Its Not Living (If Its Not With You)

9

2 weeks later

Hannah was still getting harassment about the list and guys would even be taking pictures of her in the halls. Clay would always defend her, however, and wouldn't leave them alone until they deleted the pictures.

Despite it all, they still found time for their music, and they had a few songs written. Tony even offered to lend them his tape recorder if they ever wanted to put their stuff on a physical copy.

After Clay had walked her home from work one evening, Hannah went straight up to bed. She started to unbutton her blouse, then, click.

At first, she thought it was the neighbours dog playing with a stick, but then she heard it again.

And again.

And again.

She had the sickening feeling that someone was outside her window, taking photographs of her, and she grew frightened. She finished undressing underneath her bedclothes. She couldn't sleep that night, knowing someone was there.

The next day

Hannah was in history, trying her best not to fall asleep. She felt someone tap her shoulder beside her.

"Hey!"

She looked up at the girl beside her.

"Oh, hey Courtney.", she said, rubbing her eyes.

"Did you get any sleep last night, Hannah?", Courtney asked, in a "concerned" voice.

Hannah shook her head no. "I think there's someone outside my window.", she said, unsure why she was talking to Courtney about this.

"Oh, really? Who do you think it is?", she asked, being nosey. Hannah shrugged her shoulders and decided to go back to her work.

After school

Clay dropped Hannah to her house and said that he was picking up something from his house that he wanted to surprise her with.

Hannah went into the music room and decided to play a few songs on her guitar while she waited for Clay. He came in a few minutes later, with a guitar bag on his back and amps and a guitar stand in his hands.

"Look at what I've got here.", he said in a singsong voice, making Hannah giggle a little bit.

He unzipped the bag and pulled out a red electric guitar, plugged it into the amps he held in his hands, put it around him and played the riff from More Than a Feeling, jerking his body all over the place each time he moved his hands and singing completely off key. Hannah rolled her eyes at him, and smiled.

"I got this yesterday, after I dropped you back with the Crestmont money. I have one but this is our one, for this room only. You like?", he said, handing her the guitar and pick for her to try it.

She played the same riff, and smiled.

"I love it. I've been looking for one for ages. I used to play Leah's one, but after she died, it was sold. Thanks for this, Clay.", she said, putting the guitar on the stand and giving him a hug. Not just because of the guitar, but because she needed a hug.

"Hannah, are you OK? You seem a bit off today.", Clay asked her with concern evident in his voice.

"I got barely any sleep last night. I think there's someone outside my bedroom window, taking photographs.", she said in a stressed voice.

Clay sighed and sat down with Hannah.

"Do you have any idea who it might be?", he asked her.

"I really have no idea. That's the part that's stressing me out so much, because, if I knew who they were, I could report them or something. But I have no evidence.", she replied softly, shrugging her shoulders.

"Tell you what, Han," Clay said, taking her hands in his, "I'll stay over tonight, and if this person comes back, we'll be ready for them. I'll make sure whoever's doing this pays."

Hannah smiled at him and nodded her head.

Later, 20:50

The two teenagers headed up to Hannah's room and listened to music on her phone.

The Night We Met came on. Hannah gave Clay a smirk and he knew what it meant. They had danced to this song in the music room a few times before.

They got up from the bed and started to slow dance. After a while, they began leaning it. When their lips met, they heard a click.

Hannah leaned down to pick up the large flashlight beside Clay's leg.

Another click. It must've looked strange from where the person was.

She switched it on when it was in her hand, and she turned it towards the window. It was really bright, enough to blind someone.

The person jerked back their head in pain, then Hannah turned it off and took a look at them.

Her jaw dropped in horror when she saw who it was.

"Tyler Down?!"

Tyler grabbed his stuff frantically and ran away.

Hannah turned off her phone and Bluetooth speaker. She sat on the bed, speechless. Clay sat beside her.

"Tyler could do anything with those photos, and if he released that last one, it could ruin our lives.", Hannah said after she found her voice.

"Don't worry, Han. I'll talk to him tomorrow and if he releases any of the photos, I'll end him.", Clay said, putting his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. She gave him a smile.

The next morning

Before first period, Clay went into the darkroom, and sure enough, Tyler was there. When he saw Clay, he froze up.

"H-hey, Clay.", he stuttered, being quite afraid of him at that time. 

"Morning, Ty-Ty. Now, time to cut the shit. I know you've been taking pictures of Hannah Baker, and of us two last night, and I want them now, every single one, and if you release any, I'll knock you out with your little camera.", he said, growing angrier with every word.

Tyler shakily handed him a few printed photos, and a drive.

"This better be all of them."

"Th-they are."

Clay gave him a dirty look before heading out the door and met Hannah, who was outside.

"Did he give all of them?", she asked him frantically.

"Yes, he did. I hope so anyway, or else he'll be in a hospital.", he said, hanging her the photos.

"I love having an angry boyfriend.", Hannah said in relief and gratefulness as she stuffed the photos into her front backpack pocket.

"I love defending my beautiful girlfriend.", Clay said, giving her a peck on the lips.

They walked to first period and unbeknownst to them, one of the photos fell out of the backpack.

The boy picked it up and stroked his chin. He walked over to Ryan Shavers locker and slipped it in. He chuckled.

"That's what you get, Jensen.", Montgomery said with an evil grin as laughed maniacally and walked to class.