Peyton got into her car and turned on her radio. She blasted her new Dashboard Confessional CD and tried to get lost in the music. Peyton didn't know what she would do without her music. People may say it's "emo" or "loser" or "hard core." She didn't care. Call it whatever, all she knew was that she needed music to live. It had always been what's gotten her through hard times. Her adoptive mom dying, her biological mom dying, the school shooting... Well, that and Brooke. But lately she seemed pretty "occupied" with Lucas, so she had been turning to her music more and more.
Turning the corner and passing CD Alley, Peyton noticed a few kids she'd never seen before, and, being Tree Hill where everyone knows everyone else, she found this scene particularly intriguing. She continued driving until she reached the docks, which were rather deserted. Being late on a Friday night, most people were either at a post-game party or a party of some other kind, or, like Brooke and Haley, spending way too much time with their significant others indoors, if you know what that implies... Peyton parked her car and got out to lean against the rail and watch the few dimly lit boats go by in the river. It felt like everywhere she looked, however, there was another couple strolling down the sidewalk holding hands, or sitting on a bench making out.
"Screw you," Peyton said out loud to no one in particular, but rather to couples in general who thought that all the pain of life could go away with just three simple words.
"Excuse me?"
Peyton whirled around to find two girls she didn't know and couldn't recall seeing them around. She assumed they belonged to the group hanging around outside of CD Alley.
"Oh, sorry, I wasn't talking to you," Peyton said and turned back around, staring out at the water.
"Well, than who were you talking to?" One of the two girls responded.
"No one really … people in love, I guess," She said more to herself than to the girl.
"Broken heart? Been there. I'm Hannah, and this is Megan," the girl said gesturing to the other girl beside her, "You should come with us, I have a feeling we can help you with your problems."
Intrigued, Peyton raised an eyebrow and contemplated the invitation extended to her. "Yeah, sure, that sounds … perfect," Peyton said and followed the two girls around the corner.
"So, who's the guy?" Megan asked.
"What?" Peyton was caught off guard. She didn't even know these girls and they were asking her about her love life?
"The guy... the one who broke your heart?"
"Oh. Uh, his name is Lucas. He's pretty cute. We have a kinda complicated history, though."
"Complicated, like... how?" Hannah asked for the details.
"He and I got together behind his girlfriend's and my best friend's back. She forgave him though, and they're still together. But I guess I still have feelings for him. So, what did you mean when you said you could help with my problems?" Peyton wasn't convinced there really was a way to help, but if there was one, she sure as hell was going to find it.
"Well, this usually does the trick," Hannah said showing her a line of coke, apparently waiting to be snorted. By Peyton.
"Uh... no thanks." Peyton refused.
"Oh come on, it won't hurt you. It's just a little coke," Megan persuaded.
Peyton thought back to the first time that Rick had offered her cocaine. She didn't want to do it. But she did anyway. And it had helped her with her club opening. It seemed to Peyton as though the crack helped everything work out. And here she was, yet again, in another bad situation. She was so alone. No mom, a barely there dad, and a best friend who is really never there for her anyway. Maybe this could help with her problems. After all, Hannah and Megan seemed like they could be potential new friends.
Peyton looked back and forth between Hannah and Megan, and then between these "new friends" and the line of coke so neatly placed on the mirror. She could leave now. Just turn around, walk back to her car, and continue to live her life the way she currently was. Or she could stay here, with Megan and Hannah, and possibly find happiness, if only for a little while. After all an hour or so of happiness beats none at all. After quickly weighing the pros and cons in her head, Peyton came to a decision…. Just one line, she thought.
Before she knew it, one line had turned into two, two into three... by the end of the night she wasn't really sure how much she had done. All she knew was that she wanted to go home and sleep.
"Ok guys, I better head out. Thanks for, well, you know..." Peyton trailed off.
"No problem, anytime. We should do this again," Hannah said.
"Yeah, definitely. I feel much better. See you later." After exchanging phone numbers with both the girls, Peyton got in her car, blared her beloved DC again, and drove home. As soon as she entered her room, she quickly changed and went to bed. After all, reality was setting back in... she had cheer practice with none other than Brooke Davis and her squad in the morning. Great.
This chapter is kind of short -- maybe a longer one next? Read and Review please ! - a&e
Chapter titles: Lonely World - Bryan Greenberg, Pressure - Billy Joel