Life Is Strange: The Outliers

Episode 1: Rebirth (Part 1)

(Author's note: I've added a song to this chapter. I'll let you know when to play it.)

(Author's note: Brief graphic content ahead. Reader discretion is advised.)

"Do you know what you're wearing to the Halloween party?" Pat said, showing her e-ticket to the bus driver. "It's only, like, two weeks away."

Aylen pulled out her phone and opened her VeryBus app.

"I don't," she said, showing her e-ticket to the bus driver. "Maybe a witch or something."

Pat scoffed as she made her way down the isle toward the back of the bus.

"A witch? Are you kidding? That shit was cliche in the nineties!"

"Oh, hush! We weren't even born in the nineties," Aylen said, following closely behind Pat.

"Yeah, but we watch nineties sitcoms all the time and there are witches in, like, every Halloween special."

Aylen grinned.

"Exactly. It's a classic. Classics never get old."

They reached the end of the aisle and took the stairs to the upper deck.

"You know Kaden's going to be there," she said as they climbed. "Whatever you're going as, you wanna be hot."

"Oh, please," Aylen said. "I can go as The Wicked Witch of the West and still have him all over me."

"Ooh, somebody's confident," Pat said, reaching the top of the stairs. She turned to look at Aylen. "In fact, you'd make a sexy witch. I say go for it."

"And you're gonna be a sexy fae," Aylen said, reaching the top of the stairs.

"Damn right!" Pat said, turning and strutting down the aisle. "Our sexy fae-witch duo is gonna turn heads all night."

She took a seat somewhere near the back of the quickly-filling upper deck.

"Is there a particular head you're trying to turn?" Aylen said, sitting next to Pat.

A sheepish smile spread across her face.

"Not telling!" Pat exclaimed.

"Wow, you're actually flushing!" Aylen gasped. "Your face is as red as your hair. You must really like this person."

Pat looked at Aylen and smiled. She was a stunning-looking girl, with her provocative half-shaved hairstyle and striking gray eyes. She could probably have anyone she wanted.

"Would you mind your business!" Pat said, giggling. "Aaanyway! I'm so glad it's Friday. I don't even want to think about Harrington Academy."

"Ditto," Aylen agreed. "School year just started and I'm already feeling burned out. I mean, who knew creative writing classes could be so stressful." She sighed as she laid back against her seat. "Writing has been my passion since I was at least ten or eleven. I used to have fun with it, but now . . . it just feels like work."

Pat shrugged, leaning against the window.

"It feels like work because it is work," she said. "Shit's different when you're being graded for it. You used to write for fun—now you're potentially writing for your future. Naturally, that brings an entirely new element of finesse . . . which is the cause of your stress." Pat playfully nudged Aylen. "'Least that means you care about your craft."

Aylen smiled.

"Wow. I think you're right," Aylen said. "Sheesh, Pat. You're amazing."

"Sounds about right," Pat said nonchalantly.