Chapter 3 Hannah

1 WEEK LATER

"So Ty, what is this all about? What's with the new girl man? You've got Diane pretty worried." Tyler was shooting hoops with his friend outside of his house when Paul tried to bring the subject of Hannah up to Tyler. Tyler laughed and gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "I don't know. She just looks like." Tyler stopped and brought the ball up swishing it through the net. He turned to look at his friends.

"What is Diane worried about anyway?"

"Umm, hello? Wake up. She's your girlfriend right?"

"Yeah so what does that have to do with anything?" His friend Paul walked up to him and shook Tyler.

"Are we a little slow this morning Ty? We've watched you this past week. You've stopped eating lunch with us and you're constantly leaving us to run to her. Diane is a little worried that something might be going on between you two." Paul finished it almost like a question.

"No man. Nothing is going on between us. Have you ever been the new kid at a school? It sucks doesn't it? And normally the people you least expect to help, the people who are more likely to push you around are the more popular kids. I don't know but I have this feeling that right now. I was talking to her last week and there's a reason she moved out here from Baltimore. I could see the pain in her eyes when she answered and then avoided my question of WHY? Do you get what I'm saying? Right now all she needs is a friend. And I want to help her. So you can tell Diane that." Tyler said.

Paul was shocked as he listened to his reply. Tyler had been pretty new himself but with his good looks and charm and humor he was quickly made as "the popular guy." Tyler had depth to him. He was a black haired, blue eyed beauty. He was tall and handsome, funny, and yet at times he as just overly quiet. He had a fire in his eyes; a purpose. Paul was always surprised when listening and watching Tyler because of this depth to Tyler. He was always learning something new from him.

"Hey Ty are you going to the school game night tonight?"

"I don't know I was thinking about it. But I'm not sure. Who all is going?" "Well, Diane will be there and I will be. Basically our gang and a bunch of other people from school will be there."

"Okay I'll try to go then."

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Hannah looked out her bedroom window to see the sky.

"I hope it's not a storm." She whispered to herself when she saw the dark, overcast clouds looming over head. Hannah sighed heavily as she lay back down and picked up her book to get her mind off of the darkness that was creeping in outside. Hannah jumped when the phone rang and resumed reading.

"Hannah! It's for you!" Mrs. Parker yelled to the top of the stairs so Hannah could hear her.

"Okay mom I got it!" when she heard the click on her mothers side and knew she was alone in her conversation she spoke.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hannah, its Tyler. I found your number in directory I hope you don't mind?"

"No, I don't mind. Shocked that you're calling me but you're continually shocking me lately." She heard Tyler laugh. She liked the sound. He had a deep, fun laugh. She smiled.

"Sorry, anyways about why I called?"

"Ahh, yes I knew you had a reason." She teased.

"Yeah umm...Are you going to the game night tonight?"

"I don't think so Tyler. My mom is working late tonight and so I'd have no way to get home."

"I see. Will you come if my mom drove you home after the thing?"

"Why would you do that for me?"

"I told you Hannah. Remember? I told you I want to be your friend. Well last time I checked friends help each other. So I want to help you. Do you want to go because if you do my mom will be able to drive you home?"

"Let me ask hold on a sec." silence hung on the line as Tyler waited.

"Hello?"

"Hey Hannah I'm still here. So what's up?"

"Yeah I can go. My sister will be at a friend's house and my mom works so she'll take me and then you can drop me off later on tonight?"

"Yeah sounds good. Okay I'll see you at 7:30 then."

"Okay thanks Tyler."

"No problem Hannah bye." Hannah disconnected.

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