I don't own One Tree Hill or any of the Characters or Flashbacks, just my plot.
Peyton had known this moment would come, and she didn't want to have to face it. She was worried about what Hales would think of her for running off and raising a daughter, Lucas's daughter no less, all those years ago. At least she had Lucas with her, and Anna too. Nobody could resist Anna. She was a lot like her dad in more ways than she realized. "Don't be so tense, Peyt. It's gonna be fine. You'll see. Hales has always missed you, and she could never hate anyone. As far as Nate's concerned, he'll think it's all good as long as it doesn't involve him. How could they not love you?" "Lucas Scott, you have to be the biggest kiss-ass that I've ever seen. I'm glad for it, though." They leaned in for a small kiss. Things with Anna had gone exceptionally well last night. She's come home a little late with stars in her eyes, and when they'd told her she'd just nodded and said "I knew you would eventually," with an exuberant giggle.
They drove up to a nice two-story house with tan paint and grey trim, somehow adding a touch of elegance and festivity that every house needs. Peyton drew in a deep breath as the three of them, holding hands with Anna in the middle, walked up to the door. Peyton was the one to ring the doorbell. She figured it was her loose end to tie up, and her demon to face. An older, more mature-looking in all the right ways, but still as gorgeous as ever Haley opened the door. "Oh my gosh! Nathan said that Lucas showed up with his daughter, but I never would've dreamed! Come in, and sit down and have some cookies while I chew Peyton out for never talking to me all these years! You must be Anna, the basketball star! I'm so happy to meet you! You look just like your mother AND your father, which let me tell you is quite a compliment."
Anna knew right away she would like Haley. Her creamy, ivory skin, honest brown eyes, and unique golden-brown hair gave her a sophisticated yet open look that made her feel like she had just come across her long-lost aunt which, she realized with surprise, she had. "Now, you have to tell me the whole story, drama and all," Haley said with a smile as she sat down. The four of them sat there, looking at each other with here-it-comes smiles, and the three began. They started and ended, finishing each other sentences and interrupting each other occasionally. There was only one word to describe Haley at that moment: flabbergasted. All of the sudden, she broke the silence with a breezy, "Well, at least you two are together, Anna's finally meeting her extended family, and this happened in Tree Hill instead of corrupting some other place." They all laughed for awhile. After another batch of cookies, Haley introduced them to Rose and Nathan Jr. who had been playing one-on-one basketball outside. Nathan looked a lot like Haley, while Rose favored her father. The cocky attitude was all Nathan's though, while Haley's sweetness shown though in her daughter.
I like them, Anna decided as her parents drove home. She had simply told them she would be "out" for awhile, while what she really meant was that she was going in for another round of one-on-one with Jake. Basketball was something they could always share, no matter where their relationship was at. Blessed wasn't a powerful enough word to describe how she felt when she was around him. "Hi stranger," he said with a smile when she finally got there. "Hi, Mr. Turnaround-Jump-Shot-Make-It-Every-Time," she said with a smile. The nickname had come from yesterday, and it was true to its name. "So you ready to go?" He asked, giving her a look that said much more than words ever could. "Let's do this," she replied, gazing into his eyes as he handed her the basketball.
"Haley, honey, you've been way too stressed out lately. I think that you need to just calm down for awhile." Haley relaxed as Nathan's words rolled over her like a gentle wave at low tide. "I know, I know. It's just that with Peyton and Anna coming—not that I would change their coming for anything, you know, things have just been really crazy. I'm really excited though, because her birthday was only two weeks ago, and Karen's thinking of throwing a surprise birthday party for her at the café." "Look, Hales, you know that I think Anna's a great kid and I'm just as excited as you, but I really do think you need to rest. You've been bending over backwards with your job and still keeping up with the housekeeping and the kids, which you've been doing a terrific job of, but even good old "tutor girl" isn't a super-hero." "Okay, okay, I get your point. I'll start easing up a little." "Are you loose enough to do something impetuous now?" Nathan said with a sensuous grin. Haley laughed. After almost seventeen years of marriage, they were still in love, and whenever they had time, their nightly routine went like this. "I guess I could close my eyes and think of England," she joked, kicked and squealing softly so they wouldn't wake up the kids as they made their way up the stairs with her slung over his shoulder.
Karen sat at the kitchen table waiting up for Anna. Peyton and Lucas had wanted to, but she'd told them "Peyton, you've probably been on enough of these in the past sixteen years, and if we can put off Lucas's first one for a couple of months things might go over better." The two had finally caved in, and she sat up waiting for he granddaughter. She was convinced the girl couldn't have done anything too drastic, and if she wasn't home by two she would call all the hospitals in the area, and all the police stations (just to be safe). If all of that failed, well... the girl was sixteen. That was a thought Karen didn't want to consider, but a possibility all the same. She just hoped the girl was being safe if that was the case. She didn't seem to have the best track record inherited from the women in her family.
"Jake, you didn't have to do this," Anna was saying five hours earlier. "I mean, I love it, just like you probably knew I would, but you didn't have to go to all that trouble for me." "You're right, I didn't. But I did it anyway. I remembered you saying that the night after you first ballet recital when you were seven and one of the leads in The Nutcracker, your mom took you to a restaurant just like this one, and I figured that since you're leaving soon, I would try to give you a good farewell." They both looked down uncomfortably, knowing that this would be one of their last nights together without the strain of a possible long-distance relationship.
She though back to earlier that day, when he had brought out of the trunk of his car a tux and a really nice emerald green dress that didn't show any cleavage, but came really close with its off-the-shoulder design. It looked like it was just her size. "What are you doing?" she had laughed. "This is for me, and that's for you. You can get dressed at the bathroom they built a few hundred yards away and put your clothes in the trunk of my car. We're going to dinner. "Are you serious? Where did you get the dress?" she had asked in surprise. "From Jenny. I told her my idea, and she was all for it. Since you two are the same size, she thought she might offer her help. I personally thought you would be beautiful in what you're wearing, but she spewed off some crap about girls liking to feel special and pretty or something like that." Anna silently made a mental note to call Jenny and thank her later.
"This restaurant is beautiful, Jake. I really love that you brought me here. Oh my goodness! You remembered the special, and the song that was playing when my mom brought me here?" "I remember everything you say," Jake said simply, pulling out her chair before taking his own seat across from her. If she had any doubts before, Anna knew he was the right guy for her now.
They spent the rest of the evening talking, and then he drove them back by the River Court so she could change out of Jenny's dress into her clothes. Jake leaned over and kissed her. Before they knew what was happening, his shirt was off and he was reaching for the zipper to her dress. "Anna...?" he said quietly, asking a question with such deep implications she shivered for a minute. "Jake, I don't want you to do this because I'm some girl you like who you met, and you feel like you owe me something. Because you don't, and these have been some of the most incredible days of my life." "Anna, I love you, and I swear, I would never do anything to hurt you or treat sex like some duty to be carried out because I feel guilty or want to get as much out of you as possible before you have to go back home. I respect you." "Look, Jake, have sex with me if you want, because it'll be totally consensual, but don't tell me that you love me, because it hurts too much, especially knowing that I feel the same way." "Then if you love me and I love you, there's nothing stopping us in any way. I promise you, I will try to see you and talk to you as much as possible. I don't care if I have to wait forever to be with you like that; you're worth the wait. But I couldn't live with myself if I let you get away." Silent tears ran down her face and she whispered. "I want you, Jake. But not here, not now. I want to be with you, but I want to take this slowly. Just be with me right now, and let's sit here and watch the stars." That's what they did, and they fell asleep without even realizing what it looked like.
"Mom, I'm going out looking for her. I bet that Jake's son isn't quite as great as she's cracked him up to be. I mean, he does have some of Brooke's blood in him, right?" "Luke, calm down. Anna's a very nice girl, but for all we know, she may have had a lot of... experiences already." Peyton stepped out of the corner she'd been in. "She's still a virgin. We made a deal awhile back that she would tell me after she had her first experience. No news from her yet." "Peyt, I swear, if he hurt her..." "Lucas, she'll be fine. I know my daughter, and she's a fighter. She wouldn't have anything happen to her if it wasn't what she wanted." "I'm gonna call Jake anyways to clear things up." Luke dialed the phone number. "Hi, Jake? Did Jake come home last night? He didn't? You're going to the River Court? Okay, I'll meet you there." With that the young father stormed out of the house.
Sorry the chapter was so short guys! I was wondering: do you think I should bring Alyssa back in? I've been thinking of a character to set her up with, and I would like feedback. Thanks for the reviews! OnTheOutsideLookingIn