I reached 40,000 words for nanowrimo! I was almost 10,000 words away to win but i didn't make it. At least i reached 40k so (pat myself on the back) kind of a filler chapter but i liked writing it. enjoy! :)

Chapter 36: Two months later

Hannah:

Panic at the Disco's 'Girls/girls/boys' blasting from my phone as I got ready for the first day of going back to school around six in the morning. The past two months have been nothing but doctor visits, physical therapy, pain pills, sleeping, parents bringing me food and friends visits. I loved every minute of it! Showering was hard though, because I had to use a plastic bag to wrap my cast around and not move around much. I missed dancing and singing while I showered but it's a sacrifice. It's time to go back to the dreaded swamp called school; I needed my education back and preparing for the looks and rumors. Right now, I'm feeling good that's why PATD is on full volume.

Mom went to work so Dad's gonna take me to school today since I'm still limping. After dressing up slowly with dark skinny jeans, long sleeve blue top, I put on my brace for my leg and Nike shoes. I'm required to wear sneakers for the time being until my leg heals. "Hannah, come on we got to the doctor to check your leg before you get to school!" Dad managed to yell out over the music.

"Ok Dad!" I yelled back and turned off my phone, hobbling down the stairs and grabbed a muffin to go for breakfast.

***

During the doctor's visit, he said that I was doing okay but when he tried to stretch my calf there was still pulling on my muscle. 60% healed but I still have to wear the brace for awhile. Dad dropped me off around 7:00am, getting out I limped my way to my locker. Not much students are here since classes started at 8:30am. I needed to meet with the nurse to give them my medication. Spotting Linda and Max at the doors of the cafeteria I made my way there to them. She told me that they have been getting to know each other as friends, she said he's a sweetheart.

"You guys are here early," I said to them.

"Yeah, I woke up early on accident and my mom insisted I come to school." I giggled as she rolled her eyes.

"What about you Max?"

"Had to meet with a tutor for Math."

"Oh." We stood there for a minute, waiting for the principal and more students to come. Linda and Max told me that there's gonna be an assembly today for juniors. I asked Linda where Eddie was today, she told me that he's going on a two week vacation to Texas with his family to visit his uncle who's sick.

"Oh my gosh, she came back!" The murmurs of students began behind my back.

"I thought she wouldn't show her face here again."

"I heard she tried to kill herself when the car came."

"I heard from Mary that she was so desperate to be with Charlie, she blackmailed him."

"For what?"

"I don't know but it was something bad."

"Did you also hear about Lucy? " Voices swirl around the hallway, the stupid things about me when students made a line to the cafeteria. I breathed in my nose and out my mouth, trying to calm down and tuned out. I definitely didn't want to hear anything about Lucy. To think I wanted to plot revenge on her but it would be a vicious cycle that would end with us being bitter. The world is still turning and I have better things to do. I felt Max put his arm around me for comfort and I smiled at him as the doors opened, the teachers and Principal Chambers in the middle of the cafeteria with microphone at hand. The three of us sit in the middle, Linda to my right and Max to my left. It's kinda alien for him to be sitting with us but I liked it. Ever since he told me his feelings for me, I've been avoiding the subject. When he came over to my house to visit last month, we talked about anything besides that. Principal Chambers spoke talking too close in the microphone it feedbacked loudly, almost deafening us.

"Good morning juniors! The year is almost dwindling down and next year you will be seniors. You guys need to buckle down for your studies to get into the university you want. Without further ado, we are going to start a fundraiser!" Some groaned and most clapped. I'm one of them that groaned. Don't get me wrong, I like fundraising to raise money. I just don't like going door to door to my neighbors and then the door being slammed in my face.

"It's not a competition but it's for you guys next year to raise enough money for entertainment you want for prom." Now my ears perked up at this. Any entertainment? They have never done this before, like ever. We can get Kings of Leon or Paramore, or even Panic at the Disco. Maybe even Bruno Mars.

"Oh my gosh, we can get Bruno Mars to come here!" Linda whispered next to me as she shook my arm.

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly." I smiled. I looked to Max and he seemed excited to about it too. The principal goes on more about the fundraiser and for us to join extracurricular activities to expand our college applications. When the assembly ended, everyone left the cafeteria for rest of first period.

"Miss school?" Max asked walking next to me. Linda left to her class already so it was just me and him.

"Not really, but it's good to see you and Linda outside of my bedroom. Oh my gosh, that did not sound right at all." I face palmed at what I just said. Max just laughed really cute while we were walking. Did I just call his laugh cute?

"I'll see you later then?" he asked

"Yeah, bye," I walked, more like limped away to class.

"Hannah, wait!" I heard his voice behind me so I turned around to face him. "I was wondering if you wanted to go for ice cream after school if you're not doing anything." He just asked me out. Great I guess I can't avoid it forever. Should I lie or just go with him. Biting my lip as I thought about this, I reluctantly answered "ok." He said that he'll meet me at the parking lot after school and I nodded. I'm kinda excited to go with him; a smile is etched on my face when I walk to class. I don't think anything can bring me down until I actually do go down face first, my knee giving out but I don't feel an impact. This brace has made me clumsier. A pair of strong hands around my waist and the person hoisted me up.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, thanks so much for-" I looked to say thank you to the person and it's those clear blue eyes that have loved so much. "Thank you," I whispered to him, straightening up.

"You're welcome," he said and we make eye contact for a second but I break it looking around to see if anyone is being nosy and I'm right. Stares and whispers started they watched me and Charlie face to face.

"How are you?" He asked me after he cleared his throat.

"Okay, you?"

"I'm ok. Glad you are though."

"Thanks." I looked down shyly. Whispered become louder, wondering why and Charlie hands haven't left my waist. "Charlie, you can let go now."

"Hmm? Oh sorry," he lets go and laughed sheepishly.

"So this how it would be if we were in public?" I asked lowly, peeking at the side with my eyes as everyone stared.

"Pretty much." He answered in the same tone.

"I see why you didn't want us out in the open. They're nosy vultures." He chuckled at my joke and I giggled lightly. It feels like old times when we talked but awkward around him. He didn't even visit me, it still broke my heart about it all. He asked if I needed to be escorted class but I told him that I was fine. He nodded and said bye to me and I said bye as well. Why did I have to see him now? I was doing fine, being happy. Sluggishly walking to class my mood dimmed.