"I'm reporting from Tree Hill, North Carolina, amidst a town celebrating a miracle. Blue and gold balloons line the mail boxes, welcome home posters are displayed proudly in windows of both homes and businesses, the mood is vibrant as they celebrate a day few believed would ever happen. Nine years ago, Tree Hill made headlines with the tragic disappearance of Adrienne Scott. The toddler seemingly vanished into thin air on the morning of her third birthday, while her parents set up decorations for a party that would never happen. Almost nine years to the day the mystery of what happened to the birthday girl has finally been answered, today a press conference was held and the county sheriff announced that Adrienne Scott, now twelve years old, has been located safe and well.
"A spokesperson for the parents, Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis, released a statement on their behalf, sharing their joy and relief at the return of their daughter, and thanking all those who have given their support and love over the years. The case repeatedly made the news over the years, kept in the spotlight by the involvement of the Seattle Sonics' star player, Nathan Scott, who personally offered a ten-million-dollar reward for any news leading to the location of Adrienne.
"Scott, the paternal uncle of the missing girl, has declined to speak to the press though when asked to comment has requested his family is given space during the reunion. Little is known so far about the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping or the return of Adrienne Scott, however a person of interest has been named, with police asking for any information relating to the location of Peyton Jagielski, a twenty-nine-year-old woman last seen near Elizabethtown in Bladen County-"
A photograph of Peyton popped up to the reporters left, Jenny felt her stomach drop and quickly pressed down the power button on the remote. The room went silent.
Through the gaps in the blinds on the windows Jenny could see the police officer still stationed outside her door, turning her back on the tv and still avoiding the reminder outside Jenny continued to pack her bag. There was not much to pack.
None of it was really hers anyway. Nothing was.
Not even her name.
Jenny sucked in a breath and refused to let the tear that built at the edge of her eye fall. She hated feeling this way, like her whole life had suddenly been engulfed in the darkness she'd always been afraid off.
-x-
They followed her into the room, standing nervously behind Jenny as she looked around the space. It was a generic guest room, calm colours, pretty and classic with no personality to claim in. It wasn't a room designed with teenagers or children in mind.
Jenny felt her lips twitch. Her nomadic lifestyle and lack of roots made this space all too familiar. Two single beds stood not far from each other, a single bedside table with a lamp between them.
"We moved an extra bed in here so you and Lily can share, we thought that you would like that" Brooke twisted her fingers together, unsure, "-but if you prefer-"
Jenny kept her back to the practical strangers that had suddenly become her parents "this is okay" she stated, finding comfort that Lily would be close "where is Lily?"
"With Nathan and Haley, they'll be back later." Brooke quickly walked forward, going to a dresser in one corner, she ran her hands over the top, "We bought you some clothes and that, it should all fit but if you need anything just ask. Maybe next week when things are settled, we can go together and you can pick out some things yourself, even get anything you want for your room" Brooke stopped the rambling and smiled nervously.
Your room. The words went over and over in Jenny's head. Something inside her screamed back a strong rebellious NO, yet she did not say it aloud. Jenny walked over to one of the beds and dropped her bag, "thanks"
Brooke returned to Lucas side, feeling her boyfriend wrap an arm around her back. Lucas squeezed Brooke's hip, his eyes on their daughter, "if you need anything, anything at all, we're here"
"I know" Jenny stared at the bed, "I'm really just tired"
"Oh, okay" Brooke smiled more tightly, "we will let you sleep then" she paused before stepping back, Lucas moving with her.
"We'll just be downstairs" he let her know before they closed the door behind them.
For a moment Jenny remained still and then she kicked off her shoes and treaded towards the large glass window. The view went on for miles, trees and river and roof tops in the distance, the sun light shimmered on the water. It was beautiful.
Too perfectly beautiful, almost like a dream, a dream Jenny knew she wouldn't wake up from. She didn't know what to say, how to act, or even how to feel. She wanted to scream in anger one moment, frustration the next, she wanted to cry and then laugh, she wanted to just breathe in the calm.
She missed her mother, she hated her mother, then Jenny told herself the person she's mourning was just a lie, Peyton Jagielski was not her mother. She was a thief. Every time Jenny looked at Brooke and Lucas, Jenny was reminded of who Peyton really was, the chaos she had caused and the irreversible pain Peyton had inflicted. It was in their eyes. In their every movement.
Yet she still craved the blonde-haired, green-eyed woman who despite everything that had come to light, was for the longest time the only thing Jenny had ever had. Her one constant.
The guilt crept in.
Turning from the window Jenny returned to the bed, fully clothed she climbed on top and closed her eyes, and despite earlier lying about being tired, Jenny promptly fell asleep.
When she woke the sun was no longer shining, the room was lit by the lamp between the beds, Jenny blinked allowing her eyes to get used to the shadowed room. A smile came to her lips when she noticed a sleeping Lily next to her, eyes closed and short brown hair spread out on the pillow they shared.
Jenny chuckled as Lily's soft snoring met her ears. The younger girl was fast asleep, her hand resting not far from Jenny's nose. Careful not to wake Lily, Jenny slipped from the bed and left the room.
Most lights in the house had been turned off yet enough were on to lead the way with a soft glow. Step by step she followed the staircase down, only half recognising she was passing a gallery of photographs on the wall, and then in the corner of her eye Jenny saw two familiar faces.
She stopped, her blues eyes training on the photograph. There were four teenagers in the photograph, their age given away by the blue gown and caps they wore celebrating their graduation. Jenny didn't recognise two of the teens, a good-looking pair, the boy with dark hair and blue eyes, and a grinning pregnant girl who wore a gold sash. Next to her was a much younger Brooke, dimpled grin on display,
hazel eyes sparkling, her arms wrapped around the woman and Lucas who stood on her other side. With his blonde hair longer, the young Lucas looked carefree and happy, he had the same glow that the young Brooke had.
Jenny looked at the photo more, unable to look away. In his arms the young Lucas held a small child, little more than a baby. Me. Jenny thought. The little girl was different to the photos she had always thought were of herself around the same age, the face more delicate, the blonde hair so pale it was almost white, yet Jenny could recognise the reflection in the mirror in the small face on display.
Once again, she looked at her parents, who looked so different. It was more that the passage of years, this was Brooke and Lucas before loss and heartache, this was their family untouched by tragedy, and their eyes before they became haunted.
Jenny wondered about the life that should have been hers, the thought kept coming back to her. A mother and a father, she would have been the flower girl at their wedding, and when Lily came to live with them they would have embraced her and Adrienne would gain a sister, they would fight but then come together to share all their secrets. Brooke would take them on playdates, and spoil them with too many sweets as they sat in the café. Lucas would dress up as Santa every Christmas and take them for bike rides every weekend.
It wasn't until this what if was a possibility that Jenny realised how lacking her life has been. How lonely.
She wanted this. Deeply, right to her bones, she wanted this life that was now ahead of her. If it was just a dream it would destroy her, she craved it so badly Jenny wondered if she'd wished it into existence.
The guilt returned. A flicker of a thought, your mom doesn't deserve this. And then Jenny chased it away. It wasn't the child who should feel guilty, her eyes hardened. This was all Peyton's fault. It wasn't fair, Jenny mentally screamed, it wasn't fair that she was the one who felt guilty, that she was the one that was torn up with confusion and pain.
It wasn't fair that the young and hopeful teenagers in the photo had been crushed, hurt beyond belief by someone they had trusted. It should have been these parents she got, the ones with easy smiles and sparkling eyes.
Jenny left the photo on the way and continued to walk until she found her real life parents asleep on the couch, Brooke lay next to Lucas, her head resting just above his heart. It was a peaceful scene, Jenny felt like she was intruding yet instead of leaving her parents alone, she walked closer and grabbing the blanket that fell across the back of the couch, Jenny covered Brooke and Lucas before she left them alone.
The night sky called to her. Jenny escaped through the large glass doors, walking further into the back yard of the property, her eyes on the full moon in the sky. In the middle of the field of grass, Jenny ended her walk and lay down against the shadowed blades of grass, they pricked against her exposed skin.
It was an exceptionally bright moon, lighting up the night. Jenny waited for the fear to make her tremble, for the darkness to still her breath.
It never came. Bathed by moonlight Jenny breathed in the cool air, her body relaxing. There was something comforting about this night, Jenny had a feeling it was the knowledge of the two sleeping adults just inside. A familiar feeling tugging at her heart, she could almost reach out a grab it, yet it seemed just a hairs breath too far away. It was close enough though, close enough for the girl to feel it there.
-x-