the normal 'Just Like Heaven' Hollywood kind of way. It...was a little more complicated than that," Chloe said as she walked over to Max's bed. She sat down on the edge of it, looking back at Max.

"So we grew up together?" Max asked.

"Pretty much, yeah. Well, I grew up with you and you grew up with me, but we didn't do much growing together I guess," Chloe said with a frown. "Sorry, like I said, complicated."

"So you keep saying," Max said. "Maybe you could try to explain it a little bit?" Chloe nodded.

"I'll try dude, but this goes beyond what I even understand," Chloe said as she ripped the plastic off the popcorn bag. "The Max I knew, the one that was my imaginary friend, she was a time traveler. But she did it by jumping into past versions of herself. She went back in time, into the six year old you, and got hit by that car. It changed the timeline into this one, and you got trapped here. Normally, I guess, after you change something you zoom back to the present day. But that didn't happen this time. You stayed her as like a ghost or something, until the timeline caught up. And now it has, which is why you woke up I think. I think you were supposed to get all your memories back, but the coma kinda screwed that one up, at least for now. That's...the straight of it," Chloe said as she stood up.

"How'd I get time travel powers? Why'd I go back to in time to when I was six? And why did I get hit by a car?" Max asked as Chloe opened up Max's microwave.

"All that's my fault. You got time powers when you saw me get shot. You used them to save my life but the universe didn't like that much and threw a hissy fit. Then you went back in time to try to fix everything and keep me from dying," Chloe said as she punched in the numbers and started the microwave. She turned to look at Max. The girl was silently contemplating her navel. Chloe waited. Behind her the microwave dinged. "Max?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah," Max said, looking up. "Sorry."

"No need for sorry Max," Chloe said. "What are you thinking? Are you actually buying all this? I know it makes next to no sense."

"Yes," Max said. "It's just…" Max continued, looking down again. "It doesn't seem...surprising. Any of it. It's like, I know you're telling the truth because it all seems familiar but...when I try to come up with the details on my own my mind draws a huge blank."

"That's...got to be hella weird," Chloe said.

"Majorly. And I want to know, I want to understand, but some part of me is terrified. Just listening to you talk about it makes my whole heart squeeze up and I feel like I'm going to be sick and I don't know why." Chloe swallowed, her mouth going dry at the words. She remembered the last time she'd seen Max, the other Max, the empty look in her eyes. She'd give anything to never have to see that again.

"Then I'd suggest we say fuck it and watch a flick like we're supposed to be doing," Chloe said as chipperly as she could manage. She turned and pulled the microwave door open.

"You have to tell me Chloe, there's so much I don't remember. So much about us. I know it's important."

"No, what's important is what we're doing now. We have a fresh start, here and now. I say let's make the best of it," Chloe said. She pulled the popcorn bag open and the smell of butter and salt filled the room.

"It's not the same though. You still remember everything. There's whole conversations and experiences that are so important to you and I don't remember them. How is that fair to you?"

Chloe threw a kernel of popcorn at Max's nose.

"Honestly, most of it wasn't too different from this, shit talking and wasting time. Only now you can eat the popcorn with me. And the other stuff? I don't even know. I don't think Max...I don't think you liked talking about it much. I guess being a time traveler mostly sucked balls so…" Chloe shrugged and sat down on the bed beside Max. "I think it might have worked out for the best. Just don't forget who your best friend is and we've got this."

"Still, there's some stuff I can't help but feel sad about. Like your dad, I wish I remembered him," Max said as she moved over to make room for Chloe.

"You two would have got along," Chloe said. She paused a moment before pulling up the covers and crawling under them. "You two were so much alike. I think you guys must have met each other at some point, in whatever time Max came from. You always seemed really sad about Dad."

"But who am I now Chloe? I'm not that Max. I'm not...anybody. I mean, you talk like you know all this stuff about me, like what I like and how I act, but is that really me? What if I turn out nothing like her? What if...what if I'm not really the girl you're friends with?" Max asked, not looking at Chloe. Chloe almost wanted to laugh, but she knew that'd probably be too insensitive.

"Dude, everything about you right now is Max Caulfield. All your deep, useless questions. All your doubts. The way you look at your hands when you're nervous. The way you shrink into yourself when you're unsure and sad. You're you. Trust me, no one is a bigger expert than me." Max glanced over at her, her eyes filled with a mix of doubt and hope.

"How can you be sure? What if I change?"

"How come you want me around? Why was I the first person you talked to? I don't have all the answers Max. I don't know what the fuck is going on and I certainly don't know what's going to happen, but if there's one thing in this world I do understand it's you. You're still Max Caulfied. I'm still Chloe Price. And we fit together. That's all there is," Chloe said.

"But..."

"No buts, only movie," Chloe said as she picked up the remote. "Come on Max, or we won't have time to watch this. We have a shit ton of movies we need to catch you up on." Max frowned at her.

"I know what you're doing," she said.

"And you love it," Chloe said with a smirk. Max watched her, her eyes taking in every detail on her face.

"Yes I do," she said with a small smile. "Fine, start it up. Just feel fortunate you have such great taste in movies."

It wasn't till after the movie that Max brought it up again.

The movie had ended a while ago and Chloe was sure Max had fallen asleep. Chloe should have left by now. She'd fallen asleep in Max's room a couple of times and the nurses had kindly reminded her that it was a room meant for one. Chloe wasn't sure how many more kindly reminders she had, but she knew she shouldn't push it.

She hadn't left though. Max just seemed so comfortable and she didn't want to disturb her.

Plus she was feeling pretty comfortable herself.

She was almost asleep when Max spoke.

"Chloe," she said.

"Whats up Max?" Chloe asked with a yawn.

"Why did I get hit by a car?" She asked. Chloe's tiredness went away.

"What brought that on?" Chloe asked, trying to sound uninterested. It wasn't that she wanted to keep it from her, she knew she had to tell her eventually, she just didn't want to tell her now. That was future Chloe's problem.

"You never did say," Max said. Chloe sighed. She she sat up some and looked over at Max, but couldn't really make out her face in the darkness.

"It's a lot to take in all at once," Chloe said.

"It's okay Chloe. I, I don't think I can sleep until I know."

"You were trying to fix something," Chloe said after a moment.

"I did it to myself," Max said. It wasn't a question and she didn't sound surprised.

"You did," Chloe said.

"What happened to your hometown Chloe?" Max asked in the darkness. Chloe looked out towards the window.

"We did Max," she said simply. "You saved me and put the town in danger. I saved you and stopped you from fixing it." Max was quiet a moment, long enough Chloe started to wonder if she'd fallen asleep, but then she started to talk quietly.

"Sometimes, when I look at you, I get really sad. I've never understood it."

"There's nothing to be sad about Max."

"But...what I did…your town..."

"There's nothing Maximus. I meant what I said. This is a new start. All that stuff, who knows? It happened literally a world away, with another Max and another Chloe. We did what we had to do. The world tried to fuck us over and we didn't let it. That's not something to be sad about."

"But I feel like its...in me somewhere, that she's in me somewhere, just out of my reach. If I try a little harder…"

"Max, whether you remember or you don't, it doesn't change anything. It's the past. I'm more interested in the future."

"Chloe, I think I owe it to…" Chloe didn't let her finish. She reached out and pulled Max to her, burying her face in Max's hair. It was almost crazy, her best friend had a smell. She'd never known that.

"My whole life all I've ever wanted was to be able to hold you like this," Chloe said eventually, talking into Max's hair. "To be truly and deeply here for you, to take you places and be with you for every moment without fear. I wanted so badly for us to be real Max. Now that I have that the only thing I'm interested in is seeing where this goes." Against her Max shifted slightly. She moved in closer, settling in to Chloe.

"I'd like to too," Max said, her breath warm against Chloe's chest. "To...see where this goes." Chloe's eyes went wide. It was only after hearing Max say it that the phrase sounded important. Suddenly Max's closeness meant something different, something more. Chloe's instinct was to pull away.

Instead her arms wrapped around Max tighter, holding her firmly against her.

"I don't understand what's happened Max. I don't know exactly who you are or what you might become. That's life, people are constantly changing. But I do know what's important is this, right now. Fuck the rest, okay?"

"...okay," Max said. She sighed, relaxing against Chloe. "I think...I'll try Chloe."

"We both will Max."

"Yo," Chloe said as she walked into Max's room. Her friend was already out of bed sitting in her wheelchair reading a book. It brought a smile to Chloe's face. It seemed a small thing, but it was amazing how far Max had come in just a couple months.

"Chloe," Max said with a tiny bit of disapproval in her voice. "I told you not to come today. You've been here way too much! Go do something fun, you got to have something better to do than watch me hobble around an obstacle course."

"Actually...I don't. That's just a sad fact," Chloe said as she closed the door behind her. "I'm nineteen, I have no job, my high school is rubble, and I'm sleeping in a one room hotel with my mother and step-fuhrer. I'll take Maximus' day of hobbling over another lecture about my inability to put away dirty laundry any day."

"Gross Chloe."

"What's the floor even for if you can't throw your shirt on it?"

"Standing maybe?" Chloe snorted in disbelief as she walked over to Max.

"And besides," Chloe said as she leaned against Max's table. "Who would sneak you crappy hotel pancakes if I skipped on you?" Chloe asked as she dropped the napkin-covered plate of lukewarm pancakes on the table.

"How you eat this is beyond me," Chloe said as she glanced over to look at the book Max was reading. It looked like some kind of romance book from the cover.

"Do not make fun of my love of syrup. I can't help it if I have an addiction," Max said as she put her book down. She tore the napkins off and started adding the crappy prepackaged syrup. Chloe shook her head.

"Why I enable you I'll never understand."

"You do spoil me, that's a fact," Max said as she lifted her fork.

"Damn straight. And don't you forget it Max."

"Aye aye!" Max called as she shoved a bit into her mouth. "You know, I think my nurse knows. She's made some comments about the importance of a balanced breakfast a couple times."

"So that's why she keeps giving me dirty looks! I was starting to think her face just always looked like that."

"Someday I'll have to try your Mom's pancakes since they're apparently so much better than this," Max said.

"The fact you can say that sarcastically makes me weep for your taste buds," Chloe said as Max finished her breakfast.

"Okay, help me up. I want to try walking across the room. I think I can almost can do it with some help," Max said after Chloe threw the plate away.

"Up you go Max," Chloe said as she grabbed Max's hands and helped to pull her forward onto her feet. She moved to pivot beside Max, but right as she did Max tumbled slightly. Chloe moved forward, catching Max and holding her against her so she wouldn't fall down.

"Take it easy Max, you're still getting…" Chloe cut off as Max suddenly grabbed her shirt tightly and looked up at her. Her face was different, softer somehow, as she stared up at Chloe with large blue eyes. Something about the closeness of her face and the press of her hand against Chloe's chest made Chloe feel extremely self conscious. She wanted to move back, get some space to clear her head, but she couldn't. Not unless she wanted Max to topple over.

She opened her mouth to say something, anything to break this sudden tension, when Max pushed forward. She had just enough time to close her lips before Max kissed her for the second time.

Chloe's eyes widened as her body stiffened. The reaction caused Max to pull back, the soft warmth of her lips retreating before Chloe even got the chance to appreciate it. Chloe looked down at Max and suddenly realized Max was standing on her own. For a moment, then she was falling.

Max's face went from worry to pure panic as she fell. Chloe reached out and grabbed her. It was too late to stop the fall, Max had way too much momentum, but she could at least stop her from cracking her head on the desk.

Chloe threw herself to the side, keeping hold of Max. She easily tugged the smaller girl in her direction.

Slamming into the floor of Max's room hurt. Max landing on her directly afterward didn't feel much better.

"Damn Caulfield, why did I feed you pancakes every morning? I think you bruised my ribs," Chloe said with a groan.

"Chloe!" Max said as she rolled off on to the ground beside her. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Shit, did I break anything? Let me call a nurse. NUmmrgl," Max cut off as Chloe held her hand over Max's mouth.

"Just a joke dude, calm down," Chloe said with a laugh. A laugh that ended with a wince. She let go of Max's mouth and laid back down on the ground. Truth be told, she was hardly thinking about her ribs, her mind was too busy replaying the events that led up to her fall in endless repeat. After an awkward moment of silence Chloe turned her head to look at Max.

The girl was still laying beside her. Her face was a dark shade of red and the look of worry had returned to her face.

"Max…" Chloe began.

"I'm so sorry Chloe, just forget about everything okay. Just forget that I...I'm still really confused. My feelings for you are just really strong and sometimes they're so overwhelming and I get these thoughts in my head and I'm not sure where they're coming from, but I don't want you to think, I mean you're my best friend Chloe and I don't want to…"

"Max," Chloe said again, interrupting the girl. Max quieted down and looked at her. She looked so scared. It made Chloe want to scoop her up and never let her go. "Look Max, you are still confused. We're still working a lot of stuff out."

"Right, I understand, don't worry…"

"You're not understanding me. I'm not complaining that you kissed me, not at fucking all. You hella surprised me, sure, maybe give a girl some warning next time," Chloe said with a smile. Max's eyes perked as she looked up at Chloe's face.

"You mean…"

"I mean, I understand how you feel. I got...hella feelings for you too dork. But, what's most important to me is you. So I don't want you to rush into something you don't understand yet."

"What if…" Max said, her voice just slightly breathless which really wasn't fair because Chloe was trying her best to be the responsible one here. "What if I feel really sure. What if you make me so happy and just the sight of you fills me with so much comfort and anxiety its like my whole body is vibrating when you're around me. What if I don't understand these feelings, but I understand how I feel and I can't see that going away. What if all I want to do is kiss you again?"

Chloe's mouth dried as she watched Max's face. If someone else had said that, if Rachel had said that, Chloe would have assumed it was a tease, a ploy to break down Chloe's defenses. But looking at Max's face, Chloe knew it wasn't. She was being honest.

In answer Chloe reached forward and put a hand on Max's check. She gently cupped Max's face, pulling her forward until their lips touched again.

For the first time Chloe actually kissed Max back. Her lips pressed and urged Max to kiss back. Max's own hand came up, warm against Chloe's check as they both turned and pressed against each other. Chloe reached her hand back, running through Max's hair, as she pulled her into a deeper kiss. It felt like over a decade of separation was being made up for in this one moment. Chloe suddenly worried it would be too much, but Max's hand shot up, grabbing on to the back of Chloe's jacket as she pulled against Chloe just as hard. The taste of syrup filled Chloe's mouth. Which was when the door opened.

"Miss is anything…" Chloe shot away from Max just as quick as Max rolled away from her.

"Uh, everything's all right," Max said breathlessly as her face flushed. "Just fell over by accident, nothing to…"
"Of course! I'll just...step out. Sorry for the, the intrusion," the nurse said as she fumbled with the door and quickly made her retreat. Max looked over at Chloe and the two...well best friends probably didn't cover it anymore...stared at each other.

"I don't think her opinion of you is going to improve much," Max said finally. Laughter erupted out of Chloe, and just like that the tension passed as the two girls laughed together.

Chloe rolled back over to Max as the laughter died down and Max quieted as Chloe reentered her personal space.

"Okay Max. You win. But let me get one thing straight. This goes slow. Like molasses slow. Like Catholics would get frustrated with how slow we're going slow."

"Really?" Max asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"Really," Chloe said firmly.

"So that kiss was slow?" Chloe glared at her.

"That was a preview. You're welcome. From here on out you get nothing but chaste pecks from me Caulfield!"

"Really?" Max asked, her eyes dancing with mischief.

"No, don't even think about it Maxipad, you keep…" Chloe started, but Max rolled on top of her without a moment's hesitation. "Dirty tricks!" Chloe called out as she disappeared beneath Max.

"Well dude, the last prison walk. After tonight you go home," Chloe said as she pushed the wheelchair across the lawn of the rehad center.

"Oh yeah, and by go home they mean sleep in my own bed, but I still have physical therapy here practically every day," Max said, her voice still soft as the breeze. Weeks later, and it was still the sweetest sound Chloe had ever heard. And it probably always would be.

"Granted, but six more months and then you get to go back to school! Yay for new prisons!" Chloe said.

"School…does not sound fun," Max said with a sigh.

"Hey, just two years. You tested into your junior year, not bad for someone who hasn't gone to school since elementary. Frankly, I don't think you have a right to complain. That's like, what, four years of school total?"

"If only I had tested a little better…" Max said mournfully.

"Hey, they're already calling you a medical miracle. Do too well and they'd think you just faked that whole coma thing."

"I almost wish Dad hadn't turned down all those interviews. How much do you think Ellen would have paid? Maybe I could have skipped school and gone straight to retirement."

"Oh no dude, no way I'm going back to high school without dragging your ass with me. I'm gonna be fucking twenty Max. In high school. I'm not living that shame without you." Max laughed as Chloe pushed her farther down the lawn towards the line of trees that marked the edge of the property. Beyond the trees the sun was setting against the tall buildings that marked downtown Seattle.

"I think it drives them crazy you know," Max said as she watched the sunset.

"What does?" Chloe asked.

"That they can't explain any of it. Every doctor has their own theory, but I can tell none of them actually believe it."

"Well I can't really blame them. Time traveling and mind swapping aren't really in their area of expertise. Or anyone's really," Chloe said as they stopped at their usual spot. Ever since Max could go outside they'd been watching the sunset together here.

"I'm not even sure I believe it," Max said suddenly.

"Well thanks for the vote of confidence dude," Chloe said as if she was offended.

"No, it's not like that," Max said quickly, giving Chloe a reassuring squeeze on her hand. "Its just...I can't imagine how I did it."

"By being a badass idiot," Chloe said with a light smack to the back of Max's head. "I don't date down Max. So you have to be at least be as badass as me, and we know how badass I am." Max's face flushed red at the mention of dating which made Chloe smirk.

"Sometimes…I remember stuff, just a little," Max said.

"Yeah?" Chloe asked.

"Yeah. Like I'll wake up in a cold sweat after a nap and I'll be so scared for some reason. And I feel like I can almost remember why...but then its gone," Max said slowly, as if in a trance. Chloe couldn't help but notice the way her hands ran over her wrists. It was something she'd seen Imaginary Max do a few times but she'd never really thought about it. Now she did have thoughts about it. They weren't good thoughts. Not for the first time she wondered how much of Max's story she never got to hear.

"Maybe it's a good thing you don't remember this stuff," Chloe said, taking Max's hand in her own. It broke Max out of her thoughts and she looked up. "Let's focus on stuff that actually matters, like how fucking awesome this sunset is."

"It is pretty awesome," Max said with a laugh, watching the orange light color the face of her girlfriend.

"Oh that reminds me! I got something. Hold on a sec," Chloe said as she walked behind the wheelchair and started rummaging through their bag. She grabbed something and walked back around to Max, holding it behind her.

"What?" Max asked as Chloe smiled mischievously. She swung her hands around and revealed an old Polaroid camera and a pack of film. The sight of it sent a strong jolt of familiarity through Max. That seemed to happen a lot with Chloe.

"Do you like it? I mean, it's just an old camera my dad used to have. My mom grabbed it from my old room when she was leaving. I remember you used to stare at it a lot. You don't…"

"Chloe," Max said, interrupting her. She held her hands out. "It's beautiful." Chloe smiled and put the camera in her hands.

"I don't know how you work it so I hope you have some…" Chloe started, but Max was already opening the camera and loading the film. "Damn, that was quick."

"It just feels right," Max said happily as she whipped the camera around and snapped a picture of Chloe. "Like a couple other things in my life," Max said with a sly smile at Chloe.

"Yeah, well, those things cost a fortune so try taking pictures of things worthwhile," Chloe said with a shake of her head.

"What do you think I'm doing?" Max asked with a cock of her eyebrow. Then they scrunched in confusion as she looked past Chloe. "Is that her?" She asked. Chloe turned around and saw the long dirty blond hair flying in the breeze.

"Yeah that's her. I'll go grab her and bring her over. Don't move."

"Hilarious," Max said sarcastically as Chloe chuckled to herself.

"Rachel," Chloe said as she walked up to the girl.

"It's been awhile," Rachel said with a smile.

"We've talked on the phone countless times," Chloe said dismissively.

"It's not the same," Rachel said, her smile turning just a touch sad. But then it was gone just as quick as it came. "Well don't just stand there, take me to her."

"Only if you promise not to scream at her this time."

"Haha," Rachel said as they started towards Max.

"Still doesn't remember anything?" Rachel asked.

"Bits and pieces. Not a lot. The doctor says her brain isn't done rewiring itself so there's no telling what will happen. She may never remember. Or it could all come back tomorrow."

"Well that sounds fun," Rachel said.

"Honestly…I'd kinda be okay if none of it came back. I mean, yeah it sucks she doesn't remember all the childhood shit but...I don't know Rachel…there's a lot of stuff I hope she never remembers." Rachel nodded.

"Up to forty two the last time I checked," Rachel said. Chloe knew. She checked almost every day.

"That little shit, she's taking our picture!" Chloe said suddenly before racing over to Max. The girl was looking at the picture in her hand as Chloe and Rachel reached her. She looked up at them and turned the picture towards them with a smile.

"Rachel Amber, it's nice to finally meet you, I've heard a lot about you," Max said. Rachel took the picture and looked at it for a moment, her face a mask. Then she looked up at Max and held out her hand.

"Max Caulfield," Rachel said as Max took it. "It's a pleasure."

A/N:

Shooo...when I started this project I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. It just seemed like a fun idea and the first chapter practically wrote itself, the Imaginary Friend shtick just fit into Life is Strange so well. But honestly, I didn't really expect it to go anywhere and wasn't sure I'd take the time to flesh the whole plot out, but the response to the first chapter was so heartwarming I just knew I had to finish it. If any of you initial supporters are still out there, thank you so much. This story wouldn't have happened without you.

And to anyone who's made it to this point, thanks for reading my story. It means a lot someone would take the time to do that. I don't think this story was terribly complicated or that it was hard to guess how it would all end up, but I had a lot of fun writing it so I hope you had a little bit of fun reading it.

Stay hella my friends.