You And Me Again... A Thirteen Reasons Why Story

1. Meeting you... Again

These characters do not belong to me. Only some of them are mine.

There was a knock on the door. Shae snaked through the scattered things lying on the floor.
Shae had just shifted back to her old home from India. Leaving India was hard. It was the place where she felt safe,and the old memories did not hurt her.
She opened the door and saw a really good looking guy standing in front of her. The guy gave her a bright smile. He was holding water bottles.
"Um...hello?" Shae said,puzzled.
The guy looked at her from up to down and smirked.
"You have grown up pretty well loser."
The word instantly reminded her of who this person was.
"Nice to see you too Montgomery." She stated disgustingly. He just chuckled and pushed her aside to come in.
"I did not welcome you." Shae stated. "No,you didn't. I know. "
He replied. "You cant come in just like that." She stammered.
He went inside the living room and kept the bottles on a table.
"I asked his mother to send us some water." Shae's  mother entered the room and said.
"Sorry for her rudeness, my son." She said to Monty.
"No,no. Don't be." He said sweetly. Shae just shrugged.
"So how have you been Mrs. Singh?" He asked.
"I am fine. How about you?" She replied.
"Am great. Oh and yes Mom said dinner is on her." He said.
"Oh no no no. Please no." Shae's mother exclaimed.
"She insists." Monty replied. He made puppy eyes and shae's mother started laughing. "You know , it does not work anymore."
Shae raised her eyebrows.
Monty grinned. "So I will tell her that you people are coming over. But.." He trailed.
"What is it, son?" Mrs. Singh asked.
"There is going to be a small get together tonight. Its a small high school get together kind of thing. I was thinking to take Shae with me so she could make some friends." He said thoughtfully.
Shae's mother seemed to be considering the thought. She looked at Shae who was bobbing her head in denial.
"Take her. I have no problem,just one thing. Do not drink and stick to Monty. Monty, you will take care of her." She said.
Shae gave her mother an irritated look.
" of course Mrs. Singh. I promise." He paused and said,
"Shae, get ready in fifteen minutes."
He talked to her mother for another five minutes and left.
"Ma!" Shae explained. "What is it Shae?" She replied playfully.
"I did not want to go!" Shae fumed.
"Oh sweety. Why?"
"You know why Mom." Shae mumbled.
"How bad could it be?" Her mother asked. Shae played with the bracelet tied around her wrist.
"I don't know Ma." She replied

She wore a simple green crop top and ripped jeans. If raised her hand, a small amount of her belly showed. She debated a moment on the topic but then let it be.
It was eight and her mother was already at Monty's.
He told me get ready in fifteen minutes and an hour had passed.
She thought and silently cursed him. She applied just eyeliner and lip gloss. Then to make her eyes look sharper she used kajal pencil. This made the colour of her eyes come out more. The red evident now.
She heard a horn and then Monty calling out her name. She quickly checked herself again in the mirror and dashed down the stairs taking her black leather jacket with her.
She locked the gate securely and looked at the expensive sports car that Monty was riding. She looked at it with wide eyes. Meanwhile Monty scrutinised her, quite impressed to say the least. "Just gonna stare or going to jump in!" He exclaimed. Shae got a little flustered due to his comment and pulled a strand of her hair back. She opened the door and slid beside Monty. He was wearing a skin tight T-shirt showing his well maintained physique. She quickly looked away and heard him mumble loser. She did not comment back and just ignored him for the rest of the journey.
After ten minutes he announced that they have arrived. She looked at the number of people there.
"You said it was just a small gathering." Shae said. He just chuckled. He parked the car and stepped out with confidence.
Shae felt nervous. She fidgeted with the bracelet she was wearing. Monty looked at her from the open window.
"Come on. Come out." He said firmly. She bit her lip and gave him a nervous look. He opened the door and extended his hand for her to take. "Don't worry. I am here,okay!" He said softly. Shae looked at his hand with uncertainty but took it anyway.
"That's what I am worried about but thanks." She said. He grinned and winked at her,gently pulling her out of the car.
He let her hand go and they started walking towards the house. Before entering the fence, she hesitated for a minute and then felt Monty's hand wound around her neck.
"Come on baby." He said, emphasising the word baby. Sarcasm very nicely executed.
"Whose the new chick Monty?" Some boys called out.
Shae started fidgeting with her bracelet again. Sensing her nervousness Monty retorted,"someone out of your league."
He led her inside the house and in process handing her a red cup that smelled of alcohol.
"I don't drink." She protested.
Monty made a face then walked away leaving her alone in the front room with unknown people around her.
She felt stupid standing there. She did not know what she was supposed to do. After a minute or two Monty came and handed her a red cup again. She was about to protest when he mouthed the word coke. The music was a little louder than needed. Shae shook her head gratefully and thanked him. He smiled and pulled her to living room where the main party was going. He pointed to the music player and someone stopped the music and everyone went ohhhh...
"Guys!" Monty exclaimed loudly, gathering everyone's attention.
"My dear friends let me introduce you to the new or old or whatever girl. I think most of you remember her. Shae." He pointed at me and every eye turned to me. Shae looked awkwardly at everyone and smiled. "Um..hi" she said.
"Shae..yeah I remember her. Wow. Look at you !" Zach exclaimed.
Shae looked at Zach and then checked him out. "Sweet" she said. Zach winked at her and held his hand out."Do you remember me?" He asked.
She shook hand with him.
"If I am not wrong then you are Zach." He nodded. After some more introductions the music started playing again.
Shae actually was enjoying. She was talking to this guy Alex who had shifted here like a year ago. He did not look quiet happy and kept drinking.
"Six years is a long time." He said."yeah, I know." Shae replied.
"Hey Shae. Can I ask you a question?" He asked suddenly now totally drunk. "Okay." He took another swig from his glass and asked,"If you get the power to change something in past what it would be?"
Shae thought for a moment. There were many things she wanted to change.
"There are so many. What about you?" She asked.
"One thing" he grumbled. Now he was too drunk to even form sentences. He talked about a list and erasing it. She looked at his face. All the cuts and the blackness around his eye looked fresh. Alex fell asleep on the couch. Shae took the glass from his hand and went to look for Monty. She found him in the pool making out with a blonde girl. He was half naked and she could see his biceps and all the muscles at the right places. She turned around to give him and the girl some privacy. She started walking inside till she felt a wet hand around her waist. She turned around to see Monty dragging her inside the pool.
She was wet now. Being furious she shouted at him. "You made me wet Cruz!" He smirked." Oh did I?" He asked leaning closer to her. She could smell alcohol.
"You disgust me cruz!" She said.  He looked at her with confusion. She splashed water on him.
"Wake up! We have curfew!" She yells.
Monty came out of his stance and asked her to wait. They both were wet. She stayed near the pool till he got his clothes back. The girl he was making out started making out with some other guy.
Monty was a little drunk. He sped up then necessary and Shae started chiding him.
Monty and Shae sat in silence for the rest of the journey. He dropped her home and she said a thank you to him. He stopped her and pointed to his cheek. She frowned but ended up giving him a small peck on his cheek.
Idiot.
She thought. Monty went home with a small smile grazing his lips still feeling the tingle that her lips left behind on his cheek.
He saw from his window that her room's window was just beside his,giving him full access to her room. He smirked and fell asleep without changing.
We will be good friends I guess.
He thought.
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"Sorry Monty,but my Mom can be pretty insisting at times." Shae said. Monty looked a little sick but managed a small smile.
"Hangover?" She asked.
"Should no drink on working days." He replied. Shae chuckled.
"You are a month late, how did they even take you in?" He asked.
"It was simple. My mark sheet and Indian syllabus gave principal an easy option plus I am a recommended student by foreign exchange department." She shrugged. Monty raised his brows in amazement.
"That is cool." He mumbled.
He handed her a paper. "Here,take this" he said.
Shae opened to see numbers written on it.
"My cell number." He said. She said a thank you and pocketed it.
"So what are your subjects?" He asked.
"Hmm.. Wait... Yeah." She said while fumbling inside her bag.
She took out a paper.
"Advance calculus, senior chemistry, advance literature, biology, advance physics and advance mathematics." She said.
Monty whistled.
"Advance calculus and senior chemistry are the only common subject we have. You are crazy. Advance subjects! You cant study all of them at once." He said.
"Don't worry about me." She replied firmly.
"But aren't they senior subjects. I mean not for sophomores right."
"They allowed me." She shrugged.
Shae memorised the way to high school and her home. She felt a little giddiness in her stomach. She started fidgeting with her bracelet. Monty noticed but did not say anything. He picked her habit to fidget with her bracelet every time she got nervous.
He parked his car in the parking lot. Shae was trying to unlock the door but it wont open. She looked at Monty and he pointed at his cheek.
"You disgust me Cruz!" She exclaimed.
"Really?" He asked playfully.
"Stop flirting and let me out." She said." First kiss and then you can leave."
Shae raised her brow. She leaned in and gave him a small peck on his cheek. He opened the car lock and she hurriedly got out of it.
After asking directions for like five minutes she was able to get to the office and get her schedule.
She came out of the office and stumbled into someone.
"I am sorry." They both said together. A tall, lean boy with curly hair stood in front of her. He was holding a camera in his right hand. He awkwardly looked at her.
He looks familiar.
She thought.
"Tyler?" She guessed.
The boy looked at her with curiosity.
"Um yes. Do I know you?" He fidgeted with his camera.
"Yes. Shae. Remember? We used to be friends." She said excitedly.
He took a moment to remember and then he realised.
"Yes, yes. I could not identify you. You have changed." He smiled and extended his left hand. She extended her right.
"Sorry. My dominant hand is ...a.. left so." He apologized.
"Nah its fine" she assured him.
"What are you doing here?" She heard a thick voice and the person did not sound really pleased. "Associating with a lost friend, Mr. Cruz." She replied.
"Class starts in five minutes. Lets move." He replied.
Shae sighed and saying a quick bye to Tyler she went with Monty.
Monty gave Tyler a warning glare clearly stating to stay away from her. The he turned around, wrapped his hand around her shoulder and they left.

The day went nicely. She made some  friends and got invites to the weekend parties. She walked out of school as Monty had base ball practise. He insisted that he drop her home but she refused.
She walked around trying to remember the way but....
Shit. I am lost.
Kicking the dirt in the road she roamed the place for another five minutes till she landed into a secluded neighbourhood. She walked around it and looked at her watch. She was late.
She heard a loud bang. Like someone fired a gun. Following the noise she went to the placw
She walked towards the pavement and saw a figure lying on the road. It was a boy. His head was bleeding and he had a gun in his hand. She was terrified and she shouted.
No one came. She did not know what to do.
She stumbled back,adrenaline rushing through. She fumbled to find her phone and with shaking hands called the cops.
"He..he..hello.....police?" She asked.
"Yes how may I help you?" Someone answered.
"Boy....Suicide....gun...ambulance...he shot himself. Help. " she started sobbing.
"Where are you. Wait help is coming. We are tracing you."
The voice replied.

Half an hour later she was quivering and answering all the questions the police asked. They cleared her and assured her that the boy will be safe.
Monty picked her up from the police station. He had a grave look and he hugged her. She hugged him back.
They stood like that for a minute and then went back home. All the while holding hands.

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The head cop was pondering over the files and report.
"The boy's name is.....umm" the junior fumbled with the file.
"Justin. Justin Foley. Liberty high."
"Again liberty high?" The senior asked. The other nodded.
"But there is something wrong,sir" he said.
"What is it, Ross?" He asked.
"Sir according to forensic report. The bullet hit him on the left side but when we found him, the gun was in his right hand. And not just that. The angle is upward to downward, not straight. If he would have fired, then the angle should have been 180 but it is somewhat more and the bullet did not travel much inside his head, it means bullet was fired from some distance." 
"So what are you implying?" The senior cop asked.
"Sir, it wasn't suicide. It was an attempted murder."

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