All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author Jay Asher. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended

What would happen if Clay had not left that room where Hannah was? Would she have told him about her life? Would she refuse to talk or was she so desperate she would spill everything out? Would she have gotten help? Most importantly would she still be alive? These are the same haunting questions Jay had probably been thinking about after hearing Hannah's eerie voice on those tapes.

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Clay POV

"Stop," she said pushing me against her. I got up from her in confusion. I dint know what was wrong with her. "Stop, leave," she pleaded.

She slid off the bed to the floor and hugged her knees as she cried. I couldn't leave despite her wishes. Something was wrong something she wasn't telling me. I know I just got to know her tonight for a couple of hours but it's because of that I have to know what is wrong.

"Leave please, just leave," she begged.

"No," I said, "What's wrong?" I got on my knees next to her. I tried putting my hand on her hair to smooth it out but she pulled away from my touch.

"I can't tell you," she whispered through her sobs.

"Why not?" I asked her quietly. "We talked the whole night about everything," I said.

"I know and it's why I can't talk to you," she said. I tried patting her hair again and she let me. She moved herself into my arm and I held her there as tight as I could.

"I don't know what you're trying to say," I told her with all honesty. I didn't understand why she couldn't talk to me anymore. I still wanted to be with her, but she didn't know that. "I still want to be with you."

She looked up at me with her shining tear stained blue eyes. "No you don't," she said but she didn't move.

"Why not?" I asked her again. "Give me one reason why I cannot be with you?"

She took in some breath before continuing. "Clay, when we were kissing," I nodded a gesture of letting her know to keep going. "They felt real, as if I could start all over again but from where? I can't change my reputation, and I can't let yours be over because of mine."

That's what she was so worried about her reputation the school had given to her. That's when all my doubts about her were washed away. She wasn't the school slut, she hasn't been with anyone, she might as well been as clean as I was. What people said about her were just rumors; they were lies shoved in her face. Through this time she's been hurt and lied to and she needed a friend. That's why she went to lighter topics.

"You let me connect with you," she said again, "When I couldn't do that anymore, when we went to lighter topics you made me laugh. You're hilarious Clay. That's why I kissed you I couldn't connect anymore because I was scared of what's to come."

"Don't be," I said. "I don't care what people think about you or what they think about me. I like you Hannah. I've liked you a lot for a long time," I blurted it out but I did not care anymore.

"Thanks," she said.

"I promise I won't hurt you," I said.

"Look at me," I was. "I've heard that so many times before. I'll trust you this time but if you ever hurt me."

"I solemnly swear I'll drive myself to Hell," I pledged. She chuckled lightly but I knew she was serious.

"I'm serious," she said.

"I know," I smiled and so did she and we kiss again before we left the room and the couple from the couch stumbled into the same room.

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Several Weeks Later

Clay POV

We walked hand in hand out of the school. At first people talked about Hannah and me but gossip subsided and everyone let it pass as old news. I was happy and she was too. Since the party we've been a steady girlfriend and boyfriend.

Whenever I saw her face she was smiling. It was hard to believe when she told me she was going through a dark hole so deep she thought of killing herself. That thought hasn't crossed her mind for a while now but she's scared of it. Besides the suicidal thoughts she's told me about why she's thought of it. I'm proud of her despite her flaws. She's been pulling through it and doing it with a sincere smile. I couldn't imagine what would have happened if she committed suicide.

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