~Cutting away the past and looking forward to the future. That sounds nice, freeing in a way. And as much as that should've been the case it wasn't. After Mia overdosed, everything for her was and still is in slow motion. She went to rehab, AA meetings, and therapy, but...all those things. 'Being better' It still didn't make her grateful, for her life that she was living once again. I mean...everything is in black and white, she doesn't see what's so special about it. But...either way, she was going to try to make the best out of it. She needs to...for the sake of her family...and herself.~

The car comes to a slow stop on the newly paved street and the short jet black haired girl looks out the window at the school. "Okay, here you are...do you want me to go in with you or--"

"I don't need a babysitter anymore, thanks." The girl unbuckled her seat belt and goes to open the door but it quickly gets locked. Mia sighs and blows a bubble with her gum and pops it, before turning to her mom. "Listen, Mia...this is a new start for you. I--we went through hell and back these past months and I want you to take it slow, I don't want you to-"

"I know." Mia says as she cuts off her mother. "And..." She inhales trying to choose her words carefully, "I appreciate it, I really do. Not many kids get a second chance...at life..." Mia says quietly as her mind goes to her former best friend and boyfriend.

"Oh, sweetie...listen, I know that you're still broken after--"

"I'm not broken." Mia snaps at her mom. Her mom stops talking, Mia gnaws on her bottom lip. "Sorry." She whispers. An uncomfortable silence settles into the car.

"N-No...I understand...you must still be going through a withdrawal, right?"

Mia looks at her mom, "I'm done with my withdrawal mom...i'm just...me..." Mia exhales as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.

Mia's mom looks at her daughter with guilt. She shakes it off with a happy sigh, "Well...don't let me keep you waiting anymore..." She unlocks the door. Mia grabs the handle, but it locks again and Mia sighs.

"Oh and Mia, honey?" Nora asks. Mia turns and looks at her mom. "Your gum, sweetie..." Nora says softly.

Mia looks at Nora with a smirk on her face. She notices Nora not smiling and Mia deadpans. "You're being serious?" Mia questions. Nora keeps her straight face on and Mia rolls her eyes. She rolls the window down and spits it out the car. She gives her mom a tight lipped smile. Nora finally breaks her stone face and smiles.

She unlocks the door and Mia grabs the door handle and opens the door. She steps out of the car closes the door without saying anything to her mother. She grips the strap of her bag and inhales, She digs through her pocket and grabs a piece of bubble gum. "Fucking hate this place..." She whispers as she stuffs her gum into her mouth.

She sees two people walking up the stairs to the school and Mia inhales. She jogs over to them, "Hey. Jess, Alex." Mia greets them. They stop walking and turn to her and Jessica smiles. "Look who decided to leave the sweatpants, and sweatshirts at home." She taunts her.

Mia looks down at her outfit and smirks. She looks up at them and Alex raises his brows, "Nice, tattoo, and Hair cut." He compliments. Mia lifts her arm to reveal a skull tattoo on her forearm and nods her head. "Uh...thanks guys, I decided that if death does come my way again. I'll welcome it." She says with a smile.

Jessica and Alex both exchange looks and Mia snickers. "Guys, I'm kidding. I mean, I'm still fucking miserable but...I'm good." She walks forward with them as they chuckle.

"They're looking at the both of you more." Alex states. Mia shakes her head with the ends of her mouth frowning. "No, I don't think so...obviously, it's you and Jess." Mia states.

Jessica scoffs, "Please. You two are going to be the talk of this entire school today, alright?" She states as she takes her lollipop out of her hand. "So...out of all three of us, who's the mostt tragic?" Alex asks.

Mia and Jessica look at each other and smirk, "I mean...obviously you." They both say at the same time to Alex. "Ryan should do another one of his stupid polls." Mia states.

"I'll take that." Zach offers as he grabs Alex's bag. "I can carry my own books." Alex states

"Well, clearly you can't so let me help, don't be a dick and welcome back." Zach says to the three students. Mia and Jess smile, "Thank you," They both say at the same time.

They all stand by Jessica's locker. "I meant to ask you guys about my note." Alex states.

"What note?" Zach questions.

"My suicide note." Alex answers as he pulls out the paper. Zach quickly reacts and puts his hand out. "Jesus, put that away." Zach states.

Mia furrows her brows and snickers. "I don't think it's radioactive, Dempsey." She says with a smirk as she pops her gum loudly.

"No. I know, it's just...we're not allowed to talk about suicide. Or you. Or Hannah. Or Mia." Zach states.

Mia scoffs, "Says who?" she questions.

"Say's the school a rule the day after Mia...and then you..." Zach gets caught in his words and sighs, "After that day, and if you talk about it on campus, you get suspended." Zach finishes.

Mia raises her brows stunned. "That's so fucked up." Alex states.

Mia inhales and smiles, "Well...this has been nice, but...I'm trying this new thing where I meet new people, and you know. I know you guys." Mia states.

They all turn to her, "And I have to get to Mr. Porter's office. My mom is forcing me to go to counseling at school, outside of school and AA meetings. So...Fantastic!" She raises her hand in sarcastic happiness and they all chuckle. "Well...we wish you the best of luck, Mia." Jessica states.

Mia pops her gum and waves at them as she walks down the hall.

==========

As she sits on the chair she hears the door open and she looks at the counselor.

"Miss Walker?" he looks at her. Mia takes her eyes off of one of her former friends and scoffs, "Mr. Porter?" She raises her eyebrows and pops her gum. He looks at the ground and chuckles.

She stands up and walks into his office. She sits down in the chair and stares at him. "So...how have you been doing, Mia?" He asks her. Mia bites the inside of her cheek thinking. "mmmmmm...I still hate this place, with a dying fucking passion--"

"Mia." He says in a warning tone. Mia holds her hands up in surrender, "Freaking passion, my apologies counselor." She corrects herself.

"So...what's going to be different, this time around?" He asks her. Mia tilts her head, "What do you mean by that?" She asks him.

"I mean...what are you going to be changing about yourself, to make sure you don't go down the wrong path again?" He elaborates. Mia opens her mouth finally getting the question, "Well...make sure none of my friends kill themselves and none of them die in car accidents." She shrugs her shoulders.

Mr. Porter looks into her eyes waiting for an actual answer. Mia exhales, "I'm done with having friends at the 'top of the pyramid'..." Mia says looking at her hands. "I'm going to...make new friends, forget about the ones that I've always had...I don't need to follow in my brother's footsteps with being a dick." She looks at Mr. Porter and sees a small smirk on his lips.

"I guess...I'm going to try and, be a better person. These past few years have shown me how much of a bi--Bad person I am, to people who aren't as you may say, "At the top of the pyramid" I mean. I didn't shove them or give them swirlies, but...I didn't stick up fr them either, and that's just as bad." Mia looks down at the ring on her finger and spins it around. "I'm not going to follow in my brother's path if being a huge dick!" Mia says again getting more worked up and aggressive.

Mr. Porter tenses up slightly, "Your brother...Bryce Walker. What exactly do you know about him?" He asks her. Mia squints her eyes and straightens her back, "What do you mean by that? He's my brother, I basically know everything about him." Mia shrugs her shoulders and chuckles.

Mr. Porter switches his tense expression to a fake soft smile and nods his head. Mia inhales, "Now before you took an interest in my brother...we were talking about the person who's forced to sit here every day, now?" Mia says in a question.

Mr. Porter inhales and smile, "Yes, of course. Now tell me more about your plan." He offers.

Mia nods her head, "Well...This is my second chance, Mr. Porter, and...I'm going to make things right, for me." She nods her head. "Of that means I have to avoid my friends that I had before, then...so be it."

"Your friends from before, you mean...even Tony Padilla? Jessica Davis?...Clay Jensen? Justin Foley?" Mr. Porter questions.

Mia stays silent for a moment, contemplating on those friends...they were really good friends. But they were good friends with Hannah and Jeff. "Yeah...if I have to..." Mia says quietly.

"Would you mind telling me why?" Mr. Porter asks intrigued. Mia licks her lips, "I'm trying to start a new chapter in my life. I have to leave everything behind, counting Jeff Atkins and Hannah Baker. Hannah was good friends with all of them at a time. And...I can't look at them and not see Hannah." Mia hears the bell ring and she inhales as she starts to feel anxious for her classes.

Mr. Porter notices this and nods his head, "Well...you don't need anybody walking you anywhere so, your schedule is at the front office and...you're ready for your new chapter." Mr Porter chuckles and so does Mia.

"Thank you...Mr. Porter, really..." She stands up and places her hand on the door. "Mia, if you need anything. Doesn't matter when, even if it's in the middle of class just...come to my office and we can talk..." Mr. Porter offers.

Mia turns the ends of her mouth downwards and nods her head. "I might just have to take you up on that...thanks." She opens the door and goes to get her schedule.

==========

Mia runs quickly to her class and sees the door close. She knocks on it and it finally opens.

"Miss Walker, glad that you could join us--"

"It's Mia. Just Mia...thank you." Mia says as she readjusts her bag. The teacher nods her head, "Well...you know where your seat is. Sit in it, please." The teacher states. Mia nods her head, relieved that the teacher isn't giving her special treatment, until she grabs onto her arm and Mia turns to the teacher. "How are you feeling?" The teacher asks. Mia feels all eyes fall onto her.

She looks down at her feet as she feels her cheeks get hot, "I-I-I'm fine, thank you..." Mia says quietly.

The teacher nods her head and gives her a soft smile. Mia sits down in her seat and slightly cover her face with her hand. She feels someone tap her shoulder and she flinches and turns to the person. "Hey, Mia..." The soft voice says.

Mia inhales and feels her heartbeat quickly as she looks at him, "Hey, Clay. Long time no see." She says with a smile.

"How are you doing after--"

"What? After I was taken out of my house by a stretcher?" Mia chuckles. Clay nods his head. "Yeah...that..." one of the ends of his mouth twitch. Mia's eyes soften as she knows his mind goes back to that night.

"Thank you, by the way..." Mia whispers as the teacher starts to talk. "Thank you for saving my life." She says with a soft smile. Clay chuckles. and nods his head, not being able to get words out. He looks her up and down quickly ans examines her dark style of clothing, her skull tattoo, and her short hair that's now jet black. Mia notices him staring and Mia smirks, "I know...this new style must scare you, huh?" She questions with a smirk.

"What? Oh, No...it doesn't I'm actually used to it, I'm dating Skye." Clay says. Mia raises her brows, in shock. "Oh...that is...surprising, actually." Mia says looking back at her desk.

Clay smirks and his mind goes back to the day that Mia almost took her life. "Mia. I wanted to apologize about...what I said to you, that day..." He says quietly.

Mia tenses up but she shakes her head and continues to write. "You don't have to apologize to me--"

"Actually I do, I was a fucking dick alright and I was just mad. I didn't mean to--"

"Clay, come on. We don't have to do this...let's just, forget about that day. That's what I've been doing. And if you really want to apologize, just...buy me a burger and fries." Mia shrugs her shoulders as she looks at him and stares into his blue eyes. Clay feels a weight on his chest as he sees her soft smile and her eyelashes flutter over her eyes as she blinks.

He shakes off the feeling and smiles, "Y-Yeah...I'll be sure to do that..." He says nodding his head. Mia smiles and goes back to writing and so does Clay.

==========

During lunch Mia looks around the cafeteria and spots the tall brown haired boy. She inhales and smiles. "Tyler! Hey!" She says as she sits down in front of him.

Tyler looks at her then around the entire cafeteria. "Hey?" He says as he looks at his camera. She bites the inside of her cheek. "Is it cool if I sit here?" She asks him. He looks up at her and knits his brows, "You're already here so--"

"Did I do something to you?" She asks him. Tyler exhales, "Is this some kind of joke or something?" He asks her. Mia looks at him confused, "I don't see the joke if there is one--"

"Yeah, so you and Bryce have finally started your sibling torture once you reunite?!" He asks in a fake exciting voice. Mia exhales, "Tyler--"

"I mean...You literally are at the top of the school! Why the hell are you sitting--"

"I don't want to be at the top of the school anymore..." She says to him quietly. He stops talking and listens to her talk. "If you don't remember, the last time I was at the top I almost killed myself by drowning my grief with pain killers." She says as she looks down at her food and pushes it around.

Tyler nervously looks at her, "Well...I get that...but out of everyone here, why sit with me? I mean you--"

"You know what? Just forget it." Mia snaps and grabs her tray. She stands up, but Tyler sighs. "W-Wait! I-I'm sorry..." He says to her cautiously. Mia looks at him and gnaws on the bottom of her lip and sits back down.

She puts her hands in her lap and looks down at her food. "So...uh...I thought you hated me, that's why I was wondering why you were sitting with me." Tyler says.

Mia snaps her head up at him and he tenses up. "Tyler, I don't hate you." Mia says with a chuckle.

"It's just...after J-Jeff and Hannah and..." Mia closes her eyes as she feels herself get into protective mode.

"John."

Mia feels her blood run cold as she hears that name. She opens her eyes and they turn cold. "What did you j-just...say?" She says in a whisper.

Tyler shrugs his shoulders, "John...your dad's friend? I went to go apologize to you a few months ago, but...I saw the cops dragging him out of the house. He was kicking and screaming and...I then saw you in your mother's arms crying and y-you were bleeding--"

"Oh My God, Tyler..." Mia says trying to control herself to not snap. Tyler stops talking, "I-I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to--"

"No...No...you're fine, it's just..." Mia looks down at her hands for a second then back up into his eyes, "You can't tell anyone, about that...okay?" Mia says quietly.

Tyler looks at the seriousness in her eyes and body language. He nods his head, "Y-Yeah...of course. Mia, I would never." He says. Mia nods her head and tries to lighten the mood.

"Thanks, Tyler..." She says with a chuckle. Tyler nods his head, "So...how is everything with...you?" He asks her.

Mia raises her brows, "Well...It's been kind of boring to be honest. I have a sponsor now, and I go to AA meetings, I go to group therapy, I go to counseling...they tried to do family counseling, but...My families...busy." She says with a tired exhale.

"I'm sorry," He says. Mia shakes her head, "No need for you to be sorry...I mean, I just wish that they considered taking me seriously, like my condition and everything else. B-B-But they don't and that just makes it even harder for me to cooperate with everyone!" She bangs her hand on the table and everyone gets quiet.

She feels her cheeks get hot as everyone stares at her. Tyler looks around and he slightly leans forward, "Hey...you're okay...it's okay, I promise..." He says to her.

Mia nods her head and slows her breathing down, "Sorry..." She says quietly. "Don't worry about it, honestly" Tyler says with a smile.

Mia chuckles and rubs her hands together. "This food is just as shit as it was the last time I was here." She says with a laugh. Tyler nods his head, "Yeah...that's why..." He pulls out a bag. "You bring your own. She smiles, "Yeah...I have to get back on this schedule." she shakes her head.

"I mean...I could help you...if you want?" He asks. Mia smiles, "Of course...I'd really appreciate it." She says with sincerity.

"Okay...cool..." He chuckles. Mia nods her head and eats her food.

Tyler looks down at his camera and looks back at her, "Wait...but out of everyone...why are you sitting next to me?" Tyler asks.     Mia bites the inside of her cheek, "Because...My brother and my friends treated you like shit...and I just stood there being a little bitch and not helping you." Mia says looking at him.

"I'm done being a little Bitch Tyler, I have to t-to do better. For everyone and for...myself? I guess." She says with a small smile.

Tyler looks at her proudly, "Well you still have something about you that you'll never lose." Tyler opens his bag and Mia raises her eyebrows, "Yeah? What's that?" She asks him.

"Getting people to like you so easily." He chuckles. Mia snorts and nods her head, "Yeah...I have to learn how to control that..." Mia says quietly. Tyler feels sadness fill his chest for her.

After lunch Mia and Tyler walk through the halls and she looks at his camera. "Those are really good," She compliments.

Tyler looks at her shyly and smiles, "You don't have to lie to me--"

"I'm not lying Ty, I mean I'm being dead fucking ass! That shits good!" She chuckles. Tyler smiles at her.

Tyler touches her shoulder and Mia raises her brows in confusion. "Ty?" She asks.

"We should do a photo shoot one day, I mean if that's okay...you don't have to if you don't want to..." He says quickly.

Mia bites the inside of her cheek, "Why, would you want to take pictures of me? I'm not even good looking..." She says with no confidence. Tyler starts to laugh but he stops as he sees Mia with a blank expression.

"Oh my fucking god!" He says. Mia looks up at him, "You do know you're fucking beautiful right?" He asks her. Mia chuckles and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and chuckles,
You don't have to say that..." Mia says quietly.

Tyler and Mia keep walking until they stop at his class.

"You know what?" She touches Tyler's wrist and smiles at him. "What the hell? I'll do the fucking photo shoot," She says.

Tyler widens his eyes in excitement, "Really?" He asks.

Mia nods her head, "Yeah, and I know for a fact you are the only fucking person to get my good side," Mia says laughing. "And also, who better to catch my new self, than you?"

Tyler chuckles as the bell rings. "Oh Shit! I'm going to be late, I'll see you later Ty!" Mia jumps up to touch the top of his head playfully. Mia runs down the hallway to her next class with a smile on her face.