A Beautiful Mess
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The skeleton frame, how it's holding my memories
Cause god only knows now, just what's ahead of me
Cause everything's been taken from me now, I don't believe it
When everything that you had just sweeps aside
You rise like the Phoenix to fly
Breaking Point – Pheonix
x~X~x
Chapter 4: New Law of the Land
The day had already begun in disaster. Opening the cold metal of her locker door, Peyton searched the inside of the tiny space for the one thing that could release her from it all. Stacked neatly on top of a pile of uninteresting books lay her prized possession, the latest ipod staring back at her like a beacon of hope. No matter where she was in the world or how she was feeling, nothing helped the sarcastic blonde more than a decent track. Music was her lifeline, something she had shared with her mother.
Or so she had been told. She was finding it more and more difficult to remember her these days.
Letting out a long, deep sigh, hazel orbs shifted to the right to see the photos that plastered the door of her locker. Her gaze danced over them just as they always did, the cheerleader wishing they could shoot some inspirational feeling her way. It was the first day back at school and already she didn't want to be there. It wasn't solely because of the run-in Nathan had with the weird musician, but also the way her wayward boyfriend had made her feel over the break. Barely enough time to spend with her, Nathan was more interested in basketball, video games and hanging with the boys. When he did afford her time to send together, it was usually for sex or to complain once more about the pressure his father kept placing on him now Lucas would be joining them at school. Every time Peyton tried to get her boyfriend to open up about his feelings regarding his brother, he automatically shut her down and spewed something about her trying to compensate his familial problems due to her lack of family.
Ass.
"So, is it true?"
Whirling around to the sound of a familiar voice that broke through her train of thought, Peyton smiled when she saw the gorgeous bouncing figure of her best friend, Brooke Davis. It was good to see her, chocolate locks falling loosely over enviable shoulders as lustful eyes gazed at her from every direction. They were a complex pair, both popular due to monetary triumphs of their parents yet almost polar opposites. Where Peyton was quiet, reserved and anti-social, Brooke was loud, boisterous and the school's social butterfly. She enjoyed parties, boys and more importantly, money. Peyton preferred her world of art, music and creativity. But in spite of their enormous differences, she really was the greatest friend Peyton had ever known. It was Brooke who had been by her side since the age of six when the pair met in pre-school. She had held her hand on that very first frightening day, and in the decade that had followed since, she had never once let go. Through dead mothers, absent fathers and challenging jerk boyfriends, the two girls had created a bond so strong it was rare to see either without the other. In spite of what people said about her- shallow, slutty and bitchy- underneath it all, Peyton knew Brooke carried a heart of gold.
Just like Brooke knew Peyton was simply a lost soul trying to make it in the world.
"Is what true?" Peyton questioned, taking one last look at a photo of her and Nathan stuck to the locker door. She slammed the metal shut, leaning against it to face an inquisitive pair of emerald eyes.
"Did Nathan really beat up on that hot brother of his again?"
Peyton raised a solitary eyebrow at the adjective Brooke had chosen to use regarding Nathan's brother Lucas. She smiled a little, seeing Brooke's mind whirling at a million miles an hour. Peyton swore if the world could harness the exuberance that resided within Brooke's genes there would be no need for coffee in the world.
"Hot brother?"
"What?" Brooke smiled cheekily, nudging her best friend in the shoulder as she giggled. "As if you've never noticed how ridiculously good looking Dan Scott's spawn are." Reaching out with a delicate finger, the brunette beauty slid her luscious locks behind her ear as she leaned against the locker next to her friend. "It's just like illegal to admit that Nathan's brother has a hot factor when our lovely basketball captain is around, you know?"
Peyton nodded her head at the comment, knowing that deep down Brooke was referring to the non-existent familial love between the Scott boys. It was no secret that they hated each other, and all eyes were on the duo when the school day had begun. Already they were at each others throats and, much to Peyton's dismay, she was a part of it. She didn't know why it bothered her so much. Perhaps Nathan was right. Maybe she was substituting his family problems because she had no family? Noticing her friend's downtrodden expression, Brooke leaned closer and wrapped a caring arm around her.
"So are you going to tell me what happened?"
Peyton sighed, knowing that Brooke would not rest until she had the complete story. Licking her lips, she spun around so that her shoulder was leaning against the cold metal beside them. Everyone knew when these two girls were face to face and knee deep in secret conversations, you didn't disturb them.
"Nathan got a little heated because one of the new kids was getting a little too close for his liking."
"To you?" Brooke's emerald orbs widened in excitement, her lower lip consumed with eager teeth. Mmm-puh. Slowly she released it and shuffled a little, the enthusiasm radiating off of her. "Oh my gosh, was he cute?"
"He was..." Peyton began, unsure what to say. "... annoying."
Slightly put off at her friend's choice of words, Brooke slumped backwards a little and pouted slightly. "Hmpf. Well that isn't very exciting."
"Why do you even care?" Peyton teased, raising her eyebrows in a baiting manner. "All these boys should mean nothing to you considering you are currently dating Felix Taggaro."
"You know I called him last night," Brooke replied, her tone instantly changing from happy to annoyed. "Butt-face didn't answer, again. Seriously, remind me again why I put up with this shit?"
"You love him?" Peyton offered, knowing it probably wasn't the answer Brooke was searching for. The brunette vixen proved her right within a matter of seconds, scrunching up her face in disgust and shaking her head so that her chocolate locks swayed back and forth across her shoulders.
"Eeew, no!" came the adamant reply, tiny hands reaching out and slightly pushing her friend backwards. "Don't be disgusting. You know my stance on boy-girl relationships. Boy in girl's bed is fine, boy in girl's heart? Not so much."
Peyton gave look her usual worried expression whenever Brooke made her anti-real relationship speech. She worried that all this time Brooke spent giving into her fear of commitment was going to make her end up alone. The thought of that happening to her best friend was horrible. Brooke had such an amazing heart and Peyton hoped and prayed that some day someone could come along and melt the ice caps off of it... just a little.
"Brooke," the blonde cheerleader began but stopped, the sight of a bumbling Bevin catching her eye. Brooke followed her gaze and turned around just in time to have her airy friend ram into her, arms reaching out to grab hold of the panicked girl.
"Oh em gee, you guys have to come." Bevin stopped and took a deep breath, clearly having run quite a distance to find her friends. "There's some sort of meeting called in the gym- and it involves the basketball team and us."
Confused orbs danced around each other as the trio made their way down the hall and headed for the gym, familiar jocks and cheerleaders following one-another in the same direction. The gym was buzzing when they arrived, Peyton looking over to see Nathan with a scowl on his face. Without hesitation, she followed the direction of his glare and finding it aimed at his older brother, who apparently, had also been summoned. Before she had a chance to walk over, a familiar disgruntled cough filled the gym, all eyes turning to see Coach Whitey Durham ready and waiting.
"You're probably all wondering why I've summoned you this morning," he begain, gruff voice fluctuating with his southern accent. "So I won't keep you waiting. As you all know, as of today Tree Hill High has opened up its doors to new students. With new students come new talent, and inevitably this has a serious effect on our sporting and cheerleading teams."
Whispers and concerned murmurs started up like wildfire, rippling through the group of students much to the Coach's dismay. He cleared his throat once more, everyone quietening down almost immediately. It was well-known that when it came to Coach Durham, affectionately known by all as Whitey, you did what you were told – no questions asked.
"When you're quite finished." he glared down at Tim Smith, Nathan shoving his sidekick hard in the arm to get him to stop. Tim shot Whitey an sheepish apologetic look, the coach returning his eyes back to the entire crowd to continue his announcement. "So this is how it'll work. Players will be selected based on their previous season's stats. Considering both schools were neck-and-neck in the divisions they were placed in, Nathan Scott will be captain," Nathan's face shone with pride, turning to wink at his friends as they grunted and patted him on the back. "And Lucas Scott will also be captain."
"What?" Nathan declared, sending an angered look in Whitey's direction. "You can't be serious!"
Eyes shot in Lucas' direction, his own teammates smiling and patting their old captain's back much like Nathan's team had done. The two brothers stared at one-another with contempt, Peyton biting her lip nervously. How was this even going to work when they hated each other?
"Furthermore," Whitey continued, looking over at the gaggle of cheerleaders that flanked the basketballers. "Cheerleaders will be merged based on selections. Since Brooke Davis and Rachel Gatina were captains respectively in their schools, the two of them will also co-captain the squad."
Brooke's hand shot out and grabbed Peyton's arm in panic, her tight grip causing the blonde to wince a little from the pain. She reached out and grabbed a hold of her hand, prying her cheery friend off of her wrist and holding it. Anger spread throughout the assembled teens, the energy bouncing off the walls of the gymnasium. Brooke and Rachel stared each other down, murmurs and growls traversing throughout the affected students.
"Anyone who doesn't like it," Whitey announced, his booming voice cutting off any chance the teens had of arguing with one-another. "Can make their way over to that door right there and there'll be no hard feelings." A chubby hand shook slightly as it pointed towards the exit, everyone understanding his full meaning. Not wanting to risk their spot on the team, the students remained quiet and simply glared at each other through angered eyes.
"Welcome back."
Standing down from his position, Whitey and his assistant coach made their way out of the gymnasium leaving everyone to deal with the announcement they had made. Peyton could tell just by being within fifteen feet of him that Nathan was fuming, his chest rising and falling with every labored, angered breath. Walking over to her boyfriend, she glanced to her right and saw Lucas making his way over to the bleachers, followed closely behind by Brooke's latest rival Rachel, and the two friends she had seen him with earlier that morning.
"Hey," the blonde spoke soothingly, a hand reaching out and wrapping around her boyfriend's toned arm. "It'll be okay."
"Co-captain?" he spat out, venom lacing every syllable. "What the fuck? Whitey has lost his damn mind thinking that bastard brother of mine can captain this team with me. I'd run circle around that loser. My father's right, the old bastard should have retired back in the dark ages when he was still useful."
"Nate," Peyton tried again, annoyed that his jock friends were supporting his tirade with sniggers of appreciation. "Why don't you just try to get along."
Cerulean eyes shifted down towards the blonde, Nathan shaking his head at her suggestion. "Maybe you've lost your mind too? Correct me if I'm wrong Peyton, but you're supposed to be on my side."
"We're all on the same side now," the music loving girl replied, trying to make her boyfriend see reason. "Can't you just try and..."
"P. SAWYERRRRRR!"
Brooke's voice broke out across the entire gymnasium, every single pair of eyes turning to look at the gorgeously frazzle brunette beauty. She held her hand out and made grabbing movements with it, beckoning her friend to come to her. Peyton sighed and turned to look at Nathan, her boyfriend already having turned to grumble with his friends some more. Throwing her hands in the air and rolling her eyes, Peyton turned and walked over towards her best friend, a sideways glance towards Lucas and his friends before they made their way out of the gym, arm in arm.
"She doesn't get it," Nathan growled, Felix and Jake flanking him as the raven-haired leader began to speak. "She thinks we can all be happy friends and families when they have come in here and taken everything from us."
"This isn't some sort of war, Nate," Jake scoffed a little, usually one to sail through life with as little drama as possible. "It's not like we've been invaded and the law has changed."
"But it has," Nathan replied angrily, watching Jake with a scowl as he reached down and grabbed his gym bag. "What will you think when one of those dicks takes your spot?"
"I'd think they'd earned it," came the casual reply, Felix standing beside Nathan and shaking his head at Jake's answer. "It's all based on stats and if mine aren't good enough then I've really only got myself to blame."
"How about you go and change your tampon now, Jagielski," Felix muttered, the boys behind him sniggering as he taunted his team mate. "Seriously, you're sounding more and more like a girl with each passing day."
Jake smiled at Felix's retort, shrugging his shoulders as he placed his bag over one of them. "And if you add much more gel to that hair of yours Taggaro, you'll look like one." Jake turned and made his way back out of the gym, leaving behind his angered team mates who wanted nothing but to make this whole matter simply go away. Turning his eyes once again to look in the direction of his brother, Nathan watched as Haley jumped up and wrapped her arms around him, Chris standing to his feet and patting his friend on the back. They were an odd bunch and Nathan couldn't tell how they had all managed to be friends, but somehow he knew that the only way to beat an enemy is to take away their support system – and leave them all alone.
"This isn't over," he declared, Felix looking over to where his captain was gazing, a cocky smile filtering across his lips as he realized a plan was in action. "I'm not gonna let that douchebag run my team, and I'm certainly not going to let any of his pathetic little players take our guys' spots."
"So what's the plan then, boss?" Felix asked, evil grin encompassing his face. "Public humiliation? Ass-kicking?"
"No," Nathan replied, shooting Felix a serious look. "Nothing that can get us kicked off the team." He tilted his head to the side, watching as Rachel wrapped her arms around Lucas and placed a gentle kiss upon his lips. His eyes trailed up and down her long, pencil thin legs, landing firmly on her ass. "No," he stated again, a small smile coming to his lips. "We'll just make his life so hard that by the time we're done with him... he'll be begging to quit."
Felix chuckled evilly and nodded his head, Nathan throwing Lucas a daring gaze as he made his way out of the gym, the double doors banging behind them and echoing throughout the now silent gymnasium.
Game on.
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Okay, so I'm back again. I feel somewhat inspired to stick with my OTH fics so for the time being I will be focusing solely on them. Please review and let me know what you think!
Chrissy
xox