Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 1

'Hannah's dead'

For the past four days it kept replaying in my head and I'm still trying to understand why. Why did she do it? Why couldn't I help? Why wasn't I a better friend? I just kept thinking about how I noticed she was pulling away and I didn't do anything. Now that she's gone the school is all about suicide prevention, so I know now all of the signs were there. Then I thought about what Tyler did, did that cause this? I've really been thinking about telling my parents about it.

"Hey babe." I heard I turned over to see Zach standing in my doorway

"Hey." I said holding out my hand, he walked over and kicked off his shoes and climbed in the bed beside me

"How are you doing today?" He asked kissing the top of my head as I buried my head in his chest as I started crying

"I'm here." He said tightening his hold.

The first couple of days he kept trying to talk about it, but he finally understood that I just needed him to be here.

________________________________________________________________

Zach

Perri ended up crying herself to sleep again, she hasn't been sleeping since the news. I was just happy she was resting so I just held her. This whole thing is fucked up, the day I found out I cried. This shook me to the core. I felt bad for the way I treated her, and the letter she left in her bag. Maybe if had said something to someone, she would be here.

"She's finally sleeping?" I looked to see Mrs. Down standing in the doorway

"Yeah, she just dozed off, I didn't want to wake her." I said and she smiled

"Thanks for taking care of her Zach." She said then walked away

I looked down at Perri, I loved this girl so much I'd do anything for her. Ignoring what I did has been working in my favor so far. So I'm going to keep it to myself, it was better for both of us I didn't want to lose her. Perri cuddled into my chest and I wrapped my arms around her and ended up falling asleep too. Perri and I woke an hour later, I stayed for dinner then I got ready to leave

"You know you can call me whenever right?" I told Perri as she walked me to the door

"I know Zach." She said then pulled me in for a kiss

"Thank you, for being so good to me."

"I'd do anything for you Perri." I told her honestly then I kissed her again

"Are you going to school tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I think I'm ready."

"Do you want me to pick you up in the morning?"

"Yeah."

"Alright I'll be here at 7:30 I love you."

"I love you too Zach." She said and I hugged her tight

"We're going get through this." I told her and kissed her cheek and we pulled apart. I opened the front door and tripped over a box

"What's that?" She asked as I picked it up

"It's for Tyler."

"A little late for mail isn't it?"

"Probably more camera shit." I said handing her the box

"Right. I'll see you tomorrow." She said and I nodded kissed her once more and headed home.