Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters within this story. They are owned by Jay Asher.
WARNING: This chapter may not be suitable for some people so please be mindful when you read it.
Chapter Eleven-
I wake up with a slight glimmer of sun shining down on my face from the open blind, it's not to bright which either means the rest of the blind is covering the sun or it is cloudy. Hopefully it's not the cloudy part. I roll over and spread my arm out to feel clay but his side of the bed is empty and slightly cold, he must have got up early. I sit up when i hear mumbles outside the door, clay my clay it is definitely him, he must be on the phone. While he's on the phone i may as well go for a shower and freshen up a little. I collect a towel from cupboard and head into the shower. The feel of warm water running down my body relaxes me into a calm state, I welcome this as calm is hard to find lately. After i finish in the shower i grab my towel to dry myself and then slip on one of clays shirts, i love the smell of his shirts thats another comfort for me, I leave the bathroom to find clay standing in his doorway which startles me a little but i know it could only be him.
"Morning beautiful, put on some clothes and i'll meet you downstairs were off to the beach with Tony today" Clay says as he kisses my cheek, so I reward him with a smile that for some reason is followed by a giggle, I don't giggle so that is a bit of a shock. He leaves the room while i get changed and this is something i really appreciate about clay, he likes to give me as much privacy as i need, he is a real gentleman.
I don't waste time and quickly get ready, sticking my hair up in a messy bun and walking downstairs i meet clay in the kitchen who is talking to his mom by the sink. They both turn around when they realise that i am walking into the kitchen. Clay stands there looking me up and down with a wide smile on his face and lainie just laughs at him and throws a dish cloth at his head.
"Right while clay mops up his drool off the floor, shall we head to the car, oh and here have something to eat" Tony says from the table in the corner, making me jump. I didnt even realise he was there, he hands me a piece of toast as we head towards the front door laughing at clay and his trance like state. He eventually catches up to us when we reach the car, he is so silly my clay is.
It takes us an hour to get to the beach, which is strange since the beach closest to us is only a 15 minute journey. It's only when i look outside that i realise that were at the Mare Island Shoreline. It's so beautiful here and definitely a place i have always wanted to visit since moving here. The beach is lovely and warm with soft sand that swallows your feet as you walk and a sea temperature that was bearable not too cold and not too warm due to the sun. Before i even realised ive ran off and i'm wading through the sea just breathing in the sights and smells of the beach. Its different to our normal one that close to home, i just love standing here in the sun and taking big deep breaths with the sea washing around my feet. It's really soothing and therapeutic, i almost jumped a little when i feel clay but his arms around me and hold me close to him, bliss, this is what this feels like. It is peaceful for what feels like half an hour to me with clay, it is only disturbed when tony comes up next to us and splashes loads of water over us and tries to run off laughing. Me and Clay both look at each other and then chase after tony the best that we can and splash him back, soaking him head to toe. We continue this for a while just messing around and joking with each other before coming out the sea and sitting down on a bench that is close by.
3 hours after we first arrived at the beach we decide to go for lunch at a restaurant that faces the shoreline and it is a cute little place with only a few people in. The restaurant is a little seafood and sandwich shop on the corner of the beachfront. It is a really lovely place, the decor inside is full of sea animals and colours with cutlery, plates and dishes to match. We all decide on sharing a platter of different seafood with a few types of bread pieces, sauces and lemon juice. It takes us a while to get through the platter but eventually we do finish eating and it was absolutely delicious, we decide to go for another walk by the sea once we have finished in the restaurant.
Clay and Tony are acting a little strange when we go to sit down on a bench, it makes me a little anxious as they haven't been like this all day. Clay looks a little uncomfortable and so does tony as if something is rubbing them up the wrong way.
"Hannah, we need to tell to tell you something but we are not sure how you will react" Tony explains holding my hand.
"Clay, what is Tony on about" i ask unsurely.
"Han, it's going to be difficult for you to hear but in the end it will be worth it" Clay explains
"We made a plan to try and get bryce's confession without him realising, we knew if we actually asked him about it he would deny it or come up with a lot of crap, so we secretly recorded things from his house with a bit of help from tyler, he doesn't know exactly what it was for but he helped us anyway. For a few days we didn't get anything but the other day we did get something, it is horrible and you may need to hear it when this goes to trial but we got a tape of him confessing hannah during a conversation with someone else" Tony said.
Floods of tears is the only way i can describe the way i reacted to this news, with Tony's hand in mine and Clays arm around my shoulder.
"Moms heard it han, she's taking it to the prosecutors so it can be added to evidence but we still have the copy of it at home if you feel like you need to hear it before it goes to them. Mom reckons this will definitely add to the evidence against him as well as the test the hospital has done on you, Han we are going to get the justice that you deserve and for any other girls that it has happened to". Clay tells me while holding on to me tightly.
I'm shocked beyond shocked knowing that there is a chance now that he could be sent down for what he did to me, to others as well. Jessica being another one of his victims, but she doesnt know, not unless Justin tells her which i highly doubt he will, unless he knows that bryce will be sent down, but then how will Jessica feel, maybe we could help each other try to deal with what has happened to us. These are all thoughts that are going through my head on the way back to Clay's house and while sitting in his room. Im sat in a sort of trance through my thoughts after listening to that tape that i don't even realise Lainie coming into the room with a cup of tea until she sits next to me on the bed and hands me the mug.
"I thought you could use a nice cup of tea"
"Thank you Mrs Jenson, not just for the tea but for everything you have been doing for me" i say accepting the tea.
"Please Hannah call me Lainie, your pretty much family in our eyes so you may as well call me by my first name, i know that what the boys told you was a lot to handle but you won't be alone through this, through any of it, you will have someone with you at all times during this case. Obviously at home you will have clay, your parents and us at anytime as well, here take this, it is my number just in case you may wish to talk to me and do use it when you feel like you need someone since i know the case well, no matter what time of day it is i want you to use it".
"Thank you Lainie i really appreciate everything you are doing and have done" I say giving her a small smile.
"Your welcome, now you try and relax and i'll see you in the morning" Lainie says rubbing my back before getting up and going downstairs.
He's coming up behind me i can feel it, i run and run but i can still feel him closing in.
He's coming and i can't stop him.
I turn a corner and hide behind a bush and he runs past, i stay for awhile and hope he doesn't come back.
10 minutes go by and he hasn't returned maybe he's gone.
I leave the bush and run back towards my house.
He's back again, i'm so scared.
I'm running, running very fast.
He catches me and grips me in a sickly tight hold.
I think i might throw up.
He throws me against the wall hard.
He pins me there and grabs my neck
"Missed me hannah" He says in his sickly voice.
He nudges my legs so they seperate.
He's touching my legs mostly thigh area.
"Oh hannah i've missed you" He says stopping on my left thigh.
I scream and scream but know one hears me.
I scream louder but still no one helps me.
I'm about to scream again when he puts his hand over my mouth and…
"HANNAH. Wake up Hannah, its ok its just a dream. Baby wake up".
I shoot up in bed, hyperventilating and sweating. Where am I, I look around to see clay kneeling on the floor by my side his mom next to him on the bed. I burst into tears i'm so embarrassed that i must of woke them up screaming.
"Hannah your ok, your safe, your home with us" Lainie says pulling me closer for a hug that only a mother can give.
"It was him, he was coming after me" I manage to get out while sniffling and spluttering.
"Han it's ok, he's not gonna hurt you, your safe with us, shhh shhh come on go back to sleep I'm here ok, i'm here" Clay comforts me as he gets into the bed and pulls me into his side. He rubs my arm as I get myself into a comfy position. Clay's mom taps my hand as she gets up to leave just when she gets to the door she looks back and says
"Don't worry Hannah we will get him for all he had done and you'll never be afraid of him again"
She leaves the room closing the door behind her. I look at Clay who is looking at me with a stare of worry.
"I'll be ok Clay, it was just a nightmare I know I'm safe here with you guys"
"That's for sure Han now come on let's sleep it's 2AM"
I place my head on Clay chest and hand on his heart which is my new favourite sleep position and close my eyes and waiting for sleep to overcome me with Clay still rubbing my arm in a slow motion with is very soothing.