Disclaimer: I am finally caught up, and now I have to prepare for Season 3! Just when I've seen them all, I have another season to go! Although from the sounds of it, doesn't seem like much in the way of my Jeyton fairytale ending...AND NO! I don't own any of these characters. I wish. I'd keep Jake with me all the time :D
Title: Will You Fall for Me?
Show: One Tree Hill
Pairing: Peyton/Jake
Chapter Seventeen: Will You Fall For Me
Black, casual and elegant? Or green, flirty and sexy? Brooke's choice was of course flirty and sexy and being her best friend - green it was. She would have preferred the black cocktail dress, but her best friend would not hear any of it.
"If you've got it," Brooke smirked. "Flaunt it. I will."
The whole plan had been Brooke's idea. It's conceptualization arose after a long, profuse and overly dramatic, and she wasn't sure, slightly unapologetic apology - a make-up gift for putting her through the awkward and painful encounter with Jake at Lucas' house. However, part of her was suspicious about her motives. Peyton knew her best friend inside and out. And this was slightly out of character even for Brooke - giving up on such a 'marvy' idea, as Brooke would have no doubtedly have put it, instead of hounding her into submission. It definitely had given her pause, but Haley was coming along as well, on this all-girl night, that it had tempered her anxiety.
Sliding her hands down the silk and chiffon-hybrid fabric, Peyton admired herself in the mirror, primping the half-up do, as her curls cascaded across her bare shoulders. The narrow halter suited her long neck, and she always did love the color green.
Suddenly she heard the doorbell ring. Since when did you start having manners, Brooke? She quickly slipped on the pair of matching forest green sandals and ran down the stairs. "What are you doing ringing the door...?" Her voice trailed off.
Standing on her doorstep was an elderly man, dressed in a plain black suit and a cap. He smiled and bowed slightly, lifting his cap off chivalrously. Frowning Peyton was stunned and confused at the stranger standing at her doorstep. "Wh-who are you?"
"Ms. Sawyer?"
"U-Uh, yes?" she stammered. What was Brooke up to?
"The name is Kessing; and I will be your driver tonight." He offered his arm. Hesitantly, she accepted and followed him out the door.
What on earth was going on?
>>>
The girl did have taste, Peyton had to give her that. The long white limousine seemed to stretch the length of her house, it was so amazing. Even though she had dated Nathan Scott, whose father owned a car dealership, they had never had the luxury of a limo.
Slipping into the backseat of the black leather interior, which was in stark contrast to its outer shell, Peyton couldn't help but giggle. She felt like Cinderella going to the ball, which of course wasn't the case, but it was the first thing that popped into her mind. Her eyes scanned the hot ride for refreshments, but fell upon a gold-embossed envelope with her name on it.
My darling Peyton:
Enjoy the ride. This will be a night to remember. Many more surprises in store.
Brooke
She smiled how her unpredictably creative friend placed a hand drawn heart beside the neatly engraved note. Typical Brooke.
"Okay," she said out loud with a smile, wondering where this limo was set to take her. "Where to Kessing?"
>>>
The ride was not long at all. It made her question once again, what Brooke was up to? And also, how she managed to drag Haley into this. Then the image of Haley reaming Brooke out for making a spectacle of the whole event popped into her head which made her giggle. Haley is in for one hell of a ride.
Suddenly the door opened with Kessing holding out his hand expectantly. "We are here, Miss."
Peyton could not wait to see new 'in' place Brooke had brought her to, within the short span of time it took for the limo to get there. Grasping Kessing's hand, she was guided out into the cool night air. Her jaw dropped, completely taken aback.
The school? What kind of cruel joke was this? She spun around to question the only tie to her mischievous friend, only to see the elderly grey-haired man jump into the limousine and drive away without another word.
"What is going on?" she exclaimed, totally and completely bewildered.
Seeing as she had nowhere else to go, Peyton slowly made her way up the dimly lit sidewalk leading up to the main school entrance. There were no lights to be seen from the outer court. And once she managed to feel her way through the dark foyer, Peyton had to reorientate herself. She had entered the northwest entrance, so she was nearest the gymnasium. Standing at what felt like a crossroads, she glanced around, trying to figure out which way she was supposed to go. "A little direction people!" As if an answer to her prayer, she heard the soft padding of feet to her left, which was towards the gymnasium. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?" she muttered to herself.
Cautiously she made her way down the hall, looking for signs of Haley and her best friend. As the beginning of the night revealed itself, Peyton had a sneaking suspicion that Haley James had been in on this whole thing. "Hello?" she called out. "Hello? Anyone here?"
Nothing.
Just as she was about to turn back, a pair of hands grabbed her shoulders, causing her to shriek.
"Peyton!" Brooke exclaimed happily. "You're finally here! I thought Kissy-face might have gotten lost for a second."
"Brooke!" She hit her best friend lightly on the shoulder. "You scared the crap out of me!" Her heart was racing.
"It's about a night of surprises..."
"And coronaries?" Peyton said, clutching her chest. "I think I could have been the first girl to die of a heart attack at the ripe old age of 17."
"Nah," Haley's voice sounded in the darkness, "I don't think 17 years old would cut it." The dark reddish blonde girl, appeared from the corner with a grin on her face.
"Okay, I know something's up," she said darkly. "You two in cahoots? That's frightening enough, but the thought of what brought you two together..."
"Oh don't be silly," Brooke said dismissively, slipping her arm around her waist, while Haley grabbed Peyton's left hand. "We're doing something nice for someone we care about."
"Okay, no," Peyton exclaimed, pulling back, as they led her toward the entranceway to the gymnasium. She had a foreboding feeling that someone was about to befall her, due to these two girls. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what is up."
"Just come and take a look," Haley urged. "It's not something bad."
And then it suddenly dawned on her. Jake. It would be one of the only few things these two would agree upon. "You did it again," she said in disbelief. "You set me up again?"
"What?" Brooke froze, her eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. "Wh-what are you talking about?" she gasped, at a loss for words. The performance would have worked on an acquaintance, but not her.
"And this was supposed to be an apology for setting me and Jake up like that in the first place!" Peyton said irritably. "I can't believe you." And then her eyes fell upon Haley, who seemed to be sliding back into the shadows. "And you! You know how I feel about this..."
"I know." Haley's innocent face was now wracked with an expression of torment. "But this sounded like such a good idea," she said weakly. "It...we put so much effort into..."
"We?" Peyton tilted her head slightly, eyeing her best friend. "Who is this we? How many more are in on this?"
"Listen P. Sawyer, you just have to give this a chance." The brunette looked like she was winding up for one of her famous ramblings. "This is different," she said, taking a deep breath. "It's not a complete surprise...not really. Well for some of us."
"Just come with us," Haley said gently, tugging at Peyton's arm. "Give it a chance."
Peyton allowed herself to be led to the entranceway towards the gymnasium. Usuallly it was line with bodies, but tonight, it was empty, with only a pathway lit with white lights. "What is this?" she breathed, not understanding what was going on.
Brooke grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her in the eye. "Peyton, for once, just trust me."
Trust her. Yeah, that was an easy concept.
"Hey," Haley said. "This isn't some big horrible plot, you know?"
Peyton raised a skeptical brow, eyeing the narrow pathway into what, she didn't know.
"Okay, maybe a plot, but not horrible."
"What do you guys think is going to happen?" Peyton closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. "It's not some fairytale that has everyone live happily ever after," she sighed. "Why are you both trying to make it that?"
"But why can't it be?" Haley questioned seriously. "You make things harder than it has to be sometimes, Peyton. Jake really cares about you. And I know you care about him."
"It's not that eas..."
"Why not? Life is hard enough without us making more trouble for ourselves."
"Haley," Peyton said, warning her. "Don't..."
Suddenly she heard the loud click of a door. Peyton spun around to see Brooke had slipped away during their conversation. "Where did she go?" she said suspiciously. Walking towards the gymnasium, she was about to open the door, when she felt Haley's hand upon hers.
"Don't go in there made," she whispered. Peyton felt herself being turned slightly until she was staring down at Haley. "This was supposed to be a special night for you and Jake, and if you go in there like..."
Peyton didn't understand what the big deal was about. She had seen hide nor hair of Jake, the person with whom she was supposed to share this 'magical' night with. "Haley, I'm not into anymore games," she hissed, as she flung the doors to the gymnasium open.
Darkness. With the exception of two candles hovering in what she would have guessed to be centre court, nothing could be seen. The anger and frustration she felt because of Brooke and Haley's manipulation suddenly dissipated. She expected some spectacle and here she was left standing in the dark. Without another word, she burst out laughing.
This was ridiculous.
"Tim!" Brooke's shrill voice could be heard above them in the darkness. "What are you doing?"
Peyton shook her head, imagining the earful Brooke must have been giving him at that moment.
"Ouch!" Tim's voice filled the gymnasium over the sound system. "I'm trying," he whispered, the heated conversation in the soundroom not obviously meant to be heard.
"Get on with it!" Brooke hissed.
"U-Uh," he stammered, clearing his voice. "Due to technical difficulties, we will be with you in a moment."
"Tim, fix it!" The voice was muffled, from some distant room in the gymnasium, but it was definitely recognizable as Brooke's distinctive voice.
Suddenly the hum of generators filled the room. And then, as if by magic, before her very eyes, sparkling, shimmering lights danced above her hovering in the air above her, as if a sea of stars draped above her. Floodlights strategically positioned, entwined upon a pathway lined with rose petals, ending between two candles, where one lone stool was placed.
Her heart was overwhelmed by the sight. She had never seen anything so lovely. Peyton peered over her shoulder towards the hallway entrance, where Haley stood smiling softly. This was all for me?
And as if reading her mind, Haley nodded once, before slipping into the hallway and closing the doors behind her.
But where is Jake?
>>>
With nothing else to do, Peyton slipped onto the lone stool that sat in the middle of the court. It faced more darkness. What am I supposed to be looking at?
As if in answer, a circle of white lights suddenly appeared before her. It seemed to be a stage of some sort. Though the white lights did not give enough light to reveal anything on stage. She sat anxiously, wondering where Jake was. If this was somehow an attempt to reconcile them, should he not also be there with her?
In the dark, she could hear the soft footsteps of someone on stage. They were adjusting what seemed to be a mic, from the sounds of the knocking over the sound system. Peyton could also hear the scratching of wood on wood - as if someone was moving a chair or stool. Did Brooke hire a band?
A lone voice cleared his throat before speaking into the unseen microphone. "I know theatrics is not my thing." Jake's voice boomed over the sound system. Peyton felt her heart skip a beat, as this turn of events was unexpected. "But it's the thought that counts, right?"
He was in on this? Peyton's hand fluttered to her throat. The knowledge that he made this moment for her overwhelmed her.
"I know things seem to be crumbling around us right now," he sighed, as if feeling ever word. "But I brought you here so that I could tell you how I feel. Your friendship has made the tough days easier to take. And how you love Jenny...there are no words to describe that."
Peyton thought she would cry. She felt a lump growing in her throat and tears beginning to well up. All her doubts were melting away with every word.
"I just wanted to truthfully tell you exactly what I feel. I couldn't find the words on my own, so I give this to you as an offering." The low thrumming of his guitar filled her ears, as she closed her eyes and drank it in.
When she opened her eyes, in sequence with the previous revelation, two lone spotlights shone down upon the dimly lit stage. A rosy glow filled the stage as the tinted lights warmed the room. Jake sat upon a stool, his guitar in the crook of his arm.
"My head's full of thoughts -
Thoughts of you
And I'm distracted so easy,
Thinking what to do.
So unsure, so unfamiliar,
Am I wrong to think that something could happen?
Will you fall for me?
I need to know, the way I'd like you to,
Baby, will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you.
I'm not acting like myself;
And I'm playing the role of someone else.
And my hearts beating so fast,
I can't stop it.
And I'm so unsure,
So unfamiliar,
Am I wrong to think that something could happen?
Will you fall for me?
The way I'd like you to.
Will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you...
Fallen for, fallen for you,
For you...
So unsure, so unfamiliar,
Am I wrong to think...
That something could happen?
Was I wrong to think I...
Will you fall for me?
The way I'd like you to,
Will you fall for me?
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you.
The way I've fallen for you..."
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A/N: Super super super extra super patient people! I appreciate it. I also thank those who kept yappin' at me to finish or update. Well here it is. It isn't quite the chapter I had hoped. You know, the chapter I had written and then got lost because of stupid discs that eat my fiction:pout: Anyways, I really hope you guys enjoy it. Please, let me know what you think. I value all of my faithful readers... SMOOCH