The rain poured and battered against the windows. It was the first day of hurricane season for Tree Hill and already the weather was off to a treacherous start. There were only a few customers in the café, most of them hapless passersby who had sought shelter rather than be drenched. A pretty and petite dark haired stranger sat shivering in a corner booth.
"Hey, can I get you anything else?" Haley James asked, handing her a mug of steaming hot chocolate.
"No, I'm fine", the girl smiled. "Just waiting out the storm."
"Looks like a big one", Haley observed.
"Yeah…by the way, does Jake Jagielski still work here?"
"He does actually but he's off tonight. Sorry. Can I tell him who dropped by?"
The girl thought for a second, then shrugged.
"Nah. Just an old friend. I'll um, catch up with him later."
Haley nodded and returned to her place behind the counter as the door once again opened and the wind and the rain brought yet another patron.
"Look at you", Haley laughed.
"Oh God, it is ugly out there", Peyton said, soaked to the bone. "I was meeting with Jeff over at the Thud office and everything was fine. One hour later and I nearly get blown away."
"Well, I don't think we're going anywhere for a while. You may as well have a seat, dry off and grab some food."
"Just coffee, please", she said as she went to hang up her wet jacket.
Leaning over the table, Peyton dropped her leather portfolio, accidentally spilled the steaming mug of cocoa Haley had just delivered. The hot liquid went everywhere.
"Oh my God!" Peyton yelled. "I…I am so sorry. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", the girl said, grabbing some napkins.
"Dude, I hope you didn't burn yourself. Gosh, I am such a klutz sometimes."
"It's okay. I just hope it didn't ruin any of your papers", the girl, said trying to rescue as many pages as she could.
"No, I think I'm safe", Peyton said, relieved there was no real damage. "Thanks."
"Those are really good. Did you draw them?"
"Yeah. I, um, I do a comic strip for Thud Magazine. It's kind of freelance, part time kind of a thing while I finish up school. I go to Tree Hill University."
"Good school."
"It ain't Harvard", Peyton grinned.
"Harvard might be a little overrated. Besides, with talent like yours, who needs Harvard? You should seriously be in art school right about now."
"Thanks. I mean, I've thought about it and all but it's kind of hard, especially now. My boyfriend is in school and our schedules are crazy taking care of our daughter and everything…"
"You have a daughter?"
"Yeah. I mean, we love her to death but with raising kids, especially so young, you have to make sacrifices here and there."
"Yeah…", the other girl said, sadly looking away. "I know what you mean."
"Anyway, I'm sorry again about your hot chocolate. At least let me buy you another one?"
The girl shrugged.
"You don't have to but thanks."
"No problem", Peyton answered. "It's the least I can do while we wait for this storm to pass over."
"Yeah, I hope it's soon."
"You never know. Whenever they predict these knock down, drag out, Wizard of Oz, category 5 storms, I swear it's like nothing ever happens. Then on a calm, normal night like tonight…boom! It just kind of hits you, I guess. Anyway, sorry for my rambling on and on."
"It's okay", she smiled. "Rambling is good. It's kind of nice to see a friendly face every once in a while."
"I take it you're not from around here."
"No. Just sort of passing through, I guess you could say."
"Well, welcome to Tree Hill. My name is Peyton, by the way", she extended her hand.
"Nicole", she nodded, shaking it.
"Nice to meet you."
A few seconds later, Deb arrived, hot chocolate and coffee in tow. Peyton reached in her pockets and handed Deb a few loose bills.
"Looks like the nasty weather is finally letting up a bit", Deb observed.
All three women looked out the window. The rain had slowed to a drizzle and the furious winds had calmed considerably.
"That looks a whole lot better. I think I better head home before the storm changes its mind", Peyton said out loud. "Nicole, it was nice talking to you."
"Likewise."
The dark haired girl watched the blonde as she gathered her belongings and walked over to the counter. She smiled, engaging in casual but friendly conversation with the women who were working. It was obvious they were all friends. Then, draping her jacket over her head, she had dashed outside and across the street to her car.
Nicole couldn't quit staring. Even drenched from the unrelenting rain, Peyton was a beauty. And she was so nice…so friendly. And she had mentioned that she had a daughter. Nicole could barely breathe as she watched the tail lights of the vehicle disappear. Her heart felt like it had been dropped in the pit of her stomach.
"Anything else I can get for you?"
"Huh?" Nicole asked, startled by the presence of the pretty auburn haired waitress. "Um, no. I'm fine."
"Okay. Just checking. Yell if you need me."
"Thanks but I have to get going."
"Okay…oh by the way. That girl that you were talking to a few minutes ago, the blonde. Her name is Peyton Sawyer and she's Jake's girlfriend. I was going to mention it but I got tied up in the back. I'm sure she could have given him a message or…"
"It's okay", she smiled as she stood up. "It's not a big deal. I'll catch up with Jake sooner or later."
Haley nodded and smiled before looking outside and noticing once again that the weather had picked up.
"Hey, Miss, are you sure you want to leave now? The storm looks like it's just going to get worse."
Nicole opened the door, the bitter wind and cold droplets smacking against her face. She closed her eyes, grasping the irony of the situation.
"Yeah", she whispered as she disappeared into the darkness. "It is."
