12 Memories

Chapter 1 - Somewhere Else

A/N - Thanks a lot for all of those awesome reviews! I think that's the most I've ever gotten for one chapter of something. It probably surpassed the first chapter of Running Out of Time. By the way, that is now completed and the third chapter was just posted. I should be updating Lost in the Past but I've had this update written since I wrote the prologue so this is easier to type up and post. So, here is Chapter 1 of 12 Memories. Enjoy and review ;-)

– 'Home and away. Life goes on the same, we bury the pain' –

Now, here they were at seventeen, and sixteen, still best friends, still clinging to the familiarity of their friendship. Lucas had a girlfriend, and Peyton had a boy friend, but that had yet to change anything. It was the end of March, ending their sophomore year quicker than expected.

"How ya doin?" he walked up to her locker where Jake had just left seconds before.

"Peachy, Lukey!" she responded, sarcastically as ever. He chuckled, she revealed a little smirk before things got serious.

"Seriously."

They began to walk through the crowded hallways, dodging the people to stay in conversation. Though it had turned into more of a problem to keep up with each other than had been previously expected.

"Ugh, seriously?" he nodded, "I'm doing...I'm falling apart, same as every other year when we get to these few months," he shook his head again, accepting her answer.

"Does Jake know?"

"Of course he knows. We've been friends with him forever. How would he not -"

"I just meant...is he helping you?" he was genuinely concerned with her condition, so she cut him some slack.

"He's trying. He wasn't really there though, so I guess he can't compete with you," she teased him, bumping her hip into his as he laughed.

"Yea, yea, that's me," he dead panned. "Now whaddya want?"

"What makes you think I want something?" she proceeded to act innocent as she walked beside him.

"Because you're doing that thing. That lemme act innocent and beg my best friend," he retorted, trying to explain her behavior, she just laughed.

"Ok, I surrender," she told him dramatically, "can we go to Wendy's?"

"Tonight?"

"Uh-huh, Jake has work and you don't wanna leave me all alone," she pouted.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to go so poor Peyton won't be alone! Oh the horror!" he grabbed his chest to add the drama and she shoved him in the arm. "Fine, I'll be there regular time."

"Woo!" she shouted with a little clap added. They turned the corner to enter the science classroom, laughing at her cheerleading move.

"Can I be invited to the Scott/Sawyer wedding?" the teacher questioned them, obviously aggravated with their lateness for the third time in a row.

– 'And hold onto love, hear the song, sing along, but what does it change?' –

She sat on her computer chair, sketchbook in hand when a sweaty basketball player flopped onto her bed. He made sure to wiggle around for the best effect.

"Eww! I just washed them Luke!" she shooed him off, down the stairs and toward the front door.

"Isn't it a little late?" the older man questioned as he dragged his large suitcase in.

"Daddy!"

"Daddy!" Lucas yelled, mimicking her movements. He was quickly rewarded with a whack in the arm and a hug from the older Sawyer.

"Luke, get a shower next time," Larry warned, playfully and Peyton smiled in victory.

"Told ya!"

"Yea, yea. Guess you don't want food then," he walked to the door, while Larry watched on, amused with their friendship and childish behavior.

"No! No, wait! I'm sorry."

His eyes lit up in mock-fascination and they headed out the door as she jumped on his back and he groaned, slamming the door behind him. Larry didn't bother to ask where they were going. Late night Wendy's had been a ritual for the past 9 years, right after Anna died...

The two kids carried their trays to their usual window seat and proceeded to eat. Conversation flowed steadily all the while, never a moment of silence.

"Hard practice?" she teased, watching him inhale his first burger.

"Yea, what's your excuse?" he retorted, motioning to the pile of food in front of her, she just nodded silently.

"Hard life," she snapped back as they both cracked up.

"How embarrassing was this morning with Mrs. Zeppini?" he asked, watching her eyes light up along with the smile.

"We so played that off good!"

"Yea, we did! I grabbed your hand and you leaned over -"

"And you were like...well you missed it, but when we decide to renew the vows you'll be the first to know," she imitated his deep voice and laughed hysterically at the scene they had caused that morning. The teacher had not been happy with their response, sending them to the principal's office. They then played innocent, explaining the story in their own words, getting off with only a warning. They were experienced with things like that already.

– 'This life is so confusing, feels like I'm always losing' –

He watched her exit the car, only to find Jake on the front steps. Her father had left again, calling to tell them he'd be back the next day.

"Where were you?" Jake spat, seemingly enraged.

"I was with Lucas at Wendy's. You know we've been doing that for years," she explained, watching him carefully. His eyes shifted quickly, and he was swaying slightly. "Oh, God, Jake. You're drunk."

"I'm not drunk. I had a few drinks. Then, I was coming to see my girlfriend, but you're always with him. Do you want him?...no, don't answer that...I don't wanna know, just -"

"He's my best friend!" she interrupted, defending the most important thing in her life.

"Damn it, Peyton! It's obvious you two are supposed to be together...I saw it coming. I was stupid, thinking I could make you love me. Ya know what, him or me, Peyton."

"What! You can't do that to me! You're my boyfriend, he's my best friend. You can't make me choose one of you -"

"No, Peyt, you don't wanna hurt me because you know you'd pick him, right! Huh? Tell me!" he was disgusted. Letting them continue to be friends wouldn't make his relationship work. He needed to know what she wanted. She was angry, quickly screaming her response.

"Yea, ok! I'd take him any day, is that what you wanna hear! Huh, Jake!"

He shook his head, just standing there watching her expressions, his heart breaking at the sight. The tears were falling donw her cheeksfrom his words.

"Why're you doing this?" she questioned softly. His eyes didn't soften, instead his stepped closer to her standing form. He looked at her menacingly, the alcohol mixing with his logic. He was pushed away by the taller blonde. He had been watching from the car, the scene made him nervous, something telling him not to leave.

"I don't need this! We're through, Peyton," he grumbled, stalking away, leaving his ex-girlfriend in the arms of Lucas.

"You ok?" she nodded, the tears burning the back of her eyes, the lump forming in her throat. "C'mon, come back to my house," she nodded once more and buckled herself into his passenger seat again. The brown haired boy watched them speed off, the pain still tearing at his now broken heart.

– 'We come in knowing everything, but don't say a word till they teach it away, words are found too close to the edge' –

They entered school the next morning, greeted by Brooke and Haley.

"Hey boyfriend!" Brooke chirped, kissing him lightly before turning to Peyton.

"How're you, blondie?"

"So-so."

"Want us to kick his ass?" Haley added, eliciting a laugh from the blonde.

"That's my job," Lucas whined, making all three girls giggle. The rest of the day rolled smoothly, no run ins with Jake.

Peyton and Haley decided to shop, while Brooke spent the day with Lucas.

"So, Luke, where to today...how 'bout my house?" she answered her own question as he drove. Upon entering her empty house, she smashed his lips against her own, falling back into the leather sofa. She pulled her shirt off for him. Minutes later as she tugged on the waist band of his boxers his cell phone interrupted them.

"Ignore it," she whispered, her lips barely leaving his.

"I can't. What if it's my mom?"

He stood and walked to her kitchen, finally answering the phone where he could have privacy. Haley explained, frantically that they had bumped into Jake at the mall. He and Peyton had gotten into another fight, resulting in Jake screaming and Peyton collapsing in tears. Before she could finish the story he was getting his clothes back on and running out towards his truck.

"Where you going?" Brooke watched him, puzzled with his sudden behavior.

"Peyton needs me," he told the brunette, as she rolled her eyes with his typical answer. Ignoring the jealousy and somehow understanding Jake's disposition with the two blondes. Peyton always needed him. Only Lucas Scott would get up and leave when he was offered sex from Brooke Davis. She'd find someone else. It was her only option as she lifted the phone from the cradle and dialed the not so familiar number.

– 'That we don't dare say, and this will turn into something else, something else, and when it does I'll be somewhere else' –

I was gonna add more, but I couldn't figure out what I needed after this and I'm still kinda debating on who I'm having Brooke call. For the record, Nathan and Haley are NOT together ... yet. Peyton and Lucas have been friends since they were 2 as the prologue said and it has been STRICTLY platonic, no feelings for each other at any point in time, no first kisses with each other, no weird looks or electric touches ... yet. The song in the chapter was Somewhere Else by Travis. So, we'll see how it goes, tell me what you thought through a review!

Funny how their relationships crumble around them...they're the only thing that remains the same.