That evening Mr and Mrs Dexter informed Peyton that she would have her first appointment with the psychiatrist on Friday morning at nine. In that case she had the choice of skipping the entire day of school or going to school late. She decided to wait until the last possible moment to make that decision.

After dinner and the completion of their respective home works, Peyton joined Kimberly in her bedroom and they just talked.

"So, what's really up with you and not talking to Sadie?" Kimberly enquired.

"I honestly don't know." Peyton seemed to think for a moment, "I just can't seem to get the words out. Then, after I get over how beautiful she is for the millionth time, I can't help but see Adam sucking on her face."

"So that's your problem?"

"What?"

"You really cannot get over the fact that she is in a relationship with Adam huh?"

Peyton shook her head. "I know it's none of my business but it just bugs the fuck out of me."

"You really should tell her."

"I can't."

"Why?"

"She's just... she's too sweet. I don't want to hurt her."

"But aren't you hurting her more by not telling her the truth and allowing her to continue on in a toxic relationship?"

"Well, why don't you tell her then?"

"Because, although I have no problem doing it, I think you should. You're the one who has wanted to do it long before you even met her. Plus, you're the one who could really tell her the truth about Adam."

Peyton sighed, "yeah... I guess... I'll tell her one day. Hopefully soon."

Kimberly just patted her on the back and suggested that they get some sleep since it was almost midnight. Peyton agreed regardless of the fact that she was wide awake and knew there was no chance of sleep anytime soon for her. She kissed Kimberly goodnight, on the cheek, after tucking her in and left for a long sleepless night in her own room.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"So Peyton, I want to ask you something." Kirk said soon after they had all joined for lunch again.

"What?"

"Now, I'm not stereotyping or anything but it's just that all the evidence suggests..."

Peyton cut him off, "get to the point and ask your question Kirk."

"Okay, sorry. Are you gay?"

"Yes."

"Wait! Wow! Just like that?"

"What did you expect me to do?"

"Well, I don't know... I just didn't think you would have answered like that. So straightforward and at once..."

"Well, it was a yes or no question. And since the answer was definitely nowhere near no, I said yes. Because, I like me the girls. They're so beautiful and sweet. I'm sure you agree with me on that."

Kirk beamed, "yeah I do! Finally I have someone to talk to about girls! Because in case you didn't notice my three best friends are girls and sometimes they just don't see things the way I do. You don't know how sick I am of hearing how hot this guy is and how many abs that guy has and how he looks like he's good in bed." Kirk ended on a note of frustration.

Peyton glanced at Casey and caught a sad look on her face before she pushed it away. Peyton looked back at Kirk, "don't worry, you'll never hear those nauseating lines from me. Maybe one day we could go to the mall and see how much we have in common when it comes to taste in girls."

Kirk put his hand out for a fist bump with Peyton; which she returned. "Sounds like a plan!"

"You two cannot be serious!" Sadie exclaimed disgustedly.

"What?" Kirk asked.

"So you're going to the mall trolling for girls?! That's disgusting!"

"That's not what we're going to do! We're going to do exactly what you three always do with guys. Admire from afar."

"And you Peyton. How could you?! A girl of all people, taking advantage of her fellow peoples." Sadie shook her head in distaste, "you should be ashamed of yourself."

Peyton just stared at her, the disgust evident on her face as she stared Peyton down. Peyton's anger rose up as she looked at Sadie and for the first time she spoke to her, "why don't you say what you really mean?"

"I did!"

"No. You did not."

"Oh? And how would you know? Suddenly you've become an expert on me?"

"Just say it Sadie! I'm a big girl, I can take it. I just hope you're a big enough girl to take my response."

The other four at the table looked on at the two who seemed to be the only ones in existence for each other at the moment. They were all very much interested in what was taking place so no one made any effort to intervene.

"I'm not some baby you know!"

"No, you're not but you're naive as fuck!"

"Oh really?"

"Yes! Really! Now just say it! I don't have all day and I'm not going to let you drag this on, looking at me with disgust from here on in. So, let's deal with it now."

"Okay! Fine! You are disgusting! Don't you know homosexuality is wrong?! You cannot like the same sex, that is just vice!"

There were gasps from everyone at the table. Peyton looked at Casey and felt sorry that she had instigated this scene because Casey was visibly crushed by the information she just learned about her best friend. Her best friend, who's opinion matters the most to her, hates homosexuals. And she is a lesbian. She was planning on telling Sadie but now she knows she can't and it broke her heart much more than she thought it ever could.

"It is not wrong and you cannot tell me who I can and cannot like. Who I like may be wrong only because the person is an idiot but then that does not make me any different from you."

"You are nothing like me! I am straight! I have an awesome, caring boyfriend! Boy being the operative word!"

Peyton laughed a dry, humorless laugh. "Trust me honey, we are very similar. Liking someone who doesn't give a rat's ass about our genuine happiness."

"Don't call me honey!"

"Why? Because I'll put my gayness on you and you'll catch the homosexual disease? Please, you're not even my type. And if I wanted to turn you I'd kiss the fuck out of you just the right way to make you beg for more."

"You cannot turn me! No girl can! I love guys!"

"Right... whatever you say babe."

"Don't call me that!" Sadie was genuinely upset, irritated and disgusted by Peyton. "I have a boyfriend!"

"Oh boo hoo. I had a boyfriend too. His name is Adam Bennett."

"You see, you had a boyfriend! You like guys you're just rebelling and think you like girls. Probably just trying to hurt your parents or something."

"Had being the operative word! And it was not by my choice. My parents forced me. You do not know everything!"

"That's because you're parents are wise. They know homosexuality is wrong!"

Peyton's anger was flaring now and she tried her best to control it, "you don't know fuck shit about my parents you idiotic, naive, homophobic bitch!"

"Hey hey calm down boo!" Kimberly intervened, "I told you to tell her not beat her with your words."

"And she's not beating me with hers?!"

"I never said that but you are being an asshole now."

Peyton sighed and just as she was getting up Justine stopped her with a question, "you said your ex boyfriend's name is Adam Bennett?"

Peyton sat back down, "yes. At least somebody picked up on that." She looked at Sadie again, "does that name ring any bells for you?" After getting no response she continued, "isn't your precious boyfriend named Adam Bennett?"

Sadie, for the first time was at a loss for words as the full blast of what Peyton was saying dawned on her. It cannot be the same person. Not my Adam. He's a sweetheart. He loves me. He told me so himself! She's lying. She's just jealous.

"He's two timing you Sadie. Just like he did with me."

"Well, he isn't with you anymore, if you're even telling the truth, so he's not two timing me."

"Sadie, come on, don't be so childish. Adam is not a good guy."

"Wait, how do you even know who my boyfriend is? Are you stalking me or something? Oh my god! You pervert! That's why you couldn't talk to me right?!"

"Please, don't flatter yourself. I told you, you're not my type. And I happened to see you two in the cinema almost a month ago." Peyton proceeded to describe what both Sadie and Adam had on that day and what movie they watched and how Adam came late and what his excuse was.

Sadie's expression showed that she was convinced but she refused to admit it. "So, even if all of that is true, there is no proof that he was your boyfriend. You're just jealous of us."

"Jealous? Why in the fuck would I be jealous?!"

"Easy, you're jealous of me because I have a great boyfriend and you want him as your own and since you insist on being a lesbian, you're jealous of Adam because he has me and you wish you did. But you never will! Because that is wrong and disgusting and you will be punished for being gay!"

Peyton laughed, "I'll never be jealous of you, Adam is a fucking asshole! And why are you so insistent on the fact that I like you? It would be flattering to have a girl lust after you huh? So you could satisfy yourself that you are so precious that guys and girls alike can fall for you? Please! Maybe some other girl will like you but honey, not this one! You would suck at being a lesbian!"

Peyton could not take it anymore, the accusations, the judgments, the lying about liking Sadie, her exaggeration and bitchiness, everything. She got up and threw her trash away when she returned for her bag she glared at Said and said, "don't worry your pretty little head, I'm already being punished." She stormed away mumbling and cursing under her breath.