Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 4

I stayed up through the night listening to the tapes off and on. This was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but I needed to know why I was on there and who were the other people. Listening to these tapes broke my heart, hearing Hannah's voice like she was right here in my room with me. She had so many secrets, there was a few things on here that I knew about. Like tape one was about what Justin did to her, then Jessica, and the Alex. The fourth tape was Tyler, and it all came full circle. That's why people were harassing him now. I always thought Hannah and I could talk about anything, I thought she knew that, but as these tapes went on the worse they got. From Courtney spreading rumors, to hide her sexuality, to her dollar Valentine date with Marcus where he tried to feel her up.

That's where I stopped, these tapes were making me physically sick. I managed to get maybe an hour of sleep before mom woke me up

"Aw honey are you sick?" She asked and I nodded

"You don't feel warm." She said placing her hand on her forehead

"Please mom I just need sleep."

"You've missed a lot of school already."

"I know, just give me today and I promise I'll go every day until graduation."

"Ok get some rest, I'll drop Tyler off." She said then kissed my forehead.

"Thanks mom." I said as she left. I tried to sleep, but I kept hearing Hannah's voice in my head. I got up and ate a little, then I went back into my room and put in tape seven.

She began talking about a person playing mind games with her. Then she talked a little about communications class.

That's where he comes in. Welcome to your tape Zach.

I stopped it

"No, no, no. Zach!?" I got off the bed and began pacing the floor

"What did you do?" I said to myself then I turned the tape back on

You have no idea what it's like to be lonely do you Zach? Well let me tell you....

I sat there and listened as my best friend told me how my boyfriend played a role in her death. I listened and cried as she told the story how he asked her out, but she said no. Then he began stealing her compliments from her bag in Mrs. Bradley's class. She spoke about how she wanted to talk to me about it, but Zach told her I was only her friend because of Kat. That left her doubting our friendship till the end. I was so hurt, Zach betrayed me. He played a role in all of this. I quickly change the tapes

****************************************************************************************************************
Perri Down. You all know her pretty, smart, popular, the freshmen call her 'Pretty Perri'. She was also my best friend. By now you all know what Tyler did but what I didn't tell was how you reacted Perri. You pushed me away, called me a liar, and turned your back on me. When you did that it opened up to flood gates for people to be cruel, not that they weren't already. All of a sudden the cheerleaders started picking with me, and I knew it came from you. they would push me, say nasty things, most of the terrible things written about me in the bathroom they did it. Chloe, Alisha, and Taylor even harassed me a work one night. It was a living nightmare that was started by you because when you speak they listen, and when people saw that you were mad at me all of a sudden they were too.

As another female member of the student body I never understood how you could protect someone like Tyler. Then again he is your brother and while you may not like him all of the time you still love him. As an only child so I don't fully understand and I'm sure that I don't want to.

You apologized over and over and I accepted it but I knew I couldn't trust you again. I couldn't trust you with my secrets from the way you turned on me at the dropped of dime. Especially since I had literally done nothing to deserve it. I wanted to tell you about Zach every chance I got then I thought maybe that was your karma..

The tape ended as I wiped my eyes

"Hannah I'm so sorry." I said out loud like she could respond

Votes and reviews please