After Hannah Baker- Zach Dempsey's New Life

19: Plans and Problems

The next morning Ryan texted me and asked me if I was awake. I told her I was. A few minutes later she walked into my room dressed for school with her backpack on her back. She smiled weakly at me then set her backpack down and laid down next to me.

"Are you okay?" I asked wrapping an arm around her slowly. She nodded but didn't say anything. "Are you sure?" I asked again slowly rubbing her side.

"I don't want to talk about it," she answered before Mom stuck her head into my room to wake me up.

"Breakfast in thirty," she said then walked downstairs.

"Okay," I sighed then sat up slowly.

"Are you getting dressed?" she asked when I walked over to my closet.

"Yes," I looked back at her.

"Do you want me to wait downstairs?" she asked when I pulled out khaki jeans.

"Do you want to go wait downstairs?" I asked with a chuckle while looking for a sweater to put on. She didn't answer and didn't move to go downstairs so I changed quickly before laying back down next to her. She sighed lightly then put her head on my shoulder when I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.

"What's for breakfast?" she asked quietly.

"Probably a bunch of fruit," I chuckled then looked at her when she looked at me. "Are you sure you're okay?" I asked.

"Bear is making up all these shitty rules," she mumbled, "Like I can't be alone with a boy in the house," she paused "Curfew is eight o'clock unless I'm staying over at a friends house," she sighed. "He basically doesn't want me around you anymore," she grumbled.

"Christ," I sighed then lightly squeezed her shoulder.

"I also have to check in every night after school if I'm doing anything other then go home," she mumbled. "He's really acting like he raised me," she laughed.

"Tell them you're hanging out with Mercedes or something and just stay the night at my house," I said when she sat up.

"He's fucking crazy Zach," she chuckled then shook her head. "I don't want to drag her into it right now, she has a lot going on," she sighed.

"Then tell him you're going to hang out with May," I chuckled. She sighed then shook her head.

"He wants to meet the person first, and he'll know that she's your sister unless he's completely wasted by then," she mumbled.

"Then don't follow his rules," I said sitting up. "Have me over all the time, don't check in with him, text your mom where you are so they don't report you as a run away," I shrugged.

"I really don't want to talk about it," she mumbled then looked over her shoulder when May walked past my room. "I think I'll call Evelyn tonight to talk about it," she nodded slowly.

"Okay," I nodded then kissed her on the forehead before standing up. She stood up then grabbed her backpack before following me out of the room then down stairs.

"When do you get your cast off?" May asked Ryan when she sat down next to her.

"Next week," Ryan smiled lightly.

Justin came up stairs just before we left for school. Mom ushered him over when we walked out the door.

I dropped off May then drove quietly to school with Ryan. "Are you sure your okay?" I asked when I parked the car.

"I'm okay for now," she answered then unbuckled slowly. She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek before climbing out. She waited for me to climb out then lightly held onto my fingers while we walked into the school.

"Are you going to try out for basketball this week?" she asked quietly. I nodded lightly then smiled when she brightened up. "Now I'm excited," she wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

"So Wednesday through Friday I'm busy," I smiled slowly putting my hand on her waist.

"I'll wait for you to get home," she smiled then turned when Ethan and Mercedes walked over to us.

"Are you going to try out?" Ethan asked seeing how huge Ryan was smiling.

"Yeah," I laughed when Ryan put her hands up to her mouth trying to hide her smile.

Ethan high fived me then chuckled, "I heard that you have a restraining order on Bryce," he said when Ryan started talking to Mercedes.

"Yeah," I sighed, "Ever since he moved in next store him and his crew follow Ryan and I everywhere," I nodded.

He chuckled, "What's up with that guy?" he asked.

"He should be in jail or something," Mercedes laughed. I nodded then chuckled looking at Ryan.

"He's supposed to be," Ryan said then slowly grabbed my hand.

"What do you mean?" Mercedes asked confused. Ryan glanced at me.

"I can tell you guys at lunch," I answered then looked at the clock, the bell was about to ring. They nodded then started walking to class when the bell rang. I walked Ryan to class then kissed her on the cheek before she walked into the room. She blushed lightly then walked into her class while I turned and walked to class quickly.

At lunch time Mercedes and Ethan stared at me intently while I drank from my juice pouch. "Can I eat first?" I chuckled. They looked away quickly then chuckled. I finished eating then looked at Mercedes and Ethan who were looking at me again.

"Okay," I chuckled, "We went to school together in California, he raped two girls that we know of," I paused when Mercedes looked at Ethan quickly. "One of the girls he raped killed herself and that's how we found out," I sighed, "He was convicted and was supposed to go to jail but because his parents are so rich, his dad got him out after he spent two days in a cell," I said then watched Ethan look at Mercedes.

"Did not see that coming," Ethan chuckled. Ryan slowly grabbed my hand under the table then nudged me while motioning towards the other end of the lunch room.

Ethan and Mercedes looked too then turned back to us, "So wait, if you have a restraining order on him then he can't try out for basketball," Mercedes pointed out slowly.

"He doesn't know I'm trying out," I answered. "I'm notifying the guy on the case tonight," I answered then looked at Ryan who pulled her phone out of her pocket. She sighed then showed me a screen full of messages from Brian.

"So um," Ryan said looked back at Mercedes and Ethan. "My mom went and got bear yesterday out of jail," she paused. "He won't let me hang out with Zach alone so I was wondering if you guys wanted to go on a double date next week after I get my cast off?" she asked,

"Doing what?" Mercedes asked.

"Friday nights it's ten dollars per person to play as many games as you want at the bowling alley," Ryan smiled lightly. Mercedes bit her lip then looked at Ethan.

"I can't bowl," Mercedes looked back at Ryan.

"That's right," Ryan mumbled then sighed slowly.

"Why can't you bowl?" I asked confused. Mercedes looked at Ethan slowly. She nodded at him lightly. He stood up and walked around the table to whisper in my ear.

"She's pregnant," he said then pulled away. I looked at him slowly then nodded. "Don't tell anyone okay?" he asked. I nodded again then looked at Ryan when Ethan moved to sit back next to Mercedes.

"We can still go bowling, we'll just bowl for you," I said to Mercedes with a small smile. She smiled back then nodded.

"That sounds fun," Mercedes said then took Ethan's hand slowly.