In her newly found numb state, Peyton turned and walked out the cafeteria one hundred percent aware of all the eyes that followed her. She walked out the building and headed directly for the bleachers by the track where she sat at the highest point she could. She just stared out at the track, the sky or whatever was there before her eyes.

A year? A whole fucking year? How could you be with Adam for a whole year? Well I mean, I've been with him for two but that's different. Don't you know the asshole that he is?

Peyton's thoughts were interrupted when she heard her name being yelled. She turned to Kimberly who sat next to her, "Kimmy! I'm right here! Geez!"

"Really? Seems like you were way out there." She gestured toward the track. "I've been trying to get your attention for the last minute!"

Peyton sighed and apologised.

"It's okay boo. I know you must be really torn up over what happened."

Peyton shrugged. Right now she felt nothing. Nothing at all.

"I mean, he just outed you to the whole school! What's going to happen when your parents find out? Oh Peyton, I'm so sorry!"

Peyton let her friend hug her but she just sat there, unmoving. Only then did she realise that she had not even considered the fallout of what just happened. She was only concerned with the girl.

"What the fuck is happening to me?" She whispered.

Kimberly sat up and spoke, "why didn't you tell me that was Adam yesterday? We should have confronted him then."

"Do you think she knows?"

Kimberly shook her head, "I highly doubt it. She obviously goes to another school. Hell, I'm sure she doesn't even live in this town... I've never seen her before."

"I... I... I don't really know what I was thinking. Then or just now... I should have just left it alone but... I just... I... why her? Why'd he have to be with her?!" Peyton felt something now. Frustration.

"Oh my god! So that's what this is about? You're in love with her aren't you?"

"I can't be in love with someone I saw once! Geez Kimmy!"

"You've had a crush on me from the first day I spoke to you." Kimberly countered wittingly.

"Yeah, but that was a crush. You're talking about being in love."

"You know you're just being difficult right? I can see it in your eyes, your words and your actions. You are in love with that girl!"

"No I'm not!"

"From what you told me, she is everything you want in a girl."

"Actually no she's not."

"Oh, what is she lacking?"

"She's straight!"

"There's something called bisexual you know."

"Yeah, well, she's still a dumbass! I mean, who stays with Adam willingly for a year?! Doesn't she realise what a fucked up asshole he is?! She deserves better than him! He doesn't deserve her!" Peyton continued on her tirade and Kimberly listened.

"What the fuck are you smiling at Kimmy?!"

Kimberly laughed now, "you are so in love with her!"

"No! I am not!"

Kimberly poked her in her sides playfully, "you so are!"

Peyton stuck out her tongue as she attempted vainly to swat Kimberly away, "fuck you Kimmy."

"Awww... boo, you know I don't do girls."

This caused them both to laugh for a while. When they composed themselves, Kimberly spoke seriously, "I recorded the whole thing on my phone so he can't pull any shit on you. Okay?"

Peyton offered a small smile before leaning across and giving Kimberly a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks Kimmy. You are too good to me. I don't deserve you."

Kimberly put her hand on Peyton's and gave a reassuring squeeze, "that's not true. You deserve nothing but the best. I love you boo. And you do the same for me. That's why we're best friends."

Peyton smiled and said a small thanks. They sat there for a couple minutes in silence before Peyton said, "you do realise that we are missing class right?"

Kimberly waved it off saying, "we're smart kids, we'll catch up."

They both laughed and silently decided to spend the remainder of the day right there.

The end of the day came quickly and they made their way down the bleachers and back into the school to get their bags before heading home. Their lockers were close to each other's so they walked together.

"Those fuckers!" Kimberly exclaimed when they got to Peyton's locker.

They had desecrated her locker. They wrote and drew all sorts of horrible things on it. From "queer", "dyke", "burn in hell" and so on to drawings of a vagina with the words "lick me" above it and other such horrible things.

Kimberly was outraged. Peyton, however, accustomed to being ridiculed by her brother simply walked up to it, took out her bag and the books she needed, shut it and walked away as she usually would.

"What are you waiting for Kimmy? I want to get out of here." She said impatiently.

Kimberly nodded and hurried off to her nearby locker and did the same as Peyton. When she turned around Peyton was already walking away, heading out of school. Kimberly looked on with a heavy heart at her friend. I know this is bothering you boo. Please don't bottle this up... She sighed and walked quickly to catch up with her.

"Leave her alone you idiot!" Kimberly barked at a boy who was saying some nasty things to Peyton as she walked pass him.

When they were out of the school and on their way home Kimberly decided to speak, "Peyton, talk to me please. I know this is hurting you. You can't keep it bottled up inside."

"No it's not and if it were, yes I can."

As they walked on Peyton kept her eyes focused on the sidewalk. The full effect of everything had just begun to dawn on her. Her whole life is now ruined and as much as that girl infatuates her and the very thought of her makes her all nervous and excited, it's not doing much for her right now. Her walls are closing in and she doesn't know what to do. Kimberly's words rang out loud in her head on repeat, "What's going to happen when your parents find out?"

She couldn't take it anymore. When Kimberly's house came into view and she knew that her own was only five minutes away, she couldn't breathe. Her body came to a stop.

"Peyton? What's wrong?"

Peyton looked at her, fright evident on her face, "what the fuck did I do Kimmy?"

Kimberly was not given an opportunity to respond, "they're going to kill me! They're going to kill my fucking ass! Oh Kimmy, why am I so fucking stupid?!"

Tears flowed freely down Peyton's face. There was no denying it, she was scared shitless. Part of her knew what to expect from her parents, and it was nowhere near a walk in the park but another part of her had no idea what they would do and that scared her more than the things she did know.

"I... I... I can't go home Kimmy. I... FUCK!" Peyton yelled now, unable to control herself any longer.

She sat herself down on the sidewalk with her feet in the road.

"What are you doing boo?"

"Go home Kimmy. I'm staying here for a while."

Kimberly sat beside her, "you know I would never go and leave you here."

Peyton began to sob loudly now and she was immediately wrapped in the arms of the only person she had in the world.

They sat there for well over half an hour and Peyton was yet to stop crying. Kimberly didn't mind one bit though. Actually, she was glad. Glad that Peyton was finally letting it all out, one way or another.

A car screeched to a stop in front of them then and the driver threw open the door, which just happened to be the passenger side door. "Get your fucking ass in the car Peyton!"