I'm not too fond of this chapter – I actually think it's kind of weak and I
apologize for the brevity. Expect more with the next update.
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The rain falls relentlessly, the sky dark and cloudy, as an entourage of people fills up the small auditorium. They seat themselves mostly in silence, but the occasional whisper flickers throughout the crowd. Pretty much everyone from Tree Hill is in attendance, many shaking off wet umbrellas.
It seems that today even God is crying.
Brooke Davis sits, her face pale and emotionless, surrounded by her friends – albeit people that seem so monotonous and bland at the present moment. Her empty green eyes stare dully at the stage as the Tree Hill Chorus moves to the center, flanked by the orchestra.
The director leads the ensemble in a somber rendition of Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You". Many begin to cry as the voices and melody join together in a longing, bittersweet symphony of goodbye. But Brooke remains unmoved – almost deaf to the world.
The principal dismisses the choir and takes a microphone in his hand.
"I'm sure that most of you are aware of the loss we all experienced over this past weekend." He pauses as the audience listens to him. "A tragic car accident stole the lives of two of our most prominent sophomores – two people that many of you were associated with.
'We're here right now to celebrate the life of Peyton Sawyer, our head cheerleader, and Timothy Smith, a member of the varsity basketball team. The faculty is leaving the floor available to you all – for your testimonies and memories. And our counselors are always available for those of you closest to Peyton and Tim."
He places the mic in a stand, then leaves to sit down in a chair.
Silence follows the principal as students look to one another – daring the other to go first. The lingering silence is broken when Jake Jagielski rises from his seat and walks to the center. He nods to the principal then takes the microphone from its place.
"I played basketball with Tim. I know that sometimes we'd clash – I guess because we didn't always understand each other. But he was a good guy, a good man. He was loyal and a disciplined player. I've been playing with him since I was a kid. It's really weird to not listen to him horse around in the showers after practice, or pull some kind of prank just to aggravate Whitey. I'm sure he's probably looking down and laughing like crazy after seeing all of us cry like idiots. We're really gonna miss him and my heart goes out to his family.
'And, uh, Peyton was probably the best girl I have ever met. She had a heart of gold and she was genuine. I really felt like I could trust her with my life. As some of you know, and others may not, I have an infant daughter. And I'm not ashamed of her anymore because Peyton wouldn't be. I just wish that Peyton was still around so Jenny could know her – because I wish she could see the woman that I'll always love." He stops, his throat catching. But he refuses to cry. "Thanks."
Jake goes back to his seat, surrounded by Nathan, Lucas, and the rest of the basketball team. Brooke looks around at the other cheerleaders, the sound of Theresa sobbing beside her. Brooke puts a reassuring hand on her hysterical friend's shoulder, then looks back to the middle of the gymnasium as another student takes the stage. Then another. And finally, Lucas Scott.
"I don't really have a lot to say that hasn't been said already," Lucas begins, picking up the microphone. "Tim was a great guy, and even though we didn't initially hit it off, I really grew to respect the guy. The team has gotten really tight and it's a shame to see him go.
'There will never be another girl like Peyton – no girl that has ever made me feel so strange, and different, and alive...except for one." Lucas stops, his eyes finding Brooke's. She sees them well up with tears, his blue eyes becoming more and more crystalline. "I guess you could say that Peyton taught me how to love. I never really knew how until she caused me to experience someone or something that I couldn't have conceived to happen.
'Peyton was an amazing person. Her life was taken too early – she never got to experience so many things that she deserved to – things that I got to that she deserved more than me." Lucas stops. "Excuse me."
Turning quickly he strides towards the door, exiting quickly. Brooke gazes after him. She gives Theresa a quick hug then rises and descends down the bleachers, following Lucas. She runs out the door, as it closes gently behind her.
Lucas Scott is facing the wall, bawling like a baby.
"Lucas...?"
He turns quickly, his eyes red. "I'm sorry Brooke. If anyone should be like this it should be you. Not me."
"Lucas – that's not true. Peyton was everything you said she was." Brooke looks at Luke longingly as he turns. Her hands hold his face firmly as her thumbs wipe away his tears – it's her turn to console him. "She shouldn't have gone like that. But Peyton wouldn't want you like this, Lucas."
"She was so alone, Brooke. She felt like...like everyone was against her and that she had nothing. Her dad wasn't even here when she died - why didn't she just hang on a little bit longer?"
"She's not gone, Luke. I know it's corny, and cheesy, but she's here. I see her in my pictures, or when I look through magazines, or go to the mall. I'll remember her in the hall – when I walk by her locker, or when I sit by her desk in chemistry. Lucas, she's all around us, baby," Brooke says softly, stroking his cheek.
I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry, she repeats over and over in her head.
Brooke kisses his forehead and embraces him.
"I'm thankful to her, Brooke," Lucas whispers in her ear.
"Why is that?" Brooke asks, looking up at him.
"Because she's the reason I have you."
Brooke smiles sadly at Lucas, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks Luke." They hug, tightly, and Brooke takes him by the hand. "I think we owe it to her to go back inside."
Lucas nods as they embrace the light of the gymnasium.
********************************************************** Up next – funerals, and Brooke and Nathan share a moment as they say farewell to their best friends.
********************************************************
The rain falls relentlessly, the sky dark and cloudy, as an entourage of people fills up the small auditorium. They seat themselves mostly in silence, but the occasional whisper flickers throughout the crowd. Pretty much everyone from Tree Hill is in attendance, many shaking off wet umbrellas.
It seems that today even God is crying.
Brooke Davis sits, her face pale and emotionless, surrounded by her friends – albeit people that seem so monotonous and bland at the present moment. Her empty green eyes stare dully at the stage as the Tree Hill Chorus moves to the center, flanked by the orchestra.
The director leads the ensemble in a somber rendition of Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You". Many begin to cry as the voices and melody join together in a longing, bittersweet symphony of goodbye. But Brooke remains unmoved – almost deaf to the world.
The principal dismisses the choir and takes a microphone in his hand.
"I'm sure that most of you are aware of the loss we all experienced over this past weekend." He pauses as the audience listens to him. "A tragic car accident stole the lives of two of our most prominent sophomores – two people that many of you were associated with.
'We're here right now to celebrate the life of Peyton Sawyer, our head cheerleader, and Timothy Smith, a member of the varsity basketball team. The faculty is leaving the floor available to you all – for your testimonies and memories. And our counselors are always available for those of you closest to Peyton and Tim."
He places the mic in a stand, then leaves to sit down in a chair.
Silence follows the principal as students look to one another – daring the other to go first. The lingering silence is broken when Jake Jagielski rises from his seat and walks to the center. He nods to the principal then takes the microphone from its place.
"I played basketball with Tim. I know that sometimes we'd clash – I guess because we didn't always understand each other. But he was a good guy, a good man. He was loyal and a disciplined player. I've been playing with him since I was a kid. It's really weird to not listen to him horse around in the showers after practice, or pull some kind of prank just to aggravate Whitey. I'm sure he's probably looking down and laughing like crazy after seeing all of us cry like idiots. We're really gonna miss him and my heart goes out to his family.
'And, uh, Peyton was probably the best girl I have ever met. She had a heart of gold and she was genuine. I really felt like I could trust her with my life. As some of you know, and others may not, I have an infant daughter. And I'm not ashamed of her anymore because Peyton wouldn't be. I just wish that Peyton was still around so Jenny could know her – because I wish she could see the woman that I'll always love." He stops, his throat catching. But he refuses to cry. "Thanks."
Jake goes back to his seat, surrounded by Nathan, Lucas, and the rest of the basketball team. Brooke looks around at the other cheerleaders, the sound of Theresa sobbing beside her. Brooke puts a reassuring hand on her hysterical friend's shoulder, then looks back to the middle of the gymnasium as another student takes the stage. Then another. And finally, Lucas Scott.
"I don't really have a lot to say that hasn't been said already," Lucas begins, picking up the microphone. "Tim was a great guy, and even though we didn't initially hit it off, I really grew to respect the guy. The team has gotten really tight and it's a shame to see him go.
'There will never be another girl like Peyton – no girl that has ever made me feel so strange, and different, and alive...except for one." Lucas stops, his eyes finding Brooke's. She sees them well up with tears, his blue eyes becoming more and more crystalline. "I guess you could say that Peyton taught me how to love. I never really knew how until she caused me to experience someone or something that I couldn't have conceived to happen.
'Peyton was an amazing person. Her life was taken too early – she never got to experience so many things that she deserved to – things that I got to that she deserved more than me." Lucas stops. "Excuse me."
Turning quickly he strides towards the door, exiting quickly. Brooke gazes after him. She gives Theresa a quick hug then rises and descends down the bleachers, following Lucas. She runs out the door, as it closes gently behind her.
Lucas Scott is facing the wall, bawling like a baby.
"Lucas...?"
He turns quickly, his eyes red. "I'm sorry Brooke. If anyone should be like this it should be you. Not me."
"Lucas – that's not true. Peyton was everything you said she was." Brooke looks at Luke longingly as he turns. Her hands hold his face firmly as her thumbs wipe away his tears – it's her turn to console him. "She shouldn't have gone like that. But Peyton wouldn't want you like this, Lucas."
"She was so alone, Brooke. She felt like...like everyone was against her and that she had nothing. Her dad wasn't even here when she died - why didn't she just hang on a little bit longer?"
"She's not gone, Luke. I know it's corny, and cheesy, but she's here. I see her in my pictures, or when I look through magazines, or go to the mall. I'll remember her in the hall – when I walk by her locker, or when I sit by her desk in chemistry. Lucas, she's all around us, baby," Brooke says softly, stroking his cheek.
I will not cry, I will not cry, I will not cry, she repeats over and over in her head.
Brooke kisses his forehead and embraces him.
"I'm thankful to her, Brooke," Lucas whispers in her ear.
"Why is that?" Brooke asks, looking up at him.
"Because she's the reason I have you."
Brooke smiles sadly at Lucas, running a hand through his hair. "Thanks Luke." They hug, tightly, and Brooke takes him by the hand. "I think we owe it to her to go back inside."
Lucas nods as they embrace the light of the gymnasium.
********************************************************** Up next – funerals, and Brooke and Nathan share a moment as they say farewell to their best friends.