Breathe

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

*~*~*~*

"And this lovely little corner of the world is Monet's." I heard the familiar voice of Kat Beaumont fill the somewhat quiet coffee shop. I didn't bother to look up from my book, too immersed in the words of Jodi Picoult to care about what the popular blonde was saying or who she was talking to. 

"And this would be Crestmont's very own bookworm." Kat's voice was closer now as I found my book ripped from my hands. 

"Kat." I rolled my eyes as I looked up at the blonde, giving her a warning look. "May I please have my book back?"

"Sure, right after you meet the new girl." She gestured to the girl standing beside her. I took in the unfamiliar girl for the first time, noting that she looked to be around my height with long curly dark locks and large dark doe eyes. 

"Penny Atkins." I offered the girl a smile as she and Kat took a seat at my table. 

"Hannah Baker." She returned my smile with one of her own. 

"So tell me, Hannah Baker, how did you wind up being dragged around our lovely town with Kat?" I asked, deciding it was better to make conversation with the girl since I knew there was little chance that Kat would actually return my book to me until they were ready to leave. 

"She's my new neighbor." Kat answered the question herself. "Well, for now at least."

"I am so sorry." I reached across the table, resting a hand over Hannah's. She only laughed at my words, causing me to let out a chuckle of my own.

"And this is why I like your brother more." Kat rolled her eyes at me. 

"Most do." I shrugged, not bothered by her words in the slightest. It was true, most people did prefer my brother's company to my own. With his charm and good looks he was practically this town's personal Adonis, and it didn't hurt that he was the star of the school's baseball team. 

"What were you reading?" Hannah asked me. 

"The Pact." I shrugged.

"What's it about?" She glanced over at where Kat had tucked my book under her arm, making sure to keep it out of my reach.

"A suicide pact between two teenagers." I gave her the short version. 

"And this conversation is now boring." Kat sighed. 

"Well, you could tell me what you really want?" I suggested, knowing that the blonde always had a motive for whatever she did. "Either that or Hannah and I could keep talking about books? It's completely up to you."

"Hannah's having a party." The blonde informed me, clearly not wanting to talk anymore about books. "Sort of an end of the summer slash meet and greet slash going away party type of thing. It's tomorrow night. You're coming."

"Now what if I had plans?" I raised a brow at her.

"I already talked to Jeff so I know that you don't." She grinned. A sigh escaped me as she handed me back my book and got up to her feet, Hannah following her lead. "Be there by eight. Make sure you wear something cute, Zach's sure to be there."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't like Zach?" I shook my head, a small smile filling my lips at her antics.

"Until you quit lying to yourself." She threw over her shoulder as she dragged Hannah out of the coffee shop.