A/N – So this story came to me a couple of weeks ago, and I have been trying to get it down on paper, but with work gearing up for Christmas and my muse running away from me frequently, it has taken me forever to get the first couple of chapter to my satisfaction. Up-dates might be slow, depending on the amount of free time I have, but I will love any and all reviews as they keep me writing. (In addition to this, anyone that wants to critically review my writing would be greatly appreciated to help to improve my quality.)
As always I do not own OTH or any of the characters x
Schwahn Hall
Cutting through the peaceful countryside, an unfamiliar rumbling of an engine and a screech of tyres could be heard in the distance, quickly getting louder. On either side of the winding country lane, lush green paddocks bordered the verge, and the grazing horses raised their head simultaneously in fright. A sleek black car flew past with the driver, a young girl with the roof down, was letting her long blonde hair stream out behind her. She had very loud rock music blaring out from her stereo, which could be heard for miles across the rolling fields.
Turning on their haunches, the horses took flight away from this unfamiliar event, letting their tails fly out behind them in a similar way to the girl's hair. The horses headed home, to a place a safety, but their strange behaviour did not go unnoticed. Sitting aside his trusted bay mare, a young ranch hand watched as the horses galloped over the ridge, and he quickly moved to slow them down before they crashed through the fence. Crouching low over his horse's neck, he stood slightly in his stirrups to urge his horse faster; all thoughts of the cause of their behaviour flew out of his mind into the wind.
Slowing down slightly for the turn off the road, the sleek black car crunched up the long gravel drive, and the driver took in the size of the house in front of her. In the centre of the drive was an impressive looking marble fountain, which acted as a turning circle for cars, and she assumed previously at one time for carriages. Swinging her car around, and abandoning it at the bottom of the steps to the front door, the young girl switched off her engine and sat there for a moment in silence, picking at her fingernails. She did not want to be here, but she had been sent by her father, so she had no choice but to obey. Her mother had died some years previously, and her father could not bear to look at her anymore, which was why he worked a thousand miles away.
Shaking her head and sighing, the young girl pushed her aviators into her hair, allowing a few rebellious curls to escape and frame her face, before stepping out of the car and slamming the door closed. She thought she would leave her car where it was for the time being, and after unloading, she would park it wherever she got told to. The house looked impossibly bigger, as she made her way up the stone steps, noticing the marble carvings down the sweeping hand rails, and a shiver ran down her spine, as though she could feel someone watching her through one of the many dark windows.
"Don't be stupid and girly," she told herself, lifting her chin and reaching up to the large brass knocker on the door. Her green eyes flashed with fire and independence, and she took a deep breath as the door creaked open. A timid looking maid appeared, with mousy brown hair pulled into a bun and large Bambi eyes. She offered her a small smile, before pulling the door open wider and welcoming the girl into a rather large entrance hall. Large portraits of important looking men astride powerful horses loomed down at her from the walls, and at the opposite end a grand staircase could be seem, before splitting in two directions as it met the far windows and leading off into places unknown. The overwhelming urge to run away flooded through the girl, and it became stronger with every step she took away from the safety of her car. She should have argued with her father harder, pleaded with him and begged him not to send her here. But it was too late, and as the door slammed shut, the young girl felt like a lamb that had been sent to the slaughter.
"I'll just let the Master know that you have arrived, and if you leave your car keys on the side table, one of the Bellboys will unload you possessions and drive your car around to the garages," the maid whispered, and the young girl could see she was shaking slightly, so all she could do was nod in agreement, and she disappeared through one of the many doors leading from the entrance hall.
"Master... Bellboys?" the young girl raised her eyebrows at this revelation. She was used to being independent, and she wasn't about to be waited on hand and foot.
"Send her in," she heard a male's voice boom through the otherwise deathly silent house, and the nervous maid bolted back into the entrance hall.
"Yeah, I got it," the blonde girl gave the maid a small smile, before pointedly pocketing her car keys and pushing open the door. Glancing quickly around, she assumed this room was either an office or a library, or possibly both. Floor to ceiling bookcases filled every wall, except for the spaces for the windows which interspersed two of the walls. At the opposite end to the door, a heavy wooden desk sat in front of the window and an old greying Labrador was curled up on the rug in front of a real working log fire. Sat behind the desk, with his head bowed over some paperwork was an old friend of her father's, and she slowly shuffled into the room to make her presence known.
"Peyton Sawyer?" the man asked, looking up for the first time, and surveying the young girl stood before him.
"Yes, Mr. Scott," Peyton quickly remembered her manners, knowing that she was a guest in this house. She felt his gaze take in her jean clad legs, her worn band t-shirt and her leather jacket, and she instantly felt under-dressed. Lifting her chin, she refused to let his opinion of her bring her down, and the man saw the fire burning in her eyes and he raised his eyebrow.
"Please call me Dan," he smiled at her eventually. "How is your father doing? It seems so long since we last spoke last week. Tell me, how is his business going?"
"My father is well," Peyton returned the smile uneasily. "His business is going very well at the moment, which means he is required to travel all over the country, hence sending me here."
"Well I assure you that you will find your stay here very comfortable," he informed her in a tone that said 'Don't come whining to me about any of your problems'. "You are seventeen, correct?" he asked, and Peyton nodded in response. "Excellent. You will travel to and from school with my son, starting in two weeks once the holidays are over and you are enrolled. In the meantime, Marissa will show you to your room. Do with that space what you like, as only you and the maids will have to endure it. You may leave now."
Peyton's jaw dropped, but the man did not notice as he was already concentrating back on his work. Turning on her heel, she strode out of the room, closing the door firmly behind her and almost running into the maid, who she now assumed was called Marissa.
"Oh, Miss I'm so sorry," the nervous girl apologised profusely and Peyton thought she might just burst into tears on her, which would be her worst nightmare come to life.
"Marissa, right?" Peyton asked, running her hands through her hair, and the maid nodded. "There is no need to apologise, that was more my fault than yours... and no more 'Miss', my name's Peyton, alright?" she smirked, and the maid stopped shaking so much.
"Would you like me to show you to your room, P-Peyton?" Marissa asked, playing with the edge of her white apron.
"Yeah, sure. Let me just grab my bags out of my car," Peyton smiled, heading towards the front door and jumping when the girl shadowed her movements. Pulling her suitcases out of the boot, she handed Marissa the lightest bag before clunking her way up the stone steps again. Dropping her keys onto the side table as directed, she cringed at the thought of somebody else driving her car, but she didn't think Dan would like it sat in front of the house for too long. This thought plagued her as she crossed the entrance hall and then she almost giggled when she realized the poor person who fires her car up next will get the shock of their life, as her stereo was still at full blast.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Peyton braced her back and lifted a suitcase in each hand, before bolting up the first flight of stairs and dropping the heavy weights. Silently, Marissa took the left hand set of stairs, which went up about eight steps before turning 90 degrees again towards the front door, and going up to the next level. Peyton gritted her teeth, bounding up the first eight steps, before pausing and completing the rest. At the top of the landing, she rested her hands onto her knees for a moment to catch her breath, and was shocked when Marissa backtracked slightly, reaching for one of the suitcase handles and wheeling it down the long corridor like a perfect air-hostess.
"This will be your room, M... Peyton," she automatically corrected herself before pushing open a solid looking oak door. "The sheets are clean, and we will purchase more in a different colour if you prefer. The bathroom is through the door at the far end, and your wardrobe is the other door. If you need anything, just dial zero on your landline and it connects through to the kitchen, where somebody will always answer."
Peyton nodded as she carried on talking, not really taking in any of the words she was saying. This room was huge, easily three times bigger than her room back home, and that was including her walk-in wardrobe and attached bathroom. A large wooden four-poster bed was pushed up against one of the walls, flanked on either side by full length windows. The bed was covered in a deep red comforter, and soft cream fabrics draped down each of the posts to the floor, which felt slightly girly for Peyton's taste but she refused to complain. The walls were a soft peach colour, and the carpet was cream with a large red rug at the foot of the bed.
"Miss... Miss... Peyton?" Marissa eventually broke through her train of thought. "Er... dinner is at seven through the first door on the right as you walk down the stairs. Mr. Scott will expect you to dress for dinner"
"R-right... but," Peyton finally managed to vocalise, but it was too late as the bedroom door had already closed. "Shit!" she swore to herself, pulling open her suitcases and looking inside, even though she knew that nothing would even resemble a dress could be found.
The large room quickly looked like a tornado had been through, and Peyton was sat in the centre of the mess staring at the handset of the cordless phone. It was going up for six, and she knew that something had to be done soon otherwise she would miss dinner, or she would have to turn up in jeans and make a brilliant second impression.
Taking a deep breath, she swallowed her pride and pressed zero, holding the phone close to her ear, and swearing to herself under her breath. After two rings, the phone was answered. "How may I help?" Peyton heard through the phone, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she recognised the voice.
"Marissa, its Peyton. I don't have anything to wear for dinner, and I was wondering if you could help?" she spoke quickly, wanting to get this over with.
"I anticipated such an event," Marissa replied, as she could almost hear a smile in her voice. "I take it you haven't been into your walk-in wardrobe yet? Inside there are a range of suitable dresses. We had your rough size from your father, and they all have corseted backs, so they should fit you beautifully. Would you like me to come upstairs around half six to help you?"
"If you don't mind," Peyton slowly bashed her head against one of the legs to her bed. "You are officially a life saver."
Ending the call, she quickly scrambled across her room, yanking open the double doors that she had paid no attention to before now. Motion activated lights flickered on, and the sheer size of the room has Peyton reeling in shock. No way did she have enough clothes to fill even a quarter of the rails.
On the first rail to her right a row of padded hangers where evenly spaced along the shiny rail, with the dresses wrapped in protective bags. Reaching up and pulling the first one off the rail, Peyton peaked inside, and was met with reams of bright yellow material. Scrunching her nose up, she quickly placed that one back on the rail, before selecting another. Holding her breath, Peyton was surprised when a deep green shimmery fabric emerged, and she quickly slid it out of its protective wrap. It was strapless corseted top half, with a criss-crossed ribbon back, before flowing out into a knee length skirt. Holding it against her chest, she realized that it was the kind of dress that she would buy herself, if she ever needed to.
Hanging it gently back onto the rail, she noticed for the first time a small stack of shoe boxes underneath the dress rail, all in her size and labelled neatly to describe what each box contained. Shaking he head, Peyton wondered what world she had landed in for a moment, before turning around and heading for a shower.
Let me know what you think xx