Chapter Six
To: Peyton Turner
From: Bo Porter
So your mother was an idiot to fall for a man like your father. And now you’re letting them both win by living the life of a ninety-year-old.
Did I get that right?
Bo
To: Bo Porter
From: Peyton Turner
Dear Bo,
I do not live the life of a ninety-year-old!
I don’t go out and party and get drunk like the rest of my classmates because it’s the responsible thing to do.
In fact, it’s the opposite of living the life of a ninety-year-old.
Because at least, I don’t puke my guts out and look like I’m on my deathbed while walking to my class.
Along with doing a stumbling walk of shame the following morning because the guy I’ve chosen to sleep with turns out to be a freaking slob who pees in the sink because he’s too hungover to look for the bathroom.
Is that a clear enough picture for you?
Another thing: I’m not letting him win either. Again, I’m doing the opposite of it. I’m getting even by being smart. Getting even or revenge isn’t about making the other person pay. It’s about living a good life and not letting them affect you. It’s about not letting them take a piece of you.
Because they’ve already taken enough.
Peyton
To: Peyton Turner
From: Bo Porter
Peyton,
That’s pretty, what you said about revenge.
Bet you read that in a book. Because that’s all you seem to do.
By your own admission, you don’t really do anything other than read.
You lived on a ranch but you’ve never ridden a horse.
You miss the place you grew up in but you won’t go back to it.
Because you don’t really go anywhere. You don’t see anything or meet anyone.
You live a careful life. A safe life. A life where you hide out from everything that could touch you all because you don’t want to make the same mistakes your mother did. So your solution is to not make any mistakes at all.
That’s neither revenge or being smart.
That’s being a coward.
So I don’t think you’re the one I should be seeking advice from, do you?
Bo
To: Bo Porter
From: Peyton Turner
Dear Bo,
I could be really angry right now.
I could be calling you names and you’ll deserve them. You know you’ll deserve them.
But I won’t. Because I think something happened to you, didn’t it? Something big. Something bad. Something that’s made you angry. So angry that you’re lashing out at me even though I’m not the one you’re angry at.
And yes, I did read about revenge in a book.
It was a very good book too. It’s called Wuthering Heights and you already know it’s my favorite book.
You remind me of Heathcliff but instead of rocky moors and an estate, you have a ranch and dusty cowboy boots.
You should read it. And then you should think about letting go of some of that anger.
Also, in my first letter I told you that even though this is an assignment, I can be your friend so consider this my official application.
To be your friend.
Peyton
PS: You are an asshole, just so you know. And if you were in front of me, I’d punch you.