Page 13 of The Forever After Bet

“Yeah, I’m excited too. Thanks for suggesting it. I have training tomorrow, and my first shift is Saturday. Thanks for finally talking to me. You look like you’re ready to pass out. I’ll get out of your hair so you can go to sleep.”

“Thanks for being persistent,” I say, giving him a tired smile.

“I’ve got your back.” He opens his arms, and I give him a hug. “You and Ford will figure things out. I know you will. Just give it time.”

After Jack leaves, I go to bed but can’t sleep. All I can think about is the feel of Ford’s hand in mine, and the way he made me feel just holding my hand.

6. Snickerdoodle Cookies and Hugs

When I get home from the musical, the house is dark. I leave the lights off and collapse on the sofa, trying to make sense of all the emotions swirling through my head. I can still feel the sensation of Hannah’s hand in mine. Still feel her pressed up against my side. I can’t blame Ty for coming back and sitting next to me. He thought he was doing me and Hannah a favor. He was trying to help.

I could tell Hannah didn’t know what to think, and was as disappointed as I was. I wanted to hold her hand again. Holding it was pure joy. They are the first genuine happy feelings I’ve had since Friday night, and they were with, and for Hannah. That has to mean something. I see her every day, and every day I miss her more and more. It hasn’t even been a whole week since everything happened. I want to be with Hannah. But am I willing to be with her under any circumstance? I don’t know the answer to that.

I was so pissed at Mrs. Luna when she insisted on a couple’s picture. The look on Hannah’s face hurt my heart. She looked lost and in pain. I don’t regret wrapping my arm around her. It was heaven holding for only a few seconds.

Thursday and Friday are just regular school days. There’s no kind of drama. Hannah still won’t look at me, but we’ve found a new normal. I sit behind her in all our classes except chemistry. I’ve been scooting my stool to the opposite edge of the table. It seems to make Hannah more comfortable.

Me and the guys don’t get a chance to hang out and talk until Friday night because of Jack’s new job. It sucks, but I understand why he got a job.. We’re hanging out at Jack’s house tonight. Hannah and the girls are going to see June’s play again, and she’s staying the night at Leah’s. Jack said his mom has been asking why we don’t hang out at his house anymore. He thought this was a good night since Hannah won’t be home, and it gets his mom off his back.

Ty has gone to the play every night; but tonight, June told him she was going out with Hannah after the show. He decided to skip and hang out with us. It feels weird being here, especially without Hannah. I was sure Jack’s parents would be weird about it, but Mrs. Clark gave us both hugs and was making snickerdoodle cookies when we got here.

“I finally talked to Hannah,” Jack says while we’re playing Madden.

Ty pauses the game.

My heart races, and my palms are sweaty. I’m not sure I’m ready to know what Hannah said to him about us. I blow out a breath. I’m still trying to figure out my feelings. I love Hannah. That’s not even a question. But maybe she really did believe what she said last weekend. It still hurts to think about it. “What did she say?”

“She wouldn’t talk about the two of you, but she told me about the Bree situation.” Jack purses his lips, looking annoyed. I sit and listen to what he says, getting angrier by the minute.

“She said Hannah was bullying her?” I ask.

“That chick has gone off the deep end,” Ty says.

“No joke. Maybe I should tell Mrs. Landry about how Bree and her friends threw punch and cake on Hannah at a party; and then there’s that stupid website. I hate that it’s still up.” I ball my hands into fists.

“At least there haven’t been any new posts lately,” Jack says.

“True,” I sigh. “Thanks for talking to her. I’m glad she has you.”

“What’s going on with the lawsuit against Mason and the first website? Is that still a thing?” Ty asks.

“No.” Jack shakes his head. “After the website was taken down, Jim’s friend who deals with cyber law told him his case wouldn’t hold up in court, so he dropped it.”

“What about the new website?” I ask.

“I don’t know. We need more definitive proof. We had pictures of Mason on your security cameras before.” Jack shrugs.

“I still think Bree is behind the new website, especially with all the stuff she’s posted on it,” Ty says, taking a drink of his Mt. Dew.

“My guess is Bree helped with the first website. I doubt it was Mason who wrote all that stuff about us. It started out as a fan website, remember?” I say.

“Very true.” Ty nods.

“Should we do anything about the charity fundraiser? Like, talk to Mrs. Landry about the bullying stuff?” I ask.

Jack scrubs his hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I don’t want Hannah to have to deal with Bree any more than you do, and the lies about Hannah bullying Bree are a load of shit. If you want to tell her about what Bree, Melissa, Alison, and the other girls did, I’ll go with you.”

I blow out a frustrated breath, rubbing the back of my neck. I’m not sure what the right thing to do is. I hate to see Hannah suffer at the hands of Bree. “Let’s wait. Let’s just make sure we go to the next meeting. I’d rather have Bree’s attention directed toward me instead of Hannah. I dealt with her wanted advances the last half of junior year and part of the summer.”

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