After Hannah Baker- Zach Dempsey's New Life

21: Mondays

The next Monday was a new semester. Mercedes, Ethan, Ryan and I shared a study hall together. We sat at a little table together. Ryan was slowly playing at my fingers while looking at me nose. 

She felt guilty for what happened even after I told her I was fine a million times. 

"Stop looking at my nose," I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. She blushed lightly then looked at the book open in front of her. 

After a few minutes there were loud pop noises coming from down the hallway. Mercedes looked at Ethan when the teacher and him popped up and grabbed the tables and started barricading the door. Ryan stood up and started opening the windows quickly. 

"What's happening?" I asked Mercedes confused. 

"It's a school shooting," Ryan ran over and grabbed both of our hands and forced us to stand up. The other kids in the room caught on and started jumping out the windows after Mercedes and Ryan jumped out. I was cut off from Ryan and before I knew it, I was the only one left in the room. I moved to get out the window before the window on the door was shot in. 

The last thing I remembered was falling and someone screaming from below me. 

~~~

I woke up what felt like seconds later but I somehow knew it was longer. I started coughing when my eyes opened. My parents and May were sitting in the room. They were sitting quietly until I started coughing. 

I was in a hospital gown and my arm was in a sling.

"You're fine," Mom moved to push my hair off my forehead while Dad stood up to get a nurse. 

"What happened?" I asked quietly. 

"You were shot in the shoulder and you fell down two stories out the window," Mom answered quietly. 

"What about Ryan?" I asked slowly. 

"She's fine, she's waiting in the waiting room with your friends," she chuckled. 

"Can she come in?" I mumbled. 

"Right now, the hospital's only letting blood relatives come in," May said quietly. I sighed lightly then looked at Dad who had walked back into the room. 

"Can I have some water?" I asked just before the nurse walked in. 

"Look who's awake," she smiled walking over to my mom's side of the bed. 

"Can he have some water?" Mom asked still running her fingers through my hair. 

"Defiantly," she nodded. "Before that I have to check the bandage on your shoulder," she smiled at me. I nodded when she started moving the bed up so I was sitting. 

"Okay," I sighed quietly when she slowly moved my hospital gown to check the bandage on my shoulder. 

"I hope they catch the guy who did this," the nurse said trying to make conversation. 

"They didn't catch him?" I asked slowly. Mom and Dad slowly shook their heads. I sighed lightly then moved my uninjured arm to cover my eyes. 

The nurse walked out to get me a small cup of water. 

"Do you want me to go tell Ryan that you're okay?" May asked quietly. I nodded slowly then sighed. 

"Tell her to text me," I smiled lightly. 

"Okay," she chuckled then slowly walked out of the room as the nurse walked in with a small paper cup of water.

"Thanks," I smiled when she put the table over my lap.