Chapter Text
How could this go any differently?
It was an onerous question, one that ran in Max's mind, something she ought to somehow find a solution to such chaos; a chaos she started, a chaos that she wished she could get out alive of. “Max”, Chloe's voice sounds so far away, like she was dreaming and didn't want to wake up yet, though the urgency in her voice she couldn't help but marvel at how soothing she sounds, how serene in such a havoc the storm caused.
Realizing the situation they were in, Max turned to Chloe, her eyes filled with distress and an aching feeling she couldn't quite put a word on. The scene before her is devastating, the tornado heading towards arcadia bay, inevitable to avoid, it would most likely annihilate the entire town, half the people, and possibly everything that once was something to the both of them.
“Max you gotta make this choice”
It pained her, it hurt to think that either decision would mean the death of her best friend or the destruction of Arcadia bay. And it hurts more with how Chloe uttered those words that weighed heavy on her heart. The polaroid on her hands glinting, the blue butterfly shot at a perfect angle, luring her to rewind to when it all started.
“Chloe, I can't make this decision”, she whispered, voice raspy like it hurts to even speak, like bile is rising to her mouth. She can’t give her up, she can't now that she has Chloe back in her arms again; as fast as everything was reverting back to the way it was, it is just as fast as it is to disappear, vanishing from her grasp. Max held onto her tightly, afraid that if she so soften her grasp she would disappear unknowingly. Shaking her head in a useless plea that she couldn't make this decision.
“Max you're the only who can”, there's a break in her voice, a break that doesn't go unnoticed by Max, whatever decision she was making Chloe assured her it's the right one.
But what if I'm selfish?
Would it matter if she'd choose her best friend? if everyone in this town's buried beneath the remains of Arcadia bay, it wouldn't hurt to be selfish for once right?
Ripping the polaroid apart, letting the wind take it to whichever part of Arcadia bay, she took a deep breath, one that eased the unknowing burden she was carrying, the burden she carried the entire week of chaos and rewinding.
Chloe gave her a weak smile, thankful yet guilt eating away at her, eating away on Max's heart too. Chloe was glad Max chose her, that Max, after everything, came back to her arms and chose to stay. Her hands inched at Max's cold ones, intertwining their fingers, clasping close and holding tightly to one another. It was a much needed touch. It sent chills down Chloe's spine just how cold Max's hands were. She wished she could warm it up a bit, ease her worries and regrets, like how she always used to.
They stood there, hand in hand, sharing their spent warmth through the storm. If it were anything it would've been romantic, alas neither the storm or cold let up. Clinging to Max's hand was her only inkling to reality, the only anchor towards sanity.
Was she always this soft?
Chloe wondered how had she never noticed Max's softness, it wasn't like it should be something she should already know, but she should've known. Her thoughts strayed to the fact that Max chose her; selfishly thankful, and guiltily relieved. She's at least glad that she gets to spend more time with Max, maybe even spend all her life with her, just her and Max, in a city faraway, away from this place, from the guilt and devastation.
After this maybe they could start anew in New York, with Max studying photography, in pursuit of something bigger than the small little town they were in. And she could get a job too, they would own an apartment in the middle of New York, just the two of them.
Max… it was a whisper, a plea begging that Max stay by her side forevermore.