Chapter 6

Nathan was still glued to the window, looking over Max Caufield and Hannah. He was extremely high after the horrible number of drugs he took.

Max and Hannah finally stopped talking at that place, they then got up and left. He couldn't see their faces or expressions, but they were walking together and that they were close. Nathan didn't understand their body language or something else people display, so he gave up.

He let out a couple of short breathes, and sat on his bed, looking over his favorite photo with him and Hannah.

– So much time has passed from that moment, – Nathan thought and leaned over the wall while sitting. He closed his eyes.


Flashback

It was a regular day in Blackwell. Me and other brain-dead idiots from the Vortex Club were sitting at the dining table, chatting and waiting for Victoria or Rachel to finally show up. Suddenly, Vic entered the dining hall and approached our table with some girl.

– Hey sweethearts, l brought you my new friend. – Guys, meet Hannah, she is the one l was talking about. Hannah waved quietly and took Rachel's chair.

– Hello everyone, my name is Hannah Crimsen, and l'm pretty new here in Blackwell.

– Wow Vic! – You have some good eye for the right girls!

– Welcome Hannah!

– She was clearly confused, but kept on a big smile. – From the first glance, Hannah was pretty, but dressed extremely weird – she was wearing some weird long white dress in a style people call a "boho", she had her bag decorated by some random hippie stuff (luckily, no fucking stickers), and was wearing tall boots - she was showing a lot of "not like the other girls" vibes.

– So, you are the new girl, right? – Said Zachary.

– Yeah, my first very first day here. – Blackwell freaking rules. – So different from my previous school.

– Oh yeah, you're so right. – Also, Hannah: I want to introduce you to the Vortex gang – there is of course – me, Logan, Zachary, Courtney, Taylor, Juliet, Dana, Hayden and this – this is Nathan.

– Aw, thanks Victoria.

– Hi Test Girl. – As l understood Victoria, l have to introduce myself to you. – Well, you probably know me - I'm Nathan Prescott.

– Oh… – Hey there "prob-a-guy-from-a-loaded-family-that-l-never-heard-of". – Your parents are rich, right? – Only rich people assume everyone must know them.

– Everyone laughed, and of course, l was quite embarrassed and offended. This weird-ass girl just came here, sat at our table and began behaving like she owned that place. At first, l didn't like that, but… – Things change.

– Oh yeah, Nathan's parents are not just loaded, they practically own the entirety of Arcadia Bay, Blackwell included, – Said Victoria.

– Haha, nice to meet you then, King of the Hill.

– Nothing mutual.

– Hannah took out her pink 3DS and showed it to everyone. – Some were amazed, some were laughing. – l was from the later ones.

– Weaboo stuff, seriously? – I wrote a note and slipped it to Hannah. – She looked at it, but fake-smiled to me instead.

– Hannah continued talking and wrapping everyone around her little pinky finger. The guys seemed to look in her mouth this whole conversation, but l knew it was all fake. Just like l thought she was…

Flashback ends


Nathan laughed at himself. Yeah, his methods of talking weren't the "best" ones. For real, his social skills sucked. He suddenly laughed much more loudly and randomly.

– "Can't imagine what would the "Present Nathan" had said to Hannah for those words she said to me that day" …

Nathan finally got out from his dorm to find Hannah and hoping to talk with her about Max. He wasn't aggressive, but was questioning himself repeatedly.


– Why the fuck you are so nervous about that little Twitch-Bitch? – Yeah, everything is fine, you are just going to face the person who set you up and who's you threatened…

– Shit-shit-shit… – Hannah, why you had to hang around that particular girl?! – Nathan was thinking and suddenly, saw Max and Hannah, who were now smiling and talking to each other. Max was even showing Hannah some of her photos from her Polaroid, and Hannah looked extremely interested.

Nathan saw it and hid behind the tree. He was really interested and wanted to go and chat with them, but now, he realized that he was afraid.

– Ugh…

He breathed in again. He couldn't believe, that only a year ago, he couldn't talk normally with Hannah as well.

Until a certain day


Flashback

– If you stopped acting like a fucking psychopath, maybe there would be no need for doctors and drugs! – WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE NORMAL, NATE?!

– Shut up! Don't you treat me like l'm sick! l'm not! Shut up! FUCK YOU!

*SLAP*


– I still remember that day… – When after some shitstorm from my mom and dad, 'cause l got caught taking energy drinks and drug pills and even got hit for that. – Shit was hurting like hell. – Yeah, what the fuck did they expect after demanding l get straight A++?! – That I, for real, manage to pull it off without the dirt? – Well, they were wrong.

– l actually gave my ass-father the finger and ran away to the beach. – When l reached it, l went full berserk there - screaming, crying, hitting everything – even the goddamn rocks. – That time, l didn't know how to calm myself, so did that. – It hurt, really hurt. – Maybe my father was right.

– After that, I was standing for over an hour on that beach, no one still has found me, or maybe no one cared, l thought. – But l was wrong.

Nathan!

I turned and saw Hannah running over from her car. I blocked her way to get to me, and l remember that l was shaking and crying. Ew.

– Nathan, goodness, are you alright? – Victoria has gotten your message, l will write to her immediately, and-

– NO! – Don't call her! – l can't face Victoria, or my dad in this state… – Hannah, just leave me alone.

– But she didn't. – Instead of leaving, she stood near me, sat me down and put her hand on my shaking shoulder.

– Nathan, everything is okay, calm down…

– Hannah waited and waited, until l would stop sobbing. – I looked like a fucking snot-made girl that time – I was disgusted with myself and was disgusted that l couldn't stop crying and burden this poor girl.

– Leave me the fuck alone, Hannah!

But, this girl was stubborn af. She waited, as l think pretty long, and then, she hugged me.

– Shhhh… – It's okay…

– I not only accepted her hug then, but also kind of… – Enjoyed it? – It was weird, l was afraid of any physical contact, but, us hugging, l felt safe.

– She smiled at me with her most pure and light-hearted smile and let go.

– So? – Better?

– Y-y-yes, thanks Hannah.

– What happened? – Some fight with your parents?

– Yeah…

– Hannah looked at me with a serious look, mixed with grief and pity. – Without words, she put her hand on my shoulder.

– Nathan...

No Hannah. – Just… – Just sit here with me, look at the sea. – Please.

– Hannah put her phone away, and for my surprise, actually sat near me. – She leaned on my shoulder, and suddenly, this cold sand beach turned into the warmest shore. – I also leaned on her shoulder.

– We sat like this for some time and l, with Hannah's help finally calmed down. – Hannah looked relived, and l was still looking at that mystical, incredible person. – Suddenly, l heard familiar sounds, coming from the ocean. – It was whale songs – the real whale songs.

– Nathan… – Do you hear that?

– Yes… – Those songs, they are the whales singing.

– Wow… – This is just… – Incredible.

– I know Hannah, l know.

– OMG, Nathan – look. – The whales are visible, here they are!

– Holy fuck…

I was blown away – it was the first fucking time l ever saw real whales singing and even being just visible, and l had no real idea of how beautiful and mind-blowing everything would be.

– Me and Hannah were sitting at early night, on the beach and were pacified with the songs. – Hannah took my hand and l accepted it. – No matter what magic Hannah used, it for sure was working.

– Hannah… – This, you… – You really helped me. – You are just the goddamn best.

– Those moments with Hannah were one of the best moments l ever had in my life. – When l met Hannah for the first time, l thought she was pretty airheaded and childish with her love for anime and obsession over those stupid Nintendo games. – But, l never expected her to be so… mature.

I felt so horrible bullying and laughing at her, all because of her hobbies and her interests. Just because l wanted to look "cool", just because she was different.

– Hannah… – Thank you so much, thank you… – And, l'm sorry. – Sorry for making fun of you. – l was stupid.

– She didn't respond, just shook her head.

– I forgive you. – And, thank you too Nathan.

– I quietly hugged her again and she lit up even more. – That was the day when me and Hannah truly started to become, what normal people call it "friends".


– Finally, oh god! – Suddenly, l saw Victoria running towards me and Hannah. – She got our asses up. – Hannah was clearly freezing, so l gave her my hoodie, while Victoria guided us to the car.

– Don't you ever scare me like that, Nathan! – l'm so lucky Hannah has found you.

– Yeah, sorry Victoria…

– Victoria hugged me and Hannah, and l think, noticed us holding hands. – Well, at least l think that, as she didn't show anything other than concern for both of us.

– I didn't let Hannah go for the rest of the trip. – Victoria was a true caring superhero – she didn't even told my ass-dad that l was found.

– That day, l had to slept on the couch in Hannah's house, and that was truly a peaceful night.

– On the next day, she was knocked over by the temperature of 38,7°, and l was standing beside her bed that whole time – feeding her the homemade herbal soup and keeping her company.

– We even watched that anime show she was obsessed with – Naruto, or something like that – we both had a good laugh about it. – After that, Victoria and Hayden came to visit and we all had a blast playing on my console together.

– Hannah was grateful as hell, but that was the least l could do for her.

– I would never forget that magical day. – All thanks to Hannah, the day that was supposed to be one of the worst, is now forever in my memory as one of the best.

Flashback ends


Nathan hated being nostalgic or simply remembering anything lifting from his life. But, when he remembered those moments, he suddenly realized how much he missed those times, those feelings…

While Max and Hannah continued talking, Nathan got away from the tree and decided to just look over to spy on them. He didn't know what he was doing was wrong, or creepy.

Despite his best efforts to remain hidden, Max noticed him and became afraid, really afraid.

Nathan didn't understand her reaction. He meant to at least try to be "friendly" or just wanted to chat. Maybe he would even apologize, but instead, saw how Max was uncomfortable and scared, and it never crossed his mind "why". He got up and prepared to go forward.

Max saw him walking toward them and became fed up with this. She stood up and grabbed Hannah's hand really tightly. They both prepared to leave.

– No… – Don't you dare to go away Max Caufield! – I want to explain myself, you have to listen!

Nathan wanted to scream at her, but couldn't get out a word. He hid in the bushes and hoped that Hannah would not notice him. He thought that she didn't, and decided to keep inside the bushes for some time. Nathan lit a cigarette and looked around.


– For fuck's sake Nathan, you screwed up again…

Suddenly, he saw Hannah waving. At him, with her firm "everything will be alright" pose. He waved back.

– You still noticed me, Han.

Nathan waved again, and Hannah left, but not before sending him a hugging emoji. Yeah, he hated emojis with burning passion, but that was classic Hannah.