Broken(13 Reasons Why)

9.5

~Althia~

The following week after the dance, I tried to do what Jessica and I decided I would do about Justin. I tried pretending like he had said nothing. I tried acting like everything was normal but every single word Justin had told me was in the back of my mind. It seemed like I was the only one fazed by everything. Justin went on every day acting like himself and pretending like he didn't even speak to me at the dance.
Everyone had noticed that I was off but I brushed them off every single time using a lame excuse like I'm stressed for a test and I didn't sleep well the night before.

Right now, it was a Friday night and the boys had a basketball game. I brought my dad with me since he was excited to see Zach play.

We walked into the gym and I looked around the bleachers trying to find my friends but it looked like they weren't here yet.
"I'll show you our regular spot, everyone should be getting here soon" I told my dad as I led him up the stairs
A familiar face caught my wrist as we were walking up
"Clara! Hi, how are you?" I stopped and smiled at her
"I'm good, you?" She asked
"I'm great, thanks for asking" I answered "Clara this is my father. Dad this is Clara, Zach's little sister" I introduced them
They waved at one and other
"Is your mom here?" I questioned, looking around kinda hoping that she wasn't
"No, she couldn't make it" She answered "Oh and before I forget, Justin asked me to tell you that he wanted to talk to you" She added
My heart dropped a bit
"Ok, I'll go look for him now" I responded "Dad, you can go sit up there" I pointed out the seats to him
"Clara, would you like to come join me? The others should be here anytime soon" My dad asked her
Clara nodded and got up from her seat to follow my dad as I walked back down the bleachers
I went in the hallway and saw Justin waiting for me near the boys locker room door
"Hey" I greeted him
"Hi" He smiled
I silently cringed at the awkwardness that filled between us
"So what did you wanna talk to me about?" I asked him
"I just wanted to see if you've thought about what I had told you" He answered me
"Thought about what?" I questioned, confused
"You know, about what I said" He trailed off "At the dance" He whispered
My breathing got caught in my throat
"Justin" I gently spoke, trying to figure out what to say next
"Look, I know that I laid a lot on you but have you even thought about it?" Justin asked me
"Jus, you've been acting like you never said anything so I've been doing the same, there's nothing for me to think about" I told him
"I see" He replied as he frowned
"Did you really want me to think about it? Was I supposed to break up with Zach just because you told me you liked me? That's not fair, Justin, you're put me in the worst situation I could ever be in" I said "I don't want to lose you as a friend and I certainly don't want to lose Zach either. Your feelings are valid but you can't expect me to do anything about them" I continued "I'm sorry but I would much rather not speak about this ever again. You know that I'm here for you no matter what and that you can always count on me but what you said at the dance should be forgotten. It's for the best" I finished
Justin stood there looking at me for a bit before sighing
"Whatever you want Ee-Ah" He finally said
I smiled slightly
"Good luck out there" I told him as I stepped forward to give him a hug
"Thanks" He mumbled as he pushed open the door and went inside, leaving me alone yet again
I sighed and chewed the inside of my cheek nervously
"There you are!" Someone exclaimed from behind me
I jumped and turned around to see Montgomery
"We've been texting you, the others went in the gym and I came to look for you" He told me "Whoa, you ok?" He asked once he saw my face, concern obvious on his face
I nodded
"Jus just wanted to talk quickly" I told him
Monty didn't seem to buy that I was fine but he nodded
"Well let's goooo, the game is about to start" Monty said as he held his arm out for me
I laughed slightly but wrapped my arm around his while I rested my other hand on it as well
We started our way to the gym
"You're supposed to have a secret make out sesh with your boyfriend, sweetheart, not with a 'friend'" Bryce hollowed as he walked past us, using air quotes around 'friend'
Montgomery quickly unwrapped himself from me and turned to look at Bryce who kept walking like he said nothing
"Yo if you have something to say fucking say it man, don't keep walking like a fucking pussy" Monty called out to him
Bryce stopped on his tracks and turned around with a stupid grin on his face
"You heard me correctly Montgomery, she's supposed to blow Zach before a game but instead she was with you" Bryce smirked
Monty took a step forward as he curled his hands in fists
Quickly, I put a hand on his upper arm
"Oh look at that, I guess you get so close with the guys you blow that you think you have the power to calm them down" Bryce kept going
I shot him a quick dirty look as Monty clenched his jaw
"He's fucking dead" Monty mumbled
I stepped in front of him and put my hand on his chest
"Althia, move" He growled as he stared Bryce down
"No" I said "Mont! He's not worth, come on let's go" I gently pushed him back
Monty looked down at me and saw that I was serious
He sighed and flipped Bryce off before turning around
"Yeah listen to your bitch, Mont" Bryce teased
Montgomery flinched but I grabbed his arm
"Forget about him" I whispered
We turned into the next hallway and we could hear Bryce chuckling from where we were
"The fuck are you looking at?" Montgomery growled at Tyler who was turning the corner
"Montgomery" I hissed "Leave him alone and let's go" I said in a serious tone as I tugged on his sleeve
Monty didn't try to fight me this but he still shook his head as he followed me further down the hallway.
I quickly looked over my shoulder to see that Tyler was looking us, clenching his camera. I shot him a small apologetic smile before looking in front of me again
We got to the gym and started our way up the bleachers
"Is that my man Isaac?" Monty's voice boomed as he saw my dad sitting down with everyone
The gang looked in our direction and I waved
Dad greeted Monty and they started talking as I took a seat in between Clara and Jeff
"Are you alright?" Jessica asked me as she leaned on Jeff to look at me at the same time that Jeff asked where I was
"I was talking with Jus and yeah I'm ok, we just saw Bryce and he acted like an ass" I answered them
Jess looked at me with a worried look and I gave her 'We'll talk about it later' look to which she responded with an 'Ok because I won't forget' look
"Um, hello, you guys are doing that thing where you're talking with faces and I'm confused" Jeff put his head in the middle of us "I feel left out, what's happening?" He pouted
Jessica and I laughed
"Nothing important, Jessica was just asking me what exactly Bryce said and I told her" I told him
"Whoa, you got all of that by just looking at each other" Jeff looked at us in shock
"Oh my gosh" Alex chuckled as he rubbed his face "You really are lucky that you're pretty" He told Jeff
"I know that was an insult but I'm going to take it as a compliment instead so thank you bb" Jeff cheesed a smile at him
Alex responded with a face but still made a heart with his hands
Jessica and I laughed as we shook our heads
I switched places with Montgomery so that I could be in between my dad and Clara