Similar powers

Chapter 37. Farewell Arcadia Bay

Oct. 10, 2014 at 7:00 a.m.

It has been a year since the events that shook Arcadia Bay, from the sudden snowfall to the arrival of God Brando, from Rachel's return to the tornado that looked like it was going to devastate the town, but then dissipated. Every person involved directly or indirectly changed, and this had negative consequences at first, but coming to be processed later enabled all these people to face the future.

Kate and Victoria

Today both Kate and Victoria are part of the group "Young Ambassadors Against Bullying and Cyberbullying," bringing back the experiences of bullied and former bully, respectively, allowing Blackwell to gain a prestige it seemed to have lost after the Prescott and Jefferson cases. The girls have become friends, allowing Victoria herself to embrace a new, more mature and self-aware side of herself, while Kate has become more confident while still maintaining the sweet and sensitive character that has been her hallmark. After learning that Max would be leaving for New York in October, they organized a surprise party for his birthday where all the Blackwell students with whom Max had befriended attended.

Warren and Brooke

Their relationship has been going on for a year, and despite the ups and downs their relationship works, both because of their affinity and the same interests they both share. They were invited to a surprise birthday party for Max, and during the party they talked Max and Chloe through organizing an entire day of D&D and an all-night movie marathon a week before their departure, ranging from the classics to the latest movies, demonstrating how they cherished their friendship with Max and Chloe, promising to talk to each other even when they went to New York.

Nathan Prescott and Mark Jefferson

After they were incarcerated, the epilogue they both had was different: Mark Jefferson was killed in prison by Michael Davis, father of Kelly Davis, one of the girls who ended up in the Dark Room who, after learning what happened to his daughter, killed Jefferson in the shower using a chipped toothbrush as a weapon; Nathan Prescott, on the other hand, bitterly regretted what had happened, and is following a re-educational path thanks to the support of a psychiatrist, to the point of writing a letter to Max asking her forgiveness for what happened.

Max and Chloe

The day after they saw each other at the dump, Max called Damian Keane, the New York gallery owner to let him know that she would be accepting the job offer, also letting him know that she would be taking Chloe with her, who did not object but rather was happy to know that Max would have a person by her side who would support her. She later learned from Damian that she would start work on October 14 of this year, and that the apartment would be made available to Max and Chloe from October 13, thus allowing them time to stay in Arcadia Bay and make all the necessary preparations for the trip. They both then decided that on October 10 they would drive to New York City, thus taking an on-the-road trip to see the landscapes of the other states. After receiving Nathan's letter, Max let him know that she would forgive him for everything that had happened, while Chloe would not, but she would still try. So we arrived at October 10, with Max staying over at Chloe's the day before so that they would be ready to leave.

Joyce: "Did you get everything ready?"

Chloe: "Yes mom, we checked everything and nothing is missing: money, documents and stuff like that."

Joyce: "I can't believe my little girl is going to New York."

Chloe: "Come on mom I'm 20, I'm not a little girl anymore."

Joyce: "What do you mean? You will always remain my little girl even when you are 40."

David: "I'm really proud of you. So much has really changed in a year, and knowing that you are going to a city like New York makes me really *sigh* happy."

Max: "Thanks for the kind words David, but don't cry because then we all end up crying, I want us to say goodbye with a smile."

Before Max and Chloe head out the door, Joyce and David respectively get them a photo album of all the pictures taken during the year between vacations and birthday parties, and David's toolbox that Chloe would use for when she opened her own workshop.

Max: "These are wonderful gifts, to just saying thank you would be reductive."

Chloe: "Max is right, you have really done so much for us, and I hope I can return all this love again. Now let's go. Bye Mom, bye Dad."

David: Bye Max, bye Chl...wait a minute, did you say dad?!

Chloe: "Don't worry David, you didn't have an auditory hallucination, I really did say dad. You really showed me that you have changed and that while remaining a little gruff you care about me and love me, like a father would love his daughter."

David at that point is a flood of tears, and he goes to hug Chloe knowing that she sees him as a father figure, despite all the mistakes he has made in the past. At this point Max and Chloe get into the car, but before leaving Arcadia Bay, Chloe asks Max to stop briefly at the cemetery for a final farewell to Rachel, and as soon as they get there Chloe stands in silence for a few minutes in front of her grave, then says:

Chloe: "I never stopped missing her."

Max: "I can imagine."

Chloe: "Hey Rachel, it's Chloe. A lot has changed in the last year, and among the many things is the fact that I'm leaving Arcadia Bay. I'm not as happy as I would have been in the past, but I have a bittersweet feeling because even though it has caused me pain, this city for better or worse has also given me moments of happiness that I will never forget. Take care Rachel."

After this last goodbye, Max and Chloe get back into the car and drive in the direction of New York, and as they are about to leave the city, they turn their look for one last time toward the city and say goodbye with these words:

Max and Chloe: "Farewell Arcadia Bay."

END