13 Reasons Why a One Direction Fan Fiction (Based off the novel by Jay Asher)

Chapter 1

I smoothed the dark paper across the box as I finished writing the address and putting on the stamps. I felt awful for what I was about to do, send this package to the next person on the list. Probably ruining their life. I had no choice. It was in the rules. I owed him that much.

            I placed the box wrapped in brown paper into the cart for packages and walked quickly away. I wanted to never see that box or it’s contents again. I wish I never had.

            I had been so excited when I found the package. It was lying on my bed in the hotel, which meant that it was a personal package and not fan mail. Don’t get me wrong, fan mail is great, but a package from home is an exciting event. And I desperately needed some cheering up.

            My name was written on the brown paper in swirly handwriting, probably from a girl. From my mother, or perhaps one of my sisters. But when I opened the box, its contents didn’t make any sense. Wrapped securely in bubble wrap were 7 cassette tapes and an old Walkman with headphones. Each cassette tape had a number written on each side in white correction fluid. Each cassette had two sides, except for the last on which bore the single number 13.

            I inserted the first tape into the Walkman, settling onto my bed. I wondered what possibly could be on the tapes. I looked in the box for a letter or a note that could explain the package, but I found nothing. I put the earphones in, and pressed play.

            At first, there was only the scratched sound of silence being recorded, but then came a musical voice, deep and luxurious, like velvet in your ears. A voice I knew all too well.

            Hello everyone. Um, Harry Styles here.

            I ripped the earphones out. What kind of sick prank was this? Who could ever think of something so awful? I picked the paper from the package, searching for a return address or a name from a sender. Nothing.

            I wanted to believe I was dreaming. I wanted to believe this was a horrible nightmare because Harry Styles had been dead for a week. Just one week ago he had swallowed all those pills and Niall had found him and my world had collapsed.

            ‘Louis, are you there?’ The voice came from outside the door. I realized someone had been knocking.

            ‘Come in.’ I needed to stay on the bed. I didn’t trust my legs at the state I was in. Liam opened the door and shut it gently behind him.

            ‘Hey, Zayn and I are going to go take a look around the city, want to join? Being cooped up all day isn’t good for any of us. We’ll just start thinking about it.’ He was of course talking about Harry. Currently we were traveling around the world, going to memorials for him and mourning with the different cities. It was horrible. I’d much rather be home. I didn’t want the world to miss him. They didn’t know him. They didn’t deserve to mourn.

            ‘You’re right, but I’ve been feeling a bit ill, I think I’ll just stay in for tonight thanks.’ I look at the Walkman in my hands.

            ‘Suit yourself. Hope you feel better.’ Liam smiles gently before turning to leave. ‘Hey what’s that you’ve got?’ But not before he sees the tapes.

            ‘Just a package from home, some tapes and stuff.’ I force a smile. I can’t tell anyone. Not until I know what it is.

            ‘How lovely! Enjoy your evening!’ Liam leaves and I look back at the tapes.