Page 14 of Perfect Tragedy
“Sienna-”
“I mean, if he’s worried about Jack seeing, he may want to wait. Which will drive me crazy all day, but I understand.”
“Sienna,” she says more firmly and grabs my hand. “Listen to me.”
Really looking at her for the first time since I arrived, I see that she seems upset.
“What’s wrong?”
She hesitates and something inside of me twists sharply.
“Just tell me.”
“The gift isn’t for you.”
I look at her with clear confusion. There’s sadness in her eyes, she’s squeezing my hand and she looks nervous. I laugh, “What do you mean? How do you know? Of course-”
She looks over her shoulder, then back at me, “Look down the hall.”
Frowning, my eyes move away from her and down the hallway. There’s a small crowd of people and I’m not sure at first what’s got people’s attention, but then I realize it isn’t what - it’s whom.
Trying to look through the crowd to see what’s going on, it suddenly parts and I see what’s got everyone curious. Blake is standing there, and wrapped around him like an octopus in heat is none other than Hailey Spellman.
I wait. I wait for him to push her off. I look at Vanessa and again see the concern on her face. Looking back down the hall again, I shake my head as if doing so will make what I”m seeing go away.
“I don’t understand. Vanessa,” I plead as if she has all the answers. Instead I just repeat, “I don’t understand.”
“I got here early. I wanted to see Blake talk to you. I saw-” my eyes swing back to her and she hesitates for a moment before saying, “I saw him give her a red bag. I saw him give her the gift. I’m so sorry.”
“But, that can’t be right. He was talking about me. I’m sure of it. Wasn’t he?”
In a cruel twist of fate, Blake’s head turns in my direction and he makes eye contact with me. I watch as he says something to Hailey, and she nods letting go of him. Blake begins walking to me and since I can’t stop looking between the two of them in shock, I don’t miss Hailey’s eyes finding mine. I watch as she reaches up to her neck and tugs on the silver chain around her neck that I know has a small dainty silver heart hanging from it. Because I just helped Blake pick it out the day before.
“Oh my god,” I whisper quietly.
Hailey, well, she can probably see my feelings all over my face. Because she does something that if I didn’t already hate her, I surely would now.
She smirks at me.
Smirks. At. Me.
“What a bitch,” Vanessa says in defense of me and I almost laugh. Almost. But I’m sure it would sound hysterical and crazed.
Blake reaches me and it takes me a minute to realize he’s speaking, “So thank you.”
“Wh-what?” I ask in confusion. All I hear is a ringing in my ears.
Blake’s brows furrow, “I said, thank you for your help picking out the gift. Hailey loves it. And I know this is a surprise, I don’t want you to be mad about this. I know how you feel about Hailey, but she’s not as bad as you think, okay? We’ll talk soon, alright? I promise.”
He waits for me to answer and I manage a nod.
He smiles and begins walking back to Hailey. I feel Vanessa’s hand on my arm subtly offering comfort and I do my best to keep the burn behind my eyes at bay.
“Let’s go to the bathroom,” Vanessa whispers.
“Y-yes.” I nod and allow Vanessa to lead me away.
“Oh, hey, Sienna?” Blake calls out and I look over my shoulder. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
