Nathan walked towards the bench under the big tree, his and Jill's lunch spot since school started. However, instead of them two under the tree he found himself alone. She hadn't come to eat lunch with him since the basketball game. In fact all contact with her was cut except for English Lit. Jill couldn't back out of that class, it was too late to drop so she had to stick with it. Plus she wasn't going to be immature and switch classes because she wasn't talking to Nathan anymore. Instead she sat in her seat as usual, same spot the seat beside his, except this time she didn't turned to talk to him. She kept her eyes towards the board, the teacher, and her work. She didn't even smile at him, if their eyes happened to meet she just looked away. It was as if they didn't even know each other. Nathan was heart broken. He missed spending time with her, he missed how she gave him a little hug when she saw him every morning, he missed her cute smile, he missed lying down beside her whenever he slept over, he missed having to hug her because she was frightened by a creepy noise, and most of all he missed her. He just needed an explanation, a good one.
"Hey slugger, looking lonely all by yourself under here."
Nathan shrugged as Peyton sat beside him, resting her books on her lap.
"I was hoping she'd be here but who am I kidding. It's been a week and nothing."
"Ahh Jill, you miss her don't you?"
"Yeah," he sighed, "a lot."
"Well if it's any consolation she doesn't hate you."
He looked at her confused.
Peyton caught on to his lost boy look.
"She understands why you had to take matters into your own hands. Although I do recall her saying it would have been better if you told her earlier before things got out of hand. Maybe it wouldn't have ended up the way it did."
Nathan nodded sadly.
"But she doesn't blame you so you don't have to worry."
Of course I have to Peyton, she isn't talking to me. She won't pick up my calls. She won't even look at me."
"Well at least you know its not because of what you did," she got the lost boy expression from him again, "okay, hmm how can I put this, you know I'm bad at explaining but here goes. Do you remember what happened last year between Brooke, Lucas, and me?"
Nathan nodded.
"Yeah."
"And you remember that whole drama that caused me and Brooke to fight a whole lot to the point where we weren't even best friends anymore?"
"Yeah?" He shook his head, "Peyton what are you trying to get at?"
"Hold on be patient I'm getting to my point, I promise," she waited for him to listen before she continued, "okay well through that we realized that friends will and always be more important than boys," she looked at him, "or in your case girls."
"Are you telling me she thinks she ruined mine and Vegas' friendship?"
"Yeah it seems you two wouldn't have been at each other's throats if she hadn't come in between you two."
"We aren't even as close as we were back in grade school."
"I tried explaining that to her, but she's got a point Nathan. You two were really good friends for while."
"But mine and hers is stronger."
"Well she feels that your friendship doesn't compare to something you and Vegas had that dates back to when you were toddlers. Basically she sort of blames herself for you not being as close to your friends as you were before she entered the picture."
Nathan was silent. Contemplating things in his head, trying to piece the answers together.
"But I don't just want to be friends with her."
Peyton noticed his sullen look. She wished she came bearing good news but nothing seemed to cheer Nathan up unless it was Jill. She bit her lip as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry Nate."
"Wait," he looked at her, "but now you and Lucas are together, you guys are happy. And you and Brooke are still friends. it all worked out in the end."
"Exactly, if you really cared about someone you'd do anything for them even wait until they realize the reality of it all," Peyton stood up as she tucked her books under her arm, "be patient Nathan. She'll come around.She just needs time, give it to her."
With that Peyton nudged him before walking back into the school, leaving Nathan still under the tree.