You know, one can say that curiosity has killed the cat. Let alone Max and I finding out that we both dreamed the same dream with a different background story, yet all leading up to the same event where the time storm itself was coming back once again to finish what it came to do. Eventually, Max and I got very sleepy and had to call it a day. And wouldn't you know it, we both slept comfortably on her bed, all snuggled up together.
The next morning, I awoke after the summer heat rolled by, illuminating its scorching rays of the sun behind the curtain window of Max's room. Even though Max had her curtains up, I could still see the silhouette of the morning sunshine, leading me to jolt up from the bed immediately. Being in my 30s, I still had some chronic pain in my joints, leading me to stretch my joints carefully. I've got to admit it was embarrassing, but relief for once. However, out of the corner of my eye I spotted two familiar bags right next to the entryway of Max's room.
"What the!?" looking a bit confused as I adjusted my blurry eyesights. "Do my eyes deceive me, are they…"
I approached the bags to examine them, and looking at them closely, I saw what they were clearly.
"Holy Shit! They are my two duffle bags. But how did they wind up here?"
Just before I could ask myself any further questions, something sweet caught my nostrils. A familiar scent that I know for once, a place that serves delicious Belgium waffles. That place was known as "The Two Whale" Diner.
"What is that delicious smell?" feeling a bit iffy on my stomach. "Whatever it is, I am starting to feel a bit hungry. So hungry, that I could easily eat a horse."
I immediately opened my bags to see if anything else was missing, and lo and behold… everything was in its rightful place. Strangely enough, I noticed that my clothes were folded neatly and organized. Even my own toothbrush and other items that I had with me were there, not to mention how clean my clothes looked. Which felt odd, to say the least, and as I turned around to wake Max up, I finally realized that Max was not in Bed.
"Where on earth did Max go?" looking a bit confused.
Just then, my phone pinged, and as I rushed towards my phone, I saw that it was Max who had sent me a message.
Max: Morning Chloe, if you do get this message
just thought of letting you know that I was called
in for work. Dr. Fayyad needed me to run the summer
art programs and they were indeed short-staff
. Anyhow, didn't want to wake you….will be done
by 2pm. Talk to you later, love ya.
Ps. I left you some money next to the counter
near the picture board collage in case
you want to eat outdoors.
"Same old Max, you never seem to amaze me…" I was saying to myself.
Just then, I also noticed that my phone had been restored from its hinges. Not only did the background get a new software modification; got to admit it was fascinating to say the least. However, this led me to speculate as to who was the one responsible for carrying me all the way to this house? Right after Safi and her so-called young friend tried to kill me.
Just thinking about it nearly traumatized me, but what is there to say? Whatever, it was…it can wait; I was starving. I jolted straight towards the shower room and took another cold, refreshing shower. Afterwards, I got dressed wearing some decent semi-knee torn jeans, my white blaze t-shirt with the picture of a lighter and a human skull together, and my cargo boots.
"Wow! I've got to admit my clothes look clean and wrinkle-free. Not to mention how fresh they smell, even though I haven't done laundry in at least a Month, since I have been touring the states constantly with the band." I replied, as I looked at myself through the side mirror that Max had in her room.
Afterwards, I took the liberty of cleaning Max's bed and picking up my belongings that I had scattered all over the floor, right before I made my way downstairs.
As I made my way downstairs, there was this young man who was somehow whistling a tune while making breakfast.
"Ok, this is interesting!?" I replied mentally. "Did Max hire a butler? Or is he somehow a tenant here? Only one way to find out…"
Didn't want to startle him and chose to stay quiet as I leaned near the entryway of the kitchen. I've got to say, he doesn't look like a bad person, and not only that, he sure can cook. Before I could say anything, he slowly turned around and noticed me staring at him with those peculiar brown eyes.
"Oh, my goodness! Ms. Price, you scared the living daylights out of me." He said, looking a bit startled.
"(CHUCKLING) Sorry about that, didn't mean to startle you," I responded politely for once.
"That's alright. If you are wondering where Max is, she stepped out," he replied with a soft smile.
"Yeah, I know… Max gave me a text early today."
He nodded back and gestured for me to sit at the table, signaling me that breakfast was ready.
"Fair enough. Anyhow, have a seat…I made you breakfast."
I nodded back in agreement as I took my seat at the edge of the corridor that was facing the refrigerator. And just like that, this mysterious stranger came by and very carefully placed a big tray of food in front of me.
"Hope you are hungry, Ms. Chloe." He said while retreating to the sink, to do the dishes.
I examined the food that was in front of me, and wouldn't you know there was Belgium Waffles, a couple of slices of well sizzled Beacon and two big size eggs cooked to perfection. Awkwardly enough, I was mesmerized of seeing a stranger, whom I didn't get a chance to get his name, cooked me a well-balanced breakfast.
"Ms. Price?" He said out of nowhere, breaking me from my concentration.
"What!?" Jolting my concentration, and turning my head towards his direction.
"Would you like some fresh Orange juice?" He asked politely, "I made some early this morning."
"Uh…Sure." I replied as he handed me a cup of orange juice.
He didn't say much and just went back to cleaning the kitchen as usual, in the middle of me eating. But what piqued my interest was wanting to know more about this person, and what his relationship was to Max. Obviously, I didn't want the food to go to waste, and my stomach was growling a lot. But, before you know it, I went back to eating what this mysterious person had cooked me. By the time 12 pm hit, I was finally done digesting my food, and thankfully, my stomach was indeed satisfied.
As soon as my tray was empty, this mysterious person came to collect the tray that had all of the dirty dishes in it. Right before he made his hasty retreat, I immediately reached out towards his arm and stopped him.
By the way he looked, he was indeed shocked, the moment I gently grabbed on to his arm. "Hold on a sec."
"Um…is there something you want to ask me?" He said with that shocked expression.
"I have a few questions I would like to ask you. If you are ok with it, that is?" Giving him that flirtatious look.
I was hoping for him to give me a mean reaction, just like what any ordinary guy would do when someone tries to get their attention in the wrong way. Yet, he didn't flinch, and instead he was calmer than ever.
"Ah…Sure." He said, looking a bit nervous.
As soon as I let go of his arm, he slowly took a seat across from me. I obviously like to tease newcomers, like him. But now that he is all ears here, I was ready to do my good cop and bad cop on him.
"Alright!!! My first couple of questions are. Who are you? And what is your relationship with my dear Max?"
At first glance, he was hesitant to answer my question, yet I noticed him blushing at my question as I mentioned Max's name.
"Ok…I'm… Allen Zelonsky. And I am just your ordinary Handyman…" He paused for a moment and couldn't look at me directly in the face.
I didn't want to say anything that would prevent him from answering my question. So, I waited patiently for his response.
"To be honest with you, I owe Max my life." He said with a sad smile
"Wait? What do you mean that you owe Max your life?" I shot back, glancing at him. "Did she do something to you, like hiring you as her own personal Maid? Or Something?"
This Allen gave me that odd look as he replied to my question. "Um, no… Max, of all people, gave me a place to stay. As a matter of fact, she and I became friends during our strange encounter down the road."
I let him talk, and stood there being all curious.
"Max was the only person who made me feel welcomed and offered me a place to stay after she encountered me in an awkward situation, camping out near the old wreckage of where the lighthouse once stood. Honestly, I have nowhere to go, and I mostly wind up traveling from town to town where people need help the most. However, I've encountered myself in this town after the new folks needed help with a lot of things that needed fixing. That is where I come in, and at first no one trusted me, but when I encountered Mrs. Wallace, who was having car troubles, she, out of all the people, gave me a chance to fix it. And when the work was finished, she was able to put in a good word for me, leading me to finally get more work down the road."
"SO….your telling me that Max found you sleeping in your tent, not to mention being homeless?" Staring at him in disbelief.
"Yeah, that's pretty much it. But that wasn't the gist of it." Allen replied, showing a bit of sympathy.
"No? Then what was it? Please do tell, and don't leave anything behind." I said, being a bit intimidating towards him.
As we chatted for a while, I learned more about Allen and where he is from. The struggles he had to endure, not knowing where, of all places, he is from, even though he was adopted by the one who nursed him back to health. More importantly, what caught my attention the most was being rescued on the same date when that horrendous storm that wiped out Arcadia Bay took place at. He even mentioned having to deal with constant headaches, from time to time, due to his suffering from Amnesia. And the one thing that made me feel sorry for him was that after his foster mother passed away, her family chose to kick him out with nothing but the things he was able to carry with him and the clothes on his back.
That really pisses me off, hearing that when families finally show their true colors, and just like that, I got up and walked towards Allen. With Sympathy in place, and without thinking, I gave him a strong hug. He was confused, but chose to return that hug to me while he sat.
"No one is throwing you out this time, Allen. That so-called family of yours can suck it!"
"Thank you…Ms. Price…" Allen responded calmly.
Hearing Allen calling me Ms. Price had made me chuckle a little before correcting him.
"Please, just call me Chloe… From now on…."