Chapter 7
Hannah's point of view
A confused Hannah was walking behind really scared and clearly paranoid Max. All she was thinking about was "who" or "what" scared Max so much?
– Nate? – Bullshit, Nathan was just standing and minding his own business. – Then who? – Hannah was thinking, before Max finally stopped. She looked around and took a deep breath. Hannah raised her eyebrow.
– What the hell, Max?
– Jesus, sorry Hannah… – I, l panicked for a moment and… – That's kinda my reaction. – Sorry again, – Said Max, while looking at the ground.
Hannah decided to brush this moment off, and looked at Max with a bit of concern. Maybe she will ask her later about this?
Max breathed again and seemed calm after that. She turned to investigate would if Nathan follow them. When she confirmed that he isn't planning to, she became relived and turned to Hannah.
– Yeah, I need to come back to reality, – Said Max and they both laughed. Hannah was laughing on what seemed to be Max's silly reaction, Max laughed because she wanted to take off some stress.
They were walking around the campus and talking, waiting for Chloe to collect Max.
– Really Max, l never expected you to capture such good photos with your instant camera! – Don't they like, have horrible color representation?
Max laughed.
– Oh… – Hannah Crimsen praised me? – Now l have seen everything.
Hannah laughed.
– Haha Max, last time l checked, my name wasn't Victoria Chase, so… – Why should my praise matter?
– Funny joke, Hannah, you are not fooling me here. – You know, l say your praise matters much more than Victoria's. – At least, you don't go out of your way to bully someone.
They both laughed and continued walking. Suddenly, Max stopped.
– Uhm, Hannah… Max awkwardly said and stared at something. Hannah turned and looked at the same direction Max was looking at. Her heart sunk.
She saw Kate Marsh. That nice, happy and generous girl, who always helped the school and people around her, was now famous around the whole Blackwell because of that disgusting video from Vortex Club.
Hannah turned to Max and noticed the change in her face. She was… Angry and hopeless.
– Max… – Is Kate your friend? – Hannah asked and Max slightly nodded. Hannah felt sick to her stomach. Every bit of happiness that was between her and Max suddenly disappeared. Hannah put her hand on Max's shoulder and led her away, seeming that Max was heartbroken.
She looked at Kate for the last time, and saw that she was approached by Taylor, who probably wanted to bully her even more.
Hannah took her phone and typed a message for Taylor:
Stay away from Kate Marsh.
Hannah saw Taylor checking up her phone and getting away. She felt a little guilty over being too harsh, but she couldn't react other way. Max seemed to didn't notice the reaction of Hannah, but Hannah didn't mind.
When the girls sat on the bench, Max swallowed her flowing small tears. Hannah felt like a bucket of cold water was thrown on her. It was all Vortex Club's doing, most of done by Victoria.
– Uhm… Is everything okay, Max? – Hannah asked with concern.
– It's easier to say no than yes. – After all, Kate is my friend and what happens with her is horrible. – Today, l just saw her get bullied… – All because of that fucking video Victoria thought was "cool" to release.
– Jesus Max, l'm so sorry that happened to Kate and… – That you have to deal with it.
– Not your fault. – This is Victoria and Nathan who are responsible, not you. – Max said with sudden coldness.
Hannah took what Max with a bit of offense, but decided to keep her mouth shut for now.
– I'm trying to prevent people from watching that video and sharing it as best as l can Max. – Said Hannah. – Sadly, the internet is unstoppable.
– Oh yeah, trust me, l know it. – When my dumb pictures taken by Victoria are shared on the internet, not a 30 pass, and l already get a ton of stupid dms, commenting on my "donkey face".
– Don't worry Max, l'm going to have a serious talk with Victoria today. – This has gone too far.
– Please Hannah. – Max said with an almost a pleading tone. – Help Kate get justice, okay?
Hannah nodded. She truly had no idea that that video impacted poor Kate so much. Guilt was eating her alive, and it was one of the times, where she wanted to repeatedly punch herself for being in a Vortex Club. She also felt guilty about Max, who was looking at her as some kind of "Only Hope" for saving Kate and her reputation. The amount of pressure was insufferable.
They both sat at the bench for some time, most of this time trying to shift a discussion from Kate to a different topic and awkwardly talked with one another. That sparkle they had at the start has disappeared. Only cringe and uncomfortable situations stayed.
Suddenly, Chloe called.
– Hey there, Mad Max, where are you? – I've been waiting forever at a diner with my mom, drag your "rewind-time" ass here!
– Oh gosh, sorry Chloe, l'll get to you now, – Max ended the call, said goodbye to Hannah and left to take the bus.
Hannah waved and signed. After all, they are not friends, they barely even know each other, so why Max shouldn't treat her like that? Right now, she had another problem on her hands – Victoria.
She was angry.
– Fuck Victoria, fuck the Vortex Club and fuck me, – Hannah was thinking, while going to her dorm room. When she reached it, she angrily knocked on the door.
– What the hell? – Hannah heard the angry and pitched voice of Victoria, as she opened her door. – Max l swear, if it's your stupid face l- – Oh, Hannah!
Without any ceremony, Hannah walked in Victoria's dorm. Victoria made a confused face.
– Is there something wrong, Hannah?
– Well… – Kind of yes, – Hannah said with seriousness on her face. – Victoria, l want to talk about the Kate Marsh situation.
– Oh shit… – Victoria mumbled. – Hannah, please, don't tell me you also came here to judge me or blame me for that thing.
– Pardon, but you are actually at fault of all the garbage that is now thrown on Kate, so, l'm kinda justified with all that.
– For fuck's sake Han, you are not even friends with that weirdo, – Victoria said, rolling her eyes. – Listen, not my fault that the Jesus Banger got drunk at our party. l just recorded the video, so tough cookies.
Hannah was just blankly looking at Victoria - how unsympathetic she was being, and how little remorse she had shown, so simply decided to not press further. Without saying goodbye or anything else, Hannah silently reversed and left the dorm. And if she turned around, she would see a look of regret on Victoria's face, that she masterfully hid.
– Yeah right, what Victoria Chase could know about being a victim of bullying? – She never was that victim, only the bully… – She could never put herself on Kate's place… – Like l can.
Hannah exited to the yard and took a deep breath. She saw Kate walking towards the door and wanted to talk to her.
– Uhm… – Kate Marsh?
Kate suddenly stopped, and Hannah noticed that her eyes wided.
– Hannah… – Crimsen? – What do you want? – Kate said with a tone of anger. Hannah was startled. Kate never shoved aggression before.
– Hey Kate, l know what happened, and wanted to ask – do you need any help?
– Not from you, or anyone from the Vortex Club, – Kate whispered under her breath and Hannah saw small tears in her eyes.
– Kate…
– You don't understand what l said? – Please, leave me alone Hannah. – Can you go bully someone else?
After Kate said this, she pushed Hannah who was blocking her, aside and quickly went inside. She was now crying. Hannah looked at her with sadness.
– Go bully someone else… – Hannah revised what Kate said over and over in her head. She felt a little thrown over.
– Holy hell, poor Kate… – She was thinking while going forward. She still had some time before her music class, so she just decided to take a walk.
While Hannah was walking, tons of people nearby were saying hi to her, and she was forced to reply with a pretty smile or wave, like nothing has happened.
– Fucking smile, Han, – Her inside voice was telling her. She was in control, everything is fine. She will help Kate and she will be alright.
Hannah took out her phone and made a post on social media, addressing what happened with Kate.
Please, stop sharing Kate Marsh's video – was the last sentence in that post. She signed and put the phone away. Just needed to wait for support.
Suddenly, the bell rang.
– Shit, the lesson starts now! – Hannah spaced back into reality and rushed to the class.
When the class ended - the students quickly cleared out, even the teacher left. Only Hannah stayed.
She sat on the chair for some time, looking out of the window. She was alone, in this beautiful, orange themed room, full with expensive instruments. Hannah stood up, took out a violin, and began playing.
Hannah closed her eyes, and let all the sorrow feel her. She was playing "Lost Innocence" and her eyes were filling with tears.
She knew Kate also played the violin. Kate… She was so passionate about music and art and now… Kate was just a shadow of herself.
– Kate, this is for you. – And… l'm sorry.
And while Hannah was playing the violin, in her room, Kate Marsh was crying and writing a suicide note.
