In A Different Time | COMPLETED

Picnic

Wiping away the excess blood that dripped from her lips, Payton placed down the empty blood bag. “Can me friends come along. If that want to that is.” Payton asked looking from her parents to her friends, who were shaking their heads vigorously.

Her parents seemed beyond excited, Mr. Kent shaking his head spoke. “Of course sweet heart. The more the merrier.” the little circle of friends cheered.

“Introduce us though, you haven’t.” Her mother spoke looking at each of the kids among them, Payton shook her head. Pointing at Amber first she began introducing them, “Amber and Dixie. Jaan, Keelin and Ralph.” she pointed at each one of them, there was no need to introduce Dahlia.

Mr. Kent stood smiling at everyone in the group, “Nice to meet you all. Shall we get going now.” he helped his wife up, everyone gave him a nod. With the basket in Ralph’s hand they all began to follow the couple.

Walking to the direction of the car, some students kept staring at them, not because of them but Payton’s parents. They didn’t seem a day over thirty even though they were, their appearance impressed the students.

“If those are her parents. It explains why she’s so hot.” one of the students whispered to her friend, Payton clearly heard them and she knew she wasn’t the only one who did.

“You heard that.” she asked not addressing anyone in particular, looking at the direction of the girl she tore her attention away again. “Yep!” her parents and all her friends agreed.

“She’s not so good at whispering as she thinks.” Dixie spoke looking at girl with no sort of emotion.

“That’s how Amanda is.” Keelin commented getting nods from all his friends, but Payton and her parents. Unlike them, the whole group knew Amanda and her ways, they didn’t particularly hate her but she was in that line of being hated.

Amanda was just like Cade but worse, she was a hypocrite. Despite hating on people like their group, she actually behind their backs slept with a girl, Tina in particular.

On her off days she seduces girls she thinks are cute, after sleeping with them she acts like her old self to other people. She’s just in denial she’s a lesbian, hating on them being a coping mechanism.

Mr. Kent turned to the children as they had approached their car. “Three of you can seat at the back while the rest of you can seat at the back back.” he smiled unlocking the car.

Payton looked over at the three girls stopping them. “You three can sit at the back. We’ll be at the back back.”

Dahlia looked back at her friend with narrowed eyes. “You’re leaving us to seat with them while you guys will be enjoying the wind?”

“Yes. Now enjoy them talking your ears off.” Payton patted their backs, walking up to the body of the car she and the guys got in.

“Come on girls get in!” Mrs. Kent called them over to the car, the girls followed them into the cars.

Ralph looked at Payton curious as the car began to move, resting his back against the car he eyed Payton. “Why did you seat out here, you could have easily sat in there.” he pointed to the front where the girls and her parents where, and by what she could hear her mother had not stopped talking.

A gush of wind passed by them as the car began taking up speed, with speed came noise. Looking over at Ralph, Payton crossed her arms. “First of all, I don’t want to be there when they tell the girls embarrassing stories about me. Second, I really like seating here watching the world pass by. The fresh air that passes and the freedom to do this.”

Payton stood making sure to hold on to the car, she faced the direction they were heading. Spreading her arms out wide and high, the girl shouted on to of her voice. A wave of freedom and fun passed through her, she never felt more alive.

The guys watched her with smiles and nods of disbelief, she was truly something.

Payton looked back to the guys, “Come on it’s fun. Try it.” they all seemed uncertain but Keelin, he got up and did the exact same thing. Turning back with a smile he looked at his other friends, “Boys you gotta try this!” he shouted unable to contain himself.

After hesitating a bit the two boys got off their butts and stood, Payton and Keelin making way for them. They stood with their spread out then began shouting, the wind passing blowing the three boys and girls shouted the rest of the drive, nothing felt more exciting.

Arriving their destination Mr. Kent parked the car on free space on top of the hill. “Alright kids we’re here!” he opened the car door existing the car, everyone else following him behind.

Everyone walked away from the car to their picnic place, everything was already set. Payton looked over to her parents in awe, “You already set everything up before coming to school?” she asked.

With a smile on her face her mother brought her arm over her shoulder, pulling her daughter towards her. “Of course we did. Come on everyone the food won’t eat itself.” Everyone listened to Mrs. Kent, taking their seats.

Payton stopped walking which caused her mother as well to stop. “What if I had said no?” Payton asked looking at both her parents, still under her mother’s arm.

Her father patted her back, “You wouldn’t have, sweetheart.” which was the truth Payton could hardly deny her parents wishes, it always made her a bit guilty and they made sure she did feel guilty.

Payton and her mother joined the group, taking a seat between her friend Dixie and Jaan, her mother sat along sit her husband.

They all sat immobile looking at the two grown adults. Mrs. Kent pushing the dishes to the children spoke. “Help yourselves to anything.” they nodded their heads in agreement serving themselves with what ever they wished.

Everyone with a plate in hand having their late lunch kept exchanging a bit of talk, from one another. Luckily for Payton, her mother had said nothing embarrassing yet but she knew it wouldn’t stay that way for too long.

Habiba putting her plate aside licked the excess oil off her fingers. “I have a story!” she exclaimed in excitement.

Payton not at all concerned continued with the piece of chicken she had in her hand. Everyone else listened attentively to her mother.

“It’s about Payton.” Payton immediately looked up to her mother with a mouth full of chicken. “Don’t do that mum don’t. Dad tell her please.” she pleaded, looking at her father for help but by the way he was devouring his meal, he was busy.

“About the topic on Payton. I think their is a problem with her Mrs. Kent.” Ralph spoke looking at Payton’s mother, Payton having the slightest clue on what he was referring to.

“What is wrong with her?” Mr. Kent asked.

“Did you know she hasn’t slept with anyone in two years nor dated a single soul?” Payton glared at Ralph letting go of her plate, the rest of her friends looked at Ralph in fear of his own life. Mrs. Kent just looked dump found.

“Not even a fling, a hook up?” Mr. Kent was now suddenly aware of the conversation, looking at Ralph he shook his head no. The father looked over to his daughter puzzled, concerned or surprised.

Payton just shrugged, “I’m just not interested.” there was a bit of truth in her words, but not all of it was the truth.

“The s*x part I understand and totally agreed, but the dating. Don’t tell me you’ve only dated Avery.” Mrs. Kent looked over to her daughter asking, she was proud to know she hadn’t been messing around but not even dating, she knew her daughter way better.

“You guys are making a big deal out of nothing. To some of us dating or s*x isn’t life, I’m comfortable with being alone. Okay?” she tried to explain but no one agreed with her, not even her mother.

“That is a lie, there has to be something more to—” Payton cut Ralph short by throwing a bone at his face. Grabbing the bone from his laps looked at Payton with narrowed eyes, “That bone hurt you know.”

Payton smirked, “Exactly what I was aiming for. Not wasting food on you.” she looked back at her meal.

Mrs. Kent shook her head this was not what she had in mind of a picnic. “Payton don’t be immature.” looking over to her mother with a side smirk Payton grabbed a small bone throwing it to her mother. She looked annoyed buy then again amused. “That’s it, I’m killing this child.” she told her husband standing.

Payton stood as well but for an entire different reason, she began running away while her mother chased her. It was more of the fun for both of them nothing too serious.

After a few seconds everyone else joined in too trying to catch Payton, she threw bones at everyone. They all raced around laughing and throwing bones at Payton.