"Last night, you were dreaming. And you said 'I love you.'"
"Well..Is that bad?"
"You said 'I love you Lucas.'"
She once said she'd stay here with me, but I sent her away. It hurt me to do that, but I had to. And it hurt me even more to tell her that she had to leave because her heart was back in Tree hill-with Lucas.
It's been three months since I last saw her pretty face. I miss those sweet blonde locks of hers that smell of shampoo and old vinyl records.
"You just heard Jenny call you mama, and now you want to get married. You're afraid of being lonely Peyton. I think you should go home."
So she went home.
I've been listening to her podcast for weeks she stopped recording. So I had to call coach Durham and Skills for updates in Tree hill. Since I last saw her personally, so many things have happened in Peyton's life. Events that I wished I could have been with her.
Now that their Senior year is coming to an end, the annual promenade draws near. I'm assuming she'll be there with Lucas. The last I've heard, she and Lucas had gotten back together as Brooke met Chase, her new Boyfriend. They're probably happy in ol' Tree hill. Back here,it's just me and Jenny, plus Nikki once in a while. I think I've saved enough money for me to survive, and my daughter Jenny is all set for her one week holiday with Nikki and her parents. Nikki came over this morning to pick her up. She called me ten minutes ago to tell me they had just arrived in Miami. I'm gonna miss my baby. I hope she'll get to enjoy her stay there. She's now four years old.
I grab a picture of me and Peyton with little Jenny. Lucas took the shot ten months back. I place it inside my traveling bag and search for my jacket. Then I look around my apartment and make sure everything's all set before I zip my bag close.
Jenny's not the only one who's going someplace else. Iill be going off someplace too. I've been waiting for this for so long that I can't help my stomach do a flip.
A random picture of what awaits me flashes through my head and I smile.
I'm going home.
Tomorrow night, I'll dress myself up and crash a high school prom to watch my friends dance and get drunk with love. And even though things won't ever be the same, it would be nice to see her again; to be able to dance with her, to hear her laugh again like nothing's wrong, to see her all beautiful and elegant, and maybe, just maybe, to try and win her heart once more.