Part 60
"Hm." Peyton mumbled as she slowly woke. She shifted to the side only to find something was in her way. Blinking her eyes open she came face to face with a pair of wide awake eyes staring straight at her.
"Morning!" Brooke said cheerfully even as the blonde flinched.
"I hate it when you do that." Peyton muttered shifting away and rubbing at her face to try and find a level of awareness that would let her deal with Brooke in this kind of mood.
Brooke's eyebrows lifted. "Do what?" She asked innocently.
"That..." She replied before a yawn made it impossible to finish her sentence until she'd sucked in enough air to hurt her lungs not to mention her jaw. "Thing. Freaking me out." She said sitting up and reaching for her cell phone to check the time. "Don't know why you do that. Can't you sleep like a normal person?" She put her phone back down, it was that way too early for this. A little disgruntled she snuggled back into position, closing her eyes and pulling Brooke close.
Brooke watched bemused that the blonde was now nestled against her even though she'd sounded mad at her. She was well aware of how Peyton felt when she woke up to find her right there watching her, that was part of the attraction of doing it after all. But it did go a little bit deeper than that for the brunette. Once upon a time Brooke liked to wake up first when she'd stayed with the blonde and just look at Peyton sleeping beside her. In those quiet moments alone she let herself pretend until her best friend woke up.
That it wasn't just her best friend lying in bed beside her, but her lover.
She smiled knowing she'd never have to pretend again.
She smoothed her hand over the blonde locks having learnt over the years not to attempt anything more given how easily Peyton's hair tangled into masses of knots. That was a sure fire way to get into Peyton's bad books, it could take an hour to undo that kind of damage. Longer to gain forgiveness.
"You okay?"
Brooke paused. "Hm?"
Peyton sat up again this time not looking the least bit tired. Her eyes searched Brooke's face carefully. It was early and they'd gone to bed late last night. Brooke should have been as tired as she was. Unless...
"You okay?" Peyton asked repeated, looking frantic. She couldn't believe she'd been about to drift off again. What did that say about her? Some girlfriend.
"I'm fine." Brooke replied wondering what had Peyton so worried.
"You sure?"
Brooke giggled and leaned forward to press her lips against the blonde's. "Yes."
"Then why are you up?" Peyton muttered calm now but just as confused.
"I just am." Brooke shrugged.
"Oh." Peyton sighed and slouched back down on the bed. "Then can I have whatever you're on, 'cause I'm knackered." She laughed.
Brooke kissed the blonde's forehead. "Poor baby. All tuckered out?"
Peyton smiled and nodded her head up and down rapidly. "Uh huh."
Brooke shifted to lie beside her, her body pressing against Peyton's as she put her lips to her girlfriend's ear and whispered, "Guess it's early to bed tonight."
Peyton swallowed as her body shivered. She eased her head around. Brooke's eyes were so bright with joy that Peyton just stared back at her, a smile inching its way across her face.
"Last night was amazing." Brooke confessed quietly.
Peyton sniggered. "I aim to please!" She said wiggling her eyebrows and puffing out her chest.
Brooke rolled her eyes. Trust Peyton to bring the tone down.
"That's not what I meant and you know it." Brooke replied.
Peyton shrugged. "Oh, well, the rest of the night was okay I guess." She sniffed and crossed her arms across her chest turning away from her girlfriend.
Brooke sighed. She was trying to be serious.
Peyton chuckled then nudged the brunette before wrapping her arms around her and holding her tightly. "Come on, we can still fit in another couple of hours sleep. Tonight we can do anything you want I promise." She added enticingly in the hopes of more sleep. She would even volunteer to get on her guitar again if Brooke wanted to.
Brooke pouted but the warmth of have the blonde surrounding her was actually beginning to over-rule the thought of getting an early start to the day. Her idea of an early start being a shared bath with her girlfriend, but maybe she could still work that in.
"Anything?" She asked willing to be persuaded.
Peyton smiled to herself. Brooke was so easy sometimes. She pressed her lips to Brooke's check and replied in a sultry voice, "Anything."
"Well okay then!"
xxxxxxx
Brooke watched Peyton cover up a yawn as she pulled up in the school car park. "How can you still be tired?" She asked wondering because they'd had about the same amount of rest and she felt fine.
Peyton shrugged. "Just am." Privately she thought it might be her body telling her she'd been pushing herself to the limits these past few weeks, eventually it had to catch up to her sooner or later.
Brooke shook her head.
Peyton saw the concern still shadowing her girlfriends face and grabbed her hand. "Hey, maybe we can have a nap later? And then I might last the rest of the night, remember I'm all yours." She said with a grin.
Brooke laughed and squeezed Peyton's hand. "Like I was going to forget that! I have plans for you Blondie."
Peyton's grin widened and she tilted her head closer to Brooke. "Is that right?" She asked quietly, her eyes shinning.
"Uh huh." Brooke replied just before Peyton kissed her.
"Cool."
They shared another kiss before Peyton broke away not wanting them to be late for Brooke's meeting with Turner.
"Are you sure he's not going to expel you or anything?" Peyton asked with her arm draped over Brooke's shoulder. The car park was pretty empty but there were lots of students out in the quad on lunch break but luckily there wasn't a reporter or news van in sight. "Guess we've had our fifteen minutes." She said sharing a look with her girlfriend at the notable absence.
Brooke shrugged, not wanting to say anything and jinx herself. She was grateful for the lack of attention but she still knew the rest of the student body were watching her so she had no intention of removing her baseball cap.
"I'm not sure I'd even care if he did at this stage Peyton." Brooke answered. Rachel had been a loyal friend and it was time for Brooke to give a little of that friendship back to the redhead.
Peyton didn't know how to respond so she pulled Brooke to a stop and just wrapped her arms around her, standing there in the middle of the quad with probably fifty other kids watching and she didn't care.
The blonde felt a little emotional as they broke apart. She had to swallow a few times before she could speak without risk of embarrassing herself further. "Well then, we've got nothing to worry about then do we?" She said smiling at her girlfriend. "Turner can say whatever he wants but he doesn't get to make you feel bad. Not with me there." She said nodding to herself.
Brooke rolled her eyes at the blonde as they entered the school, having to once again produce ID's before they were admitted.
The brunette tightened her hold around Peyton's waist as they walked along the empty corridor.
"My hero." She muttered affectionately looking up into Peyton's green eyes with a smile.
Peyton couldn't continue walking with that look being directed at her. Glancing around to make sure they were in the clear she captured Brooke's face in her hands and kissed her gently.
"You're lucky l love you Brooke Davis, otherwise Turner would just have to amuse himself for a while." She told her before stealing another kiss from those grinning lips.
Brooke giggled as she was finally released. "My, my, tonight can't come soon enough." She whispered before pecking Peyton's lips one final time and then taking her hand to get to Turners office before she pulled Peyton into an empty room somewhere and made good on that offer.
Peyton just walked along beside her with a silly grin on her face.
Could life get any better?
The pair had to tone down their looks as they arrived at the schools reception but they didn't let go of the others hand. The secretary eyed them for a moment before pressing her buzzer. "Your twelve thirty is here Principle Turner."
After a few seconds a static voice came through the machine saying, "Send Miss Davis in please."
She nodded at the machine then looked up at the pair to relay the message but as they'd obviously overheard, the two girls were already making their way to the Principles door. Disgruntled the older woman muttered to herself before getting on with her work.
Peyton rolled her eyes at the grumbled words coming from behind them and knocked on Turner's door for Brooke.
The door opened carefully and Turner stepped out closing the door slightly behind him.
His looked delighted to see Brooke which got the brunette sending Peyton a questioning look.
"Miss Davis, if you'd like to join me for a moment we can...talk this all out and reach an amicable solution for all parties." He said sounding almost desperate. "But first I should...well..." Turner yanked at his collar feeling uncomfortable in his clothes.
Suddenly a throat cleared loudly from inside Mr Turner's office.
Peyton's eyebrows hiked up.
Sighing Turner looked upwards before giving Brooke a small smile and opening his door for the pair, revealing who was inside.
"Mom!" Brooke exclaimed, unconsciously dropping Peyton's hand as she brought both of hers up to cover her mouth at the shock of seeing her mother sat there.
Peyton just stood there in disbelief, feeling her stomach drop as Victoria Davis rose from her chair and approached Brooke with a smile. Even that looked as fake as her dyed hair. Why now? Why did this uncaring cow of a mother have to turn up now? When everything was getting the good side of great.
"Darling. I've been ever so worried." Victoria said pulling Brooke into her arms for an over the top embrace. She then tugged Brooke into the office leaving Peyton stood there by the door.
"Come, your father and I have been so troubled over all of this. Horrible, it's been just horrible with you so far away. But I'm here now." Victoria continued sweetly, guiding her daughter into the chair she'd just vacated.
The older Davis looked over her shoulder as she crouched beside Brooke. "If you would be so kind, I'd like to speak with my daughter for a moment. Alone." She said, not taking her eyes from Turners until he stuttered out his reply and closed the door for them, closing Peyton out as well.
Peyton blinked thinking this was one of those outer body moments that she'd heard people talking about. She felt like she was dreaming. Maybe she was, there was no way else to explain that evil woman being here.
"Miss Sawyer, you can go to the library if you like but remember your exam starts at one fifteen." And with that Turner walked away from Peyton and into the staff room now that his own room had been commandeered out from under him. He was just glad to be away from Mrs Davis.
Peyton watched him go then stared back at the closed door feeling like she'd just been punched in the gut.
This isn't happening. This can't be happening.
She could hear murmured voices from inside the room and her heart raced over what could be being discussed in there without her. What would Victoria be saying, what reasons would she try to use for only turning up now, nearly two weeks after the event?
And would Brooke buy into it?
Peyton snorted in disgust at the thought of Brooke's mother pleading innocent of neglecting her daughter. She wouldn't want to look bad that was for sure. Bit late for that.
A throat cleared then a voice muttered, "Don't you have an exam to get to? Or just somewhere else to be? It's rude to just stand there."
Peyton narrowed her eyes at the secretary, gave her the finger then slowly walked away.
"Well I never!" The older woman stuttered before getting on with her work with a shake of her head. "Children in this day and age. Should bring back real discipline see how long that attitude would last then."
xxxxxxx
"Isn't this...homey." Victoria said struggling for a way to describe her first impression of the little shabby apartment her daughter was apparently living in. The front room looked a mess and she didn't dare think about the rest of the place.
Brooke could hear the disgust in her mother's voice and became defensive. "It's not that bad actually."
"That remains to be seen my dear." Victoria responded wondering if she should risk looking for somewhere clean enough to chance sitting down and not ruining her very expensive clothes.
"Has there been a problem with your father's money transfers?" She asked with a lifted eyebrow. What other answer could there be for her daughter to be living here?
Brooke narrowed her eyes then moved into the kitchen leaving her mother standing there as she pulled out a bottle of water out of the fridge. She took her time opening it and taking a sip to calm her emotions. It was bad enough trying to deal with her mother acting all caring with her she didn't need to be told she was living in a dump. "The apartment is all Peyton and I need mother." She answered reasonably.
Victoria scoffed and stepped closer, placing her hand bag on the breakfast bar but refusing to sit. "I should have known she'd have been behind this." She said quietly to herself as she eyed the apartment more carefully.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Brooke demanded having heard the comment.
Victoria gave Brooke a condescending look, like her daughter wasn't expected to know any better. "It's been this so-called friend of yours that has caused all of this! If it wasn't for Peyton Sawyer you would be with your father and me in California where you belong." She watched Brooke open her mouth to reply and lifted a finger to point at her offspring. "Don't think I didn't guess she was the reason you wanted to stay here in the first place, well I'm telling you from now on it's going to stop."
Brooke closed her mouth. Lucas had something to do with staying here but okay, she could have left once that was over, but she hadn't really wanted to and yeah, that was because Peyton was still here. She hadn't been quite strong enough to leave the blonde behind, even if they're friendship had been all but over for a good part of that time.
Taking Brooke's silence as acceptance Victoria graced her daughter with the best smile money could buy. "Well maybe you can show me to your room, perhaps that'll be an improvement from the rest of the place."
Brooke smirked. "Sure." She had her fingers crossed that Peyton hadn't bothered to make the bed this morning. That'd be good for a shock or two. Wait till she told the old crone it was the only bedroom in the apartment and that no, Peyton didn't sleep on the couch.
"It's this way." Brooke said walking ahead wanting to get a good view of her mother's reaction. With any luck it would send her running back to her hotel room.
xxxxxx
"Thirty minutes remaining." The supervising teacher said from the front of the classroom.
Peyton brought her gaze back in from the view outside to stare at the blank canvas in front of her. She didn't care about any of this. How could she just sit here while Brooke was dealing with that dragon of a mother all on her own?
She leapt to her feet just thinking of Victoria getting her claws into her girlfriend. Twisting her mind, getting Brooke all upset. She didn't know why the older woman was here but there wasn't a bone in Peyton's body that believed it was out of concern for Brooke.
"Peyton?"
Peyton snapped her gaze to the front of the class but her feet were already in motion. "I'm sorry – I've just, I've gotta go." She said before getting out of the room and into the corridor. She could feel her heart racing as she started to panic. She'd told Brooke so many times that she'd always be there for her when she needed her.
Then why in the hell am I still here?
With that single thought Peyton ran.
xxxxx
AN/ HAPPY NEW YEAR! (when ever it gets/got there for you guys)
Okay come on you guys, you all knew this was going to happen sooner or later. Victoria will be dealt with and everything will be just fine :D (maybe)
Sorry this was so late but count yourselves lucky this is the version I've posted, trust me I'd be scared to log back on to my computer if I'd posted my first few go's.
I'd like to do a big shout out to those of you that have stuck with me through the years, yes newbies I've been writing this for YEARS! Three to be exact. I love everyone for bothering to read this given how poor my updating record is. I do feel bad for you lot. Fingers crossed I'll finish it in the year ahead! Goals, its good to have something high to aim for right? You never know it could happen :P
All the best for the New Year people! Stay safe.
Time to P-A-R-T-Y!