AN: Thanks so much to OTH.daddy'sgurl.06 for reviewing and for telling me that that last chapter was all bunched together. I'm so sorry about that, I have no idea what happened. I think I fixed it, so it's much easier to read now. And OTH.daddy'sgurl.06, you are awesome for reading my whole other fic and for always reviewing to this fic. Your constant support has been amazing, thanks so much!
CHAPTER 10
Peyton's POV
"What the hell are we even supposed to wear to this thing anyway?" I asked, rummaging through all the clothes I had brought on the trip, not satisfied with my choice.
"It's a dance," Brooke said as if that answered my question. Thanks. That really helps.
"Meaning...?"
She rolled her eyes playfully mocking me as if to say 'I can't believe you don't know this!' "Meaning, you have to look hot." She said walking over to me and my pile of clothes. In maybe four seconds she pulled out a black mini and a green halter-top. "There you go. Wear that!"
"How did you do that?" She gave me a blank look. "I've been staring at this pile of clothes for twenty minutes and in two seconds you find me the perfect outfit."
Brooke pretended to think about this. "Practice," She answered smiling, "Years and years of practicing." I laughed at her. "Speaking of which..." She said raising her eyebrows and looking at me weirdly, "You think tonight might be the night for you and Jake?"
"How is that a 'speaking of which'?" I said laughing at my best friend's improper use of the phrase.
"Whatever," She said, "You're avoiding the question."
"Fine..." I said, giving up, "I honestly don't know when 'the night' is going to be. But I don't think I'm ready right now." Brooke nodded along. That's what I love about her. I mean she might play and tease about how much I should have sex, but when it comes to my true feelings about the matter, no one understands me better than her. "Besides, we agreed to take things slow." I added.
---
Jake's POV
Luckily, Lucas and I are pretty low-maintenance guys. It takes us all of five or so minutes to get ready. Which is fortunate because by the time I got back to the cabin with Jenny after going for a swim, we only had fifteen minutes before we had to go pick up the girls. I jumped in and out of the shower, got dressed, tried making my hair somewhat in control, brushed my teeth, in all of twelve minutes. Pretty impressive.
"Alright, honey, we're going to drop you off at the day-care." I said to Jenny, pretty out of breath from all the running around in record time stuff.
"Yay!" She said, jumping up and down. She had really grown fond of that day-care and the other kids there. Still, I felt bad for sometimes spending not enough time with her as I should have, that's why I had made today and sort of father-daughter day. But not tonight. Tonight was the dance. And the dance would be awesome. I hope.
Luke and I dropped off Jenny on our way to the girls' cabin. Call me crazy but I was actually getting kind of nervous. I had the high-school-boy feeling, and it felt nice. I knocked on the door, and heard Brooke squeal inside. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Peyton opened the door looking extremely cute. Pretty much like she always did. I couldn't tell her because before we knew it Brooke pushed passed us to attack Lucas.
It would have been awkward, but to tell you the truth I was too concentrated on Peyton to even fully notice the two lovebirds right next to me. "You look great." I said, kissing her forehead.
"Thanks," She said giving me a shy smile.
---
General POV
Jake and Peyton walked into the dance, hand in hand. Brooke and Lucas following closely behind, Lucas's arm wrapped around her waist. It was dark, with colored lights, very flashy. It pretty much mirrored any average high school dance. Peyton was started to get excited, and Brooke even more so.
"Oh, I love this song," Brooke hinted, not so discretely, and started swaying her hips to the beat. Lucas escorted her to the dance floor and they started dancing.
Jake, ever so casually, nodded his head toward the dance floor, and raised his eyebrows asking her to dance using no words. Smooth. Peyton smiled and nodded her head. Jake smiled and walked them over next to Brooke and Lucas and they started dancing to the beat. Then something weird happened. Peyton saw a flash. That's funny, she thought, I don't remember there being a strobe-light. Then she saw a tall, skinny man dressed from head-to-toe in black, with one of those old-fashioned cameras looking right at her. But right when she looked at him he averted his gaze somewhere else. Weird. Peyton brushed it off, however, wanted to enjoy the moment.
After the song was over, Brooke and Peyton went to 'freshen up' in the bathroom, in other words, talk about their dates. Peyton didn't even know what the hell 'freshening up' was.
"So, Missy Blonde Girl, how's your night going?" Brooke asked as she applied a new layer of lip-gloss on. Peyton was about to tell her that there was no point in doing that, it was just going to get wiped off the second they find the guys again. But she stopped herself.
"Pretty perfect, actually." Peyton said. "And yours?"
Brooke squealed, "I had forgotten how much fun dances were! And Lucas... he's so great."
Peyton smiled. Brooke seemed really genuinely happy. And seeing Brooke that happy, made Peyton pretty darn happy too.
---
Peyton's POV
The second we got out of the bathroom, the guys greeted us. I hoped they hadn't been waiting there the whole time. Jake handed me a cup with punch in it. I took a sip than reached up and gave him a big kiss. I had just realized that all that night I hadn't kissed him yet. It didn't seem right. He seemed surprise, but thankfully kissed me back.
"What was that for?" He asked cutely after we pulled away.
"Thank you, Jake. For all of this. Going to the dance with me. Actually dancing with me. Getting me punch. Being yourself..." The list went on and on, but I didn't want to bore him.
"It's nothing, Peyton. I wanted to do all those things."
"Still, it means a lot to me." I said, but something distracted me. There it was again. The flash. I looked around and I spotted the same guy with the camera standing next to the chips bowl. The same thing happened when I looked at him, he just turned away. "OK," I said, in a low voice even though it wasn't really necessary, there was no way he could hear me from over there. "Don't look now, but that guy over by the chips bowl keeps taking pictures of us."
Jake's eyes grew a little wider, "What?" He asked turning around to look, just as I told him not to. But it was ok the guy wasn't looking. Jake looked like he was going to be sick. But that came and went in a flash. Two seconds later he looked like the regular Jake. This struck me as add too, but I decided not to mention it.
"Well, I mean, it's probably just LustFactor people taking pictures for the website or something, right?" He said brushing it off.
"Yeah," I said, unsure. Than why did he always look away when I looked at him?
---
AN: I know kinda weird chapter, right? I hope it was still good! Please review! Thanks!