"Come, sit." Peyton said patting the seat next to her.

"No. I'm going in the kitchen."

"You can cook later. We'll just eat sandwiches or something for lunch."

Sadie sighed and sat next to Peyton. They sat there looking at each other for several minutes before Peyton spoke, "so... who was that on the phone?"

"Why?"

"They sent you a text." Before Sadie could protest Peyton continued, "I didn't read it or anything it's just that the text came in when I was putting your phone back on the counter."

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious. Is Adam still harassing you or something?"

Sadie shook her head sadly, "no. It's not Adam."

"Who is it then?"

"My mother..."

"So she still calls you? Why don't you answer?"

"Why must you ask two questions at once?"

"Sorry."

Sadie waved her off and sighed, "yes she still calls. She calls every Saturday around ten and when I don't answer she sends a text. And I don't answer because I am mad at her."

"Every Saturday?!"

Sadie nodded, "for almost four years."

"That's when she left?"

Sadie nodded, "it was the summer before freshman year."

"Was she cheating on your dad or something? Is that why you're mad at her and he is drinking himself into an early grave?"

Sadie shut her eyes for a couple seconds before opening them to look at Peyton, "no. She never cheated. At least not as far as I know. But maybe she kind of did I guess..."

"I don't exactly follow."

"She fell in love."

"So she left you guys to be with the other guy?"

"Well technically she didn't leave me. She asked me to live with her. I think she kind of expected that I would have chosen her."

"Oh I see... Well why didn't you? You don't like the guy or something?"

"Would you stop saying that?!"

"Stop saying what? You're not exactly explaining yourself well Sadie."

Sadie got up off the couch and began to pace looking at Peyton every few seconds. After about two minutes of this Peyton could stand it no longer. So, she too got up off the couch. She grabbed Sadie by the shoulders forcing her to stop. "What is it Sadie. You can tell me anything. Did this guy hurt you or something?"

Sadie shook her head as a few hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Well what is it then? Why didn't you choose to live with your mother?"

"Because..." She sobbed, "my dad was distraught. I couldn't leave him to be on his own. Plus... plus... I just... I love my dad and he didn't like what mom did one bit. It made him depressed and bitter so I decided that I didn't like it either..."

By this time Sadie was in a full blown bout of tears. Peyton felt she had no other choice but to pull Sadie into a hug and rub her back gently as she tried to soothe her with kind words. Peyton walked them over to the couch and sat them down while Sadie cried.

As she sat there, thinking everything over a thought occurred to her and she could not stop herself from what came out of her mouth. "Oh my god... Your mom left your dad for a woman didn't she?"

After voicing her thoughts she almost regretted it because Sadie's cries turned into screams and her grip around Peyton turned almost deadly. 'Shit... I am right.'

Almost half an hour later Sadie finally loosened her grip around Peyton and her cries turned to sniffles. Another five or so minutes passed before she sat up and looked Peyton in the eyes.

"You must think I am a heartless bitch..."

To her surprise, Peyton smiled at her and shook her head, "quite the contrary. I totally understand. I understand now why you are so against homosexuality. You see that as the thing that destroyed your family and ruined your life."

Sadie was taken aback by Peyton's response. She opened her mouth but then realised she had no idea what to say. Thankfully though Peyton did, "I only have one question. Are you honestly against homosexuality or are you just hurt by all of this? Because you did say that your dad didn't like it so you decided that you won't either."

A few more tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought on Peyton's question. "I... I've been trying to figure that out myself these last couple days... I truly do not know the answer. At least not yet."

"You do know it is just love right? We homosexuals are all just people attracted to people. The same way some people are attracted to blondes or redheads or Caucasians or Indians. We're are attracted to the same sex. Well I mean we have types too. We're not attracted to the entire female or male specie."

Sadie nodded, "I know... and you've made that clear before."

"Made what clear?"

"The whole 'type' thing."

Peyton smiled, "you wanna know what my type is?"

"Whatever I am not."

"Huh?"

"You said I am not your type..."

"Does that make you sad?"

"No!" Sadie said a bit too defensively.

Peyton smiled, "okay then. But anyhow, I lied."

"About what?"

"You are my type. You check every one of my boxes. Well, all but one."

For some reason this made Sadie exceedingly curious, "really? Why'd you lie about that?"

"Because... you were cussing me out for being gay and accusing me of be a pervert and such... You were already assuming that I was stalking you or some shit. I was not going to let you know that I like you..."

Sadie was speechless for a while. "I am really sorry about that. You like me?"

Peyton bit her lip as she nodded, "actually, to be honest, I am totally and completely in love with you. I have been from the first day I saw you in that cinema and it has just intensified since then."

"But... you can't be in love with me. I am straight."

"Oh my god Sadie! Are you really that naive or are you just fucking with me?"

"You really are in love with me? Although you know you'll never have me like that?"

Peyton nodded, "you didn't give me much of a choice... you are just... everything I've ever dreamed of. Well, almost everything."

"Wow... I'm so sorry Peyton... "

Peyton waved her off, "eh... there's lots of fish in the sea. I'll get over you eventually."

Sadie frowned. She didn't know why those few words hurt so bad and cut so deep. A tear escaped her and she wiped it away harshly. There was something that was bothering her, "which box do I not check?"

Peyton chuckled, "is it not obvious?"

Sadie just looked at her.

"You're a homophobe Sadie. You may not be completely straight but you are a homophobe."

"What the hell is 'I may not be completely straight' supposed to mean?"

"It means that you probably have lesbian tendencies. You're probably bi. I can tell these things and I am usually right."

Sadie sighed, "whatever Peyton..."

Peyton laughed, "so you're not going to argue with me about that?"

"What's the use?"

"Oh my god! I am right aren't I?"

Sadie sighed very loudly, "look, even if I might be bi or whatever I made a promise to myself that I will never fall for a girl because it is wrong. Okay?"

"Sure Sadie whatever helps you sleep at night. You know what I think though?"

"What?" Sadie asked very guardedly.

"You owe your mother a call. At least let her say she is sorry because I know she is. I am sure that's why she calls every Saturday. She just wants to explain everything to you because I am sure you didn't give her much of a chance to do so four years ago. Does she know you live like this?"

"I don't know about that... and no, she does not. She does not even know that dad lost his job, sold the dog and drank away his entire half of the money from when they sold the house. She calls every Saturday to invite me to lunch. Sometimes with her alone, sometimes with her and her 'girlfriend' and also to let me know that she put money in my bank account. That's how I live. I use that money to buy food and clothes. And pay the rent for this shithole. I'm thinking of getting a job though and tell her to stop sending the money."

"Sadie... you're being very unfair to your mother."

"Me?! I am being unfair?! She is the one who left and that's why I ended up like this!"

"You didn't have to. You could have lived with her! You could have been comfortable! You are just too full of shit!"

"What the fuck Peyton?!"

"Hey, I am probably the only person who will tell you like it is. I am not going to lie to you to make you feel better. You're wrong. I know how you feel about your dad and all but it is his fault that he decided to shit his life away. Have a mind of your own goddammit! And stop blaming your mother. You had as much a hand in this situation as she did."

"Fuck you! Get out! Get out Peyton!"

"Come on Sadie really?"

"Yes Peyton! I am not taking this from you any longer."

Peyton remained on the couch, "you miss your mother don't you?"

Sadie calmed right down at that question. She looked at Peyton and nodded as a few tears fell.

"Well, call her. I know it's killing her that you hate her."

"She probably hates me by now."

"Trust me, she doesn't. The woman calls every Saturday! Try not to wait till she stops calling. The only thing we want is for the people we love and care about to say, 'it's okay. I still love you. You're still you.' or some shit like that. Don't punish her anymore for being who she is. I know how that feels. It hurts like a bitch. It's not her fault. She loves you Sadie."

By the time Peyton was done Sadie was crying once again. "You really think so?"

Peyton nodded, "I know so. And while you're at it, you should give Casey a call as well."

"Casey? Why?"

"Just call her and tell her exactly these words - Peyton said it's okay, you can tell me what you've been keeping from me."

"Why?"

"Just do it Sadie. And please, don't fuck it up."

Sadie nodded, "fine. I'll call them tomorrow. I need a little time to compose myself. Plus, you're here today and I intend to cook for you. I am going to put some meat on those bones." She said as she lifted Peyton's arm and inspected it.

Peyton smiled at her, "you sure do bounce back fast."

Sadie shrugged, "life is short."

"You better not be playing me. I will be following up on those phone calls when you get your cute little butt to school on Monday."

"Peyton! Don't talk about my butt."

Peyton did not miss the blush that flashed across Sadie's face.