"You heard her side, now it's their turn."
Told in alternating points of view, the story revolves around everyone on the tapes and their lives up to the point of Hannah Baker's death.
Cover Artist: @soundthealarm
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"What doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger, kiddo."
The coldness lingered in the small space between my father and I, his eyes hard and cold as he stared at me.
In his eyes, Hannah's death was nothing more than a terrible tragedy. He believed that it was easy to rise above it, to forget that I'd ever been friends with the beautiful girl.
But how could you forget being friends with Hannah?
Hannah, who could make you smile with only a single glance in your direction. Innocent Hannah Baker, with her hands tangled in her hair nervously as she tried to respond to something you said.
Hannah who had killed herself two weeks ago.
"Are you listening to me, Alex?" My father said, laying his badge on the kitchen table and sliding it across the table to me.
"Yes, sir." I responded, barely audible. He nodded toward the badge on the table, his eyes still showing little emotion.
"Alex, son. I understand that you were close to this girl, and I'm not sure if you have been told, but Mr. and Mrs. Baker are preparing a lawsuit against the school." I lifted my head, surprised.
Good.
"This means that there will be court cases involved, and you will have to attend them. Are you seeing where I'm going with this?"
"Yes, sir." I whispered in response.
"Mrs. Jensen, your friend Clay-"
"Clay isn't my friend." I cut him off, "Sir."
"Well, your schoolmate, then. His mother will be coaching you on what to and not to say." I nodded, hardly listening anymore.
I didn't want to get coached into lying, to giving false bullshit about what really happened to Hannah. What I had done.
"Alex, bud. Are you sure you're okay?" For a second, I saw hints of the man my father used to be flash through his eyes.
"I'm great, sir. Can I head back to my room now?" I gave him a look.
I didn't want to spend my Saturday sitting at my kitchen table trying to hold a conversation with a man that had lost any sort of heart years ago.
"Sure, kiddo. Call me if you need anything." He rose up, taking his badge on the table and hooking it back on to his belt with a heavy sigh. I waited until he was in front of the door to stand up and start to head toward the hall.
"Wait, Alex. There's a package out here for you." He bent over to pick something up, turning to hold out what looked like a shoe box in my direction.
