When Life is Strange was first released back in 2015, it wowed gamers with its immersive and emotive narrative. The game tells the story of Max Caulfield, a photography student with the ability to rewind time. After Max has a premonition that her town will soon be destroyed, she's forced to make some difficult decisions that eventually go on to shape the futures of everyone around her.
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What makes the game so engaging is that almost every choice that Max has to make is given to the player. Each one has a different outcome, meaning that playthroughs can vary quite a bit depending on the person playing. The most important choices in Life is Strange can potentially have devastating consequences, as those who choose to read on will soon discover.
Updated June 5, 2022, by Raviprakash Nanduri: The Life is Strange: Remastered Collection is available either as a standalone game or as part of the Ultimate Edition of True Colors, the collection includes remastered versions of the series' first two installments, Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. The Life is Strange series of video games is heavily story-driven, and the story uniquely develops based on player choice.
The games can be broken down into a series of major choices that have a major impact on the outcome of the story while other minor choices affect interactions with supporting characters. First-Time Life is Strange players will probably feel stressed when the game throws these choices at them. Reading up on the outcome of these choices will help them develop the story in the direction they desire and feel more in control.
15 Save David & Joyce's Marriage Or Watch Their Relationship Collapse
Whether David and Joyce remain together may seem a little insignificant when compared to some of the other big choices in Life is Strange. That's because, in many ways, it is, though the idea that the words of a high school student could have such a huge impact on a couple's relationship is still a little scary and will probably make many players think twice before they speak as a result.
Given Chloe's relationship with her stepfather and the strength of her bond with Max, most players tend to badmouth David at every opportunity. This ultimately leads to him and Joyce breaking up for good, but players can save their relationship if they choose to side with David instead. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, Chloe won't be too thrilled about this, but Joyce does seem to be happier with David in her life.
14 Help Alyssa Or Ignore Her
It's difficult not to feel sorry for Max's awkward classmate Alyssa, who ends up being a target for many of Arcadia Bay's bullies throughout the game. This will usually prompt players to step in and help her whenever they're given the chance to do so, with four such opportunities presenting themselves throughout the game's five episodes.
If players choose not to help her even once, Alyssa will fall to her death during the game's final episode. Assuming that they do help her on all four occasions though, they'll instead have the option to save her. This, in turn, will lead to Alyssa saving Max from a falling sign during a huge storm a little later on in the game.
13 Blame Chloe Or Take The Blame
In the first episode, Chloe's Stepfather and the School security guard, David Madsen discovers Chloe's weed stash and confronts her about it. During this sequence, players can hide in the closet or do nothing and get discovered by David. If the player doesn't manage to hide in time, David will confront both Max and Chloe. This breaks into a player-choice sequence where the player can decide on whether to blame Chloe for the weed or to take the blame for it. If Max manages to hide in the wardrobe, the player sees a choice sequence where they can choose to either stay hidden or reveal themselves to David.
If the player blames Chloe for the weed, they lose Chloe's trust and she will not reveal her gun to Max. If the player chooses to take the blame, David will report Max to the police and Max might get suspended from Blackwell Academy, either when she reports Nathan's gun or when she blames David for harassing Kate. This decision can also have an impact on how the adults treat Max in the next episodes.
If the player stays hidden, Chloe will be angry at Max, but she isn't suspended from Blackwell academy and David does not report her to the police. He reports Chloe instead. If the player reveals themselves to David, Chloe will be very happy, but David will hit Chloe anyway and reports Max to the police, and she gets suspended from Blackwell.
12 Steal The Money Or Leave It
In the game's third episode, players are faced with a tough call very early on when Chloe and Max stumble upon some money in the headmaster's office. Chloe thinks that it would be a good idea to take the money, but it's ultimately left up to Max and the player to decide. Should they go ahead with stealing or leave the money behind?
Related: The Most Important Decisions In Life Is Strange: True Colors
This ends up being a crucial choice because of the impact that it has on Max and Chloe's relationship. If players take the money, Chloe will be more relaxed and happy. If they choose to leave it, however, she becomes aggressive. The worst thing that happens to those who do steal is a guilty conscience, as evidenced by one of Max's dreams.
11 In The Street Or Parking Lot
During the third episode of Life is Strange, Max breaks into the home of Frank Bowers. The former drug dealer and dogfight runner had a revelation and started saving dogs. When Max gets to his home though, Frank's dog causes a slight problem. She has a bone that she wants to play with and players get to choose where to throw it.
At first glance, this doesn't seem like a significant call, but what makes it mean something are the potential consequences. Throw the bone in the parking lot, and the dog may be a slight problem later on, but nothing major. Throw it in the street, however, and the dog gets hit by a truck. The latter makes things easier, but Max (and most players) will feel guilty.
10 Who's To Blame?
One of the biggest moments of the game comes when Kate attempts suicide. "Attempts" is the key word here, as whether or not she's successful depends entirely on the choices that players make throughout the game. Regardless of whether she succeeds or not, when asked about who or what caused it, Max can choose to blame Nathan, David, or Mr. Jefferson.
David was the main person bullying her, so he's a strong possibility. Nathan dosed her, which is a terrible thing and also makes him responsible. Mr. Jefferson did make her cry, but he seems like an odd inclusion for this choice when compared to the other two. It ultimately turns out that Mr. Jefferson is a bad guy though, so while this choice doesn't impact the overall story too much, it does clue players in that there's something up with Jefferson.
9 Shoot Or Don't Shoot Frank
During the second episode, Frank Bowers, Chloe's drug dealer confronts Max and Chloe in the junkyard. He gets into a heated exchange with Chloe and pulls out his knife on her before Max points the gun at Max and requests him to deescalate the situation. At that moment, the player is given a major choice sequence where Max can either shoot or not shoot Frank.
It's important to remember that regardless of what choice the player makes here, the gun is empty and nothing violent will happen. If Max chooses to shoot Frank, he will be angry as well as amused but leaves the scene. While this option will lead to Chloe respecting Max more for standing up for her, Frank will become more difficult to deal with in the next episodes, recalling this incident when Max tries to befriend him.
If Max chooses not to shoot Frank, Chloe will perceive Max as a coward and Frank takes the gun and walks away. While he will become easier to befriend in the next episodes, he will not allow her to take a picture of him while he's eating.
8 Take Or Leave The Gun
While Max inspects Frank Bowers' RV, she finds a gun and is faced with the seemingly simple choice of taking it or leaving it behind. The lesser effect is how it impacts the bond between Max and Chloe, which many players consider to be one of the best video game relationships in history. Taking it makes Chloe excited and so that's probably a good thing.
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The bigger consequences come in the following episode. The fight with Frank will be more difficult for players who don't have a gun, though taking it results in Chloe being the one to kill Frank and possibly his dog. Many players care deeply for Chloe and don't want this to be something that she has to deal with, so tend to leave the gun to protect her.
7 Warren Vs Nathan
In the fourth episode, after Nathan discovers Max and Chloe outside his room, Warren steps in and starts beating Nathan up. This then breaks into a player-choice sequence where the player can choose to either stay out of it or stop Warren from excessively beating Nathan up.
Choosing to stay out of it leads to Warren laying a proper beat down on Nathan and Chloe taking his gun and later shooting Frank. Nathan is humiliated and some students are seen gossiping about it. If Max intervenes and stops Warren, he thanks her for stopping him from stooping to Nathan's level and Nathan picks up his gun and runs away. Crucially, intervening will stop Chloe from taking the gun and players are closer to the "No One Got Hurt" outcome after the confrontation with Frank in the fourth episode.
6 Chloe Vs. Frank
During episode four, players are faced with what is probably the most complex decision in the game. It is broken down into three parts and each has a different outcome. This comes during the fight against Frank, with players' dialogue choices potentially having a big impact on the way things turn out.
One outcome sees Chloe kill Frank, which is generally considered to be the worst option. Another causes Chloe to wound Frank by shooting him in the leg, though that still isn't ideal. The best possible outcome is arguably the one in which no one gets hurt, and players gain Frank as an ally.
5 Kissing Chloe
When Chloe and Max are spending some quality time together in Episode 3, the opportunity arises for Max to make a move and plant a kiss on Chloe. Again, this might seem like a trivial choice at first glance, but it actually matters quite a lot in the grand scheme of things.
There isn't a ton that directly impacts the game's narrative, with most choices instead affecting how the player feels. If they do go for the kiss, it often means that players are buying into this potential romance. Considering the game's final choice, what they do during this moment could, therefore, mean the world.
4 Go To The Cops Or Find Proof
This is one of the toughest calls in the entire game. Early on in the second episode, Max has a conversation with Kate. She opens up about the things that have happened to her and some of them are highly illegal. Players are then given the to take what they've learned to the police or search for more proof.
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It's a hard choice to make because finding proof is, in theory, a sensible idea. However, it disappoints Kate quite a bit. When she attempts suicide later on, it is more difficult to save her if players opted to look for proof. Going to the police, on the other hand, results in her thanking Max and that newfound trust makes it much easier to save her life later on.
3 Warning Victoria
The revelation about who Mr. Jefferson really is comes as quite a shock to most players. He's a danger to the young women around him and Max's knowledge of that could help to save some of them. That's the case during episode four when Max believes that fellow student Victoria is his next target.
The outcome here is determined by players' previous interactions with Victoria. If they opt to warn her, she may or may not be inclined to believe them. That determines whether or not she gets stupefied and taken to the darkroom. Also, if players choose not to warn her, her response will again be based on prior conversations.
2 Saving Kate
As noted earlier, Kate's suicide is a big part of the game. Max sees it happen but then uses her time rewinding powers to try and talk her down. This interaction is crucial because it is literally a life or death situation. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, here are a multitude of dialogue choices here that can make this is a minefield to navigate.
Obviously, there are still only two outcomes. Kate is saved or Kate commits suicide. Max's adventure isn't majorly changed by either outcome, but there are plenty of different possibilities depending on what happens. However, the most important thing for players is just knowing that they may have saved a life. Especially since Kate will frequently message them if she survives.
1 Arcadia Bay Or Chloe
It's the game's final decision, and it is easily the most pivotal. After surviving Mr. Jefferson and everything else that's been thrown at them, Chloe and Max face their most difficult moment together. Max reveals what will happen to Arcadia Bay and figures out that she caused it, as saving Chloe earlier in the game is what brought about the storm that will destroy the town.
The only way to prevent the storm is for Max to go all the way back to the beginning of the game and allow Chloe to be killed. Players must therefore decide whether to save Arcadia Bay by losing Chloe or to save their love and let the town go down. The ending of the game will vary quite a bit depending on which one they choose.
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FAQs
Life Is Strange: The 15 Most Important Choices You’ll Have To Make In The Game? ›
An important choice occurs here, where you can tell David the truth about Chloe or lie to him. If you reveal the truth, he will kill Jefferson, if you lie then he will think everything is okay and Jefferson goes to jail.
What are the important choices in ep 5 Life is Strange? ›An important choice occurs here, where you can tell David the truth about Chloe or lie to him. If you reveal the truth, he will kill Jefferson, if you lie then he will think everything is okay and Jefferson goes to jail.
Do choices matter in Life is Strange 2? ›10 Life Is Strange 2 Is Better: All Your Choices Matter
This is connected to the fact that this game has four endings instead of just two. In Life is Strange, all your choices may feel like they don't matter in the end. All that really matters is your final choice: save Chloe or the town.
4 Kiss Chloe Yes or No
Max has the option to kiss Chloe, if she does this then the two of them will begin to develop a more romantic relationship and if not then it will continue as a platonic friendship. This may not be the most dramatic option be it had a huge impact on the audience.
If players choose to stay in the room with Mikey, Drew's knee will be broken by Damon as a threat to him. This choice will lead to more interactions between Chloe and Damon throughout the rest of the game, seeing as he realizes that Chloe was sent to collect the money from Drew.
Do I sacrifice Chloe or Arcadia Bay? ›This is the most important choice in Life is Strange, but the only correct option is to pick whichever ending players feel is right. Although sacrificing the whole of Arcadia Bay just for Chloe might seem like the "bad" ending, Episode 5 makes a compelling case for why both options are viable.
What happens if I don't answer Kate's call in Life is Strange? ›More importantly, ignoring Kate's call will make it significantly harder to convince Kate of something important later in the story. Chloe will be very happy that Max ignored Kate to focus on her, and the decision counts toward them falling in love with each other by the end of the game.
Can you romance anyone in Life is Strange 2? ›By episode three, you have the choice to pursue two potential romance options, a boy and a girl. Sean, the protagonist, is a teen who has never slept with anyone before — and it shows.
Can you fall in love with Warren Life is Strange? ›Admittedly, it's not one of those games where you agonize over who to pursue as there are only two options. You can either go after the badass Chloe or the kind-hearted Warren. If you're opting for the latter, you need to make several decisions throughout the game to make it a true romance.
Does Chloe have a crush on Rachel? ›The extent of Chloe and Rachel's relationship is never made clear in Life is Strange: Season 1, but it does appear from various actions and comments that Chloe had a crush on Rachel, whether that crush was unrequited or not. Rachel cared about Chloe to some degree to send her postcards that said, "Miss you.
Can Max date Warren? ›
Warren is one of two love interests for Max. Within the fandom, their relationship is known as Grahamfield and Marren. Warren has been one of Max's earliest friends after she moved back to Arcadia Bay from Seattle. Prior to reconnecting with Chloe Price, Warren has been one of Max's closest friends.
Can Max kiss Chloe? ›Max will think that it was priceless when she kissed Chloe. In her journal she will also mention that it was cute how Chloe looked embarrassed after the kiss. Chloe returns to her bed and remarks that she wasn't that easy to allow any kissing on her, and Max might already have used her rewind power after kissing her.
Does Elliot have a crush on Chloe? ›All Love Is Unrequited — Eliot has a crush on Chloe, however she does not return those feelings. Crazy Jealous Guy — Eliot is jealous of Chloe's progressing relationship with Rachel, repeatedly making attempts to turn Chloe against her.
Did Rachel Amber have powers? ›Rachel didn't have powers until she met Chloe, that we know of. And Max didn't have powers until Chloe was shot in front of her.
Should Chloe take the blame? ›If players only want to guarantee that Max doesn't get in trouble later in the story, then they should choose to blame Chloe instead. Theirs is a relationship that actually matters in a video game, so it's definitely worth considering the consequences of this decision.
Can you stop Chloe's dad from dying? ›It might not seem obvious at first, but the best place to hide the keys in order to save William in Episode 3 of Life is Strange is the sink full of water in the kitchen. Chloe's father can no longer hear the locator beeper going off, so he won't take the fatal car journey in this reality.
Should I stay hidden in Chloe's closet? ›Choices and Consequences
Taking the blame in both cases results in largely the same consequences; Chloe will stay in a good mood and will show Max the stolen gun, but Max may be left with a permanent stain on her Blackwell record. Staying hidden will make Chloe a little upset, and she won't show Max her new toy.
Chloe's initial death in the girl's bathroom of Blackwell Academy is avoidable in the instance that the player can do nothing to stop it from happening as it is a cinematic that triggers the awakening of Max Caulfield's abilities as a time traveler.
Did Nathan drug Kate? ›Kate is traumatized by an experience she had at a Vortex Club party on October the 4th, in which Nathan Prescott drugged her and promised he would take her to a hospital for help (an act which he did not follow through on). Kate was caught on camera kissing several strangers, and recalls none of it due to the drugs.
How many cigarettes does Chloe have? ›She has 7 cigarettes.
Can you save Kate if you ignore her call? ›
Max is the only one who can save her. But for once, your rewind power can't solve the problem. Instead, you must talk her down from the edge.
Who is LGBTQ in Doctor Strange 2? ›The “Doctor Strange 2” character in question is America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who is a lesbian in the film and the Marvel comics.
Does Doctor Strange 2 have LGBT characters? ›The “Doctor Strange” sequel hasn't released yet or been reviewed, but the film does contain a new gay character, America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), who is likewise gay in the comic books.
What is LGBT scene in Doctor Strange 2? ›The cuts amount to “barely 12 seconds” in which a lesbian character, America Chavez, played by the actor Xochitl Gomez, refers to her “two moms”, according to Nawaf Alsabhan, Saudi Arabia's general supervisor of cinema classification. “It's just her talking about her moms, because she has two moms,” Alsabhan said.
What is inappropriate in Doctor Strange 2? ›Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is rated PG-13, which means that some material is not suitable for children under the age of 13. For example, the movie might contain violence, brief language and/or nudity.
Who is the little girl at the end of Doctor Strange 2? ›It's none other than Charlize Theron, playing Clea, the daughter of Dormammu, the big, fiery villain from the first Doctor Strange movie. Or at least, she's the daughter of Dormammu in the comics. In the movies?
What happens if you wake up Finn in Life is Strange 2? ›However, if Sean chooses to wake Finn up, he will be surprised to see Sean, joking he should of told him they were in the same hospital and they could of hooked up regardless of Sean's previous relationship with him.
Should I let Chloe steal the money? ›It's recommended to let Chloe take the money, as a future encounter with Frank is made a lot easier to navigate, and Max and Chloe's friendship is made stronger. Life is Strange: Remastered Collection is out now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia, with a Switch version releasing later in 2022.
Do Max and Chloe date? ›Life Is Strange ends with Max and Chloe driving off together, but players can get some more details about their future by playing Life is Strange 2. Life Is Strange is a series about the choices players can make and their ensuing consequences.
Should Kate go to the police? ›Although she can be convinced without choosing to go to the police, it is hard to do so without knowing the correct decisions in advance. It's recommended to back up Kate's decision to go to the police, as the choice to look for proof doesn't actually have any significant benefits.
Who does Rachel get pregnant with? ›
In season seven, Ross and Rachel have sex, and Rachel gets pregnant. Rachel gives birth to a girl in season eight, naming the baby Emma Geller-Green; the name Emma is a gift from Monica, who had previously been reserving the name for her own child.
Why did Rachel Amber cheat on Chloe? ›Because she was using Frank to get at his drugs. While Rachel was able to seem quite charismatic and caring, she was already letting her addiction guide her decisions... leading her to betray Chloe's trust.
Does Ross sleep with Chloe? ›Ross is guilt-ridden after sleeping with Chloe and desperately tries to stop Rachel from finding out and when she does, the rest of the gang listen to them argue and end up trapped in Monica's room for the rest of the night.
Should I stop Warren from beating Nathan? ›If Max decides not to do anything, Warren beats him up until Nathan lies on the floor, hurt drastically. If this happens, Chloe will take the gun off Nathan but if you decide to stop Warren from beating up Nathan, Nathan will run away with the gun, threatening to tell his father.
Who does Max date in life is strange? ›The Life Is Strange series wouldn't be the same without the relationship between Max and Chloe, no matter how some fans feel about the latter's character.
Did Max do more than kiss? ›'Welcome to Plathville' Sneak Peek: Moriah Gets Emotional After Learning Max Did More Than Kiss Another Woman.
What happens if you keep saving Alyssa? ›If Max saved Alyssa in every episode, a sign will fall onto Max and Alyssa will push her out of the way before she gets hit, believing that it makes the two even. In the Sacrifice Arcadia Bay ending, she presumably dies in the storm (if she did not die earlier).
Did Max and Allison kiss? ›Allison and Max is the romantic pairing of Max Thunderman and Allison in The Thundermans. The ship began in the episode Date Expectations which was Allison's second appearance on the show. They started dating officially in He Got Game Night and shared their first kiss in Thundermans: Secret Revealed.
Who did Chloe love? ›In "Who's da New King of Hell?", Chloe confesses her love to Lucifer and admits she mishandled seeing his true face, saying that rather than being afraid of him, she is afraid of losing him.
Who did Chloe break up with? ›In an interview with Tudum in March 2023, Chloe explained that she and Shayne broke up after their relationship changed when they returned to the real world. Despite the split, Chloe told Tudum that she's “thriving” and has new goals.
Who does Elliot have a crush on? ›
'Euphoria': 8 Characters We're Most Worried About in Season 2, Ranked. And we still don't know too much about Elliot, other than he has a crush on Rue, which he openly admits to Jules when they're hanging out alone.
Is Rachel Amber manipulative? ›The thing about her being manipulative is most confirmed in the original game, where we learn that she was seeing people behind Chloe's back (I don't think they were a couple or anything, but still) and was planning to leave town without her despite everything they'd promised.
Did Rachel Amber sleep with Jefferson? ›Jefferson said that Rachel loved him and wanted him to take pictures of her in his darkroom, that she didn't need to be drugged, and a girl in LiS said that Rachel Amber definitely had sex with Mr. Jefferson.
Can Rachel Amber be saved? ›When popular girl Rachel Amber goes missing, her absence sets the story — about a teenage girl named Max who can rewind time and her best friend Chloe, who is in love with Rachel — in motion. In the end, you learn that Rachel can't be saved, and Chloe may be doomed as well, depending on how you play.
What happens if Chloe dies? ›If Chloe is sacrificed to save Arcadia Bay from the oncoming tornado, Max will use the butterfly photo to travel back to the moment Nathan shot Chloe in Episode 1 of Life is Strange.
Should Max answer Kate's call? ›To help guarantee Kate's happiness, players should answer her call. Those who want to see Chloe and Max develop feelings for each other should ignore Kate's call instead. Life is Strange: Remastered Collection is out now for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Google Stadia, with a Switch version releasing later in 2022.
Should I give Damon the money before the storm? ›If players choose to give the money back to Damon, both Mikey and Drew will be injured in the wake of Chloe giving the money back to Damon.
What to say to Mr Jefferson episode 5? ›Jefferson is talking (you hear him mention the dark room - creepy premonition). Answer "Daguerreian Process" as the right answer, or pick one of the other responses for fun retorts.
What happens in episode 5 of Life is Strange 2? ›The brothers wake up and after howling at the sun, begin a conversation regarding their confrontation with Lisbeth in Haven Point and the past incidents. Sean tells Daniel a story that again parallels their journey, with Daniel interrupting in the middle. Sean can either let Daniel take over or keep telling it his way.
Does choice matter in Life is Strange? ›The Life is Strange series of video games is heavily story-driven, and the story uniquely develops based on player choice. The games can be broken down into a series of major choices that have a major impact on the outcome of the story while other minor choices affect interactions with supporting characters.
Should Max take the blame for Chloe? ›
If players only want to guarantee that Max doesn't get in trouble later in the story, then they should choose to blame Chloe instead. Theirs is a relationship that actually matters in a video game, so it's definitely worth considering the consequences of this decision.
What do I say to save Kate? ›From this point, previous incidents don't directly impact your ability to save Kate. While on the roof, she'll talk about how her video will be on the internet forever. The only reply that helps the situation is "Be Strong." It'll prompt Max to convince Kate that they can beat the bullies together.
Should I warn Victoria? ›Should You Warn Victoria in Life is Strange? Without spoiling anything major, no, players should not warn Victoria about the Dark Room. Doing so will actually put her in danger, so it's best to avoid telling her in order to see the best for the character.
How many endings in Life is Strange? ›While the two endings of Life is Strange may not have been a difficult decision for many players, players were upset that this decision was not made for them. They had spent the entirety of Life is Strange's five episodes making both small, minute, and big, impactful decisions—or so they were told.
Was Rachel pregnant in Dr Strange 2? ›AP Entertainment on Twitter: "Baby steps: Rachel McAdams was still pregnant when #DoctorStrange started filming without her.
What illness does Chloe have in Life is Strange? ›She appears to show symptoms of a condition called Borderline Personality Disorder, as characterized by her trust and abandonment issues. During a conversation with Max in "Chaos Theory", Chloe is shown having a meltdown and expressing typical fears of someone who has BPD.
Can you kiss Ryan in Life is Strange? ›Required Choices to Romance Ryan
There are two important decisions in Life is Strange: True Colors that players must make to ensure they enter a romance with Ryan: give him a rose at the Haven Spring Festival, and kiss him on top of the rooftop at the Haven Spring Festival.
Max will think that it was priceless when she kissed Chloe. In her journal she will also mention that it was cute how Chloe looked embarrassed after the kiss. Chloe returns to her bed and remarks that she wasn't that easy to allow any kissing on her, and Max might already have used her rewind power after kissing her.
Is it better to help Chloe or stay hidden? ›Taking the blame in both cases results in largely the same consequences; Chloe will stay in a good mood and will show Max the stolen gun, but Max may be left with a permanent stain on her Blackwell record. Staying hidden will make Chloe a little upset, and she won't show Max her new toy.