hardships | 13 REASONS WHY

sixteen

After cheer practice, Tatum grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder as Chloe approached her and Jess. 

"Hey Jess, Tatum." Chloe ran up to the two. "Great work today." 

"Thanks," they said in unison. 

"Sorry we have to end early. I have to go home and change for dinner with Bryce's parents. Your parents Tatum." Tatum just rolled her eyes. She still wasn't happy with Bryce and she wasn't happy with Chloe either. Chloe kept acting like everything was okay when it wasn't. "I have no idea what I'm going to where." 

"Yeah." Tatum couldn't care any less about what she had to say. 

"I'm sure you could wear anything, Chloe, and they'll still love you." Jess reassured her. 

"Hey, Jess. We'll find you a man, okay? You just have to let me help you. I mean it. I kinda pride myself on my matchmaking-"

"Look, Chloe, I don't want a fucking boyfriend. Okay? The last thing I need in my life right now is a fucking guy. And you, the fact that you keep, like, offering that.. means you're just as fucking clueless as I thought." Jess stormed off. 

"Should of kept your mouth shut." Tatum spat out. She turned around and headed towards Monty's jeep. 

"Hey," he said wrapping his arms around her small body. 

"Hi," she replied getting in his car. 

Monty and Tatum got dressed for the dinner where Chloe would be meeting her parents for the first time. 

"Ready?" he asked interlocking their hands.

"Sure." they walked down the stairs together and went into the dining room. Monty pulled out her chair for her. She thanked him and sat down. He took a seat beside her. Tatum's mom, Nora, and Chloe were in the kitchen getting everything ready.

"Do you think she likes her?" Bryce asked breaking the silence. 

"Your mother?" He nodded his head. Tatum was pissed off. She crossed her arms over her chest, as Monty's hand travels down to her thigh making her jump slightly. "Uh, sure." 

"Everybody loves Chloe," Tatum said obviously still pissed off. 

"Hey, be nice." Monty whispered in her ear. She gave him the side eye. 

"Chloe's a great girl. Very pretty." Their dad said. 

"Yeah, she's got a brain, too. Her grades are better than mine." Bryce replied. 

"Oh for god's sake just shut up." Tatum spoke out.

"Tatum!" Her dad yelled. 

"What?"

"Be respectful." 

"To whom? Bryce or Chloe? Bryce has her wrapped around his finger. Has her thinking whatever the fuck he wants. You- you know what, I'm done with this bullshit. I'm leaving." she got up from her chair and headed towards the front door. She slammed the door shut and ran to her car. 

"Tatum, wait!" Monty came running out of the front door. 

"Not now. I need to go. Okay? I'll be back later." He nodded his head and let her go. 

Tatum kept driving until she reached the meeting Jess told her about. A meeting for survivors of rape or sexual assualt. 

"For the longest time, nothing was the same," Tatum ran into Jessica right before she opened the door. They said a quick hey before opening the door and walking in. 

"How I slept, what I ate, what I wore. I mean, my clothes didn't feel like me anymore. Bright colors made me feel like a fraud and my black clothes didn't seem dark enough, and ... just nothing seemed to fit. Just literally everything felt like a lie. And nothing I did seemed to help. No drinks, no drugs. Well, I didn't actually try every drug, but let me tell you, weed just had me crying and all in my feelings." Tatum took a seat next to Jessica. She started to fidget with her fingers to try to calm her nerves.

"You know, but the one thing that did seem to help was all of you. And I'm thankful today that just ... coming here and talking to you has been the thing that's brought me back to who I am. You know, a loud, pushy, pain in the ass. But you know you love me, and I love you." the girl finished. 

Up Next on Hardships: 

Justin Foley is back which causes Bryce to lash out at Chloe. Tatum and Jess attend another meeting.