Dear Payton,

Chapter 3

It's 10:46 a.m, and we just got out of the car. I was wearing a white dress with a brown belt around my waist. Payton was wearing skinny jeans with a white v-neck and a black, leather jacket I got her for Christmas. The studio was absolutely beautiful, the outside looked like a modern nightclub. The inside was gorgeous as well, with expensive hard wood floors and silver panels. Pastel cyan walls with big, bright windows across the front. Once we walked in, I grabbed Payton's hand, leaned over, and whispered, "you look so beautiful." She smiled, kissed me, and whispered back, "you look absolutely flawless." I smiled again and we walked in. Payton was very popular there. She's been working at the studio since she was 19. Even though she's 24, she has always looked and acted a lot younger. Her friend, Rory, came and offered Payton and I champaign. I took a glass off of her silver platter and looked around to find Misty. Misty was different from the rest of the models. She was beautiful in a different way, not just in looks and personality. She was beautiful for her confidence and the way she presents herself. Misty was always such a wonderful girl, kind hearted, and had a very positive attitude. Whenever I was in the studio with Payton, I always felt like the odd one out. Misty had a great way of making me feel like I belong here. "Hey! There's the lovely couple I've been looking for all night! How are y'all?" Misty asked excitedly while hugging Payton and I, "Hey gorgeous! Are you excited? I know Forever 21 has great style, there clothes will definitely fit you very well!" I said while she was hugging Payton. Misty blushed, looked down to the floor, and smiled saying, "Yes! Very! I'm going to miss y'all so much though. I have to move to Tampa, Florida by next month!" "Don't you get keep all the clothes you model in though? You know that's very rare." Payton asked while grabbing my hand again. Misty smiled and said, "Yes! that's the main reason why I accepted the job so quickly in the first place." All the way across the room we hear someone scream, "Misty! Come here, I want you to meet someone." Misty looks to see who it is and says, "sorry loves, it was nice seeing y'all. Enjoy the party." Payton and I sit down and talk for a little bit, mostly gossip about the other models. Payton asks, "want to see our new studio? We turned the offices into a huge photo room last week. It has a white backdrop and some of our photos across the walls." I smiled and said, "yeah, sure!"

It's 11:57 a.m, Payton and I are walking down to her new studio. As we're walking, I notice all the beautiful pictures in the narrow hallway. Then I stopped and gazed at a picture of a rose. The rose was red and was surround by a black and white background including the stem of the flower. There were small water drops on the rose petals too. I loved the way the picture stood out from the rest of them and how it caught my eye in one glance. I look down at the signature that read 'Payton Smith.' I stopped Payton who was already half way down the hall and asked, "Payton, did you take this?" She walked back over and looked up at the beautiful rose photo and replied, "Oh yes, a while ago. You remember that picnic we went on to meet your family? I took it there, I liked it so much I decided to hang it up."

I remember the day Payton met my family. It was at our anual family reunion picnic about a year ago. Much of my family didn't support my coming out but most of them got over it. I introduce Payton to my mother, who was over-all thrilled that I actually met someone. Payton was nervous, I remember having to build her confidence in the car before we got out. She was terrified but excited at the same time. She met everyone, one by one, and each time they liked her more and more. Payton had that kind of effect on people, the more you get to know her the more you like her. She always had that smile that made you smile as well. I fell for her in the same amount of time it took for my family to fall for her as well, they loved her. Sometimes I don't understand how I became so lucky. She is the love of my life and I honestly don't know what I'd do without her. Sometimes, I'm afraid of even thinking about it or maybe she doesn't feel the same way.

She grabs my hand and pulls me down to her studio. I walk in and I just stand there admiring everything. It was just like she said, they did an amazing job on the remodel. There's a white backdrop on one wall, with lights, 4 cameras, and a section full of seating and background props. There are magnificent pictures on the other 3 walls. Her desk was in a corner and each pictures was of one of her local clients. Most of them were senior pictures for local yearbooks and some were families taking Christmas card pictures. I looked around and came across a photo with the name 'Justin Smith' at the bottom, but it wasn't a Lexi London original. It was a photo of a little boy, with brown hair, hazel eyes, a pretty smile. I looked over to Payton who happened to look a little bit like him. "Payton, is this your brother? The one you've always told me about?" She shook her head and tears started to form in her eyes. Payton hasn't seen her little brother since she was 18. She came out to her family then and they didn't really want anything to do with her. Payton only gets to see her brother once a year, around Christmas time. She has done everything to try to convince her parents to let him back in her life. She has written letter after letter and they continue to deny her existence. Payton crossed her arms and headed towards the door, "Come on Sam, I'm hungry. Let's go get something to eat." She says loudly. I stare at the picture one more time and walk to the door. I turn off the lights and grab Payton's hand. I saw one single tear fall to her cheek and then she looked down. I stopped her and kissed her softly on her hand. I then whispered, "Hey, it's okay. Everything's okay. Come on, let's go get a milkshake! We'll go to Sonic, I know it's your favorite!" She smiled and looked back up at me. She wiped the tear and took a breath to hold herself together, "okay! Let's go!" We both laughed and ran to the party to say goodbye to everyone.

It's 1:35 p.m and we're on our way to Sonic. We sit outside and go over the menu together. Payton gets what she always gets, "I'll get strawberry shake and get me a small order of fries." I shake my head and then pressed the button to order, "I'll have 2 french fries, a double cheeseburger, a chocolate shake, and a strawberry shake please." Afterwards, we waited silently for a few moments and then Payton looks at me puzzled, "Why do you intend coming here if you're a vegetarian?" I laugh and say, "I'm not a vegetarian. I just don't like eating meat. I don't like the taste and I don't enjoy eating animals. But, I did have bacon this morning, remember?" Payton smiles and says, "Yeah, but it's still my definition of a vegetation." My french fries arrive before hers because they're considered an appetizer. I take 3 or 4 of them and throw them at Payton. Payton laughs and gasps in surprised and I say, "See, if I was a vegetarian then would I be eating french fries? I don't think so." Payton laughs and says, "Yeah, you would. There's no meat on french fries, honey. They come from potatoes and those grow in the ground." "I know where potatoes come from, Payton. I was just kidding. I'm trying to make you laugh and cheer you up." I said while eating another french fry. "You have a crazy way of making me laugh. I love how you'll do anything to just make me smile." Payton said while smiling and taking a french fry off my plate. Payton's food arrives a little bit after mine and our milkshakes arrive as well. Payton and I stayed there for over an hour talking about modeling, celebrities, our childhood, and more. Payton and I could talk for hours, it takes a lot for us to finally realize it's time to go home.