Its Not Living (If Its Not With You)

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2 weeks later

Jessica had barely moved in two weeks. She hadn't smiled once. Not even the Matty Healy memes cheered her up. Clay brought her a Monet's hot chocolate in a takeaway cup, but she didn't drink it. All she thought about was Hannah.

Now, it was time for her and Clay to go back to school. She was in no way ready, but she didn't want to look weak. Hannah's parents offered to give her Blue, but she declined, as she knew the sentimental values that dogs can bring, and how they can make you feel less alone, so she let them keep him.

On the Sunday before they would go back to school, Clay arrived outside Jessica's house with Blue. They came up the stairs and knocked on the bedroom door.

"Come in.", Jessica said softly as she put down the drumsticks Hannah gave her.

Clay walked in and Blue hopped up on the bed and licked her face, actually making her smile and chuckle for the first time in ages. This was why she wanted Mr and Mrs Baker to keep him. She considered buying her own puppy sometime. She dreamed of owning a Jack Russell.

"Come on, we're taking you out for a walk.", Clay said, as he pulled Blue back down.

"A walk? I don't know.", Jessica said as she scratched Blue's ears.

"You need it. Come on. Only a short stroll to clear your mind. You can hold Blue's leash.", he encouraged.

Jessica sighed and got up from the bed, and Blue began dancing around joyfully. Now Jessica was actually laughing.

"OK. I'm coming.", she said, and Clay smiled at her.

When they were downstairs, they began walking to the dog park. Jessica held the leash and for the first time since she found Hannah and heard the tape, she felt a small bit of happiness and hope.

"Jesus, I can't believe the schools reaction.", Clay said, snapping her out of her thoughts, "The second person who's died like this and all they do is give people two weeks off. Like, they shut down the school when Alex died, and after that, everything just went back to normal. Like, nothing had happened. If that happens with Hannah, I'll go on a riot."

"Same, to be honest. That's why I'm so anxious about tomorrow. I don't know what'll happen. And if I see Bryce, I'm going to go mad.", Jessica replied, tightening the leash around her hand.

"I'm going to kill him anyway."

Jessica looked at him.

"Jess, he can't get away with it. God only knows how many more girls he's fucked up. I should've known he'd do something like this. The day I met Hannah, we went to Monet's, and he came over to us, and he nearly groped her. On our first day together. I wish I knew what happened to her. Did you know?"

"Yes. I did. We're girls. And victims. We keep this stuff between us, and we don't tell anyone so we don't break each others trust. She saw me getting raped. I saw her after she got raped. Its stuff we keep between us.", Jessica said.

Clay sighed.

"I get that. I just wish I found out sooner. I would've helped you two. I'm not mad you didn't tell me, I'm mad at him. Mad isn't the word. I'm absolutely furious. I don't know how someone can be so sick.", he said as they sat down at a bench in the dog park.

They just sat in silence for a few moments before they saw a woman with around 7 dogs and she was yelling at and hitting a Jack Russell puppy. Jessica handed Clay the leash and walked over to her.

"Get over here, you mutt! You never do anything right! I only have you 2 days and you're already acting up!"

The woman kicked the dog, and he squealed and ran over and banged into Jessica's feet.

"Hey! Black one! Give me my dog!", the woman shouted.

Jessica picked up the dogs leash.

"No. You're treating him like shit and he's only a baby, and he's a small dog. What you're doing, that can get you a fine, or locked up. Also, that dogs hair is too long, she's too skinny, that dog needs a nail clipping and the rest just look scared. Unless you clean them up, they'll have to be taken off of you, and I'll make sure of it. Starting with this little guy.", she said, feeling proud of herself.

The woman rolled her eyes.

"What are you talking about? You're like 12.", she said rudely.

"I'm 17, a junior at Liberty High, just after losing the love of my life and I am very pissed off.", Jessica said with pride.

The woman scoffed and walked away with the other 6 dogs.

Jessica bent down and put her hand up near the dogs mouth. He licked it joyfully. She smiled at him and picked him up. He continued the kisses on her cheek.

He was a beautiful black and tan dog with white on his nose and chest. He had brown eyes and perky ears. He was adorable, and one of a kind.

She carried him on her shoulder and headed back over to Clay and Blue. He smiled at them.

"Aww, who's this little guy?", he said, rubbing his head.

Jessica bit her lip for a minute and smiled.

"Matty. That's what we'll call him. After the love of my life's celebrity crush.", she said, smiling fondly.

It was in that moment that she decided she'd do more deeds like this for the rest of her life. She'd stick up for smaller and more vulnerable people, and rally against abuse. She knew it was what Hannah would've wanted.

And then, as she gave Matty a loving scratch behind the ears, she saw Hannah standing a few feet away, smiling at her. She winked at her, and then she said, "Well done, Jess", loud enough for her heart to hear.