𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍 / alex standall ✓

𝟑𝟓. back to school

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ 𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐈𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐍
35 / BACK TO SCHOOL
↳ season two, episode one: the first polaroid
act two / the polaroids

"𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐄 of Andrew and Olivia Baker versus the Evergreen County School District. Are both sides ready to begin?"

Nessa's mother stepped into her room, looking lovingly at her two children, who were sitting on the floor, playing an intense game of Monopoly together. They were her pride and joy, and she had admired how Zach had been at Nessa's side since everything had happened.

"Zach, sweetie." Mrs. Dempsey interrupted the kids. "Can I talk to Nessa for a moment? It won't be long, then you two can continue the game."

"Sure, mom." Zach said. "Make it quick, I'm winning."

"Are not!" Nessa cried as Zach pushed himself up from the floor and went downstairs to grab some popcorn for him and his sister.

"Are you sure you're ready for school tomorrow?" Karen asked as she sat on her daughter's bed.

"Yes, mom." Nessa assured her. "Alex and Jessica are going back tomorrow too, and Dr. Ellman said I have made progress."

"Okay." Mrs. Dempsey said softly. "But if it's too soon, I can pull you out for another couple of weeks."

"I'm okay, mom." Nessa told her. "I have to be at school when the trial starts, people have already been talking and coming up with their own stories for months."

Mrs. Dempsey just nodded her head, getting up to leave the room. She had her own reservations about Nessa's return to Liberty High School, but she knew that she couldn't keep her holed up here forever.

"I love you, Ness." Mrs. Dempsey said as she exited the room.

"I love you more, Mom." Nessa answered as her phone began to vibrate. She looked down to see an incoming call from Alex flashing across the screen.

"Hey, baby." he said into the phone as she picked it up. "What'd your parents say?"

"I can go, how about you?" Alex asked her.

"My mom has her reservations, but she's going to let me." Nessa siad. "Jessica texted me earlier, her dad is letting her come too."

"This trial has me freaked out." Alex stated, and Nessa agreed. She had just heard yesterday that Hannah's trial was going forward, and her stomach had been tossing and turning ever since. Just when she thought it was over, it had picked back up again.

"Yeah, me too, but what can we do?" Nessa tried to breeze past the topic.

"I mean, what have people been saying about us? What do they know?" Alex continued on.

"We're going to find out, but Zach would tell me if there was anything to worry about." Nessa explained. "Whatever happens, we're going to stick to the plan. I don't remember what happened to me, just like you don't remember what happened to you. Right?"

"Right." Alex confirmed into the phone. "Are you sure you are okay with seeing Bryce again?"

Nessa paused, her stomach twisting. She hadn't thought about what it would be like to see Bryce again, and it was worrying her sick. She didn't know how she would feel, but she knew that whatever was going to happen, there was nothing she could do about it.