Tales From Arcadia Bay: Pricefield

SEASON 1: CAPITALIZE // EPISODE 1: NOT LEAVING YET

"Fuck!" Chloe shouted as she placed the heap of scrap at the mouth of the junkyard.

She wiped a bead of sweat from her brow as she wrapped the scrap heap she had collected in a bundle. She dragged the heap to the bed of her truck, picking it up and placing it inside. She flipped the door to the bed closed and walked around to the driver's seat. She took the driver's seat and lit a cigarette, reaching out the window and adjusting the mirror. She focused on a patch of dirt at the back of the junkyard, turning the mirror back as she felt a tear come to her eye.

"Just this last run," she whispered as she turned the truck on and shifted into drive.

Chloe drove into the streets of Arcadia Bay, keeping an eye on the crumbling buildings around her as she puffed on her full-strength cigarette. Third Eye Blind echoed throughout the cabin from the stereo.

Chloe drove through the wasteland that had once been called a town. She had to make frequent detours, most of the roads having been closed off to allow for cleanup and repair. The roads that were open weren't much better, potholes and scrap lining the once-clean asphalt.

Chloe stopped the truck in the parking lot. As she opened the door, she was immediately greeted by the sounds of large machinery and construction vehicles. She walked to the back of her truck and opened the bed as a man approached.

"Chloe!" The man said as he walked to the truck. "How are you?"

"I'll be better once I'm out of Arcadia with my money, James," Chloe replied as she pulled the bundle of scrap from the truck. "Let's talk bidness."

"Ah, Chloe. Always business," James nudged Chloe on the shoulder.

Chloe took a step back from the man as he touched her.

"How much do you want for this?" She asked, opening the bag to reveal the scrap.

"Let me see," the man crouched down and began to pick through the pile.

He sorted through the various pieces of gnarled steel and other assortment of junk.

"A grand," he finally said as he rose to his feet.

"What?" Chloe shouted. "You told me we had a deal for 2.5!"

James shrugged. "Supply and demand, kid. I'll go get your cash."

"What the fuck, man?" Chloe called after him.

The cry seemed to fall on deaf ears. James walked into the foreman's booth and emerged with a stack of bills. He placed it in Chloe's open palm.

"I'm not leaving yet," Chloe said, looking James in the eyes. "Not until I get my money."

"Kid, that's not how this works," James got close to Chloe. "You bring me the scrap, and I give you the price, not the other way around. Now get out of here before I report you for this little scheme."

Chloe stared back at the man. She took a step back, threw up a middle finger, and got into her truck. She started it up, pulled it out onto the street, and threw up another middle finger at James as she drove away.

"Fuck!" She shouted, slamming her fists down on the wheel. "Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!"

-----

Chloe fiddled with her keys in her pocket as she walked up the path to the lighthouse. She heard the sounds of the camera snapping shots before she saw the girl holding it.

"Little Miss Wallflower!" Chloe called out.

"Captain Chloe!" Max's voice came as she walked out from behind a tree.

Chloe felt butterflies in her stomach as she and Max walked towards each other. She threw her arms around Max as soon as she could, holding the girl in her grasp.

"How are the pics, first mate?" Chloe asked, still holding Max.

"They're good!" Max replied. "What are you doing here?"

"You know me, Max," Chloe said as she pulled a joint from her pocket. "I need my vitamins."

Chloe walked to the bench sitting next to the lighthouse as Max went back to taking pictures overlooking the remnants of Arcadia Bay. Chloe put the joint to her lips and lit the end, filling her lungs with smoke. She saw a flash out of the corner of her eye.

"Evidence," Max said with a smile as the Polaroid of Chloe smoking was printed from the front of the camera.

Chloe extended her middle finger up to Max. She took another photo, Chloe's grin visible just behind her rude gesture.

When Chloe had finished her joint, Max walked over and sat on the bench next to her.

"They start rebuilding tomorrow," Max said to Chloe as she leaned up against the girl.

Chloe placed her arm around Max. "Aww, am I going to lose my roommate to juvie?"

Max laughed. "The Blackwell dorms aren't going to be ready for a while," she replied. "We still have some time to play pirates."

"Arrr," Chloe said as she tussled Max's hair gently. "I'm keeping my first mate as long as I can!"

-----

The key clicked in the ignition as Chloe turned it, the engine promptly cutting off. Chloe stepped out of the truck, as did Max. They both approached the house before them. It was Chloe's house, practically untouched by the storm save for a litany of missing shingles and paint, as well as one busted window.

"After you," Chloe opened the front door for Max and motioned inside.

"Why, thank you," Max replied as she walked into the house and set her bag down on the table. "I was thinking of playing some video games tonight and falling asleep on the couch, would Captain Chloe like to join?"

"Arrr, of course!" Chloe replied in a thick pirate voice. "Let me change first, matey!"

Max laughed as Chloe walked up the stairs to her room.

She opened the door and took a deep breath. Music from her playlist filled the room, albeit quietly. With slow feet, she walked to her dresser drawer. Chloe dug through the layers of clothes until she had reached the bottom and pulled out the T-shirt stored there along with a small key. She moved to her desk, a lockbox sitting atop it. Chloe took a deep breath and slid the key into the lock. With a turn, the lid of the box popped up. She pushed it open and stared down into it. She placed the T-shirt on the desk next to the box, a lighter engraved with the word 'Firewalk' printed on the shirt. She then reached into her pocket.

"Chloe! I'm about to embark on an epic quest!"

"Coming!"

Chloe took another breath as she pulled the stack of money from her pocket and placed it inside the box. She then closed the lid and read the word scribbled onto the piece of scotch taped she had stuck to the box.

'FUNERAL'