A/N: Before you continue, I'd like to forewarn you that this story moves at a rather slow pace. Like, very slow. So, if you're someone who doesn't enjoy reading stuff like that then this fic may not be for you. With that in mind, I completely understand if you wanna click the back button and go read something else. But, if you're interested and still might be here? Please! *Opens door for you*

Thanks for stopping by to check this out, it means a lot to me :) I love Life is Strange—as I'm sure you all do as well—but I was very unhappy with how many things went unanswered; and the ending, while emotional, I thought it was a bit of a let down. So I decided I wanted to change some of that. Now, this is going to be an AU, mainly because I'm extending the doom clock to about a month rather than five days for Character development purposes. I'm also adding some things to the world and story, such as: New events in Arcadia Bay, some history of the town, new characters, etc. Some of the deleted content the developers cut from the game will also be added. Backstories for the characters we all know and love will be included too, as they will be playing much bigger roles here!

I want to write the characters in the game as real as possible, so let me know if you have any complaints or anything. I really appreciate the feedback because it can help make this story much better :)

Now, this first chapter is mainly just to introduce the OC's a little bit. We'll be diving into the Game's story around the next chapter. The POV's for the story will vary between 5 to 7 characters, and maybe 1 or 2 others that only get one chapter for plot purposes.

Criticism is highly welcome (as long as it's constructive) as it can help me become a better writer :)

I do apologize if the writing in this chapter feels a little strange (pun intended). It was my first time attempting to write in the third person, but I assure you, it will flow better in later chapters.

*Disclaimer: I do not own Life is Strange or any of the characters/areas created within the game that are being used for this story.*

Anyway, I hope you enjoy, and sorry for rambling on!

Chapter 1: Prologue

~Ethan~

First day of school, Ethan Cole thought, first day in the town. He had just moved to Arcadia Bay from Florida the day before. He was exhausted from the trip and the time difference didn't make it any better. He would much rather wait a week to settle in before starting, but it's already October and his grandmother is convinced that he needs to catch up as soon as he can. What kind of school was Blackwell going to be? He wondered. He checked the time on his phone, declaring that it was only an hour and a half before school was to start. He'd find out soon enough.

He walks over to his window and opens it, deciding it was a beautiful enough day to do so. The scent of the ocean air filled the room through the open window, combining it with the flowery/spice smell of the house. If only it looked as good as it smelled. Well, his room anyway. Having just moved in, he hadn't had the chance to unpack everything, so boxes lie scattered over the floor. He could always rectify that once he gets back home. He leans against the window frame, taking in the sights of the small town.

The sun had always shined differently in Arcadia Bay. It was always brighter, in a washy sort of way. As if it illuminated the entire town to look like a dream sequence. The trees swayed with the calm wind and made noise as the leaves brushed against one another. That, coupled with the sound of the ocean, it almost seemed like he was listening to one of those audio tapes that help you go to sleep. That's one thing he enjoyed so far about Arcadia Bay: it seemed like nothing bad could ever happen here.

"Ethan, you ready to go?" His grandmother asks from outside his room.

This effectively breaks him from his trance and he closes the window. "Yeah, just about!" He replied. He grabs his bag and runs his fingers through his dark red hair before making his way out the door. When he steps out, he notices she's still in the bathroom putting on her make-up. "I'm ready," He calls out with an attempted smile. He didn't really want to go. He was dead tired, but as long as it made her happy, he would man up and push through it.

"Okay, just give me one second." She calls out from the bathroom.

Ethan leans on the counter noting the organization of the contents that laid on the top. She was always a clean freak, even when everything was spotless, there was never such a thing as too clean. Some papers were spread out in a line and Ethan took a peak. One was a flier for an election, based on a man named Sean Prescott, who was apparently running for mayor according to this...The second was about an Animal care center his grandmother was opening up in a few days. She was very well known around here, living here for a good 20 years already and even owning her own flower shop. It's called "Joann's" after her name.

She is such a good person at heart, I mean, flowers and animals? If she opens a bakery next, Nana would wind up being the 'true Grandmother of Arcadia Bay'.

Just as he finishes this thought, she saunters out of the bathroom and over to him, "You said you wanted to go somewhere for breakfast, right?" he asked, spinning in place.

"Oh my goodness, you look so handsome!" she comments before kissing him on his cheek. This causes Ethan to blush. His grandmother was always the type to show much affection for the ones she cares about. She's the only one he allows for to do it in public, otherwise, he just gets annoyed or embarrassed. "You're going to attract a lot of attention at school, I can already tell."

He shrugs, he wasn't exactly a big fan of being noticed...Not for a long time, anyway. "Nana, I'd hate to be an ass, but are we...?"

She waves her hand, "Oh, quit your whining. Yes, we're going to a Diner that's pretty popular in town. It's called the Two Whales and it has the best omelets, coffee, and burgers in town!" Her enthusiasm forms a smile on Ethan's face, she is so adorable. "Now, let me just grab my keys, and we'll be on our way." She walks over to the kitchen counter where the keys are hung. Taking them in her hands they both walk out of the house together.

As they step out, Ethan feels that chilled autumn breeze pass through. He always liked the Fall season. Wasn't too cold or hot, but just to the point where you could feel comfortable outside. He makes his way over to the passenger seat while his grandmother takes the wheel. With the roar of the engine, they pull out of the driveway and make their way over to the Two Whales.

For a good majority of the ride, the car is silent. Ethan was just watching as the houses go by like counting cards in a deck. He found it fascinating how almost every house or establishment that they passed by, waved at them. Or more specifically: his grandma. Apparently, everyone in town goes to her to buy flowers and to get advice. She's just one of those people you could talk to about anything, a trait which carried to both him and his sister (at least that's what his friends had told him).

The ride continues and they eventually go past her shop, "Good to see the business is still going strong," Ethan commented breaking the silence.

A smile spreads from cheek to cheek, "Indeed it is, especially with all the events going on this month, this could be the most busy we've been all year! It also helps that there aren't that many flower shops in the area."

"And now you have the Animal center opening in a couple of days." Ethan added.

"Oh yes! Very exciting, isn't it?" She answers with a light in her eyes. "Still have to find someone to help me take care of them though."

"Shouldn't be too hard," Ethan gestures outside the window, "I'm sure there's plenty of people that'd be willing to help you out."

Her smile becomes a little crooked, "Yes, yes, there have been many candidates. Most of whom I'd be willing to hire for small jobs, but not as important as for what I'm looking for."

Ethan raises an eyebrow, confused, "Well, what exactly are you looking for? I thought you just needed someone to manage the place."

She shakes her head, but still keeping her attention on the road, "Anyone can simply manage a shop—it's not a very difficult task to accomplish—but that's not all that I want from them." She explains, "What I'm looking for is a person who would actually care about these poor animals, enough that they'd be willing to do anything to keep them safe. To protect them."

Ethan snickers with a grin, "When you say it like that, it just sounds cheesy, Nana."

"What's wrong with a little cheesiness?"

"Well do you have a particular person in mind?"

She smiles lightly, "As a matter of fact, I do have one. Though most would disagree with my choice..."

Not that that's ever slowed her down. She's been doubted before in the past, and somehow she would consistently prove everyone wrong. From a long time ago, he knew better than to go against her, which was one of the things he admired about his grandmother. She was always right.

"That's never stopped you before, I'm sure you'll make the right decision." Ethan continues as he turns his head towards the glass, "I hope you get who you want."

She sighs, "Me too, dear..."

Nana puts the car on park and Ethan exits the vehicle. Once he does, he examines the area around him. They're in the parking lot of the Two Whales now which looked rather, uninviting...There were oil stains on the ground scattered through the parking lot and homeless people staying in other corners of the lot. He felt kind of bad for them, but they had to have done something to be in the situation they're in. Ethan believes that people have the right to make their own decisions, not by being forced through a belief system or by someone's intimidation. In that case, they would be getting manipulated into a decision, and it wouldn't really be theirs now would it?

Nana beckons him to follow her to the entrance of the diner and he does so. They pass by a man with a mustache, gruff, and old looking. He was stationed at a table just outside the entrance, passing out fliers about saving the Arcadia Bay.

Strange...I didn't know something was wrong with the Bay.

Ethan picks up a flier and folds it into his pocket as they make their way inside the Two Whales. The first thing that hits him is the smell of bacon, tender, and crispy as it sizzles on the grill behind the counter. The sound of plates and utensils hitting together echoed in the small building, giving it a busy and comfortable feel to it. Next is the coffee, which gives him an extra boost of energy just thinking about it. This place seemed great from what he could tell. They weren't lacking in customers and the food already was making him salivate. Nana pulls his hand in order to get his attention.

"Smells pretty good, huh?" she asks with a sly grin.

"Are you kidding? It smells amazing!" Ethan admits, "but let's see what the taste is worth before making any conclusions." He was a bit of a critic when it came to things that he liked and food was definitely among them. "Any particular place you want to sit at?"

"I'd prefer a booth," she says, moving away from the door. Several people in the diner greet her as she takes a seat at the first available booth. Ethan takes the seat across from her and they both wait for the waitress to take their order. "You're gonna love Joyce, she is just an absolute sweetheart."

"Who's Joyce?"

"She's the waitress and also the cook." She leans in closer speaking at just a whisper, "She also has a beautiful daughter about your age."

Ethan rolls his eyes at this, "Thanks for the heads up, Nana. But I don't think I need any dating advice, alright?"

Her facial expression becomes slightly more sarcastic, "Oh yes, because you've done so well in that department lately."

Ethan chuckles about to retort with something before the waitress shows up. So this is Joyce, hmm? She had dark tinted golden hair and green eyes, along with the diner uniform. She had bags under her eyes, giving Ethan the impression that she must be tired. Well, if she was, she certainly didn't act like it.

"Good morning, Joann!" she greets enthusiastically before turning to Ethan, "my, my, who is this handsome young man?" Ethan couldn't help but be a little embarrassed. He always found it strange being told something like that. He never thought he was all that good looking, so when adults tell him he is, it makes him feel rather awkward.

"Good Morning!" His grandmother replies. "Joyce, this is my grandson, that I told you about." Joyce simply responds with an 'oh' before Joann continues, "He's going to be starting school at Blackwell today."

"No kidding?" she asks with a big smile, "I know a couple of people who study there, in fact, my husband even works there."

Damn, it's gonna be a whole party at Blackwell. Everyone is gonna know each other and I'm gonna be stuck by myself. The beauty of living in a small town I guess. Everybody knows everybody...

"You're gonna like it there," she says, "It's a great school. Good teachers and a good environment. Only thing is, it's pretty much owned by the Prescott's, like just about everything in this town." She finishes with a chuckle.

"What's wrong with the Prescott's?" Ethan asks genuinely.

Her smile becomes crooked, "You are new here. Sean Prescott is the main candidate running for mayor, now I'm not one to gossip, but they're pretty much just a power hungry family with a lot of money. I'll just leave it at that," she answers with a wink.

Ethan's grandmother speaks up next, "They're actually the main reason the fishes are dying in the Bay. It's on that pamphlet you got from old man Burt outside." Ethan makes a sound under his breath saying that he understands it now. He doesn't exactly, but he figured he would look into it a little later. "So, Joyce," Nana continues, "How is Chloe doing?"

She shrugs, "Same ole, same ole. Just trying to make sure she doesn't get into too much trouble, but at 19, there's no way I can even try to control that girl."

"19, you said? Wow!" She looks at Ethan with an eyebrow raised. Ethan understands what she's trying to say which causes him to blush.

Jesus Christ, Nana, give me a break...!

"Yeah, so what can I get you both today?" Joyce asked breaking away from the conversation. Ethan silently thanked her for doing so.

"Just get two of what I usually get, please. Oh, but with some milk on the side, I know he'll enjoy it." She orders with a delicate smile.

Joyce writes it down and goes off to put the order in. Ethan had to admit, he was enjoying this place so far. It's a rather comforting and homey type of place. The smell and the service is great, now it just leaves the taste test. The most important one of all, he thought.

"Are you excited for your first day, Ethan?" His grandmother asked.

He gives her the best grin he could muster, "Yeah, I am. A little. I suppose I'm just anxious really."

"I would imagine so," she says, "but that's a good thing isn't it? A new life, a new home, a new beginning. I think that's exactly what you need, Ethan."

Ethan's expression darkens for a second before returning to normal. He shouldn't be down on his first day. Not here. Not with Nana. "I'm fine, Nana, really. And, you're right, this is a new start, I think it should be good for me too."

"Well, I'm glad you think so. It should be a lot easier on both of us now that you won't be staying in a damn private school. Well, not living there, anyway..." Blackwell was a boarding school, a very pricey one in fact. But because it's in the area, his grandmother had arranged a deal with the principle of Blackwell that he allow Ethan to transfer over without living on campus. So instead, he could stay living with her. Normally that wouldn't really work, but she's assisted the principle with some things in the past, apparently and she asked as a favor to her. Needless to say, he said he was very interested in meeting him.

"Yeah, you're right." Ethan says with a chuckle, "Thanks for all the help, by the way, Nana. I owe you, big time!"

"Oh, don't worry," she begins, "the day will come when you will have to return the favor." He nods with a smile causing her to smile as well, "It was my pleasure, sweetheart. But enough with all that," she says as Joyce rounds the corner with their orders on hand. "Let's dig in!"

The order was an omelet with tomatoes, cheese, spinach and steak bits, with a side of grapes and a cup of coffee with milk on the side.

It looks so freaking good...He had to stop himself from salivating all over it. He didn't realize just how hungry he was until he saw the food in front of him.

Ethan puts some of the milk with his coffee, he doesn't like it hot for fear that he'll burn his tongue. Once he put all the necessary condiments in, he takes a sip. The flurry of caffeine and sugar becomes evident instantly in his mouth, which he finds very nicely brewed. Then came down to the moment of truth. He cut off a piece of his omelet, making sure to get a fork full of all the layers, and then finally took his first bite.

...

Okay...Definitely one of the best places ever.

After breakfast was over, Nana gave Joyce a pretty decently sized tip, and they drove off to Blackwell. They spoke about how good the Diner was until they arrived at the campus drop off.

"Be sure to give me a call, once school is over." she says, "Oh and do try to make friends."

Ethan rolled his eyes and gave his grandmother a kiss on the cheek before stepping out of the car with his bag. As he sees the car drive off down the road, he sighs deeply and glances at the school sign.

Welcome to Blackwell Academy!
Global Excellence in Arts and Science for over a hundred years and counting!
October 7th, 2013.

Jeez, talk about big headed...Okay. Here I go. I wonder what my first day is going to be like...