𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐊 . . . 𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝

𝟑𝟎. 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢'𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫

30. and i'm a survivor

season three, episode twelve: and then the hurricane hit

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"The fucking idiot actually skipped town." Nessa told Scott in a hushed tone as they walked down the hallways, toward the gymnasium for the school assembly, or, as Nessa had called it, her and Jessica's public humiliation punishment.

"Shit." Scott muttered as he shook his head. "Insane."

"I know!" Nessa cried as they rounded the last corner before they hit the hallway that led to the gym.

Zach had found Nessa almost as soon as she walked into school this morning after football practice and filled her in on the panicked call that he had received from Justin this morning – that Clay was missing and had ultimately skipped town due to the interest the police saw him as a suspect for Bryce's murder.

Nessa was disappointed. She wanted him to be there for the assembly, considering what they had planned. She knew that his presence alone would be enough to calm Tyler's nerves, and maybe consider speaking up about his past.

"Are you ready for this?" Scott asked as he leaned against the lockers, looking up at the girl beside him.

"Sort of terrified, but yes." Nessa admitted as she smiled. "I hope it makes the statement that we planned."

"Well, no matter what happens, I'm proud of my girlfriend." Scott said as he resisted the urge to hug and kiss her. He was hoping that he wouldn't have to do that soon enough. "You make me proud everyday."

Nessa blushed, hitting him softly on the arm. "Thank you."

Scott nodded as he continued the walk down the hallway. "And just so you know, you have to actually ask me out to be able to call me your girlfriend, Scotty."

"So I have your permission to ask you out?" he asked excitedly as he stopped in his tracks, a grin overtaking his face.

"Soon." Nessa said as she walked into the gymnasium, leaving Scott behind at the doors.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"Welcome, everyone." Principal Bolan said from the podium, addressing all of the students in the gym. "And a very special welcome to our guests from Hillcrest."

Nessa scoffed from her seat beside Jessica, the girl mirroring her annoyed expression as they prepared for their planned speech.

"We would like this to be a time to come together." the principal continued. "The interruption of our Homecoming game inflamed feelings on all sides. And it was followed a few days later by the news of the tragic death of a former Liberty and recent Hillcrest student, Bryce Walker."

Nessa tensed up in her seat, looking over at Alex and Zach, who were seated in the front row, the rest of their friends stacked behind and beside them.

"Now, I've spoken at length with the student leadership, and Hillcrest administrators. We agreed that it was time to bring our schools together for a day of accountability and healing. And with that in mind...Jessica Davis, student body president, and Nessa Dempsey, student body vice president – both organizers of the protest, would like to offer a few words."