Chapter Text
Clay's POV
'You ever heard of the saying that even a butterfly flapping it's wings could drastically change the future? That's what we call the Butterfly Effect.'
School had just ended and I was pushing through the endless hordes of students that were aching to free themselves of the confining building. Though instead of moving with the current, I was moving against it. I had to go to the school's library to help the one and only Jeff Atkins with an English-- Wait no, not English, a Science paper. As I opened the door to the quiet and spacious room I scoped out the tables to see if I could spot Jeff. After a good half minute I saw him sitting in the back with his textbooks on the table and a phone in hand. I smiled softly and made my way over to the lonesome Senior. I've been helping him with a few of his classes for a while now, and unlike the rest of the jocks in the school like Justin and Bryce, Jeff is actually very kind and thoughtful. Jeff has actually been repaying me by trying to 'hook me up' with Hannah Baker, I don't know why he thinks I have a thing for her because I really don't, I mean, she is really pretty, humorous, and fun to be around... but I kinda have a massive crush on Jeff. It's really hard not to fall for the guy honestly, I mean he's basically Prince Charming. So many girls and even some guys at school drool just at the sight of him.
"You going to sit down Jensen?" his voice tore me from my(rather embarrassing) thoughts and I realized I hadn't taken a seat and had just been staring at the table in front of me.
"Oh... uhh, yeah." I took a seat right away.
"Alright, so we were given a science project today on theories and I have no idea where to start." he admitted sheepishly and fidgeted with the pages of his textbook nervously.
"Okay, what theory are you doing yours on? I'm going to need a little more than that Jeff." I chuckled softly at his nervousness. Usually I'm the one that's a nervous mess.
"Uhh... The Butterfly Effect."
"You need help with a report on the Butterfly Effect? C'mon Jeff, everyone knows what the Butterfly Effect is." I was somewhat astonished at the simple fact he needed help on this more than English or History. Hell, even middle schoolers know what the Butterfly Effect is.
"Well I don't necessarily need help on the Butterfly Effect itself, I know what it is, it's just hard for me to explain in two pages. It's not exactly the most lengthy of subjects..."
"Well yeah, it's pretty simple. Why did your teacher have it as an option in the first place?"
"Well uhh... You see, we got to choose our subjects..." In my head I'm yelling at Jeff because why why why why WHY would you pick the Butterfly Effect for a two page paper? It would've been a better idea to just go with Chaos Theory, but then again, Jeff probably has no clue what that is. Even though it does contain the Butterfly Effect.
"Okay, and you chose the Butterfly Effect. My only question is: why?"
"Cause butterflies are pretty cool and I already knew what the Butterfly Effect is." I sighed to myself. It's fine, it's Jeff. I'll help him with his classes no matter what. I moved over to the seat next to him and started looking through his textbook to see if the damn book even had a section on Chaos Theory or the Butterfly Effect.
"Hey Helmet." I looked up to see Hannah standing in front of the two of us.
"Oh, Hannah... hey, what's up?" she never came to see me after school so I found the interaction a little odd.
"My parents are taking me to some stupid wedding tomorrow. I think it's my mom's aunt getting remarried for like the fourth time. I have no idea, it's boring regardless. Anyway could you take my shift at the Crestmont? I'll be gone until tomorrow night." it took me a second to figure out whether or not I could take the shift.
"Uhh, yeah I think I can cover for you. I'll let you know otherwise, but I should be able to."
"Awesome. Thanks again Clay!" she spun around and left the now silent library, leaving just Jeff and I in the room.
"Dude. Clay, you should totally ask her out, she's into you, I can tell." oh God, not this again. I've tried and tried so many times to tell him I'm really not interested in dating Hannah, but he keeps insisting.
"Jeff, I'm serious, I really don't have a thing for Hannah. We're just friends and I'd like to keep it that way, okay?" I shook my head and turned my attention back to the very uninteresting 90's science textbook.
"Oh come on Jensen, you're not fooling me with that. Look. It's alright to be shy about it, but dude, you have got to man up and ask the lady for a date!"
At this point I'd had enough of it. I don't know what Jeff is trying to get at and, yes, I know he truly is trying to be a great friend, but he's really pushing all the wrong buttons. "Look Jeff, I don't know what the fuck you're trying to do, but I've told you time and time again that I am not interested in Hannah at all. I really, really don't have a crush on her. And you know what? If it makes things any better, I have a crush on someone else and there's nothing you can do there to help because I know it isn't going to happen, so please just... leave me alone?" I got up and left the library ignoring Jeff's apologies and pleas for me to come back.
After I got home I started feeling really bad about snapping at him and leaving like I did, but he just wouldn't leave the subject alone no matter how many times I told him my actual feelings towards Hannah. I was lying in bed listening to music trying to calm myself down and my phone started buzzing. I picked it up thinking maybe it was my mom or dad and saw that it was Jeff calling me instead. My gut told me to pick up and talk to him, but my body disagreed and I shut my phone off instead.
Jeff is going to kill me the next time I see him.