Chapter Fifty-Seven: Drowning Slowly
Author's note: I've been getting a lot of reviews requesting brucas. I'm sorry, I know I haven't been focusing on them as much. But this story is written like twenty chapers in advance, so I can't exactly do anything about that. However, I have written some of the flashbacks you've requested, they'll just come in a little later. And please remember that this story is first and foremost a naley.
Peyton frowned as she entered the Scott house. It had been weeks since she'd been there last, and something had changed. Something she couldn't put her finger on. She doubted it was the lack of Leigh, who was never around, or the lack of Ryan, who spent all her time with Jake.
"Nathan?" she called out experimentally. As much as she sometimes hated it, she had made a conscious effort over the last year to visit Nathan and Leigh.
She groaned aloud as she heard a woman laugh behind one of the many doors in the hall. Peyton was tired of Nathan moping over Haley while he slept his way through the New York city women. As if that second rate actress, the Ramirez girl that claimed to be so in love with him, wasn't enough.
Impatiently she pushed open the door in question and encountered Nathan on the couch, a blonde woman on top of him, surprisingly clad. Peyton scoffed. Most of the time, it was a blonde.
"Nathan," she said insistently. Simultaneously, Nathan Scott and the woman turned their heads to face her. Peyton gasped as they did so.
"Peyton," said Haley awkwardly, rolling off Nathan and standing hurriedly.
"What the he…"
"I thought you were in LA," said Nathan, who still hadn't moved from the couch. As his hand roamed down Haley's bare thigh, she slapped it away.
"I came back yesterday. What are you doing here?" demanded Peyton.
"I… we…" Nathan impatiently stood up, and lifted Haley's left hand into the air to show Peyton the gold band on her ring finger.
"We got married," said Nathan firmly. Haley held back a frown. He was so eager to show the more positive aspects of their doubtful union.
"Huh." Peyton stared at them as the light caught the ring on his own finger.
"Do you need to sit down?" asked Haley nervously.
"No. I can't stay. I have classes starting at noon," she said.
"First day, right. Ryan told me," said Nathan. Haley observed Peyton's face carefully, noting the shock, and the slight frown that appeared when Ryan was mentioned.
"Yeah. So you guys just eloped?" she asked.
"We…" Haley began.
"Pretty much," said Nathan. Peyton looked between the two, detecting something she couldn't classify.
"What about Seamus?" she asked. Again, Haley looked uncomfortable.
"We broke up. I never got over Nathan, you knew that," said Haley. Peyton did know this, to a certain extent.
"Yeah, but… Was anyone there?" asked Peyton. Haley and Nathan exchanged swift, pained glances.
"No," said Haley, too quickly. Peyton raised an eyebrow.
"Ryan and Jake. You were in LA," said Nathan.
"That's fine. I have to go. Class," she said awkwardly, hurrying out.
Only once she was outside did she let the tears began to fall.
By the time Peyton arrived to her first class of the new year, the only seats left in the lecture hall were the ones in the very back, and several in the front row. Sighing, she dropped into a chair, crossing one leg over the other as the Professor walked in.
If she hadn't been mad at the world right then, he would have intrigued her. He looked to be around thirty-five, but could have been as old as forty. He was African-American, and was completely bald. He had a diamond earring in one ear. Brooke or even Haley would have been instantly turned off by the earring alone, but Peyton didn't mind. With new resolve, she reached into her book bag for her lap top and opened it, preparing to take notes.
"Good afternoon. My name is Christian Braddock, you'll find the course outline in front of you. I'm here to teach you more than you ever wanted to know about English literature, and I hope you can help me accomplish that goal. Let's get started," he said. He caught sight of Peyton rolling her eyes, and winked at her. She blushed.
After the class ended, Peyton was the third out the door. She stalled in front of the soda machine once she was out, comparing root beer and coke.
"Peyton," said a voice from behind her. Peyton half turned and saw Jake and Ryan approaching, having emerged from the same class.
"Hey guys. I didn't know you were in there," she said.
"I thought I saw you. We were a few rows back. Did you like it?" Jake's face was void of emotion, and it seemed obvious to Peyton that he didn't truly care. Ryan, to her credit, looked awkward as she always did when they encountered Peyton.
Peyton never encountered them separately.
"It was okay. What kind of a name is Christian?" she said. Jake raised his eyebrows. "I mean I know Peyton isn't exactly normal, but…"
"Yeah. What's new with you?" asked Ryan. Peyton held back a scowl as she remembered that Ryan Scott was only a sophomore. What was she doing, in class with them?
"Nathan and Haley. Pretty crazy," she said.
"Completely," said Ryan, her voice strained. She tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and lowered her eyes, looking uncomfortable and secretive.
"I'm surprised I didn't hear it in some tabloid," continued Peyton.
"They're keeping it quiet, I guess. How'd you find out?" asked Ryan. Peyton glanced at Jake and noted his silence.
"They were making out on the couch," said Peyton, allowing a laugh to escape her lips.
"I have class," said Jake abruptly. Ryan nodded, her blossoming smile vanishing. Quickly the two departed, leaving Peyton alone in the hallway.
Jake slung an arm around Ryan as they walked. Peyton sighed.
If it was so hard for her to get over him, how was it possible that it was so easy for him to get over her?
"That girl-is she actually Ryan Scott? Of those Scotts?" asked Christian Braddock, coming up behind her.
"Yeah," said Peyton.
"What's she like?" he asked curiously.
"Pefect. Beautiful and charming and innocent. Absolutely freaking perfect," said Peyton, glancing into his dark eyes just once before walking quickly down the hallway.