Chapter 80

                                    

                                          
It took Nora a good chunk of time to process what her son had done and how many girls he had hurt by his actions. In the end, he was still her son, her flesh and blood, and she knew she couldn't abandon him, no matter how much she had actually thought about it. The first time the woman visited the former jock in prison, she really had nothing to say to him. And she barely listened to what he had to say as all she could think about was wanting to get out of that horrible place as soon as possible, maybe never to return there ever again. But no matter what she thought, Nora kept coming back. Maybe it was because, deep down, she missed having him around now that Barry was gone and doing who knows what who knows where. Maybe she missed having the company in her large, empty, quiet home nowadays.
                          
As Nora began visiting Bryce in prison once a week, she began to hear him out, being hesitant in doing so at first. The more the two talked during visits, the more Ms. Walker began to see change in her son. I guess being in prison had given him plenty of time to think and reflect on his actions and why he was behind bars in the first place. Bryce had been thinking about his actions a lot, and he had come to realize that what he did wasn't ok, like he had originally played it out to be. The former Liberty High student began realizing the consequences of his actions, and he began wanting to become better - do better with his life and sincerely apologize for what he had done. Well, if the victims would hear him out long enough for him to apologize, that is. 
                          
Seeing how much the boy had changed during his time in prison, Nora had begun considering an option she never thought she would even think about. But, given the circumstances, she felt differently now than she had before visiting her only son in prison. Walking out of her house, Nora Walker was headed off to a meeting with a judge some of the guards who had been keeping an eye on her son about the possibility of him getting out of prison a little early due to how much he had changed and come to regret his actions and choices over time. It was probably a long shot, but Nora believed that everyone diserved a second chance at life, and she was going to do whatever she could to give her son a second chance at changing and making things right with the people he had hurt. 
                          
During the last week or so, Matt, Lainie, and Clay took advantage of their free time by doing a little renovation. Over the summer, Justin had decided to tell his brother's parents about his home life. As soon as they found out about Justin's situation, Mr. and Mrs. Jensen were both accepting of the teen as they had welcomed him into their home with open arms. Rather than having the two brothers share Clay's room, the family had worked together to turn the large shed-like area in their backyard into a living space for the two boys to share. The space turned out nice and homey. There were two beds, a kitchen space, small island and table, a fridge, some cabinets around the area, a comfy-looking couch, a stereo and television that Matt had installed for the two teens, and even a bathroom as well. The apartment-like space was also decorated with things the two brothers had picked out together, as well as their own personal things hanging on the walls above their respective beds. This renovation also acted as a preparation for college as it gave both Clay and Justin a sense of what it would be like living with a roommate. The blue-eyed teen quite enjoyed the change, to be honest. He loved the new appartment-like space, and he loved having his brother as a roommate as well. For Justin, he loved the living arrangement, because he loved being away from "Meth Seth," as he called him, and living with someone he loved and trusted with his life.
                          
When it finally came time for school to start back up, Clay was glad to get back to a routine again. As he was arriving a late due to a dentist appointment, the boy planned to meet up with his girlfriend at her locker when he got there. Walking through the school's main entrance, the couple immediately locked eyes with one another and shared a smile, paying no mind to the many students walking through the hall to get needed items or head to their next class. Though, before the 19-year-old could make his way over to Hannah, another student stopped him as he got pulled aside. "There you are." The student said, pulling the blue-eyed teen along with her in the direction of Gary Bolan's office. Glancing beside him, the boy saw that Courtney Crimson was the one to pull him away as he still followed her through the halls. As they walked, the girl got right to the point as she informed her friend about a new student needing a tour of the school. When he asked why she couldn't do it herself, Courtney brushed it off, saying she had a meeting or something she needed to take care of.