Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 24

The next day

Sheri and I were leaving English and she kept complaining about the C she got on our last paper.

"Sheri it could be worse, it's not that bad of a grade."

"It's a C! Sheri doesn't do C's, there has got to be a way for me to make this up."

"Whatever, you're crazy." I told her with a laugh when I heard our names

"Look everyone there's Perri Down and Sheri Holland, they're co-captains of our cheerleading squad." Clay said to a group of kids

"Clay what are you doing?" I asked but he ignored me and moved down the hall

"And here we have Zach Dempsey and Justin Foley, star basketball players at Liberty High."

"Jensen what the fuck?" Justin snapped

"Nothing I just think the exchange students should know who runs the school right? Oh hey Justin where's my bike?" He asked then turned to group

"Justin stole my bike."

"Clay stop it." I said but once again I was ignored

"You guys want to see something really cool? You see all these lockers, they all look the same right?" He said then walked over to Hannah's locker

"This one is different, this one belonged to a girl who killed herself."

"Clay come on." Courtney said trying to pull him away but he just kept going

"You see all of these 'Don't kill yourself' posters? They weren't here before they put them up because she killed herself! And why did she do it? Because the kids here treated her like shit!"

"Clay that's enough." Justin said walking over to him but he slapped his arm away

"Yeah so they put up these posters, they paint over the bathrooms, and they put a memorial because that's the kind of school this is! Everyone is just so nice until they drive you to kill yourself! And sooner or later the truth will come out! It's gonna come out." He said looking at us then he turned around and saw Tony

"Right Tony!? Right? You know the truth!"

"Clay!" He turned to see Mr. Porter

"I think you should come with me right now. Everybody get to class now! Get to class!" He yelled and people started moving but we were kinda frozen

"Welcome to Liberty High." He said then followed Mr. Porter

"Ok new game." Justin said

"This isn't a fucking game! This is reality! Our reality! So just grow up!" I snapped at him then I turned to leave and I saw Monty and Bryce walking towards us, I turned towards Sheri

"I can't be here anymore." I said and she nodded

"I'll cover don't worry." She said then I locked eyes with Zach then I left the building

Even though we're fighting, I was still worried about Perri. I was mad at her, of course but I still love that girl and seeing her like that yesterday stayed in my mind. So watching her leave after Clay's outburst I knew something was fucking with her. I looked to see Monty walking towards us and I knew it was him, it had to be.

"What the fuck did you do to Perri?"I asked

"I didn't do shit."

"She's been fucked up ever since she went out with you, now what did you do to her!" I said getting in his face