Peyton sat at the vanity, isolated in her best friend's bedroom. It weird, things had changed so much in only a few days. Peyton looked into the mirror, pulling her hair back so she could put in a braid- the hairstyle her mother loves, well loved is the more appropriate word. "It's time Peyton" Alicia said softly, leaning against the door of her room watching her friend. Peyton had been cold and distant since they out, she refused to cry and spent most of her drawing a sketch titled "Life isn't fair...is it"?
Sighing she rubbed her arms waiting for Peyton to answer. When she didn't she spoke again. "I give you a few more minutes" she left, closing the door behind her. Peyton reached in her black purse pulling out the picture that had been in the picture frame that had cracked. She held it to chest. It surreal how one minute everything was fine and the next her world was crashing around her. She closed her eyes and recalled when she found out her mother had died.
Flash Back
Peyton and Alicia had rushed to the hospital, after getting the phone call, not even bothering to change out of the outfit. They walk through the doors attached to each other hip trying to avoid people in the crowed hospital. Some were checking in, others check out, receiving good news and bad.
Peyton was very agitated; she wanted to know if her mother was alright. Who wouldn't in this type of situation?
She pulled Alicia and herself out of the way. "Alicia did the person on the phone say what happened to my mom"?
Alicia wrapped her arm Peyton, she had asked this question in the car but understood that friend was worried, she was too. "No one told me what happened". Peyton looked defeated and Alicia turned her attention to the receptionist's desk where a young woman stood. "Let's ask the receptionist" she said pulling Peyton toward the desk.
"Excuse me... we got a call saying my mother Elizabeth Harp had been admitted to the hospital.
The receptionist nodded and typed the name on the computer. She looked up at the two girls when she found the information. "Yes your mother was admitted...but you have to speak to Dr. McAdams". She turned her head searching for the man, after a minute or so she spotted him. "There he is" she pointed to the middle aged man with glasses.
Peyton and Alicia approached the man hesitantly. "Dr. McAdams ...I'm here about my mother Elizabeth Harp".
He studied the chart in his hand before looking back up. "Your mother...she collapsed at work".
"Well is she okay? Can I see her" she asked trying to remain calm.
Dr. McAdams looked at the girl sadly. "I think you should sit down".
"Just tell me if she's okay" she shouted obviously in an irrational state.
"I'm so...sorry but she didn't make it".
Peyton expression turned to one of confusion and disbelief. Her mother couldn't' be dead, it didn't make any sense. She stood there trying to grasp what the doctor had told and, her body went into some type of shock and she unable to speak".
"What do you mean dead? How"? Alicia asked, speaking for her friend, as she wiped a tear from her eye.
"Miss" Dr. McAdams began.
"Her name's Peyton Harp" Alicia said interrupting the doctor.
He motioned for them to sit in a chair; Alicia sat next to Peyton comforting her. "Your mother never informed you about her illness"?
Peyton eyes widened and she covered her mouth shaking her head.
"Well your mother came to me about three months ago. I ran some tests and found she had cancer".
Peyton felt sick.
"We weren't able to catch in time and I told her she had a few months to live six at the most, but unfortunately things didn't work out the way". He hand on her shoulder "I'm so sorry I thought you knew".
She sat the absorbing it all, her mother had cancer but never told her. Now she was all alone an orphan.
"Once again I'm sorry for your loss Miss. Harp" Dr. McAdams said sympathetically.
Flash Back Ended
"Peyton" a voice called.
She looked up and saw Alicia's mom Mrs. Thompson at the door.
"Your godmother Karen is here" the woman said meekly.
Peyton got up from the vanity, smoothing out her short sleeved black dress. After today the saying was going to be true- everything changes.
Haley James well Scott if Nathan didn't divorce her, walked in best friend's house, finding boxes stacked all around the living room. "Lucas Scott where are you and what's with all the boxes" she yelled.
Lucas had just finished setting up Peyton's bed up in the guest bedroom- her room now, when he heard Haley yelling. He enter the living room and found her confused and with her hands on her hips.
"What in the world is going on here"? She paused for moment looking around once again, "There boxes, lots of them" she thought. "You're not moving are you" Haley asked sounding almost frantic.
He put on serious face. "Well you haven't been around lately"...he trailed off.
Haley sighed, burying her face in hands. "I'm sorry I've been trying to fix things with Nathan and all the times we talked on the phone you never said any". She stopped when Lucas started to laugh. "You jackass" she screamed elbowing him the gut. "You let me stand there and think you were moving away! That's way mean Luke really mean. I actually felt guilty"!
He stop laughing and wrapped an arm around her. "I'm sorry Hales, I was kidding and besides I would tell you if I was moving away. Forgive Me"?
She nodded and gave him a quick hug. "Now tell me what going on" she demanded.
Lucas motioned for her to sit down on the couch, he started to explain. "Do you remember Ellie"?
She folded her across her chest and nodded. Yeah. your mom's friend from high school the one that came to visit last summer? What about her"?
He sighed and placed his feet on the coffee table. Something he would never do if his mother was here. "A few days ago my mom got a call from her daughter Peyton saying she died". Lucas explained how Karen had left on a flight that night and Peyton was his mom's goddaughter and she was coming to live with them.
"Oh that's so sad. Do you know Peyton"?
Lucas smiled remembering the few times he had met her. At that time she was different in a good way- and seemed to act older than three, they both did. "We met a few times, when we were little. Wait my mom has this picture of us in her photo album" he said searching for the book. When he found it he flicked the pages until he came across the picture. Haley snatched the album and instantly gushed over the picture of three year old Lucas with a curly blonde haired Peyton standing next him- both smiling.
"Aw...you guys were so adorable" she squealed closing the album and handing it back to him. This is going to be very interesting".
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "What do mean by that"?
She stared at him in disbelief. "Come on Luke you're not seriously asking that? You're a teenage guy who is going to be living with a teenage girl that you not related to. Connect the dots"!
He looked astonished. "That's crazy you know I'm dating Brooke. You know the girl that your roommate"!
Haley put her hand on his shoulder. "She told you before she left for California for the summer that she wanted to be non exclusive" she said using emphasis on the words. "So that means you can date any one you please and besides you two look so cute in that picture and the way you had your little arm around her shoulder aw".
He rolled his eyes. "Stop doing that. So you're telling me that just because we look cute together in a picture we took when we were three and because she's moving in, that I'm going to start dating Peyton.
She was about to respond to his statement but they both heard someone clearing their throat. Turning the heads they saw Karen, Keith, and who they assumed to be Peyton.
"Mom...you're home" he said nervously staring at all three of them. "How much of that conversation did you hear"?
Karen smirked at her son before answering. I don't know... I think it was something about you dating Peyton" she said watching him blush. "Well any ways Peyton I don't know if you remember, but this my son Lucas and his friend Haley.