Jen ran after Lauren “Babe, I’m sorry I was just trying to have some fun. You’re not hurt are you? Why don’t you go upstairs and get changed and stay. Cory and Scottie were looking forward to you’re blueberry waffles tomorrow.”

“I’ve had a long day. I’m going home. Call me later.” With that Lauren left Jen standing in the middle of the drive-way.

The party continued on, Jen trying to have but continuously thinking about Lauren. The party eventually ended, people were asleep all over the house, all the girls on the team were still at the house but all the extras had left. After checking to make sure everyone was asleep and okay Jen headed up to her room, exhausted. The normal 5 second trip up to the attic seemed to take a million years and Jen’s sluggish pace. When she got up there she was greeted with a surprise. She let out a small scream.

            “Hey buddy, you scared me. I thought everyone was in the other bedrooms or downstairs.”

“Yeh, I’m sorry didn’t feel like sleeping on the floor and every other comfy surface was taken. I didn’t think you’d mind.” Peyton said sitting up on the bed. “I can go sleep on the couch if you want, but I knew Lauren left so I figured there’d be room.” Peyton began to get up.

~~~Peyton- a name which is often thought to be a boy’s name is a drop-dead gorgeous 16 year old. She’s athletic and is on many sports teams including basketball, softball, tennis, badminton and volleyball. Peyton is also in concert band, jazz band, marching band and pit band. She volunteers every weekend she is not out of town. She is on student parliament and on the honor roll. She has dreams of becoming a world famous musician, playing in the WNBA, becoming the next Female Prime Minister of Canada, falling in love and having a family.~~~

“No, no it’s fine. You can sleep on my bed. Why aren’t you sleeping though?” Jen said as she changed into sweat pants and a t-shirt. Tossing Peyton a pair of Lauren’s shorts and a t-shirt. “These should fit they’re Peyton’s. Mine would never fit you. You’re so tiny.”

“Just can’t sleep and was waiting up for you. And I’m not tiny, just fit.”

After the two changed they got under the covers facing each other.

“Thanks for throwing me the ball, today. You could have made that shot. Why’d you let me?”

“Because I knew whoever made it would be MVP and you really deserved it after everything you’ve been through this year. You had a broken leg a month ago and now look at you, you’re faster then you used to be and stronger. You’ve had a 110% recovery.”

“Well thanks. Nationals you make the winning shot. You deserve MVP just as much as I do. You do everything around the school and are apart of a million clubs and still seem to make every practice and excel at everything. We couldn’t have made it this far without you.”

“You know this is one of the first times we’ve actually talked more then just a sentence or two? Why is that? We’ve been on the same basketball team for the past 6 years since grade 5.”

“I don’t know, you always seem so busy, we just run in different crowds I guess, I’m not really into school and I don’t know I just always thought you didn’t like me so I just stayed away.”

“Me not like you? What gave you that idea? Why wouldn’t I like you?”

“I don’t know you always seem to be in your own world and I guess I thought that because you’re religious you didn’t approve of my lifestyle.”

“You’re lifestyle... you mean being gay? No, I think you’re very courageous for being out. It’s not like you chose to like women or when I looked into homosexuality for a project that’s what one of the websites said. It said queer people don’t choose to be queer, who would want all that hate, and struggle. Which I agree with.”

“Wow, thanks. I was wrong, and I’m sorry I avoided you.”

“I understand, why hang out with someone if they don’t like you, but I do so I guess we can be best friends now.”

The girls cracked up laughing.

“I guess we can, as long as you don’t want to start doing each others nails or something, because I don’t like nail polish and if I tried to put some on you it’d end up all over you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, I go to the salon to get my done anyway, they do different shapes on the nails and such.”

“Well la-ti-da, aren’t we miss fancy. How do you find the time to go to the salon with everything you do?”

“Scheduling, scheduling, scheduling! I figure if it’s something you really want you find the time, for me it’s the little thing I do every couple weeks for myself.”

“Very true.”

The girls continued talking for awhile about nothing important just random things, until their conversation eventually died off. They laid there silently not talking just looking at each other. Around 6 they fell asleep.

“What the hell is that girl doing in your bed and why is she wearing my clothes?” Lauren demanded as she flipped Jen onto her back so she could see her.

“Hey babe, what are you talking about?” Jen said as she woke up looking at the time. It was 8 am. She looked over and saw Peyton curled up peacefully. Boy was she a sound sleeper. Jen got up ‘shushing’ Lauren. Ushering her downstairs to her sitting area.

“I come here to make everyone breakfast and what do I find? A girl in your bed with you in my clothes. Talk about moving on fast!” Lauren began to pace back and forth her face red with anger.

“Calm down, she’s on of my teammates, Peyton. She needed a place to sleep everywhere else was taken. She was in other clothes so I gave her some of yours to sleep in, I planned on washing them. Mine would never fit her. We just talked and then slept. You realize it’s 8 am though? I’ve slept all of 2 hours.”