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"Bryce and I have been friends since the third grade." Justin began. "And friendship, it can be this really powerful thing, and complicated. You find yourself doing things you never thought you'd do. Because, friendship, you commit to it no matter what." He stopped to look at Elizabeth, and then continued. "Being friends with him, it was about loyalty. But it was also about fear."
The lawyer on Mrs. Baker's side spoke to Justin calmly. "And how would you describe Mr. Walker's relationships with girls? Were they fear based as well?"
"Yes, sir. They were like conquests to him. " Justin nodded slowly. "He would always brag about what he'd done with girls. And then, he would call them sluts for hooking up with him."
"And did he ever mention and on-again off-again relationship with Hannah Baker to you?" The lawyer questioned him.
"No, sir, because it never happened." Justin snapped a little bit, but calmed down immediately. "Maybe they hung out, but there's no way he would have hooked up with her without telling me about it."
The lawyer began to pace in front of him. "Because he liked to brag, as you said?" Justin nodded in reply. "How would you describe Hannah?"
Elizabeth tensed up, because she knew Justin would have to start saying things he did not want Elizabeth to know. Clay grabbed onto her hand, and she sent him a soft smile.
"She was really kind and funny. I liked her from the first time I saw her." Justin answered the lawyer. "We only had one real date, but it- it was nice." Elizabeth did not know what he meant when he said real date. Had they done things any other time? "I walked her home, and then I went home. But, I couldn't sleep." He looked down at his hands. "I had gotten in a fight with my mom's boyfriend."
Justin looked back up and made direct eye contact with Elizabeth. He was about to say things that Elizabeth had no idea about. "I texted Hannah, and she told me to come over. She just let me sleep there all night. She slept on her own floor." He furrowed his eyebrows. "I saw Bryce the next morning, and he knew I was not coming from my house. I knew he wouldn't leave it alone; I knew I'd have to tell him something." He sighed. "I don't know why that was more important to me than doing right by Hannah."
"Because you were an asshole then." Elizabeth mumbled under her breath, causing her brother to chuckle.
"I wanted him to think I was more than I was." Justin stopped for a minute before continuing. "Maybe Bryce sent it around because he was jealous, or maybe because he's just cruel. I don't know." Justin shook his head before looking the lawyer directly in the eyes. "I don't know why people send around photos like that. Bryce did shi- stuff like that all the time."
