Its Not Living (If Its Not With You)

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The following morning, 08:45

Hannah lay on her bed, waiting for Clay. She got dressed early, but her parents weren't awake so she decided to just lie on her bed and listen to music with her eyes closed. She had her headphones on so she couldn't hear her parents call her.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and jumped a bit. It was only her mother. She removed her headphones.

"Morning, Hannah. Clay will be over shortly. We just wanted to talk to you about something.", her mother said, her parents sitting on the edge of the bed. Hannah sat up a bit more.

"Last night, when we were going up to bed, we heard you leaving a voicemail on Leah's phone. We know the past year has been very hard for you, and we totally understand the reason for doing that. But, you said something that your mother has been fearing for a while.", her father said.

Oh, fuck, Hannah thought to herself.

"Hannah, are you happy at school and at home?", her mother asked her.

"I'm happy at home alright. Schools a bit tough.", Hannah said truthfully.

"OK. Tough how?"

"Just a few annoying kids, that's all.", Hannah lied, not feeling ready to tell them yet why she almost took her own life and was cutting.

"So annoying that you almost killed yourself and you've done things to yourself?", her father asked sternly, looking down towards her arm. She covered it with her other arm.

"Guys, can we talk about this after Christmas?", she asked quietly.

Olivia looked down at the floor in defeat. She looked back up at her daughter.

"OK. We will. Please stay safe.", she said as she squeezed Hannah's hand.

She nodded her head and her parents left the room. She sighed, put back on her headphones and fell back onto the bed.

15 minutes later

Clay knocked on the door and walked in with the gift bag with the presents inside and the bag with his clothes inside.

"Hey, Clay!", Mrs Baker said, coming up to him and giving him a small hug.

"Hello, Mrs Baker. I have some stuff that has to be kept under the tree until tomorrow morning, its just something small, no worries.", he said, handing her the gift bag.

"Aw, you didn't have to, Clay. We have something for as well under the tree for tomorrow. Hannah's upstairs, dressed and all. She's a bit tired today", the woman said, gesturing up the stairs.

Clay nodded his head and went upstairs, sensing something was wrong. He knocked on Hannah's door. When he got no reply, he panicked. He walked in the door and felt relief wash over him when he saw that she was just on her bed, headphones on, eyes closed, breathing.

"Hannie?", he said. He got no reply.

"Little Baker?", he said, as he tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped a bit, opening her eyes and removing her headphones.

"Jesus, Helmet.", she exclaimed, giggling a bit and leaning in to hug Clay.

"Good morning to you too, Han.", he said, laughing and pulling away from the hug.

"Wanna play some music?", Hannah asked, getting up from the bed.

"Sure."

3 hours later