hardships | 13 REASONS WHY

fourteen

I don't blame Hannah for anything. That's how it is for girls. People judge you by the way you look, the things they hear about you. They put a label on you. I just feel like boys get to define themselves. They get to choose their identity and they can hide behind it. Well, most boys. I think some know what it's like to be afraid, to feel like the world gave you a certain label that you have to live with for the rest of your life. But most boys don't know what it's like. Every single girl does.

Today Jessica and Tatum had to go to court. Jessica was nervous because the night before, she received a balloon of a naked doll with slut written on it. She wanted to tell them what Bryce did to her but she was afraid. Tatum encouraged her to. Tatum was nervous because she didn't know what types of questions they'd ask. They both had gone to school in the morning for court. They'd go together. She left Jessica to go over by Monty.

"hey," Monty said giving her a kiss on the cheek. 

"What up?" Bryce said walking up. Tatum started to turn around before Monty stopped her. He gave her a look to stay. 

"What's up guys?" Scott Reed now joined the group.

"Are we even sure it's him?"

"Your boy keep looking at you, Zach. Does he need his diaper changed?" Monty said. Tatum smacked his arm. Her and Alex were friends and she hated how Monty acted most of the time.

"Shut up, Monty."

"Why don't you go take care of him? Dempsey, it's normal for nurses to fall for their patients. Right babe?" 

"Shut up." Tatum said trying to walk away, for the second time but Monty ended up grabbing her wrist stopping her, "ow, what the hell. that hurts." Monty quickly let go but brought her closer to him.

"Fuck off. I don't even like him, okay?"

"Right it's just your mom who makes you carry his books and wipe his ass." 

"No, the ass he does for pleasure." Monty said high fiving Bryce.

Tatum and Jessica both left school. Tatum had to wait outside of the courtroom until she testified. 

"I found these, just this morning, in my math class-"

"Objection, these photos were not admitted into evidence." 

"They take one photo and it defines you, and then it becomes your job to prove everyone wrong. This is what they did to Hannah, and now they're doing it to me!" 

"Order! Order!"

Jessica was finished, now up is Tatum.

"That list just messed up everything." Tatum said referring to the Hot or Not List. Everyone was surprised when they saw Tatum, Bryce Walker's sister on there as the 'Best Tits'.

"And was this list typical of your experience at Liberty?" 

"Yes. Hannah was already labeled a slut. That list just made everything worse. the truth didn't matter. That's just what they do to girls at our school. I was never on the list until that year."

"Why weren't you on the list until this year?"

"Because I was Bryce Walker's sister." 

Now it was time for the school's representative to ask the questions.

"Miss Walker, did you report the Hot or Not List?"

"No."

"Because in fact, it wasn't the list that broke up your and Jessica's friendship with Hannah, was it?"

"It was."

"Do you know who put yours, Hannah, and Jessica's name?"

"Yes."

"Who?'

"Alex Standall."

"And isn't it true that Alex Standall and Jessica Davis dated?"

"That's not my question to answer." 

"Then what was it that ruined yours and Hannah's friendship if it wasn't the Hot or Not List?"

"She didn't like my best friend at the time."

"And who was your best friend?"

"Montgomery de la Cruz."

"Why didn't she like him?"

"I don't know. He's a jerk to some people"

"Was he a jerk to Hannah?"

"Yes."

"Did you do anything about it?"

"Yes. I talked to him about it but that's just how Monty is."

"But since your his best friend shouldn't he listen to you?" 

"Yes but he does what his boys do. If Bryce talked to him then he would of stopped."

"Why didn't Bryce tell him t o stop?"

"I don't know."

"Would you ask Bryce?"

"We aren't speaking."

"How come? He's your brother isn't he."

"Yes he's my brother but he likes to keep secrets from me so I'm not speaking to him."

"What kinds of secrets."

"Things that don't relate to this case."

"Him and Hannah's relationship?"

"His relationship with Hannah was none of my business."

"But his relationship with your boyfriend was? See I heard you dated Chase Parker, is that correct?"

"yes."

"Was he mean to Hannah?"

"At first but once I told him Hannah and I were friends, he stopped."

"So he listened. Why didn't Monty?"

"Monty has a mind of his own."

"No further questions, your honor."

Tatum stormed out of the court house and ran to her car. She slammed the door shut and immediately tears started streaming down her face. She profusely hit her hands aganist her steering wheel. She had to talk about Chase. that made her mad. what did chase have to do with Hannah killed herself? Chase barely even knew Hannah. He left a month after she got there.

Up Next on Hardships: 

Marcus Cole testifies. Tatum and Monty catch Bryce and Chloe. Bryce confronts Marcus about court.

SORRY this chapter was lame but I wanted to get a chapter in about tatum and jess testifiying.