We Don't Have to Dance

Title: Don't Be a Jerk and Hug Me Back
Fandom: 13 Reasons Why
Characters/Pairing: Alex/Zach
Genre: Gen/Pre-slash
Rating: PG-13
Length: One-shot, ~3,5k
Spoilers/Timeline: Set in between S1 and S2. Spoilers for both seasons. Canon-compliant.
Warnings: References to suicide attempt, some angst
Summary: It's the winter in between S1 and S2. Alex is learning how to be normal again. Zach is still haunted by demons of his own. They get closer and find comfort in each other's company.
Series: Somewhere Between Broken and Happy


Zach is getting cabin fever. He likes spending time with Alex, he really does, but they've been stuck inside the house for six hours now and that’s way too long for Zach.

They met for a PT session that morning. When Alex's mom dropped him off, Zach offered to drive him home after: Carolyn accepted gratefully and invited him to lunch. Alex told him he was going to regret it since lunch probably meant kale, quinoa and a tasteless, sugar-free, dry cookie “as a treat”. Zach shrugged and said he didn't mind. He wasn’t lying either: he devoured everything Carolyn put in front of him and even asked for a second cookie. What he really enjoyed, though, was the company. When Alex later told him that he should try eating that every day, Zach laughed and said, “Yeah, I actually miss pizza already.” What he really wanted to say, though, was that maybe Alex should try eating alone most days and having to stare at his dad's empty chair right in front of him.

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