Saving Hannah.

I sat in the back of the classroom, silently strumming on my guitar.
I hadn't spoken to anyone since the night I had dinner with Mike and Vic, I was too depressed. Mike noticed the change in my behavior, and I guessed he'd told his brother because he called me into his office, but I wouldn't speak. Even Mr. Perry and Mr. Preciado tried to get me to talk, but I wasn't budging.
I sighed as the bell rang and I began to pack up my things, but hearing my name stopped me. I turned to see Mike and Mr. Preciado standing at the front of the room, asking for me to come see them. I grabbed my guitar case and placed it by the storage room and slung my backpack over my shoulder, heading for the exit. They started to walk towards me, and I felt myself grow angry.

Couldn't they take a fucking hint?

I grabbed the door handle, but was instantly pulled back by Mike. I shrieked in pain as the grip he held on my wrist tightened, and his eyes widened as he pulled back his bloody hand.

"Don't say a fucking word." I growled, pushing the door open and rushed out of it, running all the way to AP Chemistry.
I opened the door to the classroom and groaned, today was partner work. There was only five students in the class, and seeing how I wouldn't work with them, Mr. Perry was always my partner. I took my seat at the lab table where he was sitting and put my head down.

I wasn't doing this today.

I wouldn't move once during class, not even when Mr. Perry pleaded with me. The bell finally rang, and I jumped up and ran out, deciding to skip third period. Mike hadn't been in second, and it worried me. He couldn't be saying anything.
I walked past the guidance office, and that's when I saw it.

Mike, Mr. Preciado, Mr. Perry, and Vic were all in the office. I hurried into the bathroom and felt the tears well in my eyes.
I had to make a break for it.
I couldn't talk to any of them.
I heard voices from the hallway, and I knew they'd been told I hadn't gone to third period.
I walked out of the bathroom and rushed down the hallway, slamming into someone. I looked up and saw it was Mike.

Shit.

"I found her!" Mike yelled out, holding onto my shoulders and pushing me into the office. I fought against him, swinging my hands back and forth, but he wrapped his arms around me as Mr. Perry shut the door and locked it.

"Get the fuck off of me Michael!" I screamed, pushing him away from me. He looked hurt and shocked, and I saw the tears slowly slipping out.
I turned to head out of the door, but Mr. Preciado was standing in front of it.
"Move out of the door, I'm leaving. I'm not doing th-." I yelled, but my voice broke, and that's when I knew it was over. They knew I was broken.

I slid down onto the floor and curled into a ball, unsure of what to do now. The room was absolutely silent except for the low roar of a fan blowing in the corner., but it was the most deafening sound I'd ever heard.
I let the tears that had been threatening to spill from my eyes leak out, and before I knew it, I was sobbing.

"Hannah, I've known you for three years and you've never once acted this way.. What is going on?" Mr. Preciado asked, and I lifted my head.
'Don't act like you care. Leave me alone." I growled, eyeing them all. They all sat in chairs against the wall, next to Vic.
"It isn't acting. Mike and Mr. Preciado came to me because they were concerned, and Mr. Perry told me about how you were acting in AP Chemistry today, and I decided we all needed to talk." Vic said, staring at me intently.

I flipped my head over and pulled my hair up into a bun. I was going to be ready to run first chance I got.

"I told you to keep your mouth shut Mike. I thought I could trust you, but I guess I was wrong about you." I said, staring at Mike.
He started to cry harder and leaned into his brother's side. I knew I hurt him, but I was angry.

"I'm so sor-sorry, I just wanted to help you, I've heard about cutting before and I know you need help." Mike sobbed, barely able to speak.
Mr. Perry and Mr. Preciado's eyes widened, and I watched as tears pricked both of their eyes.

"Mike would you shut your fucking mouth! Damn, stop telling everyone shit about me!" I screamed, jumping up towards the door.
Mr. Perry grabbed me from behind and walked me over to the chair and sat me in it, positioning it so I was facing them.

The room fell silent once again, nobody dared to speak. I didn't have anything to say. I looked up and my eyes met Vic's, and for the first time, I noticed how good-looking he really was.

"Everyone here is concerned for you, Hannah. We all know you've been self-harming. I checked into your file, and you were on suicide watch until the day before school started. Obviously there's a problem, and we're here to talk things out, see how we can help, and what needs to be done." Vic said.
"You can't do anything." I said, my voice hard. "You can't help me."
"But that's where you're wrong Han. We're here to do anything you need us to do." Mr. Preciado said.
"So tell us, when did all of this start?" Vic asked, and I turned to look at him.

I didn't want to let them in. No. I couldn't let them in.

"Awhile ago. When I started high school, around that time. Things happened, it got worse. I always had Jaileen, always. She helped me, she was my bestfriend. Now I don't have any friends. I'm alone with her." I said, looking at Mike towards the end.
"I'm your friend Hannah.. You know that." Mike squeaked, his voice full of pain.
I rolled my eyes, not bothering to respond to Mike.

Mike started to cry again, and Vic sighed deeply. I knew this was hard for him, his brother was torn apart but he couldn't do anything about it.
"Hannah, Mike didn't want to tell on you. I saw his bloody hand and I knew what was going on. You shouldn't be upset with him. He did what I made him do. You don't need to be mad at him, we're just trying to help." Mr. Preciado stated.

"Right, okay. What happens now?" I asked, turning to Vic.
"Well, obviously you need counseling for all this, so you can either come in here once a week during a free period, or I'll refer you to outside services. As for today, you're free to go as long as you aren't a threat to yourself." He answered.
"Well, I'm great. And I'll see you in a week, I guess." I said, giving him a small smile and standing up.
"We aren't done here, there's still some things to discuss. Come back in seventh hour, that's my lunch period and it's the time we'll be using ever Wednesday. I also think you have some things to talk about with Mike." Vic said.
"There's literally nothing to say. Jaileen never told anyone about my problems, she helped me herself. Unlike Mike, who decides to tell everyone." I muttered.

I stood up once again and grabbed my backpack, heading for the door.

"Hannah, I'm so sorry. I never had a friend before, much less one who hurt themselves. I was scared, I was afraid and I was really hurt by all this and I did the best thing I could. Just please tell me we can be okay again and that I can come with you after school and we can hang out like we did a few weeks ago. Please.." Mike begged, his voice raw with emotion.
"Sure, okay. Meet me at my car after school. We can get Subway on the way home, yeah?" I asked, giving him a small smile.
He nodded enthusiastically and I walked out, I was happy that things could finally be better.

What I didn't know was the curveballs were just beginning.

Notes