Death of the Perfect Girl

20- The Lost

Charlotte walked around the school looking for Sadie. She had called her several times but Sadie wouldn't pick up.

"Damn it," Charlotte groaned shoving her phone in her pocket.

"What's wrong?" Mason walked beside her.

"I'm trying to get to Sadie," Charlotte tucked her hair behind her ears," but she won't pick up her phone."

"Maybe she's busy with something-"

"With what? Making people's lives miserable?"

Mason raised his brows. "Wow."

"I just...I can't find my earring and she's no where to be found."

"Do you want help finding it?"

"Thank you...but you know how she feels about us being alone together."

"I don't actually," Mason chuckled looking around the floor.

Charlotte stared at him then she sighed. "She thinks I'm a slut just like every other girl in this school. She thinks I want to steal you from her....just like-"

"Every other girl in this school?" Mason lpoked at her. "Charlotte, I know you don't like me like that."

"How?" She snorted.

"Because you like someone else," he tilted his head and looked at Liam, signaling her to look.

Charlotte looked at him. "Oh no. I don't like Liam," she lied. "We just had a secret fling."

"Sure. The asexual kid? How'd you wound up with him?" Mason chuckled.

They started walking.

"What about Poppy?" Charlotte raised a brow and looked up at Mason, waiting for a reaction.

He gulped. "Poppy... She was just a friend."

"Just a friend like her and Liam?"

"Sure."

"Mason, come on. You guys were clearly in love-"

"We weren't... Not in love. We... We had crushes on each other. But we weren't in love... at least Poppy wasn't with me."

Charlotte furrowed her brows. "So, you loved her?"

Mason shrugged and looked at the floor.

"Why?"

Mason opened his mouth to say something then he decided to keep it to himself. "I don't know."

"Come on. You have to know why you love someone."

"And you have to know why you're friends with someone you hate."

"I don't hate her. I just...dislike her attitude. She thinks she's better than everyone. A little internet fame and she suddenly becomes the world's prettiest person. It all just went to her head... She doesn't even want to take pictures with her best friend. And she won't tell me why, but I know why?"

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't want me to become famous too."

"A few followers doesn't make you famous."

"That's off coming from you. Everyone here loves you."

"Yeah. Everyone at school. People outside just think of me as another one of those kids who rose to fame from nothing. I'm barely famous and I'm already seen as a failure. I'm literally another Istagram narcissist millennial."

Charlotte laughed. "You're not. Trust me. And if you think your situation is bad, think about Sadie's."

"So...Why do you hang out with her?"

"Because she was my best friend before all of this. Before the fame we were just two high school girls no one ever noticed. Then the video of you two kissing became a Tumblr gif and you got popular out of the blue. You guys started dating and she pushed me aside and made a YouTube channel. But I still have hope. I want her to see me as the best friend that I am. To not push me aside when she sees you coming."

Mason frowned. "I would rather she pushed me aside."

"Did you ever tell Poppy how you feel?"

"No! And I never will. As long as people can point out who I am on the streets I'd prefer she not get into that kind of life. She hates attention. I don't want to bring it to her. Even if it means staying away."

Charlotte tilted her head. "Aww, that's so romantic."

Mason smirked and shook his head. "Have you checked the girl's locker room yet?"

"No. But I should check there. Thank you...for walking with me and not really helping."

"No problem," Mason chuckled then watched Charlotte walk into the locker room.

Sadie stood down the hallway staring at them both. Since when were they besties?

Mason walked with a smile on his face then he noticed Sadie standing a few feet away. "Shoot." He walked up to her trying not look irritated. "Hey-"

"Since when do you two hang out?" Sadie raised a brow putting her hands on her hips.

"I was helping her look for her earring."

"Of course you were."

Mason furrowed his brows at her, then he put his hand on chin and lifted her head. He stared at her eyes. "Have you been crying?"

Sadie quickly pushed his hand away. "Where's Charlotte?"

"Girl's locker room."

Sadie wiped her cheeks as she walked away.