For juicetroop82 for shoving that mirror under my nose to check if I was still breathing, I am (see?) and look just for you an update!
Yay!
Don't read it all at once ;)
Remember Lucas, Lucas, Lucas... lol
No please...enjoy!
Part 58
Laughing as she tried to finish off her Kuai-tiao rat na, a Thai rice noodle dish with beef, Peyton couldn't believe what she'd just been told. Brooke had been the one that cheated from the stolen term paper Haley had been sacked as a tutor over. "And Turner was just...okay with it?"
"Well no." Brooke replied still focused on her dinner. "But what could he do really?"
Peyton laughed again as she pictured Turner attempting to apologise to Rachel.
"So what happens now?" Peyton asked getting up and taking her empty carton and dumping it in the kitchen bin before pulling out one of the left over beers from the party, her second of the night, and sitting back down while Brooke continued eating. She would have offered the brunette a beer but they'd already ruled Brooke out because of her medication.
Brooke just shrugged her shoulders as her mouth was full.
"Is he going to let Rachel complete the year out then?" Peyton wondered aloud. With Rachel kicked out she hadn't been able to graduate from high school along with the rest of them. She would have had to get her GED if she hadn't wanted to repeat the year at a different school.
Peyton eyed her girlfriend as a more serious thought occurred to her. "Are you going to be in trouble?" Technically being as it was Brooke and not Rachel that had cheated on the test Brooke should be facing expulsion.
Brooke got up and disposed of her empty carton now that she was finished. She hadn't been worried about what would happen to her, she'd just wanted to do the right thing by Rachel. The girl had taken her in and pretty much looked after her when Brooke had no one else to turn to, the least Brooke could do for her was let her graduate.
"Turner has to talk to the school board, don't know what they'll decide to do but Rachel should be in the clear now." Brooke replied picking up her bottle of water and dropping down into the corner of the couch and tossing her feet up into Peyton's lap.
Peyton grinned and downed a mouthful of beer before placing the bottle down on the floor and turning her attention to the wiggling toes. "Your leg holding up?" Peyton inquired as she started a massage.
"Why?" Brooke asked with a grin. "You offering more than a foot massage?"
Peyton giggled and nodded, turning her head to meet Brooke's gaze as her fingers continued their work. "I just might be."
"Lucky me." Brooke muttered then leant her head back and closed her eyes. She loved when Peyton did this, there was an obvious intimacy about it but it was something they'd both done for each other since they joined the cheerleading squad. There was a constant need to practise routines and just generally stay in very good shape, which led to lost of aches and pains. And there were no better hands than Peyton Sawyer's, not that anyone else on the team could back Brooke up on such a claim, the blonde had never offered her services to any of the other girls.
That thought made Brooke grin, even with their falling out over Lucas, Peyton remained as distant with the rest of the squad as she always had been. It wasn't really a big thing but to Brooke it was another indicator that there was more to their friendship than was 'normal', whatever normal meant.
"You're good at that." Brooke murmured.
Peyton grinned and kept her firm touches going. The television was on at a music channel but the sound was down low as it was more for background noise than anything. "I've got mad skills."
Brooke laughed as Peyton tried to sound like Skills. "That you have." She happily agreed as Peyton slapped at her feet to indicate she was done and shifted to sit cross legged on the couch facing the blonde.
"Wanna watch a movie or something?" Peyton asks as she picks up and finishes off the last of her beer.
"Want another?" Brooke asks taking the empty bottle from Peyton's hand and getting up.
Peyton turns her head to watch her girlfriend not sure of her answer. She wouldn't mind another but as Brooke wasn't drinking she didn't really want to get drunk. "Umm..."
Brooke smirked and pulled a beer from the fridge and handing it to the blonde as she sat down and picked up the remote to flick through the channels.
"You sure you don't mind?" Peyton asked just holding the bottle.
"Nope." Brooke answered her face on the television as she tried to find something worth watching. It wasn't like they needed to study, she didn't have any finals tomorrow just a meeting with Turner and Peyton had an Art final in the afternoon which Brooke was sure she'd ace with no effort at all.
The brunette sighed as she couldn't find much to get excited over and watching a dvd she'd probably seen ten times already didn't really appeal to her, finally she settled on a channel showing the film Juno which was already part of the way into the film.
That decided she leant back and shifted closer to Peyton who still hadn't opened her beer. Brooke gave the bottle a look then lifted her gaze up to Peyton who was already looking very relaxed if her grin was anything to go by.
"I'm beginning to think you might be trying to get me drunk young lady!" Peyton accused her jokingly.
Brooke placed a hand in the centre of her chest and plastered on her best innocent look. "Would I do that?"
Peyton laughed. "Yes!" But with a wink from Brooke she shrugged and opened the beer then placed her free hand around Brooke to pull her in close.
Brooke snuggled in closer and smirked to herself as she turned to watch the remainder of the film. She wasn't really trying to get Peyton drunk, she just felt with everything going on it wouldn't hurt to let the blonde have a night where she didn't have anything to worry about and could just let their problems go for a while.
Peyton suddenly realised she had a thing for brunette's as the main character's sarcasm began to appeal to her in a way she'd never considered before. "She's kinda cute." She muttered from behind Brooke, who at some point had shifted to rest her head in her lap and then sneakily pulled her down with the offer of a kiss. It had to have been the alcohol, the reason she'd submitted so easily, or maybe she wasn't the only one with skills.
Brooke turned to the blonde who was now comfortably sprawled behind her as they both lay down on the couch and gave her a look before turning back around.
"What?" Peyton asked. "I was just saying."
"Yeah, well at least you weren't talking about the guy." Brooke muttered feeling her face contort into a scowl she knew wasn't warranted, Peyton had just made an off-handed comment, there was absolutely no reason to be jealous or upset over it. None.
Peyton grinned as she heard the mumblings from Brooke but made sure not to laugh, she was perfectly aware of just how mercurial the brunette's temper could be. Listening to her huff out a breath and make another comment directed at Canadian's Peyton felt for the remote and turned off the television to prevent Brooke's mood souring any more.
"We were watching that."
"And now we aren't." Peyton replied as Brooke shifted around in her arms to face her. Smiling she threaded her fingers through the strands of Brooke's soft hair, studying her face as she did so. "You're cute when you're jealous B. Davis."
Brooke's eyes widened. "I am not-"
Peyton silenced her with a kiss. She had been trying to reassure Brooke not set her off. She pulled back and bit her lip waiting to see if she'd managed to calm the brunette down any. She sighed deeply when the annoyance disappeared from those chocolate brown eyes and was replaced by something much more pleasant. Arousal.
That she could definitely deal with.
Her arms shifted and tightened around Brooke to hold her in place, the small couch wasn't really designed to hold two people lying down and she didn't want to risk Brooke falling off. The added bonus was the pair of lips that were now temptingly close once again, she didn't even try and resist, pressing her lips to Brooke's and kissing her, slowly at first wanting to take her time, but then Brooke started kissing her back and soon they were both lost.
Brooke wasn't sure how long they spent kissing but when she felt her own hand work its way below the waistband of the blonde's jeans she forced herself to stop before things got too far.
She wasn't ready for more and she didn't want to upset Peyton by leading her on.
Moving her hand to up a few inches to the small of Peyton's back Brooke slowed down the heated kiss they were sharing until finally they separated and Peyton released a raged sigh into her neck.
She knew Peyton had gotten pretty worked up and she wasn't fairing much better.
"Sorry." She whispered hugging the blonde to her.
Peyton laughed and pushed up to stare down at Brooke. "Seriously, you're apologising?" She asked incredulously. "I'm not upset Brooke, and I'm not angry. Horny maybe," She admitted with a giggle that made Brooke smile. "But this isn't just about me, you're running this show babe, you say no we stop – end of, okay?" She told her girlfriend as she stared down at her.
Brooke couldn't say anything due to the intensity of the look Peyton was giving her by the end of that sentence so she nodded her head as best she could. She hadn't ever feared Peyton wouldn't stop if she asked her to, she just...worried that her body would want something she wasn't sure she could handle right now. Not emotionally anyway. Physically she was more than capable of taking things further but her head just wasn't there yet.
Peyton studied Brooke a little more before seeming satisfied that everything was okay between them, then settled back down against the brunette. "Good." She mumbled into Brooke's ear and let her fingers go back to a favoured pastime of their own which was to busy themselves ordering the strands of Brooke's hair in a way that made sense only to them. She loved touching Brooke. It didn't matter in what way, hold hands, brushing shoulders or touching her hair, she loved it all.
It was a privilege she'd earned with years of friendship.
A right given to her as Brooke's girlfriend.
She grinned to herself as she considered the possibility that perhaps she was a tiny bit, but just a tiny bit mind you, drunk.
"What's that look for?" Brooke asked shifting around carefully so that they were face to face.
Payton laughed then rested her head against Brooke's. "I'm over thinking."
"Aww, does your head hurt?" Brooke asked sympathetically while wondering if Peyton had gotten drunk on the three or four beers she'd had. That wasn't much by their usual standards when they partied so Brooke hadn't thought that a couple of beers would be too much for the blonde. Maybe that last bottle hadn't been such a good idea.
"Nope." Peyton replied still smiling. "I'm just trying to work out your plan."
Brooke's eyebrows shot up. "My plan?"
"Yeah. If you'd wanted me blind drunk you would have used spirits, and as I'm far from naked I don't think your aim was to take advantage of me, which, I have to say I find slightly disappointing, not that you need me to be drunk for that. So with that ruled out I can't-"
Brooke tried not to laugh through the kiss but Peyton was so adorable when she was like this that she couldn't help herself.
Plus, the blonde was right.
Brooke eased back and looked at her girlfriend who was smirking and giving her a knowing look.
"Fine!" She admitted and watched a triumphant look flash across Peyton face. "So I might want something from you..."
"But not my body." Peyton couldn't help but mutter playfully, giving the brunette a pout to see if it would get her anything.
It got her a sweet press of Brooke's lips that didn't last nearly as long as either of them would have preferred, but Brooke was trying to explain.
"And I didn't want you to get upset or mad or..." Brooke bit her lip not sure what else to say.
Peyton felt intrigued but she didn't have any idea what Brooke was going on about, or why whatever it was would make her angry at Brooke.
"Close your eyes?" Brooke asked and without any hesitation Peyton did as instructed, but her bottom lip edged out again to point out she wasn't happy with the resulting loss of Brooke in her sight. Brooke rolled her eyes and gave the blonde a quick kiss before getting up off the couch and out of arms that stretched out for her to come back. "Just a minute."
Peyton sighed. She wasn't happy with the lack of Brooke but didn't cross her arms because she didn't want Brooke laughing at her for being so childish. And it wasn't like the brunette could go far it was a small apartment after all.
Peyton's eyes snapped open and she lifted herself up to look over the back of the couch before relaxing back down as she confirmed the front door was still locked and bolted from the inside.
She was back in position with her eyes closed just as Brooke's footsteps returned. She heard some shuffling and something being placed down but she resisted investigating until Brooke told her she could. In the meantime she told herself that no matter what it was she wouldn't get upset with Brooke. Although she didn't understand how that could be possible in the first place it was something Brooke was obviously afraid of.
So Peyton was determined that it just won't happen.
"Okay, you can look now." Brooke said nervously.
Peyton opened her eyes slowly but all she saw was Brooke, who looked paler than she had a few minutes ago. Peyton sat up warily, her eyes glued to Brooke, she didn't know what was going on but she didn't like seeing fear in her girlfriend's eyes, not when it was because of how she might react.
"Brooke?"
Brooke chewed on her lip worried she was about to make a very big mistake, one she would be able to fix. Her eyes darted to the side unconsciously. It was too late now so with a deep breath she'd just have to say it.
"I was...I thought, maybe..."
Peyton had caught the eye movement and had followed Brooke's gaze to her right and what she saw caused the air to rush from her lungs. It was her mother's guitar case.
"You could...play something?" Brooke finally managed to get out. All she could do now was wait and see what Peyton did.
Peyton had heard Brooke but her mind was still trying to make sense of what she'd been asked. Play something? On her mother's guitar? A guitar she hadn't seen out of its case since the day before her mother had died. A guitar she'd never wanted to touch again if it meant her mother wasn't there to watch her play and give out tips on her finger placements or the rhythm of her strumming attempts.
Peyton swallowed back the memories of her childhood and tried desperately just to stay in the here and now, as much as she wished things had been different, there was nothing she could do to change the past. She licked her dry lips and looked at Brooke who looked about ready to pass out.
She did her best to smile at her as she cleared her throat. "At least you know better than to ask me to sing." She said breaking the painful silence that had descended.
Brooke closed her eyes and released the breath she was holding.
"Well, hand it over then." Peyton continued, a smile easier to display this time as she tried to let Brooke know that it was okay.
"Right." Her whole body felt like it had its bones ripped out but Brooke somehow managed to stand and reach over for the case and hand it gently over to Peyton.
Peyton took the case with one hand to rest it beside her on the couch but she captured Brooke's hand as she released it not wanting Brooke to move too far away, and because she could see her girlfriend shaking. The guitar could wait making Brooke feel better about what she'd just done couldn't.
Brooke stayed where she was for a few seconds, wanting to move to the love seat and give Peyton some space while she tried to deal with the idea of playing her mother's guitar once again but Peyton was having none of it. The blonde tugged on her hand and eventually Brooke sighed and gave in.
Peyton grinned and pulled Brooke down into her lap. As Brooke straddled her Peyton's hands found their way around her waist as Brooke's arms slipped over Peyton's shoulders.
The blonde pressed her lips to the exposed skin of Brooke's chest as the neck of her baggy tee sagged down invitingly for her. She felt more than heard Brooke sigh then tighten her hold on her which she responded to by doing the same and just hold the girl in her arms.
They stayed like that for a bit then Peyton asked, "You okay?"
Brooke sighed again then nodded. She was now.
"Good, then hop off and let me strum my stuff for you but don't be expecting to be serenaded." Peyton informed her as she reached out to steady Brooke as she got off her lap.
Brooke giggled and slapped at the blonde. "So romantic."
"Hey!" Peyton warned as Brooke took up residence on the loveseat. "You could have had my body but no you wanted music." Peyton continued with a shake of her head as she tried not to think too hard as she opened the case and ease the guitar out into her hands. It still looked in perfect condition, just the way her mother had kept it.
Inside the case was some picks and sheets of music that she took out as well, placing them on the table in front of her before her attention when back to her mother's pride and joy.
Doing her best not to get too emotional Peyton set the guitar into place on her thigh as her left hand automatically fingered the strings along the neck. She wondered if it was still in tune. Her thumb pulled on each string and her eyes closed as she listen for anything out of tune, a few of the strings needed a small adjustment but it was a good model and it had held it's tuning better than she thought it would have.
Now came the hard part. She knew Brooke was watching her expectantly.
"I'm not sure if I remember this." Peyton admitted sadly holding the instrument lovingly in her hands.
Brooke shook her head. "You remember." She said confidently catching Peyton's gaze as the blonde turned to her. She touched her fingers to the centre of her chest. "When something is so much a part of who you are it doesn't matter how much time passes, its always with you, even if its stayed in the background, its still always been there, you never lost it, it might just take a bit of time to get back to the way it was. But that's okay. You've got the time to find it again."
Peyton drank in the loving look Brooke was giving her, she wanted to wrap it around her and keep it with her always.
Brooke laughed self-consciously. "That was corny."
Peyton grinned at her. She'd thought it was beautiful. Holding the neck of the guitar in her lap she ease up and leaned over to Brooke and kissed her on the lips before sitting back down and putting the guitar back into position. "Just...don't say I didn't warn you."
Brooke couldn't ignore the excitement that erupted in the pit of her stomach as Peyton eyed the sheet of music on the table before her fingers moved along the strings and she lifted the pick to begin to play.
She'd thought she'd never see this day, never see Peyton playing again.
But here it was.
"Want another beer?" She asked as she vaguely recognised the pattern of Peyton's fingers on the strings as something she'd always down with her mother before they started playing any songs. Piano players did the same thing, something about stretching or relaxing the fingers in order to play the notes correctly.
Peyton shrugged. "Why the hell not." She said causing Brooke to get up and head for the kitchen. She winced once Brooke was out of sight and looked at her left hand before muttering. "Or something stronger, it might numb the pain."
"What was that?"
"Hm?" Peyton sighed and stared on another scale exercise. This time it sounded a bit better and wasn't as hard to get her fingers where she wanted them to go. "Oh, I was just saying is there something you want me to play?"
Brooke placed the beer on the table and looked pleased with the question.
"I don't mind. Play anything...oh," Brooke's eyes lit up as she recalled the name of a song Mrs Sawyer had often played for them. "Can you play blowing in the wind?" She asked hopefully.
Peyton flashed her a smile, she loved that song just as much as Brooke did, it was one of her mother's favourites. An important song that held a message that should never be forgotten she often told her.
A hippy song her father had called it and Peyton come to agree but now, years later, she think that maybe her mother was right. It was about war and peace and the right to freedom. Things that were still very much relevant today, nearly fifty years on.
Peyton looked through the music sheets and sure enough there it was. The strumming pattern wasn't all that difficult it was the chord changes Peyton thought she'd have trouble with but she'd played it when she was younger, so she hoped it would come back to her just like Brooke said.
She cleared her throat and gave Brooke a wry look. "You'll just have to excuse the voice."
Brooke grinned thinking that tonight was going to be one of the best she'd had in a very very long time. Without her consent her eyes closed as Peyton's finger's plucked at the first few notes.
And then her voice rang out softly.
"How many roads must a man walk down, before you call him a man...How many seas must the white dove sail, before she sleeps in the sand...How many times must-"
And Brooke thought she'd captured yet another piece of heaven.
Twice now she'd been terrified of taking a risk on Peyton and their friendship and both times she'd been rewarded with love and understanding from the blonde.
She was starting to believe in a future again.
Brooke opened her eyes and found Peyton staring straight at her as she continued to sing.
Or maybe she just believed in the person she wanted to have that future with.
xxxxxxx
AN/ Cheesy ending? (Of the chapter! Geez!) Yes, no? Personally I think it is but I can't seem to help it.
So no Lucas chapter, all together - YEEAH!
Yes I'm sure you were all dreadfully disappointed to not have him appear anywhere in this chapter.
Right. *rolls eyes* Sure.
Well I've skipped that chapter, not sure if that's good or bad for the story guess we'll all find out in due course, anyway I'll pop it back in if I have to so no worries.
Thanks for reading!