Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Forty

FLASHBACK
SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR
IMOGEN JENSEN'S HOUSE
TAPE 6, SIDE B
THIRD PERSON'S POV

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"Why did you invite me to that party, Imogen? Was your intent to embarrass me the way you did? No, it couldn't have been. You got drunk, you lashed out. But how does that saying go again? Drunk words are sober thoughts, that's the one. Your drunk words were definitely your sober thoughts. I tried to play it off, but the other person involved, oh he shut it down really quickly, embarrassing me further, because I was just a secret that summer, right? But that person isn't going to be named, but if you were at that party, then you already know. But I think by now we all know, situations never end well, especially when you put alcohol in the mix."

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Everyone sat in Imogen's living room.

The get together was small, only people that came were the people who were invited, and they had way more booze than any of them could ever drink on their own but they were going to try. They were all sitting around Imogen's living room and playing the most popular drinking game that there is, but also playing it with a twist.

I never, with a mix of double dare.

The rules were, obviously, you say something you've never done and if other people have done it, you drink. And they're also doing double dare, meaning if you refuse to do the dare. You have to do a double shot. Everyone was teetering the drunk line.

Imogen was on her couch sat between Jeff and Justin, while Sheri was on the other side of Jeff and Jessica was next to her. Hannah was sitting in a chair, kind of off to the side, but also kind of close to Zach, who was sitting on the ground, next to her chair. No one in their friend group knew that Zach and Hannah were dating, but Imogen knew, because she saw them.

She was walking home when she walked past the alley of the Crestmont and she saw them making out. For days after that, she tried to get Zach to tell her. She never used Hannah's name specifically, but she would ask if he was seeing anyone this summer, thinking about getting serious or having a summer fling, and he kept lying and deflecting, and Imogen was trying to figure out, why would her best friend lie to her when he never has before?

"Mimi, it's your turn." Zach said to her, and she nodded her head, while trying to think of something to say.

"Oh, got it. Never have I ever, lied about my relationship status." She said, and both Hannah and Zach tried to give no reaction, but they knew that the both of them couldn't drink, because then it would look suspicious, and Zach had a feeling that Imogen was onto him.

So he didn't drink.

Bryce drank, and so did Justin and Jessica, and Imogen laughed. "Okay, now you have to give a dare." Justin said, that was the rules. Whoever gave the 'I never' had to follow it up by picking someone to give a dare to, and Imogen looked directly at Hannah.

"Okay. . Hannah Baker. I dare you to kiss Zach." She said, and Zach was so caught off guard, he cleared his throat which turned into a coughing fit and Hannah's body tensed up. Zach looked over at Imogen, wondering what her issue was, and Imogen just smirked.

"Kiss or drink, your choice. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time you kissed Zach, right?" Imogen said, and everyone froze. All of the guys were looking at Zach, well, everyone was looking at Zach and they were shocked, wondering if what Imogen said was true.

"Imogen, what the fuck. You're drunk, chill out." Zach said, and she rolled her eyes.

"Look, you two are either gonna kiss, or you're going to drink, you know we don't tolerate rule breakers." The brunette said, sitting back against the couch and looking at the both of them.