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The flash of anger that followed was unexpected and alarming. "You don't know that! You aren't even going to try!" It came out harsh, broken around the edges. Peyton gasped, surprised at herself as she covered her own mouth and looked away. She hadn't meant to say that. She hadn't expected to feel that.

"I'm sorry..."

"You weren't the only one trying." She'd looked up at some point during Amercia's answer, but she still looked hurt, still looked betrayed. As raw as she felt, she couldn't hide it. She didn't even know if she wanted to hide it. "I would have tried." There was something painfully finite about that, and after a moment the dainty Sun slipped off her chair, standing awkwardly in the sunny kitchen.

Peytin didn't know what else to say. If she stayed, if this conversation continued on in the direction it was headed, there was a very real possibility of her saying something she'd regret later, or hearing something she wouldn't be able to unhear. She had to get out of there before that happened. While there was still something between them to hold onto, even if it was fraying and stretching.

America didn't need her to be strong.

The America that had sat across the table from her was someone Peyton wasn't sure she recognized. Not the one that had sang Disney duets with her on training grounds. Not the one that had saved her from herself in the jungle. Not the friend that had dropped everything and shown up with ice cream when Pey had had her heart broken.

She didn't know this America.

It made her chest hurt, and she could feel the warmth of tears forming at the corners of her eyes. See the haze of moisture distorting everything around the edges.

If anyone should have understood how she felt, it should have been America. If anyone had loved Taym as much as she had, it was her. No, America had loved him more. She should understand. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. It wasn't right at all.

Swallowing, Peyton scrubbed at her eyes again with the heel of her hand, dropping her gaze. "If you want to look through his room, pick anything out to keep, let me or Bix know. We have the keys." She needed to leave. Why wasn't she moving. "If...if you need anything else..." The words failed her, and she shook her head, started for the door without looking up, pausing only once when she she reached the living room.

"I love you." Still. Always.