Flashback:
Weeks after the dance…
Just like everyday before that, everything was normal. School was normal. People was normal.
Everyone was walking around together the hallway, joking together, chatting together. The boys was talking about sports or something like that, checking every hot girl passed through them, laughing. The girls was gossipping together about some cheap rumors, news they heard and discussed about it. Everything was normal.
Like nothing happened.
But nothing would be the same anymore.
Like everyday after THAT day, the group gathered together around a table: Clay, Justin, Jessica, Alex, Zach, Tony, Ryan, Sheri, Courtney and Scott. Even Cyrus and his punk friends also came and sat with them sometimes. After Hannah's death and the court, even still didn't know when we could move on, but at least the only things which wasn't too bad that they were together, and were there for each other. They became friends.
- Hey, how are the things with Tyler?
After Clay convinced Tyler not to shot up the school and helped him get out of that; and then the police came, the group decided to cover up for him and told them there was just a misunderstanding. Then they found out what happened to him, Tyler finally talked to his parents and the Down decided to report what happened in the bathroom to the school and the police. Montgomery's friends who joined with him at that morning were arrested, but Monty was missing. Tyler didn't show up at school either.
- The last time I spoke to his parents, he's still at hospital, had the therapy and got some treatment. – Clay said, hesitantly. – He…uhmm… his… was injured very badly, and…uhm… had been bleeding for several hours. He's not really okay, but, getting better.
Jessica covered her mouth:
- Oh my god, I can't believe what happened to him. Hope he will be okay soon.
- And Monty's such a monster. – Courtney, despite her contradictions with Tyler in the past, shook her head angrily. – I hope he was going to rot in jail forever for what he did.
Zach crossed his arms:
- Monty's hidding. He could be anywhere.
- He can not go far. – Justin shrugged. – And he's not Bryce, he doesn't have a rich father to hide a good lawyer or palm the jury and the prosecutor. He won't get away with this.
- Good. – Ryan added, pouted in disgust. – Fucking rapist.
Alex's heart slightly tightened with that informations. He thought about what Montgomery said to him when he tricked Alex to go with him, to get the polaroid. He talked about his bad homelife, about his dad was always beating him at home, about how Bryce and his team were his home and the only thing left he had. Alex couldn't help but feeling sorry a bit for this guy. But immediately he shook his head and got that thoughts out of his head. Courtney and Justin was right. Whatever Montgomery's excuses were, it didn't make up at all for what he did. He had to to pay for that. Alex shouldn't have felt sympathy for him, like at all. Not to mention, Tyler was Alex's friend. He was nice to him.
Clay broke the silence:
- Hey, guys. Could anyone be free this afternoon and help me check on Tyler? Today I have something have to do at home so I can't go.
- Me. – Alex volunteered without even blinking. – Tyler and I are friends, he also was very nice to me and helped me a lot when and even after I was in hospital. It's fair for me at least to do something for him and he probably would be more comfortable with me.
- I'll go with Alex. – Zach said. – He definitely will need a driver… and someone help him with the stair.
Alex rolled his eyes.
- I'll go too. – Jessica said. Everyone looked at her in surprise, everyone except Alex. – I can help Alex too, and… I want to see Tyler and how he's doing. And I want to apologize to him… I was mean to him before.
- I go. – Justin raised his hand.
- I'm in.
Nearly the whole table volunteered. Clay waved his hands:
- Okay, okay. I get that you guys all care about him and want to see him, I bet Tyler would be glad to know that. But it's not the good time, he's… still in the recovery phase, he might be still not comfortable to see a lot of people, especially now everyone know what happen to him. That's why I have to go alone to the hospital in the first weeks.
Alex agreed:
- Yeah. Clay's right. I'll just go with Zach.
His eyes glanced at Jessica, not for long, but he still could feel a bit hurt in her eyes. After the dance, Jessica broke up with him. Alex just accepted that and didn't bother to ask her why. He already knew. Alex could guess through the way Jessica looked at Justin everytime she saw him, the way her eyes kept searching for another boy even she was still in his arms, the way both Jessica and Justin disappeared simultaneously in the middle of that night, the guilty look on both of them, especially toward Alex, whenever someone asked them where they were going.
Alex didn't blind. He knew.
Jessica still had feeling for Justin, after all that time. Anyone who had eyes could notice that.
But contrary to what people think, Alex didn't feel sad. He didn't feel angry, didn't feel betray. In fact, he didn't feel anything. From the moment his lips touched her, Alex knew he no longer felt anything for Jessica either. He didn't love her anymore. Of course, he still cared about her, as a friend, he was there for her because he knew what she had been through. Alex guessed, that was also the reasons why Jess agreed to be with him, because she felt sorry for him and didn't want him to kill himself again. And that's also why despite he didn't mind anything happened between Justin and Jessica, Alex still want to avoid them as much as possible. He didn't want to see the guilty looks in both of them, knowing that they were pity for him. Like he was someone who was need to be sympathized, to be pitied, who was weak and need to be protected. Reminded him of the treatment he got everyday since he was suicided. He didn't need anything like that, from them, from anyone. Ever.
The bell rang and everyone was standing up, ready to leave.
- Alex… - He heard Jessica calling him lowly from behind.
- I gotta go. See you guys later… Bye Jess. – Alex said.
And he walked away.
When Alex and Zach went to hospital, Tyler sat leaning against the pillow, reading a book. Seeing Alex came, he smiled, waved his hand:
- Hi, Alex. And… - He turned his sight to Zach walking behind Alex, his expressions slightly changed a bit. – Zach.
Alex walked slowly with his cane besides Tyler's bed, he opened his bag and smiled at him:
- Look at what I have for you, don't tell your doctor or your parents… Cool Ranch Doritos. – Tyler cheered happily. – And… Sour Patch Kids.
- Oh my god. – Tyler took his snacks, looked at Alex gratefully. – Thank you so much. You have no idea how much I'm sick of hospital food.
- Yeah, actually, I do. – Alex chuckled, looked at Tyler eating his doritos. Atter a few quite minutes, he asked. – Well, so… how are you?
Tyler blinked at the question.
- … I'm fine. I mean… - He paused in a second, like trying to find his words. And Alex let him. – I don't know. I'm getting better, I guess. – he reluctantly smiled.
Alex nodded back at him. He knew it was not really an appropriate question, but he still wanted to know how Tyler was doing, hearing he say he was doing okay, even Alex know he would never be okay. He still the way Jessica had struggled with that stuff, and she was still struggling, so definitely it wasn't easy for Tyler, especially when he was a boy. Alex looked at Tyler, his skin had been pale now even was paler than before, and his thin body had never been skinny more than that. But he still looked better than the last time Alex saw him, he looked… brighter, it was really a good sign.
- I…, you know, we were worried about you, and happy that you're feeling better.
- Yeah, I know. You and Clay really care about me a lot.
- Well, not just me and Clay…
- You mean… - Tyler tilted his head, confused.
- Jessica, Justin, Tony, even Courtney, the others… - Zach immediately interrupted "Me too". Alex rolled his eyes. – Yeah, and Zach – he was the first one who suggested to go with me. The others all wanted to visit you today, but Clay said that it might be uncomfortable to you to… have a room with full of people, so…
Alex just wanted Tyler to know that there was always someone to be there for him, that there was people cared about him. It was important to him to know that.
Tyler looked a bit shocked. He shyly scratched his head.
- Yeah… thanks you guys. I-um… I heard it from Clay, and… I didn't have a chance to thank you guys for… uhmm… covering up for me and not telling anyone… about me bringing guns to school…
- And trying to kill everyone. – Zach again interrupted.
- Zach… - Alex gave him a warning glare.
Tyler looked at Zach a bit with the repentance, again scratched his head.
- Yeah, about that, sorry about trying to kill you.
Zach bursted out a stupid laugh, and Alex again glared at him. Zach immediately shut his mouth.
- Yeah… I guess, I think I also need to apologize about… I was a total dick to you at Alex's birthday party. I shouldn't have told you to get out. And… I shouldn't have put you against a locker and accused you of stalking my sister. It wasn't you, I was wrong.
- It's okay. Can't blame you. I mean… I was a creep. Could understand why you thought it was me. - Tyler smiled at him. – Speaking of Alex's birthday, the birthday gift's still at my room, probably in my closet. When I go back home, I definitely will give it to you, Alex.
- Of couse, can't wait to see what it is. – Alex said. – ... So, Tyler. When you go home, are you also going back to school?
Tyler suddenly looked sad, he shook his head.
- No, my parents… uhm… I will stay at home. My parents are planning to move on to another place when I'm… better. Which means… I will move to another school.
- You're moving? – Zach asked, his mouth widely opened. Alex was a bit shocked as well.
- Yeah, they used to ask me before, after the court, but I refused. I said, I have my friend, that I couldn't leave you, you need me. – Tyler looked at Alex. – But now, I think about it again, it's… actually a good idea. I couldn't be here anymore, after… everything happened. – He looked down on his hand.
Alex felt sad that Tyler had to leave, he really considered him as his friend, but he also understand it was the best for Tyler. He understand that Tyler need to move on, and to do that he need a flesh start. Zach seemed look understanding as well, he patted his shoulder, and Alex did the same.
- Yeah, don't worried, if you guys miss me there still have something exist which is called facebook you know. – Tyler chuckled. – By the way, it would be really great. I will have new place, new friends, and I could take pictures again. Hope they will let me join the illuminati.
Alex laughed. He pulled Tyler into a hug.
- I will miss you.
- Yeah, I will miss you too.
- Remember to send me a postcard.
When Alex got home, the time was late. He pulled out all the things in his bag on the table, searching his Math book. Funny with all the crazy things happened in this fucking school and the teacher still had energy to give students a bunch of homeworks to do, how wonderful.
And Alex paused when he saw a cover with his name was written on it, by a read highlight familiarly. He opened it, and found a letter with a simple instruction:
"11:00. At the same place. Alone. Don't tell anyone. Don't call police. Monty."
End flashback.
