Beyond the Reasons || JUSTIN FOLEY

Thirty-One

FLASHBACK
HO MEETING
THIRD PERSON'S POV

"Alright, who's the keeper of the banner?" Imogen Jensen asked to the group as she and Jessica were going over their checklist for everything they needed for the Homecoming game, which was happening in a few hours time.

"Got it." A girl said, walking up to the desk and setting the banner down.

"Great, and the paint?" Imogen asked.

"Right here." Another girl spoke.

"Okay, great. Just make sure you hide it when we go outside, okay?" Jessica said to her, and she nodded her head.

"And the megaphone?" Imogen asked.

"No idea. Can't find it." Casey's booming voice came out of the megaphone which made everyone laugh as Imogen gave her a smile, and then Imogen kept the smile on her face thinking about what they were about to do.

"This is going to be the biggest fucking wake-up call Liberty's ever seen." Imogen said, which made all of the girls start cheering.

"Alright, phase one, let's go!" Jessica said, and as everyone continued to work, both Imogen and Jessica's phones started vibrating, because they were put in a group text, and got the exact same message as each other, from the exact same person.

Bryce Walker.

They both exchanged the same looks with each other, wondering why he was texting them, and what even made him think he had the right to try and reach out to them, but Imogen figured he wouldn't leave it alone until they went to see him so. She just wanted to figure out why he texted them and that was it.

"Um, Jess and I forgot the towel's in the car. We'll be right back okay?" Imogen said to the girls, and Tyler, and they all nodded their heads thinking nothing of it, as the two girls walked outside together to figure out what Bryce Walker wanted with them. But as Ani watched them leave she grew suspicious.

Why would it take two people to bring in towels?

―

PARKING LOT

When Bryce Walker got off the Hillcrest bus after it parked in the Liberty High School parking lot where he saw Jessica and Imogen waiting for him by a car. He was relieved that they got his message and came outside. He had been wanting to talk to them since he spent a whole night listening to Hannah's tapes with Tony. And although him assaulting Jessica wasn't on Hannah's tapes, after hearing everything, he started to think about his choices, and the consequences.

And even if he didn't fully understand Imogen and Jessica's pain. He finally did understand the pain he caused them, and the pain that followed when they had to come back to school and still see him everyday. It was the reason why he asked Tyler what it felt like having to come to school with Monty everyday after what happened, and from his answer, he wondered if Jessica and Imogen had felt that same way.

"How fucking dare you?" Imogen snapped at him as he approached them.

"I want to give you both something." Bryce said.

"We certainly do not want anything from you." Imogen snapped back.

"Come on, MiMo. . let's go." Jessica said, and Imogen nodded her head, but as the girls tried to walk around Bryce, he stopped both of them.

"Wait, it's not what you think." He said, stumbling over his words.

"What do we think, Bryce?" Jessica asked.