𝓤𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 || 13 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓦𝓱𝔂 {𝓑𝓸𝓸𝓴 1}

𝓣𝔀𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼. 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓽𝓪𝓹𝓮.

⚠️strong language, suicidal thoughts, mentions of rape, mentions of death, violence, alcohol abuse, panic attacks⚠️

I've got a question for you, Justin Foley. Not the one you think. Not yet. What's the best part of high school? The friends you make? The romance? No. We both know the best part of high school is summer break. It's the great reset button. And, after everything that happened to me sophomore year, I couldn't wait to start fresh. To tear the rest of the pages from my journal and forget it all. Except I didn't get very far.

"Hey, Hannah Banana. How was your su-. Oh my god, I love your short hair." My eyes widen with a soft smile on my face when I see her new haircut.

I have spend the whole summer with Jeff and his parents. We went to his summer house and we had a really good time, played lots of board games and Jeff's mother taught me how to cook his favourite dish. I want to surprise him for our anniversary.

"I thought a new haircut would help start again. Have a good school year." She replies, sipping on her hot chocolate and I nod in agreement because when a girl gets a haircut, it means she's ready to get her shit together.

"So, are you going to the party tonight at Jess's house?"

"Since when do you go to Jess's parties?" She questions me with a little judgemental tone dripping from her words.

"Well, since Jeff told me I had to go with him and enjoy our last day before school starts again. And Justin still wants me to be... civil with his girl." I reply and she gives me a cheeky smile, the one she always gives me when she thinks Jeff is being cute with me.

"Well, if you're going I have to go for my best friend." She gives me a knowing look and the both of us burst out laughing. "Do you think helmet would go?"

"Ooo, are you going to invite Clay?" I wiggle my eyebrow at her and she chuckles. "Clay and I are... somewhat friends. I could give him a hint." I suggest and she nods her head slightly, making me excited for the both of them.

"Good morning, everyone. I have your results from yesterday's papers." Mrs. Bradley's voice snaps me out of my thoughts and I look down to see her place my test down and I got an A. "Glad to see you're grades are improving again." She shoots me a smile but I simply look away, making her walk over to the next desk.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Bradley?" My head snaps to the side when I hear Clay's voice. "Um, about what I said yesterday, about Hannah writing that note. I wasn't trying to say it was your fault, and I wanted to apologize for being rude." Clay shoots her a quick smile before taking a seat at his table, which happens to be facing me and the two of us make eye contact.

"Well, that's very..." Clay cuts Mrs. Bradley off, looking around the room.

"People should just take responsibility for their actions... and face the consequences, one way or another." Clay shoots Justin a glare and then one at Sheri, making me guess that he's on their shared tape.

"Okay. Thank you, Clay." Mrs. Bradley clears her throat, looking slightly out of place but quickly recovers. "Uh, so, let's get to the rest of these results."

Part of me knew I shouldn't go to Jessica's house that night. But another part of me couldn't help but wonder what... or who I might be missing out on. I thought maybe starting over didn't have to mean cutting myself off completely. Maybe I'd been hanging with the wrong people. Maybe I could start over with the right person.