AN: I shouldn't be updating any story, right now. I should be practicing for my Tai-chi exam or reading some book. Yet, here I am updating on my stories. I guess I know who I'll blame when I start failing my exams. LOL!
Enjoy! : )
"Hey" Nathan said as he saw Peyton.
"Hey, so do we have any classes together or with Hales?" Peyton asked as she handed him her schedule.
"Yeah we do. But, most of my classes have Brooke in it too." Nathan said uneasily because he did not know whether the blonde would hear it as a happy news or not.
"Oh, that's okay. At least she can actually let go of all the pent up anger." Peyton joked.
"Peyton...she did miss you. You guys have known each other for so long. Brooke's just, you know, being Brooke" Nathan tried to ease up the situation.
"Yeah, we have, but all that was thrown out the window the day Lucas came. Anyway, I think it's healthier for her if she does let go of all that anger she has towards me. I've been gone for over a year. So it must have been pretty hard for her not being able to bitch at me in front of, well, everybody. I think that is what she missed." Peyton said smiling.
"Look, it's not like that. You know that she missed you when you were gone. You heard what Haley said." Nathan wanted to say more and defend Brooke but Peyton cut him off.
"I know what Haley said and I know what I know. Brooke will be Brooke. I hurt her. The only way for her to get over it is to hurt the person who hurt her." Peyton replied.
"I think we should go to class now. I don't want to be late on my first day of coming back to school." Peyton said and then walked to her class leaving a stunned Nathan unable to grasp why Peyton was being unusually understanding. A few minutes later he followed Peyton to their classroom.
When Peyton reached the classroom she saw Haley and Brooke talking and felt uneasy at first. Haley then noticed her and waved her to sit on the chair beside her. Brooke turned around to see who was it that Haley was signalling to, her face dropped at the sight of who it was but quickly put on a face that said 'I-hate-you-so-much-you-should-not-have-come-back'
Peyton just smiled at Brooke knowingly. She knew Brooke was just hurt and this was her way of dealing. Besides, she came here to fix things and give people closure before God knows what would happen.
What the hell is she smiling like a clown for? Do I have something on my face? I doubt it. She must be planning something or whatever. I don't care. Brooke thought to herself while glaring at Peyton.
Haley noticed the exchange and felt so uncomfortable. She really did not know what to do. She did not want to be caught in the middle and be made to choose sides. She felt so relieved to see Nathan enter the room. She has never been this happy to see him go to class
"Nathan!" Haley said calling Nathan's attention and hoping to relieve the tension between Brooke and Peyton.
"Hey" Nathan said giving Haley a kiss. Afterwards, he took the seat behind Peyton. He was now sitting beside Brooke who is behind Haley.
Before long, the teacher came to the classroom and all the chatters stop. The teacher gave a sympathetic nod and smile to Peyton which did not go unnoticed to Nathan, Haley or Brooke. Brooke shrugged it off, too pissed to care. Nathan and Haley both wondered why but said nothing.
"Did anyone read the chapter I assigned on Shakespeare, aside from Ms. James?" The teacher started.
No one answered. Obviously, no one read the chapter but Haley.
"Okay then, since no one likes to read why don't we change how things work? You will write a poem and or an essay, whichever is more convenient for you. This is poetry, yes I know, but for now I am allowing you to write essays for the activity."
A lot of groans are heard from the class.
A student raised his hand.
"Yes?" The teacher asked addressing the student.
"What would we write about?" The student asked.
"Aha! It's easy actually. You can write anything you want. I want to know what's going on in that pretty little head of yours."
"So, you're telling us we can write anything? As in anything?" One girl asked.
"Yes you can." The teacher answered.
"Oh, this is gonna be so much fun!" One of the students at the back said with a giggle.
"So are there any other questions?" The teacher asked
A bunch of "None's" are heard from the class.
"Okay then since you do not have any questions. I'm going to be dismissing you early today." The teacher was about to say something else but was cut off by the roaring of the happy students.
"Settle down...Settle down... I still have some announcements." The class listened and they kept quiet.
"Okay..Thank You! So, I want you to be ready by next week. I will not be here for the rest of the week and I'm giving you that time to work on your poems or essays. Make at least two. You have a week guys so don't argue. Okay?"
Some of the students said "okay", some just nodded.
"Alright, I guess I'll see you next week. And do not miss me too much." The teacher with a wink. "Class dismissed"
The students got up from their desks and out the door.
"Ms. Sawyer, can I talk to you for a minute?" The teacher asked Peyton.
Peyton gave a nod to Nathan and Haley then approached the teacher.
"We'll see you at the quad, okay?" Nathan said when he was at the door.
"Yeah, okay." Peyton smiled.
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Brooke looked at Nathan like he said something to offend her.
"What?" Nathan asked when she noticed Brooke glaring at her.
Brooke said nothing; she just continued to glare at him.
"You're her friend Brooke. And were you not crying over her wishing for her to comeback when she left?" Nathan said softly.
"I did. I'm over it now. Do whatever you want. And for the record WE are NOT friends anymore" Brooke answered.
Nathan scoffed and sat down next to Haley. "Right"
"Whatever" Brooke replied.
Haley spoke up trying to change the subject.
"So we have a week off in poetry class..." Haley said leaving the sentence hanging.
"Oh,yeah... And the thing that he wants us to do is easy to. Write whatever we want." Brooke said welcoming the subject change.
"Yeah, if only we could have all our classes like that." Nathan agreed also happy for the subject change.
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Peyton looked at her Poetry teacher expectantly, a little nervous as to why he wanted to talk to her.
"So, uhm, I'm supposed to give you extra work." The teacher started.
"Yeah, I kinda just don't want to jump a year doing nothing, it seems kinda a bit unfair. Well, it is but.." Peyton said.
"Okay I want you to write me something about the experiences you had while you were away. Don't worry, it's not due tomorrow." The teacher joked.
"Yeah,okay. How long?" Peyton asked.
"As long as you want. I want you to take your time. Give it to me when you are satisfied with it yourself." The teacher answered.
"Oh,okay. Thanks" Peyton said.
"No problem." The teacher replied.
Peyton left the classroom and headed into the quad were Brooke, Haley and Nathan are sitting.
This'll be awkward. Peyton thought to herself as she approached the table.
Nathan was the first to notice him and nodded to her. Nathan was seated beside Haley and Brooke was seated opposite them and with her back towards Peyton so she did not really notice when Peyton was approaching them.
"Hey, so what was it about?" Nathan said as soon as Peyton reached them.
"Just make up work." Peyton answered uneasy. She did not know where to seat. She knew Brooke still hated her at the moment, but it would also look like she's avoiding Brooke if she sat beside Haley or Nathan.
Who knew taking a seat would be THIS hard?
She must've been standing there for 3 minutes before Nathan noticed and said.
"You can seat down, you know." Nathan joked motioning for her to seat down beside Brooke.
Peyton followed but seat as far away from Brooke as possible without her falling off the bench.
"So what kind of work did he give you?" Haley asked breaking the silence.
"He just wanted me to write an essay." Peyton answered.
"Ah, what about?" Haley asked again.
Before Peyton could answer, Brooke's voice was heard.
"Oh, so all you have to do is make an essay and you can take a year off and come back as if nothing happened? That's a sweet deal." Brooke said sarcastically at Peyton.
"Yeah, it is" Peyton said genuinely smiling at Brooke.
Brooke was silent unable to make a come back, so instead she just gave her a glare: the one where if looks could kill, Peyton would have been long dead.
"So where were you?" Haley could not help but ask.
"What?" Peyton asked confused.
"I meant, when you left, where'd you go?" Haley said.
Peyton was caught on the spot and did not know whether to tell her the truth or to make one up. Luckily, Lucas came distracting them for a minute.
"Hey, it really is true. You're back!" Lucas greeted.
"Hey" Peyton said looking at him.
"So where have you been all this time? We were all worried about you. We did not know where you went. For all we know you were abducted or something, if it weren't for the letter." Lucas said taking a chair from the next table and bringing it to their table.
Damn! Why did I not think of that? Stupid! I should just have gotten a chair from the table! Ugh! And I thought I already dodged that question. Lucas can really be an ASS! Peyton thought to herself.
"Earth to Peyton?" Nathan said waving his hand in front of her.
"Yeah" Peyton said snapping out of her thoughts.
"So, where were you?" Lucas asked again.
Brooke was pretending not to care or listen, but really, she was. She was worried as hell when Peyton left to an unknown place without even saying goodbye.
"I've been going places." Peyton answered vaguely.
"Places?" Haley pushed.
"New York then LA." Peyton answered truthfully.
"What were you doing there?" Haley asked again.
"I..uhh..Just stuff. Nothing too interesting." Peyton replied.
Brooke knew Peyton was lying. She knew her for 10 years after all. She wanted to call her on it, but decided otherwise. I don't care. I don't care. So what, if she lied. Who cares? I don't.
"Oh,okay. What kind of stuff?" Nathan prodded.
"Told you nothing exciting." Peyton replied simply.
The table grew silent.
"Why'd you leave?" Lucas broke the awkward silence.
I just got back. And now, they are asking too many questions. Big Questions. Why can't they be just like Brooke? Look at her, she hasn't even asked me one question. They should be like her. She doesn't really care anymore does she? Of course she doesn't. But then, why did she cry when I left? I need to stop having these conversations in my head. They are complicating things. UGH!
"Peyton, are you zoning out again?" Nathan asked snapping his fingers in front of her smiling.
"Sorry, just thinking." Peyton replied.
"About?" Lucas asked.
"Nothing too important." Peyton said.
"So..." Lucas said.
"So?" Peyton asked looking at him.
"So why?" Lucas answered.
"Why what?" Peyton answered fully knowing what her friend was talking about.
"Why'd you leave?" Lucas replied.
"I don't want to talk about it." Peyton said looking down at the table.
"Peyt, we were worried. For all we know, you could have been dead or something." Lucas said concerned.
"Well, clearly I wasn't dead." Peyton replied not too happy about the questioning, but also knowing that they deserve an answer. She will give it to them. Just not now.
"What made you leave? Don't we deserve an answer to these questions? We don't want you running away again like before, you know. Just let us in Peyt." Haley pleaded.
Peyton opened her mouth to say something then closed it again. She looked at Haley who was looking at her with concerned eyes. Out the corner of her eye, she saw Brooke looking and waiting for her to answer that question too.
"Of course I owe you an explanation, I know I do. I..just...look... right now isn't the best time. I'm not yet ready to. I just need more time. I'll answer everything, just give me more time, okay?" Peyton said looking at the table first then at Haley who nodded after she finished talking.
"You had a year. Isn't that a long time?" Brooke said bitterly unable to keep her mouth shut.
"Brooke, I know that and" Peyton was cut off by Brooke.
"Yeah, whatever, I do not care. The only person you seem to care about when you left was you." Brooke said standing up leaving the table with the people sitting there silent.
Peyton wanted to go run after her, but also knew that it would not do any good. She cannot give her the answers Brooke needed and was looking for; so her running after the brunette might cause more damage than good.
Peyton sighed after looking in the direction where Brooke went, then said. "I'm sorry I know I've been selfish for leaving just like that. And I know you want an explanation and I will give it to you. I'm just not ready yet. Not now anyways, I just like how things are right now."
"It's okay. Just tell us when you're ready." Haley said squeezing Peyton's hand.
The bell, as if on cue, rang and they all got up at their seat and went to their classes.
idaatje: You're my first reviewer! Thanks for reviewing. Hope you liked what I wrote so far : )
thefrick: Yeah well. I couldn't really think of any disease at that time. It shouldn't even have to start with her mentioning right of the bat. But I got anxious and I just wanted to post the story immediately so, I'll just have to make do with flashbacks.
LP-TrueLoveAlways1137: Thanks for the review!
youn2731: Thanks for the review! And hope you liked what I wrote so far : )
physcob2002: Thanks for the review! Hope you liked this chapter!
tvloony: Thanks for the review! ANd here is your update :)
Shawn-n-Bell: Aww... Thanks that means a lot! I am such a fan of some of your stories! Yeah, they really do. They are miserable apart. No, there will be no Peyton/Nathan relationship, other than friendship, that is. Peyton has enough drama going on. She doesn't need Haley to hate her too! She needs friends not more enemies.
Tweetiebird86: Hey thanks for the reviews! And yeah, i needed that filler so that, we could, at least get a glimpse of what Brooke feels.... Hope you enjoyed reading this chapter too!:)