—

Mattias steps were considered slow compared to the students rushing to get to their next period. He was in no hurry to learn about the economic and political state of the world.

In fact, if it wasn't for his brother dragging him along by the shoulder, he would have skipped History.

One would question why Montgomery was urging his brother to go but with one glance to the left of the siblings, it was clear that Monty was only attending because of Bryce.

Monty would also argue that just because he was considered a failure to their family, it didn't mean their dad needed to be disappointed in both his sons.

The chattering of students around the halls filled his ears but one specific person stood out amongst the chaos of small hallways.

Clay Jensen.

On any normal day, Mattias wouldn't have batted an eye at the jittery nature of the Jensen teen. The two hadn't really spoken much to begin with, only being cordial with one another when Jeff Atkins was present.

But now that the boy Clay tutored and Mattias had grown close with was no longer roaming Liberty High's halls with his infamous letterman jacket, the two dark haired teens had no real reason to interact. But that didn't mean Mattias was okay with the way his brother's friends treated Clay.

As he watched Clay fall to the ground at the hands of Zach Dempsey, he couldn't help but shake his head.

He let out a scoff. You'd think seeing how nice his sister is, Zach would be the same way. Apparently not.

"You okay?" The words came out before he could stop them.

Clay looked up, dusting off his pants while looking up at the De La Cruz.

"Yeah, fine."

"Doesn't look like it." He gestured to the bandaid covering his forehead.

Clay stiffened, "Why do you care?"

"Oh, I don't. I just figured with the jocks literally pushing you around, they could have been the reason for giant bruise covering your forehead."

"Fell off my bike." He patted around his waist, panic settling in, he was clearing searching for something.

Mattias wasn't given the chance to question him further before a third voice cut in,

"Hey. Is this yours?"

The two boys tuned to see Mr. Porter approaching them, walkman in hand.

Clay nodded, a sigh leaning his lips, "Thanks, Mr. Porter."

"I haven't seen one of these in a long time. What you listening to?"

Mattias noticed how desperate Clay was to have the old device back in his hands, only making him wonder what was on it.

"Um... My dad has some tapes. Um...old music. Ultravox? Duran..."

"Duran?" Mattias piped up, earning a nod from Clay and a laugh from Mr. Porter.

"Yeah, sure. Good stuff, man. I do more jazz myself, but music is all good. It gets you through the day."

Mattias saw how Clay's eyes were no longer on the man in front of him and took this as his opportunity to get away, but on Jessica Davis, who turned away the second they made eye contact.

"Well, i'm gonna go." The brown eyed teen cleared his throat.

"To class, I hope." Mr. Porter said jokingly.

Clay forced a laugh whilst Mattias didn't bother to pretend, "Where else would I be going?"

"Well, I know kids like you like to skip—"

"Kids like me?"

Porter's face fell, "Not—No, i meant—"

"Like my brother? Because every kid is the same as their older, much less mature sibling?"

"No, Mattias—"

Mattias knew that the man didn't mean it the way he was suggesting. He just felt like he wanted to make Mr. Porter as uncomfortable as he made the students he'd pull into his office to "counsel".

"Whatever. Bye, Jensen."

Clay looked shocked that he was acknowledged, "Uh, Bye...?"

•••

The sound of footsteps scratching against the ground had Melanie thinking she was about to get detention for skipping. But the voice that came made her pause,

"Melanie Dempsey."

She turned around greeting the person with a small, yet polite smile, "Mattias."

"Why aren't you in class?"

She raised her brows, "Would you believe me if I said I had a free period?"

"No, because we have the same free period and it's not until the end of the school day."

"Well, why aren't you in class?"

"Ran into Clay Jensen, who ran into Mr. Porter. I awkwardly stood there for a few minutes before I told him I had to get to class."

"And yet, here you are, not in class."

He didn't respond, simply sitting on the bench next to her.

He didn't mind the silence that formed between them, seeming to enjoy the sound of the wind whistling and the soft sighs coming from the girl next to him as she de sees on what she wanted to say.

"My next would've been with Hannah."

"Hannah Baker?" He wanted to clarify.

With a small hum, she nodded, "I don't know how i'd react to the chair next me either being empty or filled with some random student i've never met before."

"I take it you guys were close?"

"For a while."

Mattias didn't want to pry, but Mel didn't care. Despite what he brother said, she enjoyed Mattias' company, "What happened?"

"A boy."

The De La Cruz frowned, only one thought coming to mind, "She liked Scott?"

"No." She chuckled. Mel figured that everyone and their mother knew of Hannah Baker's crush, but it appeared Mattias did more than mind his own, "She liked Clay."

"Clay Jensen?"

Mattias seemed appalled at the thought of anyone liking someone as socially awkward as Clay Jensen.

"Yep. She thought I liked him too. I didn't. She couldn't seem to understand that, so we kind of grew apart."

Melanie didn't know why she felt so okay with telling Mattias all of this. For all she knew, he could go tell all of this to his brother and friends and completely switch everything around for make her look bad.

However, Mel had a feeling he wouldn't.

"You know, my brother doesn't think I should be talking to you."

The Dempsey girl sighed softly, "We're on the same boat."

"Unfortunately, for Monty, him having an opinion on who I associate myself with died the minute he became friends with Bryce."

"Would it be bad if I said the same thing times ten?"

Her words had a hidden meaning behind them, Matti knew that much, but he didn't feel like he had the right to question her.

"Not at all." He shrugged, "Our brothers are friends with an asshole."

Mel's content look fell.

Little did he know just how big of an asshole Bryce Walker really was.

—