Back Where I Belong

Chapter 56

Zoey's pov

"Charlotte, we need to talk. Like, a serious talk. Right now," I tell my best friend, not taking no for an answer.

"Okay. What's up?" She questions, following me into my room.

"What really happened between you and Jace?" I question.

"Zoey, I've told you before. And I really don't want to talk about h-"

"He talked to me," I blurt out, cutting her off. Charlotte pales.

"When?" She asks, no longer meeting my eye.

"At Peyton's funeral. He seemed really upset. And not just about Peyton," I inform her. Charlotte sighs.

"I'm sorry, Zoey," she says softly, standing up from my bed. She crosses my room and stares out the window.

"What are you sorry for?" I ask.

"I- I've been a bad friend. I didn't tell you the truth, which is that Jace didn't really say that he only dated me for the money. When I told him that I was pregnant, he got scared, not angry. He asked for a minute alone to think. I agreed. He went to his room. A few minutes later, I got worried. I went upstairs. He was talking to Peyton on the phone. I overheard him talking about the dare. I got mad. I yelled at him that I didn't want him near out child. He was upset. I left before we could talk about it. And then, I ruined everything for you and Peyton. Hell, I even got him killed!" Charlotte breaks down sobbing.

"Charlotte it wasn't your fault. It was that psychopath," I say, hugging my best friend. She continues to sob on my shoulder.

"Wh- why aren't you yelling at me?" Char questions, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.

"Because you're my best friend. And I know that when you told me, you were only trying to look out for me. And you lied because you were scared. You didn't want to get hurt again," I reply.

"Am I really that easy to read?" She asks, laughing.

"Only because you're my best friend," I say, hugging her tightly. She hugs me back.

"Girls! Guess what!" Calum yells, running into my room.

"What?" Charlotte asks, letting go of me.

"Jenn was just sentenced to life in prison. She apparently pleaded guilty to killing Peyton. And threatening someone named Tyler Trekk. Along with you, Peyton, and Travis of course," Calum tells us.

"Tyler is Travis's girlfriend," I explain to my confused brother and best friend.

"He had a girlfriend? And he was that clingy and creepy to you?" Charlotte demands, shocked.

I nod, "He only did it because Jenn, like you just heard, was threatening him and Tyler. He loves her." My voice dies off as I remember Travis telling me that Tyler was his Peyton.

"I miss so much when I go to Arizona with Jace," Charlotte huffs, annoyed.

"No kidding. And speaking of Jace, here you go," I say, passing her phone her.

Char grabs the phone, without protesting, and leaves my room to go call Jace.