I don't own One Tree Hill or any of the Characters or Flashbacks, just my plot.
Adam watched Alyssa stalk off. Man, she was hot. She was so different from all the other girls she knew. She didn't seem to be impressed by his looks or talent, just ticked off by the way he carried himself with so much confidence. Confidence or cockiness, he silently asked himself. He knew the answer and didn't like it, but things were still getting out of hand and it wouldn't have looked too good if Alyssa had accepted his invite and Alexis, his girlfriend of six months, had shown up. They weren't at all into each other. Well, that wasn't really true. The whole sex thing played a big part in it. I mean, she was a cheerleader with a cheerleader's body. Who didn't want some of that? He thought of Alyssa. She was one of the strangest people he'd ever met, but she had mystery... substance. His uncle had warned him one time "When I got to know your aunt, I knew it was love. At the same time, I had to be careful to work at it, because there was this sense of "So what now?" after we got married. Thankfully, there was something there beyond a game of hard-to-get. Just don't jump into something like that with a girl when all you want is what you can't have, and you know you'll get it sooner or later." Uncle Nathan's advice had been confusing and had seemed like a bunch of long rambling at the time, but now it made sense. He would have to approach this whole thing carefully. You're acting like you don't have a girlfriend and thinking like she actually sees something in you, man. You don't even know her, and she could have a boyfriend or think you're an idiot for all you know, he told himself. Yet he couldn't make the image of her face, so cute with its indignant expression, calling him promiscuous. Adam James chuckled to himself and walked away from a bad situation, reaching for a quarter and heading towards the nearest pay phone to call a tow truck.
Peyton looked around. This could be the last time she ever visited Tree Hill. Why was it that things never seemed to work out for her and Luke? He was so perfect, so great, and she was finally ready, without and hesitation or doubt. After last night, it would be way too hard to leave him behind again. Anna didn't want this, though. That was what mattered most. She couldn't hurt her only daughter. Would Luke and I have had more kids if we had gotten together? The thought was uninvited, and her mind fought against it. The mother finally let down her barricades and simply entertained the notion into her head. She and Lucas were married. Anna was their oldest daughter, and on Tree Hill high's girl's varsity basketball team. They had a ten-year-old boy named Keith, and twins, a boy name Lucas Jr. and a girl named Karen. They lived in a nice, cozy house where the brothers had to put up with sharing a room with each other, and so did the sisters. Lucas was still in partnership with Nate doing the sports shop chain thing, and Peyton had a home studio built onto the house where she worked. She still drew up sketches for open mike night. They were all happy and content, and Anna and Lucas were really close, and he had finally accepted her and Jake going out, Peyton thought with a smile resting for a second on her face. There was a time when she would've been mad that everything had turned out the way it had, but now she was just sad. Hopefully, Anna and Lucas would be on good terms some day, and then if Lucas wasn't with someone else, there might be a chance....
Lucas was angry. It was all so pointless. His daughter hated him, and it had turned out it was actually an innocent night spent in a car. How could he have been so stupid? He'd jumped to conclusions, been overprotective, and ruined his relationship with Anna. Oh, but that wasn't the worst of it. He's also managed to screw up his chances with Peyton. He remembered yesterday... "Peyton, please don't leave. I was an idiot handling the whole Anna situation, but I'm so new at this. I want to get to know her, and I want the chance to make you love me. I need you two to stay." "Lucas, don't do this," she'd whispered. "I love Anna so much. She became my world sixteen years ago and has been ever since. Transferring her to a new school would be a riot, and I don't know if she'd still get the chance to play basketball. I don't know why she feels like she needs to go, but she does, and I have to support her, whatever her decision. That's just the way it is." "So this is the way it's going to end, then?" "I guess so. If it's any comfort to you, though, I do love you, Lucas Scott, and I wish I'd had a chance to prove it." It was then that he'd kissed her. One thing had led to another, and their smiles and kisses had been mingled with tears, because what they had that night was immortal, but they and their relationship weren't. So they lay their underneath bed sheets, keeping each other warm, and trying to give each other the strength they'd need for the next day. She had left for the café by the time he woke up.
Jake was struggling to keep up with the blond in front of him. She was definitely nothing like Anna. Maybe that was a good thing, though, because he would never wonder what would happen if she had been the one he met instead of Anna. His heart ached at the thought of her. Tree Hill wasn't starting school until tomorrow, and that was the first day of basketball tryouts. She would've been a shoe-in for the varsity girl's team, and they would have had so much fun at all the joint practices and scrimmages the teams had. Either way, all he knew was that they were getting closer and closer to Karen's house, and he was sure that within seconds they would be at the front door. He could only hope that Anna would at least talk to him.
Anna sighed as she trudged around the kitchen, putting away the last of the dishes she'd washed. Baking had been seeming like a more and more attractive option, and she'd now made Karen two cakes, a batch of cinnamon rolls, and five dozen cookies. While one of the cakes was in the oven, she'd had enough time to go sneak off and say goodbye to the River Court. It was empty, and she'd had the luxury of walking around and memorizing every single part of that place, remembering the multiple times she and Jake had played basketball here, and finally the big scene yesterday. She wondered if maybe her parents were actually in love and if she was ripping them apart and stopping her and Jake from happening, but she dismissed the thought immediately. Lucas Scott's daughter pulled the basketball that she had spied when coming, and jogged down the court making a lay-up that resulted in a satisfying swoosh. She played on and on, shooting and dribbling, until she finally felt too depressed to play anymore. "Bye, Tree Hill. Bye, Jenny. Bye, Dad. Bye, Jake," She had whispered into the coming wind. Then she left, not once looking back.
The knock was unexpected, and Anna had no idea what else to do but open the door. It felt awkward making herself so at home in her grandmother's house knowing she was leaving that day. "Alyssa?" she asked with shock, looking at her newly natural and fresh friend. "Jake?" she whispered, glancing to the lone figure in the corner. "Well, that's a nice hello," Alyssa responded, giving her a hug. "Can we come in or what?" "Sure, why not?" The three sat down, and Alyssa recounted the story of their car accident. "I can't believe that jerk was cocky enough to actually insinuate something like that! I mean, whatever happened to politeness?" The genuinely distressed tone in her friend's voice made Anna laugh. "So what's been going on with you? And why are you leaving Tree Hill? I mean, I'd love you back, but I know that you'd love you here, and this is where you need to be." Jake slowly slipped into the other room, and Anna sat there staring at her friend. "Well, for starters, my dad turned out to be a total jerk..." Anna went through everything, expecting at least a sympathetic pat from her best friend. "Well, you're being awfully judgmental and selfish," Alyssa remarked. "What are you talking about?! I don't want my mom or dad getting hurt, and my dad obviously doesn't want me around. I'm scared of breaking Jake's heart and having all the reasons for staying here crumble at my feet as time goes by!" "One, your mom and dad are in love and could actually make it work this time. Two, your dad obviously DOES want you around, and the guy made one tiny mistake. Can't you cut him some slack? Three, you aren't afraid of breaking Jake's heart, you're afraid he'll break your heart, and you are so afraid of commitment and rejection that you can't even make this work. It's time for you to step up to the plate, girlfriend. Show me what you're made of. Show me who the real Anna is, the one who has the wits and courage and patience to put up with me. Stop making stupid excuses." "See, I don't get why you can't ever just support me Alyssa! What if you're right? That still doesn't give you the license to make me feel guilty!" "Yes it does, and I would be happy for you if you made a good decision. I was happy for you when we came here! I was happy for you when I found out about the poor guy sitting in the other room! That is, until he explained to me that the two of you broke up, or rather you broke up with him! Get a hold of things! He's a keeper, and you may never find another one like him!" "Fine! I admit it! I really don't want to leave Tree Hill, and I really don't wan to be apart from Jake. Just let me be, though, just let me be!" The tired and sad girls shrank to the floor in a heap and started sobbing. As a reflex, the girl who could've been her sister rushed over and held her, whispering sweet things like "It'll be all right," and "I'm here for you, sis," in her ear.
Jake had heard every word, and it made less and less sense to him. What was going on? Why couldn't things just be simple and clean-cut? There wasn't any reason for all of this. If Anna would just talk to him, then it might make things easier. She seemed almost afraid to talk to him, though. Why was all this stuff happening to him? This day was like walking around with a brand new shirt on and having crap dumped on it again and again. Could things get much worse? He just wanted to be with her. Things weren't going to happen like that, though. Jake Jageilski Jr. just wished that he could play ball, because that was the only thing that could possibly make him feel better right now.
Lucas stood outside the café. He watched Peyton sip a mug of coffee as she sketched out the flyer for the up-coming open mike night. He knew he shouldn't put her through any more pain, but he couldn't just let it end this way, not after last night. The bell jingled overhead while he stepped through the door. "Peyton," he said softly when he tapped her on her shoulder. She had a weary expression on her face as she turned to face him, and she seemed hopeless. "Don't try to make me stay, Luke," she whispered. "I won't," he said. "I just need to say goodbye, and make sure you know that I love you more than anyone else on this earth." He drew her to himself and kissed her, then whispered, "Let our daughter know that I love her a while lot too, and I wish she would give me another chance." Then he walked away. And Peyton still wasn't going after him.
Nathan Scott tapped his fingers against his desk, looking around him with a great air of boredom. Lucas and he had taken care of all the business stuff a couple days ago, and now he didn't have anything else to do since Haley was working at the café and the kids had a play date with friends. Maybe he could work on some files. Nothing seemed to hold his interest today. He decided to pay a visit to the River Court. That place was still as popular now as it was when he and Luke were teens. The old court was well kept up, and as he approached he saw Jake's oldest son shooting hoops. "Hey, what's up?" he called out. "A lot of crap, but probably nothing different than you and your friends bitched about in high school." The two laughed, and eventually started playing a game. It seemed to clear the air and make both of them more light-hearted. "So you used to be the star of the basketball team, huh?" Jake asked presently. "Oh, no. I mean, I would've said I was, but Lucas and I were a team effort, and one of us couldn't have done it without the other. The real battle is just making sure that you don't lose the love of the game. Because that's one of the only things you can depend on at the end of the day." Jake nodded his head and smiled slowly. "Yeah, you're right. But it's only one of the things," he said as he ran off with a quick goodbye.
"Well, this is it," Peyton said, slamming the trunk of the car. The mother and daughter stood looking at each other until the finally walked around the car and got in. Karen and Haley waved goodbye, and they waved back as the car backed out of the driveway. They drove on and on, and finally they got back home. It felt so strange going inside the empty house. "Sweetie..." Peyton started, but Anna interrupted. "I have a lot of homework I should get to so I don't get murdered tomorrow." "Yeah, I have a deadline coming up for a children's book I should probably get to," her mother responded. They both headed to their rooms and turned on music, then cried into their pillows until they were too exhausted to stay up any longer and sleep surrounded them.
Alyssa hadn't wanted to leave when she'd realized Anna and Peyton were taking off. Something was telling her to stay behind. Karen had offered her a place to stay for the night, and she figured that she had something to do. She got dressed up in a short red, halter top, low cut dress and wicked black heels, than she did her hair and make-up. She had decided to drop in on that party after all.
Jake ran as fast as he could, and when he finally reached Karen's house he was so cramped up he could hardly stay in an upright position. He pounded on the door. Karen answered, and he said simply "I need to talk to her." The woman's face reflected her regret and she said softly "She and Peyton left a little while ago. I'm sorry, Jake." "It's okay. I should've come sooner," he muttered, turning around and walking slowly towards his house.
I know this had a lot of sad endings guys, but I don't plan on keeping it that way. Please R&R soon! I'm considering ending the story in a couple more chapters, but I would love to continue it! Please give me input, thanks! OnTheOutsideLookingIn