Disclaimer: I don't own anything…
Just a little warning, this story it completely un-beta, all mistake are mine, sorry.
Summary: I don't know how much I can keep letting you unravel me cause the more you learn, the more we share. We were worlds apart and you see, it was so much easier to be, cause now I know what we can't have and its so unfair. Completely AU. L/P.
A/N: Okay, here's the deal. I was writing a chapter for another story, listening to Kate Voegele (Yes, the girl who play's Mia on OTH). More specifically, two song's. One called Angle and one called Unfair. I'm not sure if either of those song's have been featured on OTH but I know other's have. If you haven't heard them, you might want to check them out, they're pretty good. If Mia's music isn't your cup of tea, you probably won't like them. I plan to use a lot of her music in the story but not her. You'll see what I mean…
Anyway, this idea came to me and wouldn't leave me alone until I attempted to write it. Five chapter later, here we are. I'm only going to post the first chapter, see what you guy's think. At first it gives you kind of an idea where I'm going with this story before the character interaction starts. It doesn't take place in any set season of the show but I will be using thing from the first four seasons. Not in any order and I may change them up a bit to flow with the story better but you'll still be able to recognize them. Just give it a chance and let me know what you think, Please.
Warning: This story will have swearing, sex, violence and drugs in it. If that's going to offend you , you might want to leave now. Eventually the rated may change to M but I think T should do for now.
Unfair
The day everything changed…
Tree Hill was a quaint little town that sat on the shores of North Carolina. From the outside, it looked like the perfect small town to move to and raise a family. Great schools, a great community and a friendly atmosphere. From the outside, you would think that it was the perfect town to be featured in the cover of one of the those country living magazines. To an outsiders, you would think you'd found your own little piece of heaven. But you know what they say, Never judge a book by it's cover. Because you see, Tree Hill had two part's to it, uptown and downtown. Two part that were separated by a river. Not a small river but a pretty decent size river and your entire life would be decided solely on the fact of what side of the river you were born on.
Uptown, the good side, the rich side as some like to call it, you would see family's having picnics in the summer, kids trick-or-treating in the fall, buddle up in the winter and dancing in the rain in the spring. This was the part of Tree Hill that most people knew about. This was the part of town that people celebrated. This was the part of town that people said "That's where you want to be."
Just across the river was the other part of Tree Hill, downtown. The part that no one ever talk about. It was the part of town that you locked your car door's and drove straight a head, without looking around. Stopping just enough to make sure you could make it through the intersection with out getting into an accident before stepping on the gas and high tailing it out of there. Unless you lived in this part of town, you never stopped. Not a restaurant, not at gas station and you never asked for directions. It was the part of town, that if you got shot, you prayed that you could make it across the bridge because you knew there was no way in hell the police where coming to save you.
Now, don't act so surprised. Most town's across America had that little part of it that was only talked about in whispers. The part of town that taint's the rest it, gave it bad name. That part, that if you were from the rich part, the good part, you were told your entire life to stay away from. That it was no good, that bad people lived there, that bad things happen there. Not all of that was a lie. Sure, bad thing's happened in that part of town but you see, bad thing's happen every where. It doesn't matter what part of town you live in.
For a girl name Peyton Sawyer, she knew this all to well. To an outsider, she seemed to have the perfect life. A popular cheerleader, who grew up on the good side of town with great friends, great grades and a great Dad who had a great paying job that took him out of town for most of the year. To most teenager's that meant freedom. To Peyton, it just meant loneliness That's not how she learned that lesson, though. You see, when Peyton was eight her Mom was killed suddenly and after that, Peyton usually found herself sitting on the boardwalk, staring out across the river at the 'bad' part of town, wonder if the people over there really were that different from her.
At the time, she was to young to go over the bridge and check it out for herself but that didn't mean she didn't want to. She knew asking her Dad or any of her friends to go over there with her was out of the question. No one from the good side crossed that bridge unless they had to head south and even then it wasn't like they went over there to explore. No, they would stay on the main road and get out of that part of town as fast as they could.
Once she turned sixteen, she sat in her car at the end of the bridge contemplating on whether or not to just drive over there but she could never bring herself to do. When she was seventeen, she got the courage to drive over but like most people, once she was across, she just kept going, never once turning off the main road. At times she felt ashamed. She knew better then anyone that you can't judge a book by it's cover but she had done that all her life and it didn't matter what age you were, the unknown scared the shit out of anyone.
Today was different though. Today was the first day of Peyton's senior year at Tree Hill High. Today was the official last first day of high school for her. Today was the day she would turn off the main road and explore the unknown. Today was the day everything change.
When she woke up this morning, as she was getting ready for school, she didn't think 'Hey, I'm going to go downtown today.' No, that was the furthest thing from her mind. Making sure the outfit Brooke had put together the night before wasn't to slut-y was the first thing on her mind. Hoping this year wouldn't be a drag was the second and as she drove along the river, she looked over wondering if she had ever actually talked to anyone from school that lived over there.
The thought of exploring hadn't crossed her mind the entire school day either. At first, she complained along with Brooke and the rest of the cheerleaders about her class and the teacher's she had this year. At lunch, she sat with the jocks and laughed at their stupid jokes just so she wouldn't attracted attention to herself but her eyes danced around the quad trying to point out anyone that she knew for a fact was from the other side of the river, but she couldn't.
"P. Sawyer!" she heard her best friends raspy voice call out to her as she walked towards her car at the end of the school day "Wait a second."
Peyton slowed her pace but didn't turn around and waited until her friend caught up to her before giving her a smile as she said "What's up, B. Davis?"
"Well," she said as a sly smile found it's way across her face, showing over her perfect dimples "I was just wondering what time you were going to be at my house tonight so we can, well, so I can put together the perfect outfit to help you get back Jake."
"Bro-"
"None of that Peyton Sawyer." Brooke cut her off "I know you and Jake had this big falling out a three week's ago but you two belong together. Captain of the basketball team and co-captain of the cheerleaders," she said holding out her hands "Come on, it's in the rule book. The world is un-balanced now that you two aren't together."
Peyton rolled her eyes as she stopped and looked at her friend "Ok, first off. We didn't have a falling out. He cheated on me, Brooke. He went and had sex with not just someone else but someone else on the cheerleading sqaud because I wouldn't…You know what, it doesn't matter why. The point is, he cheated and you, of all people, should be on my side." she stopped as a defeated look came over her face "You're my best friend Brooke Davis and right now, I need you to be there for me. Not trying to make the world balance again."
"Okay." she said softly, reaching out and rubbing Peyton arms "But Honey, you're depressed. More then usual and you being depressed is making me depressed and everyone knows a depressed Brooke Davis is not a fun Brooke Davis. And let's face it, the only kind of Brooke Davis to have around is the fun Brooke Davis."
Peyton let out a little laugh as she listen to Brook talk. A smile found it's way back on to the brunette's face. Getting Peyton to smile was the first part of the plan and now that she had accomplished that, it was time to move on to the second part.
"So, let's go grab something to eat, head back to my house and pick out a killer outfit that will make Jake Jagielski regret ever stepping out on you."
"Stepping out?" Peyton questioned with a laugh.
"Yeah, sorry." Brooke said as a made a face "I have a couple of them in my last hour and I guess their mindless chatter found it's way into my vocabulary. No worry's, it's been deleted now."
A frown found it's way on to Peyton face when she heard Brooke talk about the people from downtown with disgust in her voice. It really wasn't her fault. After all, she was raised with people tell her that those people were no good so, it wasn't a surprised that she didn't like them. What was a surprised, was the way Peyton felt when Brooke talk about them like that.
"How can you tell the difference?" Peyton asked softly as they approached her car.
"Huh?" Brooke asked confused
"How can you tell who lives uptown and who's from downtown?"
"You mean besides their horrible fashion sense?" Brooke said, once again making a face "Oh, come on Peyton. You can't honestly tell me you can't look around this parking lot and tell the difference between those who belong here and those that don't."
Once again, a frown found it's way on to Peyton face. Who gave anyone the right to decided who belong and who didn't. In here eye's, the kids from the other side of the river had just as much as a right to be here as she did. Didn't they?
"Peyton?" Brooke said, snapping her fingers in front of Peyton face "What's going on with you?"
"Nothing." Peyton said as she opening the door "Just have a lot on my mind."
"See , all the more reason to come out and party tonight." Brooke said while clapping her hands together "I'll meet you at my house."
"Actually, Brooke." Peyton said when Brooke turned away to walk towards her car "I have to go to Clarkson. There's a store there that has some art supplies I need."
"You're going to driving an hour to get art supplies?" Brooke said, raising an eyebrow. When Peyton just looked at her, she said "Of course, you would. What's wrong with the store here?"
"They don't have the pen's I need. I called the one in Clarkson and they're holding them for me. I told them I'd be there today to pick them up."
"You want me to go with you? I could use a road trip." Brooke said as she started to walk towards the passenger side of Peyton's car.
"No, go ahead and go home. Get ready for this party." Peyton said with a smile. Usually, she wouldn't mind the company but today, she just wanted to clear her head. Put the top down on the Comet, turn up her music and drive. "I'll call you when I get back into town."
"Alright." Brooke said, looking at Peyton suspiciously "But you better show up at this party tonight. And no stopping at a music store. God knows you might not show up for school tomorrow if you stop by a music store, let alone make it to the party tonight."
"Okay." Peyton said with a laugh.
Brooke stood off to the side and gave her a wave as Peyton pulled out of the parking spot all the while wondering what was really going on with her best friend. She stood there and watched as Peyton pulled out of the parking lot and drove out of sight.
"So, is she coming?"
Brooke turned her head to look at the person who now stood beside her, knowing that he had probably watch the entire conversation she had with Peyton. Slapping him up-side the head, Brooke swiftly turned on her heel and started walking towards her car.
"Yeah, she's coming." She called over her shoulder "But you have screwed up big time, this time. You better be ready to do some begging, Jagielski."
Jake laughed as he nodded his head. He could get Peyton back, that he was sure of. Especially, if he had the help of her best friend.
*One Tree Hill*
"Shit." Peyton said as she looked down at the clock on her radio.
She was late. Very late and when Brooke found out it was because she found a music store, she was going to be pissed. She let out a sigh when she saw the sign welcoming her to Tree Hill even if the sign wasn't very welcoming. Covered in bullet holes and paint ball splatter, the sign let you know, you were entering the bad part of town and that you really weren't that welcome.
Her cell phone started to ring from the seat beside her and she took her eyes off the road momentarily to reach over and grab it.
"Hello." She said as she turned down her radio
"Where the hell are you?" Brooke raspy voice came over the line "Why aren't you here yet?"
"I just got back into town. I have to go home and change then I'll be there."
"Screw that. See, I knew you were going to try and back out of going tonight. So, this morning, I went to your house and grab you something to change into." Brooke screamed into the phone. Partly because she was drunk and partly because the music was blaring in the house "There's a bag in your back seat. Stop some where, change and get your ass here."
Peyton went to say something but when the noise suddenly stop and she figured Brooke hung up on her. Tossing her phone on to the seat next to her, she glanced down and saw that she need gas. Deciding to kill two birds with one stone, she slowed her car down and started to look for a gas station. Finally, she saw a sign for one down the road and turned towards it. It wasn't until three block's later that if hit her. She had finally done it. She had finally turned off the main road. But the further into downtown she drove, the more scared she got. It didn't look so innocent to her now. In fact it was down right scary at night and as she came to a stop at a stop sign, the wind blowing gently through her hair reminded her she had the top down.
Not moving her head, she looked to her left before looking to her right as she reached down to flip the switch to put the top up and she let out a sigh of relief when it click back into place. She knew the top being up wouldn't help protect her from anything but it did give her some type of security as she continued down the road. Finally, the gas station came into view and she let out a breath she didn't realizes she was holding, when she pulled in to the empty parking lot.
"You can do this, Sawyer." Peyton said to herself after sitting in her car at the gas pump for five minutes without moving "Just get your ass out of the car, pump the gas, change your clothes and get back on the road."
With a shaky hand, she reached over and open the door. 'Okay, the hard part's over with,' she thought 'Now, don't make eye contact with anyone, pump the gas and get in the store.'
She knew she was giving into the stereo-type that she's been raised with. The same stereo-type Brooke had done earlier in the parking lot at school making her frown. But it was a lot easier not to when you weren't in the heart of it, wondering if someone was going to put a gun to your side at any moment. Deciding ten dollar's should give her enough gas to at least make it back over the bridge, Peyton walked around to the back her car and grabbed the bag out of the back seat. She shuddered as she a walked into the not so clean gas station and walked up to the counter.
"Everything alright , Miss?" The clerk asked as she slid ten dollar's across the counter.
"Yeah," she said softly, making brief eye contact before looking down.
He didn't look scary to her. He looked pretty normal actually, dark hair, dark blue eyes and he was pretty tall, probably just over 6 feet and he was dressed in somewhat baggy pants with a simple polo for a shirt. He didn't look mean or spiteful like she had been told and when he spoke, it wasn't with hate but she could tell he was just as weary of her as she was of him.
"Is there a bathroom?" Inside, she added silently.
The man raised an eyebrow but pushed a key across the counter before pointing towards the back of the store. It was then that she noticed he had a wedding ring on. He didn't look old enough to be married, hell he didn't look much older then her but she didn't say anything. Instead, she simply nodded her head as she took the key saying thanks so softly, she figured he didn't hear her.
Peyton made a face when she walked into the bathroom only to discover it wasn't any cleaner then the store and decided it would be best to stand on her shoes as she changed so she wouldn't have to step on the floor. Setting her bag on the back of the toilet, she rolled her eyes when the first thing she pulled out was a push up bra and she could already she the smirk on Brooke's face. Not really wanting to get that naked in this restroom, she shoved the bra and pulled out the jean skirt. Once she was done, she pulled out a pair of heels.
"Yeah right." she said as she shoved them back in.
Deciding her low top converse would work just fine, she tied them before walking over to the mirror and adjusting her leather jacket. Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she looked herself over and decided that Brooke really hadn't done that bad of a job. She looked good but not desperate in a short jean skirt and a form fitting white tank-top. Fixing her make up so she wouldn't have to do it in the dark car at the party, she almost forgot where she was but as she reached for the door knob, she noticed her hand visibly shaking still. As she approached the front of the store, she heard the man let out a chuckle and when she looked up, she saw him shaking his head.
"You know, it really isn't a good idea for a girl, that look's like you, dressed like that, driving that car," he paused as he pointed out the window "to be wandering around over here, alone, at this time of night."
If she wasn't nervous before, what he just said would have made her and she knew there was no way he could miss the way the key was shaking in her hand as she handed it back to him.
"This road behind the station." He said pointing over his shoulder "Run's along the river. No stop lights, no stop signs. Just a straight shot to the bridge. It'd be your safest bet."
At first, she wasn't so sure if she should believe him but then again, he hadn't giving her any reason not to and it didn't seem like he was trying to trick her. So, she gave him a soft smile and said "Thanks."
Just as she pushed the door open, he started to speak again "I know in your world, it seems like an adventure coming over here and pissing off Daddy is just a plus but trust me, Goldilocks, you have no idea how much danger you're in right now. I could point out ten guy's outside, watching you and you wouldn't even be able to point out one." she didn't miss his snort when her eyes darted outside "Hell, I knew there was a curly haired blonde, driving a 1963 Mercury Comet Convertible this way before you hit the first stop sign and I know, you put up the top at the second."
Peyton just stood there in fear and it was more then obvious to him. But that exactly what he wanted. Resting his hands on the counter, he leaned towards her and she took a couple of steps back even thought they were feet apart. He laughed lightly before saying "All those stories you heard growing up are true. The reality of it, is worse. Uptown girls don't have any business being downtown." he nodded his head out the door " So, get on."
She knew he meant business and didn't need anymore encouragement to walk/jog out the door, to her car. Opening the door, she toss her bag into the passenger seat and got in the car, locking the doors as she reached to start the car and that's when she felt it. The key's were gone. Here eye's went wide as she leaned over to confirm that they were indeed gone. She was mentally cursing herself for leaving them in the car, let alone in the ignition and then started to wonder what kind of idiot takes the key's but not the car. That's when it hit her , it might be the kind of idiot that want's to hurt her. Looking over her right shoulder, she nearly jumped out of her skin when someone knocked on the driver side window. When she finally got up the courage to look, she saw the same man standing there with a smirk on his face, her key's dangling from his finger,
She unlocked the door and opened it enough to grab her key's. When she went to shut it, he caught it by the window, stopping her. Putting his other hand on top of her car, he leaned in enough so they were face to face before saying "And leaving your key's in the car is stupid whether you're uptown or downtown. We steal car's from both." He stood back up straight, laughing again as he looked over the car, saying "And this is a pretty nice car."
And before she knew what was going on, he shut her door and walked over to a black Range Rover with tinted windows, squealing the tires as he pealed out of the parking lot. A car she hadn't noticed when she pulled into the gas station. It took her a second but she looked back towards the window of the gas station to see a man standing behind the counter that looked more at home then the previous guy and as she started her car, she wondered what the hell just happened and who the hell that guy was.
Against her better judgment, she took the road the man had told her to take and found that he was right. There were no stop light's or stop signs but it was also a lot darker then the other road she had drove down, the only light came from the street light's above and half of them were busted out. Her hands were gripping the steering wheel so tight that her knuckles were turning white and she kept counting the blocks until she reached the bridge. She was so focused on getting to the end of the road that she didn't noticed a figure walking along the side of the road and she had to slam on the brakes when it decided to darted out in front of her car without warning.
"Shit." she whispered as her heart raced.
"What the fuck?!" the figure exclaimed, slamming his hands down on the hood of the car.
It felt like someone one else had taking over her body as she slammed the car into park before jumping out, exclaiming "What the hell, man? You run out in front of me and then hit the top of my car and you're mad at me? There better not be a…"
Peyton trailed of when she noticed how fifteenguy's seem to appear out of no where, slowly making their way towards the two of them and she looked back to the man that stood in front of her car. Blue eye's locked with green and a smirk found it's way on to his face. Without turning around, he motioned to the guy's that he was alright and just as fast as they appeared, they disappeared. How'd he know they were there? She thought to herself. The smirk never faded and his eyes never left hers as they stood there for a couple of second's, staring at each other.
"Don't worry about the hood, I didn't hit it hard enough to dent it." he finally said, his voice in a warning tone "But you just pissed a lot of people off, Blondie. If I were you, I'd get going."
Before she could reply, he continued on his way across the road and hopped into a familiar looking Range Rover. The car didn't move, it sat there at the corner, almost like who ever else was in the car, was waiting for her to leave.
"You heard him, Skinny Girl." a voice said from the side. She jumped and put her hand over her heart as a black guy walked in front of her car, following the same path as the blue eyed stranger "Get on."
It was like Peyton finally snapped out of her trance and jumped back into her car, taking off down the road. She saw the black man get in to the Range Rover in her rear view mirror before it turned onto the road, heading in the opposite direction of her, once she reached the corner by the bridge.
Once she was across the bridge, she relaxed a little and the entire ride to the party, the event's of before replied in her head. The man at the gas station seemed to know a lot about what happen on her way to the gas station and she didn't see one person on the street the entire way there. Not only that, but it annoyed her to no end that she couldn't' figure out how the people just appeared out of no where. She was on alert since she left the parking lot but again, not once did she see someone on the street. She was so lost in thought that she hadn't noticed she had pulled up to the party. Let alone that she had parked the car and turned it off.
"Hey!" Brooke said as she opened the car door suddenly, causing Peyton to jump once again "It's about time you got here. Come on."
Peyton aloud her to pull her from the car, making sure she grabbed the key's and locked the car.
Brooke stopped and raised an eyebrow, pointing at the car with a smile on her face, saying "Did you just lock your car?"
"I have a lot of stuff in there." Peyton replied, lamely
"Girl, we're not downtown. No body's going to break into your car." she said with a laugh as she pulled Peyton into the house "Let's get you a drink."
Peyton nodded her head but the only thing she could think about was a set of blue eyes and the smirk that played on his lips.
