I do not own Thirteen Reasons Why.
Italics are Hannah's thoughts and this is based on the TV show, rather than the book.
As the warm October breeze carried Hannah from the centre of town through the neighboring streets, she could not help but stare into the windows of every house she passed. An old couple watching a black and white TV, a family sat around the dinner table, a small boy playing with his toys on the living room floor. For reasons she would never forget, that familiar feeling overcame her once more. Loneliness.
Her mind cast back to the Crestmont where she had been moments before. After dropping off her uniform, she had one place left to visit. He filled her mind for a second. The image of a dark haired young man filling up the popcorn machine as she placed her uniform on the counter. Shaking her head, as if to release the memory, she paced around the next corner.
The second house on the left, a small bungalow with a moss coloured front door. She had arrived at her destination. Opening her rucksack, she pulled out a shoe box wrapped in brown paper and set it down on the doorstep.
The seed had been planted and Hannah was ready for what was coming next. She turned on the heel of her foot and walked back down the cobbled pathway that led to Tony's house. There is only one thing left now…
It was then she heard Tony's front door open. "Hannah?" followed his voice.
Shit, was all she could think. This was not the plan. Just keep walking… Her strides grew larger as she picked up speed.
"Hey… Hannah?" Tony repeated, this time it was louder.
She continued to ignore him and retreated faster. She had managed to cross the road before Tony had caught up with her. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder which made Hannah jump.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. Did you not hear me calling?" Hannah shrugged at Tony's question. Tony scanned her face and continued, "you left this on my doorstep, is it for me?" He held up a shoebox. Hannah's eyes darted to the box then back to the floor.
Tony persevered, "a gift for moi…" he smirked "whatever could it be?" He started to tear at the wrapping.
"STOP!" Hannah bellowed which startled Tony enough to stop him from removing the wrapping.
She cleared her throat and began speaking in a much quieter tone, "you shouldn't do that here. Just go home and open it there." She turned away from Tony, ready to finish her journey. Silently praying that he would take her advice and leave, she squeezed her hands into fists and began walking again.
But she was not so lucky… this time Tony grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him. "Hannah, what's going on?"
Avoiding his gaze, she sighed, "just go home and listen to the tapes Tony."
"Tapes? What are you going on about? There are tapes in here," he shook the box and the tapes rattled back, "have you made me a mix tape Miss Baker?" He chucked, attempting to add some light to this rather puzzling conversation.
There was no reaction. No impending smile. No small giggle. Not even the usual shove that followed one of Tony's appalling jokes.
"Okay… something's definitely up, that's one of my best ones yet!" He caught her eye and noticed they looked glazed over. "Come to mine, I'll make you something to drink and we can have a ch-"
"I'm fine Tony, I have to… well, my parents will be wondering where I am." Her balled fists were now becoming clammy.
Tony raised an eyebrow, "have you got a shift today?"
She scrunched her brow in confusion, "no I haven't… why?"
"I was at your parent's pharmacy about half an hour ago. They were raving about how they are open later now and that the shop was open for another few hours. Your dad seemed pretty confident it was going to help the business, told me to pass on the news to my family and friends."
Hannah rolled her eyes, "of course he did…"
Tony placed both hands on Hannah's shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Look, I know you aren't going to see your parents. You seem upset and I know it sounds dumb but my mother would kill me if I let you leave here unhappy. Please give me the chance to try to cheer you up? You don't even have to tell me what's wrong. We can just watch TV or I could take you for a ride. Anything you want. What do you say?"
Hannah looked into Tony's eyes, maybe for longer than she had realised because his grip began to loosen. "I just thought-"
"No, it's fine. I'll hang out… for a bit." And for the first time, in what felt like a lifetime, Hannah smiled.
Hannah bit down hard on the inside of her cheek. A nervous habit, her mother had always told her. It was also the reason most children at her middle school gave her the nickname Vampire.
They had moved to California for a fresh start. On one of her first days at Liberty High, she bit down so hard on her cheek that she had to see the nurse who assumed she had lost a tooth.
Tony broke her out of the memory by placing a steaming mug on the coffee table in front of her. "Here's your coco."
Tony sat down next to Hannah on the sofa, "so what would you like to do… our cable has been playing up recently but I could see what's on?" He picked up the remote and flicked through the channels.
Quietly she spoke, "I don't mind just sitting here."
"Then here we shall sit!" Tony exclaimed and took a swig from his own mug. "Shit, that's hot!"
A small smile spread across Hannah's face, "well that's usually what the steam indicates."
"All right, all right," Tony noticed her smile and grinned himself. "So… these tapes…" he grabbed the box from the coffee table. Hannah drew a sharp breath as Tony asked, "is this why you wanted that tape recorder?"
Could I tell him? Hannah averted Tony's questioning look and did not answer.
"Is there… music on these?"
Silence.
"Did you record your own music or something? I didn't think you were into that."
"No, there's not music on them," her voice resembled that of a mouse.
Tony was confused; he looked back and forth between Hannah and the box in his hands. "Okay…"
"Just listen to them once… once I go."
"Why can't I listen to them now?" He asked.
She bit down on her cheek again, willing herself to look at Tony, "I shouldn't be here when you listen to them. That's not the way… it should be."
"The way what should be? Why are you being so cryptic, what are you hiding from me?" Hannah became mesmerised by the mug of coco in front of her. "Hannah, we're friends aren't we?" Still no reaction. "Is there something you can't tell me?"
Finally, she nodded. "And these tapes can?" He questioned and slowly, she nodded again. "Then I am listening to them now-"
"No please," Hannah interrupted and jumped to her feet. "I'll go." She grabbed her bag and sneakers.
"You go if you want, I am still listening to them." Tony was now on his feet too and heading for the kitchen. Hannah was torn, should I stop him? Should I just run and not look back?
Placing her belongings back on the floor, she followed him into the kitchen and found that he had already opened the box. He counted the tapes and looked at Hannah, his eyes wide. "It's a long story, huh?"
"Tony, please stop. Forget about them, I'll take them home." She lunged for the box but Tony held it above her head.
"No way," his Walkman in one hand and the box in the other, he took a step back from Hannah. "You left them on my doorstep; I am going to listen to them." He placed the box back on the counter, carefully watching Hannah out of the corner of his eye. He pulled out a cassette with a blue number '1' written on it.
Once he had slid the cassette into his Walkman, Hannah bolted from the house.
She had to get home. Now.
Hannah was about two blocks from Tony's house when she heard the roar of an engine. Don't look back, keep running, don't look back. But Hannah was not Usain Bolt and Tony was driving a mustang.
He pulled up next to her and rolled down his window, his expression effectively reflecting his mood. "What the fuck Hannah? Get in the car."
Slowing down to a fast paced walk, she looked over at Tony. "Get in the car." He repeated, a lot calmer than before. She halted and let her head fall backwards, weighing her options. "Please Hannah? I will help you."
Hannah met Tony's eyes again. He had never noticed before but there was something different about her. Not her new short haircut but something else. She felt smaller somehow, further away.
"I promise." And he meant it.
She leant forward for the handle on the passenger side door, through the window she could see her sneakers and rucksack in the foot well of Tony's car. She opened the door, "I thought you might like your shoes" Tony gave her a warm smile.
As she fell into the seat, she noticed for the first time that she was only in her socks; she slipped on her sneakers and thanked Tony.
"But… how are you going to help me Tony?" Hannah's voice was beginning to quaver and Tony noticed.
He cleared his throat in attempt to push down the lump that was forming, "First, I'm going to tell you that you mean more to me than you think. I know I'm right when I say that a lot of people will feel that way too, Hannah." He paused and smiled in Hannah's direction. Tears had begun rolling down her cheeks.
"Second, I'm going to listen to these tapes and… and I would like it if you would join me. I understand if you'd rather not-"
"That might be a good idea." Her voice was so quiet that it was surprising Tony had heard her but he definitely heard her loud enough.
"Oh, you should know by now Hannah…" Turning his key in the ignition, he continued "good ideas are my specialty!" He laughed as they drove off into the setting sun, further into the looming night.
What a night this will be… Hannah thought as she focused on the road ahead. Is it really that easy?
And that is the first chapter! What do you think?
I am thinking of continuing this story by having Tony and Hannah listening to the tapes together. Each chapter will be one side of a tape and Tony will help Hannah overcome the problems mentioned within said side. If you like this idea, please review and let me know :)
Also I wanted to add, I am not American. I am from the South of England so if some of the terms I have mentioned in this chapter are more English than American, I can only apologise!
That's all this time folks, thanks for taking the time to read my first fanfiction! I am eager to continue this story so any feedback you have, good or bad, is really appreciated.
Good morning, day or night, wherever you are!