Some new developments

As Chloe pulled into the driveway, it was apparent that no one else was home. Max looked at the house she hadn't seen in years. Before Chloe's father had passed, he had set out painting the outside a nice sky blue. Now, not only was it half finished, all the paint was starting the peel and flake in places. The once happy home Max had known was now in noticeable disarray. This was further evidenced when she enter Chloe's room.

"You'll find the tools in the garage." Chloe said.

Max ventured back downstairs and entered the garage. It looked so different from when she had been there last. New tools, boxes of different parts and stuff. She went to the laundry room and looked up to see the set of tools. Not sure who would out those up there, she tried to figure out how to get them down. They were perched somewhat precariously on top of a stack of boxes on top of the combo easher/dryer.

Max turned on the washer, the vibrations knocking the pack of tools off its perch. Unfortunately, it landed behind the nearby tool bench, and she was unable to reach under it to get it. Seeing a cardboard sheet nearby, she realized she should have put that underneath earlier. Then she remembered her powers. Standing in front of the bench, she rewound time to before she turned on the washer. When she reached the right spot and started time again, she realized what was going on with her clothes. She stood naked once again, but her clothes were in front of the washer. It seemed her clothes were traveling back in time, but without her. And yet her bag was able to stay with her. Maybe it had to do with the fact it contained items that she wouldn't be able to retain otherwise. Like those naked pictures of Victoria and the butterfly photo she didn't have to take more than once. Max got dressed and went back to Chloe's room to repair her camera.

"Hey, why don't you put on some tunes while I medicate?" Chloe suggested as she entered.

Chloe was lying on her bed, and leaned over to grab an ashtray with a joint and lighter inside it. With a flick of her finger, Chloe was soon toking as Max took in her grungy surroundings. The posters for indie rock bands covered girly ones she recognized. Clothes were thrown everywhere and it was hard to figure out where she would be keeping her CDs. She walked close to the bed to look at her desk, her foot hitting something solid and metallic.

Max looked down and saw a metal box with a CD, as well as other odd bits of ephemera that Chloe had thrown inside. However, as she picked up the CD, Max noticed a familiar looking photo. It was the girl from the missing person posters. In fact, it was the EXACT same photo! Max looked closer and saw it had been folded over. Unfolding it, she saw that Chloe had her arm around the girl. Did that mean...

"Hey, those are private!" Chloe shouted, snatching the photo from Max

"Whoa! Hey, that's the missing girl, right? Rachel Amber?" Max asked.

"Yeah, I put those up. Not like anyone around here cares. She...was there after dad died. After you left." Chloe explained.

"She seems like a good friend." Max interjected.

"She was awesome. You'd like her. Now, put on some music before I lose my buzz." Chloe said, a bit sad.

Max took the CD and walked over to the stereo sitting on top of an old dresser. She had to kneel down to switch on a surge protector on the floor. With a flick of her finger, the room was suddenly bathed in multi-colored lights hanging from the ceiling. It also turned on the stereo. Max popped the CD in, and some melancholy indie rock came pumping out of the speakers. Chloe lay back and spaced out while Max tended to her broken camera. Unfortunately, after half an hour, she gave up.

"Well, my camera has officially taken a shit." Max groaned.

Chloe got up and walked to the book shelf behind Max and dug out an old Polaroid camera. Smiling, she handed it to Max.

"Hey, I know it was your birthday last month, so think of this as a belated gift." Chloe said.

"No way, that's your dad's camera. I can't take this." Max resisted.

"Go on, you'll put it to better use than I ever could. And definitely take better pictures too." Chloe replied.

"Thanks." Max smiled.

Just as the moment ended, an energetic punk ballad came on.

"Hey, blast it! Yeah!" Chloe cheered as she turned the volume up and stepped onto her bed.

"Put that new camera to use and get some art shots of me dancing." Chloe said.

Max aimed her new gift and took several shots of Chloe as she bounced about on her bed.

After a minute, Max stood there, looking at her old friend, not sure what to do.

"Come on, Max! Shake that little white ass!" Chloe encouraged her.

Max slowly began to move her arms and legs in a less than coordinated fashion, but Chloe didn't seem to mind.

"Yeah! Break it down Max!" Chloe cheered.

They danced for a few moments until Chloe heard the sound of the front door opening and the familiar angry shout from her step-dad.

"Shit, it's my step-douche." Chloe said, turning the music down and putting out her joint.

"Hey, I told you to stop blasting that punk shit!" Mr. Madsen's voice permeated through the door.

"What are you talking about, my stereo's not even on!" Chloe lied.

"Open this door! What are you doing?!" the angry man shouted.

"I'm getting dressed, God! Can't I have a little privacy?" Chloe yelled back, then turned to Max, "Hide!" she said in a whisper.

Max looked around and found her salvation, the closet. She had to move a few things out of the way, and she could go inside...