Chapter 7

Recap: …Um, see I kinda have this club called, Tric, and don't have anyone to perform tonight." Peyton said looking at Jesse. Jesse smiled.

"When you first got here you said you liked to play the guitar and sing, so I thought," she was cut off by him. "Wait, you want me to play at the club?" Jesse asked surprisingly.

"Yeah, I wanted to know if you would." Peyton said. "A lot of people from school go there, you could end up meeting a lot of people." Peyton said trying to convince him to go.

Jesse smiled and laughed a little, "You don't have to bribe me, Peyton, of course I'll do it." He said shaking his head.

"Thank you, so much." Peyton said appreciatively.

"Well, um, I need go to my house so I can change." Jesse said.

"Okay." Peyton said.

They pulled up into the driveway and when they stepped out of the car, Jeff walked out of the house. No one said anything. Jesse started towards the door and Peyton followed right behind him.

When they about ten feet from Jesse knew he wouldn't be able to get by.

"Don't be rude," Jeff said stopping him. "Introduce me to your friend." He said demandingly. Also making sure that the word 'friend' was exaggerated.

Jesse sighed heavily, "Jeff," he started trying to mock him in making sure he exaggerated his name, "this is Peyton, Peyton, this is Jeff." He said quickly, and then started again towards the door. Peyton, again, followed and said as she started, "It was nice to meet you."

When they got inside Jesse said, "You shouldn't have said anything at the end." Peyton asked, "Why?" Jesse replied, "Because it will make him think and then he'll start talking bad about you. But it's probably my fault I should have warned you. God, what I'd give to get out of here."

"I can see you and him get along well." Peyton said sarcastically. "Yeah, well. If you knew him better you would understand." Jesse said walking towards the steps that led to the basement.

"You live downstairs?" Peyton asked. "Yep." Jesse started. "It's quieter."

"From what?" Peyton said.

"The yelling." Jesse said, opening the door.

They went inside and it was pretty dark, there were no windows, but plenty of lights. He turned them on and the room was revealed. It was pretty big. The walls were a dark blue and the ceiling was black.

His bed was unmade and in the back corner. There was a computer next to the door that has music notes all the way down the screen. The guitar was next to it and hooked up to the computer.

There was a drum set across the room from the computer that also had a wire running under the rug to the computer. Peyton took a look at the notes and they were really close together and a lot of them.

"Is all of that you playing?" She asked looking at it impressed.

"Yeah. It's usually like that when I get mad." Jesse said. Peyton smiled and laughed a little.

A couple of feet away from the computer was a 22 ½ inch, flat screen TV. Below it was a PS2 and XBOX. Peyton looked at all the stuff and Jesse saw her.

"They're rich." He said walking towards his dresser in the right back corner. There were a lot of things on the walls, posters of bands, sports jerseys, a few pictures, and a shelf full of trophies. Peyton went to look at them. There were a couple for baseball, basketball, a few swimming, and some medals from cross country.

"So do you want me to play a few songs, or the whole night, or what?" Jesse asked, taking off his shirt. Peyton turned and just looked at Jesse. She didn't say anything and realized that she was staring.

"Yeah that's fine." She said and as soon as it came out she felt like an idiot. "I mean whatever you feel like doing." She hoped that he wouldn't have caught that but she knew that he did when he was holding himself back from laughing and turned around to grab a shirt. Peyton hit her forehead.

"So, what time do I need to be there?" Jesse asked. "Well, it opens at 7:30. But I actually could use a little more help setting up. So you think you could be at my place at," She paused thinking, "6?" she asked.

"Yeah sounds good." Jesse said. "You want a ride to school?" He asked.

"Uh, sure." Peyton replied.

After school Jesse and Peyton went back to his house. In the car behind them were Lucas, Brooke, Nathan, and Haley. When they all got out Jesse said, "If you see anybody inside, I wouldn't talk to them, because later on I'll have to hear everything they hate about you. That's just the type of people they are."

They went inside and got to the basement without running into anyone. When they walked downstairs everyone was impressed by his room. Then he heard open the door to get downstairs "Great." He said in a low voice even though everyone heard him.

The footsteps weren't loud at all. And they couldn't tell how far away they were. Everyone was silent, when a little girl popped around the corner. She had dark brown hair, and big blue eyes. She was 4 years old and had blue jean overalls on and a white shirt underneath it. She was holding a blanket that was different colors. Jesse sighed. "Abby. You know you're supposed to knock."

"Sowwy." She said quietly. "She is so, cute!" Haley said. Jesse walked towards her and picked her up. He put her on his right side facing them. "Guys, this is Abby, my step-sister." Jesse said. "Say hi." Jesse said softly to Abby. "Hi." She said so quiet they could barely hear her.

She was quiet for a while and was looking at all of them when she said, "Who's dat?" Pointing to Peyton. "I tink I see hwer bwefore." Abby said. "That's Peyton." Jesse said pushing her a little towards Peyton. She went towards her and they started talking. Brooke and Haley went to talk to her too.

"So, Jesse, where's your hoop?" Nathan said. Jesse laughed a little. "Out back." He said and then he turned to Abby. "Abby, where's Jeff and Christiana?" He asked. "Day at work." She said. "They left you here, alone?" Jesse said shocked. "Yah but day said you be back in a fue minutes." Abby said. She was talking louder now, that she was getting used to them.

"Do you know what time they left?" Jesse asked. "Da micwowave said 1, 3, 0." Abby said. Jesse looked at his alarm clock. It said 2:20. Jesse shook his head, "Are you okay?" He asked her. "Yah." She said. "Why don't you go play with your dolls." Jesse said. "Otay." Abby said.