Hi.
This is my first attempt at writing a fanfic. I was inspired whist watching Season 1-6 for the uptinth time recently. Please review and let me know if you wish for me to continue with this story. Hope you like it. B x
Chapter 1
It had been four years since she'd been here; here meaning home. The last time she was here she was graduating from high school and about to take on the world. She'd spent the last four years in LA trying to make it in the music industry. She'd done quite well for herself if you looked at where she started; she had gone from the assistant to the assistant, to being the assistant, and now she was one of the people around the 'table' that helped decide who would be the next 'star'.
She was early but she knew the little guy on the other side of this brown door wouldn't mind. She had his present in one hand and her handbag in the other. No one knew she was coming but after letting him and her friends down for the last four years she knew she couldn't do it again. The door slowly opened to a small guy with an opened mouthed shocked face standing there.
"Jamie, what have I told you about opening that door!" Hayley shouted from the kitchen.
"Aunt Peyton" Jamie screamed excitedly as he jumped into her arms.
"Hey little J. How's my guy doing?" Peyton smiled laughed hugging him, lifting him before placing him back on the ground.
"Jamie, I told you Aunt Peyton couldn't come." Hayley said as she rounded the corner. "Okay, I stand corrected. Peyton," Hayley squealed excitedly before pulling her into a hug. Hayley was an English teacher at Tree Hill High after graduating from college only last year so it was only natural that her music was taking a back burner. She still loved writing and performing but at the moment it wasn't one of her priorities.
"Hi Hayley, sorry I told you I couldn't make it but I wanted it to be a surprise for the little man standing next to me and the rest of you all." Peyton said. "And I know you hate people being early but..." Peyton finished smiling cheekily.
"I don't care you could of been here this morning and I wouldn't of cared. Oh, I'm so glad you're back Peyton. We've all missed you. I know Brooke and Nathan will be happy to have their best friend back" Hayley said purposely missing out Lucas. "And I know that this little monster is more than happy to see his Aunt Peyton in the flesh" Hayley finished whilst messing up Jamie's hair before taking the present out of Peyton's hand.
"Aunt Peyton, come on I want to show you the presents that Momma and Dad got me." Jamie said grabbing her hand.
"We'll catch up later!" Hayley said as Jamie was dragging Peyton into the living room.
"You betcha Hales." Peyton said laughing before she went out of view.
On the other side of town Lucas was sat in the corner of his living room reading a book waiting for Lindsay to finish getting ready. They were heading to the other Scott household for Jamie's 5th birthday party. Lucas had a published novel under the title 'An Unkindness of Ravens' and was now dating his editor. They had been dating for about a year and a half and he was satisfied with the relationship, not happy but satisfied. No one knew why Peyton and Lucas broke up. Lucas hadn't told anyone and neither had Peyton. Not even Brooke knew and she knew everything.
"Come on Linds, we're going to be late if we don't get a move on." Lucas shouted into the bedroom.
"I'm coming, hold on a second." Lindsey replied as she came into the living room putting on her heels. "Have you got the present?"
"I have." He said as he held it up. "Are you ready to go?"
"Hey. I'm back; the drinks are in the kitchen." Nathan shouted to whoever was listening whilst grabbing one of the bottles and opening it. Nathan walked into the living room where he could hear the noise of two people screaming at the television.
"Hey Jimmy Jam" He said as he went to sit down. "Hi, Peyton...OMG Peyton." Nathan said before jumping right up and pulling Peyton into a hug.
"Hey Nate." Peyton smiled.
"How've you been? It's been a while since we've spoke. Have you been too busy with your new flash job that you couldn't find time to speak to us, I'm offended Sawyer?" Nathan joked. When she first left she made sure she had a weekly Skype conversation with the Scott family to catch up with them and see how Jamie was doing. Nathan and Haley wanted to make sure Jamie knew his Aunt Peyton and because she wasn't coming home anytime soon this was the way that they could stay in touch. However over the past 18 months or so, finding the time where they could all be free was hard to come by.
"I've been good thanks, very busy. I'm sorry about not being able to speak to you. I loved our weekly chats; it made me feel like I was home. How have you been? How's the comeback coming?" Peyton asked. She was devastated when she heard about Nathan's accident and she wished she could have come home to help but she couldn't. There was one thing stopping her.
"I've been great. Hayley's been a godsend like always. The come back? I've been getting back into basketball slowly, very slowly." Nathan laughed.
"Ahh, I see. So it's been going terribly. Don't be afraid Nathan. Don't let fear control your life." Peyton said seriously.
"Check you Miss Sawyer when did you become so insightful?"
"It's what LA does to you!" She laughed.
"Aunt Peyton come on, you're totally losing this." Jamie shouted.
"Anything for the birthday boy!" she laughed.
"We'll catch up later Sawyer. Where you staying?" Nathan asked.
"I was going to check into a hotel or something. I'm don't think I'll be staying here that long." Peyton replied.
"Well you're welcome stay here with us if you want." Nathan replied.
"Yeah please Aunt Peyton please?"
"Sure. Thanks Nate." Peyton smiled.
On the other side of town, Brooke was getting ready to go to Jamie's after giving up trying to get hold of Peyton for the past hour. No matter how many times she rang Peyton's office, house or mobile she just wasn't answering. No one ignored Brooke Davis' calls, no one. Finally leaving the house, with a MASSIVE gift bag in hand, she headed to her car to drive the short trip to Nathan and Hayley's house thinking about why in the world Peyton was ignoring her calls. She couldn't help but feel that something was wrong.
Pulling up outside the house, arriving early as per usual, she bounced into the house, not bothering to knock on the door. She could hear laughter coming from the lounge area of the house. A familiar childish cackle that seemed very familiar to her, but it wasn't Jamie's. Brooke stopped in her tracks as she realised who it was and without a second thought she raced into the room in her sky high heels.
"P. SAWYER, you have got a lot of nerve." Brooke shouted as she entered the room looking straight at Peyton who was still playing with Jamie.
"It's nice to see you too B. Davis." Peyton laughed from her place on the floor as she turned to face Brooke.
"You are so not cool. Ignoring my calls, lucky for you I've missed you too much to hate you. Get over here." Brooke said walking over to Peyton who was standing up and pulled her into a big hug.
"I missed you too." Peyton said. "Sorry, I just didn't want to give away the fact I was here. I wanted it to be a surprise."
"You know I love surprises P, but I would have loved to know this." Brooke said as they sat down on the couch.
"I was wondering what all the screaming about but now I realise." Hayley laughed as she joined the girls, and Jamie, in the lounge.
"Don't tell me you told Hayley that you were coming here." Brooke said sternly; hating to be the last to know the gossip.
"No, I didn't. I kind of turned up on her doorstep earlier." Peyton laughed. "No one knew I was coming you. You're only the third, well fourth if you count Jamie, who knows I'm here." Peyton laughed.
"Who's second? Don't tell me it's someone like Skills or Mouth?" Brooke laughed.
"Nope, Nathan." Peyton smirked. "And before you say it you aren't the last person who I want to know that I am here. Skills and Mouth still don't know I here." Peyton smiled. Brooke and Hayley looked at each other when they realised she hadn't mentioned Lucas. To be honest, Peyton hadn't even mentioned anything to do with Lucas or even asked how he was. This was strange, very strange. It was the fact that no one knew what had happened between them. It was one huge mystery with neither party saying anything about the situation the two blondes were in now.
"I heard my name. You missed me the most Sawyer? Why am I even asking that, everyone knows you did." Nathan smirked, sitting in the seat next to his wife.
"Of course Nathan, you're a guy hard to forget and just have to miss." Peyton said sarcastically.
"She missed me the most, jerk. Everyone knows your life is never the same without seeing B. Davis everyday." Brooke spoke smiling.
"What about Foxy here?" Hayley laughed referring to herself as the nickname Peyton gave her back at high school over four years ago.
"Totally missed you Foxy, you're the only non egocentric person around here." Peyton laughed earning a devil look from both Nathan and Brooke. "Oh you both know it's true."
"Whatever, Sawyer you'll regret that comment you'll see." Nathan laughed as Jamie got up off the floor.
"So Jim-Jam what's the best present you've got today?" Peyton said pulling Jamie towards her.
"My rabbit Chester; he is so cool. He rocks." Jamie smiled as Peyton made an 'o' shape with her mouth.
"What about me? I think me coming down to Tree Hill was a pretty good present." Peyton smiled.
"You're not a present Aunt Peyton, though it is amazingly cool that you're here." Jamie said straight.
"Yeah Aunt Peyton; my gift totally rocks J-man."Brooke said pointing to the gift bag, the huge gift bag, on the coffee table watching Jamie's eyes go huge.
Lucas helped Lindsay out of the car, taking one hand in his whilst his free hand carried the gift bag containing Jamie's present. He looked towards and smiled as he entered the house, he and his girlfriend visited on a regular basis. They could laughter and voices coming from the lounge and headed straight there. He recognised a voice, a voice that haunted his dreams, a voice that no matter how much he tried he just couldn't forget. Entering the room, he could recognise that hair anywhere; the blonde curly hair that just rested nicely around her face, resting on her shoulders. He froze; Lindsay was looking at him confused, wondering why he didn't make their presence known. Lucas didn't know what to do; he never thought in a million years that he would be in this situation. Well he knew eventually the time would come when she would come back and he thought he would be over her, well he was over her, wasn't he? He was with Lindsey now, he loved Lindsey.
Lindsay shook her head at him and decided if he wasn't going to make their presence know, then she would. The group in front of them were too immerged in their conversation to even notice the door opening and shutting before they entered the room.
"Well, well, well, where is the birthday boy." Lindsay said making her way into the room even more.
"I'm here." Jamie said jumping out of Peyton's arms. "Hey Aunt Lindsay," Jamie said as he waved at her before jumping in front of Lucas. "Uncle Lucas!" he exclaimed.
Hayley, Nathan and Brooke looked over at Peyton who hadn't even flinched at the mention of his name. She hadn't even acted strangely about it; she just carried on with what she was doing. It looked to everyone like she wasn't fazed by the mention of his name. Hayley, Nathan and Brooke just shrugged at each, giving each other the look to say they'll talk about this later.
"Hey Lindsay, how are you?" Hayley said getting up to hug her brother-in-laws/best friend's girlfriend.
"I'm great thank you." Lindsey replied looking over to Brooke and Nathan who both said hi. Jamie and Lucas were still a discussion. Well Jamie was talking and Lucas was just nodding at all the right moments; his mind still on that blonde bombshell sitting on the couch who hadn't even turned around or flinched at the mention of his name.
"Jamie... or Hayley, where do you want me to put your present. It looks like the coffee table has been taken over." Lindsay laughed taking the bag out of Lucas' hands whilst looking at Brooke, noticing the Blonde sat next to her.
"Anywhere is fine by me. Jim-Jam where do you want it?" Hayley asked his now four year old son.
"Can I open it now Mama?" Jamie asked.
"You sure can buddy." Hayley smiled seeing her son move to sit back next to Peyton making Peyton smile. Lindsey and Lucas made their way to the free couch near Jamie; neither Peyton nor Lucas making eye contact with each other, something that didn't go unnoticed by Hayley, Nathan and Brooke who all were slyly observing the pair. Brooke squeezed Peyton's hand that was resting by her side making Peyton give her a confused look. Brooke realised there was something majorly wrong with this situation. What in the hell happened two years, how did her best friends get in this state.
"So little J, who's are you opening first?" Peyton asked smiling at the little boy.
"Hmmm." He said with a thinking look across his face. "Brooke's." He smiled looking towards her.
"See, the guys a genius." Brooke smiled.
"It only because yours is the biggest." Hayley laughed, along with everyone else making Brooke frown.
Lucas sat there staring straight ahead. He was trying to act all cool, and that it didn't bother him that Peyton was her but who was he kidding, it did, he would be lying if he said it wasn't.
Seeing him still in a strange mood, Lindsay looked down and entwined her fingers with his giving his hand a little squeeze making Lucas look towards her and smile.
Jamie threw the wrapping paper off hurriedly, a smile growing wider on his face as he realised what it was. "Mamma, look at this. Thank you, Aunt Brooke." Jamie said running towards her and hugging her as tight as he could to say thank you for his amazing gift.
"You're welcome. It was worth it just to see that smile on your face." Brooke smiled. "Beat that people." Brooke said making everyone laughed.
"Uncle Lucas' and Aunt Lindsay's next." Jamie said bouncing making them smile.
"I'm offended Little J." Peyton said mocking a hurt tone.
"Sorry Aunt P. Yours will be next I promise." Jamie said giving her that kilowatt smile making the adults laugh.
"What book did you get me this year?" Jamie laughed as he opened up the present.
"How did you know it was a book J-man?" Lucas laughed.
"You always get me books Uncle Lucas."Jamie stated as he looked over the book. "Thank you Uncle Lucas and you too Aunt Lindsay." Jamie finished as he gave them both a hug after getting a book of creepy bed time rhymes off the couple.
"It's your present now Aunt Peyton." He smiled looking over in her direction, picking up what seemed to be another book.
"Open it up then Jim Jam." Peyton smiled hoping he would like her gift.
Tearing the wrapping the off, he saw what looked like a sketch pad. He flipped through the pages wondering what it was. "Aunt Peyton?" Jamie questioned.
"Come sit by me." Peyton said patting the seat as all the adults looked in her direction. Taking the sketchpad out of Jamie's hand when he offered it he looked at her intently. "I didn't know what to get you so I thought about a photo album. I asked your mamma and dad for pictures..."
"So this is what you wanted the pictures for." Nathan stated making Peyton nod.
"I drew what I could remember of you being in your Mamma's tummy and when I saw you when you were born and before I left to go to California and all my memories of you are drawn in here. There are pictures of you with your Momma and Dad, Brooke, Lucas, Skills, Mouth amongst others." Peyton smiled, looking at Jamie who was slowly flipping over the pages studying each picture intently and she was proud of herself of not even flinching when she mentioned his name.
"I love it. Thank you Aunt Peyton." Jamie smiled. "Why is there a blank page at the back?" he said looking up at Peyton.
"I thought that maybe I could draw a picture of us two together? What do you think?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah, I love you drawings. You're so cool Aunt Peyton." Jamie smiled making Peyton smile, the purest smiled she'd worn in quite a long time, over two years in fact.
"Momma you gotta see this. It's soo cool!" Jamie said taking the sketch pad over to her.
"Excuse me, whilst I get a drink, do you mind?" Peyton said getting up and looking at Nathan and Hayley.
"It's not a problem. The glasses are in the top cupboard on the right as you go in" Nathan said as Peyton smiled in thanks.
Peyton took a breather as she entered the kitchen. She vowed that she wasn't going to break; it was hard looking through the pictures and seeing such the smiling and happy faces that were on her and Lucas' faces. She reached up to take a glass from the cupboard before pouring herself a glass of water. Sipping it slowly, she allowed her mind to get these thoughts out of her head. She knew at some point she'd have to face Lucas. She knew he'd seen her and hell she saw him too. It took all the strength she had to not look at him for more than a second. She knew if she looked at him for longer she'd crumble. She couldn't crumble, she'd fought so hard these past few years to try and build herself back to that strong and feisty Peyton she was in high school but she hadn't been that Peyton in a while. She was finally becoming herself again and Lucas Scott wasn't going to send her crashing back down again. She'd still hadn't spoken to anyone about what happened two years ago and by the sounds of things neither had Lucas. She wondered how long it was going to stay that way with Peyton staying in Tree Hill for the next month. Rows, fights and the truth were about to come out, she had realised this before coming back home but she hoped she had the strength to prove herself wrong. 4 weeks was all it was. 4 weeks and she could go back to LA where she could forget about the truth, forget about crumbling in front of Lucas and forget the state she had left herself in after that event two years ago, a state that she is not proud of her.
Hearing the sound of footsteps into the kitchen she wiped away her tears and turned around. She reminded herself of what she had to do to survive. She had to do was stay away from Lucas Scott, stay away from the trap she always found herself when she was around him. How long could she stay away from him or the better question, how long could Lucas stay away from her? That was the question that would determine her survival?
"Peyton." And there was her survival points blown out of the window.
TBC...
