Thirteen Reasons Why

A/N- My insperation for this story came from Alexandra Shani, she starded this a while back and never really continued. If you have any constructive criticisism please tell me. But go easy guys this is my FIRST STORY.

It had been 6 months since he broke up with Jade, they weren't together long. They broke up shortly after the rumour about her and his best friend started. He decided that it was for the better if they took a break, continued to be friends, and that was fine, she was fine. Until 2weeks later she was found dead in her bed room, suicide.

2 Weeks later (Becks POV)

I stare awkwardly at the package that was dropped off at the front door to the RV. Normally, any packages would be dropped off at the door to the house. But not this time, I suppose.

It's about the size of a shoebox, wrapped with brown paper. The wrapping has a hurried send address; addressed to me, Beck Oliver, but there isn't a return address. I pick it up and head into the RV, setting it down on the couch before I sit down. I cut the wrapping open and lift the lid off the shoebox. Inside the box is a loose roll of bubble wrap. I unroll it slowly, only to find seven unpackaged audiotapes.

Each one has a black number painted in the upper right-hand corner, presumably with black nail polish. Jade's favourite colour, I think. Black. Each side of the tapes have their own number. One and two on the first tape, three and four on the next, and so on. The last tape has a thirteen on one side, but nothing on the back. I reach for my old stereo that's sitting on the table next to the couch. Cautiously, I pop the first tape in.

Tape 1 – Side A

Hello, boys and girls. Jade West here, live and in stereo. Remember me?

I don't believe it! Jade killed herself!

No return engagements. No encore. And this time, absolutely no requests.

I'm silent, just listening to the tapes. Why did Jade make these? Why did I get these?

I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why.

What? No!

I'm not saying which tape brings you into the story. But fear not, if you received this lovely little box, your name will pop up... I promise.

Now, why would the dead girl lie? Hey that sounds like a joke, why would the dead girl lie?

Answer because she can't stand up! Go ahead, laugh?

Jade takes a short pause and chuckles to herself.

Never mind, I thought it was funny…

I hit Stop, shocked and scared. A bead of sweat is on my forehead.

How could I be part of the reason why she.. I don't need to say it. But how? I did nothing wrong. Nothing wrong whatsoever.

I hit Play, because somehow, I felt like it was necessary for me to listen to all of these.

Anyways, the rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: You listen to all of these tapes. Rule number two: You pass them on. Hopefully, neither one will be easy for you. When you're done listening to all thirteen sides - because there are thirteen sides to every story - rewind the tapes, put them back in the box, and pass them on to whoever follows your little tale. And you, lucky number thirteen,

She laughs. It's a bitter laugh. I wince silently.

You can take the tapes straight to hell. Who knows? Depending on your religion, maybe I'll see you there.

In case you're tempted to break the rules, understand that I did make a copy of these tapes. Those copies have been released to someone here at Hollywood Arts. They will be released in a very public manner if this package doesn't make it through all of you.

This was no spur of the moment decision. Don't take me for granted... again. You are being watched.

There's a long pause, and I wonder if I should take the tape out. But I decide to wait, seemingly hypnotized by these tragic stories, none of which I've even heard yet.

Finally, she speaks.

I almost forgot. If you're on my list, you should've received a map.

I had received one, a couple of days before Jade's.. well, you know. I don't want to mention it. It was crammed into my locker through the slits in and envelope saying 'SAVE THIS – YOU'LL NEED IT.' It was a map of the city with a dozen red stars marked around town.

Throughout the tapes, I'll be mentioning several spots in Los Angeles for you to visit. I can't force you to go there, but if you'd like a little more insight, just head for the stars. Or, if you'd like, just throw the maps away and I'll never know.

As Jade speaks, I'm uncomfortably aware of the map. It's in a desk drawer, and reluctantly, I get up and pull it out, then sit back down while the tape continues to play.

Or maybe I will. I'm not actually sure how this whole dead thing works. Who knows, maybe I'm standing behind you right now. I'm sorry. That was unfair.

Right, the first on this list is...

There's a long pause, and I sit uncomfortably, anxiously waiting to see when my name comes up, to see if I did any wrong to Jade. I couldn't have. I loved her.

Andre Harris.

What? Andre? Of course, the rumour about him and her… But she could have talked to someone put things right! I know she takes things a little too far sometimes but to kill herself over a rumour! No, that couldn't be it. I hesitantly pressed play on the tape.

Our first red star can be found at C-4 on your maps. Take your finger and place it on the C and then drop it down to 4.

Jade's neighbourhood park.

So when did you decide to kiss me Andre? Was it during our walk to the park or did it simply happen when I slipped into your arms?

Just hearing her taking about them two together made me sick. She was my girl. I still remember that day, the same day we had a fight we were supposed to go to the park, me, Jade, Andre and Tori. It all stated so that Andre could get closer to Tori, I just agreed to come along with Jade to ease the tension. Me and Jade had a fight because she made Tori cry, it's not that I love the girl or anything but is it too much to ask not to make people cry? So tori set off in her car and said I'll meet you there, I could tell by her face that she was going home, not the park. I felt bad for her, poor thing so I told Jade and Andre to go without me I didn't want to be there when she didn't show up but I didn't want him to be alone. Why did I send her?

Then about a week and a half later the rumour stated about them two almost sleeping together, she cried, told me it wasn't true, but then again how could I be sure?

I pressed play on the tape again.

Okay.

She paused and chuckled to herself.

Okay. Who here wants to know my first thought during my first kiss with Andre? Okay, so it wasn't 'poor Beck' OR 'Why am I doing this?'

My heart dropped to my stomach. Why didn't she try to stop it? My best friend!

Here it is 'Someone needs a mint!' I'm sorry, it wasn't that bad, but it was the first thing that I thought.

She laughed again. I loved the sound of her laughter but not this time.

I was kind of anxious about what kind of kiss it was going to be, because Beck and I had had so many.

I winced at the mention of my name.

But it was the nice kind; you didn't shove your tongue down my throat, or grab my butt or anything, we just held our lips together and kissed.

I was sick at the thought, and of what may come next.

And that was is.

Had I been day dreaming for that long? I missed what she said, I reached to re-wind.

Wait! Don't re-wind you didn't miss a thing, nothing happened. And that is all that happened! Disappointed? Oh, wait something did happen, Andre took my hand and lead me over to the swing set and we swung… and then he kissed me the same way

I shuddered at how accurate she was to what I was thinking. Was that really it? Nothing ever happened? I feel awful.

And then Jade? What happened then? Then, we left, he went one way I went the other. Oh, so sorry you wanted something more; you wanted to hear how we went back to his place or how… wait, what did you want to hear? Because I've heard so many tales I don't know which is the most popular. But I do know which one is the least popular. The truth.

Oh my goodness, it never happened. She was telling the truth. Why didn't I listen to her? Oh yes, because it was HIM telling the 'other' story. I hate him.

So thank-you Andre, that very first kiss was wonderful, and for the month or so that we lasted it was wonderful, you were wonderful. But then you started bragging…

He told Robbie and Rex about it thinking that he could just brag to them and that was it. But it wasn't it, Robbie tweeted it via the puppet, and soon word got out. I swear he could get away with murder through that stupid little puppet!

About a week went by and I heard nothing, but eventually as they always do, the rumours reached me.

She hated going to school after that, so did I.

And everyone knows you can't diss-prove a rumour. I know, I know what you're thinking and as I was telling the story I was thinking the same thing. A rumour based on a kiss well you do this to yourself. No, a rumour based on a kiss ruined a moment that I thought would be special. A rumour based on a kiss created a reputation that other people believed in and reacted to, and sometimes a rumour based on a kiss has a snowball effect. A rumour based on a kiss is just the beginning. Turn over for more and Andre honey, stick around you're not going to believe where your name pops up next.

What had I done to deserve this? Why had she sent me these? She was a sick twisted person who loved to mess with people's minds, but why me? I still didn't believe that this was happening, some hidden cameras or something? Some kind of sick practical joke? She's dead! How can this be happening?

I wait for the return of her voice, but nothing. The story is over.

I'm going to go there, to the first star. But first I'll go to Cats house. Cat is so old fashioned and listens to tapes in her car, it's a vintage Mustang. She even has one of those old Walkman's that play tapes, a skinny one with a plastic yellow headset. I'm sure she'll let me borrow it. I'll take a few tapes and listen to them as I walk through Jades neighbourhood.

When I get to Cats her mustang is parked on the street. The hood is propped open and she and her father are leaning into the engine. Cat is holding a flashlight whilst her dad tightens a loose blot with a wrench.

'Did it break down?' I ask 'Or is this just for fun.'

Cat looks up over her shoulder, sees him and drops her flashlight. 'Damn!'

'Are you kidding? It's always fun' He wipes the grease off his hands onto his shirt and winks at Cat 'It's even more fun when it's something serious.'

Giggling, Cat reaches in for the flashlight. 'Dad, you remember Beck?'

'Sure' He says 'Good to see you again' He doesn't reach over to shake my hand and with the amount of grease on his hand, I'm not offended. But He was lying, he didn't remember me. 'Oh hey, I do remember you. You stayed for dinner once, very polite.'

I smile.

'So what's going on Beck?' I repeat her words in my head.

Oh, Nothing much, just my ex-girlfriend and your best friend have left me a box of tapes telling me that I was one of the reasons why she killed herself and I'd just like to borrow your Walkman to find out why.

'Nothing much' I say.

Her father asked me if I would mind getting in the car and starting the engine. 'The keys are in the ignition'

I sling my backpack on the passenger seat and get behind the wheel. I turn the key.

'Cat! Shine the torch over there.' Her dad yells getting slightly impatient.

Whilst I wait for the car to start I glance over to the back seat and there it is, her Walkman just sitting there. But what was my reason? Why did I need to borrow it? They continue to jiggle the pieces of the car and in that moment I took it, I just leaned over and stuffed it into the large zip on my back pack.

'Okay, Beck' Her dad yells over the clanking of parts 'Turn it'

I turn the key and the engine starts right up. Cat grins as her dad pulls her in for a hug. 'Okay you can shut her off now Beck' he says

Cat lowers the hood and clicks it into place. 'I'll see you inside Dad'

He nods gives me a small wave picks up his tool box and heads for the garage.

I pull my back pack up and get out of the car.

'Thanks, we'd have been out here all night if you didn't show up'

I force out a laugh, not wanting to alert Cat of my tape situation. 'I just needed to get out of the house, mom was driving me nuts!'

'One time, I ate a peanut and like three hours later, my brother was ill. freaky right?'

'Right Cat.' I sigh, how can she be so much back to her usual self after Jade?

'So Beck' she says, not noticing my unusual depressed mood. 'What did you come out here for?'

I feel the weight of her Walkman in my bag.

'I just saw you were out and thought I'd come over to say hi'

'Where you off to then?'

'Oh, nowhere'

'Do you want a lift?'

She's desperate for me to stay but I have to do this alone 'It's alright Cat I fancy a walk'

Was I imagining it or was that a look of disappointment on her face? Well whatever it was it didn't last 'Kay Kay , see you tomorrow' She said happily.

I walk away, half expecting her to yell 'Hey, where's my Walkman? But she doesn't and I walk away.

After about 2 blocks I slide my backpack of my shoulder and sit down on the side walk, I can feel the gravel crunch under my weight.

I reluctantly take the next tape out, flip it over and press play.