That night Peyton could not sleep. She pretended she was asleep when Kimberly came to check on her because she was in no mood to talk about what was bothering her or to pretend to be fine. When she was certain everyone in the house was asleep, she got out of bed and quietly made her way down to the kitchen. She looked at the contents of the fridge, not finding anything she wants, she thought to herself; I could do with those sleeping pills right about now. I miss those little buggers.

She closed the fridge door with a heavy sigh and made her way to the living room. I guess it can't hurt to watch a little tv.

She turned the volume down so low it may as well have been off but she did not want to disturb anyone. She decided on watching some cartoons since, in her mind, you don't really need volume for cartoons. It's the same thing with or without sound.

Roughly an hour had passed since she sat there and was now totally engrossed in some random cartoon so she had not noticed when someone went into the kitchen. Only when the person said something to her before taking up the seat next to her did she notice them. She jumped almost out of her skin actually.

"Mr D?" She questioned while holding her now racing chest, "I'm sorry, I'll go back to bed. I didn't want to disturb you guys. Sorry."

She said it all in a rush as she got up and began walking away.

"Hey hey hey," he called, "come back here. I was not running you and you did not disturb me. I got up to pee and then I felt to have a snack. Only when I came downstairs did I notice someone was in here."

Peyton let out a small breath, "oh. Really? That's good then."

She returned to her seat and Mr Dexter offered her a bowl of cereal which she took. They sat in silence after that watching the soundless cartoons.

Before she could stop herself, Peyton asked Mr Dexter a question that had always bugged her but it seemed to be downright haunting her recently. "Umm... Mr D? Why don't my parents love me?" She did not give him the opportunity to answer yet as she continued, "what have I done so wrong? I mean, I know the whole lesbian thing is a problem but aside from that... they've always hated me even before I came out. What could I have done differently? Why don't they love me they way they love Jason? The way you guys love Kimmy? What is wrong with me?"

Peyton was clearly upset and frustrated by this. Mr Dexter put his cereal bowl down on the coffee table and turned to face her. "Nothing is wrong with you sweetheart. You are perfect just the way you are. Your parents are just major fucking assholes. They cannot appreciate the good, beautiful child they had. You are our child now and we love you just as much as we love Kim. I know it's not the same thing as your own parents but we do love you and we would never give you up or hurt you. We care about you more than you will ever know. Believe me when I say that. There is nothing you did wrong and there is nothing you need to change some people just refuse to see what they have right in front of them. And the difference between you and your brother is that he is very much like your parents and that is why they like him and they don't like you. You are not like them. You are a far better person than either of them could ever dream of being."

Peyton's eyes had glazed over but she forced back the tears. Regardless of the sincerity with which Mr Dexter had said what he said Peyton still had a hard time believing him. Well, believing everything he said. She believed that he and Mrs Dexter do love her like their own. They have proved it in so many ways recently. What she did not believe was that there was nothing wrong with her and that there was nothing that she could have done to make things better. She is one hundred percent positive that it has everything to do with her. It is and was all her fault.

"Umm... Mr D?"

"Yes sweetheart?"

"I think I am ready to take you guys up on that offer to see a psychiatrist."

"Really? That's great. We'll make the appointment while we're at work tomorrow. You will get a lot of help out of it I assure you."

"Thanks." Maybe I'll even get some sleeping pills or something too...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The morning had gone by well and it was now lunch time as Peyton and Kimberly walked into the cafeteria to find their new friends.

"Hey, look, it's the love of your life you little mute." Kimberly joked as she nudged Peyton and showed her Sadie waving at them from the line.

Peyton tried her damndest but she could not suppress the smile that beamed on her face at the most adorable girl in the world waving at them in the most adorable way possible.

Kimberly took hold of her hand and led her across to Sadie.

"Hi guys!" Sadie greeted, "how's the day going so far?"

Kimberly answered with a, "surprisingly great. I'm actually enjoying this school!" Followed by a small chuckle. Peyton, on the other hand, gave a thumbs up with an accompanying smile.

Sadie just laughed at her actions, "cat still got your tongue huh?"

Cat? What cat? You've got my tongue you ridiculously gorgeous human being!

Peyton just smiled and shrugged.

The line moved quickly and soon they were making their ways outside. Apparently Sadie and her friends eat outside. Apparently there are tables for eating outside.

"This school is so cool!" Kimberly blurted at learning this fact.

"Hi folks! These here are my and Casey's new friends!" She said as she set her tray down and proceeded to introduce Kimberly and Peyton to her friends.

So, there were four of them including Sadie and Casey. The other two were Justine and Kirk.

"Where's Casey?" Kimberly asked after she and Peyton had taken their seats.

"Yeah... where is she?" Sadie questioned.

"She's finishing a test. The teacher got to class late so the test started almost half an hour late." Justine responded.

"And how exactly do you know this?" Kirk questioned in humor.

"Because... I am in that class."

"And you're not doing the test why?" Sadie asked seriously.

"I didn't know shit on that paper! Then lunch came and I'm starving so I left."

They all burst into laughter. Except Peyton. She just smiled really hard.

Roughly ten minutes later Casey joined them, "I see you guys have all become acquainted." She said while gesturing between Peyton and Kimberly and Justine and Kirk.

They all fell into conversation about random things while they ate. That is until Kirk spoke to Peyton, "umm... no offense, but do you talk?"

Peyton simply nodded.

"Oh, okay. It's just that you haven't said a word since you got here."

Peyton shrugged and Sadie decided to talk on her behalf, "for some reason she only becomes mute around me." In her voice could be heard a hint of hurt.

Peyton threw a quick glance at Sadie before looking off into the distance. She had no idea what an appropriate response should be right now. She didn't have long to think on that, however, because Kimberly spoke up. "Don't worry Sadie. She has nothing against you. She is just rendered speechless by your absolute beauty."

"Kimmy! What the fuck?!"

"And she talks!" Kimberly said with a broad grin and an applause.

Casey could not help but notice the distinct blush on Peyton's face. She obviously tried to hide it behind her annoyance at Kimberly and it seemed to work because nobody seemed to pick up on it. Well, at least no one mentioned it. But Casey took note of it.

Now that Peyton's mute spell seemed to be broken, she spoke when Justine asked her about her uniform. She gave a short answer but an answer all the same, "I hate skirts."

Kimberly relayed the incident with the principal when Kirk asked about how in hell she was allowed to wear the boys' uniform.

Soon lunch was over and before they made their separate ways to class, they said goodbye and Kimberly and Peyton assured the others that they would be joining them for lunch everyday from now on.

Before leaving, Sadie faced Peyton directly, "bye Peyton. Guess I'll see you tomorrow then." She smiled.

Peyton stared at her as she clenched her teeth after opening her mouth and having no words come out. What the fuck is wrong with you?! What is wrong with me? You mean what is wrong with Sadie? Why does she have this effect on me?

"Okay. Well bye then." Sadie said with a little disappointment as she gave a half-hearted wave and walked away.

While sitting in class, trying not to annoy this teacher who apparently hated her with her very presence, Peyton felt her phone vibrate. She pulled it out to see a text from some random number.

Hi! So I thought that since you still can't seem to talk to me in person, maybe you'd be able to talk to me in text?

Peyton decided to play ignorant.

Who is this?

Sadie! Who else would it be?

Oh...

Apparently she was just as tongue tied via text message.

So I'm not even going to get a "Hi" or anything?

Hey...

How is class going?

The teacher hates me! I wish I was actually talking to you in person so that I could admire you. Peyton did not actually send that. What she did send was a thumbs up emoticon.

Okay, I give up. Nevermind.