Later on that night, the six friends were gathered at the apartment. They were surrounded by a surplus of junk food and sodas. The couples are scattered about throughout the apartment. Jake and Peyton sat close holding hands on the couch, Peyton's leg was propped up on the table. Nathan was sitting in the over-sized chair with Haley snuggled in his lap. Brooke was sitting "indian-style" on the floor with Lucas' head resting on her knee. They had all just gotten settled when Brooke popped up, allowing Lucas' head to hit the floor, and began the "opening ceremony".
"Ow!" Lucas exclaimed, he rubbed his head where it collided with the floor. Brooke giggled.
"Sorry Broody. Okay, so to start of the night we have the Adam Sandler marathon. Big Daddy, Happy Gilmore, 50 First Dates, you name it, we got it. Food wise, we have Chinese, Italian, Mexican, American, Thai. Basically, food from every country. Not to mention, a freezer full of ice cream. So…are we ready?" Brooke looked around at her friends expectantly. There were random shouts of "Hell yes" and "yeah". Brooke giggled, clapped her hands, put in the movie and resumed her spot on the floor with Lucas, grabbing a box of Thai noodles on her way back.
And for one night, the six friends just had fun. They forgot about the shooting, forgot about Nikki, forgot about everything except what it felt like to be a care free teenager.
Jake and Peyton walk up to her room silently. Jake had given Peyton a ride home after having breakfast with their friends that morning at the apartment. Peyton was dragging her feet the last few steps, her leg had been bothering her all morning. When they got up to her room, she put her crutches in the corner and plopped down on her bed.
"Last night was awesome." Jake went and sat next to her. Peyton looked absent-mindedly at her walls.
"Yeah. Its amazing how friends, ice cream, and Adam Sandler can make you forget about your worries." Peyton looked up at Jake. She didn't like what she saw in his eyes. She reached for his hand and laced her fingers with his.
"Yeah…" Jake made eye contact with Peyton. There were already tears in her eyes. She knew what was coming and that just made his heart hurt worse. "Peyton, I hate to do this, but I have to go. I have to go find my little girl."
Peyton was fighting to hold back the tears in her eyes. She knew this was hard for him and didn't want to make it worse. Peyton sat up to meet Jake face to face.
"Yeah I know." Her voice came out small and weak, not the way she had planned at all. Jake noticed and immediately his hands went to her face.
"God. I hate doing this to you, Peyton. I can't stand to hurt you." Jake himself was on the verge of crying. It was too much for Peyton. She lost control and the tears began to pour out. Damn.
"I'll be okay, Jake. I promise." Her voice was now a whisper. This was killing him. Jake hung his head and sighed.
"I'll call you any and every chance I get, okay?" He looked up and searched Peyton's eyes, he didn't know what he was looking for though.
"Uh huh…Jake?" The tone of her voice worried him. He was afraid of what she would say. "Yeah…"
Peyton took a deep breath. She didn't know how Jake would respond to her. Well, actually she was all too sure of what he would say, but she had to try. She captured his hands in hers and locked into his eyes.
"Let me go with you." Jake's jaw dropped, although he didn't know why. He was kind of expecting it.
"Peyton, you…" Peyton pushed her hand gently to his mouth. She had to get it all out this time.
"Jake just…hear me out. When I was sitting in that library and I didn't know if I was going to make it out, the thought of you and Jenny is what kept me going. I need you Jake. I love you and I love Jenny; please let me go." Peyton exhaled as if she hadn't breathed in days. There, she thought. At least now he knows. Please let him understand. Jake shook his head, he wanted her with him more than anything, but he couldn't be that selfish. He'd be taking her away from her world.
"Peyton. What about school? Your friends? Your dad?"
"School won't be open for a while and even when it is, I don't know that I'll be ready. My friends will understand. So will my Dad." Peyton looked in his deep brown eyes intently. She was trying to convey with her eyes what she could put into words.
"Peyton…I don't know." Jake felt torn. He loved Peyton, her and Jenny were the most important people to him. But was she ready for this? Could she really just uproot herself and leave Tree Hill. He had done it, but it had hurt like hell. He didn't want her to feel more pain. But if he left her again, wouldn't she be in more pain?
"Jake please." Peyton had given up on trying to be strong. Now she was pleading. "I need you." Her words pulled at his heart. He reached up and lightly traced her jaw line with the back of his hand. God he loved her.
"…Alright, lets go. Let's go get our little girl." It took a minute for his words to sink in. A slow, steady smile crept up on Peyton's face. Tears, happy ones, glistened in her eyes. She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder. Yeah, that was where she belonged.
