" Stand Beside Me " Pt 2 - The Roadtrip to Nowhere.
Peyton always felt closer to her mother when she was driving fast and the wind was blowing through her blonde curls. It was almost odd that the thing that ended her life was the thing that Peyton felt most connected to. She used to get a thrill out of running red lights, but all that had ended a few years back. She thought maybe she was a little smarter now.
" Peyton will you slow the hell down! All this wind is doing nothing for my hair. " Brooke yelled from the passenger seat.
" Just live a little Brooke. Besides, your hair looks fine. " Peyton replied. She gave her friend a smile and pushed the gas pedal even further to the floor.
She couldn't help but think about how great Brooke was being about this who sorted ordeal. It was dumb to think that she wouldn't react to what she had told her, but in the end, Brooke would still be Brooke, and she would come to the rescue like she always did.
They had been on the road now for nearly five hours and were currently somewhere outside the state line. Peyton had decided to head south, perhaps all the way down to Florida. She had often thought about the summer she turned sixteen and she and Brooke had skipped going to cheerleading camp and instead drove down to Miami for the week.
The week had went by in a blur, they were out sneaking into clubs everynight and sleeping in til noon the next day. Brooke had on more than one occasion drank too much and Peyton had carried her back to their motel room. It was one of the best times that Peyton had ever had. One week of no angst and drama from Nathan and one whole week that she got to spend with the person who meant the most to her.
It always happened that when Peyton would think of the best of times with Brooke, that she would also remember the worst of times and how she had betrayed her friend for a few cheap thrills with Lucas Scott. Just his name made her stomach rumble and she fought off the urge to pull over and vomit. He was poison to her, simple as that. He was like a drug that she desperatly had craved and had even went so far as to be the other woman with him.
Peyton had honestly never expected to gain Brooke's trust back or to ever be friends again, but it turned out that the affair had caused their relationship to grow and mature. It was definatly something that was unexpected and something that Peyton was the most proud of. Sure she had Haley to talk with, but Brooke had been there through the good and the bad times and nobody knew her better.
" I'm hungry. " Brooke announced, pulling Peyton away from her thoughts.
" We'll stop at the next town. I promise. " Peyton replied. She reached over, rubbing her hand over Brooke's stomach without thinking.
Peyton could feel the unease that suddenly came over Brooke. She sucked in her stomach to avoid contact with Peyton's palm.
" Oh I'm sorry. " Peyton said. She put her hand back on the wheel and looked forward at the highway.
" No I'm sorry, that was rude. " Brooke replied. She reached for Peyton's hand and slid hers over it.
" Brooke I'm not going to try and jump you just because you're the only girl in the car with me. I hope you understand that. " Peyton said.
" I know that. I would never think you'd do anything like that, but it's just going to take some time. " Brooke explained.
" I'm still the same old Peyton. " Peyton joked.
" No you're not. You're a completely new person now and I've got to get to know that person and accept her for who she really is. " Brooke said.
" There is just a tiny part of me that is changed Brooke, other than that I am still the same girl who you've been friends with your whole life. " Peyton said.
" If that's how you want to look at it. " Brooke replied. Peyton gazed over at her friend, giving her a confused look.
" Um well alright then. " She said.
They drove along in silence for at least ten minutes until finally Brooke spoke.
" Is it because I kissed you last fall in that dare game? "
Peyton smiled and rolled her eyes. Same old Brooke.
Nearly two and a half hours later, Peyton pulled the mustang into a parking space at The Destin Inn, a small run down motel in a tiny town off the side of the highway. It looked like something out of a bad horror film, but it was getting dark and Peyton was tired of driving and needed to rest. Brooke on the other hand had been fast asleep in the car for nearly an hour since they had ate in some truck stop in Georgia.
" Wake up Sleeping Beauty. " Peyton said as she nudged her friend. She couldn't help but think how cute Brooke looked when she was sleeping. She looked just like a little kid or something, all balled up and softly snoring. She finally opened her eyes and looked over at Peyton.
" Are we there yet? " She asked softly.
" I think we're still in Georgia, but I'm tired and so I'm getting us a motel room. " Peyton explained. Brooke made a face of disgust as she sat up and looked at their surroundings.
" Isn't this the place where Norman Bates killed his guests? " Brooke asked in a mocking tone. Peyton gave her a fake smile and opened the car door. She noticed that Brooke was coming along as well.
" You're not leaving me alone out here Sawyer. " She said and hurried to her side. Peyton laughed. Sometimes her friend could be such a baby.
They entered the dimmly lit motel office and noticed a greasy looking older man seated at the desk flipping through a copy of Penthouse magazine. He looked up as the door opened and gave the two girls an eerie smile. Peyton felt Brooke's hand clutching her own arm and she turned and gave her a confident look to ease the tension.
" Well well now, what can I do for you two beautiful ladies? " The man asked. Peyton noticed that he was wearing a small button that had the name Elmer printed on it.
" We need a room for the night, anything will do. " Peyton said as she approached the desk. Elmer gave them another sly smile and gave them both the once over with his eyes. Peyton thought she could feel her own skin begin to crawl.
" I'll put you up in the finest room, right here next to the office. " He said, turning around to grab an old key off the rack. He laid it down on the desk and pushed an open book towards Peyton.
" Room is usually thirty a night, but I'm feeling generous so I'll let you have it for twenty. " He said, again with the sly smile forming over his lips. Peyton reached into her pocket and fished out a twenty dollar bill and handed it to Elmer. He nodded his head and handed her a pen to right her name down in.
Brooke gave Peyton a look as she wrote down the her name. She knew that Brooke was a little scared of the man, but she figured he was just a normal pervert hoping to have a good time.
" Thanks alot. " Peyton said as she grabbed the room key off the counter and turned to leave.
" You two girls arn't going to be loud are ya? " Elmer said from the desk. Peyton rolled her eyes and turned back to face him.
" We just need to get some sleep, that's all. " She replied. Brooke gave him a look of disgust and followed Peyton out the door.
The room smelt of mildew and cigarette smoke. It was the first thing that occured to Brooke as she entered the room behind her friend. She looked around, noticing a brightly colored queen sized bed and a dark red arm chair in the corner of the small room. Peyton threw a small duffle bag onto the bed and eased down to sit on it.
" Look I know it's not the Hilton, but I'll have to do for tonight. " She said while Brooke made a face of disgust as she looked into the tiny bathroom and saw it's messy floor.
" It's just one night. I'll keep telling myself that. " Brooke said. She walked over to the wall near the main office and checked for peep holes.
" What are you doing? " Peyton asked.
" Hello, I've seen Psycho and that was how the guy got his happies. " She replied.
Peyton laughed and laid back onto the bed. Her blond hair spread out over the light pink bedspread and Brooke was struck for a moment at how beautiful she looked.
" What? " Peyton asked, bringing Brooke back from her thoughts.
" Oh nothing, I was just thinking that I'm going to brave that bathroom and take a hot shower. " She lied.
" Alright. " Peyton replied.
" Make sure to alert me if any men in drag come knocking on the door. " Brooke joked. Peyton smiled and rolled her eyes. Brooke crossed over towards where her small suit case was sitting on the chair and opened it to retreve her pajamas and toothbrush.
After showering and changing into a pair of pajama bottoms and a tank top, Brooke emerged from the bathroom to find Peyton fast asleep on the bed. She hadn't even bothered to change into something else and was peacefully resting. Brooke smiled and went over to the bed, sitting down beside Peyton and pulling her tennis shoes off. She moved upward on the bed and slowly slid off the leather jacket that Peyton had been wearing. She folded it over and tossed it onto the nightstand.
She flicked off the lamp on the opposite side of the bed and pulled the covers up and over herself and Peyton. She closed her eyes and moved closer to her sleeping friend, trying to get comfortable like she always did when they slept together. Normally they would brush up against each other and all was fine, but now it was different and Brooke didn't want another argument or awkward moment between them.
" Goodnight Peyton. " She whispered and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.