Title: Will You Fall for Me?
Author: Jayta
Rating: Not yet decided - however does contain some coarse language
Show: One Tree Hill
Genre: Romance
Type: Could be a serial...
Pairing: Peyton/Jake
Summary: Set after How Can You Be Sure. Peyton and Jake are dealing with their problems. Their friendship seems to be the grounding factor in their lives. Could it ever turn into something more?
Prologue
She ran her manicured fingers through her hair, observing her flawless complexion. Life had gotten way to complicated in the past few weeks. Brooke was pissed at her for the growing feelings both she and Lucas were having. She didn't want them...really. But Lucas had been the first guy to treat her with a modicum of respect. He wanted her for more than her looks and the prestige that came with being a cheerleader. But when they had made out that one night, she didn't realize she would lose something she had never thought she could - Brooke's friendship.
"Damn it." Peyton slammed her locker door shut, resting her forehead against the cool, dented metal. Why did life have to be such a bitch?
"Hey Peyton?" huffed Jake, as he jogged up to her.
"Hey Jake," she muttered, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "How's it going?"
She really didn't particularly care, but she liked Jake and her miserable state wasn't reason enough to take it out on him. Besides her mind was on bigger things.
There was a slight pause.
Peyton lifted a wary gaze up at the 6'1 defensive guard for the Ravens. His eyes darted nervously around, unable to look her straight in the eye. "What is it, Jake?" she asked knowingly.
"Listen, I know this is short notice, but my parents are going away and coach sprung us with a impromptu practice after the horrible game we played last Saturday," he rambled, his words coming out in a blur. "Coach won't let me skip another practice, so I was wondering, since you've done it before, if you could watch Jenny?" He opened his mouth to say something more but Peyton interrupted him.
"Yeah," she replied without hesitation. Jenny was one responsibilty she loved to take on. The little girl was a pure joy to be around. It was the one uncomplicated thing in her life.
"Really?" He looked surprised.
She furrowed her brow and shrugged. "Why not?" Peyton managed a slight smile in his direction, seeing the relief and appreciation in his round chestnut-colored eyes. "I've got homework and some sketching to do tonight," she sighed, turning to walk towards the exit near the gymnasium. "So adding a baby should add an element of excitment!"
Jake raised a skeptical brow.
"I'm a sucker for a beautiful face."
"Aw, I didn't know you cared," he teased.
"I meant Jenny you idiot!"
His lips drooped at the revelation.
"Go!" she said, rolling her eyes and laughing. "I'll be fine."
His lips spread into a wide grin. "Thank you! Thank you! You have no idea how big I owe you!" he exclaimed happily. Reaching into his jeans, he pulled out his keys with the school logo dangling from its chain, dropping them into her open palm. "You are a goddess for doing this for me!"
Peyton felt her face flush at the excessive attention she was receiving. She could feel eyes turn and stare at the whole spectacle. Playfully, she shoved Jake forward towards the gym. "You keep making these people stare at me and I won't," she warned, stifling the urge to laugh.
Jake raised his hands up in surrender, clamping his mouth shut before turning around and jogging into the gym.
Peyton stood there a moment and bit her bottom lip. Throwing the keys in the air and catching them, she stuffed her hands in her jean pockets and headed off to visit her little angel.
--&--
"Peyton?" Jake strode into the empty living room, dropping his gym bag onto the floor. "I'm home!" The declaration sounded idiotic once the words were out. What was this an episode of the Waltons?
There was no answer.
His chest tightened and his stomach did a flip flop. Had something happened? He quickened his stride and went into the kitchen and peered out the window, seeing if she had decided to get some fresh air.
The backyard was empty. Now he had this sinking feeling in his stomach. "Peyton?" he yelled, jogging back into the house. "Jenny!" His hands splayed the disheveled coffee table full of papers for a note explaining their absense...again, nothing.
Now he was getting worried.
He ran down the hall and checked the bathroom for the sound of running water. Nothing.
"Peyton!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. This was not like Peyton. Everytime she had babysat for him before he had come home to her sketching on the couch while Jenny was asleep in the crib, or she was snuggling with Jenny on the couch. Where the hell are they?
Peyton's bag was on the couch, so he knew she hadn't gone far.
There were only two other places he hadn't checked. He ran up the carpeted stairs and swung his parent's door opened. It was empty, just as he expected. Swallowing hard, trying to keep his heart from racing, he approached his own bedroom door. It was closed as he had left it. Please be in there.
He placed a sweaty palm on the doorknob and exhaled slowly. The door opened without a sound and the familiar greyish-blue of his walls glowed, as the rays of the setting sun filtered in through his window. "Peyton..." His breathing was ragged, as his shoulders dropped in overwhelming relief.
Peyton was curled up in his bed with Jenny snuggled closely to her body, her left arm wrapped protectively around his little girl. Jake closed his eyes and slid down against the wall, covering his face with his hands. "Thank God," he muttered. Not once had he felt that helpless and out of control.
"Mmm, Jake?" Jake snapped his head up and watched as the most popular cheerleader of Tree Hill lifted her arms luxuriously above her head. He felt his pulse race again. Licking his dry lips, he managed to push himself up from the floor and wave awkwardly at Peyton, who just smiled langoriously in his direction. "Did you just get home?"
Jake nodded silently. His throat was suddenly dry and once again perspiration formed a thin layer on his palms.
Peyton frowned. "Were you calling us?" she asked curiously, her fingers paused a moment, as she had been running them through her curly locks. "I could have sworn I heard my name."
"Uh yeah. It was me."
She blinked several times, looking at him intently before her eyes widened and glanced down at Jenny. "Oh god, were you looking for us?" she breathed, shaking her head.
He shrugged casually, trying not to let on that he had barely escaped his first heart attack at age 17. "That's okay. I was just worried a little when you weren't downstairs." Sitting down on the edge of the bed, he leaned down and picked up his sleeping girl. The feeling of her soft fragile body in his arms filled him a sense of calmness. After sitting quietly with her in his arms a moment, Jake furrowed his brow and looked questioningly at Peyton. "How did you end up here anyway?"
The memory seemed to cause her face to scrunch up in an expression of exasperation. "The sun was so bright out this afternoon that it seemed to bother Jenny," she explained dryly. "And so it seemed to keep her up and then she got cranky..." She sat up fully and pulled in her legs, so that she now sat cross-legged on the bed. "It seemed like this room was dark enough to calm her down."
"Oh."
"I'm sorry if I invaded any privacy clause or anything like that," she joked, tucking her hair behind her ears. "I must have accidentally dozed off too."
"I probably shouldn't complain," he replied quietly. Then a smile crept upon his lips. "I mean it is a big deal that I got Peyton Sawyer in my bed!" Her jaw dropped and she slapped him on the shoulder. He was too slow, with Jenny in his arms, to fully dodge the reprimand and he winced slightly, laughing at her reaction. "It's gonna be all over the school by tomorrow..."
She slapped him again.
"You're such a brat," she said, rolling her eyes at him.
"Am not!"
Peyton slid over, until she was so close he could smell a mixture of strawberry and vanilla that scented her hair, and peered over his shoulder and down at Jenny. "I feel bad for you," she said, smoothing the thin layer of hair that was growing atop the crown of Jenny's head. "Did you know your daddy is a brat?" She cooed softly to the sleeping baby.
"Hey, not nice." Jake stood up and slipped Jenny in the bassinet on the floor. "No daddy bashing allowed!"
Peyton smirked. "You asked for it." She slid onto the edge of the bed, where he had just been sitting. "I was planning on being very nice with you until you made that hilarious crack about the bed, Mister."
Jake lifted the bassinet onto the bed next to his. "Hey, I think they would understand why you wouldn't pass up all," he stepped back and pointed at his body, "this!"
"Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick." Peyton stuck her finger into her mouth, pretending to gag. "I never knew you were this cheesy," she groaned. Shaking her head, she stood up and slid her hands down the front of her jeans, smoothing the invisible creases. "If I had, I would not have bid $87 on you." She moved over to the bassinet and stared down serenely at Jenny, slipping her index finger under the tiny curled fingers.
"But you did," he drawled, nudging her hip with his. "So that just tells me how much you must like me!" He winked at her.
She just laughed. "You're hopeless."
--&--
"You need to stay away from my little girl."
Peyton spun around to find Nikki a few feet away from her. Her eyes narrowed and opened the door to her car. It was early evening when Jake had come home, but the sun set early that day. It was quiet dark and she could just make out her face. "And you need to stop being such a witch; but somehow I don't think either of those things are going to happen," she retorted, throwing her bag onto the passenger side. Slamming the door, she walked towards Jake's domineering ex, until she was nose to nose with the woman. "You'll stay away from Jenny and Jake, if you know what's good for you."
Nikki laughed. It was an eerie and almost maniacal laugh, sending a slight shiver down her spine. Peyton ran her tongue against the inside of her teeth, forcing herself not to back down. She couldn't let herself be intimidated by the deluded bitch.
Nikki shoved her index finger into her chest and caused her to stumble back. "And what are you gonna do?" Her expression contorted into disdain.
"Hey!" Out of the corner of her eye, Peyton saw Jake bounding out of the house; and once there, he stepped out in front of her, putting some distance between her and Nikki. "You need to get off my property right now."
"Your property Jake?"
"Yeah."
Peyton frowned. She knew he was just trying to be helpful, but she could take care of herself when it came to Nikki.
"And does that include your prissy babysitter here?" Nikki peered around Jake and glared at her.
"You just keep that up," Peyton warned, walking over and jutting her finger at her. Jake wrapped his arm around her waist and held her back.
"Don't. She's not worth it."
"You're not going to keep me from my daughter, Jake." Nikki turned her gaze back to Jake. "She's my daughter and just because I made the mistake of running away nine months ago," she said, her voice strained. "Doesn't mean you get to cut me out of her life. I tried to be nice about this Jake, but you've made it impossible."
"And what are you going to do?" Jake said irritably. "Because whatever it is, it's going to be over my dead body!"
Peyton felt helpless as she watched Jake struggle to keep this woman away from his daughter. Slipping her hand through the crook of his arm, she stepped up beside him, hoping it would give him some moral support. But apparently it wasn't the most intelligent thing she could have done.
"Do you think you can replace me, with her?" Nikki accused fiercely, pointing at her. She turned her gaze upon Peyton. "You are nothing but a poser."
"If you think you can replace me with this two-bit nothing then you're sorely mistaken."
Peyton tilted her head slightly, her eyes darkening and muscles stiffening. "What claim do you have on her?" she asked incredulously. "Everything you've done so far, in your little display of maturity, has been for show."
"You claim that this is for your daughter, but really, isn't this just for you?"
Peyton was fed up with the poor misguided teenager routine she was getting from the 'little girl' in front of them. It was pathetic really. But a gentle squeeze from Jake told her that he wanted to handle it. She complied, backing down for the moment.
"Nikki, I'm asking you to leave," Jake said quietly. "I don't want to have to call the cops or something."
Peyton couldn't see his expression, but she knew he was torn up about this. Everytime Nikki showed her face, Jake became solemn and brooding; and that was not the Jake she knew. Turning her hooded gaze upon Nikki, observing the woman who had managed to hurt one of newest and closest friends, Peyton couldn't help but wonder what he ever saw in her. From what she had seen, the woman was all claws. Though part of her felt like Nikki could possibly sweet talk her way out of any situation too - sheathing her cutting words and exchanging them for honey and syrup. She had to have, to have Jake find anything redeeming in the woman.
"I'll go," Nikki said slowly, nodding her head in agreement. "But Jake, you have to know I'm going to be back for her." With that, she turned on her heel and walked away.
"Are you all right?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.
Peyton stared at him with wide-eyed. "You're asking me if I'm all right?" she gaped in disbelief. "I should be asking you if you're all right after that scene!" Reaching out she rested her hands on his forearms, searching his eyes for masked emotions. She knew the signs all too well.
"I'm sorry I dragged you into this mess," he sighed, pulling away. "I didn't mean to get everyone so involved."
"Well too late," she scoffed lightly. "Besides you're too much of a softy to deal with a witch like her." Nudging him playfully, trying to lighten the mood. Shaking off the dark cloud Nikki hung over the whole evening, she laughed, "You need someone like me who's mouthy and doesn't give a damn."
"Why didn't I think of that sooner?" he joked, raising his hand up for a hi-five.
With a swift flick of her wrist her hand crossed to meet his in a loud slap - both grinning. He held it there a moment before letting go. "T-that's what I say," she declared, trying to sound haughty. Her breath caught in her throat and she found her heart racing unusually fast.
Her eyes met his in an long, silent gaze, though somehow it wasn't the least bit awkward. He filled her with both a calmness and an excitment. Nothing at all like Lucas...Peyton snapped back to reality and took a step back. "I...I gotta get going," she said hesitantly. "My parents are expecting me home."
That sounded lame.
Jake, however, just nodded and smiled, accepting her excuse. "Thanks again for babysitting on such short notice."
"Yeah, no problem. I'd do it anytime," she said, stepping down from the sidewalk and onto the road. "Give me a ring whenever." Turning around she jogged to the driver side of her car. Once inside, she found that she had been breathing unusually hard. Looking over at Jake, who had bent down and was waving at her through the passenger side window, Peyton knew that there was definitely something about him that was different. She smiled back and waved before turning the ignition and driving away.
"C'mon Peyton. Snap out of it," she muttered to herself. "That's what you said about the last guy."