CHAPTER THREE

"This is heaven to no one else but me,
I'll defend it as long as I can be,
Left here to linger in silence…"
Elsewhere- Bethany Joy Lenz/Sarah McLachlan

Jake woke up, the sun was barely raised and Jenny was still sleep peaceful in her crib. He booted up his cousins PC and connected to PunknDisorderly. Peyton was up and so was her web cam, Lucas had told Jake about the site before and Jake now found it a way to reach out to her. Even if she didn't know it.

Peyton was typing something frowning slight as if she was unsure about what to say. He just watched her and wished he could be sat in Tree Hill not Savannah. As Peyton leaned back from her work, Jake's e-mail icon flashed. He grinned and opened the offending letter.

Dear Jake,

How are you doing?

I hope you and Jenny have settled ok. My dad got back yesterday, he's fine and he sends his love to Jenny. I do too.

Dan Scott had a heart attack after you'd left. So maybe you could mail Luke or something… Brooke saw him recently and she said he's doing so well…

I'm fine… nothing much I can comment on so I guess you're just gonna have to get over this lameass excuse for an e-mail. Sorry man.

Anyways, Take care of Jenny Hopefully I'll hear from her soon… . I really hope you're both doing well. Miss you both.

Love

P.

His grin faded at the latter comment. Jake's attention turned to the letter on his cousin's desk. It was from his lawyer. Informing him that should he need to take legal action against Nikki he would have to make sure he kept away from her for at least two months. That meant not letting her know where he was. It was- his lawyer told him sternly, of utmost importance he didn't have any correspondence with anyone in Tree Hill except his parents. E-mail, letters and phone calls can be traced. Especially but Nikki's lawyer in Seattle.

Jake groaned as he watched Peyton settle down to sketch. He wished more than anything just to reach through the screen and touch her. But being able to see her was still good. Great even. To Jake it was almost heaven…

What was he meant to say anyway… 'Yeah I miss you too and by the way Peyton I don't mean as a friend. You know I'm crazy about you…' Jake thought to himself. Saying that would be stupid… saying anything less would feel pointless.

Right now Jake was content to watch Peyton and defend his heaven… the images in his mind of that kiss on the dockyard… in silence.

'Hey bestest friend.' Brooke said sitting on Peyton's bed.

'How did you get in?' Peyton said turning round but smiling.

'You're dad let me in.'

'I tell him and tell him… these street people just aren't right in the head…' Peyton muttered. Brooke threw at pillow at her, which she ducked.

'Whatcha drawing?' Peyton handed across the sketch… it was of a candle- unlit in a darkened room. The girl in background was watching the candle.

'Can't you draw something happy?' Brooke said wrinkling her nose. Peyton raised an eyebrow. 'I know you miss Jagelski but come on! We're meeting Nate, Haley and Luke in a couple of hours by the way.'

'Are we?'

'Yes we are. Now draw!' Brooke stood up and stretched. 'I know you won't come out to you finish that. So hurry. See you at the mall.' Peyton nodded and hugged Brooke as she left.

Something happy…

Peyton frowned. She began another sketch next to the one of the room. An hour later she looked at the strip. The same room now held two people the girl and the boy. The candle was lit even though the girl wasn't looking at it anymore. The caption read- Heaven is what no else sees.

Lucas hadn't heard anything from Jake either. He unlike Peyton had no idea where his friend had disappeared to. Although he had a fairly good idea wherever he was, Peyton's thoughts were to. She arrived to the mall thirty minutes after the arranged time. Late even for Peyton. He and Nate had been left to collect her and take her to the frantically shopping Haley and Brooke.

'Hey!' Nate called. Peyton smiled and wandered over seeming shadowed…

'You ok?' Lucas asked the blonde as she surveyed the scene before her. Luke was casually leant back in his chair- which was slanted equally casually towards Nathan's. who was resting his feet upon the table jauntily. Grinning at his brother. She felt her heart rise slight. If those two could become actual brothers… maybe she should a shot at being with Jake after all……….

'Yeah. I'm ok. Where's Brooke?' she asked slinging herself into a chair opposite her ex's.

'She got sick of waiting for you and dragged Hales of in search of 'the cutest lil outfit'' Nathan mimicked with scary accuracy. Peyton grinned.

'Guess we better find them then. Before your new wife bankrupts you, huh?' Nathan looked suddenly scared and jumped to his feet. Laughing the other Scott brother and Peyton Sawyer followed him.

'You heard from Jake recently?' Lucas asked as they walked.

'No. Not recently. Have you?' there was a degree of painful hope in her voice that Luke noticed straight away.

'No. I don't even know where he went.' Luke said watching Peyton for any ideas.

'Oh. He went to stay with relatives. Escape from Nikki. You know.'

'Yeah. I know. You really miss him though.'

'Brooke been blabbing?' Peyton questioned. Trying to hide her blush- and failing.

'Yes. And also you're blushing.' Peyton gave Luke a glare and he looked away quickly.

'I miss him. We were good friends.'

'Did you read my letter?'

'Yes.' Luke met her eyes and she nodded. An admittance.

'So…'

'There's Brooke.' Nathan was already with his wife. Checking price labels.

'You were late.' Brooke told Peyton accusingly.

'I had to drop a strip off at T.H.U.D.' she explained.

'A happy strip?' Brooke said, wary to forgive…

'yes.' Peyton said. Well it was. Happy for her.

'Good. Come on they've got some cute tanks…'

Luke tried once more to talk to Peyton about her feelings for Jake he was brushed off again. A little more gently.

'Look Luke. I'm sorry but I just wanna keep this to myself ok? When I get honest about my feelings… they get… screwed. You get that. Right?'

he got it. And understood. Just watching Brooke gave him the clearest idea. How was he meant to go back to Charlestown and leave her. Never see her again. Never watch that beautiful way of walking, her dimples when she laughed. He couldn't do it, it was like walking away from heaven,

Brooke was his heaven and he was okay with that. As long as he could keep the information quiet. Peyton was right. As long as feelings were left in silence they could be protected much better.

He picked a copy of T.H.U.D up the next week. Peyton's strip was happy… and beautifully explanatory. He wished Jake could see it.

In savannah Jake Jagelski ran his hand through his dark hair. Wondering if ordering a copy of Tree Hill Underground Daily to a newsagents fifteen miles out of Savannah to be delivered was either- a risk or just plain stupid.

He opened it straight to page 14, where Peyton's strip was always. He stared and a painful idea started to spread in his heart… maybe he wasn't the only one feeling this…

Later he cut the strip out and stuck on the wall in his room. He sang Jenny to sleep that night, incorporating Peyton's words…

'Everyone dreams,

Everyone has nightmares,

Where they're to wake up alone.

But it doesn't matter now,

Heaven is close,

Because heaven is everywhere,

Everyone knows,

That to you heaven is always near,

Heaven is what no else sees.'