I Stole Your Girlfriend

by Gulsvik Doneck

  Sadie's face fell into a deep frown. "I'm sorry Peyton. You shouldn't have had to live through that. But what do you mean by they punished you for who you are?"

  Peyton shrugged, "we all have our crosses to bear. And you shouldn't have to live the way you are. It's not right Sadie."

  "You're avoiding my question."

  "That's not important."

  "Yes it is and I want to know."

  "Fine. For being a lesbian okay! They hated it. Probably much more than you do though."

  Sadie frowned again but she said nothing. She couldn't think of anything to say that would make this right. She was having a hard enough time dealing with this whole lesbian thing on her own. She had nothing to offer Peyton.

  "Your turn." Peyton stated looking at her expectantly.

  Sadie sighed and looked away from Peyton to the table where she traced invisible patterns with her finger. Peyton put her hand on Sadie's causing her to stop and look up at her with a gasp.3

  "Come on Sadie, you promised. That was not exactly easy for me to tell you but I did."

  "You didn't have to."

  "Sadie!"

  "Fine fine! Okay! I'll tell you geez!" Sadie realised that her hand was still under Peyton's and at that realisation she freaked a bit and yanked her hand away. She stared at it for a moment wondering why it was tingling before she turned her attention back to Peyton. "I don't know where to start... I haven't spoken of any of this in almost four years... Actually, I've never spoken of this..."

  Peyton sighed, she knew exactly what Sadie was going through but that didn't stop her from getting slightly impatient. She felt that Sadie was dragging this out purposefully.

  "Just, just start at the beginning."

  Sadie looked at her with an expression she just could not read.

  "Okay fine. I'll leave." Peyton said in defeat as she got up from the table and made her way to the door.

  Sadie just sat there watching her walk away and she couldn't explain why, but there was a pressure on her chest that just grew with every step that Peyton took further away from her.

  Peyton was at the door when she turned and looked at Sadie, "don't worry, I won't be bothering you again. I get it. I finally get it."

  Chapter 28

  Get what? What do you get Peyton?! Sadie screamed in her head. What the hell is she talking about?'

  The next thing Sadie heard was her door being closed. Something snapped in her at that sound and she flew off of the chair and bolted for the door. When she got outside Peyton was nowhere in sight. The pressure in her chest was so strong now she couldn't breathe and she felt that her chest will explode at any moment. She fell to her knees as she cried out, "Peyton! Please don't leave me! Please!" The next thing she knew, she was crying and sobbing uncontrollably and she could not give herself an explanation why.7

  Peyton came running when she heard Sadie's exclamation. She could not believe her ears. When she got back to Sadie's apartment and saw her in the state she was in on the floor, a few tears of her own found their way out. It broke her heart to see Sadie like this. "Hey, I'm here, let's go inside."5

  Sadie didn't seem to hear a word she said so, she bent over, placed her arms securely around the distraught girl and lifted her. She placed her gently on the couch and began walking back to the door when she was rendered imobile seeing that she was now in a death grip from behind. "Don't leave me please Peyton. Please. I'm sorry. I'll talk just give me time but please, please don't leave."3

  Peyton chuckled lightly as she placed her hands on Sadie's, "I'm not leaving Saide, I'm going to lock the door."

  Sadie's grip on her lightened allowing her to turn around and face Sadie. "I'm not going anywhere again. I promise." Peyton gave her a small smile.

  Sadie nodded slightly and let go of Peyton who went and, as she had said, locked the door and returned to where she was standing. Peyton tentatively wrapped her arm around Sadie's shoulder, "let's sit shall we?"

  Sadie nodded and pointed to the couch, "please?"

  Peyton smiled at her, "of course."

  They walked over to the couch and only when they sat did Peyton remove her arm from Sadie. She felt comfortable with it there. She felt like her arm was made to be wrapped around Sadie. Stop it Peyton! Focus!

  They sat in silence for a couple minutes before Sadie spoke, "I'm sorry..."

  Peyton looked at her and was thankful that she looked back, "it's okay. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere. Again."

  Sadie couldn't help but let out a small smile after which she nodded and took in a deep breath, "remember I told you we had a house?"

  Peyton nodded, "with a yard and a dog."

  Sadie smiled, "you remembered!"

  Peyton nodded with a smile of her own, "I remember everything you told me."2

  Sadie looked at Peyton in slight disbelief. 'What is it with this girl? Why do I feel like this with her? How is it that she is getting me to open up when no one else could? Why do I feel safe with her? Why do I trust her?' She shut her eyes tightly in an attempt to stop her thoughts and continue talking.

  When she reopened her eyes she caught Peyton looking at her humorously. "What?"

  Peyton shook her head, "nothing."

  "Oh come on Peyton, what?"

  "It's just you're so cute when you're battling with your thoughts." Peyton gave her a toothy grin.

  Sadie crossed her arms and huffed, "you're a meanie!"

  Peyton stuck her tongue out at Sadie before she laughed, "I'm sorry... I promise I will stop harassing you like that."

  "Please don't..." Sadie whispered.4

  "Okay. I won't." Peyton whispered back.

  "Okay, so anyhow," Sadie continued in her regular voice, "like I was saying, we had a house and such. And dad, well he wasn't the way he is now. He was great. He was like my best friend. He had a good job as a dental nurse. He was happy there. We'd all go to the movies on Sunday afternoons after spending the day in the park or something. On Friday's he always brought home some sort of takeout for dinner. He helped me with my homework everyday. Sometimes he took me to work with him and a couple times he gave me some of that gas."

  "Laughing gas?" Peyton interrupted.

  Sadie nodded with a big smile as she continued recounting the events, "yeah. It was so cool. He was so cool. Now, he's just a bum. He lost his job. He drinks away his entire welfare check. He's hardly home and when he is, he never even talks to me. He just ignores me. I tried getting him to talk for a long time. I tried to get him help but he just refuses." She ended with a frown.

  Peyton looked at her sympathetically, "okay. I noticed you never said anything good about your mother specifically. Did you guys not get along?"

  Sadie sighed before looking at Peyton, "we were extremely close. I told her everything. I know most people don't have a relationship like that with their mother but I did. We were even closer than my dad and I. She taught me to cook..."2

  "So what happened then?"

  A few tears escaped Sadie as she said, "she fucked everything up."

  Peyton pulled out a bandana from her pocket and offered it to Sadie. "How?"8

  She took it and dried her eyes before saying, "she left us."

  "Why?"1

  "I... I can't. I can't do this Peyton. I thought I could but I can't. Sorry."

  "It's okay. I understand. I'll be back."

  Peyton got off the couch and went to the kitchen where she opened the fridge looking for something she just did not know what. She opened the freezer and when she saw a tub of ice cream she smiled. 'That'll do the trick.'

  She got two spoons and met Sadie back on the couch. "Let's pig out."

  Sadie looked up at her and through her tears she managed a smile. She took the spoon which Peyton offered her and they proceeded to demolish the entire pint.

  "That was good!" Sadie exclaimed. "I needed that. Thanks Peyton."

  Peyton just smiled, "you're welcome."

  "Hey, you mind if I go take a shower? I usuall
y take one after breakfast but I didn't this morning cause I wanted to go the grocery first."

  Peyton shrugged, "why would I mind?"1

  Sadie shrugged as well, "don't know... you'll stay?"

  Peyton nodded, "of course I'll stay. Soon you'll have to beg me to leave."

  Sadie waved her off, "I doubt it. Umm... I'm still gonna make you that food. It'll just be a little late is all."

  Peyton smiled, "take your time. I ain't going anywhere."

  Sadie smiled broadly, "okay then. I'll be right back."

  When Sadie left, Peyton remained on the couch smiling broadly to herself thinking everything over. She was jarred out of her thoughts by the ringing of a phone. She knew it wasn't hers so she followed the sound to find Sadie's phone on the counter. She picked it up and went to just outside the bathroom area. "Hey, your phone is ringing."

  "Who is it?"

  "Uhh..." Peyton looked at the phone to check the caller ID. "It says 'do not answer'."

  "Don't answer that!" Sadie exclaimed.

  "I wasn't going to. I'll just put your phone back where I found it." Peyton did as she said and resumed her position on the couch.

  A minute or two later Sadie called out to her, "Hey Peyton?"

  "Yeah?"

  "Could you do me a favour please?"

  "What?"

  "I forgot to take out a towel. Could you go in the cupboard right here and get one for me please?"2

  "Sure." Peyton got up and went to the cupboard that separated off the bathroom.

  When she opened the cupboard she immediately saw the towels and as she reached for one something caught her eye. She reached for it and sure enough it was her shirt and boxers. She couldn't help but smile and shake her head.

  "I'm bringing the towel now." She called to Sadie.

  "Close your eyes."

  Peyton chuckled, "I will."

  She closed her eyes and stepped into the bathroom with her hand stuck out way in front of her. When Sadie took the towel she spoke, "can I look now?"

  "What? No!"

  "Come on, just wrap yourself. I need to ask you something."

  "Now?"

  "Yep." Peyton said with a smile.

  "Fine!"

  "I can look?"

  "Yes."

  Peyton opened her eyes and she could not stop the gasp that escaped her upon seeing Sadie wet and wrapped in nothing but a towel.

  "Peyton!"

  "Oh. Right. Sorry." Peyton pulled her other hand from where she had it behind her back. "I found this..." She grinned from ear to ear.

  Sadie turned all shades of embarrassed. "What the... where'd you... why... I... I umm..."2

  "Why are you all flustered?"

  "I umm... I meant to give those back to you... I just... I umm... I forgot. You can take them now. But wait! I only washed the boxers. I umm... I forgot to wash the shirt..."

  Peyton laughed. "I don't want them back Sadie. You can keep them. But how did you manage to wash the boxers and forget to wash the shirt?"

  "Okay. Fine. I didn't forget okay."

  "So why didn't you wash it then?"

  "Peyton! I want to change!"

  "I'm not stopping you."

  "Peyton!"

  "Hey, we're both girls."3

  "Yeah, but you're gay."

  "Fine. Just tell me why you didn't wash the shirt and then I'll go."

  "Why must you harass me like this?"1

  "Hey, you're the one who asked me not to stop harassing you."

  Sadie sighed in defeat. "Fine! I didn't wash it because it smells like you and I didn't want to lose that okay? You happy now?"1

  Peyton was truly taken aback but she caught herself quickly, "well, you can go ahead and wash the shirt. Nothing is better than the source."

  "Huh?"

  "Just smell me. I'm all yours to smell."6

  Sadie walked over to the sink, picked up a stick of lip balm and threw it at Peyton, "get out of here!"

  "OWWW!!!" Peyton yelled in pain as she held on to her shoulder where the lip balm hit her.

  "Oh my god Peyton! I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." She cried as she rushed over to Peyton.

  When she was a mere two inches away from Peyton she removed her hand and rolled up her sleeve with a grin, "kiss it and make it better please." She pouted.2

  "Peyton! Out!" Sadie yelled when she realised that Peyton had tricked her.

  With a broad, satisfied smile, Peyton turned and left. She waited for Sadie on the couch with the same smile. She just could not wipe it off of her face. It only broadened when Sadie came out and stood before her with her arms crossed and a pout. "You're a meanie!"2

  Chapter 29

  "Come, sit." Peyton said patting the seat next to her.

  "No. I'm going in the kitchen."

  "You can cook later. We'll just eat sandwiches or something for lunch."

  Sadie sighed and sat next to Peyton. They sat there looking at each other for several minutes before Peyton spoke, "so... who was that on the phone?"

  "Why?"

  "They sent you a text." Before Sadie could protest Peyton continued, "I didn't read it or anything it's just that the text came in when I was putting your phone back on the counter."

  "Why do you want to know?"

  "I'm just curious. Is Adam still harassing you or something?"

  Sadie shook her head sadly, "no. It's not Adam."

  "Who is it then?"

  "My mother..."

  "So she still calls you? Why don't you answer?"

  "Why must you ask two questions at once?"1

  "Sorry."

  Sadie waved her off and sighed, "yes she still calls. She calls every Saturday around ten and when I don't answer she sends a text. And I don't answer because I am mad at her."4

  "Every Saturday?!"1

  Sadie nodded, "for almost four years."

  "That's when she left?"

  Sadie nodded, "it was the summer before freshman year."

  "Was she cheating on your dad or something? Is that why you're mad at her and he is drinking himself into an early grave?"

  Sadie shut her eyes for a couple seconds before opening them to look at Peyton, "no. She never cheated. At least not as far as I know. But maybe she kind of did I guess..."3

  "I don't exactly follow."

  "She fell in love."

  "So she left you guys to be with the other guy?"5

  "Well technically she didn't leave me. She asked me to live with her. I think she kind of expected that I would have chosen her."

  "Oh I see... Well why didn't you? You don't like the guy or something?"

  "Would you stop saying that?!"10

  "Stop saying what? You're not exactly explaining yourself well Sadie."1

  Sadie got up off the couch and began to pace looking at Peyton every few seconds. After about two minutes of this Peyton could stand it no longer. So, she too got up off the couch. She grabbed Sadie by the shoulders forcing her to stop. "What is it Sadie. You can tell me anything. Did this guy hurt you or something?"

  Sadie shook her head as a few hot tears rolled down her cheeks.

  "Well what is it then? Why didn't you choose to live with your mother?"2

  "Because..." She sobbed, "my dad was distraught. I couldn't leave him to be on his own. Plus... plus... I just... I love my dad and he didn't like what mom did one bit. It made him depressed and bitter so I decided that I didn't like it either..."

  By this time Sadie was in a full blown bout of tears. Peyton felt she had no other choice but to pull Sadie into a hug and rub her back gently as she tried to soothe her with kind words. Peyton walked them over to the couch and sat them down while Sadie cried.

  As she sat there, thinking everything over a thought occurred to her and she could not stop herself from what came out of her mouth. "Oh my god... Your mom left your dad for a woman didn't she?"25

  After voicing her thoughts she almost regretted it because Sadie's cries turned into screams and her grip around Peyton
turned almost deadly. 'Shit... I am right.'

  Almost half an hour later Sadie finally loosened her grip around Peyton and her cries turned to sniffles. Another five or so minutes passed before she sat up and looked Peyton in the eyes.

  "You must think I am a heartless bitch..."

  To her surprise, Peyton smiled at her and shook her head, "quite the contrary. I totally understand. I understand now why you are so against homosexuality. You see that as the thing that destroyed your family and ruined your life."1

  Sadie was taken aback by Peyton's response. She opened her mouth but then realised she had no idea what to say. Thankfully though Peyton did, "I only have one question. Are you honestly against homosexuality or are you just hurt by all of this? Because you did say that your dad didn't like it so you decided that you won't either."

  A few more tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought on Peyton's question. "I... I've been trying to figure that out myself these last couple days... I truly do not know the answer. At least not yet."

  "You do know it is just love right? We homosexuals are all just people attracted to people. The same way some people are attracted to blondes or redheads or Caucasians or Indians. We're are attracted to the same sex. Well I mean we have types too. We're not attracted to the entire female or male specie."

  Sadie nodded, "I know... and you've made that clear before."

  "Made what clear?"

  "The whole 'type' thing."1

  Peyton smiled, "you wanna know what my type is?"

  "Whatever I am not."

  "Huh?"

  "You said I am not your type..."

  "Does that make you sad?"

  "No!" Sadie said a bit too defensively.

  Peyton smiled, "okay then. But anyhow, I lied."

  "About what?"

  "You are my type. You check every one of my boxes. Well, all but one."2

  For some reason this made Sadie exceedingly curious, "really? Why'd you lie about that?"

  "Because... you were cussing me out for being gay and accusing me of be a pervert and such... You were already assuming that I was stalking you or some shit. I was not going to let you know that I like you..."1

  Sadie was speechless for a while. "I am really sorry about that. You like me?"

  Peyton bit her lip as she nodded, "actually, to be honest, I am totally and completely in love with you. I have been from the first day I saw you in that cinema and it has just intensified since then."4