Title: Will You Fall for Me?
Show: One Tree Hill
Pairing: Peyton/Jake
Chapter Sixteen: Just Like A Scene From A Movie
"So Jake has agreed to this plan of yours?" Lucas asked, falling into stride with Brooke as he saw her down the hallway. "I'd have to say you've become way more resourceful than I imagined.""He did," Brooke nodded, her posture stiffening. "Like a smart little boy."
"Look Brooke, I know you don't really want to get into it, but I am still here to help." Their heated argument that resolved in tears had kept him away for the past couple of days. It was only that day that he managed to muster enough courage to try again with her.
"Help?" Brooke didn't know if she wanted his help. She didn't know if she could not let it get personal, especially when it seemed that she still had not gotten a reign on her emotions. Part of her knew she still had lingering feelings, much to her own dismay, and she needed to figure out a way to keep them in check. His earnestness as of late had her paper thin walls that she had built crumbling already. If she let him in just a little more, who knew what would happen.
Her heart was not ready to let him break off another piece.
"Yes," he breathed softly. "That thing you let people do when they care?"
"Care," she repeated after him. "Right." Why did his words affect her like this? She wanted to believe him so bad, when everything inside her told her not to. Everything she experienced with him told her no.
"I'm not going to argue with you about this," Lucas said, swallowing hard. "But I do want to help Jake and Peyton out. I care about them. And seeing as Jake is desperate enough to resort to something like this..."
"Resort to asking me for help?" Her muscles tensed. "Yeah," she scoffed. "He must really have lost his marbles."
"No." He had lost the ground that he had managed to gain in the past two weeks. He could see that in her eyes - her body, her intonation told him everything. She didn't want to forgive him - not yet. "I did not mean that," he sighed, his shoulders slumping, wondering whether this was a lost cause. "I just want this to all end."
Don't do it. Don't give him a chance. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to figure out what to do. His actions spoke louder than words right then. He had been helping her in her attempt to bring Jake and Peyton together. He had moved on, hadn't he? "Fine," she said grinding her teeth so loud that she was sure he could hear it. Spinning to face him, she pointed her index finger in his face. "I'm going to let you help. I'm going to trust you on something that means the world to Peyton and Jake. But so help me, if you screw this up..."
"I won't," he said firmly. "I didn't do it the last time you warned me."
Brooke stared intently into his blue eyes, which seemed sincere in his offering. They were always so clear, and even in the bad times, she could see...something in them - like he really saw her. "Good," she said, coughing slightly as she realized how long they had been looking at each other without a word. "Because right now, this is all we've got. We're two people helping our friends."
Lucas nodded slowly. If that was all she could offer, it would have to be enough.
>>>
"Peyton," Jake said, jogging up along side of her. "Can we talk?"
"No." It was a knee-jerk reaction. After her talk with Haley, she had been given somethings to think about. She glanced over her shoulder at Jake, who looked the same. His face was trustworthy and still held that boyish-charm. He really hadn't changed. It was her own perception that had changed.
"Peyton, you've got to understand," he grabbed her arm and spun her around, "please listen."
"Jake this isn't about listening anymore," she said, looking him straight in the eye. "It's about whether I can trust you. And I'm still trying to decide that."
"So everything just gets tossed into the trash because I made a bad decision, when everything around me was crashing down around me?" He wouldn't believe that she could throw their friendship and everything else they had become out the door because of that. "We can't even be friends?" he asked in disbelief.
"Jake, I never said that," Peyton stated calmly. She cared for him. Part of her still wanted to be with him. But it was the underlying question of 'would he be there' that kept her from just launching herself into his arms. "I just have to figure out whether..."
"Just answer me this," he said interrupting her. "Is this something you just want to throw away? Because if it is, then there's no thinking about it. But if there's a little voice telling you this is something more..." His voice trailed off.
This was breaking the 'rules'. Brooke had told him to stay away. In fact, she'd have his hide after Peyton filled her in on their little encounter, but he wanted this resolved. Part of him wondered if he could do it without all of the theatrics. He and Peyton had never been about that. They had been about the small things - about supporting and caring about each other in the good times and the bad times.
'Except you botched that one, when you wouldn't let her near you...when you wanted to run away,' a little voice reminded him.
"Jake." Her voice was barely a whisper. It literally physically hurt, to be away from him - not be able to touch him. Peyton wanted to believe everything he had said the night before, but something was just stopping her. His eyes were gazing intently into hers, seemingly pleading her to hear him. She could feel herself begin to break, ready to give in.
Suddenly the class bell interrupted them, breaking the spell. "History," she blurted out, lowering her eyes as she moved past him. "I'm sorry."
"Peyton." Jake glanced at his watch. He couldn't be late for another class, as he had been twice this week already. "Listen," he said, gently grabbing her wrist before she was out of arm's reach. "We have to talk. Don't avoid this."
She closed her eyes, willing herself to stay strong.
Her body leaned away from him, her back was to him, and he could not tell whether she was even listening.
"I know," Peyton whispered. "And we will. But just not now." With that, she pulled out his grasp and strode purposefully down the hall, waiting until she was around the corner to wipe away the tears trickling down her face.
>>>
"Okay, listen up maggots!" Brooke barked loudly, as she paced back and forth on the gymnasium stage, leering at the small ragtag bunch of teens below her. She paused a moment and then clapped her hands together gleefully. "I've always wanted to say that," she squealed.
"Why are we here?" Nathan asked, slightly annoyed, but mostly just tired. Ordered by Brooke, via personalized stationary, Haley had dragged him to school on his only day off - a Saturday morning no less!
Brooke studied each individual in her merry band of elves. Well, maybe not merry, but at least present. That was something.
Mouth, as expected, complied to her request to meet at the gym eagerly, and Haley, who surprised her, as Brooke wasn't sure she would be up for one of her little schemes even if it did involve Peyton and Jake's happiness. Also thankfully her enthusiasm managed to drag Nathan's pretty little behind with her. Go Tutor girl and the eye candy. As well, Tim showed up, even though he hadn't been invited (as always), and a couple of her swooning admirers from the basketball them, which tickled her slightly.
And then there was Lucas.
"Well, you're here to join together in my little coop."
"Coup," Lucas corrected.
"Does she even know what she's talking about?" Nathan whispered to Haley.
"Shh," Haley hissed, frowning in disapproval. "It's for a good cause."
"Jake and Peyton." Brooke thought the names summed it all up. "They...are in crise..." She paused a moment. "Crisis," she corrected herself. "And I'm gathering all of you wonderful and lucky people to aid me in that cause."
"That's what we're here about?" Nathan groaned, shaking his head. Before he knew it Haley was making a face at him and elbowed him in the gut. "Oomph. What?"
"So does this thing involve girls in wet t-shirts?" Tim asked hopefully.
"Now, you're talkin' man!" Nathan perked up, only to receive an evil glare from his girlfriend. He coughed, knowing that Haley glare. If they had been a married couple, he would have been relegated to the couch for that comment.
"Hey!" Brooke shouted irritably. "Stop wallowing in your selfishness and get back to the point of things! I need help setting up the perfect 'I'm going to make you fall in love with me' movie scene, right here in the gymnasium." She knew it would work. Peyton and Jake were the picture perfect movie couple - on of those angsty tragic couples who separate because of their pride and pseudo-martyr complexes.
"What did you get me into, Hales?" Nathan groaned.
"Jake and Peyton need a little help," Haley hedged. "What could it hurt?"
"This is cool," Mouth exclaimed happily. "I think this is a super thing you're doing for Peyton."
"Suck up," Tim muttered, rolling his eyes. "Do we get to make a float or possibly bring a keg in here?" All eyes suddenly fell upon him. "What? A guy can't have a little fun?"
"No." They all spoke in unison.
"Okay guys," Lucas spoke up, seeing that things weren't quite getting on track very quickly. "Brooke's planned this little rendezvous, and you know she's using her powers for good - not evil. So what do you guys say?"
"Look, if you guys are slow, lazy, and think you have a life to get back to, then feel free to leave!" She peered down on them with narrow eyes daring them to leave. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her two admirers, both of whom seemed to glance questioningly at each other, as if debating whether it was worth it. With a couple of shrugs, they turned heel and ran. "Hey!" she huffed indignantly, pointing her fingers at them. She couldn't believe them. "Don't think you can come sniffing around this girl today or any other day!"
"Uh, I don't think it would be good for any of our healths, to leave right now," Nathan said half-jokingly.
"Anyone else want to leave?" Brooke glared.
"Uh, no," Lucas said with a smirk. "I think you've taken care of that dilemma." He glanced around at the somewhat fearful faces of his friends.
"Good. Then, let's get to work!"
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A/N: You guys have been super! I love the feedback that you have so thoughtfully been giving me. It helps sooooo much. In my musings and also in getting ready for another chapter. You guys soooo rock! I wuff you guys!