Elizabeth Jensen stood next to her mother and boyfriend as they all watched Clay Jensen turn on the electronic monitoring device on his ankle. Clay was released on bail. "You got one on me, Jensen. I've never had one of those." Justin Foley chuckled as he draped his arm over Elizabeth's shoulders.

"Yeah, I'm breaking your records all the time." Clay stated, dryly.

"It's brutal, but it's better than a jail cell." Lainie Jensen spoke to her son. "We had to agree to it to get the prosecutor into court this morning and get you RoR'd."

"I'm not complaining." Clay shrugged.

Elizabeth moved closer to Justin, slightly leaning against him. "So, he really can't leave the outhouse now?"

Lainie shook her head. "He's not on house arrest. It's a GPS unit. So, they cab track him to school, the library, wherever he's cleared to go."

"Wait, school?" Clay furrowed his eyebrows out of confusion.

"You have a meeting with the new counselor." Lainie explained. "She'll do an evaluation and tell the school district if you're okay to come back."

Clay let out a scoff. "Like, to see if I'm still homicidal?"

"Enough with that talk. Okay?" Lainie stepped closer towards Clay. "Your state of mind counts. Now, and especially at trial."

"But what if it doesn't even go to trial?" Justin questioned. "I mean, what if they come up with new evidence or a new- a new witness?"

Lainie turned back to Justin. "Is that why you went to see Seth Massey the other night?"

Elizabeth stepped away from Justin, looked up at him. "Wait, what?" She crossed her arms over her chest.

"I-uh-" Justin stuttered as he looked between the three Jensens. "I thought- I thought he could help."

"Unlikely." Lainie shook her head. "He was arrested on parole violations. He's going away for a long time."

"Wait, how did you know that I was with him?"

"They had detectives tailing you." Justin's eyes widened as he listened to Lainie. "You can assume they will from now on. So, watch your back. All three of you." The three teenagers all looked down at the ground. "School in ten." Lainie stated, leaving the shed.

"Fuck." Justin sighed as he sat down on his bed. "I thought he could get rid of the dealer, so I could be your alibi, Clay." Elizabeth sat down next to Justin.

Clay took in a deep breath, sitting down across from the other two. "I'm going to prison. For the rest of my life."

Elizabeth shook her head. "You are most definitely not, Clay." She looked up at Justin, who nodded. "So, last night, Ani called me. She was with Jess." Elizabeth let out a sigh before continuing. "Alex killed Bryce. He threw him into the water, and Jess was there."

*

Elizabeth approached Ani at her locker. "You told Clay?"

The girl nodded. "But listen, there's something new that happened."

"Okay, but let me speak first." Elizabeth motioned for Ani to continue. "The police called me in again. They want to see me today."

"Fuck." Elizabeth sighed. "Come here. I really need to tell you this before you talk to the police." Elizabeth brought Ani to an empty classroom. "Monty was murdered in his jail cell this morning."

Ani's eyes widened. "What the fuck?"

"I know. Some of the football players found out, and Charlie told Justin, who told me." Elizabeth looked down at the ground. "Justin has a crazy fucking idea, but it might just be crazy enough yo actually work."

"Elaborate."

"What if we pinned the murder on Monty." Elizabeth looked back up at her friend. "Monty's dead. No one else would ever find out about Alex, and it would be over."

*

The Jensen girl walked into the boy's locker room, seeing Zach Dempsey taking all of his things out of his locker and put them into a duffle bag. "Zach, you don't have to do that anything. You don't have to quit anymore."

"I'm never playing football agin." Zach shook his head as he continued emptying his locker.

Elizabeth nodded. "You didn't have to go to the sheriff, but thank you for trying to help Clay."

"I didn't do it for you or Clay." Zach hadn't looked at Elizabeth since she came in. "I did it because it was the right thing to do."

"I'm just saying it's hard to know what the right thing is sometimes." Elizabeth looked down at her feet. "Uh- Clay wanted me to tell you that Alex actually killed Bryce."

"Shit."

"Yeah, we both thought that you should know." There was silence for a minute before Elizabeth spoke again. "I'm sorry about last night."

Zach finally looked down at Elizabeth. "It's not your fault, Eliza. I kissed you, and I shouldn't have."

The girl took in a deep breath. "I feel like I just keep hurting you."

"I'm the one who fell in love with a girl who I knew would never love me back."

"Zach-"

"What, Eliza?" Zach snapped. "It's the truth."

She shook her head. "If things were different. If wasn't with Justin."

"Yeah, that's the thing." Zach scoffed.

"Don't be like this, Zach."

Zach slammed his locker shut. "You know what the worst thing is? I fell in love with you when Justin was gone, and I thought I actually had a chance." Zach let out a sigh. "Then, he came back, you just fell at his feet, and I just continued to fall for you." Zach walked past Elizabeth, starting to leave the locker room.

"Thank you for loving me." Zach stopped for a second, after hearing what he said, and then left the locker room.

*

Jessica Davis had given Elizabeth the tape that she had gotten from Bryce the night he was murdered with his blood on it, because Charlie was going to put it into Montgomery's locker. She stood in an empty classroom, looking out the window as she heard the door open. She turned as saw her boyfriend walking into the classroom. "Did you get it from her." Elizabeth nodded as she handed him the tape that Jessica had given her wrapped up in a t-shirt. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Justin, and he melted into her body. "I love you." He spoke softly as he hugged his girlfriend back.

"I love you, and I don't want anything to happen to you." She hugged him tighter. "I'm really scared, Justin."

Justin pulled away and cupped Elizabeth's cheeks. "Don't be scared, baby. Do you believe in me?" Elizabeth nodded. "I mean, do you really believe in me?"

"Of course."

"Then everything's going to be okay." He pressed his lips against his girlfriend's before leaving her alone in the room.

*

"It's fucked up about Monty." Alex Standall spoke as he and Zach sat at the table in Justin and Clay's shed. "How did Ani know?" Justin was sitting on his bed next to Elizabeth, Tyler, Charlie, and Jessica were sitting on the couch, and Clay was on his own bed. 

"Well, Tim Pozzi was in the County Lock-up when it happened. He ended up getting out that morning so he told Luke, who told Charlie. Charlie told Justin. Justin told Eliza. Eliza told Ani." Zach explained to his friend.

"Poor Monty." Alex sighed. "I mean, I can't believe I'm saying that, but..."

Zach paused before speaking to Alex again. "You... asked Tyler for a gun today?"

"Yeah, I.." Alex nodded. "I wrote a confession. And I- I don't know."

"Fuck." Elizabeth groaned, and Justin placed his hand on her knee.

Alex looked up at Zach. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you."

Zach nodded. "I think we should be the kind of friends who can tell each other anything." Alex smiled slightly. "I mean, not about the hard-ons and masturbation so much, but.."

The door opened, and everyone looked up to see Ani walking inside of the shed, followed by Tyler. They moved to the table, telling everyone that the police had bought the story. "So, what do we do now?" Elizabeth questioned her friends.

"We wait. We hope." Ani spoke to Elizabeth.

"It's kind of too bad that you don't have the tapes. I mean, for last words and all that." Zach sighed, looking down from the table.

Jessica stood from the couch. "We made a copy." She grabbed her back and took out a cassette tape that had the recording Bryce had made for Jessica on it.

"Wait, I didn't mean-" Zach stood up. "We don't have to."

"No." Jessica shook her head. "I think you guys should hear it." 

Clay approached Jessica with an outstretched hand, and she gave him the tape. "My dad put in a tape deck." He scoffed. "I think he thought it was funny." He walked over to his stereo and put in Bryce's tape.

"Hey, Jess. It's me. Yeah, I know. A tape. Yes, I did it on purpose. Not to be a dick, but... because the day I listened to those tapes, my life changed. And I belt the same is true for you. And for Justin, and Zach, everyone. And I wanted to give you this. I thought you'd hear me better if I wasn't standing in front of you. You said I had no idea what I'd done to you. You were right. I can't stop thinking about you. Um- replaying that night in my mind. I raped you. I heard you say no, and... I did it anyway. Because I wanted to, and I didn't care about how you felt. Justin tried to stop me. I wish I could tell you that there was a- a tiny voice in my head telling me that what I was doing to you was wrong. But there wasn't. I never had one of those before. That's not an excuse, it just... is. I raped Hannah Baker. I raped seven or eight other girls. Someone of them were my girlfriends at the time. I won't name them, but if they choose to tell you, believe them. I'm broken. I know that. I'm a person in a thousand pieces. But I'm seeing a counselor. It's a long hard process, but... little by little, you start picking up the pieces. And you realize what you're making is a mirror. And the more pieces you put together, the more you see yourself. I'd like to say that I'm not the same person.. who raped you... anymore, Jess. But what I've come to realize is that I'll always be him. But I'm trying to be better. To be someone worth something in this world. I have this dream that I could be someone who protects people somehow. Protects them from people like me, like who I was. I don't know. I am so.... fucking sorry for what I did to you. And I know words add up to nothing compared to what I took from you. Someone once told me that it'll take me a lifetime to learn what sorry is. They're right. But I'm starting. If you've listened this far, thank you. It's more than I deserve. I wouldn't blame you if you smashed this tape to fucking pieces. I would. I wish you the best, Jess. Truly. Goodbye."

*

On Thanksgiving, the Jensens were joined by Tony and his boyfriend, Caleb. "Caleb and Tony, we're not a religious family," Lainie spoke to her guests, "but we can say a prayer if you'd like."

"I gave up on the Catholics when they gave up on us, Mrs. Jensen." Tony chuckled.

"I'm a recovering baptist myself." Caleb stating before laughing a big.

Matt began to speak from the head of the table. "Well, our tradition is to just go around the table and say what we're thankful for." Everyone at the table nodded. "I'm thankful for having so many people around the table."

"I am thankful for Tony." Caleb looked at Tony and smiled.

"Being thankful for your boyfriend." Elizabeth sent Caleb a playful fake glare before giggling. "You stole mine." Caleb shrugged, placing his hand on his boyfriend's knee.

Tony glanced over at Caleb. "Uh- I'm thankful that family can be.. where you find it."

"I am thankful that Clay is here," Lainie spoke, looking over at her son, "and that he has so many people that care about him."

Justin had been watching Elizabeth, losing track of who's turn it what. She looked up at him and smiled. She pushed his shoulder playfully, telling him that it was his turn. "Uh-" Justin chuckled, embarrassed Elizabeth had caught him staring at her. "I'm thankful to have family at all." He looked down. "And uh- I haven't stayed clean all this time." Elizabeth watched as a tear fell down her cheek, and she took his hands in hers. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for lying to you guys." Justin wiped away his tear. "And I- I probably need more help." Justin looked up at everyone who was watching him with concern. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring- bring the mood down."

"We will get you whatever help you need, Justin." Lainie stated, sending Justin a smile. Justin nodded. "We promise."

He looked over at Elizabeth. "I'm grateful for all of the love that I have in my life." She smiled as she looked at everyone at the table. "I love everyone sitting right here right now."

"I'm thankful for being here with all of you." Clay spoke up next. "And, uh- I'm thankful to be alive."

There was a silence before Justin chuckled and raised his hands. "Amen!"

"Amen!" Matt nodded. "Let's eat!"

*

Justin stood up from his seat in Monet's, hitting his spoon against his cup. "Alright, everybody. Everybody! Come on." He spoke, trying to get everyone's attention. Everyone in Monet's moved closer to him, waiting to hear what he wanted to say. "I caught Tyler taking my picture a few months ago while I was working." He stated, glancing towards Tyler Down. "And I wanted to go all Alex Baldwin on him." Elizabeth giggled, looking up at her boyfriend. "Until I saw the picture. I told him he should do an exhibit here at Monet's, and he finally agreed. So, here's Tyler." Justin motioned for Tyler to stand where he had been.

Everyone at Monet's cheered as Tyler walked in front of a giant sheet of fabric covering what was his exhibit. "Hi, um..." He let out a nervous chuckle. "So, there's a picture of everyone that's helped me this year. And, I wanted to say thank you. Uh- Having friends is an amazing thing." He moved to the side, causing people to applaud him. Justin motioned for someone to pull a lever, dropping the fabric to reveal a whole wall covered in black and white pictures Tyler had taken of his friends.

Elizabeth smiled as Justin wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. He leaned his chin on her shoulder, looking at all of the pictures. "There's one of us." Justin stated, pointing to a picture of them together in the hallway at the high school. He pressed his lips against Elizabeth's cheek.

"Hey, Jess." Jessica turned around to see Isabel Henry standing behind her. "That's a really great picture of you." She pointed up to a photo of Jessica working at the Crestmont. "You look beautiful."

Jessica's cheeks heated up. "Thanks, Isabel." Isabel nodded, turning to leave, but Jessica stopped her. "Do you want to- uh- come over to my house after this? We can watch a movie."

"Yeah." Isabel smiled. "I'd really like that."

A few moments later, Elizabeth sat in between Clay and Justin on a couch. "Nothing can just be easy, can it?" Clay asked his friends.

Justin sighed, nodding. "Isn't that kind of the point?"

"And, how would that be the point?" Elizabeth looked up at Justin and rolled her eyes. Justin chuckled, placing his hand on his girlfriend's thigh.

He shrugged his shoulders. "For some people, it's easy." Justin looked down at the ground. "Like Bryce, I always though..." He let out a sigh, "it was easy for him. Life was easy."

"That didn't end up going very well for him." The girl let out a sigh.

"See?" Justin glanced over at Clay. "It's not supposed to be easy for people like us. We're meant to go through shit and make it out alive."

Clay nodded. "That's the trick. You have to make it out alive."

"We've gone through too much shit to just make it out alive." Elizabeth spoke to her boyfriend and brother. "I want something different. I want more."

"I'm with you." Clay stated.

"We deserve happiness."

"You're right, babe." Justin smiled, kissing Elizabeth's cheek. "I love you guys." Justin spoke in a stupid nasally voice.

Elizabeth burst out into laughter. "Oh my god." Clay rolled his eyes. "Shut up, dude."

"Why are you such a fucking dork?"

Justin shrugged. "You're in love with this fucking dork."

"Yeah, you're right." Elizabeth giggled before pressing her lips against Justin's, who kissed her back.

Clay scooted over. "Can you guys like not make out right next to me?"

"Sorry, man." Justin laughed, pulling away from the kiss. He draped his arm over his girlfriend's shoulders, and she leaned her head on his shoulder.

Rewritten
Word Count - 2880

An : this is such a long chapter, but I really didn't want to cut the last episode of season three into two separate chapters, so here y'all go!

Please vote and comment what you want to see in future chapters.

Have a nice day, lovelies 💕