Back Where I Belong

Chapter 50

Zoey's pov

"Charlotte? What's wrong?" I ask, rushing over to my best friend as fast as I can in heels. 

She doesn't answer. She just sits there crying.

"Guys, do know what's wrong with her?" I ask my older brothers and Bryana.

"No. She knocked on the door. We let her in. She made it in here, then collapsed on the floor, sobbing. We were actually about to call you when you walked though the front door," Luke explains.

I nod, "Where's Connor? I'm going to talk to Charlotte in private, but I don't want to go up to my room if he's asleep up there."

Bryana shakes her head no, "He's not up there. Calum took him to the kitchen to get him his bottle and to get him away from the loud noise." Charlotte hiccups.

"Thanks guys. Come on, Char. Let's go talk up in my room. Okay?" I ask, helping her up to her feet. She nods miserably and allows me to lead her towards the stairs.

"What happened?" I ask softly as I plop back down on my bed beside her.

"Jace... he broke up with me," Char sobs, her voice cracking. I gasp and pull her into a hug, giving her a shoulder to cry on.

"Zoey, he said that he only went out with me because of a dare," Charlotte chokes out, looking me in the eye.

Rage starts to burn inside me. You do not do that. Ever.

"What?" I demand, "that horrible little-"

"I have to tell you something. But you're really going to be mad at me for it," she says quietly, not meeting my gaze anymore.

I frown. Why on earth would I be mad at Char?

"Jace also told me that Peyton went out with you on a dare. When you first met him, the dare wasn't going on. Peyton just wanted to help you. But a few weeks later, Jace had dared Peyton to date you. Just to see if you were a spoiled Hollywood brat or not. Peyton agreed. Then, Jace met the two of us. Peyton dared him to go out with me. Whichever one broke up with the girl first, lost. They had to pay the other one fifty bucks. Apparently, neither of them had very good experiences with dating in the past," Charlotte explains softly. She messes with her hands in her lap, still not meeting my eye.

I sat there, shocked.

"Zoey!" A familiar voice yells, running into my room. Peyton stands there in the doorway. His eyes widen when he sees Charlotte sitting there. And my shocked expression.

"She told you, didn't she?" He asks softly. My heart breaks into millions of pieces.

"A dare," I say, my voice cracking, "that's the only reason you like me."

"No, Zoey, this started as a dare. But I swear, I really do love you," Peyton says, his voice cracking.

Tears stream down my face, "I don't want to talk to you. Go away!"

"Zoey, please," Peyton begs, taking a step towards me.

I step back, "Michael! Ashton! Calum! Luke!" Peyton's pained face stares at me, pleading.

"What's wrong Zoey?" Luke asks, eyeing both Peyton and Charlotte.

"Can you guys please get Peyton away from me? I down want to see him again," I say, a fresh set of tears streaming down my face.

My brothers don't question me. They just pull Peyton out of my room.

I collapse on my bed, crying.

"I'm sorry, Zoey," Charlotte whispers, pulling me into a hug.

"Why did Jace even tell you?" I ask, wiping my eyes.

"He didn't want to be with me anymore. Because..." she trails off,

"You don't have to tell me if you down want to," I say, sniffling.

"No. You deserve to know. You're my best friend. Zoey, I'm pregnant," Charlotte says.