Life Is Strange: After The Storm (Chasefield)(Discontinued)

16

Max sat across from me, staring into space like she usually does. Not sure what she thinks about but I'd like to know. Would it be right to apologise now? It's been over a week since the wedding and she's not spoke to me much since then. Neither has Valerie which is a bit concerning. She's always trying to talk to me even during work. Has she just gave up on me? Max turns her head disturbing the silence in the living room. I look to her and she gives a very questionable gaze.

"What?" I ask quietly. "Have you actually been sitting in this house in deaf silence for so many years?" I nod reluctantly as she sighs. Probably finding me boring now. "I think a farm would suit you nicely. Or a proper log cabin," she says, looking to the coffee in the table. "Yeah... I'd like a log cabin," I reply. Another moment of silence passed. Another moment of pure silence, dead silence. The clock ticks away in the background and the fridge from the kitchen droned endlessly.

"I've had fun in here, though. Usually when Val was drunk or lonely." This appeared to have grabbed her attention. "One night, Val showed up drunk. Seeing things, too. Another night, Val got bored and decided to have a movie night with me." I'd go on but it was mostly the same thing. "Sounds like you and her have a great connection... Why don't you two date?" "I have my reasons. Plus, we're better friends than partners." She nods slowly but she doesn't look convinced. "It's sensitive, Max." She just shakes her head as she looked away.

I can't believe I'm telling someone the truth but it might help me out. "An ex of mine ended her own life because I accidentally cheated on her with Val... And everyone I love ends up leaving one way or another. Since the night Val and I first slept together, shit has gone downhill for me." "So you're willing to keep it secret to keep Val in your life?" I nod even though she's not looking. "Yeah," I say. "Well, look at your life now. It's going uphill. Things are getting better. You could be hurting Val, for all you know."

"What makes you say that?" I ask. "Simple. You've slept with her several times and you don't even say you love her. Val told me last week about it," she replied with some coldness. "At least she gets to sleep with me. No one around actually wants to be with me. She's too busy for me." "Impatience is fine. But lying to your best friend who's been there for you since the storm is just... Wrong. On many levels, Victoria." She's right but I refuse to act on it. Maybe if I didn't have such a bad past with love and affection I would've been engaged with her.

"Enough talk on this, please. I'm not long up," I say but she just gazed in silence. I've rarely seen that look in her eyes. The pure hatred towards me was the same as four years ago. Every time I hurt someone, excluding her, she'd give that stare. It crushed me then and it still does. I was able to hide back then but now I can't. I'm vulnerable. Abusable whenever Val is absent. I don't see Max being the one to abuse anyone, though. This gaze does it all. "I'm sorry." My voice was dry and weak, making it difficult to talk.

"No, you're not. I know you're not. You lie to yourself, Vic. That's pretty much what I'm understanding from this... You won't lose Valerie and she won't lose you," she turns soft again. As if to reassure and comfort after getting her current mood across. She'd be a great mom. "Anyway.... Are we just gonna sit here all day or what? You should ask Val on a date later." "I don't do date nights. I need to get some shopping done," I say as I stand to my feet and head upstairs to get ready. Max followed like a dog. "Surely you'd have a few dates before she leaves, Right?"

I halt at the bottom of the stairs and narrow my brows when turning to Max. "What?" I ask, somewhat sternly. She suddenly shrinks down and avoids eye contact while fidgeting with her necklace. I'm sure I've seen that necklace before. Not Chloe's one as it's a sort of hippy peace sign pendant. "What do you mean, Max? What are you not telling me?" I ask. "Well... She might leave. I don't really know. She told me she' been training hella hard for the past few weeks." I sigh with some relief, knowing that's just who Val is. "She does that all the time, Max. God, you really do like to worry me, don't you?" I then head upstairs without a reply.

Later in the evening, Max and I stroll through the woods and take in the pure serenity. Birds sung their melodies, tree swayed around as their leaves catch the breeze. The setting sun made this even more romantic but I don't want to move too fast. However, I do slip an arm around her shoulders and pull her closer. "It'll get cold quick, you know." "And you think having your arm around my shoulders will keep me warm?" She laughed a little, causing me to blush a little and remove my arm from her shoulders. "Sorry," I stuttered. "No, it's okay." She went under my arm again meaning I must be getting somewhere, right?

"So... Remember when I told you I lost everyone over and over again? tried making things right for everyone?" I nod, "Yeah. What about it?" "I wasn't exaggerating." "Okay, uh... Can you expand on that?" I ask. She slows down to a stop and moves to my front, taking hold of my hands down low. "I might sound crazy but... I- I was able to time travel... Or jump timelines. I'm still not sure." "What?" She sighs and lowers her head. "I knew you'd find it stupid," she says. "No, Max. I believe you but... Why didn't you tell me before?" "You would've made fun of me. It's as simple as that." I can understand her point but now... I have a few reasons to believe her.

"I guess you're right but why tell me now?" I ask. "You seem a lot more... Sensible. I thought you'd piece that with my depression and suicide attempt in the gallery.... I learned a lot from my powers. I don't have them anymore and I'm glad I don't. I would've just fucked shit up completely." I nod and look around. The coast is clear so I take my hands back and pull my halo rom my bag after setting it down. "Why do you have a large ring in your bag?" She asks.

I hold it above my head, allowing whatever energy to charge the once dull gold ring to a blinding bright neon yellow one. I then reveal my wings that appeared to have reached their max length of two meters or less. The sudden terror on her face was short and blended with amazement. "Oh. My. Gosh... Does Val know?" she asks. "Of course she does... She was there when I got them and... I think she helped me get them. It's a long story." I say with nervous laughter, hiding my wings and putting away my halo before someone sees it.