13 reasons Why Not

chapter 34 - Old friends and new: part 2

Justin's POV

"It's everything Justin, that night, who done that to me, who sent us those packages."

Watching Clay as he began explaining, It felt good finally getting to know him, understanding him. This was the first time I'd really tried to get to know anyone, well apart from Jess.

As Clay continued, his facial expression now changed.

"Everything I've been through with Hannah, everything that's happened to her, to me. Justin, It makes me so angry."

Clays hands clenching, I could feel his anger, I could understand it. The one thing I couldn't understand is why he couldn't talk to Hannah, she loves him.

"Why are you angry Clay? Who do you want to hurt, Tyler? Bryce?"

Hearing my comment Clay looked at me, I could now see the anger in his eyes, the hurt. Weirdly I could now feel it more than when he clenched his fists, it was like I could now feel his emotions, this was something new.

"I wanted to hurt anyone, there's only person that stops me... Hannah."

Listening to Clay continuing, I started to understand how he's become so angry. I started to see how everything's affected him, it made me feel things I'd never felt.

Learning how he felt about what happened to him, not knowing who it was, knowing someone at school knew. It's as if he was caged in his own mind, in a constant battle with his own thoughts.

Looking at Clay, I could understand that feeling, the feeling that you can't talk to anyone about your problems. That one thing that burns at you, something so deep you feel like you can't tell a soul, I knew that feeling too well.

"What's Hannah said Clay? Have you talked to her?"

Olivia's POV

This store is a complete mess, I thought Andy was supposed to be tidying the back up.

Managing my frustrations, I decided to clean up myself. As I began moving empty boxes to put in the trash, I paused.

Looking at her beauty, my frustrations instantly subsided. To know I'd created something so beautuful, all I could feel was love.

Watching Hannah continue to grow, I feel so proud of her. As a mom that's all I've ever wanted, her to be happy. Spending time with her today, hearing her talk about normal teenage things again, it feels like it's been a lifetime since that happened.

I'd like to say I'm soley responsible for this change, even a big part. Saying this however would be wrong, this was someone else's positivity, their love.

Seeing Hannah and Clay together, the way they connect, I could watch them for hours. It's like they're constantly looking out for each other, he watches her, she watches him.

Being around them, it brings back memories of me and Andy. Not now unfortunatly, but years ago when we first met. We would do everything together, where I went he went.

Thinking of those times, it made me smile. Sadly with the reality of our current situation, my face quickly changed.

As we've grown we've faced hard times, like any couple I guess. The store, Hannah, family, money...somewhere we lost us, we lost that connection.

Sadly, It's never come back.

Looking at Hannah, I don't ever want to see that happen with her and Clay, to know how that feels. Saying that, I could never see Clay hurting her, doing what Andy's done.

With everything going on, what we face next week. I don't know how to tell her, I don't want to hurt her.

Justin's POV