Read Online A Tragic Heart by S. Elle Cameron - Free Book Online Page B

upset because of the situation with Peyton, but I have to keep reminding myself that I still have Mason, and he isn’t going anywhere. I just wish that I could read Peyton. I know something’s wrong, but I don’t know what. I’ve never seen him like that before and I never want to again. I hope today we can talk about it and just get past it. I just don’t want Mason to say anything to him first; I’m sure Peyton feels bad enough.
    I finally get out of bed and get into the shower, but for some reason I cry. I don’t know if it’s because of Peyton or because I’m just tired. I just know that something’s not right. And not only with Peyton. Maybe I should take my own advice about talking to someone. I think that’s the only healthy thing to do right now. I hear a knock at the door.
    “Babe, are you okay? We’re going to be late if you don’t hurry!” Mason shouts from the other side of the door.
    “Y-yeah, I’m c-coming out now,” I say, trying to stop my voice from cracking as a result of the lump in my throat. I stop the shower and walk back into the bedroom to get ready for school.
    “I spoke to Peyton,” Mason says, trying to get a reaction from me. He succeeds.
    “What did he say?” I say anxiously.
    “Not much. He didn’t even apologize. It’s like I don’t even know him anymore. Before I was through with saying what I neededto say, he hung up the phone. I don’t understand him anymore,” Mason says with a stitch of resentment and sadness in his voice.
    “Oh.” That’s all I can say. Now I’m really worried about him. He never treats Mason that way. I could understand me; I just came into his life.
But Mason?
That really puzzles me.
    Once at school, Mason and I get out of the car and my heart is in my stomach. I see Peyton, and he doesn’t even speak. I think that maybe he’s in a rush and I’ll just speak to him later. What really shoots me in the heart is when I see him grab Keely and walk with her as if they are
together.
I know that’s not true, but even so, how did that friendship happen overnight, literally?
    I go to first period math, a class I have with Peyton. We usually sit next to each other. Instead, he sits next to Keely in the back corner while I sit on the opposite end of the back row. I can’t help but stare.
    “Looks like we have an audience,” I hear Keely say in a sarcastic way.
    Peyton just turns to look at me and then goes back to talking with Keely. This can’t be happening. She can’t have taken my Peyton away. He’s my best friend. Class ends and I hear Keely and Alison talking about an after-Christmas party on Peyton’s birthday. He didn’t. He took my idea and told them.
    Lunch is boring. I hope Peyton will speak to me, but no such luck. I begin to feel sick, so I ask Mason to take me home, since we drove to school together. He says he can’t leave now, so I have no other choice but to ask Jagger. We’re in the car when he decides to spark up conversation.
    “So what’s wrong with you?” he asks.
    “Nothing,” I say mildly.
    “Then why am I taking you home?”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    “Are you pregnant?”
    “No! Jagger, please just drive,” I say, irritated.
    There’s silence for about five minutes until he decides to speak again.
    “Is it about Peyton and Keely?” he asks, as if he’s actually concerned.
    I’m silent for a while, but proceed to tell him that isn’t it.
    “It’s nothing serious. He just slept with her last night. They consider themselves a couple, but that won’t last long. She’s not Peyton’s type. I guess Peyton is just deciding to give her a try since she’s been after him for so long.”
    My heart stops. My life has gone from fairy tale to tragedy overnight. I knew it was all too good to be true. I should have prepared myself for that free fall. He told Jagger before he told me.
I was his best friend
. I guess that’s it. I
was
his best friend. I always find a way to mess everything up. I’m just