Chapter Seventy: You Can't Find Nothing At All
"So. You grew up here?" asked Jake, wandering into Ryan's bedroom after they'd put Eve to bed. He looked at her four poster bed, flat screen tv and en suite bathroom
"Yeah."
"And decided to move out… why?" he asked.
"Oh, it's not so great. The Princess is in bed?" she asked.
"Yes, indeed she is. Good kid," he said distractedly. Ryan drew her knees up to her chest and rested her chin on them.
"This place is so different than it was pre-Haley," she said.
"I know. For one thing, there are actual happy people here," he said jokingly.
"Finally. They were going through a rough patch for a while there. I'm glad they're okay," she said.
Jake sighed and sat down next to her.
"You know, underneath all their bitching, I think we can always trust Nathan and Haley to be okay, deep down," he said. She smiled and tossed her hair over her shoulder.
And she, always, could trust Jake to cheer her up.
"Peyton?" Jake uttered her name in amazement as he opened the door.
"Jake." Peyton's voice was choked and strained, having obviously been expecting Haley.
"Come in. They're off on their anniversary, Ryan and I are looking after Eve. She just went to bed," said Jake.
"Who, Ryan or Eve?" asked Peyton in confusion. Jake chuckled.
"Eve. But Ryan's upstairs, so we can talk if you want," he said.
"Good. Let's go to the living room," she said. He noticed slowly that she'd dressed to impress someone, in a low cut tank top and a short skirt.
"You look great," he commented. They sat awkwardly beside each other on the sofa.
"Thanks. So does the house, they've done a lot of work," she said, gesturing around herself to the more modernly, less oppressive décor.
"It's good. What did you want to talk about?" he asked.
"It's…" Peyton trailed off to glance into his hazel eyes.
Suddenly, with the same impulse on both sides, they leaned forward. Their lips met for the first time in two years. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and his went automatically around her waist, pulling her in tighter. They sunk into old feelings and passions.
"No, wait. What the hell was that?" asked Jake, breaking away from their kiss.
"I wanted to see you. This isn't working, Jake. We can't just not see each other. It doesn't work," she said imploringly.
"You've been going out of your way not to talk to me for two years," he said in amazement.
"That doesn't mean I didn't think about it. Because I did. Every day, I thought about what we had and what we lost. Every day I miss it, Jake. I've never had to live without you," she said.
"I know the feeling," he said. Suddenly he leaned forward and kissed her again.
"I want to try. I think we can make it," she said lightly, fervently.
"I thought we could, too. I thought love was enough. It turned out it wasn't," he said.
"We know what to avoid now, Jake. We know that Davis will always try to break us up. And Ryan…" Jake pressed a finger to Peyton's lips.
"Don't. She's my best friend, but she's not a threat to you. No one is," he promised.
Outside the door, Ryan Scott shut her eyes tightly and willed her eyes not to cry. After two years, how was it possible that she still wasn't a threat?
"They're back!" called out Jake the next morning. Ryan slowly walked down the stairs, carrying Eve. Jake noticed her somber expression, but was too jubilant to analyze it.
"Hey! How'd you guys do?" asked Haley, bursting into the house. Ryan produced an artificial smile and handed her niece back to her mother.
"Great. She was an angel," she said. Haley smiled suspiciously, but said nothing.
"How was your evening?" asked Jake, smirking. Nathan punched his arm.
"None of your business," he said.
"I'm going to go unpack," said Haley, beginning to head up the stairs. Nathan walked in the direction of his study and Jake reluctantly followed.
"What?" asked Nathan in surprise, noting that he was being followed.
"I need to talk. In the least gay was possible," he said. The two entered his office. Nathan dropped into his chair, leaned back and folded his arms expectantly.
"What is it, Jake?"
"I made out with Peyton last night," he admitted.
"Shit. Looks like it was a good night for romance. Sure you don't want to talk to Haley about this?" asked Nathan.
"No. It's something else. I think she's having an affair," he admitted.
Nathan raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"So she came to you and told you she wanted to be with you, but you think she's screwing behind your back? Women," said Nathan in slight frustration.
"Tell me about it. What do you think I should do?" asked Jake.
"Honestly? I've recently learned that women don't appreciate confrontation. Just hope it goes away," said Nathan.
"Thanks. What's up with you and Haley?" he asked. After a month or two, Jake and Ryan had easily surmised the Scott's living condition. Nathan blushed.
"Go find my sister and take her home, and hope I don't get equally suspicious," said Nathan sternly.
"What?" asked Jake in confusion. He exited and called out for Ryan. Nathan left the office and ran up the stairs, hoping Haley had put Eve back to bed and would be willing to continue their anniversary.
Nathan came across Haley in their bedroom and pulled her into his arms. She smiled at his good mood.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Jake and Peyton. Looks like that summer counted for more than we ever thought," he said.
"It counted for everything. They're getting back together? That's so great. Poor Ryan," said Haley suddenly. He kissed the tip of her nose.
"My wife. Crusader for the weak," he said proudly. In a desperate desire to shut him up, Haley pulled him down onto the bed on top of her.
Not surprisingly, it worked like a charm.
Author's note: Okay, so I've got to ask, even though I'm pretty sure I know the answer, and I'm not promising your answers will affect the ending: Jeyton or Jyan?