Work Text:
In the damned bathroom once again, shaking in fear I heard the same words Nathan always says. Never changing, always the same.
My nose bled out, stretching time for me to write out my journal nearly drained me to death but it's all worth it. For Chloe. I'd do it all over for her, forever. I love her. I love my best friend and I'd always save her.
The pages filled up quickly, blood dripping onto the pages but still readable. Just as I finished, I placed the book into my bag and my hand held the butterfly picture and it was my backup plan, I could photojump between photojump, right? It was worth a try.
This decision was easy if you think about it, it was my storm. I caused this all, so why don't I sacrifice myself to save everyone? Everyone deserves a chance to life. Everyone except me. I killed everyone before, now it was my turn to pay the Price, no pun intended. This choice is so simple, just make sure Chloe doesn't get shor and see what happens, if something happens to me... It won't matter. Save the girl.
I hadn't tried this theory yet... The storm always comes when I save or didn't save Chloe, now its time to try all posibilities. If I don't...
Suddenly, the door banged open, the Prescott entered, panicked.
"It's cool, Nathan... Don't stress... You're okay, bro. Just count to three... Don't be scared... You own this school... If I wanted, I could blow it up... You're the boss.."
He's a broken boy fueled by lies, this wasn't his fault... Right?
"So what do you want?"
She's here. Why did she blackmail him, shouldn't she know never to mess with a Prescott? Then again, she had no idea what he really was capable of. And she'd know in a second.
"I hope you checked the perimeter, as my step-ass would say. Now, let's talk bidness—"
She opened the tall doors, always missing the last ones and never looking past the final stall, never finding me.
"I got nothing for you."
"Wrong. You got hella cash."
I slightly chuckled at that word, not loud enough to be heard but still a sound. Chloe loved saying that... No- She loves saying it.
"That's my family, not me."
"Oh, boohoo, poor little rich kid. I know you been pumpin' drugs 'n' shit to kids around here... I bet your respectable family would help me out if I went to them. Man, I can see the headlines now—"
Chloe! Stop! Tears fell down my face as I knew what was happening. That fucking gun was about to come out, Chloe's bravery front will faulter any second now...
"Leave them out of this, bitch."
"I can tell everybody Nathan Prescott is a punk ass who begs like a little girl and talks to himself—"
Nathan takes out his gun and points it at Chloe. She backs up into the wall and Nathan stands in front of her, one arm against the wall and the other pointing the gun at her stomach.
"You don't know who the fuck I am or who you're messing around with!"
"Where'd you get that? What are you doing? Come on, put that thing down!"
I could hear every little thing Chloe was doing, several panicked breathes, trying to be strong but terrified. Her heartbeat was loud but beating. I was due to do what I was supposed to any moment now.
"Don't EVER tell me what to do. I'm so SICK of people trying to control me"
"You are going to get in hella more trouble for this than drugs—"
"Nobody would ever even miss your "punk ass" would they?"
I steped out from the stall wall, it was my turn to be an everyday hero. She crept onto Nathan and nearly managed to just be able hit him but Chloe unintentionally alarmed him by staring at her,
The crazed shooter looked at me and looked furious, "Caulfield?! What the fuck?!", he raised his gun towards me and his grip on Chloe lessened.
"Max?!" Chloe yelled, clearly terrified that I was there, Nathan looked back at Chloe probably confused on how she knew me but this was my shot.
I grabbed his arm and he fought with me, trying to get in control over the gun but his farantic power overpowered my own and he pushed me away by letting go of Chloe and putting everything into attacking me.
His arm managed to pin mine and he hit me as the gun slipped my hand, before I could rewind the mistake, he shot.
A bullet went through my stomach and I fell to the ground, bleeding out. Tears fell down my face as I heard Chloe punch Nathan as he managed to escape, she fell next to me and held me close to her.
"Max!" she yelled, crying. Desperate for me to be okay but I wasn't.
"C-chloe..." I managed to let out, my determination to let her know what happened to me was spiking upwards, I knew I wouldn't last long enough so I spoke more and tried to get her to listen to me.
Holding the wound tightly with one hand, the other bloodied hand went and held Chloe's cheek, stroking it softly. I saved her.
"I... Need to tell- tell you... some..thing..."
"Stay with me Max... Please, I'm here. I'm here." Chloe's grip onto me was possesive, her knees were next to me and she was leaning over me, both of her hands were trying to stop the bleeding, she was crying more then me.
"R-read my journal. I-it ex..plains.. everythi..ng...." My eyes felt increasingly heavy and my breathing was slowing down, a loud bang from the door was heard and Mr Madsen entered.
I couldn't bare to see him right now, I just wanted Chloe to be the last person I see.
Using the last amount of energy I had, I lifted myself closer to my best friend. Both my arms around her, pulling her head closer to mine and I whispered to her,
"I love you Chloe. I always have.." I tried to smile but my muscles felt heavy, everything felt heavy and I felt water drip onto my face... My body felt limp and I fell onto the floor, it was slightly more comfortable then before- Chloe's arms held my head. I smiled weakly as I heard weeps from her...
"I love you too Max..." was the last thing I heard.
