"Oh my god YES! My baby is finally here!" Peyton said jogging out to the front of the house where her Comet had just been dropped off. Her dad stood from the doorway watching the crazy scene unfold.
"My daughter ladies and gentleman…" Larry said full on laughing watching her antics. "If only I could get you to love an actual person as much as you love this car…." He said still laughing as he walked towards her as she hugged her Comet.
"Hey! I do! I love Jamie this much and you!" Peyton said lifting her head to poke her dad's arm.
"You know what I mean baby girl." He said cupping her face.
"And you know that I don't do relationships. They're stupid, and they suck. You ready to go?" Peyton said leaning away from her dad and jumping in the driver's seat.
"Sure." Larry said with a sigh sliding in the passenger side of the car. He knew it'd take a miracle for his daughter to open her heart to someone; she'd been too damaged for too long.
The drive to the pizzeria started off in a comfortable silence. Larry glanced over to look at the content expression on his daughter's face as she closed her eyes briefly to take in the feeling of driving the Comet. Giving Peyton that car was definitely one of the best things he'd ever done.
"Peyton, you know that not everyone leaves, right? There are exceptions to that rule." Larry said trying to pull something from his daughter on the subject.
"I haven't found an exception." Peyton said in barely a whisper.
"Everyone has an exception, I did with your mother." Larry spoke sincerely.
"Yeah… and look how that turned out." Peyton whispered sadly.
"I wouldn't take back one minute we had together. She was the only one for me… That's why I never wanted to date again after she died. That person is out there for you. I know it." Larry quickly replied with a nudge to her shoulder.
"There aren't many exceptions in the world now, daddy." Peyton replied becoming tired of the subject.
"Look at Nathan and Hales, they should be the prime example of an exception for you."
"Yeah…" Peyton shot back a little defensive.
Larry sighed knowing the subject was now closed for Peyton as they pulled up to the pizzeria downtown.
Peyton had texted Haley right before they had left to let her know they were going to be a few minutes late since the Comet was being dropped off. They were the last to arrive.
Walking in, Peyton glanced around, this was her kind of place. Low-key and homey. She was starting to like this town, though she'd never admit that out loud.
"Peyt! Over here!" Haley said waving her arm up as she spotted them.
Before they could walk over there she heard someone crash into her dad.
"Hey my best little buddy! Have you missed me?" Larry said picking up Jamie and approaching the table.
"I JUST saw you last week, Grandpa Sawyer." Jamie said with an obvious expression on his face.
"He calls him Grandpa Sawyer?" Brooke huffed to Haley softly from across the table, but Peyton heard her and cut her eyes.
"Brooke, knock it off." Haley warned not being in the mood for a jealous Brooke again. She was supposed to be bonding with Jamie.
"Hey Larry!" Haley greeted as they all stood to greet him. After everyone shared hugs, they were seated at the end of the table, Peyton next to Lucas and Larry next to Jamie.
"I think you know everyone, right daddy? Except for Brooke and…..?" Peyton said pointing her direction to Brooke and the girl sitting next to her.
"Millicent, she's my assistant." Brooke added.
"It's nice to meet the infamous Brooke Davis I've heard so much about." Larry said with a grin. Peyton kicked his leg under the table and shot him a warning look.
"Good to meet you Millicent." Peyton added with a smile.
"Mouth! Loving the new show, I've got it on DVR everyday!" Larry said to Mouth.
"Thanks Mr. Sawyer! Skills is set to be doing the weather and special reports on the weekend for now, but it will probably be more than that eventually!" Mouth said with obvious elation for his job.
"Can't wait to see that! 'You gon' kill it dawg!" Larry added with a laugh trying to sound like Skills. Skills high fived him across the table as everyone laughed at the interaction between the two.
"Now, Rake Boy… When's that next book coming along?" Larry prodded to Lucas.
Brooke cleared her throat next to him, "Rake Boy?"
Everyone at the table busted out laughing, except for Brooke and Millicent who seemed clueless.
"You've never heard that story, Brooke?" Nathan added between laughs.
"Clearly I haven't…" Brooke spat back aggravated.
"Lucas, being the almighty hero that he thinks he is came at Larry the first time he met him with a rake." Nathan laughed.
"Hey! A rake was the closest thing to me and I thought Peyton was in danger!" Lucas added with a sulk.
"Oh yeah Luke, a rake would most definitely save my life." Peyton said with a punch to his arm.
"Whatever… I still don't know why that rake was in your dorm." Lucas said back as the laughter around the table started to die down.
"You were in her dorm?" Brooke said with a side glance.
"Ha! Like we ever needed to worry about me being in Peyton's dorm room." Lucas shot back with a punch to Peyton's arm, completely oblivious to Brooke's mood.
"You're silly, Uncle Lucas." Jamie said back with a smile.
Peyton couldn't help but look across at Brooke who looked less than amused.
"You're silly too Jamie. And yes, Larry. My book is supposed to be out at the end of month, huge press tour and lots of travel around the world for this one so I've been working with my editor like crazy. The critics have given it 'two thumbs up.' I appreciate you looking over it again for me." Lucas said back.
"It was no problem Lucas, you know I love to read." Larry said back with a smile.
Brooke was becoming more and more infuriated by the minute. She had no clue Lucas let Peyton's dad read her book before anyone else. No one had really read it yet, she certainly hadn't.
Larry must've sensed her discomfort.
"What about you, Brooke? Peyton tells me you're the CEO of that really popular clothing line." Larry intrigued.
Peyton looked over prepared to roll her eyes at whatever snide comment Brooke was going to make. But she was surprised to see saw what appeared to be a genuine smile on her face. It was the first time Peyton had seen her smile that way, and it was definitely beautiful.
"I am, I love what I do. It's been really stressful the past few months especially with Fashion Week coming up." Brooke said back honestly. Peyton was amazed at the effect her dad had on people, he could make even Brooke Davis act like a human being. Impressive.
"Brooke! Didn't you say Jennifer quit?" Haley exclaimed out, excited by her idea.
"Yeah, a few days ago… Hence the stress. I've gotta find a replacement I trust quickly. Millicent has been interviewing people… I'm just not too keen on any of them." Brooke added taking a sip of her water.
"Peyton can do it!" Haley blurted out in excitement pointing to Peyton. Brooke spewed her water across the table in shock.
"Sorry…" Brooke murmured cleaning up the spilled water.
"Haley!" Peyton exclaimed back in warning.
"What? Come on Peyt! It's perfect. You're the best photographer I've ever seen in my life, don't tell Quinn that though." Haley said back with a chuckle.
"Not to brag on my daughter or anything… but she really has amazing work. She's had three photos nominated for Pulitzer Prize winners and one of them won! I've got the award at the house…" Larry added, excited at the idea for Peyton.
"Daddy!" Peyton replied hushed, completely embarrassed. She never liked when the attention was surrounding her, that's why she hid behind a camera.
"P. Sawyer's got mad photography skills, dawg. Like forreal. You can't beat her stuff." Skills added in, grabbing a slice of pizza as the pizzas came out in front of them.
"Thanks Skills…Wait, P. Sawyer?" Peyton said blushing.
"Yeah dawg, we call Brooke 'B. Davis', P. Sawyer kinda works too." Skills added back with a shrug taking another bite of his pizza.
"You said you wanted someone you know you can trust and that does amazing work…" Millicent pointed out to Brooke who remained silent.
"Come on Brooooookeeeee!" Jamie said with a bright smile. He wanted his Aunt Peyton to have a job, and he knew Brooke was trying to form a bond with him. Jamie definitely knew how to play her.
"If you want it, the jobs yours, Peyton." Brooke responded in a low tone, not even believing what she was saying.
"No thanks." Peyton responded quickly.
Brooke couldn't believe she would turn her down, didn't she know this was the opportunity of a lifetime? Who the hell did Peyton Sawyer think she was?
"No thanks?" Brooke said back in disbelief.
"No thanks." Peyton responded again firmly.
"Peyton…. I know why you're doing this… you can't be around all the time to protect me. This is a really wonderful opportunity for you. I can't let you not take it." Larry said grabbing Peyton's arm lightly.
Brooke was intrigued…. Why would Peyton need to protect him?
"Yeah, Peyton… Come on… Your dad's right…" Lucas added nudging her arm.
"No daddy, I came here for you, nothing else." Peyton said softly.
"I know that sweetheart, but I want you to do this for me. It would really make me happy." Larry added brushing a few strands of hair out of his daughter's eyes.
Brooke's heart panged at watching their relationship together, she wished she had that type of relationship with her parents. She had to build an empire just to get her mother to show her any kind of attention. And the attention she received from her definitely wasn't of loving nature.
Brooke noticed how the group was silently looking around the table to each other, it was like they all knew something she didn't. And Brooke Davis didn't like to be out of the loop.
The table fell completely silent.
"When do you need me to start?" Peyton said back with a huff, not believing what she was doing.
"Oh goodie! This is so exciting. I will get your schedule all set-up and you can come in first thing Monday morning, we've got to get your schedule prepped for Fashion Week!" Millicent said clapping her hands together in excitement.
"Yay…." Peyton said back unenthused.
"Watch out for Rachel, Peyt. She could be trouble for you!" Haley said with a laugh.
"Come on Hales, you know how professional I am and how seriously I take my work!" Peyton said back in disbelief flicking a napkin at her as the table laughed.
Brooke's annoyance stayed prominent on her face, she didn't like feeling like an outsider not knowing what was going on. And Rachel was a whole other subject…. But she was an amazing model.
"Seriously though, thanks Brooke." Peyton replied with a heartfelt smile to the brunette.
Brooke couldn't figure out why but her stomach did flip-flops at seeing her smile so honestly.
Larry glanced between the pair with a huge smirk on his face. This could be interesting to watch play out…
"You're welcome." Brooke responded with a slight nod to her head.
Maybe working with the broody blonde wouldn't be as bad as she thought… Maybe.
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