Sadie was first to pull away from the kiss leaving the two breathless as they stared into each other's eyes.

What the fuck just happened?! Peyton asked her now very confused yet very excited self. It's a really good thing Kimmy gave me practise. I don't know what I would have done just now if she hadn't done that for me...

Did I really just do that? Oh my god! What the heck is wrong with me?! Sadie thought to herself. But... I cannot believe that felt so freaking amazing!

"Umm... we should... we should get going..." Peyton stammered.

Sadie nodded, "yeah..."

They got up and made their way to the car in silence. Once inside, Sadie spoke, "you hungry?"

Peyton have her signature head shake with downturned lips.

"What?! I'm starving! How could you not be hungry?" Sadie was in awe.

Peyton just shrugged as she pulled the car onto the road. "I never have much of an appetite."

"Oh... that's why you eat so little at lunch?"

Peyton nodded.

"That's not good you know. You're too thin. You need to put some meat on those bones."

"I'm fine just as I am!"

Sadie put her hands up in defense, "okay okay sorry. I'm just saying... you'll make yourself sick from not eating."

"You don't think I know that?! Geez! I get enough of that from Kimmy and her folks, I don't need it from you too!"

"Okay. Sorry."

Peyton took a few deep breaths, "it's okay. I'm sorry. I really need to work on my anger management. Sorry for going all beast on you."

Sadie waved her off and proceeded to give the directions to her home.

As they drove, Peyton asked, "so you're ready to go home now?"

"I guess... I don't think I'm ever ready to go home..."

"I know the feeling. It was the same with me most of the time before Kimmy's folks took me in."

Sadie turned to look at Peyton. For some reason in that moment something changed in her, Peyton was no longer the same person to her anymore and she just could not put her finger on anything that was particularly responsible for this change and what exactly the change was for that matter. I mean, I know I always liked her... she's just one of those people you can't help but like. Or maybe that's just me... Whatever... But why all of a sudden do I feel like I need her or something? Maybe it's the fact that she doesn't seem to hate me anymore and she's actually talking to me. Or maybe it's the fact that she saved my ass... yeah... that's it. But why does she have to be gay?! Why did she have to complicate things?!

"Hey you okay?" Peyton questioned pulling her out of the flurry of her thoughts.

She nodded regardless of the fact that Peyton could not see that she did. "Sorry about that I got lost in my thoughts."

"That's what happens when you're in unfamiliar places." Peyton smirked.

"Hey! I happen to think a lot!" Sadie pouted while poking her in the arm.

"Whatever you say love." Peyton grinned.

Sadie wanted to tell Peyton not to call her that. She didn't like the idea of a gay girl calling her love but she just could not get the words out. I don't want to hurt her feelings. She justified it to herself.

"So will you get in trouble with your parents for not getting home last night?" Peyton questioned seeing that she was about to lose Sadie to her thoughts again.

"No."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah... It's just my dad and he probably didn't even notice that I was not home."

"Oh... that's fucked up." Peyton wanted to ask more like 'what about you mother?' but she thought that would be too much too soon. If Sadie didn't proffer the information she was not going to ask for it. It's not as if they're friends or anything.

"Umm... It's that building..." Sadie said pointing almost reluctantly to a very rundown set of apartments.

Peyton could hear a certain sadness in her voice when she said that. Why? Wait, is she embarrassed? She has nothing to be embarrassed about with me.

Peyton stopped in front of the building and Sadie opened the door but before she could leave Peyton spoke, "how about making me something to eat?"

Sadie turned her head quickly looking at Peyton in shock. "Why? I thought you weren't hungry."

"I'm not but I was thinking about what you said and I guess you're right. So I thought maybe if you made something for me and forced me to, I would eat it."

Sadie perked up a bit, "really?"

"Yeah, why not? Would your dad mind though?"

"Mind what?"

"Me being in you guys' home and eating your food."

Sadie couldn't help but smile. How is she so sweet and thoughtful?

"Nah. It's cool. He wouldn't even notice if I was fucking someone on couch and then killed them."

"Oh... okay. And you say this so flippantly."

"Yeah, well, it is what it is." Sadie said with a shrug before she closed the car door and pointed to an empty lot ahead of them, "you can park there."

Peyton nodded and did as she was told. On their way to Sadie's apartment Peyton was the one who got lost in thought. How could she be so cool about this? Her father is an asshole! How could he not notice her? What is this girl living with?

"Hey..." Sadie said waving her hand in Peyton's face. "I see you're the one in unfamiliar places now." She smiled.

Peyton stuck her tongue out at her, "I happen to think a lot as well. I was not lost, I was taking a slow stroll."

Sadie chuckled, "right... So, this is me..." she said gesturing to the door before them, "it's not much and it's nowhere near anything you have but it's home to me."

As they entered Peyton told her seriously, "hey, it doesn't bother me. Honestly. And although I have always been exposed to the wealthy walks of life does not mean I have an aversion to nor do I discriminate against those who have less. Okay?"

Sadie nodded sadly, "okay... you know, we didn't always live here. We had a nice house with a yard and a dog everything."

"And I know that one day you'll have all of that again." Peyton smiled and although it hurt her to say it, she said, "I can just see you... a few years older, a blossoming career, a loving husband, two kids, a dog, a turtle and a hamster all living happily together in the most quaint little house with a big enough yard for the kids to play in. Oh, and a pool."

Sadie smiled, "you sure have a wild imagination."

She was grateful that Peyton had not asked why they no longer live in the house and what happened to her mother. She was not ready to go there.

"Umm... I need to pee real bad..." Peyton said.

Sadie pointed behind Peyton, "just down there, you can't miss it. I'll start up on the food."

Peyton nodded and left for the bathroom.

Saying the apartment is small would be an understatement. It literally had three areas separated by some really tall cupboards. One area was the bathroom, another had a mattress on the ground and the last, the one the door opened onto, had a very old couch, a really small counter, a small stove and fridge and a tiny table with two chairs.

Peyton's heart ached. No one should have to live like this. I wonder what happened to her family...

When she left the toilet she took a quick glance in at the 'bedroom' and she couldn't help but notice male clothes strewn all over the mattress in addition to beer bottles and other alcohol bottles laying all around.

When she returned, Sadie was busy cooking something and she must say, it smelled good.

"Hey... you can sit wherever you like. Just don't go into the bedroom. That's dad's."

Peyton nodded taking a seat on one of the chairs by the tiny table. It was closest to Sadie and that was the deciding factor for her. "Where do you sleep then?"

Sadie pointed to the couch, "it's more comfortable than you'd think."

"Don't you think it's unfair of your dad to take the room and leave you on the couch?"

"I made him take the room. It's easier to clean up after him there than when he was out here. He'd leave his bottles everywhere and he'd always fall off the couch. And trust me, he may look small but that fucker is heavy."

Peyton frowned. She wanted to say more. Ask more. She had so many questions like, 'does he even work?', 'where do you get money for food and clothes and school and stuff?', 'shouldn't you be saving your food for yourself instead of feeding me?' but she thought it wise to stop there.

Things were silent for a while until Sadie sat in the other chair, opposite Peyton, "food will be ready soon."

Peyton smiled and nodded, "smells really good."

Sadie blushed slightly and she didn't know why, "thanks... you know, you're the first person I've ever brought home..."

"Really? Not even Casey?"

Sadie nodded, "she may be my best friend but we haven't been friends that long. We're not as close as you and Kimberly are. We met in freshman year that's only three years."

"Yeah, but you met me a couple months ago..."

"I know right! And up until last night we were practically enemies. Weird huh?"

Peyton smiled, "yeah... weird..."

"Hold on." Sadie said as she got up to tend her pots.

Just then Peyton's phone began to ring, "I should take this, it's Kimmy."

Sadie's head snapped in Peyton's direction, "please don't tell her about last night."

Peyton nodded, "okay."

"And please don't tell her you're with me now."

"Sure." Peyton shrugged.

She can't say why but that hurt her feelings. Why doesn't she want Kimmy to know I'm with her?

"Hey Kimmy."

"Boo! What's up? Where are you? Is everything alright?"

"I'm fine Kimmy. Don't worry, please. I just needed some air last night and I just didn't feel like dealing with school today. Sorry."

"It's okay. We were just worried is all."

"We?"

"Yeah. Mom, dad, our new buddies. And guess what, Sadie didn't come to school today either."

"Really? Is she okay?"

"We don't know."

"Casey didn't call her to find out?"

"No. She said she'd call her after school to check on her. She said that Sadie's been acting weird recently so maybe she just needs some time to herself."

"Oh, okay. Well I hope everything is okay with her. Well anyway, I'll see you at home later okay?"

"Yeah okay. Bye boo. Love you."

"Bye Kimmy. Love you too."

Peyton hung up just as Sadie brought two plates to the table. "You know, if I didn't know better I would have thought that the two of you are a couple."

Peyton smiled, "seriously?"

Sadie just nodded.

"Well that'll never happen. That girl is as straight as they come."

Peyton was sure she saw something flash across Sadie's face but it happened much too quickly for her to be sure that it actually happened much less to determine what it was. So, she decided to ignore it and look at the plate in front of her. She could not believe her eyes. She made this in this kitchen?!

"What? Something is wrong?"

Peyton shook her head, "no... I just... I didn't think food could look so appetising..."

Sadie chuckled, "dig in."

Peyton shook her head, "it's too much food though. I usually eat about a quarter of this."

Sadie stared her down, "you're gonna eat it or else."

"Or else what?"

"I'll force feed you."

"And you're gonna do that how?"

"I'll blend it all up, tie you down, hold your nose so you'll open your mouth and pour it down your throat."

Peyton put her hands in the air, "whoa... okay okay, I'll eat it. You're way too serious and sure about that."

Sadie grinned as she began eating her own food. Her grin turned into a blush when she heard Peyton moan followed by, "oh my god Sadie! This is fucking amazing!"

"Thanks... it's actually my dream to be a chef..."

"Go for it! You're amazing!"

Peyton proceeded to eat every bit of food on her plate.