Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 6

Zach

"Damn Zachy boy." Bryce said as I sat down at the lunch table

"Man she got you good." Marcus said I rubbed my slightly swollen jaw

"Why was she so pissed?" Justin asked and I looked at him like he was stupid

"What do you think?" I snapped and he and Marcus looked away

"Let me just say Perri has a nice left hook." Scott said and they started laughing

"Fuck you guys." I said, I didn't know what to do I fucked up big time and she was never going to forgive me

"Aw come on Zach we're just messing with you."

"Yeah, you guys break up almost every week, she'll be over it soon." Bryce said slapping me on the back, I pushed him off me and walked away I just needed to be alone.

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Perri

So, I'm grounded for the next two weeks. At this point I didn't really give a shit, the people who I thought were my friends aren't. The only person, who really had my back was gone and because I'm grounded I can't call Kat. I've got to get the fuck out of this town, I just have to survive one more year at this fucked up school. Then I would graduate and move to New York, and Kat and I would get a cute little apartment and I'd forget all about this place. I walked around my room cleaning up, well basically I was packing up Zach's shit down to every last stupid stuffed animal. I also packed up a small box of Hannah's things.

"Hey mom I need to run to the store is that ok?" I asked and she glanced at me

"Come right back Perri." She said and I nodded and left. I drove over to Zach's house I grabbed the box and walked up to the door.

"Perri?" I heard I turned to see Zach walking up to the door

"Here." I said pushing the box into his arms

"What's this?"

"The stuff you left at my house, your letterman is in there too."

"Perri let's talk about this."

"There's nothing left to talk about, and by the way if you didn't get the message we're over."

"Perri don't do this."

"I didn't you did. You decided to ask out my best friend, and you've been lying to me for months."

"I didn't-"

"Why would Hannah lie huh?" I said and he didn't respond

"Exactly just leave me alone." I said walking past him but he grabbed my arm

"Don't touch me!"

"Just let me talk."

"I don't want to hear it!" I said pulling away from him and walked to my car.

After I left Zach's house, I made the much harder drive to the Baker house. When I got there I grabbed the other box and walked slowly to the door and knocked. I quickly changed my mind and was about to go back to my car when the door opened and I was looking into the sad eyes of Mrs. Baker. I could tell she had been crying recently. I've only seen her once since Hannah passed, and I haven't had the courage to come by since.

"Oh my God Perri! Come in." She said pulling me in for a hug

"We were just about to have some tea would you like to join us?"

"Yes." I said and she led me into the kitchen

"Perri." Mr. Baker said with a small smile

"Hi Mr. Baker." I said giving him a hug as well, then we sat down at the table

"How have you been?" He asked

"I've been ok I guess."

"How's school going?" Mrs. Baker asked

"Different I keep expecting to see her, coming down the hall or in class but I'm adjusting." I said looking down Mrs. Baker held my hand and gave me a small smile. I felt like shit, why was I even here? I had no right to be here then Mr. Baker spoke up

"So what's in the box?" Mr. Baker asked changing the subject

"Um I was cleaning my room and I found some things of Hannah's and I thought you'd want them." I said pushing the box towards them. The took it and began looking through it.

"It's not much, just a few pictures, and notes we passed."

"This is wonderful Perri. You don't want to keep any of this?"

"It's ok I still have some more at home." I said and Mrs. Baker pulled me in for a hug

"Thank you so much. You were always such a good friend to Hannah." She said and I just smiled if she only knew. I stayed for about a half an hour and we talked then I got up to leave.

"Don't be a stranger Perri." Mr. Baker said as they walked me to the door.

"I won't." I said then headed home.

When I got home, I passed on dinner and went straight to my room I looked at my phone I had a bunch of texts from Zach I just turned it off and went to sleep.