1/11- One Week Later
TREE HILL
A week after Peyton's talk with Taylor and Sydney, Peyton and Sydney walked into TRIC together after school. Taylor and Sydney had decided to back off of Peyton for the moment because they figured that the more they pushed the issue, the further they would push Peyton away. It had obviously worked, because the girls had hung out every day that week.
"Hey girls." Karen said grimly as Peyton and Sydney came up the stairs
"Hey Karen. Are you ok?" Peyton asked
"I thought you had the day off." Sydney added
"I did, but I had to call a meeting for today. Sorry I didn't call you two, but I knew that you were at school all day, and that you would be stopping by here after you got done there. Everyone else should be here in about an hour, so if you want to get done what you need to get done now, that would be great." Karen told the duo
"Of course." Peyton said and Sydney nodded
"Thanks girls. We'll just be meeting out here when everyone gets here." Karen walked back into one of the offices
Peyton turned to Sydney. "Uh oh. That's never a good thing. I don't think she's ever called a meeting."
"I know. Well, I guess that we should start on what we need to do."
"Guess so." Peyton said as they both went to do their work quickly
NEW YORK
"Hey Brett." Faith said as she waited by Brett's car after school
"Faith! What are you still doing here?" Brett said, his hair still damp from the shower. He played a bunch of different sports, and had just gotten done with one practice or another
"I waited so I could talk to you."
"Phones are good for that too you know. That way you don't have to wait for an hour and a half by my car." Brett laughed
Faith laughed nervously. "Yeah, well I figured that this would be better to ask in person."
"Ok? What's up?"
"I was wondering if you would want to catch a movie later. Or maybe some food?"
"Faith are you asking me out?" Brett said, amusement in his voice
"Maybe I am." Faith smiled. "So what do you say?"
"I say how about we go grab some food right now. I'm starved."
"Ok. That sounds good."
Brett smiled and opened the door for Faith.
Faith got into the car and shut the door. Wow. He went for it. I'm shocked. I guess Brooke was right, I do have a chance. Now lets see if it leads to anything more than landing in bed.
TREE HILL
An hour later, all the others employees began to show up at TRIC. Peyton and Sydney stopped what they were doing, and grabbed some chairs to join everyone else.
Karen came out of her office minutes later, an unreadable expression on her face. Deb came up the stairs soon after to join Karen in front of all the employees.
"Hello everyone. I know that this meeting was not scheduled, and I thank you for being here. We'll try to make this as quick as possible so we don't inconvenience you anymore than we already have." Deb started
"Unfortunately, I came across something this weekend that I was hoping that we would never have to deal with. While cleaning out some things around the club, I stumbled across this in the employees lounge." Karen held up a bag of something. "It's drugs, for those of you who didn't catch that."
Everyone glanced at each other, trying to figure out who's it could be. Peyton and Sydney shared a look, wondering if either one was stupid enough to bring drugs to work and then forget them. They couldn't tell what kind of drugs Karen was holding up, because it was not in a clear bag.
"We have two options at hand. The first option is for the owner of these drugs to come forward. Because it was found in a place where only employees are allowed to go, we are going to go with the scenario that it belongs to someone sitting here today. We hope that the person who owns this will come forward and claim responsibility. Our second option is to just put everyone on probation so that we don't single anyone out without sufficient evidence. This probation would consist of bag checks upon entering and leaving the building, no one coming into the building without Karen or myself, and a lengthy meeting between every employee, me, and Karen. It would be very long, and very inconvenient for everyone involved, so please just come forward. You dont have to do it in front of the group, but please come talk to me or Karen before the day is over." Deb concluded
"If someone does not step forward by the end of the day, these probationary measures will be put into effect starting tomorrow. I know that this will be another inconvenience to you all, but all of you must meet back here tomorrow at the same time to find out what will be happening. As unfortunate as this is, we will have to begin issuing random drug testing from here on, starting today. Please return here tomorrow with the results of your test. You can go to your local doctor's office to get tested. Make sure you get it done in that manner so we know that you didn't alter the results. TRIC will front the money for the testing this time around, but next time be prepared to pay out of your own pocket. Hopefully this was all just a misunderstanding, and we can get past this." Karen said
"Thank you all for coming. We're done here for today. We'll see you all tomorrow." Deb dismissed everyone
Peyton and Sydney stood up, and after saying good-bye to Karen and Deb, made their way down to the car. As soon as they had both gotten into the car and shut the doors, they turned to each other and both began to speak at the same time.
"Was it your drugs?" Peyton asked
"How long does that shit stay in your system?" Sydney asked
"I don't even know." Peyton moaned
"No it wasn't mine!" Sydney hissed
They both burst out laughing.
"Ok, one at a time!" Sydney giggled. "I wonder who the drugs belonged to." Sydney wondered out loud
"Syd! We both have bigger problems here! We have to take a drug test!" Peyton exploded. "I'm gonna fail it."
"Well how long has it been since you used?"
"A week ago maybe?" Peyton said shamefully
"Peyton."
"I know. Please don't lecture me right now. I haven't used since the night Brooke and I told my dad about us. How long has it been for you?"
Sydney thought. "A little under a month, I think."
"Do you think you'll pass?"
"I honestly don't know Pey. But right now I'm more concerned about you."
Peyton sighed and rested her head against the steering wheel. "I'm dead Syd. This is the worst thing that could have happened to me right now." Peyton sat up to look at Sydney. "After our talk, evenbefore our talk even,I really thought about everything, and I made a choice to stay clean. If I fail this, I don't know what I am going to do Sydney. This job is all I have to keep me grounded while Brooke is gone."
"It will be ok Peyton. You have Taylor and me if you fail this. We'll be there for you no matter what."
Peyton smiled. "Thanks." I don't think I can handle losing my job. Dear God I hope that I pass this test.
NEW YORK- BROOKE
"Brooke? Are you home?" Ellie's voice rang out through the loft
Brooke, who had been lying on her bed, came out of her room. "Mom! Dad! What are you guys doing home? I thought you had a few more days in Detroit." Brooke asked, surprised
Thomas walked over and kissed Brooke's head. "We cut our trip short. There was no reason to be there any longer."
"Oh. Ok." Brooke smiled
"How about a family dinner. We could order take out or something." Ellie said as she set her coat down
"Sure! Sounds like fun." Brooke agreed
"Why don't you order us all something while we go freshen up." Thomas suggested
Brooke crinkled her nose. "I don't know what you guys like."
"We like everything. Surprise us." Ellie smiled
"Ok then. I'm on it." Brooke said as she picked up the phone and began dialing
NEW YORK-FAITH
"Favorite movie genre?" Faith asked Brett
"Horror. Nothing beats a good scary movie." Brett said around a mouthful of pasta
"I totally agree." Faith laughed
All throughout their "date", Faith and Brett had been talking, and realized that even though they had known each other for years, they didn't know the little details about each other.
"Favorite food?" Brett asked
"Seafood. I love lobster." Faith said dreamily
"Damn. An expensive girl. Remind me to only suggest seafood if you offer to pay for the date." Brett smiled
"Are you saying that you want to keep doing this?"
"Definitely. I've liked you for a long time, Faith. I just never thought you would feel the same way. It's cool that you had the balls to ask me out."
"How sweet." Faith said sarcastically
"I'm serious. I would love to make this the start of something for us."
"Wow. I mean, yeah. I would like that too." Faith smiled
NEW YORK-BROOKE
After having dinner with her parents, Brooke excused herself so that she could finish her homework. She was interrupted by her cell phone ringing beside her.
"Why hello stranger." Brooke answered after looking at the caller ID
"Hey baby. What are you doing?" Peyton said over the line
"Trying to study. But talking to you is so much more fun." Brooke laughed
"Sorry I never called you back the other day. School's been kicking my ass for some reason this week, and TRIC has been keeping me occupied."
"Don't worry about it. So how's Tree Hill treating you?"
"Like shit." Peyton laughed. "How's New York?"
"The same. I wish that you were still here, or I was back there."
"Me too. Did you ever talk to your parents about coming back earlier than your birthday?"
"Well, they were home tonight and we had dinner, but the opportunity to talk about it never really came up. I didn't want to ruin a good dinner. We were getting along so well and all." Brooke sighed
"Understandable." Peyton agreed
"So how is everyone down there?" Brooke wondered
"About the same. No big changes. Lucas and Sydney sorted everything out, so there are no more troubles in their paradise." Peyton laughed
"That's good to hear." I guess now is a good time to ask what was going on with that whole thing. "So I've been wanting to ask, and now seems like a good time while it's brought up. What was the deal with that whole thing Peyton?"
"Right after Syd and Lucas got together, we started to really hit the drugs hard. A couple times, Sydney and Taylor started making out and messing around while we were high. I don't even know why they did it. But it was a long time ago."
"And you never joined in?"
"No."
"I know you're lying Peyton, but I don't see why. Will you please just tell me the truth?" Brooke said sadly
Peyton sighed. "It was only once. We were all at my house one night, doing some lines and drinking. It got out of hand, and it all just kind of happened."
"What happened?" Brooke asked, wanting to know everything
"Babe, that was a long time ago."
"I want to know Peyton."
"Brooke, what do you think happened?" Peyton snapped, immediately regretting it
"Oh." Brooke said quietly. "So you got mad at me for keeping my past relationship with Taylor a secret, even though it wasn't relevant to our relationship, yet you can keep something like this from me without feeling even an ounce guilty?"
"Brooke, I didn't even remember about all of this until it was brought up. Then it all came back to me. Please believe me Brooke, I wasn't trying to keep it from you."
"Even when you remembered it you denied it. You got on my case about not being honest, when you just flat out lied to me." Brooke started getting angry
"Brooke-"
"No Peyton, it's your turn to listen to me. How could you do this? You lie about everything now a days. I don't even know you anymore."
"Brooke, I'm sorry. Getting mad at you for something stupid was…well, stupid. And I'm sorry about lying. I don't know what my deal is. I love you babe, and I don't want to lose you." Peyton said, defeated
"I love you too Peyton, which makes everything that keeps happening hurt so much worse. Especially since everything that happened between us when you were in New York seems to be a lie now."
"Brooke! No! It-"
"You know what, you don't have to explain." Brooke sighed as she calmed down. "I dont want to fight babe.We've both done things since I've been gone, and now it's all in the open. I don't want to hold stupid grudges Peyton, I love you too much. Let's just put all of this past us, and move on." Brooke said hopefully
Peyton sighed in relief. "I agree. I love you too Brooke. I know that things are difficult for us since I'm here and you're there, but I want to make this work."
"I do too." Brooke's smile was evident over the phone. "I'm glad we got that covered, and I hate to do this, but I have to go. I have a lot of homework to get done."
"Me too. I'll talk to you later. Have a good night."
"You too. Bye Pey." Brooke hung up the phone and smiled to herself as she went back to work on her homework
A/N- Ok, so I'm back with another update already. Thanks to everyone who shared their opinion, and I took it all into consideration. And the verdict is: I'm going to make this story a little less dark than I originally intended, but it will still get pretty heavy. I hope that everyone is ok with that and can deal with it, because I promise that you won't be disappointed in the long run. I will warn you that things are about to get pretty bumpy, but I hope you all continue to read. The twists and turns are really about to start. I'm going to start posting 2 chapters at a time, because I am really trying to get this done, and move on to my next story. I have decided to do the sequel first, and then the prequel. Some of the upcoming chapters are shorter, but I am going to be updating a lot, so please bear with me. Thanks again to everyone, you guys rock my world. : )