Over the next two weeks Peyton slowly returned to her normal self. It didn't happen over night and it didn't happen on its own – she worked hard at putting that face back on. The only one who knew her secret was Jake, and he was smart enough to leave that subject alone. He didn't ask her about it and she didn't acknowledge that he knew. Things went back to the status quo. She was cheerleading on Friday nights, partying with her friends after the game, babysitting when Jake was stuck, working on her strip and getting ready for Christmas with her dad. She had a busy life. Busy meant less time to think which suited her just fine.
Brooke was spending Christmas with Peyton and her dad because her parents were out of town on a business trip. Peyton secretly wondered what kind of business planned a conference for the Christmas break, but Brooke didn't seem too surprised. Brooke's family dynamics were the only area of her life she didn't talk about. Every now and then she would allude to her absentee parents but Peyton didn't push. Brooke seemed happier when she wasn't thinking about her dysfunctional family.
Peyton and Brooke were at the mall on the twenty fourth picking up a last minute gift for Jenny. Ever since Jake had introduced his daughter to his friends, she had become the darling of everyone.
"So, Haley and Nathan are having a dinner tonight?" Brooke asked as they strolled through Baby Gap.
"It would appear. Did you want to go? Lucas will be there," Peyton pointed out. Brooke and Lucas had come a long way since the end of the school year. They could be civil when they had to but they mostly stayed out of each others way.
"I guess he will considering it's his brother and his best friend. The question is, do you want to go?" Brooke asked.
"It's totally up to you." Peyton replied.
"Who's all going?" Brooke asked.
"Just the usual group, Nate, Haley, Luke, Jake, Tim, me and you...that is if you want to."
"Sure, why not. Could be fun," Brooke smiled devilishly.
"What does that mean?" Peyton was a little worried.
"Relax friend, I was just thinking that there isn't anything better than watching Lucas feel guilty. What a great present for me!" Brooke giggled and clapped.
"If I hadn't known you my whole life I might actually believe you mean that."
"What are you talking about, of course I mean it." Brooke shot back.
"No, you don't. Secretly you play all tough and bitchy, but I know that deep down you are as soft as they come Brooke Davis."
"Now see, that's where you are wrong. I honestly do enjoy torturing Lucas. Sometimes it's a little too easy but that doesn't make it any less fun." She grinned.
Peyton knew it was a show, but considering the fact that Brooke let her put on her own front and she never called her on it, Peyton figured she owed Brooke the same. They picked out some adorable clothes for Jenny and put them on Brooke's credit card and went home to get ready for the big dinner.
The girls debated taking a bottle of wine with them but considering how destructive their group seemed to get when alcohol was involved, they settled on a dessert tray from the bakery instead. Haley had the apartment lit up with Christmas lights everywhere. Peyton thought it was possible that Haley had an unnatural obsession with lights there were so many of them. It was very festive though and it put Peyton and Brooke in the Christmas mood.
"The apartment looks great Hales," Peyton said as they walked in.
"Lucas was none to pleased that I stole the lights from the golf course, but I wanted it to be Christmassy." Haley smiled and took the tray from her.
"So do you need help with anything?" Peyton asked.
"Nope, everything is done. Just grab some punch and have a seat. Brooke, can I take your coat?" Haley asked.
"Thanks Tutor girl." She handed her coat to Haley. "And thanks for the invitation."
It was an odd thing coming from Brooke, but Haley took it at face value. "Of course. I'll be right back. Make yourself at home."
The girls had brought small gifts for everyone, and it appeared that they weren't the only ones who had that thought. The tree was overflowing with festively wrapped packages. Brooke added their gifts to the pile. Nathan and Lucas were playing Playstation and Tim was hovering, waiting for someone to lose so he could play. Jake was the first to come over to the girls in the kitchen.
"Merry Christmas," he smiled to both of them.
"Where's Jenny?" Peyton asked.
"That hurts Pey," Jake teased. "What am I, chopped liver?"
"Well, Jenny is cuter," Brooke piped up.
"Ha, ha, ha." Jake replied. "Nikki gets her tonight and I have her tomorrow." He explained.
"How's that going?" Brooke asked. Peyton was again surprised by the interest Brooke was taking.
"You really want to know?" Jake asked, clearly surprised also.
"Not really, just seemed like the thing to ask," she replied guilelessly. Peyton and Jake looked at each other and started to laugh. "OK, that didn't come out right. Let me rephrase. I don't give a crap about Nikki and no matter what the two of you say, I will always think she is evil. But Jenny, well," Brooke looked for the words, "she's too cute for words and I don't want her corrupted by her crazy mother. I was kinda hoping that would be my job in a few years." Brooke smiled, flashing her dimples.
"No corruption so far Brooke. We are absolutely waiting for you to do that. I've always wanted the best for Jenny and I have no doubt that you would be the best at leading her down the wrong path." Jake returned the smile.
"Thanks Jakey. Nice to know I'm appreciated. I'm gonna go have some fun now." And she headed off to make Luke uncomfortable.
"What was that about?" Jake asked Peyton.
"Forget it. So, look, I wanted to apologize...for that day..." Peyton was struggling to say the words out loud.
"No need. So, are all those presents you brought for Jenny?" He asked, changing the subject. He smiled to himself as the relief on her face was so transparent.
"Mostly." She retorted. Jake couldn't believe that he had ever been worried about telling his friends about Jenny. They had all been great, not only to him, but especially with Jenny. They were all her honorary aunts and uncles. "There might be one in there for you too."
"Really? Which one?" He replied.
"Are you one of those people?" Peyton asked sarcastically.
"And what people would those be?"
"Those, can't wait to open presents people. You know, they are the ones who are searching the house December first to find out if their parents have any presents hidden in the closet. I have even heard of extreme cases where they unwrap presents when no one is around and then rewrap them." She explained wide-eyed, obviously teasing him.
"Hey, I'm a dad. I am much more mature than that." He joked back.
"You are! I never would have guessed."
"Good to know that I can surprise you." Jake replied.
"You surprise me all the time Jake," she said, not really referring to the christmas present story.
"Right back at ya Sawyer."
"Hey, anyone wanna play me?" Tim shouted from the couch, breaking the moment they were having. "Jagielski, you in?"
Lucas and Nathan had finally finished their game and Tim was looking for someone to join him on the couch.
"Tim, I'm sitting right here. You know that I wanna play," Brooke piped up.
"But you're a girl." Tim replied.
"You really are a genius aren't you Smith? Thanks for pointing out the obvious. I bet I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back." Brooke shot back.
"I'll take that bet," Peyton chimed in, taking a seat beside Brooke on the couch.
Jake leaned over her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Has Brooke ever played before?"
"No, but I bet she still beats him." She whispered back.
"You can use both your hands Brooke. I'd hate to beat you and then have you whine about how it was unfair." Tim offered.
"Let's go then." Brooke took the controller.
While Lucas, Haley and Nathan were in the kitchen putting the final touches on dinner, Jake and Peyton howled with laughter watching Brooke and Tim play basketball. Brooke was holding her own against Tim but it had nothing to do with her Playstation skills, and everything to do with her short skirt. Tim was such so distracted by Brooke's legs that his game went out the window. Never underestimate the attention span of a teenage boy when there is a beautiful girl in the room. Before a definite winner could be crowned Nathan and Haley announced that dinner was ready.
Their dinner was not what a usual Christmas dinner should be. In fact it was as far from traditional as you could get but as Jake looked around the table he saw something – a kind of family. He wondered if it was a momentary aberration or the start of something more. There was a lot of laughing and joking, mostly at Tim's expense. The tension between Luke and Brooke seemed to diminish as they argued over whose turn it was for the gravy, and Peyton looked almost relaxed. She caught Jake smiling to himself, and returned the smile. It only lasted a minute, as Tim made some other asinine comment that had everyone laughing again, but it was the one moment from the evening he would remember forever.
After dinner was over and everyone was sufficiently stuffed they moved on to opening presents. There were plenty of gag gifts which prompted more laughter. The whole evening was about forgetting their daily dramas and just having a good time. Peyton was so used to quiet Christmases with her Dad and her grandparents, that being around so much noise was a big change for her. She got swept up in the feeling and for a time, forgot about her own problems. She smiled more that night than she had in a month. She was glad she came.
By ten thirty everyone figured they had better go home. Most had big family events planned for the next day.
"Thank you so much for the picture Pey," Jake said for the tenth time that night. Peyton had given him a small painting of him and Jenny.
"You're welcome...again. It was really no big deal Jake." She tried to brush it off.
"It is a big deal and it meant a lot. If you have time tomorrow you should stop by the house. Jenny would love to see you." Jake offered.
"Brooke is staying with me." Peyton reminded him
"Bring her too," he replied.
"Really?" Peyton was surprised. It wasn't that Jake and Brooke were enemies, but sharing Christmas day with someone you weren't really friends with seemed strange.
"Why not? My house is gonna be full with grandparents and aunts and uncles. No one would notice one more body."
"Maybe we will."
"Ready to go friend?" Brooke walked up with their coats.
"Yep. Thanks again Hales," Peyton said.
"No problem sweetie. I'll talk to you when we get back." Haley said from the couch. Haley and Nathan were going to Haley's grandparent's place for Christmas day.
Brooke and Peyton talked all the way home about what a good time they had. Peyton could almost feel the black cloud that had been hovering over her head since the anniversary fading away.
Christmas day was quiet as Peyton predicted. They weren't able to make it to Jake and Jenny's which was disappointing but she figured they would hook up later. She was almost looking forward to it. Brooke went home Boxing Day because her mom was flying back. She admitted she was being forced into some mother/daughter bonding in the form of a day at the spa. Brooke had invited Peyton to join them but she declined. After spending nearly three solid days with Brooke she was looking forward to some alone time. After she left, she put on some new tunes she had gotten for Christmas from Luke and sat down in front of her computer to do some sketching. Before she knew it her messenger was going off.
DD: Brooke gone home?
TA: Yep, all alone again.
DD: Wanna come over?
TA: Kinda liking the quiet.
DD: It's quiet here.
TA: likely story. Where is everyone?
DD: mall. Grandma and grandpa took Jenny with them
TA: I really need to get working on my strip for next week.
DD: You could do that here. Please. Don't make me come get you.
TA: Got any food?
DD: Turkey left overs. Come on, you know you wanna see me.
Peyton thought about that line.
DD: I know your thinking about it. I recognize that face.
Sometimes she wanted to curse the webcam. She closed her sketchbook and dangled her keys in front of the camera to let him know she was on the way. She got up, took her sketchbook with her and headed over to Jake's.
He was waiting on the front porch for her, guitar on his lap.
"I know it's been a warm winter, but shouldn't you have a coat on?" Peyton pointed out.
"Just waiting for you. I was worried you might drive by and not stop." He teased her.
"I brought my note book with me. I really do have to get some of this strip done." She explained.
"No problem. Do you mind if I play?" He asked.
"Go right ahead."
They sat there outside for a while, Jake playing softly and Peyton sketching. It was relaxing.
"Can I see what you are working on?" he asked.
"Why?" Peyton replied, instantly wary.
"Why not? I'll just read it in the magazine next week anyway."
"Sure, I guess." She handed him the pad.
"This is really good Peyton. Are you going to study art in college?" He inquired.
"I don't know. I haven't really thought about it. I'd like to, but it all depends what the money situation is like. There's a great school in Boston I'd like to go to."
"You should. You are really talented." He said and handed her the pad back. The silence settled over them again and Peyton couldn't help but notice that it wasn't uncomfortable. Most people felt the need to fill silence...like just sitting in a room with someone wasn't enough, you needed to be talking. Conversation was highly overrated in her opinion. She liked the silence. "So I've been thinking." Jake started.
"What's the occasion?" She remarked.
"Ha ha. No, I was thinking that we should go to a movie on Friday." He said.
"Like a date?" Peyton asked.
"Ya."
"You and me?"
"Yes."
"I don't know Jake." Peyton wasn't sure if she wanted this. Three weeks ago she had talked to Haley about wanting this exact thing, but now that it was right in front of her, it scared her. Jake had seen her at her worst. For most girls that would make him perfect date material – the fact that he had seen her fall apart and still wanted to go out with her. For Peyton it meant something else. It made him closer than anyone else was at this point, and dating would open her up to all sorts of other pain.
"Pey, it's just a movie, not a lifetime commitment. It might even be fun." He smiled at her.
"After everything that has happened Jake, with Luke, and the anniversary, I just don't know if I'm ready to be in a relationship." Peyton explained.
"Look, we'll meet at the theatre, we'll each have our own popcorn. I promise not to ask you to marry me. Come one, it will be a fun drama free night. No chick flicks." Jake teased.
"My own popcorn? You promise?" She smiled.
"Absolutely. So Friday, seven thirty?"
"What about Jenny?" Peyton had to ask.
"Nikki has her for the weekend. Well, sort of. She's got her for Friday night and they're coming back Saturday afternoon. It's her first supervised over night visit." Jake explained.
"Isn't that kind of soon?" Peyton asked.
"You know what? I don't want to talk about Nikki today. Let's just marvel that you have agreed to go out with me," Jake seemed almost proud of himself.
"OK, I gotta go. You're head's gonna get big and then it will be hard for me to get out the door. I'll call you later, OK?" Peyton joked.
"Sure." He really wanted to kiss her, but he held back. He didn't want to give her any reason to cancel their date. He was already praying that her fear didn't get the better of her over the next three days. Inspite of her reservations, Peyton went home with a smile on her face. Maybe things really were looking up.
A/N so I had my first case of writers block - or maybe just self doubt. There haven't been a lot of reviews for this story, so I was kinda thinking that maybe it sucked. I even considered abandoning this story altogether, but changed my mind. Although I love reviews, sometimes I think a story just needs to be written. I am also guilty of reading a lot of stories and never reviewing so who am I to talk. Bottom line is I kinda like this story so I'm gonna keep going. If you like it, please let me know. If you hate it also let me know. If you are lurking, please leave a review. I have been making a concerted effort to review the stories that I like. Try it yourself - leaving reviews is almost as good as getting them. I welcome all thoughts and suggestions. Thanks to those who have reviewed, they have been great. always - Carys