Life is Strange x Fem!Reader - Platonic!Fic - Alternative Reality
You met Max when she started at Blackwell Academy, before she had to deal with Nathan Prescott or saw Chloe Price for the first time in five years.
You first saw her in photography class, the teacher Mr Jefferson was talking about something you were lowkey zoning out for, your eyes on your trainers. Until Mr Jefferson asked what he’d just said to you. You looked like a deer in headlights as you just shook your head, keeping your eyes on your textbook before you saw what you’d used the bookmark the page.
Everyday Heroes Photo Contest.
“What I was talking about, Y/n, was the-”
“Everyday Heroes Contest?” You interrupted, leaving Mr Jefferson to stare at you momentarily.
“Next time, pay attention to something more than your shoelaces, Y/n.” You didn’t take your gaze off your desk at that, ignoring how you could feel eyes on you as you chose to pick up your camera and look through the reel.
“Hey, that’s a cool shot.” You almost dropped your camera at the voice before your shoulders relaxed, acknowledging who looking at your camera screen over your shoulder.
“Thanks, you’re Max, right? You use polaroids?” You asked, tilting your head to the side as you watched Max shrink in on herself as soon as you mentioned her camera.
“Hey, it’s okay, I think the polaroids are pretty cool, I love your photos too by the way, I saw a couple back when we had that assignment to show what we could do, the benchmark project?” You replied, smiling as Max relaxed slightly.
“I was wondering if you’d want to exchange photo know-how sometime?” Max asked, leaving you to nod.
“Yeah, sure, that sounds awesome, how about after class?”
You knew Max was hesistant to hand in her photograph for the contest, much to your argument that you thought she’d win. She claimed you could too but you already knew back then, Max’s photo was way better than yours.
Max told you about her childhood friend Chloe Price on October 1st.
You never met Rachel Amber, you only knew what she looked like from her missing person posters that Chloe had plastered everywhere.
It wasn’t until you offered to pay for breakfast at the Two Whales Diner tomorrow that Max finally gave in, sending in her photo. But Max had been acting weird since that class on the Daguarrian Process.
After class, Max dragged you to the girls bathroom where the two of you hid in a corner until Nathan Prescott walked in, talking crazy. Max just held your arm as the two of listened to him talking to a girl with blue hair until Max started going for the fire alarm as Nathan got out a gun.
You let out a breath as you and Max ran out of the bathroom, freezing as David told you both to get outside. Max went to Principal Wells whilst you stood besides her, backing up her statement about Nathan Prescott with a gun in the girls’ bathroom.
Meeting Chloe was interesting, you didn’t think Chloe wanted anything to do with you as she only acknowledged Max. But it was Max who pulled you into Chloe’s pick-up truck, she slid into the middle as you shut the door, leaving Warren to punch Nathan Prescott in the face.
The three of you hung out, although it was awkward for you to try communicate with Chloe until you gave up, taking photos of her and Max when they weren’t looking.
“Y/n’s cool. She’s got this way with nature... a force of nature.” Max smiled, leaving you to roll your eyes before you spotted the doe watching the three of you in the junkyard.
Unlike the other timelines, it didn’t snow today. Why would it snow in October in Oregon? No weird weather here, thanks.
Chloe dropped you and Max off at the dorms after the three of you hung out at the lighthouse.
But it wasn’t until past 9pm that your phone began to go off.
PricelessPunk: max y/n you there
MadMax: What’s going on? You okay?
PricelessPunk: crazy shit is going down. step-soldier called the cops and took off. he had his gun.
ForceOfNature: when is arcadia bay not interesting?
PricelessPunk: especially after hooking up with you again.
PricelessPunk: and introducing me to Y/n today
MadMax: Everything is going to be okay! We’re all together!
ForceOfNature: okay cheeseball
PricelessPunk: insert insult here
PrincessPunk: < image sent > load image
MadMax: Text back when you hear anything.
You yawned when you realised it was getting closer to 10pm. All that fresh air from hanging outside had you completely forgetting to drink any more coffee, leaving to you crash in your bed almost automatically.
1 New Message from PricelessPunk at 8:30
PricelessPunk: good morning
PricelessPunk: your asses better be up if i am
PricelessPunk: wakey wakey egg n baky
ForceOfNature: who turned on the sun?
MadMax: You mean wakey baky. So what happened last night?
PricelessPunk: step-swat got home late last nite all jacked up about one of his investigations
MadMax: He might be right for a change
PricelessPunk: so meet me at the two whales asap
MaxMax: Ok, see you soon!
You had just gotten back to your room from the showers when you saw your phone.
By the time you were ready and about to be knocking on Max’s door, Max appeared out of Kate’s door instead, making you jump.
“Hey Y/n, c’mon, let’s not keep Chloe waiting.” Max smiled, closing Kate’s door.
“Yeah, I was just returning her copy of The October Country.” Max explained as the two of you left the dorms.
The three of you were sat in the Two Whales when the cop sat at the counter had to run out. Max just let out a breath when it was revealed that the diner cop, Officer Berry and David had found the dark room, arresting both Mark Jefferson and Nathan Prescott at Blackwell.
It was around 5pm when your phone buzzed. You had just left Kate’s room so you stood in the corridor to check your texts.
PricelessPunk: max i need you right now
PricelessPunk: i know what happened to Rachel
PricelessPunk: come meet me at the lighthouse when u get this
PricelessPunk: bring Y/n too
MadMax: I’ll be there. I hope she’s fine.
MadMax: Y/n, I’ll meet you outside the dorms
By the time you and Max reached the lighthouse, Chloe was sat on the bench barely holding it together.
“Chloe!” Max exclaimed, the two of you running over.
“What, what happened?” You asked, crouching down so you could see Chloe properly as she slipped into a fetal position.
PricelessPunk: thank you for being there for me yesterday
PricelessPunk: i keep trying to wake up like this is a nightmare
PricelessPunk: why rachel? she never hurt anyone
MadMax: No, she didn’t. Chloe, I’m so sorry about everything
PricelessPunk: dude how do we get over shit like this
ForceOfNature: by living. Rachel would want you to have a great life.
MadMax: Exactly, that’s truly the best revenge
PricelessPunk: no we really do have to take over the world
MaxMax: No, we just have to be there for eachother
PricelessPunk: u are saint max
You were sat on the floor tidying your room that noon on Thursday when your phone buzzed, leaving you to chuckle as you looked at your lockscreen of you, Max and Chloe with ice creams.
PricelessPunk: yes i am hella bored
PricelessPunk: with nothing to do
PricelessPunk: whatcha doing hippie
PricelessPunk: u too nature lover
MadMax: some of us hippies have homework
ForceOfNature: tidying my room, homework is done
PricelessPunk: and i already did my paperwork for bay city college
It was during photography class that the winner of the Everyday Heroes Contest was announced. You just smirked since you’d known from the start that Max would win.
“You gonna tell Chloe the good news?” You asked, standing with Max as she held up a larger framed version of her original polaroid submission.
“Of course!” Max smiled at you, class had ended and people had faded away from congratulating Max.
MadMax: I WON THE EVERYDAY HEROES CONTEST!!!
PricelessPunk: HOLY SHIT YOU RULE MAX!!!!!
PricelessPunk: i am so proud of my superstar
PricelessPunk: this is just the start of your career
ForceOfNature: i knew from the moment you showed me that photo you’d win!
MadMax: I’m just so glad I can share it with you both.
ForceOfNature: damn right
PricelessPunk: plus max you deserved to win
ForceOfNature: hahahahaha
“You need help packing? Pretty sure Chloe will be rushing over too-” you were cut off as the two of you headed out the doors to the fountain, spotting Chloe parking her car.
“Speak of the punk and she shall appear.” You joked as Chloe ran over.
“Sup photo nerds!” Chloe grinned before Max grabbed the two of you, pulling you both towards the dorms.
Max was kneeling on the floor, folding clothes to pack as she was jetting off to San Francisco with Principal Wells, to the Zeitgeist Gallery where Max’s winning submission was being displayed.
Chloe was sat on the couch with her feet in your lap, strumming Max’s guitar as you sat with your camera, snapping a photo of Chloe’s side profile.
“What’s that photo term for when it’s like this?” Chloe asked as she spun around in a circle, her boots leaving imprints in the sand as you walked behind her, your camera strap around your neck as you had your camera balanced in your hand.
“Golden hour. An hour before sunset and after sunrise.” You explained, snapping some photos before Chloe nudged you, showing you the photo Max had taken in the Zeitgeist Gallery.
“She really deserves this y’know.” Chloe admitted, leaving you to chuckle.
“Then she’ll be back here hanging with us misfits, y’know.” You replied, smiling as you spotted a pod of whales.
“C’mon, I want to get a good photo of that whale pod!” You exclaimed, running towards Chloe to take her hand and drag her across the beach.
The sun’s rays left the waves glowing, the clear skies showing no tornado in sight. Justice was served and both Chloe and Arcadia Bay lived.