After Hannah Baker- Zach Dempsey's New Life

17: Catching Up

Ryan sat singing along to the music playing quietly. She packed some snacks just in case we got hungry.

"Is Justin nice?" Ryan asked quietly.

"He's nice to me," I chuckled, "He's been going through some stuff lately so I don't know how he'll act now," I sighed.

"Is he like Bryce?" she asked slowly.

"God no," I shook my head.

"Good," she nodded, "If your mom doesn't want him to stay with you, he can stay at my place," she continued.

"Are you sure?" I asked slowly.

She nodded, "I figure I'm with you all the time, so it's not that big of a deal as long as he doesn't destroy my house," she smiled.

"Mom said he can stay in the basement, as long as he doesn't bring in drugs or booze," I said when she moved around in her seat.

"Is he going to stay permanently?" she asked slowly while turning the music down.

"He said he just needs to get back on his feet," I shrugged, "But it's Justin," I chuckled.

"Well, we better still be able to make out," she smiled. I coughed then laughed slowly glancing at her.

"You're funny," I smiled.

"I know," she smiled then kissed me on the cheek.

We pulled into the parking lot of a crusty motel a few hours later. Ryan had grabbed my phone and texted Justin from it. "Are we going to stay or are we going to drive back home?" Ryan asked unbuckling and turning to look at me.

"I don't know yet," I smiled when she handed my phone to me. Ryan kissed me on the cheek again just before a motel room door opened and Justin walked out. He had a bag with him. He walked over to my window then leaned down to talk to me.

He looked like shit, like he hasn't slept for days and hasn't showered even longer than that. "Do you have food with you?" he asked slowly.

"Yeah," I nodded then watched Ryan grab the bag of food from the back seat. I showed it to Justin. "Climb in," I said when Justin looked at Ryan. He climbed into the back seat then groaned. Ryan handed him the bag of food then buckled herself back in.

"You look like shit," I said when Justin started eating a sandwich.

"That's what happens when you hitch hike from California to New York," he chuckled then yawned, "And you haven't slept in a week and a half," he said.

"Go to sleep," I said pulling back onto the highway back towards home.

"After I eat," he answered.

Justin fell asleep twenty minutes later. Ryan and I sat quietly for most of the rest of the way home. She was starting to fall asleep when we pulled into my driveway.

"Babe, wake up," I slowly poked her cheek. She smiled then turned her head and looked at me.

"Carry me?" she asked quietly. I shook my head then smiled before kissing her. She sighed then unbuckled.

"I'll be inside in a minute, I have to wake up Justin," I said quietly. She nodded then kissed me quickly before climbing out of the car.

I climbed out of the car and turned to the back seat. I opened the door then shook his feet slowly. He looked at me then stretched. "Come on, we're home," I said quietly.

"Is that girl your girlfriend?" he asked climbing out of the car slowly.

"Yeah," I said when he grabbed his bag.