A/N- First off, I would like to sincerely apologize for the delay. I did something stupid and ended up hurting myself (I jumped off a cliff into a waterhole and landed funny). Also thank you so much for the reviews I was honestly not expecting the amount of love this story has received. Anyways on with the show shall we?

Chapter 4

Clay didn't even remember clearly what happened next. He was aware of him ending the call with Mr Baker and leaving Mr Porter's office without another word, ignoring the counselors pleas for him to come back and explain himself. Clay was pretty sure that he had ridden his bike to the hospital, and was honestly quite surprised that he hadn't killed himself on the way over, seeing as he didn't even remember the journey.

And so now, here he was, standing outside of the Baker's hospital room, too terrified to even knock. Clay's mind was whirling with questions. What could he say? What would she say? Would she thank him? Or hate him?

Taking a deep breath and steeling his emotions, Clay opened the door, peering his head through cautiously. He sees Hannah's parents huddled over the bed, conversing with her.

Clay's heart skips a beat. Or several.

She's there. Alive. Her eyes are opened and she's alive. Clay feels like he could cry at the beautiful sight before him.

She saw him first, his body still halfway through the doorway, and she gives him a smile that Clay swore could light up the darkest room in the universe. He didn't smile back though, his mind still reeling from the fact that Hannah was awake. And alive.

Her parents saw him next, and they too smile at him. They got up from their seats, telling her that they'll be outside waiting so that they could give the two teenagers some privacy. Mr Baker patted Clay on the shoulder as he walked past, and Clay glanced back just as the door closed behind him.

He approached the bed slowly, almost as if he was worried that any sudden movement might frighten the girl. As he got closer, Clay noticed the diner details of Hannah. She looked exhausted, like she would pass out again at any moment and not wake up for another week. But she definitely looked healthier. Sure, she was a little skinnier from the lack of her using her muscles, but it was something that Clay was certain could be remedied.

"Hey Helmet," said Hannah, her voice hoarse and croaky.

Clay couldn't help but smile at the nickname. "Hey Hannah," he replied, taking the armchair closest to her.

Hannah reached out her hand, and Clay didn't hesitate to grab it with his own and hold it tenderly.

"Shit Hannah I'm so, so sorry," he said.

"It's not your fault," she soothed.

"But it is! I should have known something would happen, I should have seen the signs!"

"Clay!" said Hannah loudly, forcing her into a coughing fit. Clay quickly grabbed the half-full glass of water and handed it to her, which she gratefully accepted and took a long drink from it. Smacking her lips in satisfaction, she gave the glass back to Clay before holding his hand again. "It wasn't your fault," she repeated.

"How?" asked Clay. "You said you didn't blame me in the tapes but-"

"What?" interrupted Hannah, a disbelieving look on her face.

"The tapes. Everyone's pretty much heard them," said Clay.

Hannah closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before she started to cry. Clay was stunned for a moment before he leaned forward in his chair and rubbed Hannah's arm slowly and gently. It was something his mom did when he was feeling down, and it seemed to be having the same effect on Hannah.

"Shit. Shit fuck shit shit fuck," groaned Hannah. "I've fucked everyone over."

"Hannah, they're only doing what you wanted them to," said Clay.

"So it's my fault?" she snapped.

Shit, I said the wrong thing... again, Clay thought glumly.

"No. But you wanted them to listen to the tapes for a reason," he said slowly. "Besides, we all deserve to feel that guilt. We ruined you."

"You didn't," said Hannah, so quietly Clay had to strain his ears to catch it.

"Yes, I did," he argued. "I should have stayed with you that night at Jessica's party. You needed me and I left, and then you saw Bryce rape Hannah and then Sheri knocked over that sign and Jeff..." he trailed off then.

"But I shouted at you to leave," urged Hannah.

"And I listened! I knew you didn't mean it but I still left!" said Clay, his voice rising slightly.

"And now I've probably ruined all those other kids' lives!" yelled Hannah.

Clay didn't say anything, instead choosing to duck his head in shame.

"You hate me, don't you."

Clay's head whipped up so fast that it startled Hannah. "What? Why would you say that?" he asked.

"I don't know, I just know you do," she said sadly, and it was her turn to duck her head.

Clay squeezed Hannah's hand with his own and reached over with his other hand to place under Hannah's chin. With a gentle touch, he turned Hannah's head until it was facing him. Her eyes were full of so much sorrow and despair that it broke Clay's heart to see.

"Hannah, if there was one thing in the world you were wrong about, it would be that," he said seriously. "If I hated you, I wouldn't have bothered to come visit you every day and every hour I'm not at school or working. I wouldn't be up all night, wishing I could go back in time to help you sooner. I probably wouldn't have bothered to save you."

"Why did you save me?" she whispered hoarsely. "I'm fucked up. I'm sick in the head, Clay. I still feel like I want to finish what I started and kill myself. I don't know how to get back back to who I was before, and I terrified of what will happen when I have to go back to school. So tell me, why did you save me?"

He opened his mouth to tell her exactly why he did it, but paused. Clay didn't feel it was the right time to tell Hannah that he loved her with all his being. "Because I care about you," he said instead. "I don't give a shit if you're fucked up, because I'm pretty fucked up as well. I've had to deal with shit since I was a kid... well, a smaller kid. I didn't even know that you were hurting for God's sake, that you were practically screaming for help!

"And there are lots of other people out there who care about you too. Your parents, Tony, even my parents, and they've never met you yet! Hell, even Alex and Zach were crying when they heard the tapes, which I'm pretty sure means they care about you too.

"Hannah, high school isn't the end of the line. You- we -have so much to live for afterwards. College, a job, even a family of our own one day."

Hannah sniffled when Clay finished, and she smiled at him. It was small, but Clay saw it all the same. "Since when did you become such a wise kid Helmet?" she joked, sounding a little bit like the old Hannah.

"I had to do a little bit of growing up," he said. "But it's not your fault," he added when Hannah's face became downcast again.

Hannah leaned her head back against her pillow and groaned. "Well aren't we a fucked up pair," she muttered.

"The worst," agreed Clay.

"What are we going to do?"

What were they going to do? Clay had never really thought about what might happen after Hannah woke up, being so preoccupied with the thought of just seeing her awake. But Clay was positive as to what they should do.

"We help each other," he said with such conviction he even surprised himself. "Whatever it takes, we're gonna get through this together."

"Together?" said Hannah skeptically, before smiling much more widely than before. "I think I like that."

Clay smiled as well, and the two teenagers stared into each other's eyes for what felt like forever. Hesitantly, Clay leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Hannah's shoulders. He felt her stiffen slightly, And Clay was about to let go quickly before he felt Hannah relax into his embrace and even wrap her own arms around him. They stayed that way for several minutes, and Clay could hear her crying into his shoulder, but he allowed it, whatever it took for Hannah to get better.

They finally broke apart when Hannah's parents came back in, this time accompanied by a doctor who had a cheerful expression on his face. Clay took it his cue to leave, allowing Mr and Mrs Baker to spend time with their daughter.

"I'll come back later today," promised Clay.

"Okay then. Bye Helmet," said Hannah.

Clay smiled warmly at her, before he turned to leave.

"Oh Clay?"

"Yeah?" said Clay, turning back around.

"Thank you. For saving my life," she said with genuine gratitude.

Clay smiled and nodded his head, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment before he left.

Hannah sighed and sunk lower into the bed once the door closed behind Clay. She felt as though she didn't deserve someone like Clay in her life. He was too pure for somebody as damaged as her. She caught her mother staring at her with a peculiar expression and frowned.

"What?" said Hannah with a hint of exasperation in her tone.

"Nothing," her mother said quickly, though she was fighting a smile.

"Mom," said Hannah in a low voice.

"Fine fine. I just think you should give Clay a chance," said her mom, and her dad nodded in agreement.

"What makes you think I wouldn't?"

"Nothing. But I think that Clay might just be the best thing for you."

Hannah's heart couldn't help but agree with her mother's statement as the doctor stepped forward to assess her.

oOoOoOo

For the first time in what felt like forever, Clay felt like a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. Hannah was alive and awake, and willing to let him help her through this ordeal. It's what he should have done months ago, but Clay was more than willing to make up for his mistakes.

He returned back to school and entered the gymnasium to find a group of kids staring at him intently. By no coincidence , every single one of the teenagers gathered were the subjects of Hannah's tapes, though Clay noticed that Bryce wasn't among them.

Everyone had different expressions on their faces. Justin, Marcus and Courtney looked downright murderous, while Alex, Zach and Sheri looked worried and nervous. Jessica's eyes were darting from Clay to Justin then back again like she was watching a tennis match, while Ryan looked downright bored. Tyler looked uncomfortable, though he too had a similar expression on his face as Justin, Marcus and Courtney.

"Uh... what's up guys," stuttered Clay, surprised at the gathering.

"Where'd you run off to Jensen?" said Justin.

Clay frowned and felt his defences spring up before saying, "I was at the hospital seeing Hannah, and how'd you know I left?"

"We saw you run off in a hurry," said Zach.

"And why couldn't it wait for after school?" Justin pressed.

"Because she woke up," said Clay, a slight growl building in his throat.

Everybody's eyes widened at the news, though Alex looked more relieved than anything.

"Oh. Well, that's good," said Courtney in that sweet voice that Clay had come to loathe so much.

"Not that you're all concerned about it," seethed Clay.

Some people had the grace to look ashamed, though Justin's face turned red with anger as he took a step forward. Zach however, grabbed Justin by the arm and pulled him back, a warning look on his face.

"We're sorry about what happened, but we need to talk to you about some things," said Marcus in a polite voice.

"What?" said Clay, feeling confused.

"What we're trying to say is... we think it best if we put all of this behind us," explained Courtney.

"Excuse me?" growled Clay.

"We don't think that anybody else should know about everything," said Marcus. "Plus, that's what Hannah wanted."

"I think the rules of the tapes changed when Hannah didn't die," Clay ground out between clenched teeth.

"But still, can you think of all the shit that will go down if word gets out?" said Justin.

"Yeah I can actually," said Clay.

"And we deserve it," added Alex.

"Get fucked Standall," snapped Justin.

"Guys," said Zach, looking exhausted.

"Look, all we're saying that you should keep your mouth shut about all this," continued Justin.

"And if it's possible, try to convince Hannah to do the same thing," said Tyler.

"WHAT?!" bellowed Clay, his voice echoing through the gym. Zach, Alex, Sheri and Ryan looked at Tyler like he'd lost his mind.

"If word gets out, we're fucked!" said Marcus.

"So you want me to convince who almost died, which is our fault, by the way, to not speak about what happened?" snapped Clay.

"Yeah, what the fuck guys?" said Alex.

"This info could ruin us! Besides, we don't even know if she's telling the truth," said Courtney.

"Oh for God's sake Courtney," groaned Ryan, rolling his eyes at the girl. "We all know you're gay anyway so it's not like your big secret is that secret."

"Shut up Ryan," snapped Courtney.

"Enough!" shouted Marcus. Everyone stopped arguing and focussed on either Clay or Marcus. "Clay, just give it some thought, okay man?" he said, speaking to Clay like a cool kid acknowledging the presence of a nobody.

"Maybe," said Clay. "But if Hannah wants to make her story public and tell the authorities, I'm backing her one hundred percent."

Several of the kids' faces paled at that, but Clay had stormed out of the gym angrily, ending the discussion.

"Clay, wait up!" shouted someone behind him. Clay looked over his shoulder to see Zach and Alex jogging after him, stopping just before him.

"Look man, we're sorry about that," said Zach. "We didn't know they were gonna say that."

"Yeah. We think that's fucked up," said Alex.

"Uh, thanks," said Clay. Nothing was said for a few moments, none of the three boys really looking at each other.

"Hey, if you and Hannah plan on taking this public, we want to help," said Zach finally, throwing Clay off guard.

"What?"

"Yeah, we're actually sorry about what we did to Hannah, and we want to make it right," added Alex. "Everyone else in there are more worried about their reputations."

"You realise that shit's gonna hit the fan if Hannah does decide to tell somebody about all this?" said Clay.

"We wouldn't have followed you if we didn't," said Zach determinedly. Alex nodded his head in agreement as well.

"Fine. I'll talk to Hannah about what the other's want and I'll let you know what happens," sighed Clay, running his hand through his hair.

"Thanks Clay," said Alex.

"Yeah. And for what it's worth, we really are sorry about what happened to Hannah," said Zach before he walked away, Alex following closely behind him.

Well great, Hannah's gonna love this, Clay thought morbidly.

A/N- As you can no doubt tell, I have certain favourites amongst the characters. I absolutely hate Marcus, Courtney and Justin. Marcus and Courtney for obvious reasons, but I really dislike Justin because of what he did to Hannah and also not telling Jessica that Bryce raped her. I understand that he was just trying to protect her and that he came from a bad household, but that's no excuse for his actions. I mean, come one he wanted to kill Clay to get him to shut up! Who the fuck thinks that?!

Zach and Alex were among the first to feel actual remorse for what they did to Hannah in the show, and since Hannah's still alive in this story they're more inclined to do the right thing this time. I'm not making Alex as depressed in this story, again because Hannah's alive, but he will be struggling still. Ryan and Sheri will also join Clay's side later on, but I'm not particularly fond of Sheri. Ryan's a fucking legend though. I mean, he told Courtney to get fucked!

Anyway hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I look forward to your input!