Cough Syrup (Zach Dempsey)

Chapter 31

When we got to Monet's Marcus, Courtney, and Alex were already there.

"Is this everyone?" I asked

"Everyone who responded." Courtney answered as Zach and I sat down

"And what's the point of this again?" Alex asked

"We need to get our stories straight before our depositions." Courtney said

"No we need to tell the truth." Alex said

"I'm with Alex." Zach said

"Me too." I added

"It's not the easy, I mean what is the truth exactly? Marcus said

"That's bullshit Marcus." I said

"Oh my god how did you find us?" Courtney said looking past us I turned to see Tyler walking over

"I want in." He said

"No leave." She said firmly

"Why because you don't like me Courtney? Because I embarrassed you? I deserved to be here I'm getting it worse than any of you."

"Jesus please just shut up and sit down." I said

"No." Courtney said again

"Let him stay. Come on man." Alex said moving his bag but Courtney continued to glare at him

"I stay or I start taking pictures." He said making me roll my eyes

"Sit down Tyler." I said again

"I don't want him here." Courtney said

"Courtney who put you in charge of this anyway? It's not the fucking dance committee." Zach said making me chuckle as Tyler took the seat between me and Alex 

"Back to what we were talking about I talked to Sheri earlier, she said she didn't get one." I said

"Yet." Alex added

"I told her to come anyway, but she more terrified than any of us so she's probably not coming." I said

"Alex does your dad know something?"

"My dad is more of a sweep it under the rug kind of guy."

"That works for me." Marcus said

"Yeah except he doesn't give a shit about you." Alex said as Skye walked over we got quiet as she sat muffins in front of Alex and Marcus, then she stood there

"Um can I get a green tea please?" I asked trying to get her to leave she rolled her eyes and walked away

"We just need to go back to the original plan, getting our stories right and we'll be fine." Courtney said

"Enlighten us Courtney, what is exactly is 'the story'?" I said full of sarcasm

"Hannah was a liar........she was jealous, and needy and emotionally unstable. We tried to be her friend but when things didn't work out she blamed us."

"Aren't you describing yourself?" Tyler stated but she ignored him

"She was the one with problems."

"That's the story?" Zach asked

"What would you stay it is?" Marcus asked him

"I think it doesn't matter because there are four people who aren't here, who will likely say whatever the fuck they want." He said

"Yeah where are Jessica and Justin?" Marcus asked

"They weren't at school today." Tyler said as Zach and Alex shared a look

"What's that look for?" I asked them then Zach sighed

"We were at Bryce's last night and Jess was flirting with Bryce then Justin showed up and got pissed and called Bryce a rapist and told Jess that everything on the tapes were true. Zach said

"Fuck!" Marcus said

"And Monty, Scott and a few other guys were there and heard it."

"Wait they heard him talk about the tapes?" Courtney asked

"He didn't really say anything about the tapes but they all heard him call Bryce a rapist." He said and Marcus and Courtney looked really worried

"Good." I said

"What are you crazy?" Courtney asked me

"It's about time he told her truth, and Bryce is a fucking rapist why are we still hiding that?"

"If you believe Hannah-" She started

"Of course I fucking believe Hannah!" I snapped

"Perri keep your voice down." Marcus said

"No seriously Courtney you're the only other girl here and that's the position you're gonna take?" I said

"Hannah lied we know this."

"Lied about what exactly? Because there's photographic evidence of what you two did taken by my freak of brother."

"Wait a minute what if we bring Bryce in?" Marcus started

"No!"

"Perri-"

"No if you bring Bryce in, I'm out and I swear to god I will tell everything no matter the consequences. Bryce is a rapist."

"Alleged rapist."

"Fuck off Courtney!" I snapped

"Wait everybody calm down I have an idea." Tyler said

"And what would that be?"

"What if we gave Bryce up?"