I sat in the passenger seat of Jamie's car fidgeting with the loose braid I had done today and watching houses go by in a blur outside the window.
It had been three days since the incident with Michael and I hadn't told a soul yet. I was worried I was also in the wrong.
I could of stopped him...
"What's wrong, Peyton?" Jamie looked over at me.
I sighed and released my braid. "I wanted to tell you something."
"Oh okay. Go ahead." He wasn't looking at me anymore. He was concentrating on traffic and I was glad. It was really hard for me to muster up the courage to tell him what happened.
"My, um, friend Michael. The guy you met at the cafe the other day..." I felt like maybe I was going on too much. "Anyways, he, um, sort of kissed me after you dropped me off the other day, and I just felt like you should know."
He glanced over at me. "Really?"
I gulped. "Yeah. Are you mad?"
"No. Not really. I mean why should I be?" He seemed concerned though. "Did you not want him to?"
"Of course not. I don't like him like that. I like y..." I trailed off. That was close.
"Well, you should tell him that then. He obviously thought it was okay. If it were me, I'd be more respectful than that."
I didn't really know how to respond and I was glad that he wasn't bothered by it. I was also kind of sad that he wasn't bothered by it. He must really not like me like that.
"Um, are you trying to work things out with Hollie?" I asked suddenly. She was on my mind all of a sudden. I couldn't get her beauty out of my mind. I wasn't sure how I could ever compare to her. She seemed perfect, and part of his fabulous life.

"We're talking again, but she's already dating this guy, and I think she's trying to make me jealous." He rolled his eyes. He seemed agitated about it, but quickly went back to his calm usual self.
I was gonna hate myself for this but I liked Jamie and I really wanted to see him happy. "Why don't you talk to her? I'm sure it's not like you think."
He was quiet for a moment and then his voice came out light. "Honestly, I miss her. I do but I feel like things are better this way. She never loved me anyways."
"Why do you think that?"
He didn't say anything. Maybe he didn't trust me as much as I thought he did. The more time I spent with him, the more I felt like I knew less and less about him and I just wanted to know everything.
I wanted to know the good and the bad. I never wanted to know someone so much in my whole life and it was exciting and terrifying all in one.
"You can tell me. Can't you?" I asked. My voice was light and it cracked. I just felt so overwhelmed with feelings and I hoped I wouldn't cry.
His eyes never left the road. "I knew she loved my older friend Conner awhile before we started dating. But I thought she grew to love me, then she says it was all to make him jealous..."
I could feel my mouth slightly drop. He was heartbroken and putting on such a good poker face.
"I thought..." He paused for just a second and I could hear my heartbeat in my ears. I felt like maybe I didn't need to hear this but I wanted to know at the same time. It just hurt to hear the guy I liked talking about the girl he loved.
Then he continued all of a sudden. "I thought that things were going well. I mean my mother had always liked Hollie. They met at several social events and always gotten along. Probably because they didn't like most of the same people. Especially my dad. They thought he was a horrible man and that I was blind to it."
I wasn't sure how to respond but I had to say something. "You seem to get along with your dad and I'm sure your judgment is just fine."
Once he pulled into my driveway he looked over at me. "Thanks, Peyton."
I pulled the car door handle all flustered over him saying my name and tried to get out with my heart racing and my arms full. I stumbled a little trying to shut the door and dropped my textbook.
"Hey, I meant to mention that we have a meeting with a court clerk."
"Oh, we do." I could feel my eyes burn like I was going to cry. He finally took the step to get out of this thing.
I heard Jamie's car door shut and suddenly he was kneeling beside me collecting my stray papers that had fallen out of my textbook.
"Sorry to just dropped that on you. My dad is being pretty persistent. The meeting is monday."
"Oh okay."
He handed the stray papers I'd dropped to me and I shoved them back into my textbook. I tried not to feel too embarrassed but I was positive that my face was red.
"Peyton." He said my name again and I forced myself to look up at him. "Are you doing okay in all your subjects?"
"W-what?" I stammered. That was so sudden of him I was really surprised.
"I didn't mean to but I noticed your scores on a couple of the papers I handed back to you."
"Oh my gosh. You must think I'm so dense. Anyone can do simple math right?" I nervously laughed but the truth was I knew I was terrible at math. I was mortified that Jamie now knew this as well.
I was glad to be off the court clerk meeting subject but I now super enbarrassed he thought I was dumb.
"No one is good at everything. I can help you if you need assistance. I'm pretty good at math actually."
You're good at everything, I thought to myself. He seemed perfect I swear.
"Um, yeah. I'm embarrassed to say I really could use the help. Don't tell anyone, especially my mom but I'm failing math."
"How about we go to that coffee place you showed me again tomorrow and I'll teach you a thing or two?"
"Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Sure." He smiled briefly, and it was enough to give me butterflies. With that he said he had to go. I didn't argue and went inside. I pressed my back against the door and listened to him pull out of the driveway and drive away.
I never thought I'd be thankful for failing math but suddenly it felt like that little something that could bring me closer to Jamie.