How He Broke

Mistaken (Tate's POV)

I woke up the next morning with one person on my mind; Sage.

The thought of her made my mind race and stomach turn in ways I never thought imaginable until now.

I wanted to see her, make sure she was okay. I wanted to hold her in my arms again; inhaling her scent.

I sighed, turning over onto my side as I replayed the conversation I had with Matty last night.

He was so undeserving of Sage. What made him so special, so capable of being the one that drove Sage so out of her mind? I couldn't begin to comprehend what it was about him that drew her to him.

Couldn't she see how terrible he was? Couldn't she see that he cared about no one other than himself? He was selfish, so self obsessed and self loathing that he knew he would destroy her given the opportunity to call her his own.

I couldn't just stand by and watch him destroy her, but she loved him and I knew that; despite how unfair it may seem to me now, she truly, madly, and deeply loved him with every fiber of her being.

I know how that feels. It's like intentionally hurting yourself over and over again on the same sharp object, knowing the feeling isn't going to change. It can drive a person to insanity, and despite the only two interactions I've had with her in person, I felt that exact way about her.

I turned, laying on my stomach as I buried my face deep within my pillow, letting out a muffled scream.

I was so angry. Not at Sage, not even at Matty, but the circumstance of it all. It was entirely unfair to everyone involved. I know that even if I wasn't involved with it, Sage would still be suffering it alone, and the idea of that just made it all seemingly worse.

Why did loving someone have to be so complicated?

I gave up on trying to find the answer as I sat up in bed. I needed to get dressed. Maybe just seeing Sage again today would be enough to help settle all these emotions I was experiencing.

I got dressed quickly, not really paying much attention to what I threw on before running out my door and down the stairs.

I didn't even stop to say good morning to my mother before I left out the front door.

Shutting the door behind me, I turned to be faced with Matty standing out in Sage's front yard; a bouquet of Violets in hand.

My heart sank at the sight. It was really that easy for him wasn't it? I never stood a chance, not when he was my competition.

The guilt in his eyes was enough to even make me feel bad for him, and I knew if that was the case then Sage most definitely felt it too.

I shook my head, accepting defeat as I turned back to re-enter my house.

I wasn't going to fight Matty. If Sage was going to be truly happy with him, who am I to stop her?

I glanced back one last time, seeing him mouth an apology to her. I knew in that moment he had already won.

I could hear my heart crack in my chest, the sound echoing in my ears as I turned the doorknob.

Tears formed in my eyes as I entered, letting the door fall shut behind me.

"Tate? Sweetie are you alright?" My mother asked, sounding half-heartedly endearing. I shook my head, brushing her off as I pushed past.

I tried to hold the tears back, but once I reached the first step of the stairs they fell without consent.

I rushed up the rest of the way, slamming the door shut behind me as I fell back into bed, sobbing silently as my heart continued to break.