For the first time since coming back to town, Bryce wakes up ready for the day. He basically jumps out of bed. He is excited to get to school. He's ready for whatever may come. Something about the talk with Mrs. Jensen really lightened Bryce up. He feels free to not worry about Clay. To focus on himself and live his life.

"So I'm going to be going to Hannah's after school to study for our History test."

"Oh okay. I've got a job interview after school anyway." Bryce is surprised and looks over to Monty.

"Really? Where?"

"The movie theater. Hannah put a word in for me."

"That's nice."

"Yeah…" Bryce can tell something's up with Monty.

"What's up?" They park at school.

"I feel like Hannah doesn't like me. I don't think she can forgive me for everything."

"She just needs time."

"Yeah…"

"I'll talk to her."

"Thanks."

They go off into the school. Monty walks off to his class and Bryce goes to his. When Bryce sits at his desk he realizes something is different. There's someone new. He looks to his right and sees Hunter.

"Hey Bryce." Bryce can feel his stomach fluttering and throat closing up. "What a small world."

"Yeah." He just giggles a little and immediately regrets it.

"So how's this teacher? Anything I should worry about?" He smiles and Bryce's heart skips just the tiniest of beats.

"Um… well…" He's waiting for Hunter to just move on from him, but he continues looking at him and smiling, patient. "He's good. But a little tough."

"Bummer. I was hoping for something easy. I've never been so good at science."

"Yeah. I understand." He starts breathing more and realizes that while Hunter is very very hot, he is just human. "I used to do awful in science."

"Really? Maybe you can help me?"

"Okay well I'm not gonna say I'm that good."

"Well I can't really get any worse."

"Okay. Just warning you."

"Well why don't we become lab partners and work on this first lab together?"

"Yeah. Sure."

"Great. I'm free tomorrow after school."

"Oh. Okay. That sounds good."

"Great." He hands me his phone. "I'll text you the details."

When it comes to lunch, Bryce finds himself at the activities board at the front of the school. The board is filled with sign up sheets to every sport and club the school has to offer. He starts eyeing through them. Not looking for anything in specific. Just hoping something will pop out to him.

"So… anything look interesting?" Hunter walks up, Bryce finds himself suddenly standing up more straight.

"Not really."

"Here." He grabs Bryce's hand. "Close your eyes." Bryce closes his eyes and Hunter starts moving his hand around in random positions. "Tell me when to stop."

"Stop." Hunter stops his hand and Bryce starts opening his eyes.

"Hey! Close them back up." Bryce listens to him. "Now tell me when to stop again."

Hunter starts moving his hand around again.

"Stop."

"Again."

"Stop."

"Open your eyes." Bryce does so.

"Here are your three choices. Go to one meeting of each."

"Really?"

"What? Sometimes you've got to give it all up to chance."

"You're…"

"What? Amazing? Devilishly handsome? Brilliant?"

"Oh… no! I was gonna say weird."

"Oh? Really?"

"Not in a bad way."

"I didn't take it in a bad way. It's fun to be weird." He looks to the board. "It's also fun to try some new things. Good luck on your choices." He smiles and walks away, leaving Bryce flustered.

"So… are you really gonna leave me at that?" Hannah moves closer to Bryce.

"What? We've got stuff to study." He tries looking at his textbook, but Hannah takes it away. "Hannah!"

"Just give me thirty minutes to gossip, then we can study about this stupid test."

"Fine. But I've got to talk to you about something then."

"Fine. But I get to go first."

"Fine." They both laugh.

"So… first… what are the three clubs you're going to try?"

"Well I've signed up to try Volleyball, Lit Mag, and Photography."

"Wow…"

"What?"

"Well I don't think any of those sound anywhere up your alley."

"I know! Right?"

"But you're still gonna try them?"

"Yeah. I might as well."

"Because of Hunter?"

"No…" Bryce starts smiling.

"Sure…"

"What? I'm doing it all for myself…"

"Thanks to Hunter."

"Shut up."

"You know you're allowed to move on. Have feelings for other people."

"Yeah…"

"It doesn't hurt to just try. You'll never know if you're ready unless you try."

"Fine. My turn."

"Fine."
"Can you give Monty a shot?"

"What? I've been trying with him. I got him that interview at the movie theater."

"And that's very nice of you. He's really appreciative. But can you really say that you've been kind to him. Accepting even?"

"I've tried…"

"Really?"

"Well…" She curls up and grabs a blanket. "I guess… that just every time I see him I am reminded of this shit he's done to everyone. I find it hard to forgive or forget."

"I understand. But I told you what happened to him. And it's no excuse. Obviously. But sometimes people try to change and become better people. Remember what I was like before Clay?"

"Yeah. You weren't great."

"I was awful. I did even worse things. But eventually there was someone that gave me a reason to change. That gave me a purpose. And it only got easier when I started hanging out with you and the others. It made me feel like I really was changing, and that other people had noticed."

"I get it."

"I'm not telling you to forgive him. I'm not telling you to become best friends. I can't force any of that on you. But I just want you to try a little harder."

"I can do that. Maybe we should meet up for coffee someday?"

"Perfect. Now can we study?"

"We can study."