After Hannah Baker- Zach Dempsey's New Life

1: New School, New Life

Hannah Baker is the reason why I'm here. Why I transferred schools less than half way through the first semester. Why I moved to the other side of the country. 

I wanted to stay there. I had to face what I did, what all of my "friends" did. This was my mom's idea. Money can buy you anything, even away out. 

I have to meet with the principal then I get a tour of the school by an honor roll student during my first day of school. This principal is clearly too busy to give the new kid a tour of the school. 

Principal Skidmore talked for a long time about the rules of the school. I nodded every once and awhile. 

"Okay, if we're all set here, I'll call Ryan up to give you a tour of the school," he stood up and shook my hand then gestured toward the door. I walked out of his office then sat on one of the chairs in front of the desk. 

A girl walked in a few minutes later and talked quietly to the receptionist. She glanced over her shoulder at me then turned back to the receptionist. "Principal Skidmore excused you from your classes for the rest of the day," she said then smiled at the girl. She nodded then turned to me. 

"Hi, I'm Ryan," she said quietly with a smile. The girl, Ryan, is just over five foot tall with long brown hair that fades into blonde at the bottom. She's wearing a large plade shirt with black leggings and a beanie in her head.

"Hey," I stood up slowly. "I'm Zach," I smiled back. 

"I'll show you around," she said then walked slowly out of the office. I followed her.

 "Do you have your schedule?" she asked after she showed me the lunch room. I pulled the folded up piece of paper out of my pocket. She smiled when I handed it to her. "Did you just move here?" she asked after stopping to read my schedule. 

"Yeah, from California," I said then scratched the back of my neck. 

She looked up at me half shocked. "You moved really far,"  she laughed. 

"Yeah," I chuckled. 

"I'll show you you're classes," she said after a few seconds. 

I followed her around for a few minutes until she turned to me again. "Is there anything else you want to see?" she asked. 

"I don't think so," I shook my head. She nodded slowly then handed me my schedule back. 

"Well, I'm going to go home then," she smiled slowly then started heading to a door. "You can come if you want," she chuckled then backed out of the door. I followed her slowly then looked out the glass door. She was walking with her head down towards the sidewalk.

I walked out and started walking to the student parking lot. I climbed into my car then drove over to Ryan and pulled over. She turned to my car when I rolled down the window. 

"You're walking home?" I asked. She shrugged. "Hop in, I'll give you a ride," I said then unlocked the doors. 

She opened the door then climbed in. She set her backpack by her feet then put her seat belt on. "Thanks Zach," she said quietly. 

"Your welcome Ryan," I smiled. "Where do you live?" I asked. 

"The gated community a few blocks away," she mumbled. 

"I live there too," I pulled back onto the road then drove towards the gated community. 

"Really?" she asked with a little smile. 

"Yes," I nodded then turned onto the road with the gate entrance. The security guard walked out and smiled at us. 

"Don't you two have school?" he asked.