Max couldn't make heads or tails of what happened next. There was a crash, a door opening and slamming shut, an engine revving, and then another crash, louder but father away, all within a couple of seconds. When Max opened her eyes the truck stood on the other side of the road, against a large boulder. The engine was still running, but the car stood still. Over the noise Max could hear shouts of anger and resentment.

"Get out of my fucking car!" Chloe slurred.

"No way," Victoria grumbled back, "You're not driving like that, you fucking, stupid, idiot of a moron."

"Get. Out." Chloe snarled. "Let go of me! What are you doing?"

"Max!" Victoria shouted, "Get your ass over here, pronto!"

Like in a dream, Max rose and began stumbling forward. She saw that Victoria had crushed the side window on the passenger side and had managed to get the door open, and now she sat struggling with Chloe in the driver's seat, doing everything she could to keep Chloe's hands off the steering wheel.

"Hurry the fuck up, Max!"

Max quickened her steps and hasted over to the car door at the drivers side. Somehow Victoria managed to unlock it with one hand while holding on to Chloe's both wrists with her other. Max saw trickles of blood running from both Victoria's nostrils.

"No!" Chloe shouted as she thrashed around, "Lemme go, Victoria, what the hell are you doing?"

"I won't let you go."

"Why–? What the fuck do you care?"

As Chloe was held in Victoria's iron grip, her struggles lost more and more of its violent energy.

"I don't care whether you live or die," Victoria growled, "But Max does, and I can't let you do this to her. And besides, do you know how dangerous it would be to let you loose on the roads? Not just to you, but to everyone?"

Chloe became silent and just glowered at her.

"Didn't think of that, huh?" Victoria scoffed, " Selfish egocentric bitch that you are. Fuck you, Chloe. You're so fucking pathetic."

Max finally got the door open, and together she and Victoria pushed Chloe from the driver's seat to be held firmly between them. Chloe had gone all limp and didn't resist any more.

"Chloe, oh Chloe…" Max began with tears in her eyes, but was cut short by Victoria.

"Shut up and drive, Max. The sooner we get this piece of shit away from here, the better."

Max glanced at Chloe, who looked more or less unconscious, her head tilted forward so he blue bangs covered her face, then she looked back at Victoria, who sat and inspected the blood from her nose on her fingertips.

"Fucking stupid bitch," Victoria muttered to herself.

"Do you think we need to go to the hospital?" Max asked her.

Victoria looked up.

"For this?" She said and held up a red finger, "You're not serious are you?"

"No, I meant for Chloe"

Chloe stirred.

"No, not hospital," She mumbled, "Home. I just want to sleep."

Max tried to catch Chloe's eyes, to get a hint of how she was, but she turned her head away.

"Are you sure?" Max asked.

"Look," Chloe said, with her head still turned away, "Mom has enough bills as it is, and I'm fine," She stretched out a hand, "See? No shakes."

Her hand trembled like a leaf in breeze.

Victoria scoffed from her corner and muttered.

"Yeah, we are clearly all super duper fine here."

Chloe seemed to be very drunk, but still at her senses, which was good. Max grabbed her outstretched hand and squeezed.

"Okay, Chloe, home it is then." She said with a sniffle, then she turned to Victoria, "I think we are good, Vee, you can get out now if you want. And thank you so much."

Victoria looked up from the bloodstained handkerchief she held against her nose.

"Whatever," She said, but it sounded more like 'badeber', " But if you think you can manage, I'd be more than happy to ditch you suckers right at this moment."

When Victoria had slammed the door close behind her, Max put the car in gear. She was not an experienced driver, and she had never driven a car like Chloe's old skeevy pickup truck before. Just when she though she had it all under control, she let her knee brush against the mess of cables hanging under the wheel, and the engine immediately died in a miserable wheezing cough. Max cursed and moved her hand over to the ignition to start the engine again, but the key was nowhere to be found. She got down on her hands and knees among the glass splinters and searched the floor and the seats but everything was full of holes and rips and tears, and it could be hiding absolutely anywhere. She saw the stone Victoria must have used to get through the side window lying under the seat, but the key was nowhere to be found. Max sat up again and peered down at the mass of tangled cables that welled out below and felt despair rising in her tummy. She had absolutely no fucking idea how to hot-wire a car.

She breathed out a long frustrated sigh and leaned her forehead down on the steering wheel. It was cold agains her brow, but in her skull it felt like molten lava swirled around. How many things were allowed to go wrong during the same day? There ought to be a rule about that, somehow.

"Red and brown," Chloe muttered drunkenly, "Look where the tape is, the cables just need to be reconnected again."

Max looked up at Chloe.

"You can do it, Max, it's not that hard."

When Max didn't act, Chloe continued, "I'll guide you. Start by getting the cables."

Max nodded and hesitantly reached down her hands.

"But watch out so you don't electrocute yourself," Chloe said.

"You are joking, right?" Max grumbled as she started to search among the cables.

"I mean it, Max. Be careful."

With nervous fingers Max found the cables with pieces of tape on their ends and put them together. There was a bright spark and the engine rumbled to life again.

"Great," Chloe said, "Now wind the tape around them so they stay connected, and keep the engine running with the pedal."

Max pressed down the accelerator, and the engine started to roar, then sputter.

"Easy, easy," Chloe mumbled, "Too much and you'll flood it. This old truck's a harsh mistress."

Max did her best to roll tape around the cables while not getting an electric shock and simultaneously giving the truck enough gas with her right foot, but not too much. It was more complicated that one might think.

"That's it," Chloe said when she finally got the hang of it, "Just separate the cables later when you want to turn it off."

Max sat up behind the steering wheel and huffed, feeling both winded and sweaty by the manoeuvre. But also a little bit proud; she had actually managed to do it. Chloe gave her a small smile.

"That was good work, Max. Welcome to the world of grand theft auto. Can you drive stick shift by the way?"

Max stared at the stick. She hadn't even reflected on that.

"I don't know," She said, "I've never done it before."

"Okay, then I'll shift for you. Just press down the clutch pedal when I say."

Max gave Chloe a blank stare.

"That's the extra pedal to the very left, Max. When you press it down, the engine disconnects from the drive train, so to speak. Can't change gear if it's not, that'll blow the transmission on this old bugger."

"Oh," Max said. She had absolutely no idea what Chloe was talking about, but she was sure of one thing; automatic transmission for the win.

"Trust me," Chloe slurred, "You'll do just fine."

Max gripped the steering wheel with both hands and breathed out slowly.

"Okay, hit me."

"Alright, Mad Max, here it comes," Chloe said with a smile, then she reached out a hand and shifted from neutral to first gear. Max released the clutch and with a loud screech, the car jumped into motion, leaving some of the truck's admittedly so-so paintwork on the boulder Chloe had sideswiped earlier. As soon as they got up to speed, Chloe changed to second gear, and they continued to scuttle along the narrow winding road. When they swerved out on the main road going back towards the coast, Max accelerated and the engine started to make funny noises. She glanced at Chloe to ask her to change gear again, but saw that she had fallen asleep; she slumped heavily against Max's shoulder and was snoring loudly. Max didn't dare to touch the stick or the clutch on her own, so she continued to drive slowly in second gear all the way back to Arcadia Bay. Luckily it was an easy ride, even if they had an impressive tail of cars behind them when they finally neared the town.

When Max parked the old pickup truck outside 44 Cedar Avenue, the warm, sunny fall weather had changed and now the chilly wind was full of small grains of snow whirling about over the windshield. She pulled the two taped cables apart and the engine came to a sudden stop.

"Hey," Max said gently while trying to shake the still snoring Chloe awake, "We're here. Let's go inside, shall we?"

Chloe grunted in response and, after some more encouragement from Max, slowly started to move, even if she looked more sleeping than awake. She almost fell out of the truck when Max tried to lead her out, but Max managed to catch her and walked by side to give her support. It felt like Chloe weighed a ton on Max, and her legs begun to buckle under the load. Slowly they walked over to the house. Max turned the knob and shoved open the door to the Price-Madsen household.

"Joyce?" She shouted, "Anyone? Come help me please!"

To her great relief Max heard the scrape of a chair moving somewhere in there, and a second later Joyce came running from the kitchen with a look of alarm on her face. It only deepened when she saw Chloe in the doorway, hanging over Max like a slack rag doll.

"Oh my god, what is it? Max? Chloe?"

Joyce lifted up Chloe's head by the chin and looked into her face, which looked pale and sweaty.

"What's the matter honey?"

"I'm… not… feeling… well." Chloe groaned.

"She's really drunk," Max winced, "And she's really heavy too."

Joyce moved towards Chloe's other side to help Max holding her up, but Chloe pushed her away. A second later Chloe bent over and threw up, splattering down the whole floor of the little hall. The stench of alcohol and gastric acid was overbearing.

"Uhh… uhh…" Chloe moaned and grimaced as she fought to regain breath. Long dribbles of vomit and saliva hung from her mouth and fell down on her t-shirt and the welcome mat under her boots.

"Oh dear, oh dear." Joyce muttered and clasped with both hands around Chloe's arm to keep her from toppling over, "Let's get her to bed, Max."

When Chloe shakily stood up again, Max saw that there were puke in large wet splotches all over her t-shirt and jeans, and vomit glistered on her cheek and chin and dripped from her nose. Her eyes were full of tears. Max shot a glance at Joyce.

"Maybe the bathroom first?"

Joyce nodded and put her face close to Chloe's head.

"Darling," She said in Chloe's ear, "We're getting you to the shower, to clean you up a bit, then you can go to bed."

Chloe just groaned a low "Uhh…" again.

Slowly and laboriously they started to move up the stairs, when Chloe suddenly stopped and gripped the handrail hard and began to retch. It was immediately followed by another bucket load of vomit. It sloshed down the stair steps and over their shoes.

With a frown, Joyce looked over Chloe's bent back to Max.

"Oh my, how much did she have?"

"I don't know," Max answered, "I think a lot."

Joyce shook her head and pursed her lips.

"Wasn't this supposed to be an alcohol-free gathering?"

"Yes," Max sighed, "Supposedly."

Finally they managed to get Chloe up the stair and into the bathroom. With some effort, they sat her down on the lid of the toilet.

"Get the shower up and running, Max," Joyce said and started to remove Chloe's boots, socks and jeans, "Cold rather than hot, while I get her out of these dirty clothes."

"I don't want to shower," Chloe mumbled while she struggled to sneeze out bits of half digested food from her nostrils.

"Sorry, honey, mom has the last word this time." Joyce said as she tugged the t-shirt over Chloe's head. "Now get out of your underwear and we'll help you to the bath."

With shaking hands Chloe removed her bra and panties. Max couldn't help but notice the word BADASS written over the panty-bum where it lay in a heap beside the toilet.

Oh, Chloe, She though, You're not so badass now.

Together Joyce and Max carefully led the naked and unsteady Chloe over the bathroom floor and helped her down into the bathtub.

"Thank you, Max," Joyce said while she reached for the shower handle on its holder, "You may go and prepare the bed, we'll be with you in a minute."

Max went the short walk from the bathroom to Chloe's room, which was as unordered and chaotic as usual. She dropped down the blinds over the windows and cleared the bed from some dirty clothes, an ashtray with a couple of cigarette butts, and two dirty plates with half eaten food.

The bed itself was a mess of course and really in need of some fresh bed linen. Max found some clean sheets in the wardrobe and used them to change it up. When she was done she sat down on the chair by the desk with a huff and waited, but she didn't have to wait long.

Draped in only a towel, Chloe came stumbling through the door, shuddering with cold. Behind her were Joyce. She steered Chloe to the bed and had her keel over into it; it was more of a controlled collision than an actual lie down. Together, Max and Joyce pulled the blanket over Chloe's pale, curled up figure, then Joyce kneeled down beside the bed and pushed away some damp blue locks from Chloe's face and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Darling daughter," She whispered, "Rest now and everything will be better when you wake up. I promise."

Joyce looked tired beyond her years when she rose.

"Aright, I'll go clean up that mess now–"

"I'll help you," Max said.

"No, Max, stay with Chloe. I think she needs you more than I do right now. And thank you so much for bringing her home. I don't dare to think about what could've happened if you hadn't."

Joyce stopped in the door.

"I'm putting on a machine, by the way. Borrow some clothes from Chloe if you need something washed, I'm sure she won't mind. Just chuck your laundry down the stairs when you're done and I'll take it from there."

Max's pants definitely smelled of vomit, and her hoodie was not much better. And her shoes, and socks… ugh. After some rummaging around in the wardrobe and dresser, she changed into a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants that was way too long and chunky on her skinny legs, but it was the best she could find among Chloe's clothings.

Max was just about to open the door to leave her stinky clothes to Joyce and her washing machine, when it barged open and David entered. He was fuming.

"Whats going on here?" He barked and walked up to Chloe's bed without giving Max a second glance.

"Mr Madsen," Max said, "Chloe's not well."

He turned to her.

"Not well, you say?" He scoffed, "She's drunk as a damned sailor! Don't tell me it's not so."

Max swallowed and only nodded in response.

"And her truck! What happened? I mean, it wasn't a beauty to begin with, but now it's totally wrecked. Did she drive under influence? Thats a criminal offence, for god's sake."

"No, I was driving." Max mumbled.

"Really? I find that hard to believe, Max. And the missing side window, is that also you? And… and the tires! Whats the meaning of spending that much money on almost brand new tires if she," He gave her a sceptical look, "Or you, drive over a bed of broken glass. Did you see the tires?" He gestured violently in the air, "Full of splinters. They're completely ruined!"

He took a deep breath to calm himself, but it didn't seem to help that much.

"Tell me, Max," David continued, "What the hell happened?"

"She have had a really rough day today."

"No shit! But things were supposed to get better, Max, not worse! You said so yourself!"

"I know, I know, " Max said, feeling how the lump in her throat grew larger and larger." I'm sorry, I messed up."

"You messed up? That's bullshit, and you know it. This is Chloe's doing from start to finish, I know her. And don't try to protect her, Max. It's amicable, but it won't help her in the long run. Not at all."

He looked at the sleeping Chloe and scoffed, then he walked towards the door.

"I know she doesn't think shit of me, you know, but I actually do care for her."

He sighed.

"And Joyce. Losing Chloe would be the end of her, Max, do you understand? I just can't let that happen."

"I understand," Max mumbled.

"Chloe needs to face up to her problems, Max, and… and.. fucking fix them, do you understand? Else this will end badly, for all of us."

"I know," Max whispered, but by then David had already left the room and closed the door with a bang behind him.

Max didn't want to think about how close it had been that it had ended badly today. If it hadn't been for Victoria. And no thanks to her, not even a tiny bit. What had she done? She had given up. What frightened her the most was how easy it had been; to just let go, despite her promises and wows to herself to keep Chloe out of trouble. Was this really how weak she was? This worthless?

Max collapsed into the chair by the desk and put her head in her hands, and wept. She did her best to swallow her sobs to not wake Chloe up.

Chloe stirred in the bed.

"Don't cry, Max." She mumbled, "I know I'm a fuckup, but you don't have to cry for me. I've had worse days than this. David is the least of my problems, believe me. But thanks for standing up for me."

"Hey, you're awake," Max snivelled and dried her tears with shaking hands, then she walked over to Chloe and sat down at the bed. Chloe was still pale but looked much better now when she had puked up most of what she had drunk earlier.

"How are you feeling?" Max asked and placed a hand on Chloe's shoulder. Chloe was still shuddering.

"The room's spinning like a turbocharger," Chloe stuttered, " but I don't feel as much like shit as before."

"Still cold?"

"Uh-huh."

"I can't do much about the spinning," Max said, "But maybe I can give you some warmth."

She snuggled down close behind Chloe under the blanket.

"Okay?" She whispered.

"Mmm," Chloe mumbled and burrowed her head down in the soft pillow, while pressing her rump and back to Max, maximising the heat conduction, "This is good."

They lay silent. Max listened to Chloe's breath slowly slow down. It was very calming and after a while she started to doze off herself when Chloe suddenly spoke.

"Mom's wrong, you know." She mumbled, "It will not be better when I wake up. I'll be just the same pathetic piece of shit as before."

"You shouldn't listen to Victoria." Max mumbled back, not really wanting to wake up from the warm cozy slumber she was in, "She says thing she doesn't mean all the time."

"But she's right, for once. She's probably wondering why you are putting up with me. I bet they all do."

Chloe sighed.

"I do too, you know."

Now Max was wide awake, and also feeling little bit angry.

"I don't care what they think." She said hotly, "I know you aren't worthless, or a piece of shit. Far from it, actually."

Chloe turned around I the bed and faced her, a crooked smile on her otherwise sad face.

"Oh, actually?" She snarked, "How far from a piece of shit am I then?"

She held up a hand with an inch between her thumb and index finger. "This far?"

She increased the distance to about two inches, "Or maybe this far?"

On impulse, Max pulled Chloe close.

"Hey!" Chloe blurted in surprise.

"This far," Max whispered and, with a beating heart, she put her lips to Chloe's. They were soft and wonderful, and Max could taste that she had brushed her teeth before coming to bed. Chloe's eyes widened, but she didn't shy away from the kiss.

When they pulled apart, Chloe's smiling mouth had transformed into a round o.

"What the hell was that for?" She whispered in wonder.

Now it was Max turn for a crooked smile.

"For being such an intelligent person, Chloe, you are not very smart."

"Uh, what?" Chloe gave her a puzzled look.

"Remember when we talked yesterday?" Max continued, "That there was a special someone? For me?"

"Of course I remember," Chloe answered, "I even asked Rachel about it. She said she knew, but she didn't want to tell me, the stingy bitch. It 'wasn't her place' she said."

Chloe shook her head with a grumpy face.

Max laughed and shook her head too. Of course Rachel had known. She grabbed Chloe's cheeks between her palms and looked into her eyes.

"It's because it's you, silly."

"Me?"

"Don't you get it? You're my special one, Chloe."

Chloe just stared back at her, and her baffled look made Max squirm inside. What had started as a really good feeling now felt totally like the wrong one. But there was no turning back now, however awkward the situation had become. Max took a deep breath before continuing.

"I…I love you, Chloe," She whispered, suddenly shy when saying out loud what she had been feeling in the depth of her heart all days and every day for the last couple of weeks. She lifted her hand to let her fingertips brush against Chloe's chafed chin, tracing her smooth jawline up to her ear.

"I love you, and you deserve every tiny last bit of it."

Finally, Chloe seemed to understand. Her face went form pale to red in and instant. To Max relief it also went from sad to smiling.

"That's… uh, that's…" Chloe mumbled, "Max, that's hella… "

Chloe's grin stretched from ear to ear, her cheeks had become flushed and hot.

"I don't know what to say…"

"Then say nothing," Max whispered and scooted even closer, pressing their bodies together, her clothed and Chloe's naked, and placing her hand behind Chloe's neck, pulling her near.

"Kiss me instead."

Their mouths met once more, and this time Chloe responded with a drunken passion that took Max completely by surprise, and by storm. She didn't want the kiss to end, ever, but they would have suffocated if Max wish had come true, so sadly it had to.

Chloe had rolled up halfway on top of Max, and now they lay looking at each other, as if seeing the other one for the first time for real.

"I'm not dreaming, am I?" Chloe whispered, gazing down on Max, wide eyed and out of breath, "Not some kind of delirious bum trip I'm in right now, right? Please say I'm not."

"No, Chloe, this is as real as it gets," Max answered, also breathless after the kissing, and maybe also a little from the weight of Chloe on her chest, "Do it to me again."

Chloe drew closer with eyes looking large, deep and moist as woodland lakes.

"Hell yeah," she whispered.

The rollercoaster events of the day had left Max exhausted, and she fell asleep in Chloe's arms that Sunday afternoon, and they didn't wake up until early Monday morning. It was still hours before sunrise when Max and Chloe, fully dressed, came down the stairs and into the kitchen, and found Joyce there, sitting at the bench with a cup of coffee, leafing through a stack of coupons sheets.

"Hello girls," She said, giving them both a look-over, "You're up early today."

Joyce herself looked tired, but seems pleased to see them both up together.

"Yup," Chloe said, "Eighteen hours of sleep is about enough for me, growing teenager and all."

Joyce smiled, then the little worry-crease in between her eyebrows deepened.

"How are you feeling, honey?"

"Actually, I'm feeling pretty great," Chloe said and strolled over to the counter.

"Thirsty, but great."

She lifted the empty but still warm coffee pot and turned to her mom.

"What, no coffee?"

"Sorry," Joyce answered, "I didn't know you two were up, and I'm off to work in a minute so I don't have time to make you breakfast, but maybe you can manage?"

"Of course," Max said.

"Yeah, no problemo," Chloe said and opened the refrigerator door and peered inside. She reached in and took out a big jug of milk, unscrewed the cap and started to gulp it down.

"Thank you for washing my clothes, and my sneakers," Max said to Joyce and sat down, "I… I forgot to throw them down the stairs yesterday."

"No worries, Max, I think you needed that sleep, both of you."

Joyce reached for her hand and held it, then she leaned forward and spoke in a low voice, "I want you to know that I'm really happy to have you back with Chloe again, Max."

She looked her meaningfully in the eyes.

"I really am. You understand?"

Max felt her cheeks heat up, and immediately looked down, but she managed to get out a meek "Thank you, me too."

"Hey, Max," Chloe said, still rummaging through the refrigerator," There isn't much to choose from here, so how 'bout eggs, or… eggs?"

"Eggs are fine," Max said, then she turned to Joyce again, "Or maybe we can go with you to the diner and have breakfast there?"

Max was hungry as a wolf, she hadn't eaten much at the picnic yesterday and nothing since, which, as Chloe had said, was nearly eighteen hours ago. To satisfy her ravenous tummy, just eggs wouldn't really cut it.

"Hey, Max," Chloe said again, straightening up and closing the fridge with a loud smack, "That's a really good idea."

"I have money," Max said to Joyce, but she just shook her head.

"Don't worry about it, but you better get your coats on, the bus leaves in five."

The sky was still a star strewn black when Max, Chloe and Joyce arrived down at the Two Whales Diner. A relentless damp wind blew that chilled them to the bone, and they could hear the crashing of waves from the yonder dark sea. Huddling in their outerwear they hasted the short way from the bus stop to the diner and got in through the backdoor of the square building. Well inside, Joyce got the lights on and pulled down the big breaker to the kitchen. The large ventilation fan started up with a low droning hum, and the two lamps on the scuffed industrial stove began blinking, indicating that it was ready for business.

"Okay, girls," Joyce said, "When you are here, maybe you can help med get things going? There's coffee that needs to get brewed, lamps needs to get turned on, and if you can take a peek at the tables and floors and se if everything looks alright?"

When Joyce came back from the staff area, changed into in her navy blue diner uniform with its white apron, everything was lit and the two pots were percolating, spreading the scent of fresh brew over the diner's rows of tables and seats. Now they just had to wait for the first guests to arrive.

Max and Chloe sat down at the usual corner table with a cup of hot coffee and a soda each.

"Coffee and soda, the base of every nutritious meal," Chloe mused and took a slurp from each, mixing them in her mouth.

"Eww," Max said.

"Definitely," Chloe said with a grimace, "But the only way to be sure it's healthy is if it tastes like shit, amirite?"

Joyce walked up to their table.

"Okay, ladies, what will you have?"

Max and Chloe had been busy sipping their drinks and staring into each others eyes, so they hadn't even thought of what to eat, but now Max felt her body scream for fat, sugar and red meat. She let her eyes go down the menu and wanted every single item on the list. There were so much to choose from. Too much.

"Can you make us a special, mom?" Chloe said, "Like you did when we were kids, only bigger, as we are, you know, bigger now?"

Joyce gave Max a look with raised eyebrows.

"Yes please!" Max said and gave a thumbs up. The special... She hadn't had that in a long, long time, but it was the perfect choice. It wasn't a real dish per se, just a big plate with a little bit of everything, and Chloe and Max usually ate from it together, sometimes fighting over who would get the last fries or bit of sausage or pancake, but that was part of the fun, as she remembered it at least. Max suspected that the special had been made of some kind of leftovers, well, probably not directly from customers plates, but still. Max didn't really mind, and today there were no leftovers as they were the first to eat this morning. Maybe it would be made from yesterday's leftovers?

Joyce pursed her lips, then she nodded.

"Right, one special Price coming up," She said with a smile and left for the kitchen. At this hour she was the sole staff here, but the rest would arrive to the diner in about an hour, when there would be a lot more customers coming in for breakfast.

Max had finished her coffee and was halfway through her grape soda when she drew a deep breath and looked at Chloe. Their food hadn't arrived yet, she could hear how Joyce was still busy in the kitchen preparing it for them. But she couldn't pussyfoot around this any longer.

"Chloe," Max said, "We've got to talk about Rachel."

It wasn't strictly true. It was Chloe she felt she needed to talk about, and, yeah, her relationship with Rachel. If Max could've, she happily would've left Rachel completely out of the picture.

The little smile on Chloe's face waned and she scrunched her brow.

"Yeah? What about her?"

Max reached out a hand and grabbed Chloe's in her's. Chloe didn't grab back.

"Well," Max said, feeling even more hesitant than before, "Weren't you an item, or something like that?"

"Officially?" Chloe said.

Max shrugged.

"No, never," Chloe continued, "But unofficially, that's what I like to think we were."

"Why?"

"Why what?" Chloe said, looking a bit annoyed.

"I mean, why were you never officially together?"

"Oh."

Chloe looked out the dark window.

"You don't know Rachel like I do, Max, but she has this, like, pretty serious idiosyncrasy."

"This… what?" Max said.

"A peculiarity?" Chloe said and shrugged, still looking out in the black night, "Ah, damn it, let's call it an issue, then. Rach has this kind of a huge issue, is a more honest way to put it I guess."

Chloe felt silent, but continued to stare out the window for what felt like a long time. Max was sure that was it, that Chloe wouldn't say anything more about this, when she continued.

"Rach can never really commit to anything, you know? Not fully. Except maybe to herself. And that's a pretty shaky maybe."

Chloe sighed and looked back at her.

"It's not like she does it on purpose, Max, that's just who she is. Rachel is like a… a… butterfly, moving from flower to flower, so to speak. Can't stay on one project or person for too long before it bores her."

"So, you are saying she gets bored easily?"

Max heard how doubtful she had sounded, and winced, but Chloe just laughed.

"Ah, well, that was a bad choice of words. It's more like Rachel has this, like, inner demon driving her on, striving for constant change, for new experiences, if that makes sense? I can tell you it doesn't make her happy, but she can't control it. She's got a real artist's soul in that way."

Max nodded slowly.

"Yeah, okay, I think I understand."

"But I was always there for her, though," Chloe continued, "More or less in the background, sure, but she was always there for me too when I needed it. We were, I mean are, damn close, Max. You'll have to accept that, warts and all."

Max nodded again. She hadn't expected anything else, and she was willing to accept it, no problem. Warts and all.

"Of course," Max said, "But do you think she will be able to, um, accept us?"

"Why not?" Chloe said, "I mean, she already knew, didn't she?"

"Yes, but do you think that was why she got so mad yesterday?"

Chloe thought for a moment, then she shook her head.

"To a certain extent, maybe, but we've always gotten into fights now and then, me and Rachel, and she always comes around. After I've apologised first, of course, but I don't see why this time will be any different."

Max nodded once more. And now to one of the questions she dreaded the most. Max tried to make her voice as light and unconcerned as possible.

"And what about following her to, uh, L.A.?"

"Well," Chloe said with a smile, "I think there has been some change of plans when it comes to that."

She glanced around to check that they were alone before leaning over the table and placing a quick kiss directly on Max's mouth. Max couldn't help but to grin widely in return, her cheeks flaming. While Chloe leaned back, looking almost smug, Max brought up her fingers to her mouth, feeling the hot remnants from the kiss still burning on her lips. Then her mood sank again.

"What do you think Rachel will say when you won't?" She mumbled.

Chloe sank back in her seat and stared at the ceiling for a second, then she looked back down at Max with lopsided smile.

"I think," She said,"That Rach did have five years to get her thumb out, so I'd say that ship has sailed, whatever she says. Her loss, right?"

Yes, and my win, Max thought, though she couldn't help but to feel a tiny bit bad for Rachel. But not really. Rachel could've left for greener pastures with Chloe whenever it suited her, but she hadn't.

Max could smell the food long before she even heard Joyce come up to them, carrying a large plate in her hand.

"Enjoying yourselves this fine morning, girls?" She said with a smile and put down the steaming plate on the table between them. On it presided a large pile of food; eggs, bacon, sausages, fries, fried fish, waffles, even two scoops of ice cream on a pancake in a corner, ladled with chocolate sauce and roasted nuts sprinkled on top. This was definitely no leftover stuff.

"Wow," Max breathed as she let her eyes ogle it.

"This is fu-freaking perfect, mom," Chloe said and clapped her hands in joy. With a sweeping gesture she grabbed the Ketchup bottle, then she looked over at Max.

"Over everything?"

As much ketchup as they could get away with, that's how they used to do it back in the day. Nowadays, Max wasn't as unabashedly a fan of the iconic red tomato sauce.

""Um, maybe not, if that's okay?"

Chloe grinned at her and put down the bottle again.

"Sure, things change, I get it."

Max smiled back at Chloe.

Things change indeed.

While they sat munching happily together, more and more guests entered the diner. Jen and Rico also came by to say hi to them before disappearing to the back to change into their respective waitress and chef-outfits.

When they had eaten everything on the plate, Max moved over to Chloe's side and sat snuggled up beside her, leaning her head against Chloe's shoulder. From where they sat, they had a complete view of the diner and it's guests, and it was nice to sit here doing nothing but just exist, together. They got some curious looks from some of the other patrons, but Max didn't care. She rather hoped this was to be the new normal.

After some time, Chloe began to stirr.

"Sorry, but I can't postpone this any longer, I, um, need to go to the restroom." She said and squeezed Max shoulder, "I'll be back in a heartbeat."

Just when she stood up, Joyce came by with a takeaway box in her hands.

"Chloe, I was wondering if you could go out and see if Marie is around? She usually comes a'knocking at this hour for a bit of breakfast, but she hasn't yet."

"Do I have to? I was just on my way to the John."

Joyce gave her a worried look.

"Are you feeling all right, honey?"

"Yes mom," Chloe sighed, "A girl should be able to take a dump in peace and quiet without being questioned, it's kinda rude, you know."

"Chloe–" Joyce began, but then she shrugged and began to walk away towards the exit.

"Wait," Max said, "I can go."

"Can you do that?" Joyce said, and turned, "It's very kind of you, Max."

She handed her the flat square paper box.

"Do you know Marie?" She asked.

Max believed she did.

"She's the lady who use to stay here behind the diner?"

"Right you are. If you could check on her and see if she's alright and give her the food, then I would be most thankful," Joyce said, then she had to haste away towards the other guests, as they seemed to be out of coffee and really grumpy about it too.

Max took the box of food and went outside. The eastern horizon had began to lit up, chasing away the stars from the sky, but the wind coming in from the sea was still chilly. Max wondered if this had been such a good idea after all. The last time they had met, the lady had seemed to be totally out of her mind. But maybe she knew something important? If she could get a word with her it would be great, if only to rule out the possibility that she didn't know anything of importance. If Max was careful maybe she could get her to speak. She shuddered as she turned the corner to the back of the building, and not only from cold.

The homeless lady, or Marie as was her name, was nowhere to be found. Max walked over to where she had seen her sit before, but found only some blankets and a stack of newspaper fluttering in the wind, which had picked up considerably. The black night here behind the diner was even more compact than she would have imagined possible, and a chill ran up and down Max's spine. She looked up but saw no stars from here, and no rosy light of dawn over the ragged forest edge above the town. It was very strange how everything could have turned so dark all of a sudden.

"Hello?" Max spoke out in the night with an uncertain voice, gripping the takeaway carton hard with clammy hands, "Uh, Marie, are you there?"

There was no answer, but in the corner of her eye Max noticed something moving. A big black shape ran past her, just outside reach. It left a musky scent lingering in her nostrils. A deer? It was a deer. Max could still see its white rear and tail clearly in the darkness as it ran away from her. With pounding heart, Max took up the pursuit.

"Wait!" She shouted without thinking, but the deer just ran on through the night, and Max followed, even if it felt like her lungs were about to burst. She forced herself to keep running, but ultimately, the deer was too fast. It disappeared and left Max standing there, leaning over and catching her breath, while her pulse pounded in her temples. Why the hell had she run after the deer in the first place? And where were she now? She had no answers for any of those questions.

When Max straightened up and looked around she saw only darkness in all directions. This couldn't be Arcadia Bay, or at least not the Arcadia Bay she knew. She fumbled out her phone and tried to light her way with the dim glow from its small square screen. It didn't help much as it wasn't one of those fancy phones like Victoria had, with a large touchscreen and built in flashlight and everything. Also, she had no service here, which was peculiar. With rising panic Max understood that she was utterly and completely lost. This had to be another of those strange dreams she had had lately, though she had no memory of neither going to bed nor falling asleep. Max was certain of one thing, though, this was beginning to freak her the fuck out.

"Chloe!?" She shouted into the nothingness, sobs creeping up the back of her throat, "Joyce!? Help! I'm lo–"

She stopped shouting abruptly, panting. God knew what was lurking around in the dark here. Better not call attention to her if she could avoid it. Even though she felt all alone in this strange landscape, Max was pretty certain that she wasn't.

The best approach when you are lost is to just stay where you are, and sooner or later your mom and dad, or someone else. would come looking for you; that was something Max had ben told since she was a toddler. 'Just stay and hug a tree', to use her dad's words. But here there were no trees, and Max figured those rules didn't really apply here anyway. Who would come after her in this place? Max had no idea how she had gotten here, and even less of an idea of how to get back. So, the best strategy had to be to go to where it had all started. Max tried to orient herself so she could backtrack to the diner or wherever she had started this run from, and began to walk in the pitch black darkness, hopefully in the right direction.

A whiff of smoke found its way to Max's nose in the chilly wind. Max felt how her heart jumped in her chest. Could it be from the diner's kitchen? But no, this was more of the acrid smell of a bonfire than from frying hamburgers. So, if the Two Whales wasn't about to go up in flames, which she sincerely hoped it was not, this was something else completely. After a short hesitation, Max veered off her chosen path and started to follow the smell of smoke. Shortly thereafter she caught a glimpse of light shining between high-stemmed tree trunks. Finally she had found some trees to hug at least. Strangely enough, the sight of trees gave Max some kind of comfort, they were something she recognised and knew how to relate to in this otherwise weird and dark desolated place. When Max got closer she saw what looked like a small campfire in the middle of a glade. It burned briskly with an inviting crackle, and Max felt drawn to the light as a moth to a flame. A shadowy figure sat on its knees to the side, working with something large and dark laying on the ground. Max stepped out in the clearing, and slowly began to walk towards the fire, and the person.

The big dark shape on the ground was the deer, laying on its side and clearly dead. A half naked woman, her hair in a thick braid down her back, crouched by it. She was gutting the large animal in swift movements with a blade that glinted red in the firelight, letting its glistering palish entrails spill out on the ground before her. When Max stopped, the woman looked up and gave her a smile. It was Marie, the homeless woman. But also, it wasn't.

"Ah, it was you who brought the food. I thank you for that," She said.

"The food?" Max said and looked down at her two empty hands. "I'm sorry, I had it right here, but I must've lost it on the way somehow."

"You didn't lose it, you drove it right to me."

Marie smacked the carcass with a hand smeared in blood, leaving a red mark on it's light-brown fur.

"This will keep me fed for a long time."

"Oh," Max said, not sure how she felt about seeing the beautiful animal all bloody and cut up like that. Somehow she had felt a strong connection to the deer, and now it was dead; slaughtered and being prepared to be eaten. She didn't like it, but at the same time, it felt natural, like, thats how it was supposed to be.

Max watched Marie cut up the deer in pieces and hang it in strings over the fire. Even if she was fast and effective, it took a while. Then Marie went out in the dark, and when she returned she as all cleaned up, with drips of water still clinging to her face and bare chest. To Max it looked very cold, but Marie didn't seem to be affected at all.

"Sit down, girl," She said and signed to Max to seat herself at the fire. Max did so, albeit a bit nervously.

Marie drew her knife and carved off a couple of slices from the meat that had been cooking over the fire and handed over a piece to Max. It was hot in her hand.

"So," Marie said, " What are you doing here, World-walker?"

Max stared back at her. She had been called 'World-walker' before, but she couldn't remember when, or where, and she hadn't the slightest idea what it meant. There were so much Max didn't know.

When the silence dragged on, Marie calmly took a bite of her meat and started chewing. It was obvious she wasn't in a hurry.

"I…" Max began, "I think I have some questions."

"Some questions?"

Max nodded, and Marie spitted a sinewy chunk of chewed venison into the fire.

"So what makes you think I will answer your questions?"

"Are you telling me you're not going to answer my questions?"

"Well, this is a different place, World-walker, with different rules. Here every action has to have a counteraction, every favour a given favour in return."

Marie winked at her in the flickering light of the fire.

"If you catch my drift."

Max did.

"I need to find a way to pay you first, either by a favour or something else, like a thing?"

"Uh-huh."

"Is there something I have that you want?"

Marie looked her over.

"I doubt it."

"Anything you want me to do?"

"What can you do?"

Max didn't know, so after a long thinking pause, she shrugged and said so. Marie sighed.

"I'm sorry, if you can't come up with anything to barter with, then I'm afraid there isn't much I can do to help you."

There had to be something Max could offer her, but what? She ransacked her mind but even so, she came up blank. She couldn't give up, this felt just too important, so Max scrunched her face in effort, but no ideas came up anyway.

"I'm sorry, " Max said and sighed. She had reached the end of her capabilities it seemed. Admittedly not a very long list. Then something popped up in her mind.

Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way around?

Max cleared her throat, before she spoke.

"But how about you repay me?"

The question took Marie totally by surprise. That was clear, both from her face and her voice, when she answered, "What? For what?"

Max gestured at the chunks of venison that hung sizzling over the flames.

"The meat that will keep you fed for a long time, I believe you said?"

Marie stared at her, then she laughed and gave a small nod.

"Well well," She said, "That's fair. You're sharper than I thought, World-walker. Always refreshing to be pleasantly surprised."

She continued to laugh and nod to herself for a while until she finally looked back at Max.

"So, how many questions do you think the food is worth?"

Max had no idea, so she just grabbed a number out of thin air.

"Five?"

Marie pursed her lips.

"I was thinking more like three, being the classic magic question - number and all, but okay, five is alright as you are a newcomer here."

Marie moved over so she sat facing Max, then she made some intricate gestures with her hands before continuing.

"Ask away then, but be warned; I can only answer things I know the answer to."

Max wasn't so worried about that, Marie must know a hell of a lot more than Max did anyway.

"Okay, first question,"Max said, "We start easy; Who are you?"

"Whoa," Marie said and help up her hands, "That's not an easy question. Do you know who you are?"

"I believe you're not supposed to answer with a question," Max answered with a lopsided smile.

Marie smiled back.

"You're right, sorry, it's a bad habit of mine, but my question has some merit after all."

"Do your best, then."

"Okay, let's say I'm someone who has lived here in the bay for a very long time."

"A human?"

"I didn't say that. But what I am would mean nothing to you I think. You could say I am the bay, if that makes any sense? But let me tell you this; during my time here, I have seen very few World-walkers passing by, and every single time there have been some major shit-storms blowing up. I used to rule here, you know, before I lost it all. Now I just want to live my life in peace and quiet."

Marie had been right, Max didn't understand one bit, and nothing made any sense at all. She let the first question go.

"Okay, second question then; why do you call me World-walker?"

"That's easy; because you are one."

"And what is a World-walker?"

"That is really a whole other question, dear."

"Oh, come on," Max said.

"Okay, okay, given the simple answer to the real question, I'll give you a pass on this one. A World-walker is someone, a human, that can pass through the involucres of the domains unhindered. There are very few of you, to tell the truth, maybe one every one hundred years or so. Usually World-walkers are very powerful, at least those who know what they're doing, but that seems like long forgotten knowledge. And," Marie said with a shrug, "You are blinded too, of course, which makes you even more impotent."

"I'm… blinded?"

"Ah, you didn't know. Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned it."

"What do you mean I'm blinded?"

"Sorry, but that has to count as a separate question."

"Alright then, it counts."

Marie nodded.

"Well, someone powerful, could be you yourself or someone else around here, don't want you to be able to navigate the domains, so they removed your eyes. Simple as that."

Simple as… what the fuck?

Instinctively Max put her hands up to her face. She jerked back in horror when she felt deep gouges where her eyes should have been and screamed right out.

"Hey, keep it down, will you?" Marie hushed and gave her a worried look, "You're not exactly anonymous here."

Max stared at her hands, which were trembling violently.

"How–, how come I can still see?"

"But, can you really?" Marie answered with pity in her voice, "Can you see the forest over there, for example? Or the sea? Or the burning mountain? Can you see the way back home?"

Max followed where her hands pointed, but saw only the blackness surrounding them.

"It's your other powers that, though diminished, makes you able to see just a little." Marie continued, "Or rather, sense."

"You mean it isn't dark here?" Max said, "I though–"

"No, no, no, though it's early morning, it's not dark here at all."

"Oh, damn," Max whispered with a sniffle. She was still shaking all over.

"Don't be sad," Marie said, reaching out a hand and squeezing Max's shoulder, "Most humans don't even have spirit eyes, and maybe you can get your's back?"

"How?"

"That, I don't know," Marie said with a shrug, "It depends on where they are."

"I just want to go home," Max snivelled.

Back home to where she had a pair of eyes, and could see properly. To where Chloe was.

"We'll come to that," Marie said, "But first you have two questions left–"

Marie went still. If she had had large pointy ears, they would definitely have perked up.

"Trouble's inbound," She whispered, "You shouldn't have been so noisy."

"What is it?" Max whispered back, an edge of panic slicing through her voice.

"Dawn wolves," Marie muttered," There is no point in running, you have to stand and fight."

Max could hear them now, still out in the shadows; light paws trampling, quick breaths, and low growls. She could sense how they were drawing nearer, hungry for blood. This was madness, she didn't even know how to fight off a puppy hungry for affection. She was soo fucking dead.

"How many?" Max whispered as she fought against the paralysing fear that spread through her limbs and body.

"Two," Marie said, "But I can't help you. I'm not supposed to take sides."

Splendid.

"Take sides?" Max said as she began to hyperventilate, "What sides?"

"Concentrate on the now," Marie said with a low voice that was unbelievably calm," There is a knife right here on the ground, should you need a weapon."

Marie unsheathed her knife and dropped it casually at her feet, then she took a couple of steps back. Something in Marie's slow movements and serene voice calmed Max. If she were to die, then she would, but she would not give up without a fight. Max walked up to the knife lying on the ground, glinting a dark red from the flames. She picked it up with a sweaty palm. It was a smooth, unadorned stone dagger, like something from a museum, but its edges looked wickedly sharp.

"Behind you," Marie mumbled as she stepped even farter back, away from the fire.

Max turned around, but too late, a shaggy beast twice her size lunged at her from the shadows, its maw searched for her throat. The pounce was brutal and Max fell hard on her back by its weight and force, leaving her gasping for air. The wolf's foul breath was all over her face, the stench was so powerful she could barely breathe. With a rising growl, it opened its huge sharp-fanged jaw to bite around her neck. The next moment, the other wolf was there too, yipping and grabbing with its teeth at her shoulder, trying to wrench her arm away, and clawing at her face wit a big hairy paw. She flailed out violently with the dagger and hit something soft. Blood splattered over her face, but she wasn't sure if it was hers or the wolf's, but at least the wolf gave out a high yelp and let go of her. Max felt how the wolf on top of her closed its jaws around her throat, but miraculously she managed to push her left arm in the way, and with a strength she didn't know she possessed, she forced the giant wolf's head away from her neck. Max could feel sharp teeth ripped her flesh and how the bone in her arm crackled and snapped, but she pressed on while she, with a furious anger and desperation, stabbed the large animal with the stone dagger, repeatedly sinking the sharp shard deep in its throat. Blood started to gush down over her where she lay pinned under the big wolf, drenching her in the hot, sticky fluid. The wolf's grip around her arm went from bone-crushing to merely flesh-tearing, but Max continued to jab the dagger into the creature's neck until it lay completely still. With a great effort, Max pushed the shaggy beast out of the way and rose on unsteady legs. Her left arm was totally limp, shredded to bits, her shoulder was stiff, and she felt the deep scratches in her face burn, but she didn't feel afraid, and she didn't feel any pain; she only felt a deep, primitive bloodlust. The second beast crouched less than ten feet away, one eye a red pit of blood and mucus dripping down its cheek. Its remaining eye glared at her with a glowing hate. Snarling, the wolf opened its jaws, showing row after row of gleaming sharp fangs, but Max shook the dagger at it and screamed from the top of her lungs, while taking some staggering steps forward. It wasn't a especially frightening scream to be honest, it sounded just like it was; a small teenage girl howling with rage, but the wolf made a long lamenting howl to the sky in return, backed away, and ran off into the darkness.

Panting, Max fell down on her knees. The next moment, Marie was there, steadying her when she was about to topple over from exhaustion.

"We need to go," She whispered in Max's ear, "This was just a scout patrol, and you don't want to be found by the others."

She tugged Max to her feet and, stumbling, they began to make their way through the darkness.

"I must say you have surprised me once again, World-walker," Marie huffed, "Though I should know that a small stature doesn't mean small in power, there are more clout in you than I first thought."

The pain in Max's left arm slowly rose from a low ache to outright unbearable, and however much Max tried to keep her mouth shut, she couldn't help but let out a low wail for every step she took.

"You need to get to the hospital," Marie said, "I'll show you the way."

"But… payment?"

"I help you now, and we're even for the deer, okay?"

"Okay," Max panted, and nearly tripped.

"Hang on," Marie said, "We're nearly there."

They continued until they reached a great boulder, half buried in the ground and covered in moss and vines.

"World-walker," Marie said and looked Max straight into her eyes, "There is a shit-storm coming for you. I can sense it."

Max had hoped that this morning's event had been as much shit-storm as she would ever have to endure. Marie looked around, searching the dark, then she turned back to Max.

"But I have some advice for you. There are some things you can do to make it worse. Don't do them."

That sounded like solid advice, though maybe a bit vague, but Max was to dizzy to tell Marie that, instead she sank down with her back against the rough rock. Her left arm hurt so much she just wanted to cry, but instead she looked back at Marie and held up the stone dagger, still dark and slippery with wolfs blood.

"Keep it," Marie said with a wave of her hand, "It's desecrated now so I can't use it anyway."

Then she crouched down in front of Max.

"I need you to do promise me something."

Max nodded, more to show that the was listening than to actually promise anything. She hadn't yet heard what it was about.

"Never, ever bring your friends here." Marie said.

Max's eyes widened. Her friends? Her troublesome friends, she must mean. Chloe and Rachel. Why would she ever want to bring them to this horrible place?

"No-one knows what will happen if all four of you would come here," Marie continued, "But it would be total chaos. Devastation like this place have never seen."

Marie looked deeply into Max's eyes, or the holes where her eyes would have been, at least.

"Keep them safe, but for heaven's sake, keep them away from here."

Max stared back in silence, trying to wrap her head around what had just been said. Marie squinted.

"Promise me, or I won't take you to the hospital." She said with a new, hard look in her eyes.

"You said… you'd take me," Max wheezed.

"Damn," Marie grumbled, "I did, didn't I?"

Max nodded

"Then we don't have much time," Marie said, "What can I do to get your promise?"

Max thought for a second, then weakly gestured at her scarred face. Marie shook her head.

"No, thats not fair."

Max gave a small shrug, and Marie sighed.

"Damn you, World-walker, " She said and glowered at Max, "You drive a hard bargain. Alright, I will find your eyes and bring them back to you. Deal?"

Max sank back with her head against the boulder and whispered;

"Deal."

Then, with a light push from Marie, Max fell backwards into the stone, and disappeared.

It was too damn bright. Max reflexively tried to lift her left hand up to shade her eyes, but as soon as she move her arm, a red hot spike shot up from it and she gasped in pain.

She found herself lying on her back, staring up in a crisp blue sky. The back of her head pounded as if she had hit it pretty hard. She remembered Marie, and the wolves clear as day, but had it been a dream? It couldn't have been. A hallucination, maybe? She tried to sit up, and it worked. What she could see through the holes in her hoodie, her left arm looked like something from a butchers shop, and the rest of her clothes were soaked in blood. Wolfs blood, she remembered. Her own blood was dripping from her arm and hand in a thin but steady flow. She needed to get help. Looking around, she saw she was in some kind of backyard, with a row of overfilled and stinking garbage cans to her left, and a small shed to her right. In front of her was a small cliff, jutting out from the slope like the broken, yellowed bone of some ancient giant creature.

Max came to her feet and started to limp forward. Her phone started to beep from queued up messages and missed calls, It must've been dozens of them at least. She staggered out on the road, but it just continued to buzz and ping in her pocket, and it seemed to never end. She staggered out in the empty street and saw the hospital just a stones throw away. Max felt how the splintered bones in her arm grated with every step, and it hurt like hell. Blood seeped out from the bite wounds, ran down along her arm and dripped from her fingertips down on the cracked tarmac. It didn't seem like any big arteries were severed, or else she would've already been dead, but by looking at the red trail she left behind her as she painfully stumbled along the road towards the hospital, Max guessed she had lost a lot of blood already. She felt cold and very weak. And so very thirsty. It was probable she wouldn't make it to the hospital after all, which seemed like a shame when she had gotten this far.

In a haze her knees buckled under her and she fell and hit her forehead hard on the ground. But she didn't mind, it was very nice to just lie down for a while. It made her head a bit less dizzy, and her vision also seemed to clear up some, even if it was still blurry. She had no strength to get up again, though. She lay where she lay, and that was that.

Oh, Chloe,Max thought. It seems a short time together is all we will have, regardless of how I try to bend reality. The rule of actions and counteractions I guess. Aw, fuck you, reality and your stupid rules.

But Max wasn't about to cry about it, she had already cried enough about the unfairness of the world. So much she got sick of it. So she had chosen to fight instead, and now it seemed she was done fighting too. She was content with that she had done all she could.

Well, better me than you, Chloe.

It felt like she fell into a dream again. Somewhere a car braked hard. It was a blue muscle car that she thought she recognised through her blurry vision.

She thought she heard Chloe. Max couldn't make out the words, but she sounded upset. Max wanted to hug her, to stroke her cheek and tell her that everything would be alright, and that Max was fine and not in pain anymore. And, that she was happy that they had gotten at least one night together. Definitely one up on the other timeline. Max opened her mouth to tell her, but all that came out was a gurgling whimper, then blackness swallowed her and she was gone.