Decipher Reflections from Reality

Tears streamed down her face as she cradled her head in her hands. He had tried so hard to help her and love her and she pushed him away. Now where was she? Coming down from her high, along, and crying. She had certainly done a great job this time.

In silence she listened to the sounds of the night. She heard the crickets chirp, small animals scurry away and the faint, gentle sound of the wind. There was a disturbance though, a sound that was out of place and did not belong with the creatures of the night; a sound that resembled that of footsteps.

Immediately, her head shot up and she peered curiously into the darkness her senses alert. To her dismay, she saw nothing. Then a figure began to emerge and take shape. As he stepped under the streetlight Peyton saw him clearly and her heart lifted.

"Jake!" she exclaimed rearing eagerly from her porch step. When she met his warm body she felt his arms wrap around her forming a tight and secure hold.

"I've missed you so much." she whispered pulling away just to see his face. She cherished it forever engraving his features in her head and heart.

A small smile parted his as he too had forgotten how breathtaking she was. Though he took note that looked different somehow; thinner and frail with tired lines beginning to set.

"I've missed you too Peyton." he murmured pulling her closer to his body just to feel her again.

She felt herself collapse into his chest, the tear again falling from her eyes. These tears, however, were not tears of sadness, they were tears of joy. She was in the arms of the boy she loved.

He cradled her closer to his chest burying his cheek into her hair. In that moment everything seemed to fit perfectly the two of them together locked in a powerful embrace. Seconds passed, minutes passed, but they did not care. Jake could sit here for hours cradling her to his chest until she broke away. The days he missed out on were soon forgotten, there were no 'I'm sorries' or broken promises. It was just the two of them brought together beneath a streetlight and nothing else mattered.

It was sometime before Peyton broke away from his grasp their eyes locking with a thousand unspoken words passing between them. She searched the depths of his eyes praying and hoping that this was for real. He was not just a dream he was here in the flesh she could feel him. The tears came again causing Jake to take her hands enlacing their fingers.

"Peyton what's wrong?" he asked in strangled whisper pressing his lips to her brow. Jake was careful. Jake was cautious. He dared not to make a sudden move or pull her into another a hug. He knew she needed the moment to feel his presence to accept that he was really here.

"You're here Jake. God you're here. I've played this moment over in my head a thousand times and it never felt this good. I've missed you and it feels like you've never been gone." she choked out through her own sobs her hands shaking within Jake's. Again her eyes met his in a blazing stare. A smile tugged at the corner of Jake's lips as he waited for her to speak again. It only took a second for her lips to reach his and suddenly their lips were moving together. A strong hand entwined in her hair while the other found the small of her back. It was not like their other kisses which had been more soft and tender. There was a sense of urgency in each of their lips for fear that one of them would soon disappear.

Several long minutes passed or maybe hours before they finally parted, smiles radiating from both of their faces. It was with a slight nod and a devious smile that they found themselves upstairs in her room reminiscing of the first time they made love. Jake held her close as they lay on the bed. Peyton did not fight and nestled closer to his chest feeling his warmth spread through her body.

"I don't want to be alone tonight…could you..."

"Stay the night." he finished for her. She gave a small nod.

"Of course." he replied pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Another sigh left her being as they lay there in silence. No words seemed right no action seemed better than just the two of them spooned together.

Inevitably, sleep would eventually take Peyton's body despite her protests. The battle was eventually lost to her aching muscles and tired mind. She did not fall into slumber without a kiss and slurred, "You'll be here when I wake up right?"

Jake only sighed kissing her once more, "Of course I will." Then he watched her eyelids flutter close as she fell soundly asleep. He lay there in silence holding the girl that made him feel alive. He feared for her though, for what would happen to her when he would eventually have to leave. Already she was not looking good; he could not even imagine what would happen to her when he left. For now though he pushed it from his mind and focused on the moment in which he was currently living, the moment with the girl that made him the happiness he has ever known.

Peyton woke up in tears sometime in the early morning. Jake jolted awake stealing a glance to the window seeing the darkness still outside. She clung tighter to him burying her face into his chest unable to control the sobs.

"Peyton, what's wrong?" he asked a strained whisper instinctually wrapping his arm tightly around her.

"I-I… I had a d-dr-dream that y-you were g-go-gone when I w-woke up." her words came out in sobs as she wrung the material to his t-shirt in her hands. Jake was here he was solid why was it so hard for her to accept that he was not a dream?

"Peyton, shh. I'm not leaving tomorrow. I'll be here right when you wake up." he whispered soothingly stroking her hair pressing his lips to her temple. "I'm here Peyton. I'm right here."

All rationale left her being her thought process was set on one thing. No longer did she care that Jake would eventually have to leave. She had kept her guard up with him and he had broken it down once more. He was here, she needed him and he needed her. Every thing made sense. Their eyes locked, Peyton no longer thinking crashed her lips against his. She felt him go rigid beneath her. Peyton paused though her lips did not move she waited for his next move. It took only another moment for Jake to respond with a kiss passion pouring from his being as he rolled to hover above her. Heat rose between them flushing their cheeks as they kissed furiously, tongues entwining in an intricate dance. Emotions ran through Peyton's veins as the heat rose in her stomach as Jake worked tirelessly to remove her clothing as well as his own. Every touch, every kiss, and every whisper of her name sent ecstasy coursing through her veins. He obeyed her every request keeping a firm but gentle hold on her hips, his lips caressing her collar bone up to her jaw.

She fell asleep in his embrace once more, feeling the exhaustion as his gentle breathing and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat lulled her into a deep sleep. He held her close throughout the night, his arms wrapping around her in a secure hold. He feared if he let her go if even for moment she would slip away from him and never return.

Morning finally came shining brightly through her blinds causing a strained sigh to escape from her throat and her eyelids to flutter open. "Good morning." she smiled up at Jake all traces of doubt washed away from her mind. She let her fingers roam idly the plains of his chest while she listened to the cadence of his heartbeat.

"Good morning to you too." he replied pressing his lips to the top of her head pulling her tighter to him.

"If you hug me any tighter I just might suffocate." she teased poking his nose with a smile. A heart chuckle emitted from his throat completely enveloping Peyton warming her to the very bone. His grip, however, slacked slightly.

Peyton frowned, "Hey, I didn't say let go. I love to feel close to you."

Jake chuckled again stealing a glance at her alarm clock he sighed falling back into the pillows. "Do you want to do something today? Get out or something." he whispered nibbling seductively at her ear.

"Mhm, can't we just stay in bed all day?" Peyton pleaded snuggling closer to his chest just wanting to feel close to him.

"Last night was perfect. You were perfect. The night was perfect. I never wanted the moment to end. I could have laid there all night cradling you in my arms and I would have died the happiest man alive." he paused momentarily a grin parting his features. "But, it is a beautiful day out and we're going to do something constructive." he finished throwing the covers from his body and sliding into his pair of jeans from the previous night.

Peyton groaned rolling from her bed and sauntered lazily into her bathroom after grabbing a few articles of clothing as she went. Jake smiled kissing her as she walked by him. He resumed dressing pulling his shirt over his head crouching down in search of his watch.

"Hey Peyton have you seen my watch?" he called to her in the bathroom.

Peyton hesitated a moment finishing brushing her teeth, spitting the remaining contents into the sink. "Um, check the bedside drawer. I think you might have put it there." she called back.

Jake smiled making his way to her bedside table rummaging through its contents, no sign of his watch. His fingers brushed that of plastic bag then a flash of white caught his eye. He grasped the object uncertainly feeling the substance beneath his fingers. It was no secret as to what it was. Part of the problem was he did not want to believe that Peyton had sunk this low. He mulled things over in his head, his heart racing. It very nearly stopped as the bathroom banged open and her voice came light and cheery from the doorway.

"Hey Jake are you ready to go, find your watch?" she asked easily leaning against the frame. Jake shook his head clutching the bag tightly in his fist.

He stood up, turning to face her holding the bag out in front of him.

"Peyton what is this?"