Conflicted

Met Someone

I woke up feeling groggy. I couldn't remember having dreamed of anything last night but I was overwhelmed with the thought of Peyton the second my eyes opened. My first thought was: I hope I hear from her today. I get up and start getting ready. When I'm finished, I check my phone hoping to see a message from Peyton. I see an unread text from an unfamiliar number and open it excitedly.

612.8876

Hi Kate. It's Hanna. Are

you a vegetarian and

are you free tonight? I'd

love to cook you that

dinner I mentioned.

Mrs. Byrnes. I save her number into my contacts. Although I'm disappointed it isn't Peyton texting me, I'm happy to hear from Hanna. I'm even happier to hear that she already wants to invite me for dinner. That means I can see Peyton again tonight. I realize how badly I ache to be near her and wonder what has gotten into me. I'm like a lovesick puppy, but I don't even mind it. I never fallen for someone so fast and so hard. I fear this will end in heartache for me... what if Peyton discovers that I have feelings for her and it scares her away?

Good morning, Hanna.

I'd love to come over.

No dietary restrictions

for me, I'm excited to

taste your cooking.

Peyton mentioned how

good it is.

Peyton had actually mentioned this to me last night when we were getting to know each other and I'm strategically bringing it up to flatter Mrs. Byrnes. I want her to like me.

Hanna Byrnes

Has she now? I'm excited to

create something special for

you, after all you've done for

my family. Is 6PM okay with

you?

I text back a confirmation and exit my bedroom, smiling. I find Sarah and Alex on the couch.

"Is Laken gone to work?" I ask, plopping down in between them. Sarah is curled up under her blanket. Only her hands and head are poking out allowing her to sip her coffee and grumble at me.

"Yeah, left a few minutes ago. She's on a twelve hour rotation at the hospital," Alex answers pleasantly, fully dressed. His empty mug sits in front of him on the coffee table. It's clear which of the two is the morning person.

"Any more left?" I ask, jutting my chin towards his blue mug.

"Yeah, made a full pot right before I woke up The Grouch," Alex smiles at his girlfriend.

"I'll end you," Sarah growls. We both laugh.

"Do you two work today?" I inquire over my shoulder as I walk to the kitchen.

"I work at one, Sarah's scheduled to close at the bar," I hear Alex respond from the couch.

I enter the living room again and sit in the chair next to Sarah and take a big drink of my coffee.

"I met someone, yesterday," I start. Sarah immediately perks up.

"Oh? Who is she?" I have her full attention now, all signs of sleepiness have disappeared. I haven't been with anyone since I was incarcerated. When I got out, I was embarrassed of myself. I worked on getting straight before even considering re-entering the dating scene. For a long time, girls and relationships had been completely put on hold. Sarah was my only friend in high school and she met Alex shortly after graduation. The two are my oldest friends, they know me better than anyone else in the world.

"Her name is Peyton. We met in the parking garage downstairs yesterday morning," I state.

"...You can continue any second now," Sarah pushes. "There's obviously more to this. You came home a zombie last night, how hard did you two go at it?" She snickers. Alex shoves her lightly with his elbow.

"It wasn't like that... she was, running from her boyfriend... He'd been awful to her, I found her sobbing by her car right before she peeled out. Her boyfriend came out seconds later. He sees me and gets up into my face. I could tell right away that he was a problem. He was asking my which way she went and it was obvious he was already angry and worked up, I didn't trust that he had good intentions with the way he'd tried to intimidate me. I end up getting him to f**k off and something made me go after her, even though I didn't even know her name yet. I found her car not far from here, pulled over at a bank. She was crying really hard. I felt like a creep but I went over to talk to her. She told me she was worried her boyfriend would follow her and I knew he planned to after my interaction with him, so I'd warned her. She ended up allowing me to help her after introductions were made. I'm glad I did, because needless to say, s**t went down, and I was there to help. The guy is sitting in a cell as we speak," I finish.

Two stunned pairs of eyes stare at me. No one says anything.

"Also, it looks like I have dinner plans with Peyton and her mother this evening," I add, nonchalant.

"What the..." Sarah manages.

"Okay, I feel like there are parts of this story you haven't elaborated on fully..." Alex begins.

My phone buzzes on my lap. I pick it up and see another number on my screen I don't recognize. My pulse throbs.

I open my texts and read "Hey, it's Peyton..."

I hold a finger up to my two very curious and stunned roommates, waiting for me to explain myself further.

"Hold that thought, gotta take this," I blurt and dart back into my bedroom to hide while I hear Sarah protest from the couch and Alex having to physically hold her back from tackling me.

The most loyal friends are the ones that are ready to pummel you when needed.