PURE HEROINE II 13 REASONS WHY

lonely

"I don't think that it was Clay Jensen, he's a good guy", Charlie said when him, Monty, Zach and I sat together in class. "He's a stupid asshole", Monty disagreed. "Yeah, but he wouldn't kill someone", Charlie held against it. "The police thinks something else." "Do you think that they've got evidence?"

"Yes, they think that Bryce was killed a few hours after the game. Clay doesn't have anyone who can prove where he's been", Zach added. "Well, how good that I stayed at Ellie's and drank with them", Monty smiled, "Where have you been, Zachy?" "With a friend." "Which friend?" "None of your business", Zach hissed back harshly. "Charlie, don't worry about it. Monty didn't do anything to Bryce. I can't tell you more but don't worry about it, please", I told him quietly when the others were busy with themselves.

"Elizabeth", my dad spoke to me in the morning seriously so I was afraid of what he would say to me, "Monty has been arrested, he's in jail now." I didn't ask him a question about how or why he was arrested. I immediately drove to the de la Cruz's home seeing Estela sitting on the grass crying so I approach her. "Stel, what's happened?", I whisper knowing that it's serious. "You don't know?", she asks me surprised and I shake my head.

"Tyler has reported Monty to the police. Monty is accused of having raped Tyler with a broomstick", she cries and my jaw drops. Before I can cry myself, I sit down next to her and hug her tightly. By the way she's saying it, it must be clear that Monty has done it. And to be honest, judging his serious anger issues, I don't necessarily doubt this accusation. "What do we do now?", she asks, tears streaming down her cheeks as she pushes her faced into my chest." "I'll talk to him, Stel. Do you want to come with me?" "I don't think I'm ready for it."

I called Sheri and we immediately drove to prison to visit Monty. When we arrived, he looked terrible. "Why, Monty?", I whisper after we've stared at each other for a few minutes, no one being brave enough to say something. "I.. I don't know. Shit went down and the trial and.. my anger issues overcame me", Monty whispered being close to tears, „I shouldn't have done it, I really regret it. Please take care of Stela for me.

I think back to the situation that I'm in right now. I forgave Bryce. I can forgive Monty as well who's facing the penalty. So many things in my life have changed just in one year. I've almost lost Jeff but he survived. Scott and I got together but he recently moved away to go to Columbia university. We have agreed to end our relationship until I get out of school and follow him to Columbia. I've lost Bryce who I was finally talking to again before it happened. I can't lose Monty. I promised myself that no matter what happens, Monty and I would stick together. 

"It's not us who you should apologize to, but I forgive you", I whisper nodding slowly. "You do?", Sheri looked at me surprised. "It's always been our group and we already lost Bryce", I remind her, "Plus, Monty regrets it. My love for Monty is way more than my hatred for what he's done."  „It's okay. We stick together, the three of us if no one else does", Sheri agreed laying her hand on top of ours.

Monty is dead. He was killed the night after Sheri and I visited him and we were heartbroken. We've lost our two best friends in such a short time. Although it all, I have decided not to fight for justice. People think about him the way they do no matter what she's saying.

I have decided to stop worrying about it all. Bryce was one of my best friends, but what happened, happened. If justice means that one of the others would have to go to jail as well, I can live without this justice. We've all been suffering from the Jeff's accident, Hannah's death, the tapes, the trial and all the statements we had to made at the police department so I believe that we all deserve some mental peace. Justin finally found a new home and I'm happy for him. With Monty being dead, I take care of Estela most of the time.

Scott had left to study at the Columbia University in Manhattan. Jeff, Sheri and I had to finish our last year at the Liberty. Scott and I didn't continue our relationship as a long-distance relationship. I didn't want to hinder him from enjoying his time there and he told me that I should focus on school and not miss him too much. 

third-person POV:

„Do you miss him?", Estela asks Liz as they sit in her car after Monty's funeral. She's been taking care a lot of the girl as her brother couldn't do it anymore. Liz likes to make herself believe that it's only because him being in prison. She can't deal with the actual reason. „Of course I miss Scott. I hope I can see him soon", she answers knowing that Estela didn't ask about Scott but she can't talk about Monty. Grieving for Bryce is one part, whereas grieving for Monty and Bryce is another. „I'm talking about my brother", Estela mumbles. 

„I can't talk about him, I really can't", Liz whispers feeling the tears building up in her eyes, „I just.. Please, don't judge him for what he's done. Think about all the times he's been just your brother. Let's not judge him because of one mistake for the rest of his life." "But how do I do that? How can you suppress your feelings so easily? How am I supposed to deal with my brother being a rapist and being killed in jail?" 

"I've got no idea, Stel. I wish I could tell you what to do", Liz sighs feeling her heart burn as she has to talk about her best friend, "I know what you feel like, okay? You're empty inside because the person you loved so deeply, isn't here anymore. You're also angry because the person you admired to much, has done bad things. I just.. I try not to think about him. I'm sorry that I don't have an answer for you." 

Liz trying to better her mood meets Justin a few hours later. She's constantly around someone now so she can forget who she used to hang out with. She wonders how Scott is doing as he's been friends with Monty as well, but Scott never called her back and she lost all the hope that she had to be with him in the future. 

"Do you have a date for the dance?", Justin asks her at school chuckling, „Charlie's already taken for that night." "I don't want to go there with Charlie", she giggles, "Who is he going with?" "Jess", Justin laughs as well, "But he's afraid of her." "And you would just let them go together?", Liz wonders now being seriously surprised.

"Yeah, well. I'm trying to let her live her life. Is she wants me back, she will tell me. She's not really interested in Charlie anyways so it's fine", Justin explains, "Who are you going to the dance with?" "Jeff asked me", the girl sighs. "Just like every year", Justin chuckled. 

"I wish I could go there with Monty and Bryce", the girl admits sadly knowing that Justin would understand her as both of them have been just as close to the boys. "I know", Justin nods sighing, "I want them to be here as well, no matter what happened. None of them deserved death." "No, not at all."