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I’m not sure where Payton is

Maybe she’s still working? Earlier today, she said she was going to Heather’s

She could still be there

I pick up my cell and see I oes to voicemail, so I call Brandon

“Where’s Payton?”

“She went to her friend’s”

“Did anyone follow her?”

“No”

I had said they didn’t have to anymore Once I kneasn’t Paul, I decided to respect her wishes

Noish I didn’t

Walking toward my office, I check all the rooms I pass, but she’s not in any of them

Maybe she’s at Cresthill?

I call Margret

“Hi, Trent,” she answers

“Hey, Margret Any chance Payton is there today?”

“No, I’m sorry She doesn’t normally volunteer on Fridays”

“Yeah, you’re right”

“Everything okay?” she asks

I can’t put er on it, but I feel like no, it’s not

“Did you upset the poor girl?” Margret takes Payton’s side in an instant, but I don’t mind Payton is lovable like that She has that effect on people “Why don’t you just tell her how you feel?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You knohat I’ about”

In the background, I hear my mother’s voice say, “Put him on speaker”

Jeez Nohat?

“Trent Aldridge”

“Hi, Mom”

“What did you do to Payton?”

“What? Nothing” I groan over the line

“Then why does it sound like so”

“She’s just not here It’s nothing”

“Or maybe she left You were an ass when you first moved her into your house Anyone with eyes can tell she loves you”

“Mo advice, but that’s not why I’ because I wanted to check to see if she was there”

I hang up quickly and try Payton’s line once ain, she doesn’t answer

Not speaking to her makes me realize how I feel