Chapter Twenty-Seven

Hard To Beat

Peyton

Why am I here? Seriously, this is not my type of place. A record store? Sure, I'm there. An arts supply store? Yes please. A formal dress store? Hmm… not so much.

"Oh, this is amazing!" Brooke coos, holding out a pale gold gown. I cross my arms and nod.

"Yeah, sure."

Haley looks about as comfortable here as I do. She keeps fingering the odd gown and then snapping her hand away like the fabric has burned her. I guess a store like this isn't so great when you can't afford even the cheapest thing.

It's Friday afternoon, Game Night, only instead of going over cheers like she should be, Brooke is here choosing a dress for tomorrow nights ball which me and Haley have somehow been dragged to.

Actually, I know exactly how I ended up here. Jake invited me. And I even have a dress, a simple black strapless thing that I bought from a discount store. Money's been pretty tight lately. Dad couldn't get the jobs and we were stuck with my wages and his savings. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you see it) Dad just got a job where he goes away for six months and brings back tons of money. Woo hoo.

"P. Sawyer!" Brooke gasps. She pulls out a gorgeous dark blue chiffony silk dress with delicate spaghetti straps and loads of layers. It falls down to the floor in a straight drop. "Wow, this is so perfect for you," Brooke goes on.

I walk over to it. The dress is so beautiful that I actually look at the price tag.

Whoa! It's not that beautiful!

"That is so pretty," Haley offers, stepping forward and keeping her hands stubbornly by her side.

"Yeah, and so expensive," I add. "I've got a dress book."

"But it's not this dress," Brooke says. "You've got to have it. You'll blow Jake Jagielski away!"

"Brooke, I can't afford it," I say. It's kind of embarrassing to admit that. I think Brooke suspects about my financial situation, but we've never discussed it outright.

Brooke looks shamefaced, but then a bright smile appears on her face. "Peyton, your birthday is next month, right?" she says.

"No," I tell her. It is, but I know that she's thinking about buying me that dress, and there is no way.

"Yes, it is. Let me buy you this as an early birthday present! It's more of a present to me anyway, seeing you all hot and fine with Jake!"

I look at the dress. It is beautiful. "I'll pay you back," I tell her firmly.

Brooke gives a triumphant smile. "Sure," she says. She knows not to push the 'free-gift' thing. "Now we need to find a dress for Haley."

"Um… I've got one, and it's new. I bought it a week ago for Prom, but I can always buy a new one."

Prom? "Haley, prom isn't in like, forever."

Haley gives a small smile. "Always be prepared," she says. Me and Brooke laugh.

Brooke pulls a red silk strapless dress off the rack and walks over to the counter.

Bring on tomorrow.


The stands are packed full, even more so than last week. Me and Haley are sat near the front. I've just waved to Brooke, who as usual looks stunning in her cheerleaders uniform.

"So," Haley asks with a teasing tone to her voice. "Cheering for any particular player?"

I cant help but smile at that. Jake and I have kind of been hanging around a lot this week.

"Are you?" I ask.

"That's bitchy," Haley says with a smirk. It kind of was. I still don't really understand the situation with Nathan, but Haley has just broke up with Lucas.

"Sorry," I whisper. Haley shrugs.

"Nathan didn't show up this morning either?" I ask. I found out that Haley was tutoring Nathan for some reason that I can't quite fathom, and then he goes and doesn't show up for the tutor sessions.

Haley shrugs "He has a lot on his mind, I guess?"

"Oh yeah, like what?"

"This game?"

I roll my eyes. "Stop making excuses for him."

"I'm not! I just… look, I think that something's going on with him and his dad, and I don't want to push anything."

"Push what? You don't still like him do you?"

"No!" Haley answers, only she answers a little too quickly. "No, I just… feel sorry for him."

I'm about to question this senseless statement when the players run out, with Nathan Scott at the front.

The game is kind of uneventful, with the Ravens running rings around the opposition. It was the kind of match I used to love as a cheerleader, but as a spectator, the lack of competition is a little boring.

The game ends with the score 48-16. A pretty cool result that will have us all in high spirits for the fair tomorrow.

"Cool game," Haley says, looking like she's just woken up.

"Hmm, I wonder if you're saying that because we won, or because Nathan scored 27 points…"

Haley looks fed up, and I realise that I've pushed her too far. "Peyton, will you please stop? There is nothing going on with me and Nathan and I really don't appreciate your not-so-subtle jibes."

"I'm sorry," I say, because I am. I never honestly thought there was anything going on with Nathan and Haley, but it was fun to tease her about it because I thought she could take it – because there was nothing going on. Now though… Now she's got me thinking.

Why would she care so much if it was as she claimed? If there wasn't anything going on?

The crowds are starting to disperse around us, and me and Haley make our way outside. A load of people have walked onto the pitch to congratulate the boys, and I want to go and see Jake but Haley walks straight outside.

"I want to see Jake," I tell her.

"Go ahead," she shouts, waving at me as she walks off. I roll my eyes. I don't know what has gotten into her lately, apart from the fact that she might fancy Nathan, the brother of her ex-boyfriend.

I head onto the pitch and see that Jake is smiling politely at Lorna, one of the cheerleaders as she fawns on him. When he sees me, I don't think I imagine that smile getting brighter as he steps towards me.

"Hey Peyton," he greets. "I'd give you a hug but I'm afraid I might be a bit sweaty."

Mmm, images of Jake sweaty. Yes please. "Don't worry about it," I say and hug him anyway. "Great game."

Jake shrugs. "I was kinda crap though."

I punch him softly in the arm, "Is that you fishing for compliments? 'Cause you ain't going to get them from me."

Jake nods, "You saw through my plan."

I laugh and step away. "So, I'll see you tomorrow night?" I ask. Jake nods.

"Yeah, and I bought a tux, so it better be worth it."

I smile in a completely Brooke way. "Oh, I'm always worth it."