Chapter Four- The Face Of Your Past
Peyton found Karen at her house. It was such a shock to her to see Peyton.
"Peyton, is that you?" Karen asked as Peyton approached.
"Yea, it is, I wanted to ask you something."
"Go ahead, anything," Karen smiled, she was so easy to talk to.
"I wanted to know if I could host a night at TRIC," she smiled.
"How about tomorrow night, you and Xenoi can work together and make it the best night in a long time. I usually don't go. That girl is a piece of work, don't take direction from nobody. You could teach her a few things, you always was a good girl at heart, maybe you could show her, she's probably there now."
"Thanks Karen," Peyton went up and hugged her. In a small town like Tree Hill, you had to get used to hugs and hugging people.
"No, thank you, you always was the best at that job, go show her," Karen smiled.
Peyton walked down the main street of Tree Hill until she reached TRIC. She tried the door, locked, that little monster, luckily she still had her key, if they didn't change the locks. She tried it, it worked, who in Tree Hill actually changed the locks on the doors, well besides Deb, but she's crazy, so she doesn't count.
Peyton walked in, it was dark and musty, a lot of smoke in the air, must be from a previous night and she didn't air out the place. Peyton was startled when she heard a voice behind her and turned around.
"Who are you and how did you get in here, I locked all the doors, are you like some kind of ghost or a robber, cause there's nothing here, I'm only preparing for tonight, I ain't done nothing wrong."
That girl was just how Jake and Karen was saying, weak, but strong on defense, can't get past her.
"Tell me something, miss know it all, who was the creator of this underage club, who came up with the idea, the name, who put their hard work into building this place up?"
"That easy, Karen Roe, idiot, give me something harder."
"I will, when you get that question right."
"I told you, Karen did."
"And I told you that you're wrong."
"Impossible, I'm never wrong."
"You want a little hint."
"For what?"
"The answer to the question."
"I told you, it's Karen."
"And you're wrong, here's your hint, she's standing right in front of your face."
"I've never seen you before in my life, get out or I'll call the cops."
"Want the answer."
"I'm calling the cops."
"I wouldn't, cause I'm Peyton Sawyer."
"No you're not, she left Tree Hill with no intention of coming back. True, you're a legend, but you lost you're chance."
"You know something, I'm here because I want to be here. I left, because I needed to go to school. A nice art school in New York. They don't have art schools here. You know something else, I'm here now, what are you gonna do about it, I'm stronger than you, and smarter than you, and trust me, I know more about music and being a DJ than you ever can or will be."
"You think I'm scared of you? I'm not, not in the least bit."
"Sure, you say that now, but you know what, I'm hosting tomorrow night, by myself, we'll see who gets a better turnout."
"You're on."
"Great, now I need to go book real bands."
"I do book real bands."
"I'm not the one in need of convincing."
"What?" she said as Peyton left. What Peyton really needed to do was put flyers up that she would be hosting and not the little brat Xenoi, she obviously didn't have a good turnout, nightly.
Peyton needed to book some bands. She knew some great ones she was on great terms with that would come. And Haley, she had just seen her. Maybe she would. She'd give her a call.
"Hello?"
"Hales!"
"Peyton?"
"Yes, I need a really, really, really, really, big favor from you."
"Tell me."
"Would you be really, really, really, really nice and come play at TRIC tomorrow night, I'm hosting for the first time in years and I bet this little brat who works there now that I'd get a better turnout than she would, please, please, please, please."
"Sure."
"Really?"
"Yes, see you tomorrow night, around nine?"
"Yea, that's great, thank you!"
"You're welcome."
"You're a lifesaver."
"I know, see you tomorrow."
"Bye."
"Bye." One down, about two or three more to go. Chris, she would go to Chris, given he always had hated her, but the opportunity to see Haley, he'd probably do it. She tried.
"Hello?"
"Chris, I need a favor."
"Who is this?"
"Peyton, manager of TRIC, I need you to sing."
"No way."
"Please, Haley's gonna be there."
"Haley James?"
"Yes, Haley James."
"I'm totally in."
"Great, around nine, be there."
Peyton hung up, that's two major live acts, what about Gavin DeGraw. She knew him to, and he just put out a new album, which was all the rage. She tried him, and miraculously he said yes. Now as a back-up type thing, or if there's more time, a local group to play, always draws in more people. She just thought of something and went to get it.
"Please Jake."
"No."
"Do it for me."
He thought about it, he'd do anything for her, no matter how traumatic or heart breaking it was to him, he'd do it for her. "Fine."
"Really?"
"Yes, I'll do it."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, can I like hug you?"
"You have to ask now?"
"Good point," she went around the counter of the café and gave him a big hug.
She turned to leave, "I'll see you tomorrow night around nine, if not sooner," she smiled and walked out. She had convinced Jake to play at TRIC. She still wanted a younger local group, but she also needed a bartender and a DJ. She knew who she wanted already, though. Her good old buddies Nathan and Tim to be bartenders. Nathan sorta there after Tim gets too drunk and passes out. And Mouth to be DJ. All her old friends would totally be a part of it. Brooke would help her decorate and hand out flyers, if she asked and Lucas would be the doorman, checking I.D.s for alcohol bands. She had a lot to do.
She called Brooke of course. "Hey Brooke."
"Best friend?"
"Yes it is."
"I haven't seen you since you're little art thingy."
"I know and I need your help, and Luke too."
"Sure, what do you need goldilocks?"
"Well I made a bet with this little brat person who is supposedly the manager of TRIC, well tomorrow night is my night to prove I'm better than her and I totally need you're help to pull this off."
"You're in Tree Hill! OMG, yeay, I will so help you, I hate that little Xenoi."
"You know her?"
"Know her, everyone knows her."
"That bad?"
"She can throw a good party, but yea, we've got some work to do, meet me at the café."
"Can do."
And she did. Brooke and Peyton met at the café.
"So tell me goldilocks what did you do so far?"
"Well I booked Haley, Chris, Gavin DeGraw and Jake to play."
"No way, how?"
"Which one?"
"All of them, none of us have heard from Haley, how could you manage to get Chris back here, and Gavin DeGraw, he just released a new CD and Jake won't play for nobody. Trust me, Xenoi has tried many a time to get Jake to play at TRIC."
"Haley, I ran into her in New York, she was on tour and I met up with her after, I called her today and said yes. Chris, well, he was the easiest, I told him Haley was coming, and boom, he said yes. Gavin, I got connections there, all in a matter of knowing people and Jake, I think he still has a thing for me," she smiled.
"You are so gonna blow Xenoi out of the club."
"I got Nathan and Tim to bartender, because, uh, they were always good at it in our parties when we weren't even supposed to drink."
"Nice going, they make some mighty fine drinks."
"And Mouth to DJ."
"Xenoi knew about him, one of the greats, couldn't score him either, she'll be so mad at you."
"Good."
"I knew if you spent enough time with me you'd turn out okay."
"Yes, now we need to do flyers and get a local band and decorate, but decorating tomorrow since she has it tonight."
"Okay, let's get started."
