#c.payton

“I made you something.” His eyes were bright as he spoke, a rare smile present on his worn features. He motioned for the blonde to take a seat. They were at a cafe he had found a few weeks prior that was a little removed from the Hamptons bourgeoisie. Pandora was soundly asleep in her pram, parked between their two chairs. “You’re going to laugh, but I’ve had a lot of time on my hands.” He pulled out a rope bracelet, the colours blue, red and maroon. “Let me tie it on your wrist. They’re Barca’s colours. I think it symbolises the start of our friendship well.” 

Maybe November was too early to start decorating, but nobody could contest the Tomlinson family’s holiday cheer. He and his mother had taken it upon themselves to decorate the entire house in advance of his family visiting. There was a bittersweet feeling that came attached to the reality it would be the first birthday he isn’t spending at home, in Doncaster, but he didn’t feel comfortable putting Panda through a long flight just yet. They compromised. It was right after he finished hanging fairy lights over all the windows that he pulled his phone out of his pocket, unlocking it and sifting through his contacts for Payton’s name before thumbing over it to call her. He held his phone over his ear, waiting until the call connected before speaking. “I’m not taking no for an answer, P. Jenetti. You, me, and her highness are going for a walk. She could use the sunshine and I could use some Payton in my life. You game?” @ppayton

Kale burst into the hospital room, throwing the door open carelessly and stepped inside, adjusting his sunglasses. He threw up his thumbs at Payton’s roommate. “‘Sup, G,” He greeted Dolores before turning to Payton. He threw his car-keys into the air before catching them. “Alright, Padme. Time to go.” [@ppayton] 

This was a mistake. He felt it in his bones that it was one and yet, here he was, his knuckles just barely brushing against the door to Payton’s residence. Nerves plagued his body. He could be here for all he knew, but he hated where things left off, unsure and undiscussed. His lower lip felt raw from the way he’d been gnawing at it for the past ten minutes, trying to work up the strength to just knock. For fuck’s sake. There were no limits on his weakness, clearly. Obviously, Payton would take Harry’s side; it might even be a waste of his time to even try to give his own, especially when it was made clear to him on multiple occasions the consequences of doing so. That wasn’t why he was there. Why was he there? — He supposed, he just wanted to check up on her, face to face instead of over the emptiness of texts, and to put in the effort of leaving his house when that was the hardest part of his day. Taking a deep breath, he rapped his knuckles against the door, knocking before he could think himself out of it, and waited. {@ppayton​}