Make It All Better, Part Eight.
Previously –
''Jake?'' She asked quietly. He looked up from his track, and she remembered why she'd fallen for him so hard so long ago. But now my heart belongs to Nathan, she thought, before her unsure green eyes met his comforting brown. ''What if he doesn't want me anymore? What if I mess it up?''
Jake took that moment to get to his feet and he made his way over to her and bent at the knees to study her. He took her hands in his and met her eyes, his heart going out to her. ''Look, Peyt. I know that Nathan and I haven't talked since graduation, but please know that you could never, ever mess it up. Nathan's a good guy and I know you're a great girl...you two will figure things out. And if you need any help, you've always got me and Brooke to help you through it, OK?''
Peyton nodded, feeling tears running down her cheeks and throwing herself into a bearhug with the brunette. He smiled against her shoulder and placed a chaste kiss on her cheek before she realized what she had to do and quickly left him to his music once again. Time for Plan B, She thought determinedly.
A/N: Thank you ALL! For the amazing reviews, you're the best readers!! And please check out my new Jake/Brooke fic – Bigger Than My Body – I've been working on in the meantime. Thank you so much!
Make It All Better, Part Eight.
Peyton booked her plane ticket back to Tree Hill and she knew she couldn't run from Nathan forever. In twenty-four hours, she'd be back home and everything that went with that. She just wondered if he'd still have her.
--
Nathan was a mess, still. He'd managed to get his grades back to normal, and his extra energy was all used for working out and basketball. Even Lucas was noticing his one-time rival was still out of it. Meanwhile, Lucas worked on trying to get the curly blonde out of his head himself, not that he'd admit that to Nathan though. He'd get his butt tossed back to him all over the court if he did.
''Hey man, you hanging in there?'' He asked the brunette male currently working on his layups.
''Hardly,'' Nathan replied honestly. He finally realized he loved the girl who'd been his best friend for years and she'd just ran off to Los Angeles for a week. He'd constantly found himself wondering if she was off with Jake somewhere. God, for a shy musician, he attracts a lot of attention that one, he thought easily.
Lucas sighed and approached him, easily making his layup before directing his gaze toward the other males. ''You've got nothing to worry about, Scott,'' He replied comfortingly. ''The way she looks at you…how she flew across the country just to pose as your girlfriend…I mean, girls don't normally do that unless they like a guy, Scott,'' Lucas tried to make more sense to his brunette rival, but it didn't seem like it was helping. ''She loves you…what else do you need?''
Nathan sighed and quickly sunk his last basket before leaving for the day. He went back to his dorm, greeting Skills with a nod, before his cell went off and he smirked at his sister's name on the caller ID. ''Please tell me you've heard from her…''
''Well hello to you too, older brother,'' Brooke greeted sarcastically. She quickly rolled her eyes before she got out of the cab and paid, on her way to decorate more designs for her newest store in Tree Hill. ''And yes, I've heard from her. She's on her way back to Tree Hill as we speak with a short detour aka you. I swear, if you love her so much why don't you just marry her, Nate?''
Nathan grinned at the idea, even though Brooke was totally kidding, and Skills's eyebrows rose to his hairline when he saw his friend's face. ''Nate, I was kidding, you know, ha ha?'' When he didn't respond, Brooke started to panic. ''Nathaniel Daniel Scott, you'd better answer me! If Peyton comes back and I find out you proposed you're dead, you hear me?!''
Nathan's grin hadn't left his face, and without a second thought he handed his cell phone to Skills. ''Keep her occupied,'' He explained before he checked his dresser for his wallet and started towards the student parking lot in a full sprint. Sure, they were only in their early twenties…well, he was 21 and she was 20, but he never wanted to be with someone else. Marriage didn't sound that terrible…
Peyton arrived in Tree Hill a few hours later, and taking her car she drove out to UNC to visit Nathan and figure out what they were going to do. Meanwhile her cell phone was going crazy and she was at a loss to figure out what was going on with everyone. ''Peyton speaking,'' She answered after the third ring; Brooke's voice hysterical at the other end.
''Peyt, don't go to UNC!'' Brooke warned suddenly, and Peyton laughed, confused. She was only a couple minutes away and it would be pointless not to go through with it now. ''Please, Peyton, I beg you – you can't go there! Nathan's lost it!''
At mention of Nathan, Peyton pulled over onto the shoulder and all signs of happiness were out the window. Worry automatically overrode anything else. ''What happened? Is he okay?''
Brooke sighed, and just as she was about to explain, a call beeped in. ''Oh wait Brooke, I have another call,'' She interrupted before she clicked in, the sound of Nathan running catching her attention. ''Nate?'' She asked, surprised.
''Meet me at my parent's house in an hour, okay? An hour, don't be late?''
Peyton found herself nodding, her green eyes wide. ''Yeah, okay. I'll be there…''
Nathan grinned. ''Good, I'll see you there – and Peyton?''
''Yes, Nate?'' She asked a minute later, knowing he was up to something and Brooke warning her just had her even more fearful.
''I love you,'' Nathan replied honestly before he hung up, and Peyton quickly switched back to Brooke, who couldn't help screaming at her when she knew she was back on the line. ''Damn it Peyton, where'd you go?!''
Peyton was unable to stop smiling. ''Brooke, he says he loves me! H-He wants me to meet him at his parent's house in an hour…W-What do I do?!''
Brooke smirked. So her brother had finally gotten up the nerve to do something noble. Go figure! ''Well I guess we'll have to get you a nice dress then, won't we dear? Looks like our little Nate has something up his sleeve…''
End part Eight! What'll happen next?!