Free A Tragic Heart by S. Elle Cameron Page B

okay; same old, same old.”
    “Oh, so nothing new happened?” I want him to choke.
    “Nope.” He kisses me on the cheek before walking into the bedroom.
    Does he really think I’m that stupid? Well, apparently I am. Who knows what else he’s been lying to me about?
And then it hits me
: Christmas is coming, and after the “unforgettable” surprise on my birthday, it’s clear that Mason is capable of planning huge surprises before special occasions. He lied to me on my birthday just so I couldn’t figure out that it would turn out to be our wedding night. I’m sure that’s what it is. I hope that’s what it is.
    ***
    Christmas was two days ago and today is Peyton’s birthday. I was right; Mason did surprise me on Christmas. He was out making plans for our trip to Australia in February. He knew that is one of the things on my list to do before I die. I wake up a little sad today because I want more than anything to call Peyton and wish him a happy birthday. But I guess he has Keely for that one. At school, he pretends I don’t exist. It’s as if he never knew me. I can’t even read what is going on in his head anymore.
    Today, I decide, things will change. I am going to do something that I should’ve done a long time ago.
    “Hello?”
    “H-hey…it’s me…” I say nervously into the phone.
    “Taylor?”
    “Y-yeah, it’s me. I’m sorry,” I say.
    “Why now?”
    “Because I’ve realized that I made a horrible mistake and I’ve wanted to say this for so long. I’ve missed you, Jackson.”
    “Taylor, I have to go. I can’t talk now. Maybe later,” Jackson says.
    “O—”
    He hangs up before I can even say okay.
    I messed up. I should have listened to Peyton when he told me to call. Now, even Jackson hates me. I’m ruining my life and everyone around me is leaving.
Someone always leaves
. He even called me Taylor. Jackson never calls me Taylor unless he’s upset with me or he’s being very serious. I’m now a stranger to my brother. The one who was always there for me, the one whom I considered to be my other half before Mason or Peyton even entered my life. My original savior was gone, and so was my angel.
    Night falls. Mason has been gone for over two hours now. He seemed a little upset about something, but I didn’t want to ask because I had my own problems to deal with. I know it may sound selfish, but I can’t handle anyone else’s problems but mine for now. I used to have Jackson and Peyton to help me. I never had to do it all by myself. I never thought I would have to do it all by myself. I always thought I would at least have Jackson. I guess I have never truly been alone until now.
    I realize I’m the only one who isn’t doing anything tonight. Peyton has his party that I thought up but wasn’t invited to, and Mason probably went to a movie or somewhere he can have “alone time.” I’m tired of doing nothing. I’m going to crash Peyton’s party. It was my idea anyway, so I have every right to go, right?
    I pull up to the house and hear loud music. I watch people vomiting from too much alcohol consumption and other people making out. There are some eye-catching outfits, but mostly just girls looking for an excuse to be even more slutty than they already are. I was looking for Peyton when I heard some girl obviously speaking to a guy.
    “It’s yours! I haven’t been with anyone but you within the past few months!” I hear the girl say.
    Haven’t these people ever heard of contraception?
    “Don’t try to deny it. We’ve been through this before, and I’m keeping it. You just have to tell her!”
    So he’s already taken. High school girls—they’re so stupid. The guy is even worse for doing it to himself in the first place. I’m about to move along when I hear: “Mason, you tell her or I will!”
    It can’t be. It isn’t
my
Mason. There are plenty of other Masons around, aren’t there?
    “Fine, I’ll tell her. Just give me some time.”
    It is he
. It is my