A very sexy Jace in the sidebar :)
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“Wait, I didn’t—“
“Peyton…” Dillon said in a confused voice. “What the hell do you mean that you and Jace have a ‘fake’ relationship?”
I bit my lip then decided what to do. I burst out while fake laughing then wiped a fake tear from my eye. “Hah! You got me… I was checking out my acting skills because Ms. Sunday said I’m good!” I lied but I knew they didn’t buy it because whenever I lie, I blush. The only reason I’ve made it this far with Jace is because I actually have—little—feelings for him.
“Cut the shit! You’re the worst liar in history, Peyton,” Dillon stomped over to me and grabbed my arm. I tried to pull away but he wouldn’t budge. “What the hell is going on?”
I felt my eyes welling up with tears because Dillon has never been this mean to me before. The fun-loving brother that I’m used to has vanished into this angry one that I brought out.
Queue everything falling apart…
“I wanted to get revenge on Sean so I started a fake relationship with Jace!” I gasped out then Dillon’s grip on my arm left and I felt the pain as the blood rushed back to its spot.
“Is this true?” Dillon turned to Jace now. I snuck a little peek at Lauren whose mouth was opening and closing like a fish because she didn’t know what to say.
“Dude—“
“Is it true?” Dillon yelled now at Jace who looked down and nodded. “Whose idea was this?”
“Mine,” Jace and I said at the same time. I looked at him and I remember how when this whole thing started, the last thing that I wanted to happen was have Jace and Dillon not be friends after this.
“It was my idea,” Jace stared at me. “In the summer, I asked her why she didn’t get revenge on Sean and I put the idea in her head.”
“It might’ve been your idea but I’m the one who asked if Jace would be my fake boyfriend. Don’t blame him when this is all my fault!”
Jace sent me a warning look, “Peyton… It’s my fault.”
In a split second, Dillon was in Jace’s face and if this were a cartoon there would’ve been steam coming out of his ears from how infuriated he was right now. “Why did you do this? Did you just want to get a piece of Peyton?”
Jace turned defensive. “No! I would never take advantage of her—“
“Then why the hell did you go along with this?” My brother screamed at his best friend. “I sincerely thought that you two were perfect for each other and that you had found a girl that made you happy but it was all fake?” Dillon punched the wall behind Jace then turned to me. “And what about you, Peyton? You got revenge on Sean weeks ago because it’s obvious in his expression so why would you continue this? Do you feel alone and you need someone to comfort you? Or how about a fuck buddy—“
“Dillon!” I yelled while tears fell down my face. “This is exactly why we didn’t tell you. You’d overreact! Please, please understand that we never did anything farther than kiss. We were only going to have this go on for a few months then split up without any problems!” I looked at him like I had when I was younger and he was my idol. “Dillon, I’m still your little sister.”
He turned his back to me and sulked over to the door. “Family doesn’t lie,” He said in a deadly tone before opening the door and leaving.
I took a deep breath and wiped away my tears. When I opened my eyes, I saw Lauren staring at me with a heartbroken expression on her face.
“Lau—“
“Save it!” She cried. “Remember when we were little and how we made a promise to tell each other everything? I’ve kept that but you obviously haven’t.”
It’s true. Ever since we became best friends, we had a vow to tell each other everything. She told me everything from why her parents split up—her dad had a mistress—to what happened during her first kiss. I on the other hand, I told her a lot but some things I hadn’t told anyone at all such as the fire, sleeping with Sean, and now this. Obviously she’s a much better best friend than what I turned out to be.
“I would’ve told you—“
“But you didn’t, Peyton,” She closed her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair. “Look, I need time to think. Don’t call or text me because I’m not going to answer.”
As she started walking to the door, I called out to her, “We’re still best friends, right?”
She stopped in place and a saw a hand go up to her face to wipe away her tears. She’s cried in front of me before but it felt worse to know that I caused this. “I don’t know, Peyton…” She said and left just like Dillon.
Once they were gone, I fell to the ground and cried. I should’ve told them. Those two are one of the few important people to me in my life and I think I lost both of them just because I’m a fucking idiot. I shouldn’t have ‘gone out’ with Jace. I should’ve just floated through the rest of high school without getting revenge on Sean. Sure I wouldn’t have made him pay for it but things would be much easier and better than they are right now.
But I didn’t do any of those things and karma is coming around.
“Peyton?” I looked up to see Jace kneeling next to me with his bad foot out so no weight rested on it. “Look, this will all work out—“
“No it won’t! I messed up. This shouldn’t have happened like this! Now both Dillon and Lauren hate me just because I’m a idiot who can’t keep her mouth shut.”
“No one could hate you Peyton—“
I gave out a heartless laugh, “Really now? Let’s count everyone. Dillon, Lauren, Kayla, my parents…” I looked at him, “You.”
To my surprise, he wrapped me in his arms and his voice came into my ear. “I couldn’t hate you if you hated me. You’re too… too…”
“What?”
“Innocent.”
“Again with that word!”
He laughed and I found myself smiling through my tears that we now dripping onto his shirt. “It’s true! Everything you do is so innocent, I was surprised that you even agreed to be in a fake relationship with me.”
His words brought me back to reality. “I wish I hadn’t…” I whispered. “I regret it ever happening now.”
He was silent for a while until he finally spoke again. “Do you regret becoming close with me?”
I pulled back to look into his pale eyes. “No! If anything, that’s the only good thing that has come out of this,” I smiled at him. “You’re one of my best friends, Jace. Well, actually… you’re probably my only one now that Lauren’s pissed off.”
“There are other things that has come out of this. You’re on the dance team, you made Sean regret cheating on you, and you’re more confident. Plus, look on the bright side… maybe she’ll forgive you. If I were her then I wouldn’t want to give up my best friend.”
I smiled and he wiped the tears off my face. With a huge sigh, I put my face into his chest while he stroked my hair. “Should we quit this thing now that our secret has gotten out? I’m pretty sure that they won’t tell anyone but they’ll still be mad every time we’re together…”
“No!” He said a little too quickly but then regained himself. “I mean… You have that Romeo and Juliet scene with Sean coming up where you kiss him. If we broke up now then they’d think that the kiss made you rethink ever breaking up.”
I considered it then nodded into his chest. “You’re right… I still feel bad though! I basically broke up your bromance with Dillon.”
He pulled me back by my shoulders and made me look him in the face, which had a confused expression on it. “Bromance?” He laughed. “I’m straight, you know that right?”
With a straight face and big eyes, I said the next sentence. “True love conquers all, Jace. Don’t be afraid to come out of the closet because I won’t judge!”
He just shook his head and I smiled at him. “Peyton, Peyton, Peyton… You’re a very interesting girl.”
I eyed him curiously and put some hair behind my ear. “I’m just going to take that as a compliment.”
After a few minutes with his arms wrapped around me while in silence, he broke through it. “Peyton?”
“Hmm?”
“I… Uh…” He drew a deep breath. “Never mind.”
I giggled into his chest, “Whatever, Jace.”
I looked outside where fall had taken over and leaves now rested on the ground. In only a week it would be Dillon’s birthday and he’d have his annual party that he throws every year in honor of it. Would it still be going on this year with what he just found out?
I felt like we sat like that for hours when Dillon walked into the house. The anger has faded from his face and is now betrayal. “Jace,” He said in an even voice. “Can I have some privacy as I talk to Peyton? Luke is here to take you home.”
Jace gave me a sad look before hobbling over to his crutches and leaving me alone with my brother. I raised myself from the ground and took a seat on the couch. He paced back and forth without a word for minutes and I found myself becoming antsy in the silence. Normal Dillon would be talking and talking. This Dillon is the mad, deceived one that the secret has brought upon him.
“Everything was fake, wasn’t it?” He asked in a pained voice. “From the beginning of the school year to now, everything was fake. The kissing, the homecoming proposal, and the ‘dates’ you’d go on… None of it was true.”
I looked down before mumbling, “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me, Peyton? I wouldn’t have told anyone even if I didn’t approve—which I don’t. You shouldn’t have used Jace to get revenge on Sean when he was already paying for it! Hell, you changed your hair, your clothing, and even your personality for this! Was it really worth it?”
“Some of it was…” I whispered.
“Oh, really? Like what? Sean wants you back just like he wanted in the beginning of this. Sure he’s a little more straightforward about it with all those fights but think about all the horrible things that have come out of this. You were punched, Kayla hates you even more, you have the entire school in a lie, and people are going to be either pissed or heartbroken that it was faked! Think of Jace’s mom, did you tell her that it’s fake?”
“We told no one—“
“Then she’s going to be miserable! For the first time since Jace’s brother died, he seems to be sincerely happy but to find out that it was all an act?” He shook his head in disappointment. “It isn’t going to help anyone. Which brings me to another point… Why did this last for so long? Sean broke a while ago but yet you two are still ‘together.’ Do you feel alone and you need someone to be with?”
“No!”
“How about someone to mess around with? That’s what Jace could’ve been doing to you but you wouldn’t know because you’re so innocent! I’m not saying he is or anything, it’s just that you see the best in people like him. He could be using you for all you know!”
Ah, he is for my knowledge on woman.
I was silent as I took in Dillon’s words. “Dill?” I asked in a broken voice. “Do you hate me?”
A huge breath escaped his lips. “I don’t want to but…” He pressed his lips into a hard line. “I’m so pissed off right now. Just don’t fucking talk to me for awhile, spread the message to Jace as well since you two are so in love.” He rolled his eyes and went up the stairs to his room. After a few seconds I heard the slam of a door.
I couldn’t stay in this house anymore.
I walked out the door without grabbing a jacket and walked down the street. I didn’t really have an exact location as to where I was going to go but I didn’t want to be around Dillon when he’s pissed because I find it kind of scary. I don’t think he’ll be talking to both Jace and I anytime soon…
My running shoes crunched the leaves that rested on the sidewalk and I found myself on a main road with a grocery store across the street. I felt in my pocket and found my keys, phone, and a bit of money. I might as well buy myself something to pass more time.
I walked into the store and recognized someone from my school working at one of the checkout stands. It’s not uncommon to see people you know here because it’s all in the general area of where most people from my school live.
I just strolled along with nothing in particular in mind as to what I wanted to get. I was looking at some candy when I heard a very familiar voice.
“Peyton, you shouldn’t get those sweets. There’s no need to get even fatter,” Kayla sneered at me. I looked up and saw that she held a basket in her hand with only fruit inside of it. After everything that has already happened today, I’m not in the mood for her games.
“Why do you hate me?” I asked while crossing my arms over my chest. “I never gave you a reason before this year but yet you act as if I’m the worst thing in the world.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know, Peyton.”
“Then why don’t you tell me?”
Her lips pursed for a second before going back to normal. “There’s no need. I hate you and you hate me. I’m making your life miserable while you try to fight back with no success.”
“You know…” I said quietly. “I wouldn’t hate you if you actually be nice to be or tell me what I did wrong.”
“You should hate me though,” She had an evil glint in her eye. “You’re just not paying attention enough. Open your eyes, Peyton. Everything is not what it seems.”
She started walking away, leaving me in my confusion but I called out to her, “What the hell was that? Are you come walking fortune cookie or something? Tell me what that means!”
She stopped and turned around to give me a smirk. “Why don’t you ask Jace? He knows.”
With that, she left me alone in the aisle in complete confusion at her words.
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Wow! I got a lot of feedback in the last chapter so I posted this fast :)
I hoped this lived up to your standards... a lot of people wanted Peyton to play it as a joke so I decided to but then had her fail, haha.
Question of the day...Did anyone's feelings for Dillon change?
Thanks for reading/commenting/fanning/messaging and everything. I love you guys!