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Just A Ride

Chapter 12

Peyton's POV

All I wanted to do when I got back into me cabin was rest. Sleep. Cry... But no. I couldn't even get that. Today, just really wasn't my day. My face tear-stained, my eyes red, and my smile turned upside-down, I got to my cabin to find the last person I wanted to see standing there. Not Jake. The photographer. The paparazzi. Whatever he was. I was not going to put on a fake smile. I was not going to pretend that I didn't hate his guts right now. I gave a loud, obvious sigh and asked him what he wanted. Not politely.

"I just want a statement. Maybe a picture." He said, not seeming to get my hints. Or maybe he did, he just didn't care. "Are you two in love? Are you aware of his current situation? How does that make you feel?"

"Please, sir," I said actually trying to be nice. I just wanted to get to bed. "Can you please let me go to my cabin."

"I notice you look like you've been crying," He said, not sympathetically, and just like that my niceness disappeared.

"Look, man-" I started to say, but then heard quick footsteps of something running towards me. I was afraid to turn around

"Peyton!" I was relieved to hear Brooke's voice. She stood next to me and gave the guy a weird look. "Is there a problem?" She asked him point-blank.

"I just wanted to take a picture. Get a statement. Then I can leave you at peace." The man said. Brooke stepped forward.

"I think you've had enough pictures for one night, don't you? So why don't you leave, so I don't shove you overboard so you can be at peace... with the fish." The man stood there for a moment and glanced back at me. I averted my eyes and hung my head. He left.

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Jake's POV

"I'm sorry yours and Brooke's night had to be cut short because of me," I said, unbuttoning my shirt. I wasn't going to be able to sleep tonight. I knew that. Still, the only thing that looked comforting right now was my warm bed. Because once I was in it, I wouldn't be able to leave it's comfort, meaning I wouldn't be able to crawl back to Peyton's cabin and make an idiot out of myself again and make her even more mad. Even I knew that I was the last person she wanted to see right now... Oh man, how am I ever going to get myself out of this one?

"Relax, it's ok. Brooke's there for Peyton, and I'm here for you," Luke said. I wasn't even sure Lucas was going to be on my side for this one. Heck, I wasn't even on my side.

"Well, thanks. But this is all my fault..."

"Well yeah." Lucas said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "You screwed up. Big time, man." Usually I would throw something at him, or punch him playfully at something like this. But I didn't. And that was for two reasons: one, because I was just too damn lazy and did not want to get out of bed, and two, more importantly, I knew he was right.

"I don't even..." I sighed, I didn't know if I wanted to say it.

"You don't even what?" Lucas asked. I sighed again. Saying it would make it real. But it was real.

"I don't even know if I can get her to forgive me."

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General POV

"I hate this," Brooke said. She was sitting with Lucas the next morning by the pool. They were sharing one of the mats. Jake was on one mat and Peyton was on another, on the other side of the pool. They had both insisted that they would be fine and that Lucas and Brooke should still hang out.

"I know, babe, but what are we supposed to do?" Lucas asked. This whole fight was really bringing everyone down. Not only that but that photographer guy was showing up much more and annoying the crap out of everyone.

"I don't know, but I feel like as the best friends, we need to do something. Intervene somehow," Brooke said. Lucas would normally be into this sort of idea. Anything to get his best friend happy again, not to mention make Brooke happy. But it didn't seem like it could work in this case. Jake was miserable and obviously dying to talk to Peyton. He kept stealing glances at her from across the pool. But Peyton... She was completely different. She hadn't looked at him once since they got there and she held a cold, expressionless face while reading a magazine.

"Brooke, baby, I know what you're saying..." Lucas said, "But sadly, I think this one's up to them..."

"You're right," Brooke said, unhappy about the fact that she couldn't help out her best friend even a little. Not counting the various threats she's sent to the photographer. "There's nothing we can do."

"We just have to have a little faith," Lucas said kissing Brooke's forehead sweetly, he knew this was bringing her down.

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