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Ignorance is bliss

The door opened a minute or so later, and a very tired, very drawn little figure appeared on the other side of it. She looked up at the man wordlessly for a moment, trying to remember if she knew him, a small frown pulling at her lips. When she decided that she didn't recognize him her expression softened a touch.

"Can I help you?" Sort of a laughable question, given she couldn't even help herself these days.



Early evening

It was probably the pest answer he could have given. Peyton regarded him for a long moment, but the slight suspicion faded, and she gave a very small duck of her head that might have been a non verbal apology.

Truthfully, she didn't feel like company, but she also didn't much like being alone, either. Nothing helped, not really, but company did provide a a small distraction, even if only temporary. "I don't mind." She stepped back as she took the bag, then left the door open for him as she headed into the small kichenette to put the wine on the counter and the sandwiches in the fridge.

While Peyton looked a bit rough--hair tangled, clothing mismatched--the dorm itself seemed almost meticulously neat. Everything but the bed, which had been seeing a lot of use as of late. Peyton herself, though unkempt compared to her usual standard, was also clean.



Evening

Everyone brought food. Peyton frowned thoughtfully down at the bag, then looked up again as he asked to come in. She shouldn't let him. He was giving her one more chance to do the right thing by sending him away, and this time she might actually be strong enough to do it.

<Let him in.>

She blinked, startled.

Warrick growled softly in her head, his presence a looming cloud of over protective worry and concern.

They'd had this discussion before. Peyton didn't have the energy to have it again now. She sighed softly, a small hand coming up to rub at her cheek and eyes. She didn't want to send him away, she really didn't. It was what she should do, what was best for him, but it wasn't what she wanted. Her eyes stung, and she stepped back away from the door and turned so he couldn't see.

It left the door open. Not quite an invitation, but she also hadn't told him to leave.

Evening

Andy had no idea of the things running through Peyton's mind - or the fact that Warrick was all for letting him into her room while Pey was contemplating chucking him out - had he known, he would have turned the puppy-eyes on her full force.

Because he knew that she was hurting and that her leaving the door open for him was probably as close to an invitation inside as he would likely get tonight, he walked right on in and shut the door behind him.

"I didn't know if you'd be hungry or anything, but I brought some sandwiches. And homemade cookies...I swear they're edible." Andy set his offerings on her desk and looked around, hands shoved into his jean pockets as he tried making himself smaller. "I sent you some texts...I mean, I understand why you didn't respond...I've just been worried about you.

"Are you...er, can't I do something to help Pey?" He did not like seeing her hurting like this and his hands itched to take her in his arms...something that made him shove his hands deeper into his pockets than before.

Ignorance is bliss

Life extended past the walls of her dorm. Peyton seemed to have forgotten that at some point over the last couple weeks. A tragedy didn't stop the world turning. It didn't stop bad things from happening, and it didn't stop her from being needed. She had a role, she played a part. She couldn't afford to shut herself away like this, not really.

But it was so hard to do anything much beyond taking care of her self(as well as she was), and keeping her room clean. The idea of anything else as just...exhausting. Overwhelming.

"I'm sorry." It wasn't his fault she was a mess. "It's not, just now." There wasn't enough in her to drag herself out onto the training field right that moment, there just wasn't. "But how about you swing by again in a few days, alright?" That would buy her a little time, right? Just enough to get it all together again, at least on the outside.