Title: Will You Fall for Me?
Author: Jayta
Rating: PG18 - however does contain some coarse language
Show: One Tree Hill
Pairing: Peyton/Jake
Chapter Six: Pulling a 'Joey'
"Jake, I'm sorry I cut our night short." Peyton felt a flood of relief when she slipped her key into her door. "I just..." Her voice trailed off, as she turned to meet his apprehensive gaze. Some date she turned out to be.
This would have to be a first. Peyton Sawyer a party-pooper? Unheard of!
"Just say it wasn't anything I did, and we'll be fine," he laughed half-heartedly, obviously hoping to play it off as a joke.
There was an awkward moment of silence that Peyton hated. It always happened when things were left hanging in the air unsaid. Right then, Peyton wished she hadn't freaked out like she did at the dance.
"It wasn't you," Peyton began, trying to find the words to explain the sudden onset of panic she felt when Jake held her on that dance floor. She was far from claustrophobic and it wasn't as if she had never been touched by a guy, far from it regretfully; but when she looked into those pools of chocolate, she saw something frightening, something that made her chest clench and her breath catch - he was falling for her.
It wasn't a foreign concept, and she had seen the beginnings of that look before, in the eyes of Nathan and Lucas; but somehow she knew that being Jake, it meant something completely different. Never had she panicked the way she did. It was an internal reaction which brought her here, saying goodnight to Jake.
"Nah, you don't have to explain," Jake interrupted her thoughts.
Peyton studied him quietly, as she knew exactly what he was going to say. She knew he wasn't stupid. He knew the signs of an oncoming 'friend's speech'. Or at least that's what he expected. And if she were to honest, she knew that was exactly what she was going to say - though for completely opposite reasons.
"We did just go as friends."
Peyton saw the disappointment in his eyes. She had never felt like more of a complete bitch than she did now. It's not like you don't like the guy!
Jake was being a complete gentleman, as always, and bowing out gracefully. How much easier could he make it, to just walk away from him, chalk up their relationship as something best left to be labeled as 'friendship'?
Suddenly Peyton furrowed her brow and laughed silently. Sometimes she could be completely 'all up in herself', as Brooke would say. Not all men fall at your feet, genius.
She glanced up at Jake, who seemed restless and waiting to leave. Had she read the whole situation wrong? Peyton tried to reassess the situation as she searched Jake's eyes for an answer to the question that had her almost sprinting from the gymnasium. Interested? She leaned in slightly. Not interested?
Then with a shift of his eyes, Peyton saw the flicker of emotion she had thought she had seen in the gymnasium that night, that he had masked well enough to fool her. He did like her.
It should have pissed her off - another guy not saying what he meant. Instead...
Man, he could be sexy without even knowing it.
-&-
Jake began to shift uneasily, as Peyton had been standing in front of him for several seconds without having said another word. What was she thinking? Was she just waiting for him to leave?
"Uh, I'd better get going," he said, finally choosing to break the silence.
"Oh, yeah," Peyton breathed, seemingly snapping back to reality. "I guess..."
Jake couldn't tell what she was thinking. She had looked like she really wanted the night to end five minutes ago, but suddenly her posture and expression had changed. Now, if he had to guess, she looked like she regretted ending the night so soon.
I'll never understand women.
"Are you going to be okay, here by yourself?" He thought he should ask, just in case.
"Do you want to come in for a minute?" Peyton asked, pointing over her shoulder at the unopened door. "I mean, I feel bad for ending the night like that." She rolled her eyes and laughed. "Like I'm shouting, 'Look at me! I'm a mysteriously angst-ridden, teenage girl who runs out on her clueless date.'"
Jake had to laugh at that. "Yeah, you did kind of pull a 'Joey' on me," he admitted, relaxing slightly.
"Pulled a 'Joey'? I thought it seemed more Andi-like?" she smirked.
"I'm not admitting that I even know who that is. Not touching that with a ten-foot pole!"
"Well if you're man enough to admit you know who Joey is..." Peyton playfully wagged an accusing finger at him. "Then I couldn't see how bad it would be..."
"Hey, Joey was in the first season and everyone knows about her. But Andi?" He raised a dubious eyebrow at that suggestion.
"That would be admitting I stuck around to watch the second season!" he exclaimed in feigned horror. "And that Nathan and the boys would never let me live down."
"Men, always worrying about their 'manhood'." Peyton rolled her eyes, turning around to open the door.
"Hey," Jake leaned over Peyton, close enough to smell her hair, "would you date a guy who watched season one, let alone season two?"
As Peyton turned, Jake was met by her stunning baby blues, now that he was mere centimeters away from them, and he was left gaping.
"Of course not," she replied, a slight smirk on her face. She pushed the door open, but did not move an inch from where she stood.
He swallowed hard. All he had to do was lean down and kiss her. That was all he had to do...
When he decided to make his move, Peyton spun around and took a step backward into her house, a wide grin on her face. "What can I get you to drink?"
-&-
"Is Jake or Peyton still here?" Lucas asked, slipping in between the crowd of guys, locating Brooke, Nathan, and Haley.
"Oh, I wouldn't be too worried about them, Lucas," Brooke replied slyly, glancing at Haley, who had been with her when Peyton hurriedly explained that she wouldn't be at the after-party tonight. "I'm very confident that Jakey- poo is taking good care of good ole' Peyton."
"I'm sure she's in good hands," Lucas repeated slowly. "I was just asking. She didn't look good when I saw her last."
"Aw, I didn't know you cared so much." Brooke bristled at his concern, causing her to lean back into her date Trevor. "I'll be sure to let her know that when I see her. Now," she said curtly, lazily running her index finger along his chest, "if you'll excuse me. I have a date I'd like to continue."
"I think Jake took her home, Lucas," Haley said, looking apologetic for Brooke's remaining hostility towards him.
"Thanks." Lucas nodded, his gaze still fixed upon Brooke and her new boy toy. "I'll see you at Nathan's," he said, trying to sound casual. He turned and walked towards the exit, forcing himself not to look back.
Never look back.
-&-
"You're sure you don't have to relieve your parents of babysitting duty?" Peyton teased, playing with Jake's bowtie, as they sat comfortably on the couch watching a rerun of Whose the Boss? Their shoes were strewn on the floor next to the couch.
"Nah," he shook his head, "they were expecting us to go to that after-party at Nathan's."
"I'm surprised they're letting you stay out this late. I mean, don't they know what kind of girl you're hanging out with?" Once again, Peyton felt relaxed and comfortable with Jake, talking about their favorite oldies and how they would never be caught dead watching reality shows. Why couldn't it always be like this?
"A nice girl like you?"
"Is that what you told them to let you out tonight?" She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "The lies you tell, Jagielski," she laughed, resting her head against the back of the couch. "Who would have known?"
"How else would I have ended up with pretty girl like Jenny?" Jake waggled his eyebrows mischievously.
"Hey, Jenny's not that kind of girl."
"You've been teaching her about the big bad boys in the world?"
"Definitely," Peyton declared, slapping Jake's thigh. "You can't start too early." She frowned. "Haven't you been the protective father, warning her against the evils of men yet?
"Of course," he said in disbelief that she would think otherwise. "What, do you think I sing her lullabies at night? Heck no! I sing her country music. 'My man left me for this and took my washer and dryer with him'."
"You do not!" Peyton hit him on the chest. "You aren't that cruel."
"Indeed?"
"Yes, I wouldn't be friends with you if I knew you knew any country songs," she deadpanned.
"Ri-ight." Jake tilted his head, slightly turning his body inwards, towards Peyton. Her attention was somewhat distracted by Tony Danza and Alyssa Milano. He didn't mind. It gave him a chance to watch her.
He was just now noticing how she scrunched her nose slightly when something made her laugh, and how she bit her thumb when she was lost in thought. Peyton also liked to mutter commentary while watching TV, whether it was to criticize the wardrobe or the cheesy writing. And as much a cynic, skeptic as she was, she was a softy when it came to the mushy father-daughter moments.
"What?" Peyton caught Jake looking at her with this quirky grin on his face. She furrowed her brow, as she took a sip of Coke from her glass tumbler. "Why do you have that look on your face?" She looked down and slapped her hand down on his open palm, urging him to tell her what he was thinking. "Was I drooling?" she laughed, wiping her chin playfully.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" she repeated, skeptical that he had nothing on his mind when he had that 'pleased' look a person gets when discovering a secret. "C'mon, spit it out Jake." Peyton felt his fingers entwine around hers. She looked down and realized that she hadn't removed her hand from his. This made her heart speed up. But she did not remove it.
They were sitting in close proximity to each other. He was turned towards her and she was sitting with her legs curled underneath her. It was how they always sat, yet there was this tension in the air - a spark of electricity, perhaps.
"I was just watching you watch Whose the Boss?"
"Am I that entertaining?" she asked, pretending to be vexed. Peyton lowered her head, feeling the blood rush to her face. It was like she was in second grade and Timothy Lauer, a boy she had been crushing on since kindergarten, had asked her if she wanted to go steady. Of course it lasted two days, but that was second grade and everything felt knew and exciting back then.
"Maybe not entertaining, more than...cute." Her hands were trembling. Jake had never imagined Peyton to be shy or self-conscious. It threw him.
"Cute? Aw, no. That's just the kiss of death, guy." Peyton leaned back on, protesting his description of her. "I'm so not cute - depressing, cynical, yes," she corrected, poking him in the chest.
"Oh you don't want to do that," Jake warned, as Peyton began poking him in the side in an attempt to find a 'weak' spot. He grabbed her waist and began tickling her. She crumpled on top of him, yowling at him to stop.
"Don't!" she screeched, in between gasps for breath.
But Peyton refused to be defeated. As soon as he stopped, she began searching for his ticklish spot, hovering over top of him, trying to squeeze her fingers in between his arms and his sides, which he had fused tightly together.
"You're really a glutton for punishment aren't you?" Jake grinned, as he watched her try to find a sensitive spot upon his upper body. Keeping a his upper arms tight against his side, he reached up and lightly rested his hands upon her waist, careful not to tickle her.
"You would tickle a girl who is at a disadvantage, wouldn't you?" Peyton narrowed her eyes, as she glanced down at the position of his hands - waiting for him to make the first move. "I'm in a dress, that really, if you think about it, does little to protect me from your wormy hands, buddy," she lectured.
"True." Jake nodded, conceding her point. "But, I could argue that you wouldn't be in this position," he glanced up at her, pointing out the leverage she had given herself in kneeling upon her knees on the couch, while he was still sitting, "if you weren't ready to put up a fight."
Peyton eyed him warily. He had her on that one.
"You just want me to let down my guard. Playing the girl-card, Peyton?" Jake shook his head in feigned disappointment. "I thought you were above that?"
Peyton knew she wouldn't win the tickle war; he was stronger, and she was quite ticklish. She glanced around and saw her only advantage. Quickly spinning around, she grabbed the pillow that had been thrown to the floor and began pummeling Jake in the head with it.
Jake cradled his head, as the surprise assault was launched. In between bursts of stars, he began sliding back towards the end of the couch, trying to put some distance between them, all the while looking for a weapon of his own. When his tailbone touched the armrest, the hard swings at his head had slowed to medium 'thwats' at his head. This gave him enough time to grab the pillow underneath him and surge forward in his own attack. As soon as he had gotten in a few of his own hits at her upper body, he heard an, "Ow!" Stopping mid-swing, he saw Peyton slightly hunched over, her hand pressed against the corner of her lip and then lifting away and peering at it. "Are you all right, Peyton?" he asked, dropping his pillow. He hadn't meant to hurt her.
Peyton looked up at him in disbelief. "All right?" she repeated, licking her lip.
Suddenly Jake saw a wicked glimmer flash in her eye.
"Sucker!" she laughed evilly, raising her pillow over her shoulder and putting her whole weight into it, aimed it at his head.
She, on the other hand, had forgotten that he stood a good head above her, and stopped the burgundy colored whir inches from his face. Jake grabbed both her wrists and restrained them over her head, pulling her close so she had no leverage to pull away, struggle as she might. "Hey, shorty," he chuckled, as an childish pout formed upon her lips. "Forget something?"
"You suck." Peyton lightly stomped on his foot, which caused him to let her go.
It had been such a good plan too.
"Hey!" Jake laughed, stepping back pretending to nurse his toe. "That's foul play!"
"So is being taller than me." Peyton curled her fingers around the stray tendrils that had come loose during their pillow fight, and tucked them behind her ears. "You are supposed to let me win those," she chided ruefully. "Everyone knows that."
"Oh, is that in Peyton world or does that apply everywhere?" he teased, rubbing his stiff neck. "Because I don't remember that being a lesson taught in Kindergarten." He grinned. "I must have skipped that day."
"Ha. Ha."
Jake glanced at his watch. 12:00 a.m. "Man, I didn't realize how late it was."
Peyton looked up at the clock over the entertainment center. "You're right. You should probably get going then, huh?" She grabbed the black fabric that comprised his bowtie, as well as his tux jacket. "Here," she said, handing them Jake. "You don't want your parents to think I'm a bad influence on you."
"Hey, what more could I do to them?"
Peyton raised a thoughtful brow. "True," she laughed, walking him to the door.
"Jake, I had a really good time tonight, even if I did spaz on you for no reason." Slowly she opened the door for him,leaning against it, as he stepped out onto the porch.
"Me too." He slipped on his jacket and stuff his tie into his pants pocket. "I think we will remember more of it than most of the guys at Nate's," he joked.
"Yeah, tell me about it."
"Well, I'd better go then." He scratched the back of his head and took a deep breath, turning to leave when he felt her hand pull on his jacket collar.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Peyton bit the inside of her bottom lip, as Jake turned and looked at her questioningly.
"Did I forget something?" Jake reached into his pockets and felt for his car keys. Yup, they were there.
Peyton rested her hands on Jakes chest and smiled. "A goodnight kiss?"
His heart leapt into his throat. Had he heard right? A goodnight kiss?
"Uh, Pey-Peyton, you don't really have to..." He did not want her to feel obligated to kiss him. He definitely did not want that.
Peyton stood on her tip toes and grabbed the collar of his jacket, drawing him down to her. Gently she brushed her lips against his, before pulling him in close to her. It was a nice kiss - no sparks though, as she expected. When she broke the kiss, Peyton felt disappointed. The whole night had been about whether there was something there...and to find out there wasn't?
Yeah. At least we know...
Before she could finish her thought, she found herself pulled into another kiss. This time it wasn't soft and gentle; it had a fire behind it. Where before, Jake's lips had felt lukewarm and limp, they now were hot and searching. Her knees went weak, as his hand slid around her waist and pulled her against his body, hard. Her mind swirled with incoherent thoughts, lost in how her skin tingled as his fingers caressed her bare back, how it made her breath catch as his other hand ran along tantalizingly along the curve of her neck. Her heart raced as she allowed herself to fall into him, cupping his head, pulling him deeper, more passionately into the kiss.
Jake felt like his heart was going to burst; it was pounding so hard against his chest. Every sensation was heightened and intensified as he felt her need to be closer to him, clinging to him. He never expected this. Jake had expected a sweet peck on the cheek, but when she kissed him on the lips, she had taken him by surprise. He hadn't participated at all in the kiss. But now...
Peyton broke the kiss, pulling up for air. She didn't think they would have broken apart, if not for the need for air. As she peered into Jake's eyes, she was at a loss for words. "I-I..."
She had never been at a loss for words.
Jake smiled and kissed her once more, this time briefly, yet still with the same desire as the last. "I'll see you tomorrow?" he said, gazing into those beautiful blue eyes.
"Uh, yeah," Peyton replied distractedly, her head reeling from the effects of the kiss.
"I better get going." Jake turned and skipped down the steps, glancing back at Peyton ever so often. He couldn't help but keep smiling at what turn-of-events had happened in the last few moments of his 'date' with Peyton. Shaking his head, Jake peered over the top of his car at the girl, who in the matter of weeks, managed to change the whole outlook on his life thus far.
As she watched his car speed away, Peyton felt the corners of her lips tugging upwards - her heart felt so light and so full. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt like this. This 'thing' with Jake had been unexpected. Everything in her life had been spiraling down towards the toilet and then came Jake and Jenny...
Even though she had no idea what this meant for them, she couldn't help but feel happy - happier than she had been in awhile.
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A/N: Reviewers: There were individual notes for my faithful reviewers, but then I somehow deleted that file and now I'm just to plain lazy to redo them. But I want to welcome the newbie readers and say 'hello!' to the ones who have been with me from the beginning. waves
You have no idea how many times I've uploaded and removed this darn chapter!
--kicks self--