Disclaimer: I do not own 13 Reasons Why or any of its characters. Anything you may recognize belongs to Netflix and its original creators.
"Clay!" Lainie shouted for the third time for her son to come down for breakfast. "You're going to be late," She turned to Matt. "Was he up?"
"I think so," Matt shrugged. He honestly hadn't checked. He assumed he was.
"You're such a big help," Lainie shook her head and then turned back to the stove as she finished cooking the eggs.
"I said I was coming…" Clay sat down at the table, throwing his backpack next to him. "I was just finishing something,"
"Did you not finish your homework last night?" Lainie asked as she put a plate of bacon and eggs in front him and poured some coffee into a mug for Matt.
"I was just double checking…" Clay had actually been up late on the computer, not doing any homework or anything for school. He just didn't want his parents to know that.
"You better hurry, we will have to leave soon," Lainie couldn't be late to work today.
"Will you be home for dinner tonight?" Matt asked.
"I should be," Lainie nodded. She knew why he was asking. The last week there had been a number of late nights at the office. But she knew that should be over with, for at least a while. The case she had been working on was going to settlement today, which is why she couldn't be late. "I was thinking of making some Italian for tonight,"
"Sounds great," Matt said.
"Spaghetti?" Clay asked.
Lainie figured she could make that work. "I think I can do that,"
Clay finished eating his breakfast and then went to grab his coat.
"Hey Clay," Lainie was putting her papers for work into her bag. "How's Justin?"
"Okay, I guess," Clay shrugged. "Why?"
"Well, I was thinking maybe you could invite him over tonight," Lainie had been thinking about her son's friend since the day last week when his mother pulled him out of here faster than they could blink. That being after they couldn't get ahold of her the night before.
Clay smiled. "Yeah!" The last time Justin came over had been fun. "Can he sleepover again?"
"How about we just stick with dinner for now?" Lainie suggested. She figured after last time, it might be best to just lead with a dinner.
Clay nodded. "Okay,"
Clay waited until after the lesson in the last class before recess and they were using the extra class time to get started on homework. He scooted closer to Justin's seat. "Hey," He whispered, using his pencil to hit Justin's paper to get his attention.
Justin looked up. "What?" He looked back down to his paper to continue working on the assignment.
"What are you doing tonight?" Clay asked, tapping Justin's head with the pencil this time.
"Why?" Justin smacked the pencil away, putting his own down.
"My mom wanted me to ask if you wanted to come over for dinner,"
"Tonight?" Justin asked.
"That's what I said," Clay nodded. "She's making spaghetti,"
"No,"
Clay frowned. "No?"
"I can't," Justin shook his head.
"Why not?" Clay wasn't expecting to get a 'no'.
"My mom won't let me," Justin answered.
"You didn't even ask her!"
Justin shrugged, "I know what she's gonna say," He wouldn't even bother asking. She had been so angry with him that night he didn't come home and ended up sleeping over at the Jensen's. He didn't want her to be angry. When she got mad, then Seth got really mad. It was bad enough as it was.
"How do you know if you didn't even ask?" Clay didn't get it. Justin had wanted to come over before, he didn't get what changed.
"I just do!" Justin snapped.
"Clay, are you finished with the worksheet?" The teacher went over and asked.
Clay's lip quivered as he looked at Justin for another second before scooting back over and putting his head down. Why doesn't he wanna come? Does he not wanna be friends anymore? What did I do wrong?
"Awe, look…" Clay heard of the boys sitting behind him laugh. He reached up to quickly wipe the few tears away. "Clay's crying…"
"No, I'm not," Clay shook his head, trying to hide that he was.
"Yeah, you are!"
"Montgomery!" The teacher came back over. "Are you finished the worksheet?"
"Almost," He answered.
"Then, I suggest you get back to it,"
Monty sighed and went back to seat, but not before shooting Clay a threatening look. He wasn't finished with him yet.
Clay kept his head down and tried to focus on the worksheet, but he couldn't get through more than one question before the bell rang. As soon as it did, Clay grabbed his things quickly and shoved them into his bag.
"Clay…" Justin tried to get his attention, but Clay ignored him and quickly turned and heading for the door. He picked up his stuff and tried to catch up. "Clay!" He shouted as he ran down the hallway, but somehow Clay managed to stay ahead of him. By the time he finally caught up with him outside near the playground, Justin saw Monty had shoved Clay to ground.
"Leave me alone," Clay tried to grab all the papers that had fallen out of his bag.
"Awe, gonna cry?" Monty taunted. "This is why you have no friends, loser,"
Clay's lip quivered and he looked down, trying to hide it.
"See guys, what did I say?" Monty smirked as he crossed his arms. He and a bunch of other boys started to laugh. "Crybaby Clay..."
Justin couldn't take it. He stepped forward and then shoved Monty. "Leave him alone,"
"What…"
"You heard me,"
"What are you gonna do about it?" Monty challenged.
Justin clenched his fist and fought the urge to punch him as he looked to Clay. "Are you okay?"
Clay nodded. "I think so…"
"Of course, the only one that'd like a loser like him would be trash like you, Foley," Monty spat.
Justin turned back to Monty and didn't hesitate to punch him in the nose. Before Monty could even react, Justin jumped on top of him and kept punching him. Monty started to fight back, but he didn't have the advantage that Justin did. All the other kids watched, gathering around as Justin didn't hold back. It continued until eventually two teachers came to pull the boys apart.
"Stop this, right now!" The woman frowned at Justin.
"He just attacked me!" Monty lied. "For no reason,"
Justin had half the mind to start round two, but the teacher was holding him back. "Don't even think about it!" She scolded. "I'm taking you to the office and calling your mother,"
"I'll take Montgomery to the nurse," The other teacher said.
Justin looked back at Clay as the teacher pulled him away. They locked eyes until Justin was out of sight.
Justin was taken to the office, and he sat in one of the chairs, swinging his feet back in forth as the teacher that brought him in got on the phone. He knew that they were attempting to call his mom. This wasn't his first time in one of these seats. But this time, he didn't regret what he did. He watched as the teacher tried three times before finally leaving a message. I'm going to be here awhile…
It felt like forever that Justin was sitting here. At least an hour passed, and Justin considered getting up and slipping out. It wouldn't be the first time he would have tried. They didn't even notice until the end of the day once. But before Justin was able to attempt that, he saw Seth come into the office.
"Are you Justin's stepfather?" The woman in the office asked.
"No," Seth answered. "I'm dating his mom,"
"What's your name?" The woman looked up at his name and turned back to him. "It looks like you're on the list of approved pickups…" Justin couldn't believe his ears. Seriously? "Well, just sign for him here. He has been suspended for two days…"
Seth signed him out, not even paying attention to what the woman was saying as he turned to Justin. "Let's go!"
Justin got to his feet quickly and Seth grabbed his arm once they were out of the office and pulled him out of the building.
"Ow!" Justin tried to pry Seth's hand off of his arm as his grip tightened. "You're hurting me!"
"Shut up," Seth responded. "If you think this is bad, just wait till we get home," Justin knew that wasn't just a threat, but a warning as well. "Your mother's pissed and I'm sure you know how much I love having to come get her piece of shit kid," He unlocked the car. "Get in,"
Justin hesitated for a moment as he felt a few droplets of rain hit him on the head and then got in the car after Seth had let go of him. He sat in the backseat and didn't say a word as Seth drove back to the apartment, dreading what waited for him.
The ride ended too quickly for Justin's liking. He never thought that a car ride alone with Seth could be so short. But Seth couldn't do anything to him while he was driving. For that short time, he was safe. Justin wasn't looking forward to what Seth and his mother would do once they got in.
"Get out," Seth said as he parked in front of the apartment.
Justin hesitated, but only for a moment. He knew it would only be worse if he was slow. He got out and went to the door. He started to go in, only to stumble and fall when Seth gave him a kick and walked over him.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Justin looked up to his mother who was smoking a cigarette. "You got into another fight?" This hadn't been the first time that Justin had done this.
"You're surprised?" Seth remarked.
"This was different,"
"Sure, it was," Seth chuckled. "Amber, I told you that kid is nothing but trouble…"
"I had to!" Justin cut him off. "Montgomery was being stupid—"
"Coming from the idiot,"
Justin clenched a fist. "Shut up!"
Seth stood up, but Amber grabbed his wrist to stop him from moving. "You think you're a tough guy?" Seth pulled his arm from Amber and went over to Justin and picked him up by the hair. "Go head, throw a punch," He challenged. "Go on…" He waited, but Justin didn't raise his fist, despite wanting to. He knew that was what he wanted. He always wanted an excuse to beat the crap out of him. Even though most times he did it without much reason. "Hit me, go on tough guy!"
"No!"
"Fucking useless," Seth smirked, letting go of Justin. "One of these days, you'll get yourself killed in one of those fights…" Justin crossed his arms. "Maybe then you'd finally do us all a favor,"
"Shut up!" Justin snapped and without thinking, shoved Seth.
"You little shit," Seth had been waiting for this and then pushed Justin against the wall, hitting his head. He pushed him down to the ground and started kicking.
"Stop it!" Amber screamed.
Justin threw his arms up to protect himself as the hits kept coming for several minutes.
"Told you," Seth spit on Justin. "Piece of shit, nothing but trouble,"
"I can't fucking do this," Amber shook her head.
"I can't fucking live with that kid anymore," Seth sat next to Amber and forced her to look at him. "I'm serious,"
"Mommy," Justin picked himself off the floor and looked at his mother, pleadingly with tears in his eyes. "Please…"
Amber didn't look at Justin and turned away.
"Get the fuck out of here," Seth smiled for the first time in Justin's direction.
"Mommy…" Justin went over towards his mother, who still refused to look at him and Seth got up, grabbing him by the arm and dragging him to the door.
"Are you that stupid?" Seth opened the door and threw Justin outside. "Get the fuck out," He looked at Justin as he sat on the wet pavement. He didn't waste another moment before slamming the door shut and locking it.
Justin scrambled to his feet, unable to get to the door before it closed. He stood at the door as he heard the click of the lock. "Mommy?" Justin tried to open the door and then started banging on it. "Mommy! Please! Mom!"
"Don't fucking make come out there!" Seth threatened. He was only giving him one warning. "Stay the fuck away, no one wants you,"
Justin cried silently as he sat in front of the door, desperately hoping his mom would come and unlock it and let him back inside. When he saw the light from the window go dark, he knew she wasn't coming. Justin forced himself up and then started to walk away, not wanting to chance it if Seth did check to see if he was still there.
Justin kept looking back until he didn't see the apartment anymore. He looked up at the sky, it was dark and it was raining, and coming down harder by the each minute. Where do I go? Justin kept thinking, wondering what he was going to do. He looked around, only able to see from the street lights and from the passing cars. I could find a bench to sleep on… Justin kept trying to think of where he could go to get dry. He wrapped his arms around himself and shivered as it was getting colder and the storm was only getting worse. The chilly winds hitting his skin were painful. Justin kept walking, against the winds and rain until he realized he was back by the school. He knew he couldn't stay there. It would be locked up, but seeing the school made him think of something.
Clay invited me over today! Justin knew that it was late. He was sure that Clay probably hated him now. He probably wouldn't be happy to see him after what happened today. That's probably a stupid idea… But Justin started heading that way.
"Hey," Matt had gotten home just after dark and found Lainie in the kitchen. She had just put the rest of the dinner she made away and was cleaning up. "Sorry I'm late," He got stuck grading papers and then he ended up staying later to help a student. "Where's Clay?"
"In his room," Lainie answered. "Playing video games, I think,"
"I guess Justin couldn't come over?"
Laine frowned and shook her head. "Clay said that he asked, but Justin said he couldn't," But she knew there was something that Clay wasn't saying.
"What is it?"
"Clay seemed upset about something when I picked him up," Lainie had a hunch it had something to do with Justin. "But he didn't want to talk about it,"
"Is that why he locked himself up in his room?"
Lainie nodded. "Barely ate dinner," It seemed like he couldn't wait to get back there.
"Well, at least I know there's some for me," Matt joked lightly.
Lainie opened the fridge and took out a container, handing it to Matt. "I just put it in there, so it should still be warm," She looked out the window, taking notice that the rains were coming down harder. "It's storming pretty badly out there,"
Matt nodded in agreement as he opened the container and grabbed a fork. "It was pretty bad coming home," But he was glad he got when he did.
Then, there was a knock at the front door.
"Who could that be?" Lainie said, looking to Matt. They weren't expecting anyone. "Who would be out there during this storm?" She went to answer the door and was surprised when she saw it was Justin.
"It's not a b-bad t-time…" Justin was shivering and looking down at his feet. He only looked up briefly. "I-Is it?"
"Oh honey," Lainie brought Justin inside quickly and shut the door. "You're soaked…" She observed. "What are you doing out in the rain?"
Justin didn't answer.
"Matt!" Lainie called. "Can you grab some clothes from the laundry room?" The first thing they needed to do was get Justin out of those wet clothes and into something dry. "Come on," She led Justin over the hallway bathroom and then handed Justin the clothes that Matt had given her. "Go change in these,"
Justin nodded slowly as he shivered. He took the clothes and shut the bathroom door behind him. Taking off all the wet clothes and slipping into the dry ones that he assumed were Clay's. He came out five minutes later, still shivering and holding the wet clothes.
Lainie had been waiting for Justin outside the bathroom. She took the clothes from him and tossed them in the laundry room. She then brought Justin back into the living room. "Let's get you warmed up," She sat him on the couch and wrapped him in a blanket.
"T-Thank you…" Justin continued shivering, but he felt relieved to be out of the wet clothes.
"How long were you out in that storm?" Lainie asked.
Justin shrugged. "Dunno," After Seth kicked him out, checking a clock wasn't the first thing on his mind. "Took a while to get here," The walk felt like it took forever. The rain didn't help him get here any faster.
"Well, I'll just let your mom know you're here,"
Justin looked away. "Don't bother," He mumbled. "She won't care,"
Lainie frowned, taking a seat next to Justin as he looked to the floor. "Do you want to talk about it?" Lainie got the sense that something happened. That would be the only way to explain why Justin was alone in the rain.
Before anything else could be said, Clay ran into the room. "You're here!" Clay was surprised to see Justin. Especially after what happened. "I can't believe they let you after the fight today,"
"Fight?" Lainie turned to Clay. "There was a fight at school today?"
"Monty was being mean to me," Clay looked to the floor for a moment, not meeting his mother's eyes. "But Justin made him stop," He had thought that Justin didn't want to be his friend anymore. But he was glad he was wrong. "I thought you would have got in trouble,"
"I did," Justin mumbled.
"Hey Clay, can you go help your dad for a minute?" Lainie wanted to talk to Justin, but not with him in the room. "He's upstairs,"
Clay nodded slowly before going upstairs to find his father.
Lainie turned back to Justin, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. "What happened today?"
Justin only shrugged as an answer. "Doesn't matter,"
"I think it does," Lainie said firmly.
"Montgomery was being a jerk, so I made him stop it," Justin hadn't wanted to upset Clay. He certainly didn't want Monty making it worse just because he was having a rough time. "My mom's boyfriend picked me up and…" Justin felt tears in his eyes as he thought back to it. Despite, this time being far from the worst he's ever gotten. "He was mad—really mad and he locked me outside…" Justin tried to stop himself from crying, but once he started talking about, he couldn't help it. "Mommy didn't care, she didn't stop him…" She didn't want me around anymore…
"Oh sweetheart," Lainie frowned, slowly moving her arm around Justin and then pulling him closer into a hug. Justin didn't pull away and started sobbing as she held him.
"I didn't know what to do…" It had been very cold, and the storm kept getting worse, the longer he was out there. Justin went to the only place he could think of.
"It's going to be okay," Lainie rubbed his back gently, trying to calm him.
"You don't know that!"
"I promise, it will be," Lainie was going to make sure.
Eventually, Justin started to calm down and stopped crying. But he didn't let go and neither did Lainie for a while.
"What's going on?" Clay came back down and saw his mother with Justin.
"Well, it's getting late," Lainie glanced to the clock. "I think it might be a good idea to turn in a little early tonight,"
"But Justin just got here," Clay frowned, feeling disappointed. "Is he going home already?"
"Justin isn't going anywhere,"
"He's sleeping over again?" Clay felt excited. "Is that why daddy was in the guest room?"
"I suppose so," Lainie hadn't told him anything specific, but he must have had a similar feeling. "You must be tired?" She turned back to Justin. Considering how long she guessed it took him to walk over here in the storm, not to mention everything else that happened today, she knew that would be an understatement.
Justin nodded. "I can stay here?" He knew he didn't have anywhere else to go, but he hoped that wouldn't be a problem.
Lainie nodded. "I told you that you are always welcome here," And this time, she wasn't going to let Justin go anywhere until she knew he would be safe. Right now, staying here with them would be the safest place for him.
Justin smiled slightly.
"I think he's almost finished with it," Clay said and then ran upstairs to check.
"Lets go see," Lainie took Justin's hand and led him upstairs.
"All ready," Matt said as he and Clay came out of the guest room, letting Lainie take Justin in. The room had a full size bed in the corner of the room, with an end table on the left side of it. The bed was made up with fresh sheets and a throw blanket on top.
"Go head," Lainie urged.
Justin went over to the bed and then noticed a stuffed animal sitting in between the two pillows. "Did Clay leave this in here?"
"I guess he thought he'd make it more comfortable for you," Lainie took a guess. Clay had run up to help Matt finish getting the room ready. That was something she could see him doing.
Justin climbed into bed and Lainie pulled the covers and the blanket over him. "Are you warm enough?"
"I think so," He definitely felt warmer than he had before.
"If you need anything at all, Matt and I are just across the hall. And Clay's room is right next to this one," Lainie told him.
"Thank you," Justin could hardly believe how nice they were being. "For everything,"
"Of course, honey," Lainie stroked his hair gently before going to turn out the lights. "Just try and get some rest, okay?"
Justin shut his eyes almost immediately.
Lainie and Matt would discuss how to handle things in the morning. But they would make sure that Justin would be okay. This time they would do whatever they could to help him; they were going to make sure he was safe.
A/N: This is a follow-up to my other story, "Unfair". And there may or may not be another idea brewing to follow this one. But anyways, Justin had to find his way back to the Jensens somehow.
Please don't forget to review.
