Chapter 36: You're A Good Man

Payton had tried to go to bed over an hour ago, but sleep wouldn't come. She was tossing and turning, and her mind was running a mile a minute. One minute the grief of her mom passing would crash over her and the next the nerves of meeting with Dave would take over. She was a hot mess, and she wasn't sure what to do about it.

"What's going on in that head of yours?" Hailey asked, startling her.

"Lots of things."

"Payton, it's going to be okay. I know it's crappy for me to say that, but it will be. We're gonna get through this," she told her reaching for her hand.

Payton squeezed her hand, "I know, it's just so... I don't know how to explain it. She wasn't really here with us for so long anyway, but it always felt like she could come back to us."

"You want me to stay?" she asked.

"No. Josh is staying, and I'll be okay. It won't be long before we're back at school anyway."

"Okay, if you want me to, though, I will."