Chapter 8
Mechanics are expensive. I learned this today. I mean really, it shouldn't be that expensive to tow a piece of metal from one location to another and replace the front end. Ok, so maybe the last part may be a little expensive. I finally found a garage that I could afford. They towed the car to their garage but didn't know when it would be fixed. I went to Clothes over Bros. where Brooke was quietly and diligently sketching behind the purple counter.
"Hey girly," Brooke said in her usual cheerful tone. She looked up but only for a second before returning to her work.
"Hey, are they done upstairs yet?" I asked. I heard something drop and then a saw. "I'm taking that as a no!" I sat down next to Brooke and looked at the sketch.
"Oh, that's cute!" I say and pull it towards me a little before she pulls it back.
"Really? I'm not sure."
"I would totally buy it. Although I think I would buy most of the things in your store." She smiles but her attention never turns from the sketch. I sigh, trying to signal to her that I'm bored, but she doesn't get the hint so I get up and decide to go get some coffee. I go into the local coffee shop and order a white chocolate frappuccino. I decide to get a bagel and sit down at the table outside. I always loved Tree Hill, it's a small town but not so small that you're in the middle of nowhere. Except for when your ex who just told you he doesn't want to be friends follows you around town. Lindsey smiles at me and I'm not sure if it's a real smile or a fake, back-stabbing smile. I decide it's probably about time to leave. As I am leaving I feel a pat on my shoulder. I turn around and it's Lucas. I just sigh and look at him, I am not going to be the first one to speak.
"I heard you took your car to Ricky."
"Yeah…so."
"So, he's a suckey mechanic. Why didn't you just bring it over to the garage and I could work on it for free labor."
"Because…you told me you didn't want to be friends and that's not what friends do."
"But you need someone who is going to do a good job."
"Look, Lucas, if you want t work on the car then YOU go and get it, but I'll be paying for parts and labor. Remember, we're not friends anymore, so don't do me any favors." I think the look on his face is stunned but I walk away with my hot coffee and get into the rental car I'm driving. I don't have anything to do today so I go over to Haley's house because I don't feel like being alone at Brooke's house.
I knock on the door of Nathan and Haley's home and a few seconds later I hear Haley yelling at Jamie to wait for her but he opens the door anyway.
"Hey, little man," I say as I pick him up and give him a hug. Haley comes around the corner and sighs from relief.
"James Lucas Scott, what if that was a stranger," Haley criticizes.
"But it wasn't," Jamie says defensively.
"You didn't know that. I didn't know that."
"I knew it was Aunt Peyton."
"Sure, you did," Haley says in her sarcastic mother voice and motions for me to come inside.
"What are you guys doing today?" I ask.
"I'm trying to cook a nice dinner for Nathan, since it's our anniversary today, but I don't even know if he's going to be home in time and Jamie just can't seem to stay out of trouble," Haley says, picking up Jamie and tickling him. He laughs and then gets out of her arms and runs upstairs.
"Well how about I take Jamie over to Brookes and then maybe that'll take some of the stress away…" I stop there, wondering if Haley is afraid to let him come with me now. She's not answering. "If you're comfortable with that, of course."
"Peyton, I'm totally comfortable with Jamie going with you, the detectives already explained what happened and I know it wasn't your fault! I just don't want to pawn my son off on you."
"I will take Jamie as often as I can! I just don't want you to think he's not safe with me."
"Well, if you want him then I guess it's a special occasion."
"You and Nathan deserve a night to yourself. How about we have a sleepover with the little guy. Brooke will be home in time to order pizza!" Jamie comes around the corner then.
"Please, mama! Please, please, please!" I laugh at him and he jumps in my lap.
"Yeah, please, please, please!" I say, mimicking Jamie. We both make puppy faces and she scolds us.
"Ok, go pack your bag." Jamie jumps up.
"Yes!" He runs up the stairs and into his room. I can hear him shuffling around and pulling things out of his drawers.
"Don't forget your toothbrush and toothpaste," Haley yells. She starts chopping up some vegetables.
"I just hope Nathan gets home from practice in time," Haley says, and I can tell she really is worried about that.
"I'm sure he will. He can't forget that easily," I tell her, reassuringly.
"Oh, you'd be surprised how easily men can forget." I sigh and think about how it seems as if Lucas has forgotten what we had so quickly.
"Yeah…" Haley looks at me and we both know she knows exactly what's on my mind.
"Peyton, I know you miss him, but you said no! And then Lindsey came along, and she said yes."
"Haley, I said some day. I told him that I wanted to get married but I wanted to wait a while. Can't you understand that? We were 20 years old, that's way too young! We couldn't even legally drink!"
"But Lucas said…"
"Yeah, I'm sure he did. But that's not what happened." She sighed and had that ashamed look on her face. Jamie comes down the stairs then and clothes are hanging out of his backpack.
"Here, let me help you Jam Jam." I take the clothes out and fold them and make sure that he has all that he needs and put it back in neatly.
"Alright, let's go, come on, Aunt Peyton," Jamie says, while pulling me off of my chair.
"Hang on, just a second. You need to say goodbye to your mother!" He sighs and goes around the corner to give her a hug.
"Bye, mama." He says and then looks at me as if to say 'there, I said goodbye'.
"Bye, Hayles!" I yell over my shoulder.
"Have fun," she says. I grab Jamie's car seat and try to figure out how to get it in the car and get him in it. It took me a while, and I'm sure Haley was watching from the kitchen window, but I got it done.
"So, Jamie, where does your dad practice?"
"At the school gym. Have you ever been there, Aunt Peytono?"
"I went to school there, Jam Jam!"
"Really? So you went to school with mama and daddy!"
"Yep! We're going to stop by and see daddy real quick before we go to Aunt Brooke's house."
"Cool!"
Sorry, I'm not good at keeping up on my uploads. I hope that you guys like this chapter. It's not too exciting but I think it's cute. Please review! With cherries on top!
