Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 2

It's official I hate this school. I never realized how fake these people were, now that Hannah's gone everyone seems to have cared about her. Everyone was so 'upset' it made me sick. Leading the charge was annoying ass Courtney. It seemed like this whole thing was a fucking joke to them. The school was also reinforcing their anti-bullying policy since the Bakers have filed a lawsuit against the school. I've only seen them once since it happened. They decided against a funeral, and just had Hannah buried.

I tried to keep distracted with school, but it was like Hannah's ghost was haunting that place. I would stare at her seat in the classes we shared, the other day I found myself looking for her at lunch.

It was class change and I found Zach at his locker.

"Hey." I said wrapping my arms around him from behind and he jumped.

"Whoa what's wrong?" I asked letting go as he turned around.

"Nothing you just scared me." He said turning back to his locker.

"Did you need a ride home?" He asked.

"No, I'm going to stay and go to practice." I said and he smiled at me.

"That's great babe."

"Yeah, well the pep rally is coming up and I can't let some freshman be your escort."

"Definitely not." He said then kissed me,

"I would've demanded you anyway." He said wrapping his arm around me and we walked to the gym

"And you think coach would've listened?" I asked with a laugh

"She better you always have to keep the star player happy." He said and I rolled my eyes as we entered the gym.

Practice we good, I wasn't too far behind but me and another girl Chloe kept bumping heads. She's been dying to take my spot since I was voted in. so she took full advantage of being acting captain while I was gone.

After practice Zach and I went Rosie's

"How was practice?" He asked

"I thought I was going to slap Chloe you know that bitch has been after my spot since camp this summer."

"She can keep dreaming you worked hard for that spot, and she knows you're the best gymnast on the team."

"It's just a bad time to have to deal with her and fight for my spot."

"Coach Daniels knows what's going on, tell her to make Chloe back off."

"Yeah, I guess I don't want her to think I can't handle her myself."

"I don't want you to overwhelm yourself, it hasn't even been a week since,: He said and I sighed

"I know, thank you again Zach."

"For what?"

"Just being there."

"You don't have to thank me. I'm your boyfriend, it's my job to take care of you. This is fucked up and I don't understand it either but I want you to lean on me whenever."

"How are you doing? I know you guys weren't that close but still we've never dealt with anything like this before."

"It's crazy, we had just saw her I don't know." He said shaking his head and I reached across the table and held his hands

"I know, we should make the most of this year, so I've been thinking about something."

"Oh no." He said and I hit his arm

"No seriously. I think you should go for team captain this year."

"Oh, come on Perri." He said shaking his head no

"Why not?"

"Justin's captain."

"That was last season, you guys still have to vote this year. If you try I think you'd get it."

"I don't know."

"I do, you're the better player, your stats show it, and it would look great on your apps."

"Ugh you sound like my mom." He said making me giggle

"Your mom is a little overbearing, but she's not wrong. We just want the best for you."

"P I want the best for me."

"Then stop being the sidekick."

"I'm not."

"you are! But you're better than that."

"Perri-"

"We're getting out of here right? The small town thing?"

"You know we are."

"Then let's give it our all. These past few months between losing Jeff and Hannah life it too short Zach. Just try please?"

"Alright I'll try."

"I love you."

"I don't think you do." He said making me laugh

"I'm serious I think you just use that, to make me do what you want." He said and I blew him a kiss as our food came. After we ate he took me home, as we turned on to my block we could see a police car.

"Oh my god." I said once I saw it was in front of my house. When Zach parked the care had pulled off. I quickly jumped out of the car and ran into my house

"Mom? Dad?" I called looking around for them, I found them in the kitchen

"what happened?" I asked as my mom pulled me in for hug

"Is everything alright? Tyler?"

"He's fine, but someone threw a rock at his window."

"Do you know who did it?"

"No Tyler's not talking, but he says he doesn't know." Dad said

"I think he's just a little shaken up." Mom said

"Perri do you know anyone, who has a problem with Tyler?"

"No." I said

"Zach?"

"I don't think so he doesn't bother anyone." He said looking tense and my dad nodded poking between the two of us and he sighed and left the kitchen

"I'm going go." Zach said and I nodded

"See you tomorrow." I told him and he kissed my cheek and left.

As Tyler and I left for school the next morning there was a box on the front porch.

"Isn't that the package you got last week?" I asked and he shook his head and rushed to the car. I just rolled my eyes and picked up the box this time it was addressed to me. With no return address

"That's weird." I said then I took the box and got in the car, I sat it in the backseat. When we got to school. Tyler ran off

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I Called after him but he just kept going I just rolled my eyes and went inside

__________________________________________________________________________________
Zack
Justin and I were at his locker talking about our game next week. When Tyler ran up.

"What's up freak? How the window?" Justin teased

"Knock it off man." I told him

"What do you want Tyler?"

"I just thought you should know Perri got the tapes this morning." He said then walked away. I felt like I was going to be sick

"Chill man, it's be ok. Just tell her the truth Hannah was lying."

"Bus she wasn't! God why did I ever listen to you and Bryce?"

"Dude it was just a dare, no biggie."

"Do you hear yourself? Hannah was her best friend of course she gonna believe everything. I'm so fucked!"

"I'll get Jess to talk to her."

"Fuck you man." I snapped and walked away.