" Stand Beside Me " Pt 3 - Florida Here We Come!
Peyton didn't have any idea what time it was, but she assumed it was early morning as the warm sunlight had awoken her from her dreams. She yawned and just took everything in for a moment, the quietness and serenity of the room. She felt some comfortable lying there with Brooke's arm draped over her side, holding her close.
Wait a minute....Brooke's arm draped over her side? Peyton blinked several times trying to think of how she and her friend had ended up in this position. She suddenly could not remember anything about the night before, only laying down while Brooke went to take a shower.
She could feel Brooke's body snuggle up against her as she tightened her grip on Peyton's body. For just a second, Peyton toyed with the idea that this felt good and natural. She closed her eyes and thought about the possibility of waking up this way every morning, wrapped in her best friend's arms. It seemed so right to her.
Things were suddenly clear to Peyton and it was as if all the pieces of a puzzle came together. How could she ever think there could be anybody else for her except Brooke Davis? She was exactly what she wanted in her ideal mate. She was kind and beautiful and the best friend anyone could ask for. She had been there for her through everything, first periods, first kisses, first times.
God what am I doing? Peyton felt tears sting at her eyes. There was no way in hell she would ever try to jeopordize her relationship with Brooke, not for anything, and certainly not because she was having a mental breakdown and thought that even for a second that there could be anything more than friendship between she and Brooke.
She was stirred back to reality when she heard Brooke yawn and her arms slip out from around her. She didn't roll over to see, but she could feel Brooke stretching her arms and moved away from her.
I hope she's not freaked out, Peyton thought. She figured the best way was to just pretend she didn't know and thus she kept her eyes closed as Brooke sat up and slid off the bed.
" Rise and shine Sawyer. " She said cheerfully, leaning down and poking at Peyton's stomach.
" Mmm good morning. " Peyton said with a sigh. She pretended to look sleepy and slowly rose up on the bed.
A few minutes later, Peyton turned the hot water faucet on and watched as steam erupted from the shower head. She sat down on the toilet seat and pulled her legs up and hugged them to her. She bowed her head, letting her hair fall over her face. Tears began to flow as she thought back to what might be going on in Tree Hill and all the ramifications of one simple decision.
There were several times in her life that Peyton had felt hopeless, but it seemed to be her track record that in those moments of weakness, she would turn to the nearest avaliable warm body for comfort. She had been upset about her father leaving for two months when she gave in and lost her virginity to Nathan Scott. At the time it seemed to be something she needed, to feel somebody against her, to clear her mind, focus on something else. Then there had been the time when she thought her father might have been killed at sea and how she almost slept with Lucas to forget everything.
Now there wasn't an option of being like that with somebody. She knew she would loose Brooke forever if she made a move like that. That wasn't even something she would consider in a millon years and Peyton tossed the idea as far from her head as she could.
Suddenly she heard a knock on the bathroom door and heard Brooke yelling about hurrying up so she could pee. Peyton smiled and got up and into the shower.
Two hours and five cups of coffee later, Peyton and Brooke was back on the road, this time headed even further south. The air seemed to be getting warmer and Peyton thought about how fun it would be to lay out on the beach and relax once they got to Florida.
Brooke had been flipping through radio stations for the past hour trying to find something worth listening to and suddenly she stopped as a familiar beat flooded the car. Brooke squealed and Peyton had to laugh at how immature it was for her favorite song to be "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls.
Memories of listening to the entire cd on repeat came rushing to Peyton. She remembered how she would be looking over the new album from U2 and Brooke would be dancing around the room while Scary Spice sang about love and boys. It was such a very girl thing for her to do and looking back on it, Peyton smiled at how cute and endearing it was.
" Oh come one Peyton, I know you know the words. " Brooke said. She began car dancing and started singing the first lyrics in her off key voice. Peyton laughed and joined her on the chorus.
" If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends.... " Both girls sang loudly as Peyton rolled down her window, letting the wind blow their hair around. Brooke giggled and then sang extremely loud at her favorite part. Peyton cracked up, laughing at how bad Brooke's voice was and how much she was into the song.
It was nearing dark when Peyton saw the turn off for Miami. Brooke cheered and bounced up and down in the passenger seat.
" I've got the key to our beach house still and if they havn't changed the locks, we can still crash there. " Brooke said.
" I thought they sold the beach house last year when your parents went broke? " Peyton asked.
" Well they did, but to a friend of Daddy's who thinks I'm hot. He basically told me that I was welcome anytime down there and especially if he were there. " Brooke said as she made a face.
" Eww. " Peyton said trying to do her best impression of Rachel Bilson's character on The O.C.
" I know. But I'm thinking that they might not have changed the locks in the basement and we can get in through there. I'm sure he and his wife won't be using it and if they catch us, then I'll just think something up. I'm sure he would be more than accomidating to me if I didn't let his wife in on the little pick up line he gave me last year about the house. " Brooke said.
" Well sounds like a plan. It'll be nice to see your old beach house again. I remember staying down here the summer between sixth and seventh grade. " Peyton said.
" Man I had such great boobs that summer, all perky and firm. " Brooke said. She brought her hands up and cupped her own breasts.
" Brooke you were just developing back then. of couse they were perky. " Peyton said.
" Still, I was quiet the hot little twelve year old. " Brooke joked. Peyton rolled her eyes at her friend and kept driving.