Omission by Taryn Plendl Page A

to go for a run. On the w ay back, I swung by the house. I let myself in and went to the kitchen to get some water.
    “Hey!” Lucas was sitting at the table eating cereal. His hair was down and hanging in his face.
    “Hey , Garrett. What’s up?” I took a seat across from him and opened my water, draining half of the bottle with the first gulp, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.
    “Just out for a run. How was last night? What did you guys end up doing?” I had been an ass all week. I wanted so badly to see Payton—to talk to her again, but I knew I shouldn’t. The guys had put up with my attitude all week, and I decided to give them a break and stay in last night and wallow in my own self-pity.
    “We went to Pastimes.” Lucas watched me closely as he said it.
    “Oh.” I didn’t trust myself to say anything else, so I just sat there staring at the table.
    “Are you going to ask me about Payton?” Lucas leaned forward, pushing his empty bowl out of the way.
    “I shouldn’t,” I said as I picked at the label on my water bottle.
    “I k now, but I’ll tell you anyway. She looked like shit.” My head shot up, and I actually felt a little pissed off that Lucas was talking about her like that.
    Lucas he ld his hands up. “Hold on, man. She looked bad because she was sick. She actually left around ten thirty, and she could barely move. I don’t know how she made it home.”
    “Why didn’t you help her?” What the hell? He should have offered to walk her home or something.
    “Garrett, do you seriously think she would’ve let me? She seems to be as stubborn as you.” He was smirking at me.
    “You should have fucking called me.” I ran my hands through my hair. “Damn it!” I was so frustrated and torn.
    “Hey, if it makes you feel better, when we walked in she loo ked hopeful as she watched us. I’m pretty sure she was looking for you, and when you weren’t there, she looked very disappointed.”
    “Now why would that make me feel bett er?” It actually did in a way. It felt good knowing she was still thinking about me, too, but I hated the thought that I’d caused her to be upset. I didn’t want her disappointed. I just wanted her to not want to be around me. That would make it much easier to stay away.
    “Well,” Lucas stood up and stretched, “I spoke to the red head, and she said Payton wouldn’t be back until Monday. I guess they told her to stay home and get better.” He raised his eyebrows at me before turning and walking down the hall. “Just thought you might want to know,” he hollered over his shoulder.
    I sat there for a few more minutes before I made up my mind on what to do.
    ***
    I had three bags of groceries in my hands as I walked up the stairs to Payton’s apartment. I heard her shuffle to the door after the third knock. I smiled at the peep hole, knowing she was probably looking through it.
    T he door swung open. “Garrett?” She was bundled up in sweats. Her hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, and her eyes were so blue against her pale face, that they almost looked like sapphires, yet sullen. She looked beautiful standing there, but I could tell she was sick. Her cheeks were flushed, and she had dark circles under her eyes.
    “Hey, can I come in?” I handed her the stack of mail that was in the box outside the main door.
    She frowned at me. “I’m sick, Garrett, it’s probably not a good idea.”
    I held the bags up. “I know you’re sick, I’m here to take care of you.”
    Her face was so cute, and I almost started laughing at her expression. Finally, she stepped to the side without another word. I followed her in and set the bags on the small table.
    “Have you eaten anything?” I looked over my shoulder.
    “No.” She tossed the mail into a growing pile on the counter before she walked over to the couch and sat down, curling her feet up under her and laying her head back on the worn sofa.
    I went to work heating up some soup and