12 Memories

Chapter 3 - Paperclips

A/N - Apparently this story is a big hit, so I'm really glad you're all enjoying! I'm doing my best and hopefully you're getting the idea of their relationship and how close they are. So, enough of my babbling, I don't even know if you guys read these, so here's Chapter 3 and I hope any questions you had were answered along the way. Enjoy and tell me what you think when you get to the bottom and see the review button! ;-)

Best friends are a support system, they laugh together, cry together, do everything together, and know each other better than most. It's a bond that is nearly unable to be broken, and no matter the fight, they can forgive without words, knowing how sorry the other already is. In fact, it is sometimes said, "a friend is a single soul dwelling in two bodies", a saying that remained true for the two broody blondes who now sat on the hood of a black car. The slight cold of the night gave them each a red nose and rosy cheeks, their breath permeating the starry night.

– 'Paperclips, melody, hold together all these memories, memories, memories' –

They each held a smile, thinking of the nights events. Her car was parked at the River Court, direct middle of the court where they had sat many times before. Whether it was in comfort or for fun it was a spot that held memories, rooted deeply under the dark asphalt. He nudged her gently in the shoulder, a smirk beginning to reveal itself as he stared out.

"What're you smiling at?"

"Member when I fell in the river?" his voice was light and playful, immediately she began to laugh at the vivid memory, but at the time she had panicked.

"Lucas, don't go any closer!" she warned him, but did he listen? Of course not, he was a guy.

"Why? I'm not scared," but his heart had been pounding in his ears as he teased the girl beside him, wiggling his foot in the dirty, cold water.

"So what! It's December, that water's freezing! If you fall in, I'm not coming in after you!" he laughed nervously, still dangling his foot, trying to reach the basketball that floated farther and farther away.

"I can swim, I'd be fineeeeee!" he dragged his words as he went falling forward into the water that nearly drowned him. Peyton screamed, watching him try to keep his head up, but the cold was interfering with his plans.

"LUKE! Stop playing around! Get out!" she was running in circles, knowing that she wasn't going to be able to get him out even if she did get to him.

"Help! Help! Peyton, get me out!" he struggled to form sentences, but the pain from the low temperatures of the water was overwhelming, he knew he wasn't going to be able to stay up much longer.

Nathan, Jake, Brooke, and Haley all strolled up, unaware of the dilemma their friends were going through. The two boys each held a basketball while the girls trailed, laughing over what Bevin had worn to school that day. Peyton saw them walking, feeling as though there was a God she rushed to them, stringing together words, hoping she was making some sort of sense.

"He's in there...the basketball...cold water...you gotta get him...drown...run over there...hurry!" Nathan furrowed his eyebrows looking over to where the smaller girl was pointing frantically, barely hearing his brother's screams. He was thirteen, debating if he'd be able to complete this task, quickly he pulled Jake with him, moving to the river. Jake looked to him while the girls kept Peyton from jumping in.

In one swift motion the two boys dove towards the blonde, the cold searing, Nathan's thoughts were immediately muddled. But he kept swimming, grabbing his brother's left arm, pulling hard, struggling to keep going. Jake tried to focus on other things, anything but the extreme cold he was feeling. What should've been a five second swim seemed to be taking hours. Peyton was down near the water, her sneakers were wet and she was wading in slowly while the girls tried to pull her back.

In felt like years later when Nathan and Jake finally got a semiconscious Lucas to shallow water, Peyton ran to them, through the freezing water, helping them pull her best friend out. Her eyes watered as they laid him on the surrounding grass, waiting for movement, some distinct sing that he was ok.

"We should call an ambulance or something," Brooke's suggestion brought them all back to reality, Nathan swiftly pulled his cell phone from his pocket, contacting Tree Hill hospital. Peyton hovered over the young boy, talking to him, urgently holding his hand, making sure he didn't fade. Sirens blared in the background, the other kids paced, nervously, but Peyton's presence was unwavering.

Days later when Lucas was finally well enough to go home the two of them got a firm lecture from Karen and Larry. Each reprimanded, grounded for a week, and regretfully spent the whole week going from school to home every day.

– 'I don't want to think at all, I don't wanna be like you anymore, I don't wanna see your face at my door' –

Peyton giggled, like a little girl at the unfading memory they both shared. He chuckled, his head down towards the street, missing simpler times.

"You were an idiot," she teased as he cocked an eyebrow, pushing his shoulder into hers.

"You think we should go back andknock on the door?" he questioned their motives, both of their heads now facing the direction ofHaley's house. A mischievous smile now appearing on her face as she jumpedinto the car, making her way to the house, and up to the door. He followed, standing behind her, watching the two figures jump from the couch, straightening clothes and hair before Haley answered.

"Peyton, Lucas," her voice was unusually nervous and shaky, the two blondes broke into a fit of laughter at Haley's expression.

"Don't think you're so sneaky," Peyton remarked, Haley's eyes shut, her face flushed red in embarrassment, Nathan appeared at the door, his face equally red.

"So, are you two together?" Haley grabbed Peyton's arm, pulling her inside and towards the bathroom.

"Oh my God, I don't know what I'm doing, Peyton...is this right?" Haley panicked over the arising situation, Peyton smiled gently, watching Haley pace back and forth.

"Hales, does it feel right?" he question was soft, and quiet, but it immediately stopped Haley in her tracks.

Her face was contorted in her thoughts, she thought of the feelings as Nathan's lips first hit hers, how they fit together when she fell back underneath him, how everything seemed right for that fifteen minute period, she was overcome with how different the world seemed when she was with him in that way.

"Yea...it was amazing, Peyt. He just kissed me and everything disappeared, everything feels right when I'm with him," the love was radiating through her eyes as she spoke, a grin gracing Peyton's features at Haley's words. Wishing that she had someone that made her feel so complete, the closest she had ever come was Lucas, and he was her best friend.

"I wish I had that," Peyton spoke, mirroring her own thoughts to the girl in front of her. "Anyway, we should go find Brooke, fill her in," Peyton quickly opened the door, rushing out, leaving Haley unable to respond to her earlier comment, already knowing exactly what the brunette would've thought. She and Lucas were nothing more than friends, but Haley had always insisted they could be more. She pushed that thought to the back of her mind, in her world, if they were meant to be, she would've known a long time ago.

– 'And I'll never leave like you, that's for sure. I don't wanna be like you anymore, anymore, anymore' –

Four teenagers walked up Brooke's lawn, heading to her front door, knowing she was home from the car in the driveway. They made random small talk, just filling the silence of the still night around them. Peyton tapped the door knocker a few times, not sure if the brunette was sleeping. Finally, when they all began to get restless Peyton opened the door, inviting them in, figuring Brooke was one of her closest friends and she'd been walking in for years.

"Maybe we should split up and find her," Haley suggested to the small crowd, Nathan nodded, letting go of her hand and heading off down a side hallway he remembered vaguely from a party. Haley took that as a yes and headed in the direction of the stairs. Lucas stared at Peyton for a brief second before shaking his head pointing to the kitchen while he took his cue to go to the bedroom, he was her boyfriend after all. Yet, he remained unaware to what he would find when he neared the door.

Peyton roamed the kitchen, quietly raiding the refrigerator and taking a bag of cheese curls from the draweron her way out. Heading towards the back of the house, knowing it would take Lucas a while to get down the hallway she went to see if Nathan or Haley had returned. The blonde rounded the corner, bumping into Haley, shrieking and dropping her cheese curls. Nathan and Lucas came running to see the girls laying on the floor, laughing like maniacs, surrounded by orange cheese doodles. They each shook their heads and left again, Haley helped her friend up as she headed down another hallway.

Only a second later, Peyton's curiosity got the best of her and she headed towards Brooke's room. She found Lucas standing outside the brunette's door, confused, she approached him, tapping him on the shoulder, scaring him to death.

"Jesus, Peyton," he chided quietly, she shrugged her shoulders, chomping down a cheese curl she pointed to the door.

"You goin in?"

"I think she's sleeping," his remark made Peyton step away from the door and head back to where she came from. "But...I guess I could open it and surprise her."

"Okay, but no make-out session till I leave the room," she teased him constantly, he just flashed a cocky smirk before pushing the door open, his jaw dropping to the floor as the sight greeted him. Peyton didn't move upon seeing the shocked look on his face, when he finally turned his head in pain she took slow small steps toward him, sensing it had something to do with her when he started walking to her and pushing her the other way.

"What? What's wrong? Lucas," she demanded that he take her back to the room where she knew something big had happened.

"C'mon, Peyton let's just go."

"I want to know what happened, Lucas," she was defiant and he sighed as he stopped walking, standing in the middle of the hallway, looking directly into her eyes, the pain radiating.

"Can we go, please?" his voice was soft and quiet, he begged her silently, hoping she would listen. He didn't think he could face what was behind that door again, he couldn't go back to that.

"Luke," her voice matched his as she let her hand come up and rest on the side of his face. He closed his eyes for a minute, clearing the feeling of tears for a second before looking at her, making one of the hardest decisions of his life, he was going to let her go, tear her heart up and he wasn't going to protect her this time. He just wanted to be the one to pick the pieces up, and he knew that if he let her go, that she would come running back to him, and strangely that was the thought that comforted him when she turned away from him, walking back to the bedroom.

– 'Take a trip down memory lane, you will never wanna go again, take your leave, take your leave' –

Haley caught Nathan in an empty hallway, he immediately backed her into a corner, suffocating her with kisses. She giggled at his forwardness, pushing him away and sauntering down the hallway in front of him. He watched for a moment before running and grabbing her around the waist, pulling her close and nibbling along her neck, a moan escaping in spite of herself.

"It's nice to be able to do this," he mumbled, she nodded, eyes closed in pleasure. She stepped out of his arms and turned to face him, her expression becoming serious.

"What are we?" she questioned him, he put up a confused front, knowing exactly what she was talking about.

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Nathan," she stated, hitting his thoughts dead on. His shoulders slumped as he sat down against the wall behind him and sighed. She let herself rest on the wall across from him, her size eight sneakers lightly touching his size twelve's.

"I dunno...I wanna be with you, Haley. I do," he insisted, but she didn't look convinced.

"Why can't you?" her voice was filled with pain, he saw how it hurt her. He knew she had truly liked him for the guy he was, and it was liberating, but reality quickly began to set in on the situation. The sad thing was, he really liked her too.

He shifted his position so he had leverage to pull her to him. She let him continue as he pulled her in between his legs, her back against his chest, he held her close as he began to speak.

"I don't know how to start this...I'm not good with stuff like this so I'm just gonna spit it out. I really like you, and I probably have for a while, and you're amazing. I've known for like ever, and for the longest time I wanted to kiss you, but I didn't think you liked me. And then we've been friends for a while, and I really don't wanna screw that up, I mean what if we don't work out? Then we're screwed, especially if it's one of those sucky break-ups. I don't wanna lose you as a friend, I love having you in my life. And then there's the whole we have the same friends, if we break up I don't wanna see you every day and know I can't be with you, I can't do that. I just don't see how it's gonna work if we end up not beingright for each other..." he finished softly, nearly whispering in her ear, she shivered slightly at the feeling.

"So, you don't even wanna try?"

– 'I don't wanna sing at all, I don't wanna be like you anymore, I don't wanna see your face at my door, and I'll never leave like you, that's for sure' –

Her heart pounded in her ears as her steps became slower and smaller towards the door. She now wasn't sure why she had been so demanding in seeing, or why he had let her go. Now, all she wanted was to be back in his bedroom listening to music, acting stupid, but it seemed that life was pulling the obstacles right out of thin air, and they were killing her.

Things seemed to be moving in slow motion as she finally stood in front of the door in clear view, she peeked her head inside only to hear her heart shatter, like shards of glass at the sight. She almost couldn't focus, blinking a few times, she stepped inside. Laying in front of her was a naked Brooke covered not by the blankets, but by her ex-boyfriend, who had dumped her only a few days before.

She didn't know how to feel, ten million feelings came rushing in, overwhelming her with sadness, anger, grief, and other feelings she wasn't sure she had ever felt before. But at that exact point in time she was overcome with anger as she stomped to them, ripping the covers from her ever so loyal friends, and began to scream.

"You assholes! How could you do this to me? Especially you of all people, Brooke. You're scum, Jake, you don't deserve me anyway!" they each jumped out of the bed, startled as the color drained from Brooke's face at the blonde. Lucas came running when he heard Peyton screaming and throwing things around the room. Angry tears streamed down her face as she picked random things up and started to throw them, Brooke did nothing to stop her. Jake watched on in pure horror, he felt like he couldn't breathe when he saw how much hurt he had caused.

"Peyton, calm down, c'mon we'll get out of here," Lucas flashed a dirty look to his "girlfriend" and tried grabbing Peyton by the waist. She kicked, picking up a little statue she had given Brooke for her sixteenth birthday, she walked to Brooke holding it in her face.

"Best friends, huh?" she questioned the brunette sarcastically before turning her back and chucking the statue at the wall, watching it shatter into a million pieces, symbolically watching their friendship. She then made her way to Jake, the tears still falling as she wiped at them furiously, standing right in front of him, she ripped the necklace he gave her for their six month anniversary off her neck, pieces of it falling to the floor at lightening speed.

"Peyton."

"Don't Peyton me. You can have this piece of crap back, it means nothing to me now...you meant everything to me, Jake...everything," she threw it in his face, and finally felt vulnerable, and she decided she didn't like it. She turned on her heel, into Lucas' arms and whispered pleadingly that he take her home. He nodded, briefly kissing her forehead and sending her into the hallway.

He looked at Brooke, the anger from his eyes piercing her heart. Still, he stared at the two of them, looking at them as though they were nothing more than a piece of dirt he had scraped from the bottom of his shoe.

"We're done, Brooke," he whispered, maliciously. She opened her mouth to talk, but thought better and stood with the comforter around her, not speaking as the tears welled in her eyes.

"And you...not only were you my friend and you cheated with my girlfriend, but you were my best friend's boyfriend, and you hurt her, you hurt her more than you'll ever know. And you should hurt for that," he raised his fist, bringing it down to connect with his nose the blood beginning to pour from his now aching body part. Lucas shot another dirty look at Brooke before walking through the door, slamming it closed behind him, finding Peyton in the hallway, teary eyed but a blank look on her face.

"C'mon, let's go to the River Court...you wanna go there?" she nodded slowly, feeling like she was three as he led her around everywhere.

"Haley and Nathan left, his car is gone. I don't wanna go home."

"You wanna come back to my house?"

"No...I don't know where I wanna go, I need to get away from here, this town," she told the boy as he opened the car door and helped her inside. He situated himself in the driver seat before thinking of an idea, the pain still felt like it was suffocating, he knew what she meant when she said she needed to get away.

"Fine. Let's go to Virginia or something. We've got a three day weekend...we should go to Busch Gardens!" his eyes lit up as he spoke and she breathed a laugh at his enthusiasm.

"Yea?"

"Uh huh, c'mon we'll go hang at the River Court for a little while and then we'll go back and tell my mom, she can call your dad and we'll go, why not?"

"Will your mom go for this?"

"I'll explain it to her and we'll beg, why not, Peyt?"

She laughed under her breath before thinking, "Yea, why not?"

– 'We get by, we get by, I won't take this, no more sadness, now, now' –

Hope it lived up to expectations, I wasn't planning on them going anywhere, but it just kinda happened. And I know in real life there's no way in hell they would be going to Busch Gardens by themselves, but for story purposes, just work with me here? Please? Thanks! Anyway, tell me what you thought. The song was "Paperclips" by Travis. All these songs are from the cd 12 Memories, hence the title. Anywho, next up is The Saddest Song, so keep an eye out. Review!