Author's Note

Thanks for all of your reviews!!! I hope you enjoy the next chapter

Disclaimer

I own only what you do not recognize

-

Peyton was oblivious to how Emily got the locket until she read the last two words. "Love, Dad" She let out a gasp as she looked up at Emily, confusion spread across her face.

At the moment Peyton was going through a variety of emotions- anger, sadness, frustration- but the most abundant one was disappointment. She was disappointed with Emily. She didn't understand why Emily had lied to her about their father. She began to wonder what else she was lying about. She thought about it and decided to wait andconfront Emily when they were alone. She let out a sigh and closed the locket back.

-

It was getting dark out. Everyone had spent the day at the River Court playing and having fun. Emily had noticed something was up with Peyton earlier, but figured it was her sleepiness.

"Well guys this has been fun but we got to get going. I start my shift early tomorrow" Haley said, referring to her and Nathan.

"Good idea since we have the same shift" Lucas said.

"Are you ready?" Peyton asked Emily.

"Yep" Emily replied.

Everyone said their good byes and left.

The car ride home with Peyton was silent. This worried Emily. Peyton was usually very talkative.

"Is something wrong?" Emily asked as they arrived in Peyton's room.

"Why do you think something's wrong?" Peyton asked back.

"I don't know maybe because you've been giving me the third degree…almost all day."

"Well…you deserve it" Peyton added angrily.

"What are you talking about" Emily questioned.

"Nice locket" Peyton said sarcastically. "Who gave it to you?"

"My fa…" Emily quickly caught herself. She looked up at Peyton and knew she had caught her.

"I…I'm sorry, Peyton" it was all Emily could get out.

"You're sorry" Peyton laughed bitterly. "Well I'm sorry but sorry isn't enough. You lied to me and the only thing that can fix that is an explanation."

"Look Peyton…I know you deserve an explanation…but I can't talk about this right now!" Emily said, her voice rising.

"Emily. I deserve to know about this. He's just as much my father as yours! Are you jealous? Are you worried that when daddy dearest meets me…his long lost daughter …he'll like me more?" Peyton yelled.

"Peyton…"

Peyton continued in a softer tone. "When my mother died I felt like…like I had this huge hole in my heart where she belonged…and over the years that hole has slowly started to close. But when I met Ellie it was like it stepped into over drive and for the first time in a while I actually felt like I was going to be okay. Then she died and now I feel like all that healing my heart went through was in vain. So please…please don't keep him from me…he could be my only chance." Peyton pleaded.

Emily sighed "I'm sorry Peyton…but I can't."

Peyton felt like she had just been hit with a sack of bricks. She was stunned. She looked around. She needed to get out of here before she said something she'd regret.

"Um…I need some air. I'm going for a walk. I'll be back. Stay here" Peyton said in an emotionless tone. She glanced at Emily one last time before walking out the door.

-

Peyton had been walking for a while, when suddenly it started pouring rain. She quickly ran to the nearest building to avoid getting more wet. She looked up and realized she was in front of Karen's Café. Peyton smiled. She needed some advice and figured Karen would be the best one to dish it out. Peyton walked into the cafe, but stopped when she saw Lucas.

"Hey Peyton" Lucas brightly

"Uhhh Hey Luke…is Karen around?" Peyton asked

"No…she had to go somewhere so she asked me to close up the café" Lucas replied.

"Oh…okay. Can you tell her I stopped by?"

"Yea sure, but is there anything I can do for you? You can trust me. I promise I won't tell anyone else." Lucas added.

Peyton could tell he was being sincere. "Okay" she said quickly…a bit too quickly.

Lucas smirked at this. After the two were seated he decided to start "So what's up?"

"Me and Emily got into a fight" Peyton blurted out.

"Well it happens, Peyton. Siblings fight all the time…look at me and Nathan"

"I know, but this one was bad…I ended up getting mad…and I walked out of the house" Peyton sighed.

"Okay…well what was the fight about?"

"Soon after we met I ended up asking Emily about our father. She said she never knew him. Today I discovered she's been lying to me. I confronted her about it and practically begged her to give me an explanation…and she wouldn't budge. I got so frustrated I had to leave before I said something stupid…and here I am."

Lucas looked at Peyton and could see was clearly upset. "Do you think Emily is the type of person would keep this from you without a good reason?" Lucas asked tentatively.

"No" Peyton sighed.

"Okay then" Lucas replied "maybe you should find out that reason"

"Okay." Peyton said standing up determined "I will"

"Good" Lucas said "Here take this" he said handing an umbrella to Peyton, which she gladly took.

"Bye Luke" Peyton said as she headed for the door. She suddenly stopped and turned around to face Lucas. "Thanks…for everything" she added.

"No problem" he yelled as she walked out the door.

-

By the time Peyton arrived at home, the pouring rain was accompanied by thunder and lightning. A full on storm was occurring. She tried to cut on the light but soon realized there was no electricity. She navigated her way through the kitchen with her cell phone light and managed to find a flashlight. Peyton quickly ran up to her room to check on Emily. When she got there she stopped dead in her tracks.

The room was pitch black. Emily was huddled up in a corner. She looked terrified. Every time thunder would clap or lightning would strike she'd jump as if someone had touched her with ice. It seemed to Peyton that Emily was in another world. Her eyes looked far off and she was holding on to herself for dear life.

Peyton quickly joined Emily on the floor. She tapped Emily on the shoulder, causing her to jump and let out a whimper.

"It's okay" Peyton said grabbing Emily's hand "It's me"

When Emily's breathing returned to normal Peyton let go of her hand and turned so they were face to face.

"I'm so sorry Emily…I shouldn't have pressured you to tell me about him. You're a great person and I'm sure there's a good reason why you can't tell me."

Emily nodded, as she stared off into space, again.

"Emily…talk to me. Did something happen while I was gone?"

"He's dead" Emily said, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't bare to look at Peyton so she continued. "It was two years ago on a night like this one. My mom was out of town on a business trip and my dad was at work, I was home alone. The lights were out and I was terrified, so I called him and begged him to come home. He agreed and said he'd be home soon. I…I never spoke to him again. The police said it was an accident and he slid off the road…but I know better. It was my fault. If I hadn't been such a baby and sucked it up…he would still be here. Emily got up. "I understand if you don't want to speak to me again…after all…I...I killed your father."

Emily was halfway to the front door when Peyton caught up with her. "Emily" she yelled causing Emily to stop. When Emily turned around Peyton saw she had tears cascading down her cheeks. Peyton quickly walked up to her.

"I'm so sorry" Emily said, her voice breaking.

Peyton made Emily look at her "Listen to me… I don't blame you… it's not your fault he died, okay? She said tears of her own starting to fall.

Emily nodded and Peyton pulled her sister into her arms. Peyton held onto her tightly as Emily cried for the first time since her father's death.

(Author's Note)

That's the eighth chapter. What do you think? Please review and tell me. I have the next chapter already written…so the more you review the quicker I'll post it!

In the upcoming chapter Peyton and Brooke will be forced to sort out their issues with each other!