Its Not Living (If Its Not With You)

6

The Following Monday

It was the first day of the school year. Hannah's parents had met Clay when they came back from the graveyard so, when Hannah told them that Clay would be giving her a ride on his bike for the first day back, they were delighted, as they knew he was a gentleman.

Clay arrived downstairs to breakfast. He poured his orange juice into his glass and buttered his toast.

"So, Clay," his mother started, "how's your friend Hannah doing?"

"She's good, I'm giving her a ride to school today.", he replied as he bit into his taste. His parents wiggled their eyebrows at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

Clay finished his food, grabbed his backpack and headed out the door. He unclasped the helmet from around the handlebars and took off to Hannah's house.

Hannah was waiting at the door when Clay arrived. She looked beautiful. He stared at her for a second too long. Hannah chuckled.

"Hey, Helmet.", she greeted.

"Morning, Hannah.", he said, unable to keep his eyes off of her. He motioned to the seat at the back of the bike.

"Hop on, Han."

They smirked at each other and Hannah sat onto the seat.

"Now, put your feet up onto those, and hold on tight to me."

When they were ready to go, Clay started cycling at the highest speed he could. Hannah held him even tighter

"Clay, slow down, seriously."

He ignored her, and kept on pedalling.

"Clay, stop it."

Clay eventually slowed down, not wanting to make her too anxious or scared.  

When they arrived at the school, Hannah was immediately surrounded by guys. She grabbed Clay's hand so she wouldn't lose him.

"Bryce told us all about you!"

"Welcome to Liberty, princess!"

"What's your number?"

"Look at that ass."

"What's she doing with Jensen?"

"Wanna go to Rosie's later?"

It got too much for the both of them, so Hannah decided to do something.

"Guys, listen up. I'm sorry, but I'm taken."

Clay and the rest of the guys looked at her confusedly. Hannah looked at him and whispered, "Just go along with it".

"Wait, wha-"

He felt her lips crash onto his. Shocked, he kissed back. The guys made disgusted expressions and they walked away.

Hannah pulled away first. Clay had a shocked expression on his face still.

"Don't worry, Helmet. It's not like it meant anything. You're my best friend.", she said to him with a smile on her face, even though she secretly enjoyed it.

His shocked expression turned into a disappointed one, and he nodded his head and said, "Yep, it meant nothing."

They walked towards the door and saw Jessica and Alex.

"Hey guys! I'm so happy for you two!", Jessica said excitedly.

Hannah chuckled and whispered to them, "We're not. That was to get them away from us. We didn't want that Bryce Walker scum near us. Don't tell anyone though."

Jessica and Alex nodded their heads. "We won't, don't worry."

The four of them walked in together. They agreed to meet up at Monet's after school, to do homework, chat, drink hot chocolate. Hannah and Clay were reluctant at first, but then they remembered that if they did their homework in a group, they'd get it done faster and have more time for music.

The day passed slowly, as Hannah and Clay didn't have every class together, but the ones they had together, they sat next to each other. Hannah and Jessica were in the same gym class, so they talked a lot during it, and Clay and Alex did the same in their gym class.

When the final bell rang, Hannah and Clay let out a sigh of relief. They met Jessica and Alex outside the building.

"Ugh, finally!", Hannah said to the group.

"First day wasn't the best?", Clay said.

"Nope. At least we're going to Monet's now. Hot chocolate is the cure for all things shitty in life.", Jessica stated, and the three others nodded their heads in agreement.

Clay and Hannah got on his bike, and Jessica and Alex went into his car, and they met at Monet's.

They ordered their drinks and got started at their homework. They didn't have too much because it was their first day back, but they still got a good bit. When they were done, Jessica and Alex went back to Alex's place to watch TV, and Hannah and Clay went back to Hannah's house.

Her parents were home but they were going to be in the music room. Clay decided to stay for dinner when he was asked and he texted his mother to tell her. They then went into the music room and they decided to play I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it by The 1975 first.

They weren't chatting as much since they came home. They were both still thinking about the kiss, and what it meant. Clay decided to break the silence after the song ended.

"Hannah?", he asked nervously.

"Yes, Helmet?", she replied, feeling nervous as well, knowing what was coming.

"Why did you kiss me today?"

Hannah bit her lip and sighed.

"So the guys wouldn't bother us-"

"I don't think that's the reason, Han."

She sighed again.

"I don't know, it doesn't matter anyways. Ooh, look! Yellow! Let's play that now!", she said, trying to change the subject. Clay grabbed her hand softly.

"We can play Yellow for the rest of the evening once I know why you kissed me.", he said, a bit sternly. 

"OK! Promise you won't freak?", Hannah said, feeling her cheeks turn red and her heart pound out of her chest.

"I won't freak, I promise.", Clay said softly.

Hannah sighed again, then took a deep breath.

"I kinda like you, Clay."

Clay looked at her for a few moments.