entrancelogs | The second star to the right

Entry tags:

The second star to the right

Who: Max, OPEN, and Chloe
Where: All over Neverland
When: Up to about halfway through the event
Rating: Idk PG-13?
Summary: Max explores the island, intent on finding Chloe- and actually succeeds.
The Story:

[A. She woke up on the beach | OPEN]

This is too much like another vision.

Max wakes up on the beach, cheek pressed against the wet sand, warm water lapping at her shoes. Adrenaline fills her the moment her eyes flutter open, and very quickly she's on her feet, wiping sand from her face. She still has her bag: camera, device, Oregon phone, journal, some snacks, pepper spray... good enough. This is another event, of course. They'd all been expecting one.

A nearby forest looms over her and she stares at it with trepidation, biting her lip. All of her reasoning tells her she can't stay on the beach. She needs to find other people, or water and food, or shelter. But the trees seem so dark, the spaces between them like black veils hiding unknown and unknowable things...

She tries to use the device multiple times but Chloe never responds. She's not even sure the calls are connecting on Chloe's end. Her gaze switches back and forth between the forest and the sea, which seems to stretch on forever into a dark and starless horizon. There's only one place to go.

She makes her way toward the forest, clutching nervously at her Oregon phone, the built-in flashlight shining meekly into the foliage. Finally, with one last deep breath, she calls out loudly.

"Hello?"

And determined, she pushes past the border and into the woods, flashlight swinging left and right as she warily scans her surroundings. She has to find her best friend, after all.

[B. Don't you forget about me | CLOSED to Chloe]

It's been days. She's met people here and there, and she's taken to regularly checking the network, too. But none of those strange kids ever seem to reply to anyone- and she's pretty sure by now that Chloe's in the same sort of state.

But after all this time, Max still feels no closer to finding her best friend- her girlfriend. And who knows what sort of terrible things might be happening...

But at some point, her flashlight crosses over a break in the trees, and she spots a girl. She quickly covers the light, crouching down to hide herself, hands shaking slightly. It looked like Chloe- that brownish blonde hair, so reminiscent of their childhood days.

Could Max have possibly found her, by sheer luck and tenacity? And is Chloe still safe?

Max closes her eyes for a moment and begs herself to be brave. Then she calls out in the dark, a low whisper in the otherwise quiet woods.

"Chloe?"

[Will match any format!]

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Wha- no no. Chloe can't just leave, not after Max spent literally days looking for her to make sure she's okay. All these Lost Ones are a dangerous bunch and she doesn't want Chloe to spend another day with them.

And for god's sake, Chloe belongs with her, not some dark, dangerous forest!

"Chloe, wait!" She strides forward through the underbrush, but slows down as the various twigs catch on her pants. She kicks forcefully, trying to catch up to Chloe. She is not too late. She won't accept that. "Please-... I can explain everything to you. Just- just listen!"

She can hear the bushes and leaves rustle behind her as Max furiously tries to keep up with her. She can hear her calling out. But Chloe doesn't turn. In fact, she quickens her pace, desperate to get away from Max. She can't stand another minute with her, especially seeing her all grown up. They were suppose to grow up together. Chloe wipes her eyes furiously. We were suppose to be best friends forever.

What can Max do? Frustration wells in her chest. If Chloe isn't the most stubborn, hard-headed, infuriating person Max has ever met-!

She practically runs after finally disentangling herself from the foliage, only slowing to match Chloe's pace once she's caught up. "Chloe Price," she says, low and angry. "Turn around."

She fumbles in her bag, pulling out her journal. Her hand knocks against something else as well- a small wooden case. Something clicks in Max's brain and she pulls the case out as well.

"Just look. I have pictures- I can prove that I made it up to you." She flips the journal open to a page reserved for her Wonderland pictures of Chloe.

Chloe glances at the album in Max's hand and briefly gets a glimpse of pictures of... of-- is that me?! She comes to halt and proceeds to stare at the album, dumbfounded.

Here are pictures of herself that she's never seen-- at least Chloe thinks it's her. The girl in the photos has stark, blue hair, so different from her strawberry blonde one. Yet, she has the same eyes, same mouth, same stubborn look. And she looks older... probably as old as Max.

Max... Chloe runs her fingers over one photograph of her and Max, where Chloe is carrying her on her back and Max is sort of looking away from the camera. They look so happy, so close... just like how they used to be...

Then just like that, like waking from a dream, Chloe is reminded of her anger, of why she was running away from Max in the first place. They could have been that happy a long time ago. But no, she left her. Chloe closes her hand into a fist and withdraws it quickly from the album.

"What the hell is this?"

While Chloe looks at the pictures, Max looks at Chloe.

She watches the emotion play across the girl's face. She knows Chloe (even the child Chloe) well enough to know what each expression means- enough to almost read her mind, to know the surprise and melancholy.

Chloe's thin fingers slide across one particular picture. Max had been scared that day, frightened by the lights and the camera, by the way the whole scene played out like an underground studio. And Chloe had told her to hop up and jump on her back for the picture. She played it out like something funny, but Max knew what her best friend was really trying to do.

She watches Chloe's expression change, the little hand clench into a fist.

"It's us. You know me, Chloe... I don't care if it's been five years or two days. We're best friends." She closes the journal gently, then fiddles with the glasses case in her hands. "And I'm... so insanely sorry for leaving you."

She can't even say that she didn't want to go to Seattle because she did. Chloe was so broken at the time, after William's passing... and Max didn't know how to deal with any of it.

"But- I'm here now. And I have something for you... a gift... please." She holds out the wooden case.

Chloe continues to glare at Max, now quite uncertain at what to do, what to feel. There's still anger in there, most definitely. But now, there's something else... curiosity maybe? When-- and where-- were those pictures taken? They really don't look like they were in Arcadia... and they were obviously taken a few years from now... Unless Max has a time machine and those photographs were actually taken from the past or something.Ha ha. Funny thought. Max with a time machine.

And now, Max is trying to give Chloe a small box. But instead of taking it, Chloe crosses her arms. "What's that? A peace offering?" She lets out a snort. "You think you can reallly just come here, give me a cutesy, little box, then everything will be fine again?"

In one swift motion, Chloe uncrosses her arms then snatches the journal from Max. "If you really wanna make it up to me," she holds up the notebook, "tell me where these pictures came from. And I might just forgive you then."

"I don't think one gift will make everything okay, Chloe. This is more like a promise that things will be different from now on." And that they have been different. If only Chloe would remember... if only she'd put on the damn shades.

Max holds out the box again but almost drops it as the journal is snatched from her. It's instinctive to reach out and grab it back- that little notebook means so much to her, has so much of her life in it- but she resists the urge. A worried look crosses her face.

"...They're from a different place... and time. We found each other again, after Seattle. Look, here..." She reaches out to try and flip to a particlar entry, March 11.

"You got older. And dyed your hair blue- see? So much has happened." She watches Chloe again. "I know you've missed me. I need you to trust me again."

Edited 2016-10-30 15:14 (UTC)

Chloe looks at the page Max has just opened. There's a drawing of herself, followed by a narration of how she had just celebrated her birthday at this place called "Wonderland." Wonderland? Doesn't she mean Neverland?

Her mind is working fast-- what should she do? What should she believe in? Max has been her best friend since they were kids. She's alway been a rock solid friend; what reason does she have to lie to her now?

But then reality creeps back in and Chloe remembers Seattle all over again. She shuts the journal and looks at Max straight in the eyes. "Just because it's in your stupid notebook doesn't mean it proves anything." But although Chloe tries to say this in the same angry tone she used before, there's no mistaking the uncertainty in her voice this time.

"I... I know." Max notes the uncertainly in Chloe's voice. She gnaws at her lip, hoping that she's starting to get through. Despite how uncomfortable it makes her feel, she matches Chloe's stare, not turning to look away. She holds out the wooden case one more time.

"That's what this is for. It's proof." She opens the case and shows the silver glasses inside to Chloe. "After you wear them I'll do whatever you want- I'll go, or I'll even stay here with you. Forever..."

Desperation creeps into her tone. She wants so much for this to work- even if in a few days things will be back to normal (well, Wonderland normal), she can't stand the thought of Chloe spending any more time with the rough Lost Ones, in this eerie forest.

"If being kids together meant anything to you, then just... try these on. Okay?"

Chloe looks at the silver glasses in Max's hands with raised eyebrows. Max is clearly losing it if she thinks a pair of eyeglasses are gonna change things.

"What makes you even think I'll do what you want?"

Max is nearly at the point of stamping her feet, or vigorously running her hands through her hair in frustration. Come on, Chloe- every moment Max feels more and more like shit. She knows what a terrible friend she was when she left for the city- and she's had to live with that for so long already, and it feels like Chloe has that hanging over her half the time- and what's worse is that it's all true, and Chloe has every right!

But Max has been trying to make it all up to her best friend. And she thought she had... except for this damn event.

"Because then I'll leave you alone. I'll go away for good." Max can't keep the edge and annoyance- anger- out of her voice. Though it's not Chloe that she's angry at. "Or I'll stay- and we can be pirates again. I'll do anything."

Chloe doesn't say anything for a while, but merely looks at Max. She can see-- even hear-- her frustration. Max really wants her to try on these glasses. So much, that she's willing to do anything for it.

She turns her attention to the silver specs in Max's hands. Well, Chloe thinks to herself, what could go wrong with wearing eyeglasses, right? Despite everything that has happened, Chloe believes that Max wouldn't hurt her-- Jeez, what am I saying? She freaking left me.

No she didn't, says another voice-- the more rational but almost unheard voice-- at the back of Chloe's mind. Max didn't choose to move to Seattle. Her parents made that decision for her; there's definitely a difference.

Chloe fiddles with the notebook in her hands, still deep in thought. At long last, after what seems like hours but were actually just a couple of minutes, Chloe holds up her little finger to Max. "Pinky promise you'll do what I say after I wear the glasses?"

Max can tell how deep Chloe's thoughts are running. She wants to push further, really insist, but she also knows how fragile things are right now- she fights back the need to talk, and instead waits patiently for Chloe to decide, tense and worried.

Whole minutes pass. Minutes where Max can look at her twelve year old friend and remember happier, simpler times...

Then Chloe holds out her finger, and Max grins.

"Yes." She twists her own finger around Chloe's, then adds on the finger from her other hand as well. "Double pinky-swear." She tries not to sound too happy or victorious. Chloe still has to actually put the glasses on- maybe then Max can gloat. (Though she knows she'll mostly just feel relieved.)

Chloe just looks at Max's little finger, but doesn't return the second pinky promise. In fact, she hurriedly disentangles her finger from Max's. Let's get this over it. She takes the specs from Max's hands. The sooner I wear these, the sooner I can get rid of her.

Carefully, Chloe unfolds the delicate glasses and puts them on. For a few seconds, she repratedly blinks and looks around. Then she gives Max a smirk. "So, what now? Everything looks the same---"

She comes to a sudden halt.

Her eyes become round and she starts to stutter.

"Looks-- looks the same..."

A rush of memories floods Chloe's mind-- Rachel, Nathan, Jefferson, Wonderland... Wonderland with Max.

The zombie apocalypse, the photoshoot, the kiss. Every single memory Chloe's had ever since Max left for Seattle comes rushing back. Chloe tightens her grip on Max's journal in an attempt to steady herself. She looks down and gasps. Not because of the little notebook she's holding but how little her fingers are. She holds up one hand, closes it into a fist, then opens it again to stretch her fingers. What the fuck is going on? Why are my hands so small?

Through her fingers, she sees Max's face-- Max's face, which seems a little higher than usual. Chloe lowers her hand and realizes that Max is taller.

What.

Chloe looks up to Max-- this has never happened before.

"Max. What the fuck--"

She stops talking for a while and rubs her throat. Is it just me or my voice sounds a little higher?

Chloe tries again.

"Max."

Yup, it is definitely higher. What the hell is happening?

"Max, what the fuck is going on?"

Max stares at Chloe, waiting for something to happen. She sees Chloe's grip on the book tighten and steps forward, one hand on Chloe's shoulder and the other on her wrist, steadying the girl. Max grins as Chloe holds up a hand and examines it, opening and closing- and her grin widens as Chloe looks at her. The shock on her face is kinda cool.

It's rare I get a one-up on Chloe...

"Earth to Chloe?" she teases. "Do I have my best friend back yet?"

She squeezes the young girl's wrist. And she takes the glasses, now a dull gray, off of Chloe. "It's okay. It's just an event- you don't remember? You're a little kid again. Squeaky voice and all."

Max smiles, fond and encouraging. "It brings back a whole load of memories."

"I-- I'm a what?"

Chloe starts examining her hands and her arms. Yup, they do look thinner. Then she runs her hands over her sides, her boobs-- holy eff, they're tiny!-- her waist. She even cups her cheeks with her hands, then moves up to her hair, where it feels longer.

Dreading of what's she about to see, Chloe pulls a lock of hair so she can see better-- Jesus it's blonde.

Her hair's not blue. It's freaking blonde. Again.

This is too much to handle. "What kind of fucking event is this?!" she exclaims.

Then Chloe points to Max accusingly. "And how come you're still you and I'm a little kid?!" (Chloe probably knows what the event is about but she's too shocked to figure it out right now. Give her some time, Max. She'll come to her senses.)

Edited 2016-10-31 05:35 (UTC)

Trying to suppress a laugh (at Chloe's expense!) over all of Chloe's panic, Max tightens her grip on her best friend's shoulders, and pulls the younger girl into a hug.

"I have no idea! Some of you are kids now, and they're all pissed at us, but... I got you to wear those glasses the Duchess gave to me. They made you remember everything."

She steps back, holding Chloe at arms length to get a good look at her. "You know, I forgot how much smaller you, we, were." She grins, teasing. "God, Chloe, I'm just glad you remember everything now." She looks around at the trees. "Uh, any chance you remember how to get out of here, too?"

Chloe takes a while to respond; she's still too busy checking herself out. After (finally) accepting that she really is a kid right now, Chloe just lets out a long sigh. Stupid Wonderland. Always fucking things up in the craziest ways.

She looks around, trying to calm herself down and remember the event. There was music... Neverland... and the Lost Ones.

Right.

There are other kids lurking around the woods, who probably have more dangerous weapons than her. She takes out her slingshot from her pocket and gives back Max her journal so she can use both hands on her weapon.

"Right, the exit." Chloe starts making her way through the woods, following the same path Max took to get there. "It's somewhere in this direction. We just need to follow the trail."

Max takes the journal back gratefully, storing it carefully in her bag. There's a ton of stuff in there she'd hate to lose in some random event forest. The glasses go into her bag too, though now all they have is a dull gray sheen.

Max turns to look where Chloe is going, shining her phone light into the woods. "There's a trail?" she complains, face-palming. That certainly would've made her two-day trek more pleasant. "Lead the way... Dora."

Yeah, totally still making fun of the kid thing.

And, despite being low on supplies, tired and icky after being lost in the forest, Max can't help but smile. The edge in her voice has been completely replaced by an almost enthusiastic cheerfulness.

Chloe glares at her best friend as she makes the whole "Dora the Explorer" joke, but because she's a kid, the supposed death stare just comes out more like a pout. She rolls her eyes instead and starts pushing branches aside as she follows the trail.

Barely a few feet from Max however, Chloe suddenly stops and turns to Max. "Wait. We can't leave yet," in her squeaky, kiddy voice. "There's someone else we need to bring along."

That little death pout brings back a lot of memories and emotion, and Max only grins back like an idiot. And right after that comes the- yup, there it is, Chloe's signature eyeroll, just as Max predicted.

What she doesn't expect is Chloe's sudden stop, which brings Max up short before she bumps into her best friend. She frowns at Chloe's words.

"...Uh, who exactly?" she protests quietly. "I'm not a huge fan of spending more time in here."

"There's this kid..." Chloe starts, but then stops again. How is she gonna explain this to Max without breaking a pinky promise she made? She tries again.

"Uh... Do you remember Tim? Also from Wonderland? Well, he's here too and..." she fiddles with the slingshot in her hands. "I-- I can't leave him."

She makes her voice a little firmer, with a finality in her tone. "I just can't.

Not after the weird shit he's been seeing.

She really didn't realize Tim and Chloe were already that close. They had what, one network conversation and-

And the entire event together, so far?

Max studies her best friend's expression, trying to figure out how negotiable this particular side-quest is. The fact that Chloe's even hesitating to explain it all to Max is a pretty big clue already- and Max couldn't say no to Chloe's face anyway, not with that lovable kiddy look.

She sighs.

"Okay, okay. We go find Tim, but promise me we jump ship immediately after that." She raises her flashlight again, pointing it back deeper into the woods.

Promises. Here we go again.

"Yeah, sure. We leave once we get him." Chloe starts to trek back to the direction where they came from, wondering the whole time how in the world is she gonna convince Tim to come with her, when he just had that insane meltdown and practically doesn't trust anyone.

Well, fuck.

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The second star to the right

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