Author's Note: Was kind of stuck on this chapter as I am venturing into the bold new world of writing without an outline but I got the scene set up and the song (I so LOVE Journey) from the movie. Monster. It just seemed appropriate...
College was all about letting loose and having. Partying till the wee hours of the morning, drinking way too much beer, and closing the hottest clubs down. But for the Tree Hill gang, that atmosphere was increasingly played out. It was boring doing the same old thing. They needed some real fun. They needed a change.
Leave it to Haley to suggest roller skating. The idea was met with rolls of the eyes and mutters under the breath but no one else had been able to suggest anything better. So there they were on a Saturday night at a rink just outside of town. Brooke and Haley gliding gracefully, with clumsy Lucas and Skills and Nathan and Fergie respectively on each arm. Tim and Mouth were holding their own while Anna and Peyton had chosen to sit out, holding down the table and munching pizza.
"Look at Nathan and Haley", Anna smiled. "They're so cute together. Those two will probably end up married."
"I think that's the plan", Peyton shrugged.
"I don't want to gossip and Haley has never told me for a fact but I hear she's a virgin."
"She is."
Normally spreading personal information around would not be Peyton's protocol but she knew she could trust Anna.
"Really? A virgin?"
"Yep."
"Wow. That's…unusual", Anna giggled.
"I think it's cool."
"Oh me too. Hell, I lost my V card when I was 14."
"You regret it?"
"I don't know. I wasn't in love. That makes a difference."
"I agree."
"Were you in love your first time, Peyton?"
Peyton blushed before laughing.
"I thought I was but looking back…no."
"No?"
"Nah. It…it was with Nathan."
Anna spit out her Dr. Pepper.
"What? Our Nathan? Haley's Nathan? Nathan Scott?"
"Shhh. I don't need the whole world knowing my business although half of Tree Hill knows anyway. But yeah. Nate took my virginity."
"I knew you guys dated back in the day but…"
"It was before you and Felix moved here. I guess it's kind of high school destiny. He was the basketball jock, I was a cheerleading captain. I mean, go figure, right? So we hooked up but 99 percent of the time it was parties and booze and drama. We fought over everything and towards the end all we did have was sex."
"How did it end?"
"I got fed up with his bullshit. But Jake and Haley came along. It's weird because Nathan and I had this horrible relationship with each other yet we were so good with these other people."
"Haley changed him, huh?"
"Completely. Before her, he was the Bad Boy of Tree Hill. A carbon copy of Dan if you can believe it. Pretty scary, huh?"
"Fate is a funny thing, I guess. Maybe true love does exist after all", Anna sighed. "I'm happy for them. Yeah in the heat of the moment when hormones are raging it must be hard to pull back but think about it…on their wedding night, she is going to give herself to him. It'll be beautiful and sweet and perfect."
"I wish I had waited."
"Waited for what?"
"I don't know. I mean, I haven't been with that many people. Just Nathan and Jake and uh…Rick unfortunately."
"Yikes."
"Don't remind me. Is there some way I can make him not count?"
"Definitely", Anna giggled.
They finished eating and sat back watching their friends who were all over the floor.
"Skills is definitely improving", Peyton noted.
"Yeah. Not bad at all but he's just a naturally athletic guy. I give him props for giving it a shot. No way would I go out there."
"You never skated before?"
"Very badly and I was little. I haven't been on skates in ten years."
Peyton grinned as she hopped up.
"Come on."
"What?"
"Let's go."
"Huh? You mean out there? No, Pey. I'm not doing it."
"It will be fun."
"Do you even skate?"
"Technically no but I rollerblade sometimes and it can't be that much of a difference, right? Wheels are wheels and who cares if you haven't done it in a while? It's like riding a bicycle."
Peyton was off renting two pairs of skates before Anna could further protest. She didn't know how but the curly haired blonde somehow was always talking her into the darndest things. Before Anna knew it, her feet were crammed in the skates and she was awkwardly circling the rink while hanging on to the wall for dear life. Peyton on the other hand had the grace, technique and speed of an Olympic champion.
"Anna, you'll never get good if you don't let go."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm scared."
"There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of."
"Easy for you to say. I'm not looking forward to falling on my ass. Besides, everybody is staring at me."
"Who cares? Just feel the music."
And just like the night of their spontaneous road trip, Anna took one look in her eyes and was somehow able to let go. It was fun and carefree.
Just a small town girl,
livin' in a lonely world
She took the midnight train goin' anywhere
Just a city boy,
born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train goin' anywhere
"Oh God, I love this song!" Peyton shouted.
"Me too. Journey rocks."
"My mom used to play this all the time. It sort of reminds me of her."
A singer in a smokey room,
the smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night,
it goes on and on and on and on
"Maybe we should sit down, Pey."
"Why?"
"I don't know. Look around. It's sort of like a couples song."
"No it's not", Peyton said, silently noting all the couples were holding one another.
"Peyton…"
"Come on", she said, leading her to the center of the floor.
"I'm gonna fall."
"No, you won't", Peyton assured her softly. "I've got you."
"People are staring…"
"So? Who cares about them?"
Strangers waiting,
up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching in the night
Streetlight people,
living just to find emotion
Hiding, somewhere in the night
Anna relaxed as Peyton put her arms around her waist so they could move to the music. They smiled, faces inches apart, oblivious to anyone else.
Working hard to get my fill,
everybody wants a thrill
Payin' anything to roll the dice,
just one more time
Some will win, some will lose,
some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends,
it goes on and on and on and on
Haley buried her face in Nathan's cologne scented shirt. It was always heaven to be in his strong arms even if they were clumsily wheeling about the floor.
"Sorry, I suck, Hales."
"You don't. You skate well."
"You lie well", Nathan chuckled.
They kissed as Tim skated up to them.
"Dude, I need to borrow your girl. Like seriously. This music definitely puts The Tim in the mood."
"What? Tim, you borrow sugar or a pencil. You don't borrow your best friend's girlfriend."
"Tim…" Haley sighed.
"What?"
"He's like a dog with a bone, Hales", Nathan smiled.
"Good. Let's get him neutered."
"Aw come on, Haley. Everybody's all paired up. Skills and Fergie found hot chicks. Even Mouth did. God, I hate couples. You guys are sickening. Everybody is all cuddled up. Hell, look at Peyton and Anna. Oooohhh. Speaking of, that looks kind of hot. Wonder if they want some Tim Time in their freaky threesome", he said, skating away.
Peyton and Anna were awfully close.
"Hales…"
"What Nate?"
"Is something going on? You know, between Anna and Peyton?"
"What do you mean?"
"Haley!"
"Oh no. Sweetie, come on. They're just friends, that's all."
Both looked over as they holding each other close and looking into one another's eyes.
"Just friends, huh?"
Don't stop believin'
hold on to that feelin'
streetlight people
"Yeah", Haley sighed heavily. "Very good friends."
