I Stole Your Girlfriend

by Gulsvik Doneck

  "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."18

  "Oh... okay. And you say this so flippantly."1

  "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."2

  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."1

  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.1

  Peyton's heart ached. No one should have to live like this. I wonder what happened to her family...2

  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..."2

  "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."3

  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?!2

  "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."4

  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.

  Chapter 25

  Two weeks had passed since Sadie and Peyton spent the day together that Thursday and Sadie has been avoiding Peyton like the plague. She ignored all her phone calls and text messages and when she tried to speak to her in person at school she would give the shortest response possible and walk away. At lunch she would eat as quickly as possible and then rush off to the library with the excuse that she had lots of work to catch up on. The truth was she could not bear being in the same room as Peyton. She could not sit there and ignore her because it made her feel horrible but she also could not sit there watching Peyton interact with everyone else smiling and laughing. It did something to her that she just could not understand.3

  At night she would hardly sleep because her thoughts run wild. All they all seem to somehow encompass Peyton and if they didn't at first you can be damn sure that before long Peyton got in there one way or another.1

  "What the fuck is happening to me?!" Sadie cried out to herself as she paced in the tiny apartment while she waited for her eggs to finish to eat breakfast. "Why the fuck did I kiss her?! I'm straight! And that is so wrong! I am losing my fucking mind!" She continued talking to herself seeing as it was her alone in the apartment that Saturday morning. "Oh my god... do I like Peyton? No! I can't! She's a girl! I'm promised myself I wouldn't do this! I love guys! They're so sexy. There's nothing to like about a girl. Especially Peyton Saunders."9

  As she was taking a shower after breakfast a thought occurred to her, "wait... does Peyton like me? She did kiss me back. Nah... she doesn't. She said I'm not her type. Plus, she can't like me, I'm straight."21

  After her shower, she went into her cupboard to get a change of clothes when her eyes fell on a neatly folded shirt off by itself. She quickly got her clothes and changed before shakily reaching for the shirt. She smelled it, "god... it smells like her..." For no reason she could find, she pulled the shirt on over her t-shirt.

  She threw herself down on the couch then and covered her head with her hands. There was nothing else she could do at the moment. She would not be able to concentrate on anything.

  The harder she tried not to think of Peyton is the more Peyton invaded her thoughts. She smiled to herself as she recalled an incident that had occurred at school a week and a half before. It was and still is the talk of the school. Peyton had decided that she was going to try out for the boys football team since there was no girls football team at the school. When she got there and told the coach that she wanted to join the team the coach looked her up and down and said with a sneer, "you're a girl! That will never happen!" He then gave her a very dry, humourless laugh before continuing, "and what's up with the uniform? You think wearing that will get you onto my team?"

  Peyton shrugged and responded, "that's okay coach, I'm transitioning. So maybe next year." She proceeded to wink at the coach and walk away leaving him in a state of complete and utter shock and confusion.

  Sadie's smile grew. "What is it with that girl?" she whispered to herself.

  Then, she thought of Peyton's new hairstyle. After last weekend, Peyton had come to school with a new hairstyle this week. "It's such a stupid ass style... how the fuck do you pull it off Peyton?" Ever since she got that new hairstyle Sadie just could not keep her eyes away. Something about it intrigued Sadie and she just wanted to stare at Peyton all the time. "Maybe I'm just trying to understand how she can shave off the back of her hair, leaving her long hair on top pulled into a bun and still look good... Wait, still look good? What is wrong with me? I don't and never did think that Peyton looks good!" Sadie groaned, "I need to stop this!"11

  Just at that moment her phone began to ring and without looking at the caller ID, she answered, "hello?"

  "Sadie?! Oh my goodness! You answered! How are you sweetheart? Sadie?"

  She looked at the phone and sure enough the caller ID read "Do Not Answer!". She facepalmed herself, "fuck!"

  She could hear the person on the line still, "Sadie? You there? Please talk to me baby. Please. It's so good to hear your voice again. Sadie please."

  She hung up and bellowed. She could not believe the colossal mistake she just made. For almost four years she has ignored that call. She has not spoken to her mother in almost four years and all because her mind is distracted she just answered her mother's phone call.13

  Every Saturday morning at around ten o'clock her mother would call her. Every Saturday for the past three plus years and every Saturday Sadie would ignore the call.

  "You see what you made me do Peyton?! You're fucking me up! Now I'm talking to you and you're not even here! Fuck! You're making me crazy Peyton! And I don't understand why or how!"

  Sadie began to pace once more. "I have to get this girl out of my head!"

  She went into the kitchen then and began to cook but even that did next to nothing with regards to getting Peyton out of her head because she only wound up recalling the Thursday when she cooked lunch and dinner for Peyton and she ate it all.3

  With a heavy sigh Sadie sat down on one of the chairs by the tiny table and a thought occurred to her then, "the radio! That should work!"

  When she got her phone she saw that her mother had sent her a text message. That's what she always did. After the call, which Sadie would ignore, she would send a text message. She cleared the message and put on the radio. She returned to the kitchen singing along to the song that was playing.

  This seemed to do the trick. About five songs later Peyton was slowly leaving her mind. That is until a particular song began to play. The song brought Sadie to a halt. She leaned against the counter as she listened to the song word for word. It was Crazy by Kat Dahlia.4

  ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

  Is it crazy that I want you to stay

  When I tell you to leave when I tell you go?

  Is it crazy that I say your own name

  More times a day than I say my own?1

  Tell me baby is it crazy?

  Tell me baby is it crazy?

  Is it crazy when you're gone for a minute

  I'm missing you yeah I feel alone

  Is it crazy that I'm jealous of them bitches

  When they get your time and I know it's wrong?

  But tell me is it crazy?

  Yeah I need to know if it's crazy

  Damn

  Cause I ain't been myself lately

  Something's going on

  Nah boy I ain't even slept

  I been up all night long

  In my head

  Tryna figure out what I want what I do what I don't

  Is it crazy all them answers is you?2

  Tell me cause it's blowing my mind

  Tell me cause I don't understand

  How someone just can walk into your life

  And everything before them you forget

  Is it crazy?

  Tell me what's going on I need to know

  Cause I ain't tryna lose myself or lose control

  Baby tell me the truth I need to know

  Is it crazy?

  Baby, is it crazy?

  Is it crazy that I told my ex don't call no more 'cause I'm in love?

  Is it crazy that I keep your shirt right here just to smell your cologne?

  Damn that sounds crazy

  Tell me is it crazy?

 
; 'Cause I ain't been myself lately

  Something's going on

  Nah boy I ain't even slept

  I been up all night long

  In my head

  Tryna figure out what I want what I do what I don't

  Is it crazy all them answers is you?

  Tell me cause it's blowing my mind

  Tell me cause I don't understand

  How someone just can walk into your life

  And everything before them you forget

  Is it crazy?

  Is it crazy? (crazy)

  Is it crazy? (crazy)

  Is it crazy?

  Tell me is it crazy?

  Is it crazy?

  Is it crazy?

  Well if it is I'll just be crazy for you

  Baby cause it's blowing my mind

  Tell me cause I don't understand

  How someone just can walk into your life

  And everything before them you forget

  I'm crazy, crazy, crazy for you

  I'm crazy, crazy, crazy for you

  ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫4

  When the song was done playing she turned the radio off and slid down the counter to the floor. She pulled her legs up, rested her arms on her knees and leaned her head on her arms. As she did so, she breathed in the distinct fragrance that is Peyton. She sat up and looked at the shirt before smelling it again. She saw Peyton in her mind as clearly as if she were right there in the kitchen with her; a smile took up residence on her face at the image. She slammed her head back against the cupboard door, "holy fuck... I am in love with Peyton Saunders..."13

  Chapter 26

  It is the third week since Peyton spent the day with Sadie and she regrets it more and more with each day that passes. Why the fuck did I do that?! I could have just left her at the park like she wanted.

  It was pure torture for her. She felt that she was better off before when Sadie hated her and ignored her but now, now that they kissed and spent the day together and Sadie is ignoring her again, it's too much to handle.