I don't own One Tree Hill or any of the Characters or Flashbacks, just my plot.
Jake sat on his bed, looking out the window. It was bright and sunny, and everywhere you could see something that made you stop and smile before going on with your day: some middle school guys and one girl playing street hockey, a bunch of blue jays just perched on tree branches lazily, flying off at the smallest sound, with only a cloud or two in the sky, sunlight with the most beautiful sunbeams shining through was all over the place, and a four-year-old girl sitting on a porch watching the field hockey game and singing "The itsy bitsy spider". Without warning, he charged forward and punched a hole in his wall. Nothing could've surprised him more. He'd never been this angry before. Calm down man, he thought. Jenny'll be fine eventually, just like before, and Michael will pay for what he did to her. It wasn't just about Jenny, though. It was about a certain girl named Anna who left without even offering up a goodbye, and him being in love with her. Something deep inside told him it was even about the fact that he hadn't gone after her. She'd mentioned the name of her Hometown, and it'd sounded familiar. With maps lying all over the place, he could've easily gone after her and tried to make her see what a huge mistake she was making. He hadn't, though, and she'd taken something that he didn't want anyone else to have with him: his heart.
Lucas, Peyton, and Anna were sitting on the front porch laughing and talking. Everything had been arranged; Lucas had enrolled Anna in the school over the phone that morning, a privilege because of his title most likely, and Peyton was going to take Lucas back to their house to get everything moved down to his apartment. "It's really just right, since my new publicist is right here in Tree Hill and has been trying to convince me to buy a studio down her for awhile now," her mother had commented, and everyone had smiled. The girl's varsity basketball coach had just had to let one of her starters go because of a rib injury that wouldn't be better until after the season was over, so she'd arranged for Anna to join the team after a private tryout earlier in the day. Something was nagging her in the back of her mind, telling her she needed to go talk to Karen, and most importantly Jenny and Jake. On a whim, she told her parents "I think I'd like to go visit with Aunt Haley and give her the shock of her life if you don't mind. You two lovebirds can do whatever, just no more major PDA." Her mom had pretended to blow bubble gum and rolled her eyes, and everyone had laughed.
Haley James was ecstatic. Her niece had decided to return to Tree Hill after all. Nothing could get better. That is, assuming that Peyton and Luke were planning the wedding date very soon. Anna had shared the juicy piece of gossip, and the two had sat there smiling and making the kind of plans for a wedding that no one consults the bride and groom about. Finally, Haley had asked her, "So shouldn't you be talking to a certain young man?" The young girl had shifted in her seat. "I don't think he'd want to hear from me to be honest. I mean, I just up and left and now I'm back again. For all he knows, I could be one of those really flighty people who just picks up and leaves whenever things get tough and then come back when my conscience kicks in." "Do you love him?" the brunette had asked bluntly. "More than anything," Anna had answered without thinking. Her aunt smiled. "Then go after him. Put yourself out there and run the risk of falling flat on your face, embarrassing yourself, and getting your heart broken. It's worth it if you get even the smallest second to see his face smile just for you one more time." "You know, I could get used to this whole aunt-who-happens-to-be-really-cool thing," the teen said. "That's good, because you couldn't get away from it if you tried."
The café wasn't closed. Karen had known that everyone would expect things to go on, and since only her high school customers knew Jenny well enough to be at the hospital starting to trickle in with cards and gifts, she needed to do her duty. Haley had the day off, and Lucas was back at his apartment. The previous night had been really hectic, and she knew that poor Jenny would have to wait much longer than one night to get over this. The secret that she'd never told anyone tickled the back of her mind: "You know you should tell someone. Not Lucas, but someone at least." She shuddered at the thought of admitting her secret to anyone. She might not have gotten into the relationship where Lucas was conceived if it hadn't been for that. Dan knew I wasn't ready, a small voice whispered. Why did he have to force the issue and get so violent and rough? Karen knew it didn't matter anymore. What she needed to focus on was Jenny, not the memories these circumstances brought back to life for her.
Just then Anna walked in. "Grandma! I have the best news! Lucas and Peyton are getting married and we're moving in with him and I'm going to school now, and I get to be on the girl's varsity basketball team!" Karen enveloped her granddaughter in a huge bear hug. "That's great, sweetie! When did all this happen though?" "This morning," Anna said matter-of-factly. Karen sat down and said quietly, "You haven't talked to Jenny and Jake yet, have you?" Anna's expression became guilty. "No, I was going to ask you where I could find them." "Well, Jake's probably at his house or at the River Court, and Jenny's in the rape ward at Tree Hill hospital." The young girl's whole appearance seemed to droop. "I'm going off to visit her," she said, and without a second glance, she was in the street, starting her car and driving off.
Jenny didn't remember when she woke up in the morning, but Karen was gone and her mother was sleeping in one of the corner chairs. She didn't want to wake her up; she'd already been through too much in these last few hours. Brooke had held her hand through the whole evaluation, and through the time when she'd had to describe the rape to her lawyer. When asked why she couldn't be given more time, he said "We like to have it early on, when her memory of that night's still at its freshest." The memories would never fade, though. She knew she could make it through. Mark had come to visit her earlier, at first trying to apologize. Jenny had silence him with a kiss, and he'd just sat beside her bed holding her hand until his visiting time was up. All of a sudden, a curly-haired blond who looked very nicely familiar flew into the room, all out of breath. "I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. I really didn't ever want to leave, and I'm back for good now, but none of the matters as long as you'll be okay." Jenny smiled at her. "Anna, I want you to stay, and be here, because you're one of the closest friends I have. I'd also like you to go and find Jake as soon as your time's up." The two sat there, and after awhile, Jenny said, "Just please pretend nothing happened. Please don't act like I really did get raped. I know denial's not mentally healthy, but I need someone to be the same with me and I don't think that person is anyone else. Will you do it for me, and for our friendship?" Anna hesitated and finally responded with, "I won't do it forever, only until you get back on your feet. If it was anyone else I wouldn't do it. But you seem to need this, so I'll do it for you." The two girls laughed and talked until the doctor and nurses told her she had to leave.
Brooke had finally let Jake and his dad out of their rooms when she came home to get changed and shower. His dad was at the hospital with Jenny, and he was getting ready to go down to the River Court to shoot some hoops. That was just about the only thing he had the energy to do right now. He jogged onto the court, glad that no one else was there. Running up for a lay-up, he made it. Then he made a second. Soon a third followed. Jake heard a soft voice from behind him say "So is this the basketball prodigy I heard about?" Something inside him went cold and flaming hot at the same time. "What are you doing here? I thought you left for your hometown yesterday," he said coldly, regretting his tone. "Actually, my mom and I are moving here. I've already talked to Karen, my aunt, and to Jenny. I know what happened." "You have no idea what happened because you weren't here." He stormed off, but to his surprise she followed him. "I made a mistake, all right? But you wanna know something? Your sister, who's in the hospital because her freakin' boyfriend of three years RAPED her, still had better manners than you. That doesn't say much about you, but then again, maybe you were never anything that great to begin with. Maybe I just got played and watched a cheap show that you throw ever other weekend." Jake spun around. "How can you say that? I loved you! Heck, I still love you, and you left me, and things didn't work out, and now you come back and all of a sudden you're best buds with my older sister? Is anyone seeing the inconsistencies here? Maybe I'm the one that got played." "How can you even say that? You said you felt like you'd known me forever! If you really had, you'd know you're the first guy I've ever kissed, the first guy I've ever fallen in love with, and the first guy I even considered giving my virginity to!" "Well then maybe you made a mistake," he said, hating every word he was spewing out and having no idea where it was all coming from. "So what if I did? At least I made an effort to keep this thing going. You wanna know why? Because I happen to love you, and I hurt you. Every moment we had together was so special, so wonderful, and then it was over. I wanted that back. Apparently, though, you don't. So I should just go now. I guess I shouldn't have come back here after all." With that, she was gone. Anna Sawyer, the most beautiful, considerate, loving person he'd ever met was gone and it was all his fault. He sat down and buried his head in his hands.
Alyssa sat in her car, driving fast enough to get a speeding ticket, but not fast enough for another accident to ensue. The wind flew through her hair, and even though she didn't realize it, she looked gorgeous at the moment. Her music was blaring, and the top was down on her convertible. She considered running through a couple of red lights just to vent some anger, but it was a bad idea. She had nowhere to go. Her family was sitting at home right now, her siblings home from their first day of school, looking as preppy and put-together as ever. They were all acting like the Brady Bunch, and she would be out of place. Anna and her mom probably wanted some time to sort everything out. She wished there was some place she could go and think. The idea was silly, and considering everything, probably even stupid, but she didn't care how it looked to anyone else but herself. Her heart told her to make on last detour before leaving this crazy town, so she would.
The clearing was exactly the same as she remembered it, and everything looked beautiful. No, that wasn't quite the word. Ethereal almost came close, with crisp and vibrant close behind. Maybe that's why they teach you about adjectives in English, she though with a smirk, so that when you finally see something you want to remember forever you'll have the words in your mind to give it a permanent place in your heart. She thought back on the girl, Jenny, who she'd met last night at the party. Jenny knew, she realized. She knew Adam was planning something, and she was trying to help her. It was too bad Alyssa wouldn't ever get to thank her. All of a sudden she heard dead leaves being crushed, and whipped around. "Well, well, well, look who decided to show up here after all." The voice was playful and gentle, and it belonged to a certain someone she wasn't ready to talk to. "Look, I get that you come here a lot, Adam, but I'd like a moment with myself before I completely ditch this stupid town forever." "If it's so stupid, why do you keep coming back? I mean, think about it: yes, Anna's your best friend, but unless you liked this place enough to put up with it, what was the point of deciding to come back?" "The people here actually treat me like an equal, that's why! I'm not just some stupid kid they'd rather have out of their way! I just want to be left alone! Why can't anyone understand that?" "You don't want to be alone. You don't have to be alone either. You don't have to be alone." Alyssa broke down crying for the first time in years, and Adam held her there, hoping he wouldn't ever have to let go.
Anna drove home, trying hard not to cry. Then it happened. Everything stopped. She tried to make herself cry, get angry, feel depressed, but no matter what she did she couldn't bring herself to feel it. Emotions were no more, and everything was gone. Numbness enveloped her. She just kept on driving, driving, driving until she reached Lucas's house. Peyton was the first one to see her. It was like her mother knew what was happening. She snatched her hand and held it so tight that it felt is if it would explode any second. "You listen to me, Anna. This is not you. This is not what you want. Be happy. Cry, scream, do whatever you want. Just don't build up a wall and let yourself become this lonely." Anna felt as if she was submerging under the weight of everything, and then something so ugly, so useless, exposed itself she started to shudder. Then it came back. Her body racked with sobs. She gasped for breath, and she felt an overwhelming sadness. "Jenny got raped," she managed. Anna started whimpering. "Jake hates me. Mom, what am I going to do?" They just stood out there, the daughter crying because of her genuine sorrow, the mother because of the empathy that flowed through her veins at the moment.
Jake stepped up to his sister's bedside. "Hey, you," he said quietly. She smiled and replied in worn-out voice, "Hey little brother. Have you seen Anna yet?" He shifted uncomfortably. "That's right, you talked to her," he said, remembering the conversation from earlier. Jenny nodded, for the first time a glimmer of the old Jenny in her eyes. "So how did it go? Are you two back together?" she asked lowering her voice and looking at him hopefully. "Things just couldn't be worked out, okay? I know that you're the hopeless romantic who wants everything to be okay in the end, but I just don't think that things are going to be that way for me and Anna." Something turned off in her eyes, and she said, "You sure you don't mean with me and my problem?" "No! You know that's not what I mean. I just mean that I was a really big jerk, and that I guess I need to get everything straightened out before thinking of any girls, much less somebody as great as Anna Sawyer." "She is really great," Jenny said solemnly. "Right after she found out what happened to me, she sped over here and apologized for not being here sooner, fussing over me like we'd known each other forever. Then when I needed her to pretend I never got raped, she went along with it and acted her part out like the star of the show. She's the only girl I consider good enough for you, little brother. Don't let your guilt and bitterness make you the kind of guy who could never be good enough for her. Don't make a mistake Jake. It might be too late soon." The rest of the time, they just sat there, and her little brother held her hand. Then he had to go. He walked by Mr. Scott's apartment before going home, and he saw one solitary light on upstairs. The outline of two women who looked almost identical, with one leaning on the other's shoulder and crying was the one to greet him. He backed away and whispered, "It's no good. I messed up too badly this time."
I know this wasn't my best chapter, but my sinuses are clouding my writing inspiration. Guys, I know this sounds vein, but I'd really like more reviews before I write the next chappy. Thanks! OnTheOutsideLookingIn