Part 22
A ringing phone suddenly pulled Peyton from her sleep, blinking her eyes open it took her a few seconds to remember where she had left the damn thing.
In her jeans.
Which at this very moment were currently laying in a heap on the floor of Brooke's hospital room.
As the phone continued to ring Peyton decided she would have to answer it, she also knew that there were only two people that had her new number, Nathan and Haley. So she assumed they had discovered that she was no longer in the apartment and were worried about where she was.
"Are you ever going to answer that?" Brooke mumbled into her chest, but didn't move from her current position on top of Peyton.
The blonde grinned down at her friend momentarily forgetting about her phone.
"Well?" Brooke asked more awake this time as she lifted her head to look at Peyton.
"Well I would, but only if you move off of me B." Peyton replied with a grin.
Brooke narrowed her eyes and stared at her for a moment before grinning and slowly rolling off the younger girl. "What I do for you Blondie." She said with a grunt as she lay on her back.
"You okay?" Peyton asks a little concerned with the brunette's movements and the fact she looked to be in pain so she ignored her phone, which had finally stopped ringing, and focused instead on her friend.
"Yeah." Brooke stated unconvincingly as she closed her eyes. "Hurts a little that's all." She finally admitted as she opened her eyes to find Peyton's face hovering just above her own.
"Anything I can do?" Peyton asked softly as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind an ear.
Kiss it and make it better? Nah, I don't think so Blondie.
Brooke shook her head even as her eyes watered.
"Are you sure?" Peyton asked again watching her friend closely as the brunette's bottom lip began to tremble.
The brunette sighed, she was tired of hurting but was reluctant to keep taking pain relief every time she moved the wrong way or breathed too deeply. Plus if she made a lot of fuss over how badly she was hurt she was afraid she'd be spending more time in the hospital.
The better she coped without help, the sooner she would be allowed to leave.
"Yeah, the doc will be in later with some goodies for the pain." Brooke said with a hint of a smile as she took a few calming breaths. It hurt but she'd cope.
"Are y-" Peyton frowned as she was cut off by her phone ringing again.
"You better get that Pey it might be important." Brooke said encouragingly as she watched the blonde hesitate again.
Not really sure I want to answer it Brooke. Peyton thought before reaching down over the side of the bed and grabbing at her jeans trying to pull her phone out from one of the pockets.
Brooke couldn't help herself as her eyes where drawn to Peyton's exposed lower back as she bent over. She grinned as she considered whether or not to reach out and touch the patch of flawless skin displayed to her.
It was almost too tempting, but sadly she thought Peyton would probably fall out of the bed in shock if she did touch her there.
"Feeling better?" Peyton asks having retrieved and turned back to Brooke only to be greeted by a smiling brunette.
"Strangely enough, yes I am." Brooke replied still smiling.
"Well okay, any chance you want to answer my phone for me then? Since you're feeling better and all." The blonde asked sheepishly.
"Why? Who's calling?" Brooke asked sitting up cautiously.
"Oh, you know… Haley… or Nathan… though at this time it'll more than likely be Nate and I really don't want to get shouted at." Peyton explained.
"And why would Nathan be shouting at you?" Brooke asked as she took the ringing phone out of Peyton's hands.
Peyton shrugged.
"Peyton? They do know where you are right?" Brooke asked a little worried at the answer.
Peyton shrugged again and shook her head in a way that reminded Brooke of a much younger girl worried she'd gotten herself in trouble.
And while she wasn't happy Peyton had done something as stupid as she'd just indicated, she also couldn't find it within herself to get angry with the blonde either.
"What am I going to do with you Pey?" Brooke asked with an eye roll as she pressed the call answer button.
"You've reached Peyton Sawyer's phone, she's not here right now but if you'd like to leave a message at the end of the beep, she'll get back to you as soon as possible, beep!"
Brooke smiled and gave Peyton a wink as she waited for a reply.
And waited.
"Brooke?" Came the reply finally and she recognised Nathan's voice. "Is that you?"
"The one and only, what can I do for you at this bright and early time in the morning? When I'd rather still be asleep." She added pointedly as she remembered she been peacefully asleep before Peyton's ringing phone had disturbed her.
"Uh, is Peyton there?" He replied cautiously making his confusion of her answering the call apparent.
Brooke looked at Peyton. "Yip, but she's sleeping so you get me instead, lucky you!"
"Peyton's there… and she's sleeping?"
"Yes… it's what normal people are doing at five twenty in the morning Nate."
"So, she's okay right?"
"She is." Brooke replies hearing the worry in her friends voice as he asked. "And I promise she'll make it up to you guys later for worrying you for nothing, she'll even shout for breakfast how's that." She continues giving Peyton a hard stare to let her know she had better make it up to their friends if she knew what was good for her.
Brooke listens as he breaths a sigh of relief and can hear talking in the background but couldn't make out what was being said.
"We just… she wasn't here, and…"
Brooke closed her eyes at that understanding how Nate and Haley would feel at finding Peyton gone. "Yeah." She answered, her voice breaking slightly.
"But she's okay Nate and she'll see you guys in an hour or two, okay?" She continued feeling Peyton take hold of her free hand.
Brooke listen half heartedly as he said his thanks and ended the call promising to see her later at visiting.
Peyton stroked the back of Brooke's hand with her thumb as she looked on with concern as her friend kept her eyes tightly shut.
"If you ever, ever, do something that stupid again Peyton-"
"I'm sorry." Peyton cut in, the last thing she wanted was to upset everyone all over again, but the truth was she hadn't given it much thought before she'd left the apartment last night.
Brooke opened her eyes and let Peyton see just how scared she was.
"Sorry won't always cut it Pey, he's out there, we all know that and what he's capable of, what if he'd been watching you? What if h-"
"I was really careful, I climbed out the side and I'd already called a cab. It was waiting down the block for me, and I came straight here, I was careful Brooke." Peyton explained not wanting Brooke to start thinking about all the what ifs as they'd do nothing but upset her all the more.
Nothing had happened.
Brooke didn't think Peyton really understood, it wasn't just about her being careful.
"Peyton, I asked Shannon if you could stay, if I can't trust you to be careful when you come to see me then I'd rather you didn't come." Brooke said meaning every word.
Peyton swallowed hard at that and felt a lump begin to form in her throat as she watched Brooke struggle not to break down and cry.
"I mean it Pey, if something had happened to you… don't you get it? It would have been my fault!" Brooke said shakily before dropping her head into her hands. She resisted for a while as she felt Peyton try to pull her into her arms, but she finally allowed the other girl to hold her.
Peyton frowned when she felt Brooke begin to shake in her arms, but just as she was about to ask if she was okay, giggling reached her ears.
"What?" She asked confused at the sudden mood change.
Brooke moved into a better position a looked up at Peyton with a huge smirk on her face. "Haley is going to kick your ass." She explains simply.
Peyton pouted. "Where's the sympathy?" She asks before receiving a glare from the other girl. "Not that I really deserve any." She added guiltily.
Brooke snuggled back down and made an effort to relax, Peyton was safe and nothing bad had happened this time. Maybe it was best not to think too much about it. She was sure this would make Peyton act more with awareness in future, or at least she hoped it would. Haley would help her out if need be.
"Haley will be fine, just make sure to buy the chocolate doughnuts for her breakfast." Brooke said sure a pregnant woman could be easily swayed with the right offering, and who in their right mind would turn down chocolate?
Peyton settled back unwilling to try to sleep again with only a few hours left before she would have to leave again. She wasn't looking forward to it, but at least Brooke seemed to have forgiven her, now all she had to do was deal with Nathan and Haley.
She frowned, she was sure that wasn't going to be much fun.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"She's okay?" Haley asked wiping at the wet marks she had on her cheeks.
When Peyton hadn't answer straight away she'd realised that it might not be as simple as the blonde having trouble sleeping and deciding to take a stroll around the block, although that was never what she'd thought had been the case.
The possibility that her friend could be in real trouble was just too much, especially when her call had gone unanswered. She couldn't help but get upset and start shouting for her husband.
Luckily Nathan had managed to understand enough of what she was saying between sobs to work out what was wrong. He had simply taken the handset from her, sat her down and took control of the situation, finally managing to get an answer on Peyton's cell.
"Yeah." He replied kneeling down in front of Haley and pulling her into a hug. "She's okay, Haley. She's with Brooke at the hospital, but Brooke said she be back in a few hours."
"Really? Did Brooke say if she minded if I strangled her, cause that's exactly what I'm going to do when I get my hands on her." Haley said with a scowl.
Nathan laugh thinking his wife looked adorable when she was angry.
"I mean it Nate!"
"I know, but I think you should wait and see what kind of peace offering she brings back first, you never know you might like it." He said knowing Haley would have a hard time staying angry at their friend.
If she was with Brooke and was staying the night there then he was sure Haley would be more than understanding once Peyton explained.
"Come on Brooke's right, we should try and get some more sleep." He said standing and helping Haley up before they made their way back to their room.
"Fine, but I'm still mad at her."
"And you've got a right to be, just listen to what she has to say before you kill her okay, cause I think Brooke would miss her not to mention Luke."
Haley grunted in agreement at that. "But I'm still mad." She added just so Nathan was clear on that.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
There was only fifteen minutes before the doctors started their rounds in the ward and Shannon had already been in to check on the pair. Having knocked loudly before she entered with a smile, and apologising if she was interrupting anything.
That had gotten a laugh from both girls, but as they hadn't been able to fall back asleep after Nathan's call they were still awake. They had been happy just to lay together in silence after earlier, Brooke just happy to have Peyton holding her and the blonde content to spend a final few moments with Brooke before she would have to deal with the fallout from her actions.
Not wanting to rush into a possible confrontation with Haley Peyton had waited until Shannon had returned again before being coaxed by Brooke to begin to get ready to leave. Somehow Brooke and Shannon had discussed just how Peyton would be getting home which ended with Shannon offering a ride and Brooke accepting before Peyton really knew what was happening.
So now the blonde was dressing while Brooke stole her ipod from her. Not that Peyton minded but it was one of the few things she got Lucas to get from her house for her. She still had to sort out how and when she was going to retrieve the rest of her stuff.
With Haley and Nathan having managed to pack most of their things up and Brooke getting released soon, she had to start making the apartment into a home for both of them, even if it would be only for the summer.
In an effort to distract herself from her current thoughts, which revolved around a certain blonde that was just pulling on her jeans, Brooke started to thumb through the artist list on Peyton's ipod. It had been months since the last time she was aware of which particular bands her friend was spending her time listening to.
As she worked her way down the alphabetically arranged list one name stood out and made her scroll back up to check to see if it was really there.
It was.
Brooke burst into a fit of giggles.
"What?" Peyton asks having just pulled her top on.
"Oh my God! The Dixie Chicks! Really?" Brooke exclaims as Peyton sits down beside her.
Peyton smiles and grabs the ipod back out of her friends hands. "Hey, don't knock them until you've listened to them." She replies.
"Not very emo my friend, I don't know what's happened to you but I'm blaming Broody for this one." Brooke says taking the device back out of Peyton's hands and continuing her browsing wanting to know what other changes she would find. "Not exactly System of the Dud are they?" She mutters hoping not to find Britney Spears in there somewhere.
"It's System of the Down, and if you give the Chicks a try I'm sure even you would like them." Peyton replied.
Brooke rolled her eyes not caring about what the name of the band was, what did it matter really, one screaming heavy metal band sounds the same as the next.
She smiled, no Britney.
Maybe Peyton hadn't really changed too much in her absence.
"Not really in a Cotton Eye Joe mood right now Peyton." She finally replied to her friend.
Peyton laughed at her. "Not even in the same league, come on give them a try, I promise you'll like it." She says running a finger over her heart in the shape of an X.
Brooke narrowed her eyes as Peyton just looked at her with a grin and blinked a few times.
Peyton just waited knowing Brooke was about to agree, they were a good band and they'd moved away from the whole country scene that made them famous, but although they'd lost fans they were producing music Peyton was happy to listen to.
"Okay, one listen, and I don't have to like it." Brooke said as she caved in.
"You'll like it."
"Honky Tonk isn't really my thing Peyt." Brooke said not sure what she'd let herself in for as the blonde reached up and placed the ear pieces into place.
Brooke closed her eyes and tried to ignore Peyton while she leaned into her body, their faces coming close to touching, she could have just as easily put them in herself and was a little embarrassed at allowing Peyton to do that for her.
"There." Peyton said softly as she pulled back and caught Brooke gazing at her.
Brooke felt her heart swell as they stared at each other smiling in silence for a moment before Peyton blushed slightly and ducked her head down to look at the ipod screen.
Trying to break the sudden tension that was beginning between them Brooke pulled the cord from her ears. "And don't even think about switching it to the System of the Crud either Blondie." She said in mock warning.
Peyton managed to gather her composure back at that and picked up the fallen ear pieces. "Tell you what Brooke? Why don't you just lean back, close your eyes and listen to this okay?" She said having decided on which song to play for her friend.
Brooke looked so sceptical at Peyton's suggestion that the blonde couldn't help but laugh.
"Just listen, okay?" Peyton said placing the ear pieces back into place. "And keep those eyes closed!"
Peyton waited for the brunette to comply, but Brooke popped an eyelid open at the last second and scowled at her before relaxing back with both eyes closed.
"Fine, but no funny business Missy!" Brooke said, earning another smile from her friend.
Brooke let out an aggrieved sigh before she finally allowed herself to do as instructed, she concentrated and tried to focus on the music about to be played into her ears. She knew how much music meant to Peyton and although to her a good song was just that and nothing more, it wasn't like that for her best friend.
Peyton drew her finger up and onto Brooke's lips for a fleeting instant.
"And no talking." She ordered softly.
Peyton watched over the face in front of her a moment before she looked down at her ipod and selected the song and pressed play.
She'd always thought music was such an amazing way to express so many different things. Songs can encapsulate human emotions much in the same way as the greatest epics ever written, if done well enough.
Both the singer and the musicians allowed the listener into their world for three to four minutes. And in that short space of time, you could be taken on a journey that relives moments in your life like nothing else can.
The greatest songs of all time are the ones that let you share in the performers' joy, fear, hate, happiness and loss. Done with enough passion, the connection for the listener is effortless, done badly it joins thousands of others in the long line of mediocrity.
And to Peyton there was nothing mediocre about this particular song.
In fact this song spoke to her about many things that had happened in her life in the past year or so. Although, like most of America she knew the story behind the song, it related to such a universal feeling that it stood out as a great song, with a message that held more meaning because of its origins.
Brooke tried to refocus after that feather light touch Peyton's finger had given to her lips, she also managed to hold back the smile that the touch almost invoked.
Peyton had always told her that it was the first few bars of a song that would make or break it, that it took only a few seconds to tell if a song was actually good or not. Brooke normally didn't pay attention when the blonde would start talking about the newest badass band or singer to release an album. She couldn't really care less about much of Peyton's obsession with music, she just wanted music that could be played in a bar or club and get her up dancing and having a good time.
But when something meant this much to her friend Brooke always made some kind of effort to try and understand it, even if she didn't get the same out of it as Peyton.
So that's what she was doing now, going along with her nutty best friend to try and find the 'magic' in the song being played to her.
The first thing she heard was the sounds of an acoustic guitar strumming a few times before a women's voice begins sort of talking about forgive and forgetting and that she's still waiting for time to heal.
Then the chorus kicked in and Brooke had to roll her eyes even if Peyton couldn't see it.
What a surprise, an angry song! Nope you haven't changed a bit P. Sawyer.
But as the song continued Brooke couldn't help but be drawn in by the words and voice of the singer. It ended in almost the same note it had began, with the singer insisting that she was still waiting for time to do its job and heal her.
Now that, she could relate to, time sucked at fixing things. In the end as far as Brooke could tell you yourself were the only person that was capable of fixing anything. Time sure as hell hadn't managed to make her parents give a damn about her, or for her to stop caring about them in return.
"Well, what did you think?" Peyton asks knowing the song had finished.
Brooke opens her eyes to look at her friend, she'd actually liked the song much more than she'd expected she would. "It was okay, if you like that sort of thing."
"Oh, come on!" Peyton exclaims at her friends nonchalant answer, bouncing on the bed a little. She loved this song and had from the moment she'd heard it.
Brooke smiled as Peyton was about to launch into a speech on why the song was better than just okay. She held her hand up.
"I suppose if I listen to it a few more times I might see what you're talking about."
"You do that then, but I'm telling you this band is kickass!"
"Really?"
"Really, tell you what, when they go on tour again I'll take you to see them." Peyton offered knowing hearing a band live was always better than a recording especially if it was a band that could play as well as these three women.
Brooke laughed at Peyton's suggestion, but was also aware of the butterflies that erupted in her stomach at the same time.
"You're nuts!"
Peyton just looked happily back at her friend.
"Go with me?"
Brooke shook her head at her friend.
"Go with me." Peyton repeated, as she found the idea of going to the future concert appealing for more reasons than why she had suggested it in the first place. She very much liked the idea that she and Brooke would be close enough in the months to come to be able to actually go together.
Brooke nodded. "On one condition."
Peyton grinned but rolled her eyes wondering what Brooke would ask of her, knowing by the smile and twinkling eyes that it could be anything. "Fine!" Brooke never just gave in she always wanted conditions, not the Peyton minded too much, they were normally a lot of fun as well.
"You go in the whole get up, boots, and hat, the complete cowgirl thing." Brooke said.
"If you dress the same way, you've got a deal." Peyton replied thinking it wasn't as bad as it could have been, and chances were good that most people going to a Dixie Chicks concert would be dressed in much the same way.
"Deal!" Brooke agreed, now all they needed was for the band to go on tour again.
"Hey, ready to go? My partner's here." Shannon said entering the room.
Peyton looked over at the nurse, who was out of her uniform and dressed in jeans and a red chemise, before leaning down and giving Brooke a kiss to the cheek. "Yeah." She replied as she pulled back and looked at the brunette.
Brooke was a little taken aback at the change as she was more used to Peyton saying goodbye with a kiss to her forehead.
"I'll see you later, okay?" Peyton continued addressing Brooke before giving her friends hand a squeeze and turning to leave.
"Bye Brooke, I'll see you tonight." The nurse said before following after the younger girl.
"Ah, yeah… bye." Brooke finally replied, but there was no one left in the room to hear her, or the confusion in her voice.
What are you doing to me Blondie?
With a moan she laid back down on the bed and press play on the ipod, hoping she'd perhaps find some answers in a song or two.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
"So, where are you wanting dropped off? Peyton, is it?" Asks the driver after a few minutes into the journey. Shannon, who had made introductions earlier, sat up front also with Peyton in the back seat.
"Yeah, and if you know Karen's Café, then near that would be good." Peyton replies.
"Are you sure? I thought we'd be running you home." Shannon asks turning in her seat a little to look at the blonde.
"Nah, I've got to pick up breakfast for my housemates first, so here will do fine." Peyton indicated as she noticed they were almost there.
"Okay, here you go."
"Thanks." Peyton says as the car pulls to a stop just in front of the café. "I'll catch you later, and nice meeting you." She continues as she steps out of the car.
"Shit."
"What? You okay Peyton?" Shannon asks with concern as she watches the young girl freeze and focus on the store in front of her. "Peyton?" She asks wanting to know what the problem was.
Peyton finally turns back not wanting to worry the nurse too much. "It's nothing, really." She says waving farewell before walking towards the café door. "Just my boyfriend."
The two women in the car turned to each other at that.
"Boyfriend? I thought you said she was?"
Shannon watched as a blonde haired boy came out and greeted Peyton awkwardly before they both entered the shop. "Guess I was wrong." She said softly as the car pulled out and they started to head towards home again, her thoughts going to the young brunette at the hospital.
Poor Brooke.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AN/ I can't even pretend to be sorry this is late, though I hope I'm forgiven ;)
My boys did good again last night, 2-0 and into the semis… WOO HOO!!
Almost there.
But back to you guys as I'm sure you couldn't give a toss about the blues, so thanks for all the reviews you lot are writing, they make me smile!
Hope you're all still enjoying this, as you can tell it's a little longer than normal, not sure if I'll keep that up. Anyway as the Old Firm lock horns again midweek I'll try to post the next part before then cause celebrating properly takes time :P
Thanks to everyone still reading and any newbie's just joining, next time!