Max Hella Caulfield

Exploring Mistakes

Max's POV

Getting a tattoo was a huge step for me, considering my issue with needles. There's just something about them that I don't like. I feel that in another timeline somewhere, I had a horrible or even tragic experience with them that makes me so unstable. But I'm Max Caulfield in this timeline.. and whatever happened in that one, didn't happen here. I've explored a different timeline before. A different Max. That's what I mean by timeline. I traveled back to a specific time and changed what I did to see what would happen in the future. I played with my power... I was curious...

I went back in time through the photo my dad took of my mom and I, when I got my accepted to Blackwell. I did it the day before I hung out with Chloe that night I had to watch over her drunk self. I found the found the picture in my desk drawer, along with some other ones of when I was in Seattle. I didn't know I could travel through photos until that day. I looked at it and it started to blur and turn a bit red. I focused on it and then suddenly I saw a bright light. When the brightness started to fade, I found myself under my mom's right arm with a letter saying I got into Blackwell. 

Acting surprised, I went up to my room and looked at my letter. If I didn't go back to where I used to live, what would happen. Specifically with Chloe and I. Would we still be best friends? I felt like Chloe and I were supposed to be together... like we're meant to be together. I wanted to see how we would reunite... or if we ever do... God I'm so fucking stupid...

I took my letter and ripped it across the middle and threw it away. I told my parents I changed my mind about Blackwell because I was too scared to transfer into a new school.

I went upstairs and then everything went white around me again. When the blinding light faded away I was at picnic table next to a park I used to hang out at with my friends in Seattle. It seemed like a few months had passed by. I would've already reunited with Chloe by now.

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 In the original timeline, right after I moved my stuff into my dorm and said goodbye to my parents, I went straight to Chloe's house to see if she was still there. And she was. We were so happy to see each other. She said that I looked exactly the same, except older. I barely recognized her when I first saw her... her punk style and glowing blue hair. I thought it was a better look for her.

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Where is she? What is she doing right now? 

I look at my phone to see if there's any sign of her on there. Nothing. I look on social media. Nothing.

"Did you guys hear about the suicide jump at a school called Blackwell Academy?" Fernando said.

Kristen jumped in. "I saw that online! Gosh my prayers go out to her and her family. It must be tough on them, even her classmates." 

"What?" I said with extreme concern in my voice. "Who was it?!" I hoped that it wasn't Chloe.

Fernando scrolled through his phone. "Uh... it says here that it was a girl named... Kate Marsh."

I gasped. My mouth hung open. My eyes widened. Did I just kill Kate Marsh? No. This can't... no. Please no.

 I quickly got up from the table, grabbed my stuff, said goodbye, left the park and went home. I checked the mailbox on the way, hoping maybe a letter had come from Chloe. Nothing. I open the front door and enter my house, walking into my mom on the floor in tears and my dad holding her, crying as well. I shut the door and the noise startles both of them. 

My mom gets up from the ground and wobbles over to me, pulling me into a tight hug. "Honey. Max. I'm so so sorry for doing that to you and Chloe. I knew you both were such amazing friends and I pulled that away from you. I destroyed you and Chloe. We destroyed you guys, your dad and I. I'm so so sorry honey. Please forgive me. I was selfish. To both of you. I thought it would be best that you were away from her. I wanted you to succeed and I thought Chloe was pulling you down. I'm so sorry. Max please trust me when I say that I regret everything I did. When I saw you in the back of the car in tears, rolled up in a ball in the corner of the back seat my heart was shattered. And hearing Chloe scream your name made it worse. Because of me and my selfish acts, you almost died. I almost killed my little girl. I couldn't help but internally beat myself up, seeing what I did to you. All because I wanted you to have a good life. You almost died of depression because of me. Hell and to think what Chloe must've been going through. She just lost her father. I was so selfish. I'm so sorry. Max sweetie. If I could go back in time, I would change everything. I'm so sorry honey...." My mom's words turned into mumbles. She was still latched onto me, crying into my shoulder. 

I looked up at my dad, his eyes watering. I start to shed a tear from my mom's apology. "Dad. What's going on..."

My dad looked at me, kneeled down, and put my hand on my shoulder. "Something happened to Chloe sweetie.... She's....dead."

My heart sank. I couldn't move. No words came out of my mouth. Chloe. My Chloe Price. Dead. No. This.. this can't be happening. Tears burst out of my eyes. First Kate, now her. No please....please.

After a few minutes a managed to get a few words out from my tears. "How did she..."

My dad stopped me. "She was shot in the stomach. Wrong place at the wrong time."

"C-c-can we..."

"We're going right now sweetie."

After we all collect ourselves enough, we head towards the car, all of our heads down, our eyes red, and head towards the airport. We book the next available flight for Oregon.

We landed in Portland and took a rental car to Arcadia Bay. Everything looked the same, just a little more gloomier. We go straight to the Price household and knock on the door. David opens the door, his eyes were almost red and puffy, just like everyone else's. He welcomes us in and we sit in the living room. I see Joyce at the dining table, sitting and looking down at the table. I walk over and pull up a seat next to her. Joyce looks over at the corner of her eye and quickly wraps her arms around me and hugs me tightly, crying into my shoulder. I tightly embrace her. I'm so sorry Chloe...

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We arrive at the cemetery. I walk down the aisle of the viewing area. Her casket was open. She lay there peacefully. Her blue hair was little less vibrant than it usually is. Her skin was even more pale. I waited for her chest to rise and fall... it never did. What have I done. I lose myself and fall on the ground next to Chloe's lifeless body, in tears. My mom and Joyce help me up and lead me to the nearest chair. I can't believe I did that. This is because of me. Since I never went back to Arcadia Bay, I was never there to help Chloe. Guilt spread through my body and my eyes started burning from the tears.

I watched as Chloe's casket descended into the ground. A blue butterfly then flew past me, landing on one of Chloe's flower wreaths. I smiled at it, through my tears, and it flew away up into the sky.

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We drive up to our driveway in Seattle and I run into the house. My eyes are still red and puffy from my tears. I can't get it off of my mind. This is my fault. I know I can change this. I head straight for the fridge, where the picture of me and my mom hung. I took the picture and heading up towards my room. I closed the door and sat down on my bed. I tried to focus on the photo, but I can't. My tears are getting in the way I couldn't clearly focus on picture. Come on Max. You can do this. Focus.  Finally, I focus. Everything around me went white and before I knew it I was back under her arm, but this time, I went to Blackwell Academy without any doubt whatsoever. 

Everything around me went white. It started to fade and there I was in exact spot I left in my dorm. I headed straight for my phone and cried at the sight of Chloe's name at the top of my messages. 

Max- Hey Chloe

Chloe- Sup Supermax

Max- Let's hang out tomorrow! :)

Chloe- I'll pick you up after your classes

Chloe- NO EMOJI

I smiled wide and Chloe's responses. Thank goodness she's okay and everything is back to normal. I am never ever going to abuse my power like that ever again.