Breath Of The Heart Read Online Free Page A

keys."
    He saw my backpack and his phone in my hand, but the two weren't adding up. I didn't care. I just wanted to go home, even though my head was pounding and my hands were shaking uncontrollably.
    "Why? Something happen? Is everyone okay?"
    My Jake. All six feet of him was staring at me, perplexed but still aggravated that I wanted to leave. My once beautiful Jake. The only man in the world I trusted. The only friend I ever needed.
    "Can you please give me the keys?"
    "Are you all right?" he asked, walking towards me. I took several steps back. Even though I wasn't looking at anyone else, I knew their eyes were on me. They'd all stopped talking and were no doubt wondering what was wrong with the weirdo now.
    "The keys?"
    "If you don't tell me what's going on, I'm not giving them to you."
    "Give me the keys!" I shrieked.
    Zach came and stood beside Jake. He was looking at me like I'd just been released from a mental institution. "Hey Emma, what's going on?" he asked, his voice soft with concern.
    "I want to go. I want the keys!"
    Jake's face hardened. "I don't know what your problem is and I don't really care. Why do you have to ruin everything for me?"
    Something came over me, like the Emma I knew had been replaced by someone else and I was nothing more than a spectator. This Emma was tough, a goddess warrior. "I'm sorry, Jake, that I ruin everything for you. And so you know, I don't have fleas, and you don't need a rabies shot either. And this filthy mutt you and Bianca think I am, well, if you give me the fucking keys I'll run away and you'll never have to worry about me again! Lol!"
    "Oh, shit," Zach said, cringing. He could see Jake's phone in my hand. He wasn't an idiot. "Jake, what did you say?"
    "Say? No, Jake didn't say anything. They texted it to each other. Let me read it for you," I said, tears blinding my attempts to enter in his password. But I was determined and not even a few tears would stop me. "Let me quote my best friend of nineteen years and his stupid girlfriend. Bianca says, make sure she doesn't give you fleas, and my best friend Jake replies, lol, I'll get her a flea collar. Isn't that hilarious? There's more. Bianca says, OMG I hate her so much. I wish she'd go away and die somewhere. Kill herself, or something. Do us all a favor. And Jake says, lol! Me too."
    The room fell silent. Not even a snicker from the princesses.
    Jake snatched his phone. "You shouldn't have gone through my stuff," he said, shame dripping from his voice.
    "I wanted to call my dad," I said between sobs.
    Zach came and stood between us. He faced me but I couldn't look up at him. "Emma, I'll take you home. Do you have everything?"
    "Yes," I whispered.
    "What about me?" Becca protested from the other end of the room.
    He grunted, but didn't give her a reply. "I'll meet you at my car, it's a black SUV. I'll grab my stuff and we'll be gone in a few minutes." He turned to Jake. "You're a piece of shit."
    I don't remember getting in the car, only sitting on the soft black leather, wiping my eyes with a sweater from my backpack and feeling like my entire life was over. I wanted to go home. I wanted to go back to Pine Falls and if I never saw Jake again it would be too soon. The humiliation ... it was too much.
    Zach climbed into the car, started the engine and drove. For minutes we didn't exchange a word. I was beyond embarrassed and ashamed. What did he think of me now, other than a lot of pity which I hated more than anything. I didn't want anyone feeling sorry for me.
    "That was really shitty," Zach said, breaking the heavy silence.
    "Yup. And I wasn't snooping. I forgot my phone." My voice sounded small and defeated. I hated showing weakness.
    "I know. You don't have to justify it to me."
    "Were they all making fun of me?"
    "No one was saying much of anything. I grabbed my gear and took off."
    I wanted to be sick. My stomach churned and I closed my eyes trying to catch my erratic breath. What would I tell Dad and Grandpa? They'd