The next morning - Saturday - Peyton was up and ready by the crack of dawn. She had mulled over what Kimberly advised her and decided that she was right. So, she was just waiting for a respectable time - like when the sun finally comes up - to leave home and go talk to Sadie once and for all.

She knows that Sadie is a morning person - that's one of the things they spoke about that Thursday - so she was not concerned with the early hour.

Her original intention was to wait until everyone got up, pretend to have breakfast with them and then head out but she could not wait. They were taking too long to wake for her liking. So, she wrote them a little note saying that she was going to visit a friend and wished Kimberly all the best on her date and then she hurried out the door.

Sadie's place was not too far. It was about half an hour's walk but right now for Peyton two minutes walk would be too much. So, she called herself a taxi and got to Sadie's place in five minutes.

She ran up the three flights of stairs so when she got to Sadie's door she was panting. 'Damn, I need to work out! I am out of shape!'

She knocked on the door. There was no answer so she knocked again. Still nothing.'I am not kicking this door down. You better answer me Sadie!' She banged on the door this time. "Come on Sadie! Open up!"

She heard shuffling on the other side so she waited; impatiently. The door finally swung open but instead of seeing Sadie, she was face to face with a very disheveled, very drunk man. "The fuck do you want?!" He slurred.

"Uhh... Mr Wells I assume?"

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Umm... I'm a friend of Sadie's."

"She ain't here." He proceeded to step outside, lock the door and drift his way down the corridor and around the corner.

'Damn... that's what Sadie has to put up with everyday? I wonder what happened with her mother. Why is she living like this? How could her mother just leave her like this? She's such a great girl! I really don't understand people.'

Peyton sighed as she sat down and leaned against the wall. I'll just wait for you. She rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes.

Not so much as ten minutes later she heard footsteps coming her way so she opened her eyes. As she did so, she saw Sadie turn around and hustle off around the corner.

"I saw you!" Peyton said loud enough so that Sadie had no excuse that she didn't hear her.

Peyton was certain she heard a grunt before she saw Sadie slowly round the corner with a grimace on her face.

When Peyton realised that Sadie was carrying several grocery bags she jumped to her feet and rushed across to Sadie. She put out her hands, "let me help you."

Sadie shook her head and continued walking, "I don't need your help. What are you doing here anyway?"

Peyton sighed, "I just want to talk to you."

"Why?"

"Because... I miss you Sadie. And I need some explanations."

They were by her door when she finally answered, "I don't understand... And explanations about what? I have nothing to explain to you."

"Are we going to stay out here or are you going to invite me in?"

Sadie sighed as she opened the door and went in leaving Peyton outside but the door open.

After a couple seconds of getting over what Sadie just did, Peyton entered the apartment locking the door behind her. She met Sadie in the kitchen, "I assume that meant 'come in Peyton. Make yourself at home.' Because that's what I intend to do." She proceeded to sit in one of the chairs by the table and prop her head on her hand as she looked at Sadie with a lazy smile.

"Why are you even here this early? It's not even half past eight!"

"Well I remember you said you're a morning person and I honestly couldn't wait a minute longer to do this."

"Do what?!" Sadie asked impatiently as she went about putting away her groceries.

"You want any help there?"

"No Peyton! Get to the point please!"

"You making me lunch today?"

This question took Sadie aback, "you... You want me to cook for you?"

Peyton nodded, "I really enjoyed your food. You have a real talent."

This caused Sadie to blush, "okay... Well since you're already here and all, I'll cook for you. It is nice seeing someone else eat and enjoy my food..."

"Your dad doesn't eat your food?"

Sadie shook her head, "he hardly eats anything, he only drinks but when he does eat I know it doesn't matter to him whether he's eating a five star meal or a dumpster meal. So he doesn't count."

"How do you cope with all of this on your own? He doesn't seem like much of a friendly person to me..."

Sadie dropped the can that was in her hand. She quickly picked it up before looking at Peyton with a very worried look, "you... You met him?"

Peyton nodded, "yeah. I was kind of banging down your door because I thought you were ignoring me then he came out all pissed and such and told me you weren't home."

"I'm sorry about that... That's embarrassing..."

"You have nothing to be embarrassed about with me. I promise. I know how it is to have fucked up parents."

"Really?" Sadie asked almost surprised.

Peyton nodded, "yeah. Why do you think I'm living with Kimmy?"

"Well I don't know... I thought your folks died or you're adopted or something."

"Well I am adopted. After Kimmy's parents found out about my parents they took them to court and adopted me."

"What were your parents like?"

"If I tell you then you have to tell me about yours."

Sadie seemed to think about this proposition very hard before she responded, "okay..."

'Wow... I really didn't think that was going to work!' Peyton thought to herself.

Sadie stopped what she was doing and sat on the chair opposite to Peyton. 'Why am I even doing this? I don't want to tell her about mom and dad. Well, I don't want to tell her about mom. But then I can't tell her about dad without telling her about mom... Arrgh!!! Why did I even let her in?!'

"Hey you ready?" Peyton's question brought her out of her thoughts.

She nodded, pushed all thoughts away and gave Peyton her undivided attention.

"My folks, and my older brother hate me. With a passion. I'm not what they expected and wanted and so, they used to beat the crap out of me. Well mainly my mother. They'd insult me every chance they got. Punish me for even the smallest things like not washing a plate clean enough to bigger things like who I am. And my brother was constantly making things up to get me into trouble. So there, that's my family."

Sadie's face fell into a deep frown. "I'm sorry Peyton. You shouldn't have had to live through that. But what do you mean by they punished you for who you are?"

Peyton shrugged, "we all have our crosses to bear. And you shouldn't have to live the way you are. It's not right Sadie."

"You're avoiding my question."

"That's not important."

"Yes it is and I want to know."

"Fine. For being a lesbian okay! They hated it. Probably much more than you do though."

Sadie frowned again but she said nothing. She couldn't think of anything to say that would make this right. She was having a hard enough time dealing with this whole lesbian thing on her own. She had nothing to offer Peyton.

"Your turn." Peyton stated looking at her expectantly.

Sadie sighed and looked away from Peyton to the table where she traced invisible patterns with her finger. Peyton put her hand on Sadie's causing her to stop and look up at her with a gasp.

"Come on Sadie, you promised. That was not exactly easy for me to tell you but I did."

"You didn't have to."

"Sadie!"

"Fine fine! Okay! I'll tell you geez!" Sadie realised that her hand was still under Peyton's and at that realisation she freaked a bit and yanked her hand away. She stared at it for a moment wondering why it was tingling before she turned her attention back to Peyton. "I don't know where to start... I haven't spoken of any of this in almost four years... Actually, I've never spoken of this..."

Peyton sighed, she knew exactly what Sadie was going through but that didn't stop her from getting slightly impatient. She felt that Sadie was dragging this out purposefully.

"Just, just start at the beginning."

Sadie looked at her with an expression she just could not read.

"Okay fine. I'll leave." Peyton said in defeat as she got up from the table and made her way to the door.

Sadie just sat there watching her walk away and she couldn't explain why, but there was a pressure on her chest that just grew with every step that Peyton took further away from her.

Peyton was at the door when she turned and looked at Sadie, "don't worry, I won't be bothering you again. I get it. I finally get it."