"Haley, when can I look? These heels are killing me!" Peyton moaned as Haley led her into a dark hall.
"Ok… now!" The light switched on and a chorus of "Welcome Home!" came from around the room.
Peyton spotted Lucas, Nathan and Brooke amongst the crowd and walked towards them. Tristan was talking to Lucas and Carter, Ryan and Laura were apparently wrestling Nathan. Brooke greeted Peyton.
"Nathan won't let them go outside to play." She whispered. "Now Tristan, he knows how to manipulate Luke so he'll let him. He inherited that from me." Peyton laughed and Brooke smiled. "It's so great having you back, PS."
"It's great to be back, B. Davis."
Brooke gestured behind Peyton, winked and walked away. Peyton turned around and saw Jake smiling at her.
"Jake, hi!" They hugged and then Jake looked Peyton up and down.
"Wow. So you're still as beautiful as you ever were." Peyton murmured thanks and blushed. "If a bit older." Jake added and they both laughed. "Do you want to go outside?"
The garden was at the back of the hall Haley had hired, and it had an amazing view of Tree Hill. The sun was just setting and it was amazingly romantic. Peyton and Jake sat down on a bench in the corner and shared life stories.
"So Jenny's 14 now, starting Tree Hill in the fall. I'm going to strongly discourage her to be a cheerleader." Jake said.
"Uh huh?"
"Too much drama."
Peyton smiled.
"Plus, she's like the lest cheery person I know. Apart from Lucas, that is. She's more into computers and art. A lot like you when you were at high school. Not as good-looking as you, though. I'm afraid she takes after me rather than her mom."
"Don't put yourself down. If you were a girl, you would be so much more attractive than Nicki ever was." Peyton joked.
"Thanks." Jake replied.
They sat in silence for a few minutes and then Jake spoke again.
"Why did we never get together, Peyton?"
"I guess, after my previous guys, I was afraid to trust my instincts. I mean, Nathan and Lucas weren't exactly perfect boyfriend material. And I didn't realise you were until it was too late and you'd gone."
"You know, I thought about that kiss you gave me all the way to Savannah. And when I got there."
Peyton and Jake made eye contact and it stuck. They moved closer and closer together; their heads tilted… and Carter, Ryan and Laura came bursting out of the door into the garden.
Which was probably just as well, because following them was a petite blonde who was smiling at Jake.
"Carla, this is my old friend Peyton, Peyton, this is my fiancée Carla."
"Hi." Carla shook Peyton's hand. "Jake, can I talk to you for a second?"
"I'll go inside." Peyton said quickly, slightly embarrassed about what had just happened, and hurried inside. Brooke was in the corner with a dark haired man who was whispering in her ear. She was giggling. Peyton walked over and Brooke stood up.
"Peyton, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Ross."
"How do you do?" Ross shook Peyton's hand and she noticed that he looked strangely like Felix. He had the same way of checking you out too.
"Anyway, I'm gonna crash. I've got a job interview tomorrow." Peyton said. "Tell Haley thanks for organising this. See you later."
"Oh, ok. Bye. See you tomorrow."
As she left, Peyton felt a twinge of guilt. All this wasn't strictly true. She did have a job interview the next day, but it wasn't until three. It was just seeing all the couples – Haley and Nathan, Brooke and Ross, Lucas and Samantha and then Jake and Carla. They all seemed truly happy, like Peyton had never been. Despite her best efforts to convince herself that her career was all she wanted, but she knew deep down inside that she just wanted to be loved, and to be happy.