After tossing and turning the entire night, unable to sleep due to the argument Peyton and I had had, I begrudgingly got up and made my way downstairs. Sleep was evading me purposely, forcing me to think long and hard about the words Peyton had spoken to me.

Did I believe that she had nothing to do with the boys' bet? Yes. Was I angry that she had that kind of reputation that they simply expected her to try and have sex with me? Yes. Was I angry that she refused to tell me how she felt about me, leaving me to assume that my feelings were not returned? Yes.

The clock in the living room indicated that it was 3:30am. This was the first time I had left my room other than to go to the bathroom, and it was nice to be in my house without Peyton's presence looking over me. I turned on the TV and watched the late news, eager to find out any positive information that I might have missed in yesterday's broadcast while I was shut off in my room.

" — say that while the number of infected cases are increasing worldwide, the death toll is gradually decreasing as a result of strict lockdown measures. Researchers in Germany have claimed they have found a cure, and are currently trialling their findings on infected civilians in controlled environments.

The Australian Health Minister has announced that restrictions will remain until there are less than four cases of infection per week, nation wide. Clearly, we still have a long way to go until we reach that target, but it's positive to hear that there are plans being put in place.

There has been positive feedback regarding the care packages delivered by the military to each household. The Australian Government is pleased you announce that there have been no deaths due to negligence, starvation, or exposure. Ninety seven percent of deaths in the past twenty days have been ENOV-18 related. These statistics show that while we unfortunately don't have full control over the virus, our citizens are still being cared for.

The Australian Military have set up a hotline for any Australian residents who have had to lockdown out of their home. People are being encouraged to register their current address and their home address on the website, and the militarily will escort them from there to their homes in a sterilised vehicle. All residents being transported will be tested for the virus en route to their homes. If this concerns you, please visit www.ausmilitary.com.au/enov18relocate."

"Why are you awake?"

Peyton's voice startled me and I jumped, the TV remote crashing off my lap and landing loudly on the hardwood floor.

"Jesus, Peyton. Warn a person, would you?" I grumbled, holding my hand to my thumping chest.

"Sorry, I just heard the TV when I woke up and thought I might've left it on last night. I didn't realise you were down here. Are you okay?" she spoke softly, her voice gentle and timid.

"I'm fine, I just couldn't sleep. I was watching the news," I said curtly. I was still more than annoyed at Peyton, and the annoyance increased as she had the audacity to walk over and sit down next to me on the couch.

"Would you want me to do that?" she asked nervously, after a moment of awkward silence.

"Do what?"

"Register on the website to, you know, go home..."

"Oh," I inhaled deeply, registering her question fully. Even in my anger towards her, I still wanted her to be here. I still wanted her close. "I mean, it's up to you. If you'd rather go home..."

"Not really," she shook her head, casting her eyes down to the floor. "But I will if you want me to."

I opened my mouth to reply, but stopped as Dennis came trotting down the stars and towards couch. He climbed up and planted his backside firmly on Peyton's lap, turning his head to lick her face. I stifled a chuckle as she wiped her face clean from his slobber.

"I think Dennis might miss you if you leave," I told her.

She looked at me from behind Dennis' large head with her eyebrows raised, "Just Dennis?" she smirked knowingly.

Any anger that had been dissipating inside me immediately returned in full force. "No," I shook my head, glaring at her. "You don't get to do that."

She looked taken aback at my sudden outburst. "Do what?"

"You don't get to make jokes at my expense when not even a day ago you told me you didn't have feelings for me!" I raised my voice, hearing it echo in the silence of the night.

Peyton huffed as she turned to face me, tucking her legs underneath her.

"I didn't say I don't have feelings for you, Zara!" she said, her tone exasperated.

"You may as well have!" I snapped back at her.

How could she possibly think that the conversation we had had in my bedroom could be construed any other way. She didn't admit to having feelings for me, therefore it was safe for me to assume that they didn't exist.

Peyton sat there silently, the moonlight casting through the window and reflecting her caramel brown eyes. If I wasn't so desperately angry with her, I'd have been desperately pulling her closer to me. I was still tempted to swallow my pride and morals, and just beg her to kiss me. But I didn't. She refused to give me answers, and I knew I deserved better.

"I don't even know why I bother with you," I sighed, standing up and walking towards the stairs. I heard her shuffle on the couch behind me, but she didn't say a word, she didn't stop me.

༻✧༺

I didn't remember falling asleep after throwing myself onto my bed and crying, once again, but what I do remember is the rude awakening I was greeted with as Peyton slammed my door open and stormed inside. I didn't have a chance to yell at her, to ask her what on earth she thought she was doing, or to tell her to get out of my room, because as soon as she sat down on my bed, she started talking.

"Look, I like you, okay?" she blurted out, sounding anxious. Her appearance was disheveled and she had bags under her eyes, as if she had gotten no sleep. "I just...I don't like labelling things. I've been burnt before and I haven't had feelings for anyone since, until now."

I nodded slowly, trying (but failing) to process the information she had just given me. Peyton Mitchell likes me. The Peyton Mitchell likes me! I couldn't wrap my head around it, and was sure that I looked spaced out as my brain grappled with the details.

"I..." I coughed, my voice still raspy from sleep, "Okay."

"Okay?" She cocked her head to the side, confused.

"Okay, we don't have to label anything," I reiterated.

Her shoulders dropped in relief as she let out a long breath. "Are — are you still angry at me?"

"No, I'm not," I reassured her with a small smile.

She nodded slowly, taking her bottom lip between her teeth as she inhaled deeply. "Can I kiss you?" she whispered, her eyes searching mine.

I reached out and touched her hand that was resting on my bed. My eyes never left hers as I nodded, sitting up to meet her half way. She leant in slowly, her free hand reaching up to cradle my jaw as our lips touched. It was just as perfect as I remembered it, and I sighed into her mouth as goosebumps erupted over my skin. I brought my free hand to her chest and gripped the soft fabric of her shirt, pulling her closer.

The kiss didn't go further than that - it was the closeness that I craved more than anything. I wasn't sure how I had gone four years avoiding her, when now I couldn't even go twenty four hours without craving her touch. The hands that were holding each other left the bed, and I tangled mine in her hair as she used hers to stroke up and down my back.

We pulled apart, smiling awkwardly at each other and pressing our foreheads together.

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry for not telling you this yesterday. Feelings aren't really..." she paused, "my thing."

I could tell that admitting that was uncomfortable for her, and so I didn't push the conversation further. Instead of pressing for more information on who hurt her, when they hurt her, and how they hurt her, I just reassured her that I wasn't upset with her anymore.

"I understand," I said kindly. "You don't have to tell me anything else. I won't press you for answers unless you give me a reason to. Deal?"

"Deal," she smiled, leaving a firm kiss on my forehead before standing up and walking to my bedroom door.

"I've made breakfast if you want some," she said. "It's just eggs and bacon with toast. Come down when you're ready."

She disappeared out of my doorway and I heard her footsteps descend down the stairs to the kitchen. I took my time getting up out of bed, still processing what had just happened between Peyton and I. She had told me she likes me, we had kissed, and she had admitted something personal to me. I smiled to myself, realising that I was slowly but surely breaking down those walls that Peyton had built so high.

I couldn't help but let the anxiety creep in, though. I could hear Aspen's imaginary voice in my ear telling me to 'be careful' or 'she's just using you for sex', or something else that would make me doubt what Peyton and I had. I was scared to tell them, in fear of hearing those words — words of discouragement. I didn't want anything to come between the developing relationship we had, because it seemed that that was happening on its own.

༻✧༺

AUTHORS NOTE

Hey guys, I'm so sorry for the long wait between updates and I'm sorry this chapter isn't very long. My writers block has been intense lately and I've been dealing with a few things.

I know a lot of you want more chapters in Peyton's POV, I haven't done many chapters like that because I personally find that stories are much more interesting when you don't know one side of it. I love the drama, the uncertainty, and the shock factor, etc.

Hope you're all well and I am really grateful for your feedback! x