//Just a few Disclaimers and such, I don't own any of the characters in this story, they belong to dontnod, and if I make a music reference in the title or add a link to music I don't own that either. 

I was wanting to get back into writing and so I decided this would be pretty unique, and so this is simply an introduction to this 'new' world. It is new to Max, not us yeah this takes place in the canon alternate universe. I have taken what we know of this world and added bits and pieces as I see fit. I do apologize for messing with canon a little but there are a few things I had to use my imagination for.

Please note that you are about to write total trash that will soon become fluffy trash, still trash is trash and I'm your local trash vendor( at least this isn't pricefield, not hating it's just that ship is so mainstream, which is ironic because Max is a hipster, which is also ironic because hipsters tend to love ironic thing like that. And man now I've made a parenthetical tangent!)

So I'll shut up now, please review and comment, and let me know how this makes you feel.//

I slowly look up from the photo in the scrap book, 'wow', I think. My head feels as if it's spinning at a hundred miles an hour. I look at Chloe, her beautiful face, peaceful, serene, and dead. 'I killed Chloe, I mean she asked for it. She wanted to be set free, I can't blame her.' I grab her hand which still has warmth left in it. While this moment is sad I also can't help but smile. I can't wait to see my Chloe again, blue hair, smoke breath, and rebellious attitude. 'Chloe I'm coming home just you wait,' I confidently muse to myself. So when I pick up the picture and focus in on it I'm bewildered when nothing happens. That can't be right, so I try focusing harder. Maybe I'm not trying hard enough. I focus on our faces, our smiles, smiles that reveal an innocence and ignorance of the tragedy to ensue. 

   Nothing. I stand suddenly letting the Polaroid flutter onto Chloe's lifeless lap. 'So maybe I need to rewind, the photo isn't working but my rewind has to.' I raise my right hand, willing time to do my bidding, concentrating, praying, whimpering in frustration, and finally breaking down and crying. Nothing is working, what can I do. I feel powerless, weak, there is nothing I can do is there? 'Chloe I'm trapped here, and without you. How will I get back now?' After that realization I break down into tears clutching onto Chloe's body, dead she really is dead. And I can't help but sit there choking on tears, 'I love her though.' 

My thoughts and crying get me no where, I rise, deciding I'm to distraught and guilty to face Joyce and William. The decision makes me angry at myself, 'Max you coward, you kill their daughter and can't even talk to them?' William offers a smile and a wave as I exit through the door, avoiding his eye contact like a criminal. "See you later Max! Come visit again I'm sure Chloe would love to see you again." I simply walk and look at the ground the only sound I'm able to form is a guilty whimper. If he notices he doesn't pry, William is such a good father or was. 'Come on breath Max there has to be a way to fix this.' As I exit the realm of my childhood the chill of the adult world hits me in hard, my wet cheeks feel painful, the cold stinging my skin. The day is overcast, fitting for how I'm feeling except in that respect an understatement. A storm would be more accurate to how I am feeling, my best friend just died, no I killed her. I'm stuck, stranded in time.

  My walk to the bus stop feels grueling, I am full of unanswered questions. The most nagging one, 'what now? Do I live my life and pretend everything is okay?' Sure I was concerned about Joyce and William, Chloe, and Victoria being so nice, well more disturbed by the latter still these concerns will have to wait. As I climb onto the bus I do so dubiously, 'back to Blackwell? Will I find answers there?' After a few seconds of hesitation and a questioning look from David I decide to get in, it's a place to start and that's something. I take a step onto the bus, 'yeah just take a first step followed by another.' After settling into a seat I plug into my headphones playing "you're a wolf" by Sea Wolf. It reminds me of Chloe, the old punk I used to know, 'fuck am I crying?' I wipe my tears away, I really am lonely, asking myself rhetorical questions like that. 

That makes me think, 'I'm alone so maybe if I can find a friend I can get this all sorted out.' And I put on a brave smile, one person in particular comes to mind. And so I pull out my headphones as I take a step off, taking a quick glance at a glum looking David, 'wow things are really different, what else has changed?' My question would soon be answered, for now I face towards my new life, the Blackwell. Okay so not much has changed to the school, it still looks the same. I head towards the dorm rooms, it's time to get answers. 

I walk to the door after I enter the dorms, I knock on it calling to my friend. "Kate are you there I was wondering if we could talk." The silence that follows honestly surprises me, Kate usually is around and always answers the door for me. After my persistent knocking only results in sore knuckles I decide to inquire about Her whereabouts. I scan the hall, a relieved smile setting in as I find Alyssa. "H-hey Alyssa, how are you doing?" The girl who I would call a friend turns to me, a look of hate plastered on her face. "What do you want Maxine?" Wow Alyssa is mad? Venom coats her words so yes super Max, she is. I grab my left arm hesitant about continuing as well as concerned that Alyssa is upset at me. "Well I was just wondering if you've seen Kate around." The question was innocent enough from my viewpoint, though the second I uttered those words I regretted it. "You bitch! How dare you taunt her even in death? Where does it end with you, was pushing her off of that roof not enough? The bullying, the video, the party, all of that was you and your 'crew'." 

'I, no.' I look at Alyssa tears in my eyes. 'I killed two friends now, and I'm like- like Victoria.' I try to begin my apology, one that probably wouldn't come off genuine or meaningful, but I get interrupted. "Max! You adorable thing, I can't believe you left me for so long and didn't say a thing." The blonde devil makes her way towards me, embracing me snugly before letting go to face Alyssa. I'm somewhat glad to see her like some shining knight she came to save me, I try to hid the tears lining my now red eyes. Though Victoria catches on quickly, she looks at my face, her own contorting into an expression halfway between anger and annoyance. "Did you make Max cry bitch? You are really going to regret this, watch your fucking back." And with that Victoria put an arm around me turning us around and gently escorting me into her bedroom. 

  A few minutes later I sit on Victoria's bed, my head in her lap. "V-Victoria, um I'm sorry for being weird lately, I'm having trouble remembering things. If you could help orient me with my social life that would help." Vic runs her hand through my hair and repeating the motion. My words don't seem to affect her that much, "Max I care about you, you're my best friend and if there is anything I can do for you I will just name it." How odd, is Victoria actually being a decent human being? Not only is she being decent but the ice queen has admitted her friendship and admiration of me. 'Is it weird for me to want those words to be true, am I being naive if I believe her?' My thoughts voice my true concern, I've been played by Victoria before, I'm just afraid she'll do it again. "Victoria is it true that Kate is dead." My voice is fragile and soft, teetering between talking and crying, God I'm such a mess. Victoria looks away, her face somber compared to her earlier demeanor. "Yeah Alyssa wasn't lying, but listen it isn't your fault okay Maxie? If anything I'm the one to blame, I should have stopped you from recording that video. Not to mention I posted the video." Victoria's tone sounds melodic and soothing like a mother to my ears. 

  "Victoria, why are you so nice to me?" My words come off a bit more accusatory and sharp than intended, still the blonde doesn't flinch, 'what is with her.'  Victoria places her forehead against mine, I feel her warm breath. "Max we've already been over this, you are my best friend, and you know how I feel. Still you have a boyfriend and we've decided that it's best for you to stay with him for now, at least for your appearance." My face must be red as a tomato right now, 'abort abort! Information overload!' Victoria just confessed she has feelings for me, she keeps on being my friend even though I'm into someone else, and I have a boyfriend! I look into her eyes, so that intimate moment we had, she was restraining herself. 'Max you are so cruel,' after a while of thinking and debating whether or not to torture Victoria some more I decide against it. "That is a lot to chew on, so um Vic, who's my boyfriend?" Victoria chuckles slightly, "why don't you ask him your self?" My eyes go wide with confusion, ask him? Then she grasps my chin with her fingers and points me towards the door which I had never heard open. And I had to resist the urge to scream because in that moment my eyes fixed on blonde hair, striking eyes, and a blue letterman jacket. I resist the urge to scream because here I am looking at Nathan Presscott, my boyfriend.