This is a crossover between Thirteen Reasons Why and Victorious. At the end of this chapter I will explain who each character is.
I push the brown paper covered box over the counter. As far away from myself as I can. It bumps against the woman leaning against the other edge.
"How soon do you want it to get there?" She asks me. I pull my bottom lip between my teeth and chew on it nervously.
"It doesn't matter." I shake my head. She nods and takes the package. The same shoebox sat on my porch less than twenty-four hours ago; rewrapped in a brown paper bag and taped with clear packaging tape. Just as I received it, I send it away. Now it is addressed with a different name; the next on Jade West's list.
"How much is it?" I ask. She drops it on a scale and pushes a few buttons on the side. I stare at the screen and wait for the price to be displayed. I hold a coffee cup in my hand and it smells like her. I dig through my pocket and pull out a handful of money. I drop the bills onto the counter and a nickel bounces off and rolls to the ground. As I bend down the clerk says something.
"I'm sorry?" I say when I straighten up.
"Oh, I was just saying that it doesn't seem like your coffee's kicked in yet." She smiles and gestures to my cup. I nod and rub the sleep from my eyes. I try to wake up. But maybe it is best to get through the day half-asleep. Maybe that is the only way to get through today.
"It should arrive at this address by tomorrow." She tells me. "Maybe the day after tomorrow." Then she drops the box into the cart behind her. I should have waited until after school. I should have given Cat one final day of peace.
Though she doesn't deserve it.
When she gets home tomorrow, or the next day, she'll find a package on her doorstep. Or if her mom gets there first, maybe she'll find it on her bed. And she'll be excited. I was excited. A package with no return address? Did they forget, or was it intentional? Maybe from a secret admirer.
"Do you want your receipt?" The clerk asks. I shake my head and turn around. I exit the post office, walk over the green grass and cross the street to the front grounds of my high school. The sky is too bright. Too happy. I sigh as I make my way through the front doors of Hollywood Arts and take the steps to my first period class.
At the front of the room, facing the students, is Mr. Sikowitz. He'll be the last to receive a package with no return address. In the back of the room, on the right side, one seat in, is the chair of Jade West.
Empty.
Clay - Tori
Hannah - Jade
Justin - Beck
Alex - Rex (Robbie)
Tyler - Sinjin
Courtney - Trina
Zach - Andre
Ryan - Robbie
Jenny - Cat
Bryce - Ryder
Tony - Daniel
Mr. Porter - Sikowitz