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Chapter 16 – The Confrontation
"Hey Brooke... Haley... so let me guess... you're both wondering why I chose to write a 2 in 1 letter right?? Well, I felt it better to tell both of you this at the same time since the 2 of you are my best friends. Brooke, I'm so sorry for leaving but I know you of anyone would understand why I did. It just got to be too hard. All the memories of summers past kept lurking in the shadows and I couldn't deal with it. Pretty much like how I couldn't deal with losing people out of my life. Haley, I'm sorry that I couldn't be there for you when you needed me to. I'm not sure if Brooke knows yet but she should that's why this is in here. Just because you thought or think that you're not good enough for Nathan is no reason to not take a chance with him. I may sound like a hypocrite at the moment but if I can't follow my own advice I might as well try and help people along the way.
I'm in a good place right now you 2. I'm finally getting back to the old me. The Peyton Sawyer that didn't let anyone or anything drag her down. Ok... so that might not be who I was really... but thats who I'm becoming and thats more important. I have a great life where I'm at and a friend that I can depend on. She's just like you Brooke. Crazy, fun, energetic, and loves the boys. :) But she's got a lot of Haley qualities too... she has a beautiful voice. One that soothes the soul. Just like you Haley.
I'll be home to see you 2 one day. I just can't say when. I don't want to go back before I'm truly ready and I hope you 2 understand that. I love you 2 so much and miss you even more everyday. I hope you understand where this is coming from.
Love Always
"P.Sawyer"
The two girls set the piece of paper down as they held each other and cried. This was the first time in a year they had heard anything from Peyton. And to know that she was doing alright made them so happy yet so sad because they had no influence on that change. This other girl did along with the new life she was living. But as long as she was happy and becoming herself again they didn't care.
The girls pulled away and laughed a bit to themselves. "We're such babies" Brooke said as she wiped the tears from her eyes.
"I know..." Haley laughed "I'm glad she's ok though. I was worried about her"
"Me too... but this is P.Sawyer we're talking about. She's strong."
"Yea... but that sort of situation can take even the strongest down."
Brooke sighed. "I know... But the fact that she is so strong is what kept her alive and brought her to this point. I couldn't be more proud."
Haley half smile. "You're right. She'll always be like that."
They sat in silence for a moment as they thought about Peyton. They were shaken from their thoughts with a knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Brooke stood up and exited the room walking towards the door.
She peered out the window to see who it was but it was too dark to tell.
Opening the door a crack she peeked out.
"Hey." Brandy said
"Umm... Hi" Brooke spoke slowly unsure of who this girl was. "Can I help you?"
"Actually you can." Brandy gave her a warm smile. "May I come in for a minute."
"Umm..." Brooke looked back at Haley who shrugged her shoulders. "Sure."
Brooke opened the door so Brandy could step in. "I'm assuming your Brooke" She extended her hand as Brooke tilted her head to the side and shook her hand.
"Yea... I am. How do you know that?" She asked
Brandy turned her attention to Haley. "And I take it your the infamous Haley James with the best voice in all of Tree Hill." She shook Haleys hand as she looked around the house. "Nice place. It's just as she described it."
"What are you talking about? Who are you and how do you know us?" Brooke said with a bit of an attitude.
"Oh... I'm sorry" Brandy laughed. "I actually came to talk to you 2 about someone." They looked at her as they urged for her to go on. "Peyton Sawyer."
Their eyes became the size of golf balls at the mention of Peyton. "How do you know her."
Brandy took a seat on the couch as they followed. "Well... Peyton is my roomate."
"What?" Haley chocked out as she spit her coke halfway across the room.
"When she left here she moved to Florida. On the coast to be exact. That's where I met her."
"So you're telling us that THE Petyon Sawyer is your roomate down in Florida.?" Brooke asked trying to wrap her head around the situation.
"Yes... that is exactly what I'm saying" She smiled at them hoping they weren't too angry.
"But where is she? Why isn't she with you? If she were your roomate she would be here." Haley asked trying to figure out if this girl is in fact who she says she is.
"Who are you anyways? What's your name?" Brooke chimed in.
"Oh... I'm sorry" Brandy laughed. "My names Brandy. Brandy Baker."
"Ok Brandy..." Brooke started. "So where is P.Sawyer."
"Well... She's here actually."
Brooke and Haley both looked at each other in shock.
"Why didn't she come in here with you?" Haley asked.
"Becuase she wasn't sure how well her re-appearance in Tree Hill would be received with everything that happened and they way she left."
Brooke and Haley both had tears starting to form in their eyes as they tried to wrap their heads around the current situation at hand.
"So she's here... Like literally here?" Brooke asked.
"Yes... she's sitting outside in the car waiting for me to go back out there and say whether or not its safe for her to come see you 2."
Haley laughed through her tears. "Why would she do that? She knows how much Brooke and I love her. We want nothing but the best for her."
Brandy sat there for a second trying to figure out how to answer such a question. If she answered it wrong it could mess up the entire trip for Peyton.
"She feels like..." Brandy couldn't find the words but by looking at the girls she knew she had to say something. "Shes got it in her head that because of the way she left... everyone is going to hate her. That your not going to accept why she left and your just going to see it as running away and leaving everything behind."
"That's not true. We couldn't ever hate her." Brooke replied.
"She's like our sister and no matter what happens, sisters will always love each other." Haley said quietly.
"I'm going to get her" Brooke stood up and walked towards the door determined to go get her P.Saywer.
"NO!!" Brandy yelled after her.
"If she sees you coming at her she'll panic and she'll drive off. She gets spooked too easy. Its even worse now that we're here. You should have seen her when she saw Luke at the cafe, she completely freaked out and sped off. Let me go tell her." Brandy tried to reason.
"NO!" Brooke said as she turned the doorknob. "This is my best friend we're talking about."
Brookes tears were now flowing freely as were Haleys. This night started with a letter and a possible visit and turned into an actual visit. Neither of them knew how to handle this situation. All they wanted was to run out and hug her and they couldn't even do that for the fear of scaring her off. They wanted to be the ones to walk out and say it was ok to come in. That they still loved her and were so proud of her for getting better.
Brooke's hand fell off the doorknob and she embraced Haley in a much needed hug.
"I'll go get her." Brandy quietly said as she walked out the door.
I looked up as soon as I heard the door click open. When I saw the look on Brandy's face as she walked solemnly down the stairs I immediately got the feeling that things didn't go so well.
"Hey" Brandy said quietly as she sat down in my car.
"How'd it go?" I asked as I stared out towards the road with all the intention of starting my car up and driving off right then and there.
"Surprisingly good" She replied with a smile
"What?!" I spun my head around with a look of shock apparent on my face. "You can't be serious." She nodded her head. "They weren't mad?"
"No." She flashed me a smile before continuing. "They cried... A lot to be exact. Seems to me they're just happy to know their 'P.Saywer' Is back in town for a well needed visit."
Tears started streaming down my face at the mere fact that they were happy I was home. Back in Tree Hill to see them. I was so happy that I didn't know what to say. Then I started panicing. What if they don't like what I have to say. What if they get mad when I tell them what I've been doing? What if... What if... What if??
"You need to chill out P. They're far too happy that you're here for you to be worrying yourself with these stupid what ifs that are running through your head right now."
"You know me too well B." She smirked as she got out of the car.
"Why yes I do... Now I think it's about time you got that scrawny ass of yours in that house. Sound good?" She said as she opened my door.
"Yea" I shyly said as I stepped out of my car.
As we started walking back towards the house I started remembering all the good memories we had in this house. Stupid dress up games with Brooke were a Saturday night ritual when we were younger. I miss those times. I really do, but hopefully now we can make new memories in this house.
"Here we are." Brandy looked at me as if to ask if I was ready.
"Lets go." I opened the door only to be shoved even further outside as Brooke and Haley both wrapped their arms around me.
"I'm so glad your home!" Brooke cried.
"Me too" Haley squealed
"Guys..."
"Yea..." They replied in unison.
"I... can't... breath"
They laughed as they released me from their death grip of a hug.
"Sorry" Brooke chuckled "Well c'mon inside you two... we've got some catchin up to do."
An hour later and here we were... all 4 of us sitting on Brookes bed laughing about the memories of Haley, Brooke, and I being stupid little girls.
"I can't believe you remembered that!" I laughed as Brooke recalled my not so great move when I made out with Tim of all people at a party.
"Oh I so do P. Saywer... you were all over him in your drunken state. I was waiting for you to maul him right there on the couch in front of half the basketball team"
I buried my face in my hands while my face turned a bright shade of red.
"You are sooo evil Brooke." I glared at her trying not to laugh, but it was no use. I couldn't help it.
"What about the time I caught you half naked in Nathan's dad's bedroom? Huh? What about that."
"That was a mistake and you know it" Brooke yelled as she threw a pillow at me.
"Didn't look that way to me. Seems you were getting a little comfy in his bed awaiting his return." I threw the pillow back and Haley almost rolled off the bed from laughing so hard.
"I thought it was Nathans room!! And Haley you really shouldn't be laughing... I remember when you wound up making out with mouth. Remember that by any chance"
Haleys face must have turned six different colors when Brooke said that.
"It was on a dare Brooke! And I'll so have you know... you made out with him first!"
My head whipped around so fast I thought I was gonna need a hospital. "You did what?!" I threw at Brooke.
"He was just so lonely. I felt bad for him." She laughed as did we all.
"Seems you guys were some crazy girls back in highschool" Brandi said through her laughs.
"Just a little" I said.
Our fun little night came to an abrupt halt as we heard the slow wrapping on the front door.
"I'll get it" Haley said as she jumped up off the bed.
Brooke, Brandi and I continued laughing about our past as Haley wandered off.
"God I miss those days" Brooke said as the laughter finally died down.
"So do I."
"It's so good to have you back P. We missed you" I gave Brooke a hug and told her I missed her too.
"It's been way to long"
"Yea it has." She said as she pulled away. "But it seems Miss Brandi here has done a great job with keeping you in tact while you were away."
I looked at Brandi and we both laughed. "I try" Brandi said as Haley walked back in the room.
"Umm... guys?" She said as we all looked up at her. "We... may have a bit of a problem."
Brooke looked from her to me and then back. "And that would be..." She questioned.
"Seems Lucas recognized that familiar black car thats now parked outside the house."
My eyes got so wide they should have popped out of my head. The things running through my head were fear related. I needed to get out. I wasn't ready to talk to him just yet. Not after having a good normal night with my three best friends.
"Make him leave" Brooke rushed as she got off the bed and headed to the door looking out into the living room.
"He won't. Not until he sees Peyton."
Brooke and Haley both looked at me with sad expressions. I turned to Brandi and she smiled.
"It's now or never girly" Brandi got up off the bed and walked out with Brooke and Haley following closely behind.
"Not now" I whined as I got up off the bed and headed to the window.
"Going somewhere?"
His voice was like sharp daggers piercing straight through my heart. So warm yet so cold all at the same time. I knew he was upset with me. I didn't need to turn around to know that.
I kept my stance looking out the window as he closed the door. "You were at the restaurant tonight weren't you?" He questioned knowing I wouldn't answer.
"I knew I'd seen that car somewhere. I just can't believe I didn't place it sooner. The letter today should have given it away, but it didn't. And that girl... She knew me. She knew what I was going through when I was talking about you. That's why she helped me out so much cause she knew"
He seemed like he couldn't just wrap his head around what was going on. Me being here seemed to be the last thing he expected.
He walked up behind me and slowly got me to turn around and face him.
"So beautiful." I shyed away as my eyes flew to the floor. "You always were. The most beautiful girl to ever enter a room. You carried yourself with grace and confidence. Like nothing could touch you. Eyes that could stop a man dead in his tracks and get lost in them for hours." I slowly looked up to meet his baby blue eyes and he smiled. "There they are." I cracked a smile before turning my eyes away. This was harder than I could have ever imagined.
"Can we talk?" He asked motioning towards Brookes bed.
"Sure" I followed him a sat on the edge as he sat down beside me.
"I missed you." Why did the first thing to come out of his mouth have to make my heart melt and crumble all at once.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I know why you did it. And I'm happy you did. You needed to get away from all of this. I just wish you would have said goodbye. That's all"
I looked over to meet his eyes searching for clues to how he was feeling.
"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye. It was just too hard to muster up the courage to come talk to you. I did miss you though. A lot. You're the main reason I came back." I pulled my eyes away from his afraid to show him how vulnerable I was at this point. I was already starting to crack. I didn't want to get any worse.
Before I knew it he had pulled me into a hug and I excepted without question. It felt good to be back in his arms.
"How about from this point on... you don't leave without saying goodbye... and I'll consider this whole situation... done."
I smiled because I know he meant it. He wouldn't bring up this situation or talk about it anymore just so long as I swore to never leave without saying goodbye first.
"Deal" I let a true smile fall on my face as I just stared at him and those eyes... those eyes still get to me. So warm and loving. That's what I was most happy to see. That he still cared.
He pulled me into one more hug before standing up off the bed and holding out his hand. "How about we go play some cards with those girls and show them what losing is all about."
I laughed. "You remember?"
"I remember everything." I grabbed his hand and walked to the door with him. He was slow to open it up though. He looked down at me and smiled as he leaned in and gave me the most innocent yet loving kiss I've ever had. "Now we can go"
I smile bigger than I have all year with just that one kiss. It seems no matter the distance and no matter the cause... Lucas will always be the one to make me happier than I could ever be.
OK... I am sooo sorry about the long wait on this update, but with all the great reviews I got I had to make sure it was perfect!! I hope you guys liked it and as always... leave a review!! It makes me update faster!! LOL!! Ok... maybe not faster... but the work is ten times harder!!
LOVE SHELL