Peyton and Jake returned to where everyone else was. Peyton sat down next to Lucas and kinda snuggled into him. Everyone was talking about what they were doing with their life. Like usual Brooke started, she always has to go first.
"Well it started after highschool, I went to community college, but that was not right for me. So I heard out to California, LA to be exact. I thought that I could be an actress. That did not work, so instead I did what I love, shopping. I became a personal shopper. At first it was hard, I didn't have a lot of clients, but I became friends with one big star, and everyone loved what she wore, and soon my business was booming. I have tons of great friends and LA and love it there."
Everyone was happy for Brooke, she finally was doing something she loved and what she was good at. Haley was the first to ask questions. "Do you have anyone special in your life?"
"No, I don't unfortunately. I was dating someone for a long time, but it ended in a messy breakup. That is the problem in LA, everyone is very superficial. All they think about is money and also how to show off what they have."
Everyone started laughing when Brooke said this.
"What, im not the same person I was in highschool. I don't care so much about money and looks anymore. I love my job and I love shopping for everyone. After spending the entire day shopping for the stars, it makes it hard to want to go shopping for yourself"
"Well it sounds like you have the life you always wanted to lead" Peyton said. She was still treading softly around Brooke, just because she didn't know Brooke's feelings towards her.
"Well its not the entire life I wanted. I always figured that by this point in my life, I would be married and have a kid or two, with some fantastic husband. I would work only when I wanted and we would have tons of money"
"Well you have come close, you will meet your dream guy some day soon, you never know when" said Haley.
"Ok, so we covered my life, who's next?"
Everyone was just sitting there. Brooke decides, "well we will do it like spin the bottle" Brooke goes into the kitchen and finds an empty wine bottle. She comes back and spins the bottle. It lands near Lucas.
"Well Lucas it seems that you are up next."
"Well there is not too much to tell. As you know I went to USC. It was a nice fun school. Peyton and I went there together. We started dating. I ended up deciding to go into psychology, probably because of my messed up family life I had while I was growing up. I ended up graduating with a degree in psychology, and then going to graduate school. After college we moved to Northern California, and live in San Francisco. I love living there, it is such a life. I have started my own private practice which seems to be picking up. Otherwise that is pretty much it. Peyton and I are engaged, a very recent event, so there has been no planning of the wedding yet."
Everyone wasn't that shocked that Lucas and Peyton were engaged. "I figured it would come sooner or later." said Haley. "I guess that since Lucas already went Peyton you should go next."
"Ok." Peyton sits there for a second trying to figure out what to say. "Well, as Lucas said I went to USC. I loved college, and the whole atmosphere. I decided to major in what I do best, draw. I got my degree in art, and now am a cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle. Living in the city has been perfect for me. So much culture and drama, it allows me to do my work to the best of my ability. I actually am having an exhibit in a few months of all my drawings. Well other than that, as you know I am recently engaged, and that is it."
As Jenny was listening to all their stories that they have told so far, she was enjoying it. It seems that all of her dad's friends had grown up doing exactly what they were meant to do. She just wished she would be lucky enough for that to happen to her.
Jake volunteers to go next. " I ended up at the University of Florida. I had not idea what I wanted to do when I first started. I thought maybe going into counseling as well, helping kids who get pregnant early. I actually joined a support group that did help me. After awhile I realized that as much as I loved doing that, I didn't want to make a career out of it. I thought for a long time, and then realized the one thing I loved in highschool was singing, whether it be to Jenny at night or at Karen's Café's open mic nights. So I started taking music classes and decided that I would become a musician. I became kinda famous on campus and then decided to make a career out of it. I have worked hard writing songs and releasing them. I finally got signed to a major recording contract, and I have a new CD to be released in a few months. Jenny is now a senior in highschool… well she can finish her part of our story"
Peyton was really happy that Jake was doing something that he loved to do and made him happy. She was also waiting for Jenny to tell her story. That way she could maybe figure out what was wrong with Jenny.
Jenny started talking, "Well I am a senior in highschool as my dad said. I have great friends at home, but I still remember all of you, my dad has pictures of you guys everywhere in the house, and also I have one in my room that I look at all the time. It has all of you sitting there with me in the middle, it was graduation. I grew up listening to all your stories and all the drama. Those were my bedtime stories"
Everyone laughed. "Jake why did you have to tell her all those stories, she only knows the bad now." Brooke laughed.
"Don't worry Brooke, Jake always told me good stories about everyone as well. I wish that I could have spent more time with you when I was older."
"Well now you can spend more time with us. We will have a girls day out tomorrow, how does that sound?" Peyton asked. She figured it was also a good way to get some information out of Jenny and also help her.
"Sounds good to me" Jenny said. Brooke and Haley also agreed.
Haley decided that it was time to tell her story. "Well I guess I will start. I decided to go to NYU because they have a good journalism school. As I was at NYU Nathan was playing basketball for UNC. We were still married, but long distance marriage is hard, so we sort of separated. While we were separated, neither of us dated anyone. Finally after college Nathan moved to NYC and we got back together. All through college I always watched Nathan's games on TV, and followed his career in college. I became very fluent in the sports language. I decided to become a sports columnist for the New York Post. Nathan and I live together, and as I told him this morning, I am pregnant."
Everyone was shocked at the news that Haley was pregnant. They could imagine Haley as a mother, and having kids, but Nathan, everyone knew Nathan's relationship with his father.
"No, I am super happy. Haley and I had started talking about having kids a few months ago" said Nathan. "After highschool, as Hales said, I went to UNC and played basketball. While in college I realized that I loved sports, especially basketball but I knew I could not make a career out of it. I decided to go into sports therapy. I moved back to New York and became the head sports therapist for the New York Knicks. I love my job and my life. Everything is perfect right now, and I am super happy to be a father."
Since they had all shared stuff going on in their lives, the guys ended up going upstairs to watch the Lakes/Heat game. That left the girls alone.
"So I was thinking tomorrow we have a spa day. It has been a long time, and I get in most places now, with my connections" Brooke, was getting excited.
Peyton thought a spa day was perfect, this would allow everyone to relax and she would get to spend some time with Jenny.
Jenny was super excited "I have never been to a spa before. Growing up with just my dad I didn't do a lot of girly things."
"Well starting tomorrow that will change" Brooke was getting even more excited by the minute.
Peyton quietly excused herself and headed to the kitchen. She wanted to gather her thoughts. As she was sitting there thinking she heard someone come in.
"Brooke join us. I don't get to see you that often anymore, and I miss you, I mean soon we are going to be sister-in-laws"
Peyton looked over and saw it was Haley. "I am just kinda worried about Brooke. I don't know if she is still mad at us, and I don't really want to deal with all the old highschool drama right now."
"Well why don't we just find out."
Peyton and Haley head back out to the living room.
"Peyton where did you run off to?" Brooke was curious
"I just wanted to gather my thoughts in the kitchen"
"I know your not telling me the entire truth"
"Fine, what I really was doing was thinking about the past. Our drama we had. I don't know how you stand"
"Are you talking about the whole thing with Lucas?"
"Yes"
"Peyton, that was 20 years ago, I might be able to hold a grudge but I cant hold one that long"
