Thanks a bunch to the guys who reviewed the first chapter! Hugs and kisses to ThisHendersonChick14, Papi, Unsigned Person, Kimerly, Sir RCCS, Shawna13 and of course, my best friend MoonbabyAstroRock3r.
Tons of thank yous to the guys who alerted and favourited. You are all angels!
Note: This chapter isn't the first tape, it's just starting up Number 1.
Thirteen Reasons Why
Chapter Two; Let The Games Commence.
Carlos walked down the sidewalk towards his house, his eyes still glazed over from the pain. He slung his backpack back up onto his shoulder, continuing his journey home from school. It was weird today, well, it's weird all month now, ever since Logan topped himself. Carlos had never spoke to him, and whilst Logan never made a big impact on the school, everyone could feel the school feeling slightly empty; their punchbag having finally taken the stand against the bullies and made a decision.
Carlos couldn't get his head around it, how someone could just take their life. Yeah sure, Logan was constantly tortured and humiliated, but after high school, his future was so promising. He was a shoe in for Valedictorian, no doubt having already been expected into Harvard or Yale to study to become a doctor. He was so bright, so brainy, yet, he went and took his own life. Like that.
The wind blowed gently against Carlos, the bottom of his top rolling up slightly, the wind sneaking up to run across his bare skin. He shivered, quickly tugging it down as he lowered his head, determined to just get home.
It's been like this all the time now for Carlos. Everyday, he'd just rush home. Forget about detentions or clubs or after-school activities, right now, with the pain of Logan's death hanging over his head, he just wanted to curl up in a ball under his duvet and sink into his mattress, hopefully pushing away the reality that taunted him.
He looked up carefully, noticing his house slightly in the distance, the other houses down his quiet street resembling his. He moved his head across the road, noticing the now empty house that sat directly opposite his, the former home to the Mitchell's. It's funny really, how Logan had lived across the road from Carlos since moving here from Texas. It took him a while to register the fact the genuis was only across the cement, but when he did, he made sure he'd see Logan at every small chance he could.
When Logan would walk out of his house in the morning, Carlos would waiting in his car, just to catch a sneak peek at him. Everytime Logan would take the trash out every weekend, Carlos would be waiting at his window, peering through the curtain at him. In hind sight, Carlos was slightly obsessed with Logan. Why? Well, he really liked him. More than a friend. Had since he first knew of Logan's existence in middle school.
A small smile crept on Carlos' caramel face, the thought of Logan. One time, when Carlos was staring at Logan, the pale boy caught on. Rather than look away, he simply blushed and flashed a small, meaningful smile at the Latino before disappearing away. Now, whenever Carlos purposely tried to think of Logan, all he could imagine was the pain he went through and Carlos didn't stop it. He never saw it happen, but he could image the sight of Logan's body splattered out across the pavement, blood pouring all around him.
He remembered the next day, when Mr Rocque told the tutor class that Logan killed himself. No-one really looked shocked or guilty, in fact, no-one really looked bothered. Everyone except Carlos. He remembered the way his heart stung at the thought of never seeing him again, the thought of never getting the chance to ask him out, to be his boyfriend.
A sigh escaped Carlos' lips, a small tear forming in his right eye. He clenched his eyes shut as he carried on walking, desperate for the tear not to roll down his cheek, to expose the pain he was feeling. He soon stopped, standing directly at his house.
Carlos tilted his head slightly, noticing a large brown box sat neatly on the rug outside on the porch. His parents weren't home, so maybe they forgot that someone was delivering something?
He pushed the white picket gate open, the hinges creaking as it swung, gently tapping the fence. Carlos inserted himself into the garden, carefully closing the gap as he walked up the path, straight to inquire what the box was for.
He looked down at it, noticing the address label, but no return address. Carlos looked at it in confusion, bending to gently pick up the box. He shook it, hearing the rattling of some loose objects inside, slamming into the side of the cardboard. His eyes furrowed as he pulled open the black tape away, the flaps of the box flicking upwards. Inside, was a mass of brown tissue paper. Carlos quickly shuffled it all away with his gloved hand, noticing an array of casette tapes jumbled up in the mess.
With the box in his hand, Carlos used his free hand to find his keys and unlock the door, the oak door swinging open and thudding against the wall. He climbed into his house, shuffling his feet against the rough carpet as he moved into the living room, placing the box down on the glass table. Carlos quickly shedded his clothes, throwing his coat, scarf and gloves in a heap onto the couch behind him.
Carlos carefully pulled forth a tape, noticing a number sticking in the corner, scribbled on in a red permanent marker. He looked at the number, noticing it said '9'. Carlos craned his neck over, peering into the box, noticing the rest of the tapes also had numbers on them, all engraved with the red pen as they listed 1 to 13, minus the one he had hold of. His eyebrows both rose as he flipped the small tape in his hand, debating whether he should listen to them. But then again, who could start with number 9? He would have to start from the beginning.
He recklessly threw the tape into the box, hastily departing the room for the kitchen. Whilst he didn't own a casette player, his father did, the man being rather old-fashioned and against technology. Sliding open a drawer, Carlos quickly fiddled through the mess, soon bringing forth a rather dusty casette player. He blew onto it, watching the small dust particles fall to the floor. He chuckled, another happy image popping into his head.
Logan would have hated this, the mess and dust. Whilst he's never spoken or had a conversation with Logan, he knew he was a clean freak, everyone knew that. He was a perfectionist, things needing to be perfect and clean, not a single thing out of place.
With the machine in hand, Carlos motioned back into the room, diving his free hand into the box to find number 1. After a while of checking each tape, the last one, surprisingly, was the one the Latino needed. He pressed a button, listening to the popping noise the machine made when the plastic cover flicked up, Carlos sliding the tape into place, his finger quickly pressing the play button as he inserted a pair of headphones into his ears, curiosity taking over his entire body.
Right, so, here I am. Or was.
Carlos' breath got caught in his throat, his heart coming to an almost stop.
Yep, that's correct. I'm back from the dead, although not literally, as that is scientifically incorrect.. But back to reality. Right now, a million thoughts are running across your mind. Is this Logan I can hear? The same kid that killed himself not long ago? The outcast, over-bullied nerd?
Well, if you are thinking of one of these right now, then you are correct. It's me, Logan Mitchell, the guy you might finally have heard of, seeing as I just killed myself.
I wonder how you're all taking it. Do any of you really care? In fact, I bet right now, if you're listening to this, you don't even remember me by name. All you can remember, is the constant laughter and abuse that's followed me around for the last few years. Remember now?
Of course you do. Who can forget Logan, the guy constantly shoved into lockers, thrown to the floor, constant rumours being spread about him, his life being destroyed.
Carlos' heart began thumping wildly against his chest, Logan's eerie voice beckoning through his eardrums. His eyes bulged out, complete shock overwhelming him. It was Logan. Carlos could hear his sweet voice again, bellowing around his mind. But it wasn't so sweet. It sounded angry, hurt.
So, here I am, talking to you right now. You see, I didn't just top myself for any reason. God no, I'm a genius after all, not a neanderthal like the majority of our generation. But you're probably wondering why I'm here, talking to you. Well, if you can hear me right now, at this moment, then it means you are to blame.
To blame for what? Well, it's simply. For pushing me over the edge.. No pun intended.
Yes, you are here on one of these fabulous tapes because you are one of the reasons why I did what I did. I mean, I can imagine you all now, all 13 of you. Probably sat there on your bed, your sofa, a chair. Your family might be around you, completely oblivious to the voice whispering in your ear, the messages that will haunt you.
Carlos could hear Logan's voice becoming like a whisper, the tone becoming more sadistic and angry.
But right here, right now, I'm going to explain to each and every one of you about the many reasons I took my life. The many things that you each done to me. Yes, you are correct. If you are listening to this tape, it means you somehow caused my death. So congratulations, you all probably wanted me gone, and now, your wish came true.
But do you think I'd go down without a fight?
Sure, I'm not brave enough to stand up for myself.. But now, you can't touch me. So get ready, because after listening to the 13 tapes in the box, your life will be different.
The people that you see everyday at school.. You won't be able to look at them the same way again.
So be prepared, be scared, cause right here and right now, the closet is coming open and the skeletons are coming out. All the secrets, all the bad things you bestowed upon me are coming into the open. Sure, each reason varies in how bad they are. Some of you might just lose your respect around school, your reputation.. Some of you, well, you could facing criminal charges.. Right, Number 11?
But before I begin with outing Number 1, some ground rules need to be set.
Carlos' eyes began to sting, the sensation overwhelming him. It was as if someone was tap-dancing on his eyeballs. His blinked furiously, a small tear rolling down his chiseled cheek. But one question rang through his brain like a bullet: What did Carlos ever do to hurt Logan, to push him towards death?
Firstly, you are to listen to every single tape. From Number 1 all the way through to Number 13. Oh, and don't try and not listen to them, because I have someone who is helping me on the land of the living. You are correct, someone out there right now is watching you, making sure you listen to what I have to say. If you don't, well let's just say that said person has another bunch of copies of all these tapes, ready to be leaked.
Now, we wouldn't want that, would we?
All your secrets, the torture you gave me, your true selves, all out in the open for the entire school to know about. So, it's pretty obvious that you should just listen to the tapes and pass them on. If you do, and they reach Number 13 without a problem, then it's fine. The only people that will know about the bad things you done will be the other people on this list. And we all know that no-one on this list has any right to out the other, after all, you can't be a hypocrite now.
And your last rule. Listen to the tapes, remember which number that you are, remember the person who's directly after you, and mail them the box. Yes, mail it. Don't go and be an idiot and deliver it by hand, that's practically suicide.. No pun intended, again. Keep this going until it reaches the big dog, Number 13. And now you're probably thinking,
Hey, what if I'm 13, what do I do?
Simple. Take the box and go to hell. Whilst none of you are on a scale for how bad you affected me, Number 13 deserves to suffer, to live knowing that they were the final straw. Cause you're right, Number 13 was the person who made my mind up for me, they gave me the final push into taking my life.
Are you Number 13? Did you push me too far?
Well, listen, listen to my words and find out. You'll never know if you don't.
So, welcome to the show. 13 people and 13 reasons on why I killed myself. Jheeze, I bet you're all nervous. And frankly, you should be.
Let the show begin and the curtains rise, Number 1 it's your time to shine.
You were the person that started it all off, started the horrible snowball effect that destroyed my life even more. If you hadn't done what you done, then everything would have been different and I would still be alive. So congratulations, you are officially a bitch.
I'm right though, aren't I Lucy?
Oooo, what did Lucy do?
And I hope it makes things easier to understand if I put Logan's words into Italics.. Also, I know that Carlos didn't have much input, but that's because I needed to get like, the rules and that out the way haha.
