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❝ And I hope you're still listening, Zach, because I'm not done with you yet. I need you to do something for me. This tape isn't just yours-- it's hers too. I want you to give these tapes to someone. She's the prettiest girl in school-- but you already knew that. I mean, she is your girlfriend. ❞
"Was," Zach muttered, fighting the urge to turn off the boom box and pretend that none of this was happening.
❝ She's not one of these reasons. She's not on any of these tapes. But she was at every party, in almost every class. She smiled and waved sometimes. And I think that she deserves to know who her friends really are. So, Zach, before you pass these tapes on to the next person-- the next reason, I want you to give these to her. She may not be one of my reasons, but she was there for it all, so she might as well be the reason I'm dead. ❞
The tape clicked as it ended. Zach just sat there in silence, staring out the window in shock. He wiped the tears off of his face, desperately trying to preserve his masculinity.
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"What the hell do you want, Zach?" She snapped as she opened the door.
"I have something for you," Zach said quietly.
"Oh please, we broke up, Zach. What the hell else could you possible have for me?" Brynley scoffed. Zach dropped his head, still feeling all the pain he did when she broke up with him on that same porch.
"Hannah-- Hannah Baker. She, uh, she left us tapes-- reasons why she did what she did. She, uh, she wanted you to hear them," Zach stammered. Her eyes widened at the sound of her name. Hannah Baker was dead.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Brynley snapped.
"Just listen. It'll all make sense. Just please, listen," Zach urged. She could see the desperation in his eyes and for a second, she wanted to reach her hand out and touch his skin, try to find some way to comfort him.
"Okay, okay. I'll listen. Don't think this changes anything for us, Zach," Brynley said harshly as she took the shoebox out of his arms. Chills ran through his body when her hand grazed his skin. It was a hand he used to hold and a hand that used to hold him.
"We've got to figure out a way to make this work, Zach. Or one of us is just gonna have to find new friends," Brynley sighed.
"I know," Zach sighed, agreeing.
"Are you going to Bryce's party on Saturday?" Brynley asked.
"I don't want you hanging around Bryce," Zach said quickly, his eyes wide.
"Excuse me?" Brynley scoffed.
"You'll understand. Just listen to the tapes," Zach urged. He took one last look at her before turning away and getting back in his car without another word. She just stood there in shock, watching as he drove away, just like she did on the night they broke up. She looked down at the box in her hands, opening the lid. It was full of numbered cassette tapes. She ran her finger over the line of tapes, the line of reasons, wondering what the hell was going on. She pulled her dad's old boom box out from under her bed, sliding in the tape marked one.
❝ Hey. It's Hannah. Hannah Baker. That's right. Don't adjust whatever device you're hearing this on. It's me. Live and in stereo. No return engagements, no encore, and this time, absolutely no requests. Get a snack. Settle in. Because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to this tape, you're one of the reasons why. ❞
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STARTED: APRIL 20, 2017 FINISHED: ___________
DISCLAIMER▬This book discusses serious topics and issues such as sexual assault, suicide, drug use, and it uses strong language. I struggled with deciding whether or not to write this story because I didn't want to disrespect the message of the show. But I decided to write because as a writer, I fell in love with the brokenness of these characters. I analyzed their imperfections and their struggles and this is what came out of my head. I hope you all enjoy.
